BECOME AN NRA MENTOR TODAY! SEE P.

60
May 2016

The Worlds Oldest And Largest Firearm Authority

Operator Upgrade

SIG Sauers
Legion Series
Official Journal of the National Rifle Association
AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG

Golden Bullseye
Awards 2016
The Revenant
Was Really About A Rifle
 NRA MEMBER SPECIAL OFFER
Limited-Edition Signature Label

FREE SHIPPING
& Insurance
each First 100 Orders
(check/wire price) ($5 Value)
Dr. Mike Fuljenz and Universal Coin & Bullion have Limit 10 per household

been strong NRA supporters for over 10 years. Im proud

+NRA Contribution With Each Coin Sold For every facsimile signature label coin
to join with Mike and announce the release of Universal sold, Universal Coin & Bullion will provide the NRA $2 to help our continuing fight to protect
Coin & Bullions NRA Signature Series Silver Eagles. $2 will our 2nd Amendment rights in what may be the most important election year of our time.
+Wayne LaPierre Authorized Facsimile Signature Each limited-edition MS69
be provided to the NRA for every Wayne LaPierre facsimile
signature label 2016 $1 Silver American Eagle has an authentic Wayne LaPierre authorized
signature coin sold. Thank you for your support of the facsimile certificate label.
NRA and this important new program! +U.S. Government Guarantee The United States Government guarantees the 1 ounce
weight and 99.9% pure fine silver content of American Silver Eagles.
- Wayne LaPierre +PCGS Certified MS69 The Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), one of the most
trusted national authentication and grading services, certified each limited-edition
facsimile signature label and brilliant uncirculated Silver Eagle in MS69 condition. Coins are
graded on a universal 70-point scale, with Mint State 70 (MS70) considered perfect by experts.
Each of these Silver Eagles has been certified Near Perfect MS69 by PCGS, and selected for this
limited offer by coin expert & Universal Coin President, Dr. Mike Fuljenz.
With Universal Coins NRA Signature Series, Wayne LaPierre joins many other PCGS
certified notable figure signatures including: Presidents - George H. Bush and Gerald
Ford U.S. Mint Directors - Donna Pope and Jay W. Johnson, and over 40 Hall Of Fame
Beaumont, Tx baseball players like Nolan Ryan, Cal Ripken and Hank Aaron.
Please allow three weeks for delivery of all orders.
The Exclusive Precious Metals & Rare Coin Price subject to change Availability not guaranteed No dealers please
Expert of NRA Publications
+ Proud Sponsor: +
+ Eddie Eagle GunSafe+
1.800.822.4653
Vault Verification: UAMRFCS0516 Offer Expires: 05/28/16
Check or
Money Order

+ Program +

Please read important customer disclosures on our website or that accompany products purchased,
2016 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits including arbitration agreement. Images are not scale. Silver Basis: $15.03

+ MEET Dr. Mike Fuljenz + See the $1,000,000 Gold + NRA Member Show-Only STOP BY
Americas Gold Expert, Author & Coin Portfolio & Finest Known, Prices on Certified Rare BOOTH
NRA Golden Ring of Freedom Member Rare Gold Coins Prepared by Gold Investments
President, Universal Coin & Bullion Expert Mike Fuljenz #4647
 .%7!  3(/43

0!2+%2):%$-!2).%#/4%
490(/.#!-/&).)3(%3!6!),!",%
#(/)#%/&,!7%.&/2#%-%.4
-),)4!297/2,$7)$%n (%!69 7!,,%$"!22%,3
./77)4( 3(/4#!0!#)49 42) 2!),&/2%.$3-%4!,42)''%2
?????????????
3!&%494)0 '5!2$33!&%49"544/.3
!LWAYSWEAR #/-0!#4v"!22%,
EARANDEYE
PROTECTION $52!",%-), 30%##/.3425#4)/. -/33"%2'#/-
WHENSHOOTING
 Contents OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
130th Year of Publication
The NRA, the foremost guardian of the traditional American right to keep and bear
arms, believes every law-abiding citizen is entitled to the ownership and legal use of
firearms, and that every reputable gun owner should be an NRA Member.

Photo by Forrest MacCormack

MAY 2016
VOLUME 164, NO. 5

NRA
EXPERTS
IN THE
FIELD

features It Is All On The Line In 2016:

Supreme Court Nominations Hang In The Balance .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 20
Chris W. Cox Justice Antonin Scalias passing puts the Second Amendment at a crossroads in 2016.

NRA Mentor Program: Make NRA Stronger .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 60

James C. Handlon Take a new shooter to the range, share your know-how and make NRA stronger.

Enter The Legion .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 62

Jeff Johnston SIG Sauers new Legion pistols are upgrades to some of SIGs combat-proven classics.

In Pursuit Of A Really Good Rifle: The 1903 Mannlicher-Schoenauer .. .. 68

Jeremiah Knupp When it comes to guns, really good means more than one that just gets the job done.

The Revenant, Hugh Glass And His Rifle.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 74

Philip Schreier The movie missed a key point about Hugh Glasshe just wanted his rifle back.

Right On Target: 2016 NRA Golden Bullseye Awards .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 82

NRA Staff Now in their 14th year, the Golden Bullseye Awards recognize the firearm industrys best.

Inlands Return: (Re)producing Quality .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 88

Kelly Young Inland is back with well-made M1 and M1A1 carbines manufactured in Dayton, Ohio.

Benchmark: The .270 Winchester .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 94

Craig Boddington Nearly a century after it was introduced, the .270 Win. cartridge is alive and well.

62 94
Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox
Photo by Forrest MacCormack

Photo by Holly Marcus

Safari Press photo

68 74
MEMBER PROGRAMS: (800) 672-3888
 AMERICA REMEMBERS PRESENTS

THE CHAMPIONS OF LIBERTY TRIBUTE PISTOL

R E M E M B E R I N G O U R P A S T, B E L I E V I N G I N O U R F U T U R E

The left side of the slide features portraits of our founding fathers: George
Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Ben Franklin, and Patrick
Henry. Elegant scrollwork outlines the oval frame of their portraits. To
the left of the center image, youll find George Washington on horseback
in Valley Forge. To the left of that is a banner reading Greatest Nation on
EarthU.S.A. with stars in the background. To the right of the center image,
youll find a banner that reads Champions of Liberty, beside an image of
Washington leading the troops in Yorktown.

W e are lucky to live in the greatest nation on

Earth the United States of America. Land
of the free, home of the brave. Our freedom means
our forefathers and the beliefs they lived
and died for, the beliefs that still stand today.

everything to us. It was over 230 years ago that our The Colt .45:
forefathers dreamed of a country where citizens A True American Icon
could be truly free, in the way that we are today. The Colt .45 pistol has proved itself over and
They fought to realize the dream of the United States over again throughout history. Developed by
of America freedom and liberty for all of us. legendary gun maker John Moses Browning, the
As Americans, we believe in our future its the Colt Government Model Pistol in caliber .45 ACP
knowledge that our lives are, on the whole, better was selected as Americas official military sidearm
than our parents lives, the hope that our childrens in 1911. Since then it has become one of the most
lives will be better than our lives, and that their trusted sidearms of the American military. It has been
childrens lives will be even better than theirs. in the hands of those Americans fighting for freedom
Almost no other country boasts this kind of faith in the in the trenches of World War I, and the beaches of
future. Deep down, we know that this is because of Normandy up through the Battle of Inchon and the AHL, Inc.
the liberties we share this is what makes America fight for Khe Sanh, and it continues to serve as the
the greatest nation on Earth. Our freedoms ensure sidearm of even some troops today.
us not only our rights as American citizens, but our guarantee of satisfaction. If you are not
equality as human beings. These freedoms allow us An Exclusive Edition completely satisfied, you may return your
to believe that our future will be as bright as our past. Tribute to us in original, unfired condition
The Champions of Liberty Tribute Pistol is issued for a complete and courteous refund.
The Champions of Liberty Tribute Pistol is issued in a limited edition of only 500 pistols, available
on a working Colt Government Model .45 pistol. exclusively from American Remembers. We will Now is your opportunity to proudly
This Tribute is handsomely decorated in 24-karat arrange delivery of your working pistol through symbolize your belief in America. Our
gold and nickel by craftsmen commissioned specifi- the licensed firearms dealer of your choice. As forefathers forged our nation and granted
cally for this project with symbolic artwork honoring always, you will receive your Tribute with our 30-day freedoms that, over 230 years later,
continue to make America great. We
must continue to champion these same
liberties. The key to our future is in fact
in our past. The Champions of Liberty
Tribute Pistol will forever be a reminder
of these freedoms we must never take
for granted. Today, the world feels like a
much larger and more complicated place,
but our founding principles remain rock
The right side of the slide features a detailed representation of our Founding Fathers inside the Philadelphia State solid. Proudly display the Champions of
House, about to sign the Declaration of Independence. Remembering Our Past, Believing In Our Future is scrolled Liberty Tribute Pistol in your collection,
over the stars of the American flag. To the left of the center image is Patrick Henrys famous line from his speech, and you will feel the pride of our countrys
Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death against the stars of an American flag. Next, youll find a bald eagle soaring past, and more importantly, the faith in our
the patriotic symbol of America. Both sides feature Freedom Forever on the breech end. countrys future.
MODEL: COLT GOVERNMENT MODEL + CALIBER: .45 ACP + EDITION LIMIT: 500

I wish to reserve ___ of the Champions of Liberty Tribute Pistol, Name _______________________________________________
a working Colt .45 pistol, at the current issue price of $1,995.*
My deposit of $195 per Tribute is enclosed. I wish to pay the
balance at the rate of $100 per month, no interest or carrying charges. Address _____________________________________________
Certificate of Authenticity included. Thirty-day return privilege.
*All orders are subject to acceptance and City/State/Zip ________________________________________
TCheck enclosed for $___________ . credit verification prior to shipment.
Shipping and handling will be added
TCharge payment of $ ___________ to: to each order. Virginia residents
please add sales tax. Daytime Telephone No. ( ________ ) _____________________________
T VISA T MasterCard T AMEX T Discover

No. __________________________________ Exp. ________ America Remembers

TDisplay Case: I wish to reserve the optional, luxuriously 10226 Timber Ridge Drive + Ashland, Virginia 23005 Display Case Available
lined, custom-made display case with locking glass lid. www.americaremembers.com
My payment of $149* is enclosed or add to credit card. To place your reservation toll-free call 1-800-682-2291 An optional custom-built, wooden display
case is available for purchase.
 NRA PUBLICATIONS
Doug Hamlin
Executive Director
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA Chip Lohman
Deputy Executive Director
Wayne R. LaPierre, Executive Vice President Marshall J. Flemion
Director, Integrated Marketing
Evelyn Q. Kessler
Fiscal Operations Manager
official journal The Armed Citizen . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 10
Terri A. Wolfe
Executive Assistant
Rachel Carr
Special Reports Sales & Fiscal Assistant
Standing Guard .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 12 Karie Thomas
Firearms Inventory Manager
Presidents Column .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 16 EDITORIAL
Political Report .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 18 John R. Zent
Editorial Director
NRA Out Of The Starting Gate: Louisville 2016 . . 52 Mark A. Keefe, IV
Editor In Chief
ILA Report .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 108 Brian C. Sheetz
Senior Executive Editor
Regional Report/Member Info & Benefits .. . 110 Ann Y. Smith
Senior Executive Editor, Digital
Programs & Services .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 112 Joseph L. Kurtenbach
Managing Editor
Kelly Young
correspondence The Keefe Report .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 8 Associate Editor
Christopher Olsen
Readers Write .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 24 Assistant Editor
Maureen A. Denfeld
Favorite Firearms. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 54 Editorial Assistant
Bruce N. Canfield, Aaron Carter,
Wiley Clapp, Rick Hacker,
B. Gil Horman, Jeff Johnston,
news & notes Lock, Stock & Barrel .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 28 Bryce M. Towsley, Jim Wilson
Field Editors
Opening Shot, Random Shots, Product Previews, Rapid Fire,
Books In Brief, Where Can I Get ... ?, American Rifleman ART
Television, Second Shots and Annual Meetings Preview Harry Lloyd Jaecks
Creative Director
Susan K. Kilday

technical Questions & Answers . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 56

Art Director
David J. Labrozzi
Associate Art Director
Hollywoods Fast Guns?
Jessica Kim
Patchwork Victory Digital Graphic Designer
Latest Loads . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 59 Peter Fountain
Photography Director
Long-Range Specialist: 6.5 mm Creedmoor Forrest MacCormack
Photographer
Dope Bag .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 102 Michael Chisholm
Ruger SR-556 Takedown 5.56x45 mm NATO Carbine Associate Photographer
Trijicon AccuPower 4-16X 50 mm Riflescope
American Rifleman (ISSN 0003-083X) is
I Have This Old Gun .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 120 published monthly by the National Rifle
Association of America, 11250 Waples Mill
Japanese Type 26 Revolver Road, Fairfax, VA 22030-9400, (703) 267-1000,
for the benefit of its members. Membership
dues (U.S. and possessions) $40 a year, $100
for 3 years, $140 for 5 years. $3.75 per year is
designated for a magazine subscription. For
foreign postage add $5 a year in Canada and
$10 elsewhere. For membership inquiries
only, call (877) 672-2000. Copyright 2016,
the National Rifle Association of America.
THE COVER: SIG Sauer pistols have been used by elite All rights reserved except where expressly
operators all over the world for decades. waived. Periodicals Postage paid at Fairfax,
But which upgrades would those Tier One VA, and at additional mailing offices.
warfighters like on their pistols if they POSTMASTER: Please send address
changes to American Rifleman, c/o
could choose them? SIG asked that very National Rifle Association, P.O. Box 420648,
question, and the result is the new Legion Palm Coast, FL 32142-0648.
series of handguns, which includes the P229 TO CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS or to
in 9 mm Luger on this months cover. For report a damaged or undelivered magazine,
write: American Rifleman, c/o National Rifle
more on the entire Legion line, turn to Field Association, P.O. Box 420648, Palm Coast,
Editor Jeff Johnstons report beginning on FL 32142-0648. Or to make changes to your
p. 62. Design by David J. Labrozzi. Photo by account online go to: NRAmemberservices.org.
Do not return damaged copies. Change of
Forrest MacCormack. address should include both new address and
a mailing label bearing the old one. In case of
duplication send both labels.

Printed in the United States of America

M&P SHIELD . TM

WHERE PROTECTION MEETS PERFORMANCE.

COMFORTABLE TO CARRY. COMFORTABLE TO SHOOT. THE M&P
SHIELD IS SLIM, CONCEALABLE AND POWERFUL. AVAILABLE
IN 9 MM AND .40 S&W. THATS CONFIDENCE.

M&P SHIELDTM 9 - 7&8 ROUND MAGS

SMITH-WESSON.COM/MPPISTOLS M&P SHIELDTM 40 - 6&7 ROUND MAGS
FAL FACTS NRA PUBLICATIONS
PUBLISHING OPERATIONS
Michael J. Sanford
Director
Michelle E. Kuntz
Production Operations Manager
James C. Handlon
Marketing/Advertising Operations Manager
Debra Oliveri
Senior Production Coordinator
Andrea C. Myers
Production Coordinator
Samantha Brown
Senior Advertising Coordinator

Photo by Anthony Vanderlinden

Tiffany Ngu
Advertising Coordinator
Membership Inquires: (877) 672-2000
Eastern Sales Manager
Tony Morrison
(860) 767-9801
Southeast Sales Executive
Stan Yates
(850) 619-8148
Eastern Sales Executive
Rachelle Trout
(910) 262-0913
Detroit Advertising Sales
Ken Glowacki
(703) 267-1300
New York Advertising Sales
Mike Edison
(703) 267-1300
Western Sales Manager
Courtney Olson
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA (303) 955-2194
Western Sales Executive
James ONeill
Gun Facts For FAL Fans (530) 401-8607
Midwest Sales Executive
Not every FAL is an FN, and 7.62x51 mm NATO is not exactly the same as .308 Win. Tim Hamill
Learn more lesser-known facts about the FN FAL at americanrifleman.org/falfacts. (231) 360-6434
Western Direct Sales Executive
Guns Of The U.S. Presidents Debbie OConnell
(805) 501-9138
Guns in the executive mansion? It wasnt so long ago when firearms were actually
DIGITAL OPERATIONS
collected and enjoyed by quite a few of our commanders in chief. Check out
Michael Pedersen
americanrifleman.org/presidents to see some of the fascinating firearms owned Digital Operations Manager
and used by a few of the former presidents of the United States. Tom Rickwalder
Senior Digital Producer
Is The .40 S&W Dead? Steve Dulco
Digital Producer
For most of the past couple of decades, .40 S&W has been king of the hill when it Carolyn Lee
comes to American law enforcement. But is the .40 S&W dead? Its a topic that has Digital Advertising Trafficker
been circulating around the firearm industry lately. Read more about the Fortys WARNING: All technical data in this publica-
future at americanrifleman.org/dead40. tion, especially for handloading, reflect
the limited experience of individuals using
Eight Solutions To AR-15 Gotchas specific tools, products, equipment and
components under specific conditions and
Before you start swapping out components on your new AR-15 rifle, go to circumstances not necessarily reported in
americanrifleman.org/solutions for ways to avoid eight of the most common the article and over which the National Rifle
Association (NRA) has no control. The data
problems encountered while performing AR-15 upgrades. have not otherwise been tested or verified
PRESIDENTIAL GUNS by the NRA. The NRA, its agents, officers and
employees accept no responsibility for the
results obtained by persons using such data
and disclaim all liability for any consequential
injuries or damages. See asterisked (*).
* NO ADVERTISED ITEM IS INTENDED FOR
SALE IN THOSE STATES, OR IN THOSE AR-
EAS WHERE LOCAL RESTRICTIONS MAY
LIMIT OR PROHIBIT THE PURCHASE, CAR-
RYING OR USE OF CERTAIN ITEMS. CHECK
LOCAL LAWS BEFORE PURCHASING.
MENTION OF A PRODUCT OR SERVICE IN
ADVERTISEMENTS OR TEXT DOES NOT
NECESSARILY MEAN THAT IT HAS BEEN
TESTED OR APPROVED BY THE NRA.
OFFICIAL NRA POSITIONS ARE EX-
PRESSED ONLY IN STATEMENTS BYLINED
BY NRA OFFICERS OR IN ARTICLES IDEN-
TIFIED AS SUCH.
THE EDITORS ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE
FOR UNSOLICITED MANUSCRIPTS OR
PHOTOGRAPHS.

The New Audit Bureau of Circulations

 NEVER COMPROMISE
A T A N Y D I S T A N C E

ELD-X
EXTREMELY LOW DRAG EXPANDING BULLETS WITH HEAT SHIELD TIP
Revolutionary patent-pending Heat Shield
Conventional polymer tips melt in flight! tip forms the perfect meplat.
Hornady engineers, using Doppler radar discovered that ALL manufacturers
Doppler radar verified, best-in-class BCs
polymer tips are affected by aerodynamic heating they melt and deform in flight
over entire trajectory.
leading to both BC and accuracy loss. To counter this effect, Hornady identified
a heat resistant polymer and developed the patent pending Heat Shield Streamlined secant ogive, AMP jackets and
tip. This tip resists aerodynamic heating and creates the PERFECT MEPLAT. optimum boattail for match-accurate results
Combined with its secant ogive profile, AMP jacket and optimized boattail, InterLock ring works to keep the core
the ELD-X bullet delivers flat trajectories, match accuracy and unparalleled and jacket together.
lethality at ALL practical ranges.
Reliable, controlled expansion delivers
THE FIRST ALL-RANGE HUNTING BULLET - ELD-X. lethality at ALL practical distances.

1800 fps 2660 fps

A v a i l a b l e a s c o m p o n e n t b u l l e t s o r i n f a c t o r y - l o a d e d P re c i s i o n H u n t e r a m m u n i t i o n .

For the full story on the Heat Shield tip and ELD-X bullet,
go to hornady.com/heat-shield 800.338.3220 | HORNADY.COM
 THE KEEFE REPORT

H
eres a chance to help the future of the shooting
sports by focusing on NRAs roots. Many Americans
have simply never handled a firearm, let alone been
introduced to the shooting sports by a friend, family mem-
ber or colleague. Getting more people to the range in a
safe, comfortable and controlled environment is something a lot of gun owners talk
about, but we here at NRA Publications are taking steps to help you do something
about it. Please take time to read the following letter from our executive director:

Dear Fellow Member:

One thing NRA members have in common is a lesson that changed their lives for
the better. Somewhere along the line, virtually every one of us received an introduc-
tion to firearms and shooting. It was an empowering event that helped us to take
responsibility for protecting family and friends. For millions, it was the first step on
the trail to lifelong sporting pursuits like target competition and hunting.
Every American Rifleman reader can soon make a positive difference in someones
life by taking part in the NRA Mentor Initiative sponsored by EAA Corp., Winchester
Ammunition, Taurus and Walkers Game Ear. In 2015, more than 20,000 NRA mem-
bers became mentors, taking the initiative to help NRA grow and get stronger, to
help folks in their communities and to register for a chance to win valuable prizes.
And the only requirement was participating in one of their favorite activities.
During May 2016, were encouraging all 5 million NRA members to mentor begin-
ning shooters. Talk to them about their shooting interests, and most importantly,
make a date to take a beginner to the range. More than 40 million Americans have
purchased their first guns in recent years: neighbors, co-workers and even fam-
ily members, many of whom need qualified assistance. Along with providing a safe
place to shoot, you can help them learn the basics of firearm safety, handling and
range protocol. You can, as a new NRA program suggests, help someone Make A
First, thereby changing their life. Learn more at makeafirst.org.
In this issue (p. 60) youll find details of the Mentor Initiative, including a free,
detachable Guide for New Shooters, which supports mentors with helpful advice
regarding how to get started, firearms safety, gear, and tips on shooting, gun cleaning
and safe storage. The article also explains how to enter the Mentor Sweepstakes for a
chance to win one of more than 50 prizes.
We believe every new shooter is a prime candidate to become a new NRA mem-
ber, so we have included a membership application with promotional rates. Think
how strong NRA could be going into the 2016 electionselections we must win
if just a fraction of all those new gun owners joined our ranks.
NRA leads the nation in firearm safety and education, and at nrainstructors.org
you can learn about the many courses offered by NRA Certified Instructorsor
even how to become one yourself.
Given fair opportunity, nearly everyone discovers how enjoyable it is to shoot
and how fulfilling it is to start learning such a practical, affirmative skill. By lend-
ing a hand, we can show, once again, that NRA members are the good guys.
Please join me in becoming an NRA mentor!
DOUG HAMLIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NRA PUBLICATIONS

Take time to read the Guide for New Shooters in the center of this maga-
zine, and pass it on to someone youd like to mentor before heading out to
the range for your next session. Youll not only be helping to promote one of
Americas greatest pastimes, youll be helping to ensure the future of every
Americans constitutional right to keep and bear arms.

Sincerely,

8 MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

 BECOME A

DUAL THREAT

T
THE LEUPOLD D-EVO. GO FROM CLOSE
Q
QUARTERS TO LONG RANGE AT A GLANCE.
T
The revolutionary design of the D-EVO co-witnesses
perfectly with the Leupold LCO or virtually any red dot
p
sight.
s With a mere eye shift, shooters have both a bold
aiming
a point for fast reflexive shots or a 6X magnified
v
view for longer-range precision. The exclusive CMR-W
rreticle features elevation and wind holds allowing users
tto successfully estimate range and engage targets at
d
distance. The D-EVO is 100% waterproof and
o
occupies minimal rail space. Double your
c
carbines capabilities with the D-EVO.
(D-EVO shown with
Leupold LCO)

2016 Leupold & Stevens, Inc. LEUPOLD.COM/DEVO

OFFICIAL JOURNAL
The Armed Citizen
P
olice officers serve to protect the public, but a member of the public protected a police
officer in Philadelphia recently. Dozens of high schoolers had formed a group to
watch an Upper Darby police officer break up a fight between two teenage boys. While
he was holding them apart, a couple of teens from the crowd jumped on the policemans
back. A passerby repeatedly yelled at the attackers to get off of the officer, but to no avail. The
man, though, had a permit to carry a concealed handgun, and he pulled his gun as one of the
teens started reaching for the officers service gun. When one of the attackers saw the gun in
the armed citizens hand, that boy passed the word along to his cohorts, who then scurried
off. Despite that attack, the police officer kept the original fighters contained and took them in
for their part in the initial scuffle. It was scary to do it, the citizen said. Would I do it again? Of
course, but I dont want to have to. (Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, Pa., 2/10/16)

I
n a second case of a citizen helping
out law enforcement, Texas Deputy
Dylan Dorris credits a Marine veteran
with saving his life. A violent suspect was
beating up on Dorris and trying to get the
officers gun. But the former Marine, who
had served two tours in Iraq, pulled his
a rare coin shop one Saturday afternoon.
The businessmandespite the fact that
one of the robbers struck him in the
head with a blunt instrumentgrabbed
his gun and fired, shooting one of the
criminals. The thieves then fled, and the
wounded suspect was later dropped
suspects she had a gun, and they ran back
to the van and drove off. Police have ar-
rested the suspects and are investigat-
ing whether they were responsible for
other burglaries in the neighborhood.
(The Times, Valparaiso, Ind., 2/11/16)

concealed handgun and told the criminal
to freeze. The threat was enough to scare
off the assailant, who was apprehended
soon after by Dorris and another deputy.
The suspect was charged for his role in
the assault, as well as in the erratic driving
and child-endangerment situation that
preceded the attack. (Austin American-
off outside a hospital emergency room.
Gold coins and bullion bars fell out of his
pockets as the doctors treated him. The
man later died and police are looking
for his accomplices. The shop owner
was treated for his injuries. (Albuquerque
Journal, Albuquerque, N.M., 1/31/16)
A
barber and one of his customers
turned the tables on a couple of
armed robbers, killing one and
chasing off the other. The Next Up Barber
& Beauty shop in Columbia, S.C., was do-
ing a brisk business one Friday evening in
January. With customers filling the barber
chairs and others waiting for service, two

T
Statesman, Austin, Texas, 1/28/16) wo men have been arrested in armed men entered the establishment.
connection with an attempted bur- One intruder with a handgun man-

A
valet who works at the General
Motors Technical Center helped
plant security forces apprehend
a stabbing suspect before police arrived.
A woman stopped by the Warren, Mich.,
business, checked in at the visitors desk
and asked to see a specific employee.
When the worker arrived, she and the
visitor talked and then stepped outside
the lobby. There, the visitor pulled out
a steak knife and started stabbing the
employee. A valet, with a permit to
carry, pulled his concealed handgun and
ordered the assailant to stop. GM secu-
rity officers then arrived and held the
suspect for police. (The Macomb Daily,
Macomb, Mich., 2/11/16)
glary in Indiana that ended after handled some customers to steal their
the homeowner used a gun to scare off money; his accomplice pushed another
the intruders. A woman, who was alone in barber to the floor and used a shotgun to
her home, said a white van was driven up keep most customers cowering in their
to her residence. Shortly thereafter, she chairs. After the man with the handgun
heard the doorbell. Because she didnt took money out of the barbers pocket
recognize the van, wasnt expecting any then turned his attention to customers
deliveries and couldnt see who rang the waiting for haircuts, the barber and one
bell, the woman didnt answer the door. of his clients drew guns of their own and
Soon, she heard the chime from the rear shot at the assailants. The one armed
door. The woman retrieved her firearm with the handgun died, the other fled.
and called the police. She then told the (The State, Columbia, S.C., 1/26/16)
If you have a firsthand Armed Citizen experience,
call NRA-ILA PR/Communications at (703) 267-3820.
Studies indicate that firearms are used more than 2 million times a year for personal protection,
and that the presence of a firearm, without a shot being fired, prevents crime in many instances.
Shooting usually can be justified only where crime constitutes an immediate, imminent threat

G
reed spelled death for a gold
thief in New Mexico. Several in-
truders tried to rob the owner of
to life, limb, or, in some cases, property. Anyone is free to quote or reproduce these accounts.
Send clippings via e-mail to armedcitizen@nrahq.org, or by mail to The Armed Citizen, 11250
Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030-9400. For bonus features, visit The Armed Citizen Blog at
americanrifleman.org. View this column online at nrapublications.org.

10 MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

 RUGER 10/22

TAKEDOWN

CONVENIENT FOR STORAGE

A N D T R A N S P O R T A T I ON
The Ruger 10/22 Takedown combines all of
the features and functionality of the 10/22 rifle,
with the ability to easily separate the barrel
from the action for convenient storage and
transportation. The simple reassembly of the
barrel and action yields a rock-solid return to
zero for consistent, reliable performance.
Packed in a convenient carry-case (included),
the Ruger 10/22 Takedown makes it easy to
keep Americas favorite rimfire rifle by your side.

Patented,
Detachable
10-Round
Rotary
Magazine

Barrel and Action Easily Separated

and Reassembled for Ease Recessed
of Transportation and Storage Locking Lever

Join Ruger and help us raise $4,000,000 for the NRA.

RUGER .COM/2MILLION
2016 Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. 020516
OFFICIAL JOURNAL

standing guard
By Wayne LaPierre, Executive Vice President

When it Comes to Gun Rights,

2016 Election Is About The Court, Too

W
ith the death of Justice Antonin
Scalia, the precarious one-vote
majority of U.S. Supreme Court
justices who stand behind the Second
Amendment has vanished, leaving the
future of the individual right to keep and
bear arms in the deepest jeopardy.
This election year, the future direc-
tion of the highest court in the land is
up for grabs.
In the short term, the efforts of the
pro-Second Amendment U.S. Senate ma-
jority to prevent President Barack Obama
from nominating a successor to Justice
Scalia is of paramount importance and
demands our most vocal support.
If the Senate stands strong against
Obamas certain attempt to replace
Justice Scalia with an anti-gun nominee,
Ruth Bader Ginsburg before the elite
Harvard Club in Washington, D.C., when
she called the courts 2008 landmark
decision in District of Columbia v. Heller
a case that enshrined the Second
Amendment as an individual right
grievously mistaken.
Past minority dissents, she said, are
future majority rulings.
Of Heller, she said, I would rank as
a dissenting opinion appealing to the
intelligence of a future day.
To understand the future day envi-
sioned by Justice Ginsburg, look to Jus-
tice John Paul Stevens dissent in Heller:
The Second Amendment was
adopted to protect the right of the
people of each of the several States to
maintain a well-regulated militia there
In sum, we hold that the Districts
ban on handgun possession in the home
violates the Second Amendment, as does
its prohibition against rendering any law-
ful firearm in the home operable for the
purpose of immediate self-defense.
Saying the American people have
considered the handgun to be the quint-
essential self-defense weapon, Scalia
declared that a complete prohibition of
their use is invalid.
Furthermore, Scalias brilliant opinion
also opened the way for future Second
Amendment challenges saying, [W]hat-
ever else it leaves to future evaluation, it
surely elevates above all other interests
the right of law-abiding, responsible
citizens to use arms in defense of hearth
and home.

If the Senate stands strong against Obamas certain

attempt to replace Justice Scalia with an anti-gun nominee,
the very existence of the Second Amendment will depend
on the outcome of the November elections.

the very existence of the Second Amend-
ment will depend on the outcome of the
November elections.
For the nations 100 million gun own-
ersled by the National Rifle Associa-
tionthe election of Hillary Clinton as
president, coupled with the election of
a Senate led by arch gun-banner New
York U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, would
guarantee that the high court would be
dominated by progressives, who would
doubtless reverse the landmark deci-
sions upholding the Second Amendment
as an individual right.
Any doubt about that outcome of
a shift in the makeup of the high court
is erased by a boast made by Justice
is no indication that the Framers of the
Amendment intended to enshrine the
common-law right of self-defense in the
Constitution.
But given the conservative majority of
one justice, that arrogant defamation of
libertyutterly denigrating the individual
right to keep and bear armswas the los-
ing objection to what was a remarkably
clear, earth-shaking 64-page opinion in
Heller penned by Justice Scalia declaring:
The Second Amendment protects
an individual right to possess a firearm
unconnected with service in a militia,
and to use that arm for traditionally law-
ful purposes, such as self-defense within
the home.
The Heller decision was followed
almost exactly two years later with
the high court extending the Second
Amendment to every corner of the na-
tion in the 5-to-4 decision in McDonald v.
City of Chicago.
That case was brought by an Ameri-
can patriotOtis McDonald, an elderly
black resident of Chicago, a veteran with
extraordinary courage. Mr. McDonald,
who lived in a once-quiet neighborhood
now saturated with criminal violence,
simply wanted to keep a handgun in his
home to defend himself and his family.
Denied that individual right, he sought the
protection of the Second Amendment.
He got it when the U.S. Supreme Court

Like us on Facebook at the National Rifle Association. View this column online at nrapublications.org.

12 MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN


ruled 5-to-4 that Chicagos ban was
unconstitutional, and thus extended the
Second Amendment protections to gun
restrictions at all levels of government.
With Justice Scalias deathand with
as many as three other Supreme Court
vacancies possible in the near future
there will be a seismic shift in judicial
philosophy if the enemies of liberty gain
control of the executive and legislative
branches of government.
The dissenters in McDonald were
even more strident in their opposition
to individual liberty than those justices
who had objected to Heller: In an ag-
gressive dissenting opinion, Justices
Steven Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and
Ginsburg declared:
[T]he Framers did not write the
Second Amendment in order to protect a
private right of armed self-defense. And
By its terms, the Second Amendment
does not apply to the States; read prop-
erly, it does not even apply to individuals
outside of the militia context.
Justice Breyer fumed, After all, the
Amendments militia-related purpose is
primarily to protect States from federal
regulation, not to protect individuals.
Consider that those justices lost their
chance to liquidate the Second Amend-
ment merely by a single vote.
And in his off-the-wall dissent, Justice
Stevens similarly attacked the majority
in Heller: In my view, the Court badly
misconstrued the Second Amendment
in linking it to the value of personal self-
defense above and beyond the function-
ing of the state militias.
What was most bizarre is that the
dissentersin denying the Second
Amendment as an individual rightalso
indirectly embraced the firearm confisca-
tion schemes of England and Australia.
Stevens wrote, [T]he experience of
other advanced democracies, including
those that share our British heritage,
undercuts the notion that an expansive
right to keep and bear arms is intrinsic to
ordered liberty.
[I]t is sillyindeed, arrogantto
think we have nothing to learn about lib-
erty from the billions of people beyond
our borders.
Liberty? British heritage?
Hes clearly talking about the liberty
1.800.822.4653
Please read important customer disclosures on our website or that accompany products purchased, including arbitration agreement.
of civil disarmament in Australia and the
United Kingdom.
continued on p. 14
LIMITED-EDITION SIGNATURE LABEL
Dr. Mike Fuljenz and Universal Coin & Bullion have
been strong NRA supporters for over 10 years.
Im proud to join with Mike and announce the release
of Universal Coin & Bullions NRA Signature Series
Silver Eagles. $2 will be provided to the NRA for every
Wayne LaPierre facsimile signature coin sold.
Thank you for your support of the NRA and
this important new program!
- Wayne LaPierre
FREE SHIPPING
& Insurance
each First 100 Orders
(check/wire price) ($5 Value)
Limit 10 per household
+NRA Contribution With Each Coin Sold
For every facsimile signature label coin sold, Universal Coin &
Bullion will provide the NRA $2 to help our continuing fight to
protect our 2nd Amendment rights in what may be the most
important election year of our time.
+Wayne LaPierre Authorized Facsimile Signature
Each limited-edition MS69 signature label 2016 $1 Silver
American Eagle has an authentic Wayne LaPierre
authorized facsimile certificate label.
+PCGS Certified MS69
The Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), one of the most
trusted national authentication and grading services, certified each
limited-edition facsimile signature label and brilliant uncirculated
Silver Eagle in MS69 condition. Coins are graded on a universal
70-point scale, with Mint State 70 (MS70) considered perfect by
experts. Each of these Silver Eagles has been certified Near Perfect
MS69 by PCGS, and selected for this limited offer by coin expert &
Universal Coin President, Dr. Mike Fuljenz.
+U.S. Government Guarantee
The United States Government guarantees the 1 ounce weight
and 99.9% pure fine silver content of American Silver Eagles.
With Universal Coins NRA Signature Series, Wayne LaPierre joins
many other PCGS certified notable figure signatures including:
Presidents - George H. Bush and Gerald Ford U.S. Mint Directors
- Donna Pope and Jay W. Johnson, and over 40 Hall Of Fame
Images are not to scale.
baseball players like Nolan Ryan, Cal Ripken and Hank Aaron.
Please allow three weeks for delivery of all orders. Price subject to change
check / money order Limit 10 per household Availability not guaranteed No Dealers Please Silver basis $15.03
Vault Verification: UAMRFCS0516
Offer Expires: 05/28/16
The Exclusive Precious Metals & Rare
Coin Expert of NRA Publications
Beaumont, Tx
+ Proud Sponsor: +
+ Eddie Eagle GunSafe+
+ Program +
 STANDING GUARD
continued from p. 13
That is the same evil concept touted
by Obama and wholeheartedly em-
braced by Hillary Clinton. England and
Australia are an Orwellian nightmare
where ordinary peaceable, law-abiding
citizensduly licensed gun owners
were forced to turn in their registered
firearms for destruction. Those guns, the
private property of law-abiding citizens,
were turned into soup cans and park
benches.
And when the dissenters talk about
billions of people beyond our borders,
they are talking about the international
norms of the United Nations, usurping
American laws and our constitution.
Citing the laws, court decisions, and
constitutions of foreign nations is some-
thing some of the progressive justices
have espoused in hearing cases that have
come before the U.S. Supreme Court.
But it gets worse. Justice Ginsburg,
who has sworn to uphold the Constitu-
tion of the United States, finds that hal-
lowed document wholly inferior to the
constitutions of other nations.
In an Egyptian television interview
in January 2011, she disavowed the U.S.
Constitution saying:
I would not look to the U.S. Consti-
tution if I were drafting a constitution
in the year 2012.I might look at the
Constitution of South Africa a funda-
mental instrument of government that
embraced basic human rights.
You might ask, why would a U.S.
Supreme Court justice prefer another
constitution to that which was forged in
Philadelphia more than 200 years ago?
What makes the South African constitu-
tion so superior?
In that document, the inalienable
individual rights spelled out in our Bill
of Rights and the limits on government
in our constitution are replaced with
something its proponents call positive
rights. These are rights possessed by
government to intervene in social and
economic life, promoting equality rather
than simply procedural fairness.
And civil disarmament is among
those rights of government intervention.
Its senseless, but here we have a U.S.
Supreme Court justice who might find
herself in the majority embracing the
very essence of undefined and unknown
social justice.
Again, remember the vacancy left by
14 MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
the passing of Justice Scalia. Thats the
future if Hillary, Schumer and Nancy Pelosi
take power and pack the Supreme Court.
We can stop them.
Remember, in politics and in legisla-
tive bodies, they who have the biggest
number win. And if the gun banners get
the biggest number, they win every-
thing. If enough Democrats were elected
in November to give them a majority in
the Senate, Schumer would control the
agenda, the calendar and the committee
structure. In doing so, you can bet the
farm that our guns and our culture would
be a favored target for eradication.
If you think Harry Reid was bad, imag-
ine Schumer, who is even more danger-
ous to the Second Amendment.
A Schumer Senate would ensure that
a progressive Supreme Court majority
might just last a lifetime.
In order to protect the seminal gains
of Heller and McDonald, and to form a
U.S. Supreme Court that will continue
to uphold the U.S. Constitution, three
elements are absolutely crucial in this
upcoming election.
We must elect a president who
believes and will fight for the Second
Amendment. We must defeat Hillary
Clinton and end once and for all the
Clintons corrupt political machine along
with their gun-ban dynasty.
We must elect a Schumer-proof U.S.
Senate and maintain the current Second
Amendment-majoritya majority that
will protect our hard-fought liberty using
its duty to advise and consent on any
nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court and
the federal courts in general.
And we need to maintain the Second
Amendment-majority in the U.S. House
of Representatives.
With the future direction of the court
at stake, there has never been a more
important election than this one.
We must start early and be un-
ceasing in our efforts to educate and
organize others. We are the vanguard.
NRA members are the leaders in what
can only be considered the crucial fight
for liberty, and the very future of that
liberty is at stake.
UNLEASH THE WARRIOR SPIRIT.

SERIOUS USERS DEMAND SERIOUS TOOLS.

Welcome to the Legion. Bound together by the greatest
demands and the highest expectations. Our most popular
platforms with the most requested enhancements.
Purpose built. Performance tested. Only for the elite few.

LEGIONSERIES.COM

#JoinSigLegion
OFFICIAL JOURNAL
presidents column
By Allan D. Cors, President
Mentoring Provides a Path to Achieving Life,
Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness
L
ife, Liberty and the Pursuit of
Happiness. That is the unique
promise in the Declaration of
Independence that sets Americans apart
from every other people on the Earth. It
is the essence of American freedom.
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Hap-
piness. When you think about it, those
words also represent the core values of
the National Rifle Association of America.
They are the mission statement for ev-
erything we are and everything we do.
LIFE. The NRA, through a host of pro-
grams and outreach initiatives, provides
the best firearm safety instruction in the
world. We train individual adults, kids,
police and the military. In doing so, since
our founding in 1871, we have saved
countless lives.
Then consider all of our successful
ongoing efforts to secure laws protect-
ing and expanding the life-saving right
to armed self-defense.
LIBERTY. We are the oldest
civil rights organization in the nation.
Through our unbending efforts, we
have steadfastly protected not only
the Second Amendment, but the First
Amendment as wellassuring that all
individual Americans share the ability to
assemble and speak out.
Without the leadership of every NRA
member, I have no doubt that Americans
long ago would have seen the kind of
tyranny that has disarmed our cousins in
Australia and the United Kingdom.
Clearly, through our joined efforts as
NRA OFFICERS
Allan D. Cors, PRESIDENT
Pete R. Brownell, FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
Richard Childress, SECOND VICE PRESIDENT
Wayne LaPierre, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
John Frazer, SECRETARY
Wilson H. Phillips Jr., TREASURER
R. Kyle Weaver, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
GENERAL OPERATIONS
Christopher W. Cox, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
INSTITUTE FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION
For news about your NRA, visit: nra.org and nranews.com View this column online at nrapublications.org
16
the most effective grass-roots lobby in
the nation, we have used our freedom
to protect those God-given rights that
preserve liberty for all Americans.
PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS. That
last promise of freedom is perhaps
the most remarkable, especially when
applied under the protection of the
Second Amendment. Imagine all of
the diverse activities involving firearms
that individual Americans have chosen
to peacefully pursue. Gun collecting,
hunting, competitive shooting, plinking,
scholarship, invention and history. And
thats just the beginning. In all of these
activities that represent the pursuit of
happiness under the Second Amend-
ment, the NRA is leading the way.
As I travel across the country, people
ask, What can one person do to make a
difference? How can a single individual
help our cause of freedom and assure
that our grandchildren and their children
know the same Second Amendment
liberty that we enjoy today?
My answer is always the same: Be a
mentor. (Please see pages 60-61 to read
more about our Mentor Initiative.)
Whatever your passion is involving
the exercise of the right to keep and bear
arms, pass it on.
When I was a youngster growing up
in Cincinnati, I was fortunate enough
to have been mentored, first by target
shooters and hunters, then by collec-
torsindividuals who welcomed my in-
terest; individuals whose advice and care
nurtured what became lifelong passions.
Then as an adult I discovered more
mentors who gave me wonderful guid-
ance and shared their knowledge, in my
case, of high-power rifle competition.
I have never forgotten their lessons
and kindness. And I abide by the fun-
damental notion of paying back those
good people by doing what they did for
me for someone else.
Nothing that you can do is more
MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
important. Pass on the gift of passion
for all we do under the protection of the
Second Amendment.
Being a mentor means that our
wonderful past of freely exercising the
Second Amendment will become a part
of the new generations future.
But with the coming election, our
heritage, our culture and the very future
of liberty are all at stake.
In her bid to take the White House,
Hillary Clinton has embraced the tyran-
nical gun confiscations that disarmed
hundreds of thousands of law-abiding
firearm owners of their registered guns
in Australia and the United Kingdom.
Furthermore, she pledged to pack the
U.S. Supreme Court with liberal jus-
tices to reverse the landmark decisions
penned by the late Justice Antonin Scalia
upholding the Second Amendment.
Whatever personal reasons we espouse
for belonging to the NRAfirearm col-
lecting, hunting, competition, firearm
history or saving liberty itselfit all boils
down to the single most important com-
mon bond among five million free Ameri-
cans: protecting the Second Amendment.
Especially in this most crucial political
yearwith the presidency, the Congress
and the Supreme Court at stakeit is
paramount that we all, as mentors for the
preservation of the Second Amendment,
educate and advise our friends, family
and co-workers to prepare them to make
informed decisions at the ballot box.
The future of those three profound
elements promised in the Declaration of
IndependenceLife, Liberty and the Pur-
suit of Happinesshinges on the outcome
of this election. We must keep the Second
Amendment majorities in the House and
especially the Senate, and we must elect
a president who will carry on the vision of
freedom established by the Founders.
THE RETURN
OF A LEGEND

PPK
The Walther PPK is one of the original
concealed carry and personal protection
firearms and is truly a legend in the world
of handguns just a couple of reasons
why Walther Arms are Built for Life. BUILT FOR LIFE.
WaltherArms.com/ppkar
OFFICIAL JOURNAL
political report
By Chris W. Cox, NRA-ILA Executive Director
Disarmament Cloaked as Common Sense
G
un control advocates have been
at their civilian-disarmament
campaign for so long that astute
observers will notice the same tactics
and approaches returning time and
again to the political landscape. When
the American public rejects gun control
schemes, anti-gun groups simply re-
package their old material and strategies
of attack. In recent years, such groups
have taken to labeling any proposed
restriction, no matter how onerous or
ineffective, as common sense.
Your membership dues
are not enough.
If you want to defend your right to own and
carry a firearm
If your freedom to hunt and shoot is
important to you
Then you need to support the NRA
Institute for Legislative Action.
We are the only arm of NRA specifically charged
with defending your Second Amendment
freedoms on Capitol Hill, and in state
legislatures and courtrooms across America.
Visit nraila.org/donate
to support NRA-ILA today!
Common sense is a somewhat
subjective term, but the gun control
movements obvious intent is to portray
their proposals as popular, reasonable
and benign. Alternatively, gun rights
positions are to be considered extreme
and out of touch. In reality, this is just
a flimsy attempt to veil the oppressive
consequences of their proposals.
Everytown for Gun Safetys materials
are replete with appeals for common-
sense gun laws. Everytowns website
asks visitors to become gun sense voters,
NRA-ILA: (800) 392-8683 NRA-ILA website: nraila.org View this column online at nrapublications.org
18
people who will fight for common-
sense laws to reduce gun violence. The
Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence has
teamed up with the gun control group
Americans for Responsible Solutions to
issue Commonsense Solutions toolkits
for policymakers.
On Jan. 5, when Barack Obama an-
nounced his executive actions on gun
control, he used common sense five
times during his speech. Only two days
later, he used the term again to describe
his anti-gun agenda during a CNN town
hall. Then on Jan. 20, Attorney General
Loretta Lynch defended the presidents
unilateral actions as common-sense
steps to promote public safety.
Does all this sound familiar? It should.
The common-sense attack has been
routine among anti-gunners for decades.
In promotional materials from the late
1970s, handgun prohibitionist group
Handgun Control Inc. (now the Brady
Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence)
presented its litany of anti-gun propos-
als as common sense. Of course, this
is the same group that fought for a 1976
Massachusetts referendum to completely
ban handguns in the state.
President Bill Clinton was also fond of
the common sense argument. In 2000,
he labeled those opposed to a federal
gun buy back program as opponents
of common-sense gun safety. This
was despite the fact that Clintons own
Department of Justice determined two
years earlier that buy back programs
were useless, something many of the
most prominent anti-gun researchers
also concluded in the years to come.
We need to look no further than
California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom to
show where these common-sense pro-
posals lead. On Oct. 15, 2015, Newsom
announced that he would be pushing a
ballot initiative to force a litany of new
restrictions on law-abiding Californians,
all in the name of common sense. In
MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
a press release for the cleverly named
Safety for All Act of 2016, the referen-
dum campaign described it as a pack-
age of common-sense gun reforms.
California is already home to some
of the most oppressive gun laws in the
nation, including many measures that
gun control advocates sold as common
sense when pushing for their enact-
ment. California gun owners are subject
to universal background checks for all
but the most limited firearm transfers,
as well as gun registration, gun owner
licensing and a ban on popular semi-
automatic rifles and magazines. Thats
enough common sense to choke the
Second Amendment into oblivion.
However, this level of control isnt
enough for Newsom and his followers,
so more common-sense measures are
required. The referendum includes a total
ban on possession of previously grand-
fathered magazines capable of holding
more than 10 rounds, mandatory reporting
of lost or stolen firearms and a requirement
that ammunition purchases be conducted
pursuant to background checks and record
keeping. The fact that New York recently
found a similar ammunition scheme
entirely unworkable suggests that such
restrictions are, if anything, completely
devoid of common sense.
Gun control advocates know full
well that the American public does not
embrace their ultimate goal of civil-
ian disarmament. However, they are
convinced this goal can be reached by
gradually diminishing our rights over
time, all the while purporting that each
successive step is simply common
sense. It is up to gun rights supporters to
educate the American people about the
ways in which gun control supporters
deliberately conceal their true agenda to
eliminate our freedom.
IN T R ODU C I N G T H E N E W B A R R E T T S OV E R E I G N S E R I E S O F S H O T G U N S.
Italian design combined with Barrett precision make for a new line of shotguns truly deserving of
our family name. The Albany (over-under) and Beltrami (side-by-side) are available in 12, 20 and 28 gauge.
Sovereign by Barrett. Perform, Never Pretend.
Photo by AP Images/J. Scott Applewhite

ILA STORY

It is All on the Line

Suprem
 By Chris W. Cox

in 2016
NRA-ILA
Executive Director

me Court
Nominations

Photo by AP Images/Charles Rex Arbogast

Hang in the Balance

O
n Feb. 13, Second Amendment advocates and other patriotic Americans were
shocked with news of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalias sudden death
at the Cibolo Creek Ranch in West Texas. An avid sportsman, the 79-year-old had
spent the previous day on a quail hunt. His body was found the next morning in
his room, his death attributed to natural causes.
Justice Scalias passing puts the Second Amendment at a crossroads. As I will explain
below, his replacement will either reinforce the Supreme Courts recognition of the individual
right to keep and bear arms or contribute to its ultimate destruction.
But first, we should pay tribute to this legal giant and the indelible mark he left on Americas
constitutional understanding after nearly three decades on our nations highest court.
Antonin Scalia was born in 1936 in Trenton, N.J. His father was an Italian immigrant and his
mother was the daughter of Italian immigrants. He grew up in Queens, N.Y., as America was
struggling to rebound from the Great Depression and then emerging victorious in World War II.

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG MAY 2016 21

ILA STORY
His parents were devout Catholics and
passed on to him the values of faith, hard
work, discipline and respect for America,
its laws and its institutions.
Justice Scalia attended a Jesuit mili-
tary school in Manhattan, and by his own
estimation was not a cool kid. He was,
however, a gifted scholar and finished
first in his class. He went on to graduate
valedictorian and summa cum laude from
Georgetown University and to receive his
law degree from Harvard.
Justice Scalia was nominated to the
Supreme Court in 1986 by President
Ronald Reagan. He was confirmed by
the U.S. Senate on a vote of 98-0. Before
joining the court, Justice Scalia had
served on the U. S. Court of Appeals for
the District of Columbia Circuit.
Firearms were not an abstraction to
Scalia, as he was an avid hunter and out-
doorsman. He even made a point of men-
toring fellow Supreme Court justice Elena
Kagan in her first exposure to shooting and
hunting, after she promised during her
confirmation to try hunting with anybody
who would invite her. I grew up at a time
when people were not afraid of people
with firearms, Scalia recounted in 2006.
He went on to reminisce about traveling
from Queens to Manhattan while carrying
the firearm he used as a member of his
schools rifle team. Could you imagine do-
ing that today in New York City?
Underscoring his character, Scalia is
warmly remembered by his ideological
opposites on the Supreme Court. Be-
sides introducing Justice Kagan to the
shooting sports, he was a close friend of
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the courts
most consistently liberal vote, bonding
with her over shared family vacations
and operas. Whats not to like? Scalia
once joked about their friendship. Ex-
cept her views on the law, of course.
Justice Scalias reputation as a fierce
and committed defender of the U.S.
Constitution is unparalleled. He was the
nations chief proponent of the concepts of
originalism and textualism. Originalism is
a form of constitutional interpretation that
uses history, linguistics and text to deter-
mine the meaning of the Constitution as
understood by its framers. Textualism simi-
larly focuses on the actual words of legal
enactments to determine their meaning.
Both techniques are designed to con-
strain the role of the judicial discretion in
deciding cases. Justice Scalia was firmly
22
committed to the rule of law, and he criti-
cized the concept of a living Constitution
that yields to judicial preferences and
changing social conventions. As he said
in 2013, The judge who always likes the
results he reaches is a bad judge.
Originalism and textualism were on
full display in Justice Scalias 2008 majority
opinion in District of Columbia v. Heller. This
case repudiated the judicial fiction em-
braced by many academics that the Sec-
ond Amendment confers only a collective
right and is therefore a dead letter. Justice
Scalias opinion methodically dismantled
this argument by focusing on the words of
the Second Amendment as they were un-
derstood by the people who actually wrote
them (and not later by elites who deem
firearms a social ill). It then went on to
demonstrate how the early case law, com-
mentary and constitutions of the states
reinforce the courts conclusion that the
Second Amendment protects an individual
right to keep and bear arms, independent
of service in an organized militia.
Heller also dismissed the idea that
criminal misuse of firearms requires
judges to have broad discretion in deter-
mining whether gun control laws violate
the Second Amendment by balancing
the interests at stake. A constitutional
guarantee subject to future judges
assessments of its usefulness is no con-
stitutional guarantee at all, Justice Scalia
wrote for the majority. Constitutional
rights are enshrined with the scope
they were understood to have when the
people adopted them, whether or not
future legislatures or (yes) even future
judges think that scope too broad.
Unfortunately, lower courts have
largely defied this guidance. And Justice
Scalia will never have the opportunity to
set them straight with his characteristic
wit and bluntness. He did, however, join
two dissents from the courts denial
of a writ of certiorari, in which he and
Justice Clarence Thomas chastised their
court for failing to consider subsequent
Second Amendment cases and the lower
courts for ignoring the Supreme Courts
Second Amendment jurisprudence.
The first of those opinions (concern-
ing a San Francisco safe storage ordi-
nance) stated, Despite the clarity with
which we described the Second Amend-
ments core protection for the right of
self-defense, lower courts, including
the ones here, have failed to protect it.
MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
More recently, when the Supreme Court
refused to hear a 7th Circuit opinion up-
holding a Chicago area ban on popular
semi-automatic firearms, Thomas and
Scalia wrote, Based on its crabbed read-
ing of Heller, the [7th] Circuit felt free to
adopt a test for assessing firearm bans
that eviscerates many of the protections
recognized in Heller and McDonald.
Both the Heller and McDonald cases
were decided by 5-4 margins. So its no
exaggeration to say that the continued
vitality of the Second Amendment
depends on who ends up filling the
vacancy left by Justice Scalias passing.
I have previously discussed at length
how President Obama and Hillary Clinton
are not only anti-gun, but radically and
devoutly so. Obama once defended the
very D.C. handgun ban that the Heller de-
cision ruled unconstitutional. And Hillary
Clinton told a group of wealthy donors
in New York that the Supreme Court
was wrong to embrace Justice Scalias
opinion on the Second Amendment. Both
have openly endorsed Australias confisca-
tory approach to gun control, which fea-
tured massive retroactive gun bans that
forced law-abiding owners to surrender
their firearms to the government.
The appointment of Scalias succes-
sor represents a clear line in the sand.
Neither of Obamas Supreme Court
nominees, Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor,
support our right to keep and bear arms,
despite assurances during their confir-
mation hearings that they viewed Heller
as settled law. It would be a disaster for
the Constitution and the country if Jus-
tice Scalia is replaced by someone who is
not completely and publicly committed
to upholding our fundamental, individu-
al right to keep and bear arms.
The same goes for Hillary Clinton. She
must never be given the chance to make
good on her promise to make that case [of
how wrong Heller was] every chance I get.
With Justice Scalias death, America
has lost one of its greatest defenders of
the Constitution. Whether his defining
contribution on the Second Amendment is
carried forward to succeeding generations
or dismissed as a brief and inconsequen-
tial aberration is now up to us. The next
president might well have the opportunity
to nominate more Supreme Court justices.
Now, more than ever, we must ensure that
the person who does that can be trusted to
uphold our right to keep and bear arms.
 VP SERIES PISTOLS . . .
STRIKER FIRED WITH NO COMPROMISE
NOW WITH .40 CALIBER POWER.

From the company that pioneered the first striker fired and polymer pistols more than forty
VP40 (.40 S&W) or VP9 (9 mm) with easy to change
years ago comes the reset the industry has been waiting for. The Heckler & Koch VP Series has backstraps and grip panels for a personalized fit
all of the features that youre looking for in a handgun. VP pistols use HKs ergonomic handgun
grip design that includes changeable backstraps and grip side panels accommodating all
hand sizes. Only HK handguns have such a personalized grip.

The VP trigger surpasses those found on competitors and has been widely hailed as a ground-
breaking component. It has a short, light take-up with a solid, single action type break followed
by a short positive reset. Add in features like controls that are completely ambidextrous, HKs
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.

All at a remarkable price and backed by Heckler & Kochs legendary German quality and an
exceptional lifetime warranty.

:::+.86$&20
 The Most
Comprehensive
Legal Protection
for Armed
Self Defense
in America!
SecondCallDefense.org
Includes insurance backed by the
NRA endorsed insurance program,
administered by Lockton Affinity, LLC.
y 24/7 Emergency Hotline
y Nationwide Attorneys
y Immediate, Up-Front Cash
y Bond, Legal Fees, More
y Wage Compensation
y Aftermath Cleanup
y Personal Crisis Manager
y Expert Witnesses
y Gun Retrieve or Replace
y Psychological Support
y On-Site Assistance
y No Out-of-Pocket Costs
y Nothing to Repay Ever
y Good in All 50 States
y Membership starts at $9.95
y Add Spouse for as little as $5
More at SecondCallDefense.org
Get Your FIRST MONTH
FREE!
Complete the sign up form online and
Enter Special Offer Code
RIFLEMAN
Well mail a check with your Welcome Kit
to reimburse you for your rst month.
HURRY! LIMITED TIME OFFER.
JOIN TODAY!
SecondCallDefense.org
READERS WRITE
A Belated Thompson In Country
I
know this is a little late, but Capt. Dale Dyes article Small Arms Of The
Vietnam War (October 2015, p. 62) inspired me to dig up a photo from the
past. In late 1968, I was with 1st Battalion, 5th Marines on an ugly knob
called Phu Loc when the Tet Offensive began. In short order, we were sent first
to Phu Bai then on up to Hue to reinforce the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines. I was
sent as security on a rough rider back down to Phu Bai for supplies and was
able to stay a day or two where a friend took the attached photo of me with a
Thompson. I returned to Hue and was wounded on 17 February, and the war was
overat least as far as I was concerned.
I was interested to see Capt. Dye mention the liberation of various arms
from World War II that had been in a Vietnamese armory. I thought the photo
might rekindle some memories. Semper fi, Capt. Dye.
CPL. WILLIAM MCPHERSON, USMC (RET.), VIA EMAIL
M1 Carbine Context
I
enjoyed When The Deer Come Running by Martin K.A. Morgan about the
arms of the Forgotten War in Korea (February 2016, p. 48). The author
gave a great account of John Red Parkinsons experiences as a member of
the Weapons Company of the 3rd Battalion of the 7th Marine Regiment, and of
Parkinsons direct observations of the effects that the bitter cold had on the
various arms the Marines were issued.
Parkinson reportedly found the M1 carbine useless, saying it had no firepower,
and after a certain incident where he was disappointed in the stopping power of the
.30 Carbine round he discarded his M1 carbine and scrounged up a spare M1 rifle and
never carried a carbine again. I find it interesting that we hear repeatedly of the M1
carbines lack of power when compared to the M1 rifle, even though it was never
intended to compete with or replace the M1 rifle on the battlefield. The M1 carbine
was designed to give support troops a shoulder-fired arm with more firepower than
the M1911A1 sidearm, and longer-range capability and accuracy than a submachine
gun. In its designed role, the M1 carbine more than exceeded expectations.
RANDY HIGGINS, ARKANSAS
Preventing Erosion Of Our Rights
E
xecutive Vice President Wayne LaPierres column, Hillary: Packing the Courts
for a Generation (March 2016, p. 12), was both timely and will likely prove
to be prescient in the aftermath of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalias
unfortunate passing. LaPierres warning that a President Hillary Clinton would
steer the high court sharply to the left is a clarion call to stand firm in the face
of a challenge to the 5-4 Heller decision, which upheld the right of individuals to
own guns as guaranteed by the Second Amendment. Now, more than ever, if the
Second Amendment is to survive further erosion under Clinton or any other liberal
who happens to make it to the White House, its critically important to elect a
U.S. president who takes a strong stand for our constitutional rights and who will
nominate like-minded persons to the court.
As an NRA member and military veteran who cherishes our God-given
freedoms, I applaud LaPierre and his colleagues in leading the fight to preserve
liberty for all Americans.
JOE COSTANZA, VIA EMAIL
Readers Write affords members an opportunity to comment on material published in
American Rifleman. Single-topic letters are preferred and may be edited for brevity. Send letters to:
Readers Write, NRA Publications, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030-9400 or e-mail us at
publications@nrahq.org.
MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
 HE THOUGHT
I WOULDNT BE PREPARED.
THE DOT ON HIS CHEST
PROVED HIM WRONG.

www.crimsontrace.com

Hes hoping youre an easy

target. Bad gamble. With your
handgun and the training to
back it up, a laser sight is the most
common-sense path to
protection in a time of
crisisno matter how dire.
This is Condition Crimson.
AND IN CONDITION
CRIMSON, WE STAND.
Being prepared means making Laser Sights
standard equipment on your personal
protection firearm. Contact Crimson Trace
at 1-800-442-2406 or crimsontrace.com for
your FREE catalog and training DVD.
Celebrate the National Rifle Association
and Freedoms Safest Place with 500,000
sq. ft. of spectacular firearms displays PLUS
high-tech shooting and hunting gear from the worlds top brands!
Book the hunt of a lifetime, view priceless gun collections, check out
the latest ATVs and get tips and tricks from industry pros in exclusive
seminars. Its the cant-miss event of the year!
FREE Exhibit Hall admission to NRA members and their immediate family,
uniformed military, law enforcement and organized youth groups.

Our freedoms and values I cant wait to work with the

are under attack like never
before. But NRA members
are ready to stand and fight,
and were going to prove it to
the world in Louisville.
great patriots in Louisville to
help elect a pro-gun president
next year. If we dont, you
know what well get: Hillary
until 2025.

Wayne LaPierre, Chris W. Cox, NRA-ILA

NRA Executive Vice President Executive Director
 NRA Presents:
Toby Keith Concert
& Saturday Night Rally
visit WWW.NRA.ORG/TOBYKEITH
or call 1-800-745-3000 for tickets!

And get tickets for these exciting events now!

visit WWW.NRAAM.ORG

NRA-ILA Leadership Forum

Friday, May 20, 2016
Freedom Hall at the Kentucky Expo Center

Presenting Sponsor

The NRA Foundation

Banquet & Auction
Thursday, May 19, 2016
Kentucky International Convention Center

And also get your tickets for:

NRA-ILA Dinner & Auction
Friday, May 20, 2016
Galt House Hotel Grand Ballroom
National Prayer Breakfast
Sunday, May 22, 2016
Galt House Hotel

Exhibit Hall Hours: Visit

Friday: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. WWW.NRAAM.ORG
Saturday: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Toll-Free 877.672.7632
Sunday: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. for more information.
2016 National Rifle Association of America
OPENING SHOT
Ensure The Future
Of The Second Amendment
Robert M. Lee, 19272016
T
he multifaceted world of fire-
arms, the shooting sports, and
wildlife and habitat conserva-
tion lost a mighty champion with the
passing of Robert M. Lee on Jan. 28,
2016. Lee, 88, devoted his life to a
deep love of hunting, best-quality
antique and modern guns, rare
automobiles and fine artand the
vital role of sport shooting in the
conservation of wildlife. Among his
keenest passions was NRA and its
noble principles and goals.
Upon learning of Lees passing,
NRA Executive Vice President Wayne
LaPierre said, Bob was an iconic fig-
ure in the gun, hunting and outdoor
world. He was someone I looked up
to all my life, and he was my friend.
An NRA Life member, Lees many
enthusiasms grew out of a patri-
cian upbringing in Woodmere, Long
Island. He and his parents had vast
real estate holdings, which would be
the basis for a fortune Lee was des-
tined to further develop as a builder,
designer and contractor.
With his parents' support, and
through Lees reading, correspondence
28
with the likes of Elmer Keith and Jack
OConnor, and immersion in the many
opportunities for learning about the
outdoor world, Lee joined the ranks of
New Yorkers passionate about wildlife
and conservation. Besides his lifetime
dedication to the NRA, he became a
member of the Boone & Crockett Club
and the Explorers Club of New York.
Between 1955 and 1965, Lees
expeditions to Africahe hunted
in 19 African countriesalso led
to his own outfitting business, Lee
Expeditions. Organizing some 120
safaris with numerous prominent
clients led to his first book, Safari own cartridges, principally the .358
Today (1960). Lees four expeditions and .424 Lee Magnums. He commis-
into the Chinese Pamirs were covered sioned a Purdey double rifle in .465
in China Safari (1988), and he was and a Holland & Holland double in
a professional guide licensed in East .375 H&H Mag. (completed 1959-61).
Africa. His extraordinary collection of These masterpieces were embellished
trophies included numerous species by Joseph Fugger of Abercrombie &
cited in record books and was on view Fitch/Griffin & Howe. Called the fin-
at his private museum in Sparks, Nev. est sporting guns of our time by
Lee also had another passion: the Purdeys Harry Lawrence, these rifles
design, manufacture and collecting of inspired Lee to create the worlds fin-
best-quality firearms. As a teenager he est collection of fine antique and mod-
had invented (and patented) his own ern deluxe firearms, including several
scope mount. Lee also developed his revolvers by Tiffany & Co.
MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN Photos courtesy of Yellowstone Press
 Two of the magnificent Colts from the Robert M. Lee collection
include a gold-inlaid and engraved .36-cal. Model 1851 (l.),
attributed to engravers John Evans and Herman Bodenstein, and
an exquisite .31-cal. Model 1849 Pocket Exhibition revolver.

The love of fine guns, the hunt
and wildlife conservation inspired
Lee to create Hunting World, Inc., in
1965. Based in New York, the firm
quickly expanded into an interna-
tional operation with more than 85
stores. He was also an active sup-
porter of The Metropolitan Museum
of Art, and its Arms and Armor
Department includes the Robert M.
Lee Gallery of American Arms.
Lee was one of the worlds fore-
most automobile collectors, twice
having won Best of Show at the
most renowned of all competitions,
Pebble Beach Concourse dElegance.
Special tours at the Robert M. Lee
Automobile Collection in Reno were
a highlight of such events as the NRA
Annual Meetings in 2002.
A key goal of Lee as an arms
collector was to cover the entire
history of firearms, but he sought
the finest and most artistic and
technically superior examples of the
gun from as early as the 1500s to
the 21st century. In doing so, Lee
became among the most successful
and dedicated patrons of the con-
temporary array of gifted gunmak-
ers, engravers and stockmakers, as
well as a highly competitive seeker
of fine guns at auction. The antique
firearms he collectedand the arms
custom built to his exacting stan-
dardsrepresent the finest artisans
in firearms of all time.
The Robert M. Lee Collection thus
was uniquely qualified as the basis
for the Yellowstone Press series,
The Art of the Gun. Such a high
standard was set by Bob and by his
beloved wife, Anne Brockinton Lee,
that it challenges the standards
of excellence in the world of art,
craftsmanship and fashion in every
respect.
With the multitalented Anne
Brockinton Lee, herself a keen
hunter-conservationist, the couple
attended numerous NRA Annual
Meetings, and Lee was a founding
member of the Hunters Leadership
Forum. Mrs. Lee serves on the board
of The NRA Foundation and NRA
Womens Leadership Forum, and car-
ries on the unique and special legacy
of her late husband.
Through his dedication to the
worlds that he lovedmost promi-
nently that of firearms, hunting, the
shooting sports, and the conservation
of wildlife and habitatsRobert M.
Lee set a standard of excellence and
dedication serving as an inspiration
for all who are fascinated with those
extraordinary worlds.
An article in NRA's Ring of
Freedom summed it all up superbly:
[Bob Lees] love of freedom and
commitment to ensuring the future
of that freedom will always be front
and center. The Right to Keep and
Bear Arms is one of our most pre-
cious rights, Lee said. We all have to
work hard and do our part to ensure
the future of the Second Amendment
is a bright future.
R.L. WILSON

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG MAY 2016 29

RANDOM SHOTS

Jeff Cooper Legacy Foundation Seeks Remington Announces

Scholarship Applicants
S I
ince its founding in 2006, the
Jeff Cooper Legacy Foundation
has awarded scholarships, in
the form of paid tuition to Gunsite
Academys introductory 250 Defensive
Pistol class (gunsite.com), to 34
recipientsand the foundation is now accepting applications for lucky
number 35. Founded to preserve, protect and defend the principle of
self-reliance and the individual right of self-defense, as espoused by
Col. Cooper, the foundation is funded entirely through private dona-
tions. Worth a total of $1,585, the scholarship covers the cost of the
class; however, the recipient will need to provide his or her own firearm,
ammunition and equipment, and is also responsible for any transporta-
tion, meal and boarding costs. Dave Bates, a former recipient of the
scholarship who is also an elementary school principal in southwestern
Pennsylvania, called Gunsites 250 Defensive Pistol class an incredible
experience that would be worthwhile to any shooter of any experience
level. The application, which involves an essay portion, is available on
the foundations website, and scholarship recipients are selected by the
foundations board of directors. jeffcooperfoundation.org
Anniversary Sweepstakes
n celebration of Remingtons bicentennial
anniversary, the company is giving away
20 firearms a month through the end
of 2016. Although content submittal is not
necessary to enter, Big Green is seeking
testimonials from its patrons as a part of
the 200-Gun Remington Country Experience
Sweepstakes. In order to participate, go
to remington.com/200sweepstakes. The
company is asking its customers to share (via
short format video, still photography and
stories) their own Remington moment, a
cherished memory made with a Remington
firearmand a lucky few will have their
content posted on the Remington website
for the world to see. remington.com

its time TO STEP UP.

Discover a higher level of performance

IC
A5
you askedwe built it
find a dealer at
lwrci.com

2016
Shooting Illustrated
Rifle of the year

THE MOST RELIABLE, MOST DURABLE,

FINEST HANDLING SHORT STROKE
PISTON CARBINES IN THE WORLD.

LWRCI | HIGH PERFORMANCE FIREARMS

PROUDLY MADE IN THE USA | LWRCI.COM | 410-90 1-1348
JOIN RUGER

AND HELP US RAISE

$4,000,000 FOR THE NRA-ILA.
IN SPONSORSHIP OF THE
Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. has pledged to donate $2 for each new Ruger firearm sold

between the 2015 and 2016 NRA Annual Meetings, with the goal of giving $4,000,000. Rugers

donation will benefit the NRA Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA). Established in 1975, NRA-ILA is committed to preserving the right of all law-

abiding individuals to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

RUGER.COM/2MILLION
2015 Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. 060915
 PRODUCT PREVIEWS

TCM ROCK STANDARD MS Lucid Rifle Scopes L5

6-24X 50 mm
TCM TAC ULTRA FS HC

L
ucid Rifle Scopes, billed as quality
optics for budget-minded shoot-
ers, offers the L5 6-24X 50 mm for
long-range, precision shooting. Built
on a one-piece, 30 mm 6063 alumium
main tube, the L5s tactical-style
turretswhich are lockable and re-
zeroableoffer repeatable 1/8-m.o.a.
adjustments for windage and eleva-
tion, and a total adjustment range of
50 m.o.a. in each direction. A side
parallax adjustment turret provides
TCM ROCK ULTRA FS a crisp target image over the scopes
entire magnification range. The units
L5 Reticle, located in the second focal
plane, features a 1/8-m.o.a. center
dot, bullet drop compensator dots
spaced every 2 m.o.a. and windage
dots placed 4 m.o.a. apart. A substan-
tial optic measuring 15.25" long,
weighing 24.5 ozs. and having a
34-mm ocular lens, the Lucid Rifle
Scopes L5 6-24X 50 mm boasts 92
percent light transmission and
comes with a limited lifetime war-
ranty. Price: $450. Contact: Lucid
THE TCM FAMILY. ONLY FROM ROCK ISLAND ARMORY. LLC (Dept. AR), 235 Fairway Drive,
Pick your size and get ready for adventure. All TCM handguns shoot your choice of 9mm Riverton, WY 82501; (307) 840-2160;
or Armscors powerful 22 TCM round at over 2,000fps with surprisingly little recoil. mylucidgear.com.
Theyre simply the most potent, versatile 1911s money can buy.
RAPID FIRE
www.RockIslandArmory.com
5.11 TACTICALs Large Drop Pouch pro-
vides expandable storage for MOLLE-
or PALS-equipped platforms. Available
Save On Insurance in four colors, the deployed pouch
measures 10" tall
MEMBER BENEFITS

NRA Endorsed Life, Health, Property, Casualty

For a complete list of Members Only Savings, go to

for members and businesses with a 6" width

http://membership.nrahq.org/affiliates.asp

1-877-672-3006 www.nraendorsedinsurance.com
High Limit Lifeunderwritten
and elastic draw
Insurance Central 1-800-756-6452 x9037 www.icinsure.com/nra cord, and it folds
MetLife Auto and Home away into a com-
1-877-491-5087 www.yourgroupahprogram.com/nra pact 5"x4"x1.25"
package.
Save On Medical Needs
NRA Hearing Benefits 511tactical.com
1-866-619-5889 www.NRAHearingBenefits.com
Life Line Screening
Preventive Screening Services 1-866-651-7926
www.LifeLineScreening.com/NRA
Prescription Drug Discounts
1-855-881-5685 www.nrarx.com

32 MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

 DR&+,33(56QRZDW NEW
DESIGN SELF-FEEDING
RXULowest Prices EVER! Larger
Capacity
models available.
No more force-
Starting feeding!
at just CHIP BIG
$
79999 BRANCHES up
to 5.75" thick!
COMMERCIAL STYLE high-
discharging models direct wood
chips right where you want them.
MODELS that SHRED yard and
garden waste as well as CHIP
branches.

91099X 2016
PTO MODELS TOO!

'5FKLSSHUFRP

SIMPLER 7XUQ<RXU5RXJK
67521*(5 'ULYHZD\LQWRD
)$67(5 6PRRWK5LGH
than any Hydraulic
Log Splitter!
2016 MODELS
Starting
at just
$
79999

DR5$3,'),5(
FLYWHEEL/2*63/,77(5
FLYWHEEL/2*63/,77(5
So simple, no hydraulic DR32:(5*5$'(5
pumps, valves, pistons, NEW TOWS BEHIND your ATV or Riding Mower to
hoses or fluids to leak
or replace.
Models remove ruts, potholes, and washboard.
So strong its cast iron fly- Starting at GRADING DEPTH ADJUSTS EASILY
wheel and steel components $
show almost no wear after
599 99 from your towing vehicle. Models with
wireless remote control available.
89546X 2016
91104X 2016

splitting hundreds of cords. SAVES YOU MONEY by loosening ALSO GREAT FOR HORSE RINGS,
So fast, splits anything a hydraulic splitter and redistributing existing driveway material. BALL FIELDS, AND PARKING AREAS!
will in one-sixth the time!

DRlogsplitters.com DRpowergrader.com
 /2:(6735,&((9(5 7KHEASY DR Way
RQ'5/HDIDQG/DZQ9DFXXPV
/HDIDQG/DZQ9DFXXPV to TRIM and MOW!
Perfect for SPRING CLEAN-UP! 7KHDR75,00(502:(5*LYHV<RX;WKH
SRZHUDQG121(RIWKHEDFNVWUDLQRIKDQG
KHOGWULPPHUV
NEW TRIMS & MOWS thick grass
Models NEW and weeds without bogging
Starting at LOW downthe only trimmer
$ PRICE! guaranteed not to wrap!
1,29999 ROLLS LIGHT AS A FEATHER
on big, easy-rolling wheels!
THICKEST, LONGEST-
LASTING cutting cord (up
to 225 mil) takes seconds to
change.

The NEW DR Leaf Vacuum is designed from

the top down to make yard clean up easier,
faster, and more thorough than ever before.
Unload with just one hand!
And for a limited time we are offering them
at incredible low introductory prices!
NEW TOW-BEHIND
MODELS FOR TRACTORS,
5DWHGLQ9DFXXP3RZHU ATVS & RIDING

(DV\+DQG'XPSLQJ
91102X 2016

91100X 2016
The only trimmer
6WRUHV)ODWLQ0LQXWHV GUARANTEED
Doubles as a utility trailer! not to wrap!
&RQYHUWVWRD5XJJHG7UDLOHU
DRleafvac.com DRtrimmers.com

NEW Tow-Behind DR Mowers *ULQG$ZD\$1<

Now Starting at
$1,399 99 6L]H6WXPS)$67
PLUS
LOWEST
FREE
SHIPPING! PRICE
EVER!
0RZ/DZQVHYHQ
%UXVKFAST!
0RZXSWR
ZLGH
NEW 4-WHEEL DESIGN mows up close to fences, obstacles.
FLOATING DECKS eliminate scalping.
BRUSH MODELS cut tall grass, weeds, even
The DR STUMP GRINDER uses carbide-tipped
2"-thick saplings.
cutting teeth (taking 360 bites per second)
to reduce any stump to a pile of wood-
FINISH-CUT MODELS for lawns.
PLUS!
PLUS! chips. Grinds stumps below ground
PLUS!
PLUS! level so they are gone forever!

PLUS Learn all Quickly eliminate any stump without

about our New, digging, burning, or chemicals.
Improved WALK- New, more powerful and lower-priced
91101X 2016

91103X 2016

BEHIND Brush Mowers! models.

Now towable with your riding mower
or ATV.
'5HOGEUXVKFRP DRstumpgrinder.com

Call for a FREE DVD and Catalog!

FREE 6 MONTH
SHIPPING TRIAL
0% 36 MO.
FINANCING Includes product specifications and factory-direct offers.
SOME LIMITATIONS APPLY. CALL OR GO ONLINE FOR DETAILS. TOLL
FREE 800-349-3857
PRODUCT PREVIEWS
Editors Choice
Otis Ear Shield
E
lectronic hearing protectionshielding the wearer against abrupt, loud noises
while allowing low-decibel sounds to still be heardrepresents a substantial,
but typically expensive, step forward in sound attenuation technology. Otis
Technologys Ear Shield accomplishes comparable results in a unit that is trim,
inexpensive, lightweight and not dependant on a battery charge.
Its a concept that is elegant in its simplicity. Using its patented Sound
Reduction Chamber Technology, the unpowered Ear Shield channels high-intensity
noise (such as gunfire) up into its chambers and away from the wearers ear, while
low-intensity noise (such as speech) is able to travel into the ear canal unimpeded.
Available in two sizes, the larger model boasts a Noise Reduction Rating of 31 dB and
weighs only 1.5 ozs., and the smaller model is capable of decreasing noise by 26 dB and
weighs a mere 1.1 ozs. Adjustable and collapsible, the Ear Shields compact design also
doesnt interfere with the shooters cheek weld in the way that larger earmuffs can.
During range testing, the Ear Shield worked as advertised. While not quite as capable as high-dollar
electronic options, both model sizes brought the reports from all firearms used down to hearing-safe levels,
and their insubstantial weights were appreciated. Price: $20 (26 dB model), $25 (31 dB model). Contact: Otis
Technology (Dept. AR), 6987 Laura St., P.O. Box 582, Lyons Falls, NY 13368; (315) 348-4300; otistec.com.
KELLY YOUNG, ASSOCIATE EDITOR
RAPID FIRE
SIG SAUER has expanded its V-Crown jacketed-hollow-point ammunition line to include
five new revolver cartridges: .38 Spl., .357 Mag., .44 Spl., .44 Mag. and .45 Colt. Full-
metal-jacket loads are also now being offered in .38 Spl. and .357 Mag. sigsauer.com
 You can send your child to visit
Ronald Reagans California ranch
to learn about the 20th Centurys
greatest president. What better way
to celebrate freedom than by walking
in President Reagans footsteps
and learning about the ideas he
championed?
At a Young Americas Foundation
High School Conference at the
Reagan Ranch, the student in your
life will expand his or her knowledge
of economics, American history,
personal responsibility, and President
Reagans lasting accomplishments
through a series of innovative
lectures, discussions, and briefings.
For dates and information, and to
register a student for this invaluable,
historical experience, please contact
Young Americas Foundations
conference director at 800-USA-1776.

4HE2EAGAN2ANCH#ENTERs3TATE3TREETs3ANTA"ARBARA#ALIFORNIAs 53! 

.ATIONAL(EADQUARTERSs#OMMERCE0ARK$RIVE3IXTH&LOORs2ESTON6IRGINIAs 53!  www.yaf.org

Use offer code NRA16 to save 15%

For information and to apply for this and other conferences, please visit YAF.org or contact
Conference Director Jolie Ballantyne at 800-USA-1776 or jballantyne@yaf.org
 PRODUCT PREVIEWS
JOX Loader Pouch
E
ven in the modern era of semi-automatic pistol dominance, there are
plenty of concealed carriers who still prefer a wheelgun, and these proud
holdouts understand well the necessity of carrying spare ammunition in
case a reload is needed. The JOX Loader Pouch is a small Kydex speedloader
holster that allows fans of the revolver to carry an extra
cylinders worth of cartridges right on their belts. Low profile
and easy to attach, the JOX holds the speedloader above
the beltline for maximum concealment. Available in several
different configurations to accommodate many of the most
popular short- and long-knob speedloader designs, the JOX
Loader Pouch is offered for three different belt widths (1",
1" and 1"). Price: $43. Contact: JOX Loader Pouches
(Dept. AR), P.O. Box 66, Blue Bell, PA 19422; (215) 873-1102;
joxloaderpouches.com.

Mag-Fast AR-15 Mount

D
esigned to be mounted out of sight in a closet or behind a door, the Mag-Fast AR-15 Mount pro-
vides secure storage of, and fast access to, your AR-15. Mounting to a wall or other flat surface
by means of the included hardware, the Mag-Fast secures the rifle to itself by extending up into
the magazine well, while the bolt is locked back, and engaging the upper receiver. In order to access
the rifle, unlock the Mag-Fast using one of the two keys that come with the unit and then depress the
magazine release in order to release the gun. The mount works with any AR-15-pattern rifle that accepts
5.56x45 mm NATO magazines and uses a mil-spec-diameter bolt carrier group. Machined from billet 6061-
T6 aluminum, the Mag-Fast is robustly built and weighs 7 lbs. Price: $260. Contact: Mag-Fast (Dept. AR),
1289 N. Fordham Blvd., Suite 150, Chapel Hill, NC 27514; (919) 636-6595; mag-fast.com.

BUILT ONE AT A TIME,

PROVEN EVERY ROUND

The new Colt Competition Pistol is race ready right out of the box.
Colts Dual Spring Recoil System combined with Novaks patent
pending adjustable rear sight and fiber optic front sight helps keep
shots on target, round after round. With an MSRP of $899, the competition
has been put on notice. Only available at Colt Stocking Dealers.

COLT SUPPORTS MILITARY FAMILIES BY DONATING PART OF


AMERICAN EACH COMMERCIAL FIREARM SALE TO FOLDS OF HONOR.
MADE COLT.COM 800.962.COLT FACEBOOK.COM/COLTFIREARMS @COLTFIREARMS
BUILT FROM
THE BULLET UP.
A rifle, born of copper, lead and brass.

Backed by a legendary name.

And over sixty years of hunting experience.

But we dont make them to tell our story.

We do it so you can write your own.

NOSLER RIFLES.
Built by hand.
To see what theyll do in yours.

Available in standard and Nosler Calibers.

NoslerRifles.com 800.285.3701
PRODUCT PREVIEWS RAPID FIRE
ATSKOs Silicone Water-Guard repels
water while still allowing materials to
breath. Designed for use on footwear,
tents, suede and other protective
Midwest Industries G3M outer layers, Water-Guard is available
in 12-oz. aerosol cans or 4-oz. dauber

L
ightweight and slim, kits. atsko.com
yet rigid enough
to stand up to ALEXANDER ARMS has donated
rough use, the Midwest this custom-engraved Ulfberht .338
Industries G3M is a Lapua Magnum (March 2016, p. 72)
feature-packed AR-15- to be auctioned off at the 10th annual NRA-
style handguard that ILA Dinner and Auction, Friday, May 20, during
wont break the bank. the 2016 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in
A one-piece, free-floating design, the G3M is topped by a full- Louisville, Ky. This unique, high-powered rifle is
length MIL-STD 1913 Picatinny rail for the installation of sights and engraved with Viking-style knotwork befitting
optics. The handguards remaining seven flat surfaces all feature its Norse-inspired moniker. nraila.org/auction
M-LOK-compatible rail-attachment slots (the companys G3K line
instead uses KeyMod), and the unit ships with one polymer, five-
slot M-LOK rail section. Available in five lengthsranging from a
7" model weighing 6.7 ozs., to a 15" model weighing 10.8 ozs.
the G3Ms outside diameter measures a trim 1.5". Constructed of
hard-coat anodized 6061 aluminum, the American-made Midwest
Industries G3M includes five anti-rotation QD sling swivel sockets,
two near the receiver and three out by the muzzle, and comes
with a lifetime warranty. Offered in black and flat dark earth.
Price: $140-$190 (varies by length). Contact: Midwest Industries,
Inc. (Dept. AR), W292S4498 Hillside Road, Waukesha, WI 53189;
(262) 896-6780; midwestindustriesinc.com.
 PRODUCT PREVIEWS

Hornady Lock-N-Load
Concentricity Tool

ITS BETTER.
ISNT WHAT YOU EXPECTED.
THE FUTURE OF AMMUNITION

B
rought to market by the ammu-
nition experts at Hornady Mfg.,
the Lock-N-Load Concentricity
Tool ensures consistency and perfor-
mance from production and hand-
loaded ammunition. Concentricity, or
bullet runout, is the relative straight-
ness of the bullet in relation to the
cartridge case. When a seated bullet
exceeds acceptable runouttypically
0.002"-0.003" for optimal perfor-
mancethe bullets initial jump from
cartridge case to rifling lands begins
off axis. The result is decreased accu-
racy and fliers. The Concentricity
Tool is not just a gauge, but a tool to
W W W. P O LYC A S E A M M O.C O M rectify those runout errors, whether
LEARN MORE AT NRA SHOW BOOTH #4552 in custom handloads or factory-loaded
ammunition. Setup time is minimal,
MADE IN THE U.S.A.
but a few practice runs are necessary.
Once assembled, place a cartridge
into the tool and rotate against the
dial indicator. For adjusting runout,
EXCLUSIVE NRA MEMBER HEARING simply notate the lowest and high-
est measurements. With the thumb
BENEFIT FOR YOU & YOUR FAMILY!
2016 Starkey. All Rights Reserved. 2/16 TJAD2742-00-EE-HB

screw on the sliding cradle, tighten

Its Proven: Hearing Health is directly connected to your against the bullet onto the high-side
overall health and well-being.
measurement. The applied force will
Take charge of your health today!
shift concentricity toward its low-side
SCHEDULE YOUR FREE HEARING CONSULTATION measurement. Check for runout again
AND receive discounts on todays latest hearing technology! and adjust accordingly until desired
concentricity is reached. Included are
Call 1 (888) 815-8202 to speak
with a Hearing Care Advisor OR three bullet spindles to accommodate
visit nrahearingbenefits.com a variety of bullet profiles. Price: $150.
No NRA Member dues or contributions are used for this program, promotion or any other related expenses.
Contact: Hornady Mfg. (Dept. AR), 3625
W. Old Potash Hwy., Grand Island, NE
68803; (800) 338-3220; hornady.com.

42 MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

Meet the Beauty
in the Beast
Discover this spectacular 6 -carat green treasure from
Mount St. Helens!

F or almost a hundred years it lay dormant. Silently building strength. At

10,000 feet high, it was truly a sleeping giant. Until May 18, 1980, when
the beast awoke with violent force and revealed its greatest secret. Mount St.
Helens erupted, sending up a 80,000-foot column of ash and smoke. From
that chaos, something beautiful emergedour spectacular Helenite Necklace.
Helenite is produced from the heated volcanic Necklace
enlarged
EXCLUSIVE rock of Mount St. Helens and the brilliant green
to show

FREE
Helenite Earrings
creation has captured the eye of jewelry designers
worldwide. Today you can wear this massive
6 -carat stunner for only $149!
luxurious
color.

Make your emeralds jealous. Our

-a $129 value- Helenite Necklace puts the green
with purchase of stone center stage, with a faceted
Helenite Necklace pear-cut set in .925 sterling sil-
ver finished in luxurious gold.
The explosive origins of the
stone are echoed in the
flashes of light that radiate
as the piece swings grace-
fully from its 18" luxurious
gold-finished sterling silver
chain. Today the volcano
sits quiet, but this unique piece of American natural
history continues to erupt with gorgeous green fire.
Your satisfaction is guaranteed. Bring home the
Helenite Necklace and see for yourself. If you are not
completely blown away by the rare beauty of this
exceptional stone, simply return the necklace within 30 days for
a full refund of your purchase price.
JEWELRY SPECS:
- 6 ctw Helenite in gold-finished sterling silver setting
- 18" gold-finished sterling silver chain

Limited to the first 2200 orders from this ad only My wife received more
Helenite Necklace (6 ctw) ................Only $149 +S&P compliments on this stone
Helenite Stud Earrings (1 ctw) .....................$129 +S&P
on the first day she wore it
than any other piece of jewelry
Helenite Set $278 ...Call-in price only $149 +S&P Ive ever given her.
(Set includes necklace and earrings)
- J. from Orlando, FL
Call now to take advantage of this extremely limited offer. Stauer Client
1-800-333-2045
Promotional Code HEL830-04
Please mention this code when you call. Rating of A+

Stauer 14101 Southcross Drive W., Dept. HEL830-04,

Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.stauer.com
Smar t LuxuriesSurprising Prices
BOOKS IN BRIEF
Seven SerpentsThe History of Colts Snake Guns
T
ried to buy a Colt Python recently? In Seven
SerpentsThe History of Colts Snake Guns, author
Gurney Brown (of Cherrys and the Colt Collectors
Assn) covers seven of the hottest firearms on the mar-
ket today. Although suitable for a coffee table, this is an
impressive book filled with lavish, high-quality photog-
raphy that also serves investors and collectors alike with
detailed information on the guns, their histories, markings,
features (including finishes, barrel lengths, stocks, cham-
berings and sights), engraved and special-editions guns,
serial numbers, production figures and variations.
Brown covers the double-action Colt Cobra, Python,
Diamondback, Viper, Boa, King Cobra and Anaconda,
although most of the book is devoted to the flagship
Python (140 out of the 343 pages). Also included are origi-
nal Colt ephemera, including price lists, dealer correspon-
dence, manuals, hang tags, advertising and even copies of
Colt factory letters.
The Blue Book of Gun Values team also generated an
innovative Performance Spreadsheet that tracks how the
prices on these wheelguns have risen during the past 55 or
so yearsand how they have performed against gold, silver
and other commodities. Is there such a thing as a blue
chip revolver?
Although not inexpensive, this 9" by 11" hard-
bound, landscape-format book contains more than 350
high-resolution images and is the most impressive single
reference work on these guns done to date. If you enjoyed
Blue Book of Gun Values Steve Fjestads article in the
September 2015 issue, Snake Venom Epidemic Paralyzes
Colt Collectors, then this book belongs on your shelfor
coffee table. Price: $100. Contact: Blue Book Publications,
Inc. (Dept. AR), 8009 34th Ave. S., Suite 250, Minneapolis,
MN 55425; (800) 877-4867; bluebookofgunvalues.com.
MARK A, KEEFE, IV, EDITOR IN CHIEF
ALSO ON THE SHELF
SURVIVAL & EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS SKILLS
BY JAY BLEVINS
OAKTARA PUBLISHERS (DEPT. AR),
2206 N. MAIN ST., SUITE 343,
WHEATON, IL 60187;
OAKTARA.COM
FEMALE AND ARMED
BY LYNNE FINCH
SKYHORSE PUBLISHING (DEPT. AR), 307
W. 36TH ST., 11TH FLOOR, NEW YORK,
NY 10018; (212) 643-6816;
SKYHORSEPUBLISHING.COM
feed them at
AguilaAmmo.com
WHERE CAN I GET ? RAPID FIRE
MAGPULs new Ranch
Gloves are constructed of
soft and durable goatskin

A Gun Safe For My Hip to stand up to a variety

of hard uses. An elasti-

I
cized wrist and extended
have always been a fan of discrete ways
gauntlet allow the gloves
to carry guns, especially micro or subcom-
to be put on and taken off
pact pistols. When the EAA ABDO landed
with ease, and conductive
on our desks, immediately I thought it looked
threading on the index fin-
exactly like a slightly larger version of my iPhone
ger makes the Ranch Gloves touch-
wrapped in its rather hefty and secure case. Just
screen compatible. magpul.com
as my cell phone is an investment worth protect-
ing, so is my sidearm.
Made of reinforced nylon, the inside measures 3.7"
wide by 5.2" tall. The firearm is retainedswitchable
for left- and right-hand carryby a vertical barrel pin. The retention pin is custom-
izable to provide all three conditions of carry. Due to its size, without delving into
the tablet-size case realm, the user is limited to the companys fit list, which does BROWNING has intro-
include most popular so-called mouse guns. The ABDO is secured to the user via a duced two new semi-
replaceable spring-steel clip. automatic rimfire pistol
Employing the safe is as simple as sliding the top latch fore or aft depend- models that come from the
ing on weak- or strong-side carry. The safe door then drops free with assistance factory with threaded barrels ready
from two torsion springs contained on the hinge pin. For testing I used a Kel-Tec to accept suppressors. The two new
P-3AT, and once the door escaped my finger tips, the gun was easily accessible guns, a full-size and a compact ver-
and presented in a vertical position ready for withdrawal. The safe is lockable via sion of the companys Black Label
the supplied key. Price $50. Contact: European American Armory (Dept. AR), P.O. 1911-22 handguns, also feature an
Box 560746, Rockledge, FL 32956-0746; (321) 639-4842; eaacorp.com. integrated accessory rail on the
CHRISTOPHER J. OLSEN, ASSISTANT EDITOR dust cover. browning.com

2016 Kel-Tec CNC Industries, Inc.

 Photo courtesy of Hornady
AMERICAN RIFLEMAN TELEVISION

American Gunner
H
ornady Mfg. has gone from a bullet maker, to a tool maker, to a manu-
facturer of loaded cartridges. Now the company is a serious ammunition
innovator. But what if you dont need the extra performanceand cost
of the companys latest premium bullet? That's what the American Gunner line
is all about. The rifle and pistol loads bridge the gap between affordability and
performance, and Managing Editor Joe Kurtenbach takes you onto the factory
floor for a closer look. Tune in Wednesday nights on the Outdoor Channel.
Wednesday, May 4
Feature......................................... Behind The Scenes At SIG: Legion & Suppressors
Rifleman Review .....................................................................Les Baer Stinger .45 ACP
I Have This Old Gun ............................. Smith & Wesson Model 76 Submachine Gun
Wednesday, May 11
Feature................................................ Inside Smith & Wessons Performance Center
Rifleman Review ...........................................................................Winchester XPR Rifle
I Have This Old Gun .................................................................................. Calico Carbine
Wednesday, May 18
Feature..................................................................................Testing The Hornady ELD-X
Rifleman Review .......................................Springfield XD Mod.2 4" 9 mm Luger Pistol
I Have This Old Gun ......................................................Ruger Mosqueton A.M.D. Rifle
Wednesday, May 25
Feature....................................................................Making Hornady American Gunner
Rifleman Review ........................................... Weatherby Orion Over-Under 12 Gauge
I Have This Old Gun ......................................... Japanese Type 11 Light Machine Gun

Load a dozen 12-gauge rounds in its dual-tube magazines and you know the Kel-Tec KSG is
one bad tactical shotgun. But chamber another, fire and in a fraction of a second, everything
else is old school. Innovation. Performance. Kel-Tec. See more at KelTecWeapons.com
 SECOND SHOTS
BOYDS, the largest
aftermarket gunstock 50 Years Ago
maker in the world! Cartridge Adapters
BY LARRY S. STERETT
1. Largest selection on the planet
Over 255 makes over 1,200 models.
If we dont make it, you probably wont
find it elsewhere.

2. Hardwood only
Only top-grade hardwoods are used.
Every stock is dried to exacting
specifications to ensure rigidity and
stability, then sealed with chemical-
resistant finishes for long-lasting durability
and performance in all weather conditions.

3. More accurate
Boyds stocks are engineered to fit the gun. Cal. .22 Short adapter for U.S. M1903
They're tight where they need to be tight, Gallery Practice rifle (l.). German rifled
loose where they need to be loose for
superior performance and improved
adapter for 4 mm center-fire cartridge for
accuracy you can measure. use in 8 mm rifle (center). Cartridge holder
assembly used in U.S. cal. .22 Machine Gun
4. A better fit Trainer (cal. .22 Long Rifle)(r.).
62% of guns do not properly fit the

T
shooter. A Boyds gunstock is ergonomically
designed and can be customized to fit. he 1930s saw an increase in
the number of adapters on the
5. Custom look market. Times were difficult for
With 20 different stock shapes and 25
different colors and a huge selection of
both military personnel and civilians.
custom laser engraving options, now you Some reloading was done, but less than
can build your gun YOUR way. is done today, and the adapter offered
a possible solution to firing a big-bore
6. Since 1981 rifle when full charges were not needed.
Our engineers have continued to perfect
manufacturing methods since 1981. [May, 1966]
Thats why you get far more gunstock For more, visit:
for the money. americanrifleman.org/adapters.

To learn more visit

25376 403rd Ave. Mitchell, SD 57301
605-996-5011 boydsgunstocks.com

Reasons to Join
TELL YOUR FRIENDS

1. For Your Freedom

NRA aggressively defends your rights to own and use the firearms
so important to your lifestyle. NRA champions Americans individual
rights and strives to block efforts by misguided government officials, Marbles Auxiliary cartridge permits
legislators and courts attempting to strip away these guarantees. firing .32 Short Colt cartridge in .30-30
rifle (l.). Winchester auxiliary cham-
2. For Your Family bers.30-06 Sprg. at left and .303 Savage
3. For Your Community at rightfor .32 S&W cartridge (center).
4. For Your Country Zip practice adapter for .30-40 Krag cham-
ber (r.). Propellant was contained in blank
5. For Your Future cartridge (not shown). Lead alloy bullet
goes in neck of adapter.

48 MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

ANNUAL MEETING PREVIEW

Presentations On Guns Of Pearl Harbor And Sniping In Vietnam

A
t the 145th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Photo courtesy of Armor Plate Press
Louisville, Ky., American Rifleman will host four
Special Presentations for NRA members, including
one in honor of the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl
Harbora day which will live in infamyDec. 7, 1941. At
The Guns of Pearl Harbor, historian Martin K.A. Morgan,
who has written extensively about the fighting in the
Pacific and has visited battlefields from Pearl Harbor to Iwo
Jima, will be the featured speaker. Morgan, an author and
American Rifleman Television field editor, will also conduct
two other Special Presentations. The Spirit of John Garand
will cover the rifle John Cantius Garand invented, its import
and its legacy, as well as Bad Reputation, which will look
at how awful bad gunsincluding the Chauchat, the early
M16 and the Boys anti-tank riflereally were in context. and a team leader in the Military Assistance Command
Another American Rifleman Special Presentation, Studies and Observations Group (SOG) in Vietnam.
Sniping in Vietnam, will be conducted by Maj. John L. Major Plaster and Morgan are phenomenal speakers, and
Plaster, U.S. Army, (Ret.). The author of the The Ultimate their sessions should have top billing on your calendar in
Sniper and The History of Sniping & Sharpshooting, Maj. Louisville. Times and room numbers had not been assigned at
Plaster is one of the leading authorities and historians on press time, so check americanrifleman.org and nraam.org.
sniping, as well as a frequent contributor to these pages. But The presentations are free to NRA members, and should last
before he became a sniperand a sniping historianhe was about two hours. You might want to get there early to get a
a decorated and wounded U.S. Army Special Forces sergeant good seat.
 To commemorate
150 years making the
worlds finest firearms,
Winchester Repeating
Arms is proud
to reintroduce
the legendary
Model 1866
Yellow Boy.

Visit winchesterguns.com to learn more about the rich 150-year history of Winchester Repeating Arms.
 ANNUAL MEETINGS PREVIEW
Out of the
Starting
Gate
Memorable Events
OCC Cycle on the Block
Photo courtesy of Orange County Choppers
52
2016 Annual Meetings & Exhibits Head
Story & Photos by NRA Staff
to Louisville During Derby Month
T
he Kentucky Derby will be over, but the echo of the buglers notes
calling the jockeys to the starting gate might still be wafting
through the hills when the NRAs 2016 Annual Meetings & Exhibits
comes to Louisville, Ky., May 20-22.
The annual gathering, sponsored by Midway USA, brings together
the NRA family to celebrate our right to keep and bear arms. If recent
years are any indication, the event is sure to draw a crowd. Last year,
more than 78,000 attended the festivities in Nashville, Tenn.
The agenda offers a mix of business and pleasure.
On the business side, members will have several opportunities to
hear from NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre and NRA-ILA
Executive Director Chris Cox. And, with this being a presidential elec-
tion year, distinguished pro-gun leaders will participate in the NRA-ILA
Leadership Forum, where they will inspire and inform attendees about
issues regarding our rights.
On the fun side, attendees will be able to stroll through more than
600 exhibitors booths at the Kentucky Exposition Center. The exhibition
hall will include representatives from every major firearm and accessory
manufacturer, plus hunting outfitters who will let you book the hunt of
a lifetime. Family activities, such as air gun shooting, will also be avail-
able, and Toby Keith will be the lead after-hours musical entertainer.
If youre looking for a way to support NRAs missions, consider one of
our three auctions. The NRA-ILA Annual Dinner & Auction (presented by
Kimber Manufacturing) will give attendees a chance to bid on guns, col-
lectibles and even an Orange County Choppers motorcycle, donated by
Pell Industrial. The National NRA Foundation Banquet & Auction (spon-
sored by Kimber, Henry Repeating Arms and Universal Coin & Bullion,
with Carl Zeiss Optics as a contributing co-sponsor) will put a tricked-out
Black Ops Jeep Wrangler on the block. The Womens Leadership Forum
Luncheon & Auction, with entertainment by ventriloquist and comedian
Terry Fator, will offer a great collection of items for its silent and live auction.
So, grab your mint julep and saddle up for a fun ride that will last a
lot longer than the most exciting two minutes in sports.
For more information, visit nraam.org.
MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
 Air Gun Fun

Exciting Auctions

Special Events
May 19 National NRA Foundation Banquet & Auction
May 20 NRA Womens Leadership Forum Luncheon
May 20 NRA-ILA Annual Dinner & Auction
May 20 NRA-ILA Leadership Forum
Live Entertainment May 20 NRA Country Jam VI
May 21 Annual Meeting of Members
May 21 NRA Presents: Toby Keith Concert & Saturday Night Rally
May 22 2016 Prayer Breakfast
May 22 NRA Womens New Energy Breakfast
May 22 NRA Youth Day

Hours
Exhibit Hall: Fri/Sat 9a-6p; Sun 10a-5p
NRA Store: Thurs 2p-6:30p; Fri/Sat 8a-6:30p; Sun 8a-5:30p

Acres of Guns Over 600 Exhibitors

FAVORITE FIREARMS

Dads SKS
I

NRA member photos

n 1968, Maj. Gen. O.M.
Barsanti, commander
of the 101st Airborne Division,
presented a captured, Chinese-made
SKS to my father, Lt. Col. Robert G.
Stanek, commander of the 22nd Surgical
Hospital in Phu Bai, Vietnam. According
to the book The SKS Carbine, this rifle
was manufactured at Factory 296, the
oldest state arsenal in China.
Its a Type 56 manufactured in
1967. The varnish is too shiny to be
a factory finish, so I presume the
armorer at the 101st applied a coat
of high gloss before the rifle was pre-
sented to my father.
My father had the same personal-
ity as the character Col. Potter on the
popular TV show M*A*S*H*. He was
a skilled surgeon who loved and sup-
ported the men and women who were
assigned to him, but he was tough
when he needed to be.
During hospital setup, he wanted
sandbags placed around the structures
since they were shelled occasionally.
You can see them in the photo behind
the general. Since it was a safety
issue, he wanted it done quickly, and Years later, my brother and I both
therefore insisted everyone partici- joined the military, and my father
pate, even himself.One of his physi- took great delight in telling his co-
cians refused, saying he was a doctor workers at the Pentagon, It takes two
and such duty was beneath him.My to replace me. I cant speak for my
father said, Fine, Ill have you re- brother, but I have to admit that my
assigned.The physician realized father was twice the man that I am.
that in Vietnam there were probably He passed away in 2010 and left the
much worse places that he could be, riflemy favorite firearmto me.
so a half-hour later he apologized and LT. COL. STEVEN R. STANEK,
pitched in. USAF (RET.), FLORIDA
Nearly every shooter has a favorite firearm. If you would like to share the experience of owning yours
with other American Rifleman readers, or on americanrifleman.org, send a sharp color photograph of the
gun, accompanied by its story in fewer than 400 words, with your name, address and daytime telephone
number to: Favorite Firearms, American Rifleman, National Rifle Association, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fair-
fax, VA 22030-9400. Photos and submissions cannot be returned and may be edited for clarity and brevity.

Your Chance To Win Ammo For A Year

$10,000FREE
worth of

AMMO You Could Be 1 of 4 Lucky Winners To Win $2,500

To Purchase Your Own Private Stockpile Of Ammo

Your 100% FREE Entry:

www.YourFreeAmmo.com
No purchase necessary.
 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Hollywood gun coach

Photos courtesy of Rick Hacker

Hollywoods Fast Guns? Arvo Ojalas metal-
lined leather holster

Q
allowed him (and his
Watching Westerns from the 1950s and 60s on cable televi-
disciples) to draw
sion, it seems that everyone was a fast gun.Were the
and fire far more
old-time gunfighters as fast as TV stars depicted them to
rapidly than real-life
be? Names come to mind like James Arness, who played Matt
gunfighters could.
Dillon on Gunsmoke, and Hugh OBrian as Wyatt Earp.

A
The simple answer is that many of the TV Western stars
from the 50s and 60s were actually much faster than
any of the old-time gunfighters could ever imagine.
The secret to their speed was a double-thickness, metal-
lined leather holster designed by the late Hollywood gun coach
Arvo Ojala (although famed Saddlemaker to the Stars Ed
Bohlin also marketed a metal-lined holster, Ojala was the first
to patent the concept). The Ojala Model No. 1 exposed the trig-
ger guard and hammer and, due to its metal lining, created a
no-friction rig that permitted a Colt Single Action Army to be
cocked while still in the holster without binding the cylinders
rotation as the gun cleared leather. Of course, this was always
done with studio blanks, never with live ammunition.
Ojalas technique, which he taught to countless motion
picture and television actors, was to slap the hammer of the
holstered gun with the thumb (thereby cocking the action) while
drawing the gun by grasping the grip with the bottom three

The Winning
Combination
The CMP Special M1 Rifle and Creedmoor .30-06
Springfield ammunition are perfectly matched for
superior performance in competition or bragging
rights at your home club.
Creedmoor .30-06 ammo Available at CMP Alabama in Anniston & the
assembled in the USA CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park and at Camp Perry.
Order by mail order - info at www.TheCMP.org or call us
at 1-888-267-0796.

'HQQLV'H0LOOH1DWLRQDO6SULQJHOG5LH&KDPSLRQUHFRUG;
15$1DWLRQDO6HUYLFH5LH&KDPSLRQ15$1DWLRQDO+35LH&KDPSLRQ
TM

fingers of the gun hand, keeping the trigger finger alongside the
frame and away from the trigger until it was pointed at the target
and ready to fire. While other fast-draw artists such as Andy
Anderson, Rodd Redwing and Dee Woolem had their own fast-draw
NRA member photo
techniques and rigs, Ojala was the most prominent, as his holsters
were used by practically every gunfighter of the reel West.
However, in the real West, most shootists carried their
sixguns in belts, pants pockets or in holsters that were com-
paratively tight fitting to keep their sidearms from slipping out.
While some pistoleros greased the insides of their holsters to
facilitate a faster draw, clearing leather in anything less than
two seconds was considered extremely fast. By comparison,
using his metal-lined holster and technique, Ojala could draw
and fire a Colt SAA in one-sixth of a second.
Interestingly, although he was taught by Ojala, you never
see Arness draw his SAA in the Gunsmoke opening sequence.
The camera simply cuts to Arness firing his hogleg at the famous
man in black, who actually was Ojala during the first eight
years of the show (after that, the producers realized they didnt
have to pay Ojala residuals if he wasnt shown on screen). And
while Hugh O Brian was one of Ojalas best pupils, the real Wyatt
Earp is credited with the idea that the secret to winning a gun-
fight was to take enough time to aim, but to do so quicklya
practice that still holds true today.
RICK HACKER, FIELD EDITOR
Patchwork Victory
Q
Can you identify the revolver in the enclosed pho-
tos? I believe it is made on the Smith & Wesson
N frame. It must be pre-1958 since it does not
have a model number. The barrel is 2" long. I believe
that the nickel plating is factory-applied. Any informa-
tion you can provide is greatly appreciated.
A
Thank you very much for
your letter and your question
concerning the identity of your
Smith & Wesson revolver. Without the opportunity to
personally examine your revolver, I cannot be abso-
lutely positive in my comments, but the photos you
provided offer some pretty good clues.
The giveaway is the serial number and the plugged
lanyard ring hole at the butt. S&Ws produced dur-
ing World War II, for use primarily by American and
British military services, featured a FV serial num-
ber prefix (signifying Victory), and were built on the
 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

standard Military and Police K-frame.

That series began in 1942 at V1 and
carried through to September 1944 at
V769000, at which time the prefix was
changed to SV to denote a modifica-
tion in the design.
The revolvers produced for the
United States were chambered for the
.38 Spl. cartridge, while the British
versions were .38/200, which was
their version of the .38 S&W (not
Special) loaded with a 200-gr. bullet.
The photos do not provide enough
information to determine for which
cartridge your revolver was cham-
bered. The word Special on the bar-
rel was not factory-applied, and raises
the suspicion that it could be one of
many .38/200s that were subjected
to chamber alteration by commercial
businesses in order to fire the more
popular .38 Spl. This alteration often
results in bulged and split cases, so it
is not desirable. The .38/200 bore is
also oversize for .38 Spl. bullets.
The barrel has been shortened from
its original 4" or 5" configuration, as
STOP ANY THREAT... it lacks the ejector rod latch stud that

DEAD IN ITS TRACKS! supports the front end. Victory models

were produced with a matte blue or
Parkerized finish, plus it was S&Ws
practice to leave the hammer and trig-
D AR As seen ger unplated on its commercial nickel-
N
on Glenn
M
BO

plated guns. The stocks on your gun

S

Beck TV are from a later period, post-1968,

or so, as they lack the diamonds in the
T

AT
P

RIO checkering surrounding the screw heads.

JOHN W. TREAKLE, CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

From the thousands of questions and letters on

guns, ammunition and their use that American
Rifleman receives every year, it publishes the
Shoots most interesting here. Receiving answers to
both.45LC technical and historical questions is a privilege
and .410 14 Calibers reserved to NRA members.
shotshell 36 Barrels Questions must be in the form of letters addressed
ALL interchangeable to: Dope Bag, NRA Publications, 11250 Waples Mill
Road, Fairfax, VA 22030-9400; must contain the
members code line from an American Rifleman or

Comes FREE Product Guide American Hunter mailing label or membership card;

at BondArms.com
must be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed,
with California legal-size envelope; and must be limited to one

or call 817-573-4445
models now specific question per letter. Non-members may sub-
Driving available. mit a question with a membership application. We
Holster cannot answer technical or historical questions by
telephone, e-mail or fax, and we cannot place even
Made in Texas by Texans. an approximate value on guns or other equipment.
Please allow eight to 10 weeks for replies.
Questions & Answers is compiled by staff and
Contributing Editors: Bruce N. Canfield, Garry
James, Charles Pate, Charles E. Petty, John M.
Taylor and John Treakle.

58 MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

LATEST LOADS
NA
OR D

Y
H
6.5

OR
RE
ED MO

C
Long-Range Specialist
T
he attributes that make the
6.5 mm Creedmoor ideal for
across-the-course, high-power
competition also endear it to big-game
hunters who are capable of consis-
tently making accurate, extended-
range shots. Specifically, the efficient
cartridge design propels high-ballistic-
coefficient (BC) 6.5-mm bullets to
respectable velocities using modest
propellant charges, thereby minimizing
felt recoil while also flattening trajec-
tories and reducing wind deflection.
The load below is a prime example
of its capabilities. Using 41.3 grs. of
Reloder 17, the streamlined Hornady
143-gr. Extremely Low Drag-eXpanding
(ELD-X) bullet, which has a .625 G1 BC,
attains 2712 f.p.s. When zeroed at
300 yds., the ELD-X drops 11.8" and 31"
at 400 yds. and 500 yds., respectively.
Wind deflection in a 10-m.p.h. full-
value breeze is only 15" at 500 yds.,
and retained energy is 1,322 ft.-lbs.
Thats impressive performance from
such a mild-mannered cartridge.
AARON CARTER, FIELD EDITOR
6.5 MM CREEDMOOR
BULLET: HORNADY 143-GR. ELD-X
PROPELLANT/CHARGE: RELODER 17/41.3 GRS.
PRIMER: FEDERAL GM210M
CASE: HORNADY
CASE TRIM-TO LENGTH: 1.910"
CARTRIDGE OVERALL LENGTH: 2.800"
VELOCITY @ 10' (F.P.S.): 2712
ENERGY (FT.-LBS.): 2,335
ACCURACY: 1.20"*
USES: BIG-GAME HUNTING (ELK, CARIBOU,
BLACK BEAR, WHITETAIL AND MULE DEER,
ANTELOPE, FERAL HOGS, ETC.), PRACTICE,

Reasons to Join
TELL YOUR FRIENDS

RECREATION
NOTES: 24"-BARRELED WEATHERBY
VANGUARD SYNTHETIC TOPPED WITH A
LEUPOLD 3-9X 40 MM VX-2 RIFLE-
SCOPE. *AVERAGE OF FIVE CONSECUTIVE,
1. For Your Freedom
FIVE-SHOT GROUPS AT 100 YDS.
2. For Your Family
WARNING: Technical data and information NRA offers education and training opportunities for all ages. From
contained herein are intended to provide
information based upon the limited experience
the Eddie Eagle GunSafe program that has taught more than 26 million
of individuals under specific conditions and children, to advanced personal protection courses for home defenders,
circumstances. They do not detail the com-
prehensive training, procedures, techniques
NRA provides vital support that will keep your loved ones safe.
and safety precautions that are absolutely
necessary to properly carry on similar activity.
3. For Your Community
READ THE NOTICE AND DISCLAIMER ON
THE CONTENTS PAGE OF THIS MAGAZINE.
4. For Your Country
ALWAYS CONSULT COMPREHENSIVE REFER-
ENCE MANUALS AND BULLETINS OF PROPER
5. For Your Future
TRAINING REQUIREMENTS, PROCEDURES,
TECHNIQUES AND SAFETY PRECAUTIONS BE-
FORE ATTEMPTING ANY SIMILAR ACTIVITIES. AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG MAY 2016 59

T
he source of the NRAs strength
and ability to defend our rights
has always come down to its
members. The collective power of
millions united to preserve American
freedom can be a remarkable force. With
the phenomenal surge in the number of
new shooters recently, now more than
ever we must put that force to work.
Under the NRA Mentor Initiative
organized by NRA Publications and
sponsored by EAA Corp., Winchester
Ammunition, Walkers Game Ear and
Taurusduring May 2016, were encour-
aging all five million NRA members to
take beginning or prospective shooters
to the range. Doing so will give every
member a chance to help make the
Association even stronger. And as a
reward for your efforts, you can enter the
A
Gfour idew
Neters
Shoo
Sponsored
by
Mentor Init -2000
.org (877)
www.NRA
Mentor Initiative:
Bring Friends Into
The Shooting Fold
Taking a new shooter to the range and sharing your
know-how about firearms will help the NRA grow and
get stronger as we continue to fight for our right to
keep and bear arms.
By James C. Handlon, NRA Publications Marketing Manager
Mentor Sweepstakes for the chance to
win valuable prizes.
Over the past five years, an estimated
40 million Americans purchased their
first guns. While they enter into gun
ownership with the best intentions,
newcomers sometimes dont know what
to do next. In rare cases, that uncertainty
might cause some to put away their
guns without ever firing them.
Mentors can help budding shooters
understand firearm safety, handling and
range protocol. We can also encourage
them to contact NRA Certified Instructors
to sign up for the expert training they
need to become safe and skilled with
their firearms.
Fortunately, there is no shortage of
potential mentors, not if we all step up.
The attached Guide for New Shooters
provides useful information about range
rules, gun safety, gear, shooting tips, gun
cleaning and storage. It was created for
new shooters, and mentors can use it as
a teaching guide.
Please identify new shooters and help
them along. Talk to them about how NRA
Download a FREE
PDF copy of this guide at
nrapublications.org/mentor
iative
NRA
MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
protects our rights and works in many
ways to support the shooting sports and
train new shooters. And encourage them
to become NRA members by filling out
the application contained in the guide.
The facing page explains everything
you need to know about the concur-
rent Mentor Sweepstakes, including
the Sweepstakes rules and how to
enter. More than 50 prizes that appeal
to shooters and gun owners will be
awarded this year.
Just think how much stronger the
NRA can be as mentors reach out to
new shooters across the nation. Tens or
hundreds of thousands of new mem-
bersperhaps even a millioncan have
a huge positive impact on the NRAs
continued ability to fight for our rights.
Thats especially important this Novem-
ber, when we must vote to return a pro-
gun president to the White House.
With so much at stake, we need
to urge every gun owner to join the
NRA.The Mentor Initiative is one great
way to show your community and the
nation that the NRA cares, that our com-
mitment to teaching firearm safety and
shooting skills remains as strong as it
was when the Association was founded
for this very purpose in 1871. Dont miss
out! Devoting a few hours to helping new
shooters and the NRA will stand as one of
your best days ever at the range.
Enter to Win!
Go to nrapublications.org/mentor and sign up today for your chance to win valuable prizes!
Sweepstakes registration is online only

1
Winner of an EAA
Corp. Witness Stock II
Xtreme 9 mm pistol

8
Winners of a 100- or
200-round box of
Winchester pistol
center-fire ammunition

1
Winner of a
Taurus Curve pistol

12
Winners of a pair
of Walker Razor
Series Slim
Shooter Folding

15
Winners of a $500 Hearing Muffs
Bass Pro Shops
Gift Card
$
500
10 Winners of a $250
Bass Pro Shops
Gift Card
$
250 5
Winners of an EAA Corp.
ABDO Concealed Carry
Portable Firearm Safe

Please see the official rules at the website: nrapublications.org/mentor.

NO PURCHASE OR DONATION NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE OR
DONATION WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. The NRA Mentor
Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the 50 United States and Washington, D.C., age
21 years or older at time of entry. Sweepstakes begins at 9:00 AM Eastern Time (ET) on
4/15/16 and ends at 11:59 PM ET on 7/1/16. To enter and view complete Official Rules, which
govern this Sweepstakes, visit www.nrapublications.org/mentor. Void where prohibited by law.
Sponsor: National Rifle Association of America.

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG MAY 2016 61

COVER STORY

SIG Sauers Legion Series of handgunsincluding the P226 SAO

Legion pictured above feature many upgrades that place the
new models among the finest factory pistols the company has ever
madeand thats saying something.

62 MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN Photos by Forrest MacCormack

Enter
The
Legion
SIG Sauers new Legion Series handguns are upgrades to several of the
companys combat-proven classics. But the Legion is more than just guns: Its
an exclusive club that the company hopes consumers buy into. Heres a preview
of what you can expect to find inside the Legion.

L
BY JEFF JOHNSTON, Field Editor

egion is defined as: 1. The principal unit of the Roman army,

comprising 3,000 to 6,000 foot soldiers with cavalry. 2. A large
military force, especially army. 3. A very large number, multitude.
4. A national association of ex-servicemen. 5. A brotherhood of
like-minded individuals who push themselves and their gear to
the limits.The first four definitions come directly from Merriam-
Webster; the fifth is a new interpretation that SIG Sauer is hoping
will resonate with shooters and drive customers toward the
companys new Legion Series handguns, and into the ranks of an
exclusive web-based club open only to Legion owners.

To give you a peek behind the curtain without opening your

wallet, I bought a P226 SAO Legion and then joined up. But before
delving into the Legion membership, lets talk about the Legion
guns. After all, SIG Sauer makes some of the best handguns in the
world; theyre used by military forces and police departments both
foreign and domestic. There are scores of shooters who prefer SIG
Sauer handguns to any othersand I suspect all of them will want
a Legion model next to the one they own now.
Thats because during more than 40 years of service, evalu-
ation and real-world testing undertaken by people who depend
on their sidearms daily, SIG has received its share of suggestions.
This input has led to tweaks here and there that professional
operators believe would make the guns slightly more intuitive,
accurate and ergonomic; collectively these changes could refine
them and ultimately make SIG Sauer handguns better than ever.
Those user-requested upgrades are the basis for the Legion Series.
While servicemen and women will likely have to wait until
their department officially adopts it, consumers can own one
immediatelyalbeit for an increased retail price of $1,428 (a
quick gunsamerica.com search revealed you can get them for a
little less). What I want to know, however, is if the upgrades are
worth the extra cost.

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG MAY 2016 63

SIG LEGION
SIG Legion Features
At the time of this writing, three Legion Series guns are
available (P226, P226 SAO and P229) while three more are
soon to be (P220, P220 Carry and P220 SAO.) These guns are
SIG P-Series in every sensehammer fired, all-metal beau-
ties made in Exeter, N.H.except they come with factory
upgrades that are more than cosmetic. Heres a rundown of
those upgrades, starting from the muzzle, followed by a rough
estimate of their individual value if you were to buy them
la carte.
SIGs X-Ray high-contrast Day/Night front sight features
a tritium insert for shooting in total darkness. Night sights
are necessary for a combat handgun, but are hardly new.
What is new is that the front sights single glowing dot is
surrounded by a brightly colored green ring. The windage-
driftable rear sight has been upgraded to what SIG calls its
X-Ray Blacked Out Day/Night Rear sight that provides stark
contrast against the green front sight.
The in-the-field guys that offered input on the Legion
asked for very specific traits in sights, said Allen Forkner,
a company rep. They wanted a large, bright, daylight front
sight that is easy to distinguish from the rear night sights
in the dark. And they demanded they be extremely durable.
So SIG used a fiber-optic rod to meet the first require-
ment, then inserted a tritium vial to make it day/night
visible. Then it used a larger vial in the front sight to meet
the second criteria of easy to distinguish, said Forkner.
Finally, the company set the front vial into steel, making
A new manufacturing process results in pol-
ished internal components, thereby reducing
friction between moving metal parts.
64 MAY 2016
it more durable that most fiber-optic sights. Im valuing
this significant upgrade at $150 over non-night sights, and
$50 over typical night sights.
Similar to SIGs vaunted Elite series handguns, Legion
guns feature a contoured beavertail thats been shortened
slightly. As such, it provides all the benefits of a beaver-
tail while minimizing the pistols footprint and, therefore,
making it slightly easier to conceal. Ill allow $50 for the
machining costs.
On the interior side of the grip just underneath the trig-
ger guard, all Legion pistols feature a relieved portiona
scooped out area, if you willthat serves as a finger
groove for the strong-side middle finger. SIG calls this fea-
ture its X-Five undercut. In addition to added control and
recoil mitigation by allowing the hand a higher grip thats
closer to the bores axis, the cut ensures that all but the
largest-handed shooters will find the grips circumference
small enough that theyll be able to access the magazine
release button with the thumb without having to relin-
quish their shooting grip. While this cant be purchased
aftermarket, its a nice feature$25.
As a necessary result of the higher grip, the Legions
slide release button and decocking lever (on DA/SA models
only) were made lower in profile to avoid inadvertent acti-
vation, a problem for many shooters who employ a high-
riding, ultra-aggressive, two-handed gripthe exact style
which the Legions grip encourages. Both of these controls
Legion Series upgrades include:
X-Ray night sights, a shortened
beavertail, a relief cut in the
frames grip for added control,
low-profile operating controls,
enhanced checkering on the
frontstrap, fiberglass-laminate G10
stocks, a checkered trigger guard,
an all-metal guide rod, a gray PVD
finish and a custom trigger.
AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
 SHOOTING RESULTS (25 YDS.)
9 MM LUGER VEL. @ 3' ENERGY GROUP SIZE (INCHES)
CARTRIDGE (F.P.S.) (FT.-LBS.) SMALLEST LARGEST AVERAGE
FEDERAL PREMIUM 1119 AVG. 345 1.58 3.43 2.67
LAW ENFORCEMENT 8 SD
rest in recesses formed by the stocks. 124-GR. HST HP
On the P226 SAO model, a bilateral SIG SAUER ELITE 1146 AVG. 362 2.10 3.30 2.56
safety provides a rest for the strong- PERFORMANCE 17 SD
side thumb very much like the style of 124-GR. JHP
an M1911s safety. If utilized in that WINCHESTER ELITE 970 AVG. 308 2.36 3.30 2.73
fashion it can, in theory, also help PDX1 DEFENDER 5 SD
prevent inadvertent slide closings, 147-GR. BONDED JHP
because it places the thumb slightly AVERAGE EXTREME SPREAD 2.65
over the slide release button. For NOTES: MEASURED AVERAGE VELOCITY FOR 10 SHOTS OVER AN EASTON (PACT) CHRONOGRAPH
operators, a slide that locks back every AT 3 FT. ACCURACY FOR FIVE CONSECUTIVE, FIVE-SHOT GROUPS AT 25 YDS. FROM A SANDBAG
time after the last round is expelled REST. TEMPERATURE: 69o F. HUMIDITY: 50% ABBREVIATIONS: HP (HOLLOW POINT),

could spell the difference between a HST (HIGH SHOCK TRAUMA), JHP (JACKETED HOLLOW POINT), SD (STANDARD DEVIATION).
smooth, speedy reload and the dreaded
noise brought on by a firing pin clink- SPECS: SIG P226 SAO
ing into an empty chamber$50.
MANUFACTURER: SIG SAUER, INC. (DEPT. AR), 72 PEASE BLVD. NEWINGTON, NH 03801;
Below the machined recess under (603) 610-3000; SIGSAUER.COM
the trigger guard, the frontstrap fea- 8"
tures enhanced checkering that goes
a long way to improve the shooters
purchase. The Legions stocks feature
finely checkered G10 material that
extends around the backstrap. Similar
to the Micarta thats commonly used
on knife handles, G10 is a laminate 4716"
thats made from layers of fiberglass
cloth bound together by resin and 514"
pressed together at high pressure. TRIGGER: SINGLE-ACTION;
4-LB., 14-OZ. PULL
The resulting stocks are extremely CALIBER: 9 MM LUGER RIFLING: SIX-GROOVE,
tough, durable and very grippy to the ACTION TYPE: RECOIL- 1:10" RH TWIST
touch even without checkering. When OPERATED, SEMI- STOCKS: G10 CUSTOM
AUTOMATIC PISTOL WIDTH: 1.5"
SLIDE: STAINLESS STEEL WEIGHT: 34 OZS.
Members of the web-based Legion club FRAME: ALUMINUM ALLOY ACCESSORIES: OWNERS
receive a Thermo-mold case for their gun MAGAZINE: DETACHABLE MANUAL, LOCKABLE
and gain access to exclusive communica- BOX; 15-ROUND HARD PLASTIC CASE,
CAPACITY CABLE LOCK, THREE
tions and training tips from SIG. They also
SIGHTS: X-RAY DAY/NIGHT MAGAZINES
have the opportunity to purchase a variety TRITIUM NIGHT SIGHTS MSRP: $1,428
of Legion-branded items, such as humi-
dors, enhanced pistol cases and high-end
knives from custom makers.

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG MAY 2016 65

SIG LEGION
checkered, the G10 takes on a wood-like feel,
yet doesnt chip, crack or absorb water like
wood. The Legion features coarser checkering
on the palm contact and fine checkering on top
where the thumb rests. All told, the entire grip
feels like medium-grit sandpaper to the touch
and lends positive purchase in any elements,
with or without gloves, one handed or two.
But its not so sharp that its damaging to the
hands. Embedded within both sides of the guns
stocks are SIGs golden Legion logo medallions.
The added control and, thus, enhanced accu-
racy that they result in is worth the cost of the
upgraderight around $75.
For the shooter who wraps his support-hand index finger
around the front of the trigger guardsomething I dont
recommendthe Legion provides more checkering. In
addition, there is a checkered section on the trigger guards
underside. These features are neat, but I wouldnt pay much
for them. I do, however, like the metal serrations on the
forward portion of the slide, as they assist with press checks
and give the gun a mean-as-a-shark look$25.
An all-metal guide rod is touted to lend slightly more weight
to the front end of the gun, helping to balance it and control
recoil. While I couldnt actually tell whether it helped to do
so, because the weight makes a subtle difference, its a feature
worth noting mainly due to its enhanced toughness$25.
All Legion guns are finished in SIGs gray PVD, which
stands for Physical Vapor Deposition. It is a process whereby
a protective coating in the form of a metal vapor is applied
to a metal surface by ion bombardment or heat evaporation
while in a vacuum. It results in an extremely durable, hard
(about 70 on the Rockwell scale) and uniform compound;
and, in the Legions case, it results in a matte gunmetal-gray
color that resists rust and wear. (On other SIG guns, black is
added to the PVD process and the company calls the coating
Nitron.) But I prefer the Legions gray tone.
Regardless, the Legions finish as a protectant is critical
if you plan to wear the gun next to your skin all summer
long. Consumers often pay more than $125 to have their
guns Cerakoted, so thats where Im valuing this upgrade.
Most significant of all the upgrades, however, is the
Legions dedication to an improved trigger. I believe SIGs
P-series triggers have always been at the top of the pack
for factory semi-automatic handguns, no doubt one advan-
tage its guns have over striker-fired guns. Yet SIGs stan-
dard triggers are certainly capable of being improved. The
Legion offers two triggers, depending on the model chosen.
Legion P220 SA/DA, P226 SA/DA and P229 SA/DA
models come standard with a Grayguns Intermediate Reach
Adjustable Trigger. This is a custom trigger and an excel-
lent one. Its built for all hands, not just big ones. By
adjustable, the company means its adjusted for over-travel;
as a byproduct, it exhibits a mere 1/16" of reset distance.
This makes for faster shooting. Grayguns is a custom shop
owned and operated by 40-year pistolsmith and champion
shooter Bruce Gray. The Oregon firm specializes in fine
66 MAY 2016
tuning SIG Sauer and H&K handguns. The bulk
of its work goes into triggers, and all are hand-
finished. The Grayguns trigger is worth $62 plus
installation ($25) if you bought it outright.
The Legion P220 SOA (thats in the pipeline) and
the P226 SOA models come from the factory with
SIGs Master Shop Flat Trigger. I tested this one
extensively, and its a thing of beauty for a combat
pistol. While its different, Ive quickly accepted it
and now even laud it. To me, its 1" of flat, square
face offers a more positive and uniform feel than a
curved trigger. While Im not so sold that Im going
to demand all my handgun triggers be flat now, I
prefer it if given the option. Academically, it has 5/64"
of creep, broke at 4.9 lbs., and has a very short 1/8" reset.
Ill pay a premium for a trigger like this every time, because
when it comes down to it, its the single most important
mechanical way to improve accuracy$75.
SIG has a new manufacturing process that polishes the
internal components, thereby reducing friction between
moving metal parts. This acts like an action job and is
worth a few bucks, perhaps $25.
Legion Downrange
So, howd it shoot? Over a case of ammunition, my
P226 SAO (in 9 mm Luger) had no jams, no hiccups and no
surprises. At 34.4 ozs. unloaded but with a magazine, its
fairly beefy, and when combined with its robust grip and
checkering, recoil is mild to say the least. I recorded 2.65"
groups at 25 yds. Like all SIG handguns, the Legion is
supremely accurate, but more so mainly due to its grip and
trigger. Quite simply, its easy to shoot well.
My speed drills were excellent; magazine changes were
swift thanks to spring-loaded magazine ejection that actu-
ally pops mags to the ground rather than relying on grav-
ity. During testing, however, I found that I still managed
to depress the slide release button several times inadver-
tently, but Ill blame that on my high-riding grip and sus-
pect that with more awareness and practice the occurrence
will disappear. Each of the Legions three magazines hold
15 rounds. The DA/SA models are available in 9 mm (15
rounds), .357 SIG (12 rounds) and .40 S&W (12 rounds.)
Press checks were easy using the offhand thumb
wrapped over the barrel thanks to the slides forward ser-
rations. The integral, under-barrel Picatinny rail gets the
job done, and I like the sharpness to its looks. The sights
are superb; the large front dot mimicked the speed of a Big
Dot system, while the rear notch provided precise aiming,
regardless of light. I hit poppers as fast as I could draw and
pull the trigger, and also managed to hit a steel gong at
200 yds. multiple times, just for sport of course.
In sum, all of these upgrades, if purchased separately,
add up to $825 in my estimate. Combine that to a stan-
dard P226s price of around $1,000 and thats $1,825. That
amounts to roughly $400 more than the price of the Legion.
Now back to the program.
AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
At the request of professional operators,
whom SIG sought out for their input,
Legion Series pistols feature X-Ray Day/
Night Tritium night sights. The front
sights Tritium dot (above) is surrounded
by a bright green fiber-optic ring, which
makes it very distinguishable from the
windage-driftable rear sight (r.).
Joining The Legion
Heres how it works: I purchased a SIG Sauer Legion
P226 SAO handgun and brought it home. I logged onto
legionseries.com, clicked on the Visit SIG Store web
link, then onto Register Your Legion Series Firearm Online
Here. From there the process is straightforward, but you
can also enroll by mail or phone by dialing customer ser-
vice at (603) 610-3000 and navigating the teleprompts.
Being a loyal NRA member whos mighty suspicious of
anything called registration when it deals with my guns,
alarm bells chimed, so I called the company to ask about it.
A SIG Sauer representative quickly assured me that the seri-
alized registration served only as my guns warranty registra-
tion, just like any other warranty on most other products.
About a week later, I received a free Thermo-mold
casea custom-molded upgrade to the common plastic
case in which the gun is soldand a Legion challenge coin
featuring the Legion logoa martial insignia modeled,
perhaps, after the Greek letter , or lambda, famously
emblazoned on Spartan shields. Or, in my view, it repre-
sents the basic chevron of an enlisted soldier.
While perusing online chatter, Ive heard some folks
opine that the Thermo-mold case should come with the
gun in the first place. The reality is, however, its a cus-
tom case from a third-party vendor, and its costly. The
case has foam cutouts for the gun, two magazines, a knife
and the challenge coin. SIG gives it to you as a bonus for
joining the Legion, a no-nonsense welcome-to-the-club
gesture, if you will.
AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG
Next I used my registration number to log onto SIGs
online store, where I noticed gear was available for sale
that previously was not. Other tabs on the website read
Exclusive Access and Exclusive Communications. At the
time of this writing, nothing happened when I clicked on
them, but SIG reps assure me that training tips and product
releases will be made available to Legion members soon.
So, as of right now, when you pay for a Legion handgun,
you get the opportunity to buy exclusive Legion stuff and
receive messages from the company. If this sounds a little
like the anti-climactic secret decoder ring from A Christmas
Story to you, Ill remind you that this club offers top-end
holsters, ammunition, knives, and lifestyle accessories such
as humidors and cell phone cases in lieu of Ovaltine.
Plenty of the Legion-branded items arent even made by
SIG, but rather purchased from other companies for their
uniqueness or superiority, such as Black Point Tactical
holsters, Surefire weapon lights and Emerson knives, for
example. I ordered a Black Point Mini Wing IWB holster and
mag pouch, and its one of the best Ive used, thanks to its
combination Kydex-and-leather design, which enhances
speed and comfort.
No doubt some folks will roll their eyes and view SIGs
Legion club as a marketing ploy. Others will revel in it and
appreciate the opportunity to get a free case and buy some
great gear at a slightly reduced price. What I know is that
the Legion handguns are the best SIG factory combat mod-
els the company has ever made, and thats fairly epic.
MAY 2016 67
68 MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN Photos by Holly Marcus
 HISTORICAL

The 1903 Mannlicher-Schoenauer Carbine BY JEREMIAH KNUPP

A gun is to shoot anyway, he thought, not to be preserved in a case, and this was a really good
rifle, easy to shoot, easy to teach anyone to shoot with, and handy on the boat. He had always
had more confidence shooting it, as to being able to place his shots at close and moderate range,
than any other rifle he had ever owned and it made him happy to pull it out of the case now and
pull back the bolt and shove a shell into the breech.
ERNEST HEMINGWAY, ISLANDS IN THE STREAM

ood means adequate. A good car is one that

gets you to work every day, picks up the kids
after school, hauls the groceries twice a week
and starts every time you turn the key. A good rifle goes
bang every time you pull the trigger, fires a cartridge that
accomplishes what it was intended for and lets the average
shooter put all of his rounds into an area the size of a din-
ner plate at 100 yds. As a hunter, Ernest Hemingway owned
and used some of the best firearms the 20th century had
to offerguns with names such as Griffin & Howe, Westley
Richards and Boss engraved on them. He understood the
difference between good and really good. Good gets the
job done. Really good reaches down and touches something
deep inside you while its getting the job done. For a man
like The Man to add the adverb really to a rifle he calls
good is something to take note of.
It certainly caught my attention when, as a 12-year-old,
I first read those words tucked in the middle of a battered
old paperback I pulled off my grandfathers bookshelf. By
designating it a really good rifle Hemingway had ignited
my fascination and started my search for the gun known as
the Mannlicher-Schoenauer.
It was at Griffin & Howes Manhattan store, where his custom
Springfield had been built, that Hemingway first discovered
the Steyr-made 1903 Mannlicher. The little Austrian carbine

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG MAY 2016 69


that he purchased was expensive, twice what a contemporary
Remington Model 30 or Winchester Model 54 would have cost
him. Before it left the shop, Hemingway had the rifle modified
by converting the double set triggers to a single arrangement
and adding a scope mount. In 1933, it was part of the arsenal
that accompanied Hemingway on his first African safari, which
he detailed in his non-fiction work, The Green Hills of Africa.
Among the exploits he notes in the book is his wife Pauline
shooting her first lion with the little Mannlicher.
Hemingways use of the carbine continued after the safari,
as detailed in his personal letters from the 1930s. In 1935 he
was in the Bahamas using the Mannlicher to dispatch sharks
that were going after his trophy bluefin ( the sharks hit
him. 5 hit him at once. I shot 3 with the Mannlicher but they
cut him up like a log in a planing mill.). In 1936 he was in
Wyoming, taking two antelope at 300 and 600 yds. ( both
running, dead, one-shot mannlicher.).
Hemingways fascination with the Mannlicher-
Schoenauer found its way into his fiction. In his famous
short story The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber, the
namesake character is killed by his 6.5 Mannlicher-wielding
wife. The rifle figures large in Hemingways novel Islands in
the Stream, where main character Thomas Hudson uses his
Mannlicher to fight off a hammerhead that attacks his son.
In real life, Hemingway owned at least two 1903 carbines,
as well as a post-war 1952 carbine in 6.5x54 mm M-S. In
1997, Butterfield and Butterfield sold Hemingways second
1903 carbine for a mere $6,325.
A few years after my initial encounter with Islands in
the Stream, I purchased my first Mannlicher-Schoenauer.
Abandoned on the parts rack of a gun shop, I found the
military version that had been used by the Greek army. It
had been butchered down to a crude sporter and showed
the signs of years of neglect, but it was marked Steyr on
the receiver and opening the action revealed the beautiful
rotary magazine hidden beneath the bolt. It was not a 1903
carbine, but it was as close as my budget would allow and
was one step closer to the rifle of Hemingway.
Over the years the old Greek rifle stayed tucked away
in the back of my safe, as Hemingways description of his
beloved rifle stayed filed somewhere in the back of my
mind. While I daydreamed of finishing the work on the
army rifle that had begun in someones garage, I kept
searching for an original Mannlicher-Schoenauer carbine.
My chance finally came when an online auction
Key to the Mannlicher-Schoenauer's action was its detachable,
rotary-style "spool" magazine, shown here loaded with 6.5 mm M-S
cartridges containing their characteristically long projectiles.
70 MAY 2016
advertised, in grainy cell phone pictures, what looked to be
a well-used 1903 Mannlicher. The price was low, so I took
a chance, placed a bid and waited. When the rifle arrived a
few weeks later I eagerly removed it from its case. I could
describe what I found, but Ill leave that to Hemingway:
It was a .256 Mannlicher Shoenauer with the old
eighteen-inch barrel they werent allowed to sell any more.
The stock and forearm were browned like a walnut nutmeat
with oil and rubbing, and the barrel, rubbed from months
of carrying in a saddle bucket, was oil-slick, without a spot
of rust. The cheek piece of the stock was worn smooth
from his own cheek and when he pulled back the bolt the
revolving magazine was full of heavy bellied cartridges
with the long, thin, pencil-shaped metal-cased bullet with
only a tiny exposed lead tip.
Poor-quality photos had concealed a nice, little rifle
that was made in 1928, probably around the same time
that Hemingways Mannlicher was built at the Austrian fac-
tory. The rifles German proofmarks mean it probably came
to this country with a returning G.I. after World War II, but
that part of the story, and how it ended up in a Las Vegas
pawn shop, will never be known. Of course the unknown is
a green light for the imagination. The toe of the stock held
a little plate engraved with the initials RH. If I stare at it
long enough the R begins to look like an E.
I collected some brass and a box of 160-gr. round-nose
bullets and headed over to the range of a friend who hap-
pened to have a set of dies. On his bench, my hands grasped
the worn checkering on the pistol grip and fore-end, the steel
buttplate settling into the pocket of my shoulder, my cheek
bone cupped by the buttstock, the awkwardness of a new rifle
melting into the embrace of an old friend. Ahead of the gold
front-sight bead, the paper target faded into the gray of a
hammerhead fin slicing through blue Caribbean water. I pulled
the set trigger until it clicked, paused my breathing and eased
my finger forward to the hair trigger. It would be a shot that
was two decades in the makingthe crack of the 6.5 mm bul-
let leaving the barrel marked the end of one journey and the
beginning of a new one. This rifle, the rifle, was now mine to
care for, to shoot, to hunt with and to add to the honest wear
that graced its wood and metal by walking in the footsteps of
the hunters and adventurers like Hemingway, who have car-
ried 1903 Mannlichers in the field for over a century.
AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

y the time Hemingway got his hands on a Mannlicher-
Schoenauer in 1930, the rifles basic design was nearly
half-a-century old, its roots going back to one of the
first turnbolt rifle designs, the Dreyse Needle Gun. The needle
gun, and its successor the Mauser Model 1871, used a split-
bridge receiver through which the breech bolt handle passed
when the action was worked. Paul Mausers 1871 bolt design
used a separate head with a wing safety mounted at the rear,
features that found their way onto the later Mannlichers.
In the 1880s a commission of Prussian officers designed
what European firearms expert Ludwig Olson said sired
the later Mannlicher turnbolt rifles. The Gewehr 1888
Commission rifle drew its inspiration from both Mauser and
Mannlicher innovations. While the action resembled the 1871
Mauser, the rifle used Ferdinand von Mannlichers en bloc clip
for cartridge feeding.
The aesthetics of the 1888 also contributed to later
Mannlicher-Schoenauers. Carbines produced for cavalry units
that featured stutzen stocks that terminated in a metal cap
at the muzzle. The style was common on compact European
military carbines and was designed to protect their lightweight
barrels. While the handle on early turnbolt military rifles was
often a round knob that protruded out at a 90 degree angle,
the bolt on the 88 carbine featured a turned down and flat-
tened, or spatulated, handle that made the carbine more
compact for carry in a scabbard.
The immediate evolution of the Commission rifle was
Mannlichers Model 1891. While Mausers designs went to a
solid rear receiver bridge with the bolt handle located behind
it and a box magazine, Mannlicher stuck to the split-rear-
bridge receiver and en bloc clip. The rifle was adopted by the
armies of Romania in 1892 and the Netherlands in 1895.
A decade after Mannlichers first turnbolts appeared, the
rifle that would be known as the Mannlicher-Schoenauer
came on the scene. Patented in 1900, it differed from previ-
ous Mannlichers in its magazine, doing away with the en bloc
clip and replacing it with a rotary design by Steyr employee
Otto Schnauer (a name often Anglicized as Schoenauer).
The rifle was originally designed as a military arm, tested
and rejected by Portugal, but accepted by Greece in 1903.
Only 300,000 of the military rifles would be manufactured
over the following three decades as Greece was the only army
to accept the design.
While the Mannlicher-Schoenauer failed as a military rifle for
economic reasons (it cost nearly twice as much as contemporary
Mausers), it found success in the sporting world. Though limited
numbers of commercial rifles had been built on the 1900 action,
it wasnt until 1903 that production was standardized.
The classic 1903 carbine has a 450 mm (17.7") barrela
common length for European cavalry carbinesin a slender
profile that approximates a modern No. 1. It was stocked to
the muzzle, an aesthetic that the rifle made so iconic that
to this day such a stock is known simply as a Mannlicher.
The entire package had an overall length just under 40"
and weighed about 6 lbs. For the American shooter, the
AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG
THE 1903 MANNLICHER-SCHOENAUER CARBINE
compactness and handiness of the 1903 carbine is most
similar to that of a Winchester Model 94, which along
with the Mannlicher-Schoenauer are what Jeff Cooper said
inspired his scout rifle concept. Though most famous in its
carbine form, Steyr also made a long-barreled, half-stocked
rifle version.
One can only imagine what went through the mind of
the tanned and scarred professional African hunter when he
was first handed a Mannlicher-Schoenauer over the counter
of a Nairobi sporting goods store. At the turn of the century
such a man would have been experienced using single-shot
falling-block or double rifles that weighed more than 8 lbs.
and fired a cartridge propelled by blackpowder or cordite
with a solid-lead, paper-patched bullet weighing 300 grs. or
more at velocities under 2000 f.p.s.
The Mannlicher was one of the first of the small-bore,
bolt-action repeaters that would turn the sporting world
on its ear. The 1898 version of the British Encyclopedia of
Sport stated that the 6.5 and .303 have effected a revolu-
tion in game shooting. Like earlier Mannlicher turnbolts
the Mannlicher-Schoenauer became popular with fine English
gunsmiths, from Gibbs to Holland & Holland, who built
custom guns on both military and commercial actions in
carbine, rifle and takedown forms.
The success of the 1903 Mannlicher-Schoenauer spawned a
line of Steyr-built rifles, each sized for a proprietary cartridge
that included 8x56 mm, 9x56 mm and 9.5x57 mm offerings.
In 1924 a standard-size action was introduced for the
.30-06 Sprg., 8x57 mm and other popular commercial rounds.
Production of Steyrs Mannlicher-Schoenauer was inter-
rupted by World War II. When it resumed after the war all
rifles were based on two action sizes, the pre-war standard
1924 and a magnum size. The standard action was cham-
bered for a variety of cartridges, including those popular in
the North American market, like .270 Win. and .243 Win.,
and the magnum accommodated then-new belted rounds,
including .338 Win. Mag. and .458 Win. Mag. Attempts were
made to update the design for the needs of the modern
rifleman who used telescopic sights. Though a split-bridge
receiver is a notoriously difficult design to accommodate
scopes, Steyr drilled its rifles for side mounts, swept back
and dished out bolt handles to clear scope tubes, added side
safeties and gave its stocks Monte Carlo cheekpieces to bring
a shooters eyes in line with high-mounted optics.
Despite updates in design and styling, by the 1960s
the Mannlicher-Schoenauer was succumbing to the same
economic pressures that stymied its military sibling. The
complicated machining and hand-fitting that economically
doomed the rifle as a military arm spelled the demise of the
turn-of-the-century design as a sporting firearm. The last of
the Mannlicher Schoenauers were built in the late 1960s with
rifles still being assembled from parts into the early 70s. It
was one of the last classic firearms that went out of produc-
tion following World War II and marked the end of an era of
hand-built factory guns.
MAY 2016 71
THE 1903 MANNLICHER-SCHOENAUER CARBINE

Understand the draw of fine old firearms such as the 1903 As have many
Mannlicher-Schoenauer and you understand why guns are such an before him, the
integral part of the outdoor experience. Its the romance and the author finds the
history, the opportunity, through an object, to connect ourselves compact and
with great things that happened a long time ago and the chance to handy Mannlicher-
make our own mark on that story. Schoenauer a
I slipped my palm beneath the Mannlichers butterknife bolt delight in the field.
handle, lifted it skyward and effortlessly worked the bolt to
chamber another round. At 50 yds. the first two shots I fired were
nearly touching. I went back to the press to load a few more.
Hemingway was right. It is a really good rifle.

he revolutionary design of the Mannlicher- The small caliber guns, like the marvelous little
Schoenauer rifle was matched by its ground- .256 Mannlicher-Schoenauer, with its flat trajec-
breaking cartridge, the 6.5x54 mm M-S (May tory, long range, and enormous penetration, come
2015, p. 42). It was a cartridge that rode in on a nearest to perfection, no doubt, for I have myself
wave of small-bore, high-velocity (for that time), killed such game as wildebeest, leopard and zebra,
smokeless cartridge designs that revolutionized at from two hundred to five hundred yards with
the hunting and shooting worlds at the dawn of that gun, but also with only one shot each killed
the 20 century. a charging rhinoceros and two elephants, said
The 6.5 mm round popularized in the handy Richard Tjader in his book The Big Game of Africa.
Austrian carbines was not an original, but a The little Mannlichers list of faithful reads
rimless version of a cartridge introduced by like a Whos Who of 20th century adventure and
Steyr around 1890 for a turn-bolt magazine includes names such as Vilhjalmur Stefansson,
rifle that was adopted by Romania (1892) and Bror von Blixen-Finecke, Roy Chapman Andrews
the Netherlands (1895). Being one of the first and Blayney Percivalmen who carried their 6.5
small-bore, smokeless-powder bolt-action rifles Mannlicher rifles into the field from the frozen
(the ground-breaking Lebel had been introduced snows of the Arctic to the steamy jungles of Asia.
Compared to the .500
in 1886), it quickly became popular in sporting Even Theodore Roosevelt, famous for his big
Blackpowder Express (l.)
circles, with custom gunsmiths building rifles stick Winchesters and Springfields, had the tiny
the 6.5x54 mm M-S appears
on Dutch and Romanian actions. The cartridge 1903 Mannlicher carbine in his hunting armory.
anemic; but its reputation
also caused quite a stir in the civilian world By the mid-20th century, new regulations in
proves otherwise.
as a target cartridge. In 1897, John Rigby won many countries prohibited hunters from pursuing
the 1,100-yd. Wimbledon Cup at Bisley with a dangerous game with small-bore rifles, and a suc-
Mannlicher in .256 (the British used the inch designation for cession of high-velocity magnum cartridges and affordable rifles
the cartridge). It was also popular with hunters: to shoot them pushed the 6.5x54 M-S out of popularity.
The Mannlicher proved to be a terrible engine of destruc- In the circular nature of trends that seems to exist in
tion. The beasts seemed to be instantly destroyed. Not one in the firearm world, the first decade of the 21st century saw
four moved its own length after being struck. And the striking the appearance of several new mid-sized 6.5 mm cartridges
was ridiculously easy, even at a distance quite out of range for designed for hunting, target and tactical rifles including
an Express. Given a good light and a stationary object, there the .260 Rem., 6.5 mm Grendel, 6.5 mm Creedmoor and
really seemed no limit but that of sight, said George Littledale, 6.5x47 mm Lapua. Once again shooters are discovering the
in an 1896 issue of Bailys Magazine of Sport and Pastimes. accuracy and effectiveness of the 6.5 mm bullet. Fired in a
The rimless version of the cartridge, introduced in 1900 and modern rifle (in 1998 Steyr produced a limited version of its
immortalized in Steyrs rotary-magazine rifles, quickly became SBS chambered in 6.5x54 mm M-S) with a comparable length
the cartridge of choice for hunters pursuing even the largest barrel, the old .256 Mannlicher stacks up well against its
and most dangerous game the world had to offer. Famed hunter modern 6.5 mm rivals. Its a cartridge that is obscure, but by
W.D.M. Bell dropped 300 elephants with his 6.5 Mannlicher rifle. no means obsolete, and every year hunters around the world
A 1932 Western Cartridges advertisement detailed the exploits continue to take game with Steyrs 6.5 Mannlicher.
of 18-year-old Emily Lou Sutton, who took two polar bears with Today, factory-loaded 6.5x54 mm M-S cartridges are
one shot each from her 6.5 Mannlicher. The ad featured a pic- available from Prvi Partisan and Hornady (both 156-gr. soft
ture of a grim-faced Emily Lou clutching her full-stock carbine points) and Buffalo Arms Company (160-gr. soft point).
while posing between the two bears, which weighed nearly Norma and Prvi sell brass for reloaders, and dies are made by
1,000 lbs. each. Bell and Sutton were not alone: Redding, Hornady and RCBS.

72 MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

 SERVING ORDER BY 3:30 FOR SAME DAY SHIPPING
SHOOTERS
FOR 33 1-800-588-9500FAX (325) 695-4898 NO EXTRA CREDIT CARD FEES
INC. YEARS! P.O. Box 6514 Abilene, TX 79608 MON-FRI 8-7 CST SAT 9-2 CST www.cdnnsports.com

-- IMPORTANT NOTICE --
If you are not trading with CDNN Sports, Inc., you are wasting money...plain and simple!
Top Five Reasons for Trading with CDNN Sports:
1) Largest Firearms and Firearm Related Accessory Wholesale Liquidator 2) Best Pricing
Day In & Day Out! 3) No Credit Card Fees! 4) Fast Shipping-Most Orders Ship Same Day!
5) Outstanding Customer Service!-Check out our Google Reviews!

SCOPE BASE INCLUDED

XS7 BOLT ACTION RIFLES
TARGET CROWN
FREE AR-15
PROFIRE ADJUSTABLE TRIGGER 6724 STAINLESS ACCURIZED 556
FLUTED BOLT4+1 INTERNAL CAPACITY MATCH TRIGGER 24 STAINLESS BULL BARREL
PILLAR BEDDED BLACK SYNTHETIC CHECKERED STOCK
22 POLISHED BLUE PRECISION BUTTON RIFLED BARREL
SOFT-TECH RECOIL PADSLING STUDS
243 OR 7MM-08
$ 24999 YOUR
CHOICE
#CR6724
$
1400 VALUE
SIGN UP @ www.cdnnsports.com FOR OUR E-MAIL
5.56 MID-LENGTH FREE FLOAT SPECIALS PLUS BUY THE BEST GUN INDUSTRY DEALS
16" 5.56 NATO UPPER WITH MID-LENGTH LWRC FREE-FLOAT QUAD RAIL TODAY! DRAWING HELD 5/31/16 @ 12:00 NOON CST
AR15/M16 BOLT CARRIER GROUP WITH BLACK NITRIDE FINISH No purchase necessary to win. Only one registration per household.
RE QUIRED PREMIUM LOWER PARTS KIT C-PRODUCTS 30 ROUND MAGAZINE Must be shipped to a registered FFL Dealer. Must be 21 or older to win.
NO FFL 1:8 TWIST 6 POSITION ADJUSTABLE STOCK WITH CARBINE BUFFER THIS CONTEST IS VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LOCAL, STATE OR FEDERAL LAW.
CHARGING HANDLE A2 FLASH HIDER DELUXE PADDED RIFLE CASE
ALL PREMIUM PARTSUPPER IS ASSEMBLED EAA SAR K2-P 9MM EAA SAR K2-45 45ACP

55493 SOLD
$
NET PRICED
JUST ADD A
SEPARATELY LOWER RECEIVER
$ 39999 #CUSKIT1
17+1 CAPACITY 14+1 CAPACITY
POLY
FRAME
STEEL
FRAME
300BLACKOUT MID FREE FLOAT 16" 300BLACKOUT UPPER WITH MID-LENGTH FREE-FLOAT QUAD RAIL
3.8 BARREL
ACCESSORY RAIL
2-STAGE TRIGGER
ACCESSORY RAIL
AR15/M16 BOLT CARRIER GROUP WITH BLACK NITRIDE FINISH FORGED BLUE STEEL SLIDE ADJUSTABLE 3-DOT SIGHTS
ED
R EQUIR DPMS LOWER PARTS KIT C-PRODUCTS 30 ROUND MAGAZINE AMBIDEXTROUS SAFETY FORGED STEEL SLIDE & FRAME
NO FFL 6 POSITION ADJUSTABLE STOCK WITH CARBINE BUFFER
CHARGING HANDLE A2 FLASH HIDER DELUXE PADDED RIFLE CASE ADJUSTABLE 3-DOT SIGHTS 4.5 STAINLESS MATCH BARREL

JUST
ADD A
ALL PREMIUM PARTSUPPER IS ASSEMBLED
NET PRICED
$
53393 SOLD
$ 429 99
1-17RD
MAGAZINE
$ 27999
#EAA400426
1-14RD
MAGAZINE
$ 36999
#EAA170840
14RD
$2499
LOWER! SEPARATELY! #CUSKIT2

416 22LR PISTOL 715P 22LR PPX 40S&W PPX 9MM

20+1 CAPACITY 25+1 CAPACITY 14+1 CAPACITY 16+1 CAPACITY
BLUE TUTONE
STEEL STAINLESS
SLIDE SLIDE
9 BARREL 6 BARREL ACCESSORY RAIL ACCESSORY RAIL
MUZZLBRAKE NO SNAG HAMMER NO SNAG HAMMER
METAL RECEIVER 4 BARRELGERMAN QUALITY 4 BARRELGERMAN QUALITY
ADJUSTABLE SIGHTS ADJUSTABLE SIGHTS
QUAD RAIL LOW PROFILE 3-DOT SIGHTS LOW PROFILE 3-DOT SIGHTS
QUAD RAIL PICATINNY RAIL LIGHTWEIGHT POLYMER FRAME LIGHTWEIGHT POLYMER FRAME
1-20RD
MAGAZINE
$ 32999
#HK5780303
MAGS
24
$
1-25RD
MAGAZINE
99
$ 19999
#MOS37235
25RD
$1999
2-14RD
MAGAZINES
$ 27999
#WAL2790050
14RD
$1999
2-16RD
MAGAZINES
$ 32999
#WAL2790122
$
16RD
1999

10/22 22LR AR-15

10/22 BX-25X2 STEEL LIPS MINI-14
22LR 25RD
22LR 50RD
25RD
CONSTANT FITS ATI, ATCHISSON, CHIAPPA,

STAINLESS FEED LIPS

FORCE
SPRING
223 20RD CMMG, KEL-TEC, SIG SAUER 522,
SPIKES & TACTICAL SOLUTIONS
STAINLESS STEEL SPRING EASY LOADINGSELF LUBRICATING BLUE STEEL BODY IMPACT RESISTANT
RARE FACTORY FIND BOLT HOLD OPEN
2-25RD=50RDS TOTAL CLEAR OR SMOKE
$ 29
#RUG90398A
99 #BUT24101

$ 12
#BUT24102

99
$
#RUG90010
2499 $
#CMMGM
999
ORDER ONLINE 24/7 @ www.cdnnsports.com OR CALL 800-588-9500
OFFICE HOURS MONDAY - FRIDAY 8AM-7PM CST OR SATURDAY 9AM-2PM CST
Caught Off Guard, by frontier artist
and longrifle enthusiast David Wright,
portrays Hugh Glass right before he was
mauled by a grizzly and left for dead. In
real life, Glass crawled hundreds of miles
on broken legs with ghastly wounds to
get his longrifle back.

74 MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

 FIREARMS ON FILM

The powerful, Golden Globe- and

Oscar-winning film is brilliantly acted
and beautifully directed, but it misses
the whole point of legendary mountain
man Hugh Glass. He just wanted his
rifle back.
BY PHILIP SCHREIER, Senior Curator, NRA Museums

Revenant: noun; revenant;

\re-v -, nn, -n nt\ one that returns
e e
after death or a long absence.
MERRIAM-WEBSTER DICTIONARY ONLINE

n Jan. 8, 2016, The Revenant,star-

ring Leonardo DiCaprio, hit theaters
nationwide, and the film became a
blockbuster. With DiCaprio in the
role of legendary fur trapper and mountain
man Hugh Glass and Thomas Hardy as John
Fitzgerald in a film directed by the Academy
Award-winning Alejandro Irritu, how could
it fail? Well, actually, it could fail on many
levels and, sadly, in my opinion, it does. Its
a case of good news vs. bad news, so which
do you want first?
The good news is the film is amazing. It
garnered 12 Oscar nods, including for best
picture, costume design, directing, acting
for DiCaprio and Hardy, as well as one for
Emmanuel Lubezki, the director of photogra-
phy. DiCaprios portrayal of a man seriously
mauled by a grizzly bear and left for dead only
to crawl back to civilization after travers-
ing more than 300 miles of frozen wilderness
is nothing short of spellbinding. Lubezkis
exclusive use of ambient light gives this film
an amazing feel and texture, immersing the
viewer in the harsh dreariness of a long winter
in the upper Northwest. After viewing it, I
wanted to book travel to Sarasota on the next
available flight, never to look back. They dont
have grizzly bears in western Florida, do they?
When American Rifleman Editor-in-Chief
Mark Keefe saw the previews for the film, he
and NRA Publications Editorial Director John
Zent immediately thought to ask my opinion
on the one question that many of our read-
ers would ask: Did they get the guns right?

Painting by David Wright, davidwrightart.com 75

REVENANT
The short answer is, yes, they did. They actually went to
a bit of trouble to get them correct, and that effort shows
in the finished product. Not everything is perfect, nor could
you really expect it to be, but for the most part it is a much
better effort than some past offerings from Hollywood in
which U.S. Model 1873 Trapdoor Springfields abound with
bronze flint hammers and frizzens cosmetically added to
give the center-fire rifles the look of muzzleloaders.
The back story on the guns is this: Author Michael Punke
wrote a novel in 2002 called The Revenant, and the screen
rights were sold before it was actually published. Once the
film was green-lit, production assistantsPAs for short
began a four-year process of getting everything organized to
actually begin filming. Punke wrote in the novel that Glass
had a beautiful longrifle: The octagonal barrel was inscribed
at the base with the name of its maker, Jacob Anstadt and
the place of its manufacture, Kutztown, Penn.
A PA searched for Anstadt rifle on the web, and a
Joseph (not Jacob) Angstadt (not Anstadt) popped up on
the website of Ron Luckenbill, a 72-year-old retired police-
man and NRA Life Member who started to make longrifles
as a hobby back in 1998. Luckenbill had an Angstadt rifle
for sale at one time, but it had recently sold. Why do you
ask? he inquired. The PA spilled his guts about what he
was looking for. Is it possible to find two original Joseph
Angstadt rifles for use in this movie, ASAP?
Luckily for all concerned, Luckenbill had a rifle styled
after Bucks County maker John Shuler on hand and ready
Why does Hollywood keep doing this to us? The geek
historian in me is salivating at the thought of a great film
that hits all the high notes of historical accuracy. Every
time I think someone has clued in and decided to go to the
extra effort to make it right, as evidenced by the remark-
able Band of Brothers (2001), I get sucker punched in the
guts with something as off target as The Revenant.
Hollywood delivered a rash of mountain man movies
to the public more than 40 years ago: The Man in the
Wilderness (1971), Jeremiah Johnson (1972), The Life
and Times of Grizzly Adams (1974) and our own Charlton
Heston in The Mountain Men (1980). Some of these films
have taken on cult status, while others are now hardly
remembered. Director Alejandro Irritu hopes that his
film will stand above all others for its attention to detail,
76 MAY 2016
NRA Life Member Ron Luckenbill built two identical John Shuler-
Photo by Ron Luckenbill
inspired flintlock longrifles for use by Leonardo DiCaprio in The
Revenant. After delivery, it appears the producers had the guns cut
down to match the narrative of the novel on which the movie was
based. Sacrilege. Actor Tom Hardy (below) portrays one of the men
who left Hugh Glass for dead after Glass was mauled by a grizzly
in the film The Revenant. Hardy and the other trappers used
smoothbore trade muskets authentic to the era throughout the film.
for immediate sale. He knocked off a carbon copy of it in
30 days, and the production company had its two hero
guns ready for filming.
Except there was just one small detail remaining. In the
novel, Punke wrote: The barrel was short, only thirty-six
inches. He then goes on to explain that the Glass of his
novel wanted a short rifle, saying that it was lighter and
easier to maneuver while on horseback while still being
very accurate, short barrel or not. With a full charge of
200 grains of black powder, the Anstadt could throw a .53
caliber ball nearly 200 yards. Sadly it is here that we find
Punkes tell; he really has no familiarity with firearms of
the period. A whole 200 yards? That far, eh? remarked
Keefe after I read him the quote. The PA asked Luckenbill
if he could cut 10" off the barrel of the Shuler rifle and
make the second one the same length. He said he couldnt
do it. It would be too much like cutting off the arm of one
of my children. I just couldnt do it. He went on to say,
What they did with the rifles after they were paid for and
shipped was no longer any of my business.
Despite the practical problems of trying to adapt a techni-
cally flawed novel to film, the theater-goers will also encoun-
ter a few other troubling missteps along the way. This film is
based on a novel. A work of fiction. The disclaimer Inspired
by true events is just that, a disclaimer. In 1823 there was a
mountain man named Hugh Glass. He got mauled by a bear.
It was cold. He lived. This is the end of historical similarities
between the film and what really happened.
AMERICAN RIFLEMAN Image courtesy of 20th Century Fox
AR0516
600+ Stores
Nationwide

R 2500 LB.
PE ON SUPER COUPON How Does Harbor Freight SUPER COUPON
SU UP ELECTRIC WINCH
CO WITH WIRELESS Sell GREAT QUALITY Tools

20% FREE
REMOTE CONTROL at the LOWEST Prices?
LOT 61258 shown
61840/61297/68146
We have invested millions
SAVE
$100 of dollars in our own
state-of-the-art quality test WITH ANY PURCHASE
$ 59 99 labs and millions more in 3-1/2" SUPER BRIGHT

OFF
NINE LED ALUMINUM
comp at $159.99 our factories, so our tools FLASHLIGHT
will go toe-to-toe with the LOT 69052 shown
69111/62522
LIMIT 3 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling
800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior ANY
top professional brands. 62573/65020
purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.
Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be
SINGLE
And we can sell them for a
4
ITEM
presented. Valid through 8/17/16. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
fraction of the price because $ 99
WOW SUPERMECOUCHAGLOPONNICVES'S Limit 1 coupon per customer per day. Save 20% on any 1 item
purchased. *Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or any
of the following items or brands: Inside Track Club membership,
extended service plan, gift card, open box item, 3 day parking lot sale
we cut out the middle man VALUE
SAVE SIZE LOT
item, compressors, floor jacks, saw mills, storage cabinets, chests or
carts, trailers, trenchers, welders, Admiral, CoverPro, Daytona, Diablo,
and pass the savings on to LIMIT 1 - Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or prior
purchase. Coupon good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by

66% MED 62434/62426

62433/62428
Franklin, Hercules, Holt, Jupiter, Predator, Stik-Tek, StormCat, Union,
Vanguard, Viking. Not valid on prior purchases. Non-transferable.
Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 8/17/16.
you. Its just that simple! calling 800-423-2567. Offer good while supplies last. Shipping
& Handling charges may apply if not picked up in-store. Non-
transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through
LG
62432/62429
Come visit one of our 8/17/16. Limit one FREE GIFT coupon per customer per day.
X-LG
600+ Stores Nationwide.

Item
62429
shown
YOUR CHOICE

$399 $599 comp at $11.99 WOW

RAPID PUMP 3 TON
SUPER
COUPON CO
R
PE ON
SU UP
4 PIECE 1" x 15 FT.
RATCHETING TIE DOWNS
LOT 61524/60405/62322/63056/63057
63094/63150/90984 shown
Customer Rating
WOW 3 GALLON, 100 PSI OILLESS
AIR COMPRESSORS
SUPER
COUPON

SAVE
om or by calling
our stores or HarborFreight.c
t or coupon or prior
LIMIT 8 - Good at used with other discoun
800-423-2567. Cannot be from original purchase with original receipt. LOW PROFILE A. HOT DOG STYLE B. PANCAKE
purchases after 30 days last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be
Offer good while supplies8/17/16. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
presented. Valid through
Weighs
HEAVY DUTY STEEL 73 lbs. 60% LOT 69269/97080 shown LOT 95275 shown
60637/61615
FLOOR JACK
R 12" SLIDING COMPOUND
PE ON Customer Rating A B
SU UP DOUBLE-BEVEL MITER SAW
CO WITH LASER GUIDE 20"
LOT 61969/61970
SAVE
69684 shown $85
SAVE Customer Rating LOT 68049/62326
$264
62670/61253
61282 shown

$ 13499 $8499 99 $ 99
$169.99
comp at
$ 99
comp at
7 $20.37
SAVE
55%
YOUR CHOICE

$3992
$ 59$8999
comp at
comp at $399

LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling
800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior
purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.
Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be
presented. Valid through 8/17/16. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
LIMIT 5 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling
800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior
purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.
Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be
presented. Valid through 8/17/16. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
LIMIT 8 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling
800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior
purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.
Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be
presented. Valid through 8/17/16. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
LIMIT 5 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling
800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior
purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.
Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be
presented. Valid through 8/17/16. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

R
PE ON
9 PIECE FULLY POLISHED R
PE ON
TRIPLE BALL
W OW SUPER COUPON R
SU UP COMBINATION WRENCH SETS TRAILER HITCH PE ON 20-60 x 60mm
SU UP WATTS
CO O LOT 61913 shown 4000 PEAK/3200 RUNNING S SU UP SPOTTING SCOPE
SAVE GENERATOR CO
SAE
C 69874/61914
6.5 HP (212 CC) GAS29/63 080/69676 shown
LOT 63079/697
WITH TRIPOD
66% LOT 69043/42304 shown
SAVE SUPERT
QUIE
3089
LOT 69675/69728/63090/6ONLY
CALIFORNIA SAVE LOT 62774/94555 shown

METRIC
LOT 42305/69044 77% 70 dB Noise Level
SAVE
$179
$70 Customer Rating
YOUR CHOICE $ 1999 $28999 349
$ 99
$ 3999
$ 99
comp at
5$17.97
comp at $89.99 comp at $469 comp at
$109.99

om or by calling
LIMIT 5 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling our stores or HarborFreight.ct or coupon or prior LIMIT 4 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling
LIMIT 3 - Good at used with other discoun
800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior 800-423-2567. Cannot be from original purchase with original receipt. 800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior
purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt. es after 30 days coupon must be purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.
purchas last. Non-transferable. Original
LIMIT 7 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling
Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be Offer good while supplies8/17/16. Limit one coupon per customer per day. Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be
presented. Valid through 8/17/16. Limit one coupon per customer per day. presented. Valid through presented. Valid through 8/17/16. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior
purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.
Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be R R AMMO BOX R 1/2" ELECTRIC
presented. Valid through 8/17/16. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
PE ON PE ON PE ON IMPACT WRENCH
R ELECTRIC CHAIN SAW SU UP 30", 5 DRAWER SU UP SU UP
PE ON CO TOOL CART CO LOT 63135/61451 shown CO
SU UP SHARPENER LOT 69606/61173
CO SAVE LOT 69397
61427 SAVE 68099 shown
Customer Rating
LOT 61613/68221 shown
Customer Rating
$180 95272 shown
704 lb. capacity 66%
SAVE
44%
4-1/4" grinding
wheel included.
$ 16999
comp at $349.99
$ 994
comp at $14.99
SAVE
$109
$ 3999
comp at $149.88

$ 2799
comp at $49.99
LIMIT 3 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling
800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior
purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.
Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be
presented. Valid through 8/17/16. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
LIMIT 8 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling
800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior
purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.
Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be
presented. Valid through 8/17/16. Limit one coupon per customer per day.
LIMIT 5 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling
800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior
purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.
Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be
presented. Valid through 8/17/16. Limit one coupon per customer per day.

LIMIT 3 - Good at our stores or HarborFreight.com or by calling

800-423-2567. Cannot be used with other discount or coupon or prior 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed No Hassle Return Policy HarborFreight.com
purchases after 30 days from original purchase with original receipt.
Offer good while supplies last. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be
presented. Valid through 8/17/16. Limit one coupon per customer per day. Over 30 Million Satisfied Customers Lifetime Warranty On All Hand Tools 800-423-2567
REVENANT
realism and sheer beauty, and much like the tale of Glass
himself, that this film will be the one spoken of with pride
and reverence around the campfires of the rendezvous and
living history encampments for generations to come.
And to his credit, Irritu did go to some effort to at least
get the feel and texture of the era and lifestyle of the mountain
man accurate. Clay Landry, a living historian of the mountain
man/fur trade era for the past 45 years, was hired as a technical
advisor to help set up a period-correct trapping outpost and put
the actors through a boot camp that exposed them to the ways
of the wilderness frontiersmen of the 1820s. He related that
DiCaprio and Hardy knew their way around firearms and the
basics of safe handling, but they had no experience with guns
from the flintlock period. Landry educated them to the point
that they really look like they know what they are doing when
you see them handling, loading and firing their guns on film.
One noticeable misstep are the close-up scenes where the
trappers of the expedition are fending off a massed attack of
Arikaras (nicknamed Rees by the trappers). As they aim for
targets it is quite evident that most of the flintlocks are at half-
cock and would be incapable of firing a shot if the trigger were
pulled. DiCaprio also manages to reload a pistol while astride a
horse at full gallop in what would seem to be record time.
To the geek in me, these are minor annoyances, and
they dont cripple my interest in the film to the point
winchester.com/safety f irst
Olin Corporation 2016
where Id leave the theater in disgust. The biggest problem
I had was with the actual story line and the wide berth it
gives to anything resembling the actual story.
The story of Hugh Glass is a story of an American
Odysseus, someone of Homeric proportions who, despite
what God, man and the elements throw at him, manages
to survive. He survives epically. He has a goal, motivation,
a reason for living. He is on a quest, and that quest is not
a blushing, native bride or a son in swaddling clothes. No,
to the real Hugh Glass and not the one now delivered to us
via 70 mm Panavision lenses, the object of his quest is his
rifle. The one thing on earth that Glass knew better than
his own heart, body, mind and soul, was his rifle.
Those quick to defend the novel and the movie as works
of fiction, the employing of literary license etc., will add
that there isnt actually a whole lot we do know for certain
about any of the Hugh Glass story except for him being
mauled and living to tell the tale.
There is enough known of the real Hugh Glass out there
to make a compelling story, however. Hugh Glass was, by
some scant accounts, born near Philadelphia sometime
around 1780. When he was approximately 15 years of age
he was living in western Pennsylvania and apprenticed to
THANKS FOR
THE RIDE
The iconic Winchester brand celebrates 150
years of legendary excellence in 2016a historic
milestone representing a steadfast commitment
to the hunting and shooting sports traditions and
future generations of sportsmen. Thank you to
our loyal customers whove trusted us in the great
outdoors, at the range, on patrol and in combat.
A world leader in delivering innovative products,
Winchester is The American Legend, a brand built
on integrity, hard work and a deep focus on its
most loyal customers.
JOIN US AS THE LEGENDARY
RIDE CONTINUES.
Henry Wolf of Pittsburgh as a gunmaker. Wolf was, evi-
dently, not a pleasant person to work for, as evidenced
by the numerous ads he took out in the local paper over
the years offering a reward for runaway apprentices.
The cause for the young Glass to take heel to toe and
leave his mentor/employer in 1795 is now lost to history.
Evidently, Wolf was not too grieved by the loss as he posted
a reward for the return of Glass but only for the paltry sum
of 6 pence. No doubt that during his brief time with Henry
Wolf, Glass would have picked up an appreciation for finely
crafted rifles as Wolfs are considered quite rare and well
executed by todays collectors.
There isnt really a whole lot we know about Glass after
he runs off from Wolf. Some say he was a merchant sea-
man, captured and forced to serve in the pirate fleet of Jean
Lafitte. Deserting the pirates and barely escaping with his
life, he ran inland and was soon adopted by a tribe of local
Pawnee. He lived among them for more than five years,
learned their ways and language, and he became quite
honored by the tribe, which was devastated when he left

The actors, including star Leonardo DiCaprio, went through a

mountain man boot camp to learn how to properly handle
flintlock smoothbore muskets and the Pennsylvania-made longrifle
Image courtesy of 20th Century Fox
that is at the heart of the narrative.

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG MAY 2016 79

REVENANT
for St. Louis to begin a new life as a trapper and mountain
man.He joins up with a fur company expedition that was
trapping beaver in the northwest corner of what we now
know as South Dakota. In late August 1823, he is set upon
by a grizzly bear that leaves his body lacerated and shat-
tered. This much we know because of a surviving letter writ-
ten by one of Glasss trapping companions. Fellow mountain
man Daniel T. Potts writes just a few weeks after the events
concluded (July 7, 1824): One man who also tore nearly all
to peases by a White Bear and was left by the way without
any gun who afterwards recoverd.
A year later, James Hall writes in a Philadelphia maga-
zine a more detailed account that even names Hugh Glass
as the man tore nearly all to peases.
The celebrated Gen. Philip St. George Cooke, while a
junior lieutenant on the frontier, pens a very detailed mis-
sive about Glass in 1830. After that, stories abound about
Glass for the next 100 years. Most notable among them
is John Neihardts 1915 effort entitled The Song of Hugh
Glass. Neihardts verse is 120 pages long and attempts to
replicate Homers saga of Odysseus by making Glass the
American counterpart to that ancient Greek hero.
In 1954, Frederick Manfred published his novel Lord
Grizzly, and it rapidly become a national bestseller. During
the era when Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone were
television sensations, Lord Grizzly captured the imagination
of a new generation of Americans.
Finally, in 1963, John Myers tried valiantly to dig deep
into the truth of Hugh Glass with his epic Pirate, Pawnee, and
Mountain Man: The Saga of Hugh Glass. Myers examined every
written account of Hugh Glass life and sifted fact from fiction
to come up with a compelling tale that staggers the imagina-
tion. By comparing and contrasting the varying accounts,
Myers painted the picture of a man possessed. A man who did
not know the meaning of the word fail. A man who, although
physically shattered, speechless, racked with lacerations and
infection, manages to crawl over a period of four months and
300 miles through unfriendly frozen wilderness back to safety
with one quest on his mind. He wanted his rifle back.
There was no Pawnee wife or children to motivate him,
no real cause for revenge, either, as he understood that
Jim Bridger and John Fitzgerald honestly thought he was
as good as dead. He may have done the same thing if their
roles were reversed. The one constant in every telling of
the tale until The Revenant opened was that Hugh Glass
wanted his gun back. That rifle was special not only to
him but to every man that knew Glass. Many stated that
his rifle was of the finest Pennsylvania manufacture. Most
 Image courtesy of 20th Century Fox

rifles in that time period cost $40 when a good horse would
cost $10 to $20. The value in cash money only, would
today be the equivalent of two brand new automobiles. To
Glass, he placed more value on his rifle than we would even
consider placing on a new vehicle today. It was his lifes
blood; it was his last remaining tie to his former home in
Pennsylvania. It was worth doing everything he could man-
age to do, this side of dying, to get it back.
James Hall was the first to recount this as Glass moti-
vation. In his 1825 article he wrote that after a journey
of nearly 10 months Glass arrived at Fort Atkinson (near
Council Bluffs) ... where he found his old traitorous
acquaintance [Fitzgerald] in the garb of a private soldier.
This shielded the delinquent from chastisement. The com-
manding officer at the post ordered his rifle to be restored.
continued on p. 116

Millennium G2 exceptionally reliable

Flawless performance on the range or at the ready. With its lightweight
polymer frame, thin profile, and ramped 3.2 barrel, the Taurus
Millennium G2 is the perfect Everyday Gunat an unbeatable price.
MSRP $301
Available in 9mm Luger or 40 S&W Ideal for concealed carry Proven performance (Matte Black)
MSRP $316
Picatinny accessory rail MIL-STD-1913 Adjustable rear sight Taurus Security System (Matte Stainless)
TaurusUSA.com
GOLDEN BULLSEYE

Right
On Target
The NRA Publications Divisions Golden Bullseye Awards, now in their 14th year, recognize some
of the best products in the firearm industry. Heres a recap of American Riflemans 2016 winners
as they were originally covered by The Worlds Oldest and Largest Firearm Authority.
BY AMERICAN RIFLEMAN STAFF

s staff members of NRAs original Official
Journal, now celebrating 131 years of
publication, we take seriously the editorial
responsibility to annually identify a handful of compa-
nies and an individual that together have had a signifi-
cant impact on the firearm industry during the past year.
The NRA Publications Divisions Golden Bullseye Awards
represent excellence in quality and innovation and are
not handed out without considerable review and delibera-
tion. This year, as is typically the case, the competition
was fierce and the discussions animated to decide which
companies devised products that were likely to have the
greatest impact on NRA members.
We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2016
Golden Bullseye Awards, said Doug Hamlin, executive
director of NRA Publications. This years winners exemplify
what NRA members want in their shooting and hunting
equipmentoutstanding performance, innovative design
and value. We congratulate those who have created the
industrys best new products.
To qualify for consideration for a Golden Bullseye Award,
the product must have been: recently introduced and
available to consumers prior to the selection of the Golden
Bullseye Awards; used/tested by a staff member or regu-
lar contributor to the magazine and/or affiliated media;
reliable in the field, meeting or exceeding the evaluators
expectations; innovative in design and function; read-
ily perceived as a value to the purchaser; and styled in a
manner befitting the shooting and hunting industry and,
perhaps more importantly, its enthusiasts. And while the
awards acknowledge the finest in products available in
the shooting sports, the Golden Bullseye Pioneer Award
specifically honors outstanding personal achievement. The
Pioneer Award spotlights the exemplary achievement and
cumulative body of work of an individual, or members of
a family, team or partnership, responsible for the develop-
ment and introduction of shooting equipment that has
made a profound, positive and enduring impact on the way
Americans shoot and hunt.
Following is a recap of the seven winners in each previ-
ously established category, along with acknowledgement of
this years Golden Bullseye Pioneer.
NRA Publications will present its annual Golden
Bullseye Awards and Golden Bullseye Pioneer Award at an
invitation-only breakfast on Friday, May 20, during the
2016 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Louisville, Ky.

American Riflemans 2016

82 MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN Photos by Forrest MacCormack
 Rifle Of The Year:
Ruger Precision Rifle
When Associate Editor Kelly Young wrung out the new
Ruger Precision Rifle at FTW Ranch in Barksdale, Texas,
(August 2015, p. 50) he was more than a little pleased
at just how accurate it was. In the feature titled An
Interesting Development, he wrote, Ill never forget the
sense of pride and accomplishment I felt the first time I
fired off a group, walked downrange and realized that Id
placed all of my shots into the same jagged hole. The
story revealed that the gun was not only super-accurate
but that it had a unique combination of featuresall at a
remarkable price. Whether chambered in 6.5 mm Creedmoor,
.243 Win. or .308 Win., the Precision was designed and
built to offer adjustability, accuracy and adaptability
in a long-range bolt-action. Building on the companys
American action, with a full-diameter bolt body and triple
locking lugs, the Precisions bifurcated lower even accom-
modated multiple magazine styles. With a hammer-forged
barrel attached in AR fashion, a fully adjustable and folding
buttstock, and an on-board tool compartment that can con-
tain Allen wrenches and hex bits capable of being driven
with the bolt knob, the Ruger was truly unique. Of course,
because of its excellent off-the-shelf accuracy, Young
opined that the late Col. Townsend Whelen would no doubt
have found it interesting as well.

Ammunition Product
Of The Year: Hornady ELD-X
Managing Editor Joseph Kurtenbach, in his feature titled, We Have The
Technology (January 2016, p. 66), took us behind the scenes at Hornady
Mfg. Co. to find out how its ballisticians developed perhaps their best bul-
let ever, one that delivered excellent terminal performance on close- and
extended-range targets, and offered true match-grade accuracy. In the
process, Hornady also finally cracked the code on the vexing problem of
varying ballistic coefficients exhibited by polymer-tipped projectiles in
flight. Kurtenbach witnessed the phenomenon firsthand as the anomaly
was recorded on airborne projectiles using Doppler radar. He also took to
the field in Africa for practical hunting experience that proved the new
projectiles worked on game. The melt-resistant polymer Hornady used in
the tip of its new ELD-X bullet meant the elimination of inconsistent bul-
let performance in flight, giving target shooters and hunters alike a new
level of accuracy, consistency and predictability from their ammunition at
long range. According to Kurtenbach, the development was likely to have
far-reaching implications for the entire ammunition industry: In order for
consumers to make informed decisions about what ammunition best suits
their needs, all ammunition will need to be tested using the best technol-
ogy, currently Doppler radar its a practice that I hope will be adopted
by the industry at large.

Golden Bullseye Awards AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG MAY 2016 83

GOLDEN BULLSEYE
Optic Of The Year:
Swarovski Z6i
In a staff-generated Dope Bag technical evalua-
tion, we took a look through a crme de le crme model
from Austrian riflescope manufacturer Swarovski (October
2015, p. 86). Boasting a whopping six times magnification
range and characteristically superb optical performance,
the companys Z6i 2.5-15X 44 mm illuminated-reticle
scope was subjected to a battery of objective and subjec-
tive evaluations. We shot the square, finding the scopes
adjustments to be consistent and repeatable. We then
compared it side-by-side against similar models in the
Womens Innovation Product Of The Year: Mossberg FLEX 20 Gauge
In a web feature by Senior Executive Editor, Digital, Ann
Y. Smith (americanrifleman.org/flex20), the prolific nature
of the Mossberg Model 500 pump-action shotgun was per-
sonalized in Smiths Mossbubba 500, a circa-1987 shotgun
that had been customized with a flashlight and duct tape.
She then praised the companys initiative for introducing the
12-gauge FLEX TLS in 2012, a highly customizable factory
variant. Describing the guns Tool-less Locking System, she
said, a series of three patent-pending connectors allow
shooters to easily change out stocks, fore-ends and recoil pads
for any shotgun application: clay target shooting, hunting
or home defense. Recognizing that the company had always
been in touch with its mostly male market base and that it
had leaned toward changing out parts to arrive at the perfect
Shotgun Of The Year: Benelli 828U
In a feature story titled Breaking With Tradition
(November 2015, p. 62), Senior Executive Editor Brian Sheetz
examined an unexpected new offering from the Italian firm
of Benelli, the 828U, which is famous primarily for its semi-
automatic shotguns prized by waterfowlers because of their
unfailing reliability. An over-under with an unusual breeching
system, the 828U dared to tread on ground that had typi-
cally been populated exclusively by shooters with traditional
tastes in shotguns. With its stylized aluminum receiver, fish
scale-checkered receiver and walnut stock, floating steel
breech block, top-lever-actuated strikers and carbon-fiber
sight rib, the new gun certainly didnt look like the same old
84 MAY 2016
more-than-$2,000 category, learning that when it came to
resolution, contrast and brightness, the Swarovski offered
an undeniable advantage, especially in waning light.
Features such as the units high-definition Swarolight
lenses, zeroable adjustment scales, fast-focus eyepiece and
conveniently located illumination settings stood out. We
wrapped up our review by noting that, while not inexpen-
sive, the scopes optical quality, magnification range
and illuminated reticle, among other features, enable it to
handle nearly any big-game hunting situation.
shotgun size, shape and form, Smith suggested, In my mind,
there was one obvious feature that might make this perfect
for the average female shotgun shooter . That feature, of
course, was a FLEX in 20 gauge. So she was keen to try one
out when the company added four such models. Shooting
one extensively at a Gunsite womens event, on clays and in
a series of tactical drills, Smith reported, The FLEX, weigh-
ing in at approximately 6 lbs., was remarkably well-balanced
and offered relatively fatigue-free pointing. Summing up,
she wrote, In the 20-gauge FLEX TLS, Mossberg has delivered
a toolless, modular, lower-recoil Model 500. It has proven
it is indeed worthy of taking its place next to the original
Mossbubba 500and dare I say even replace it. All without
the need for duct tape .
thing. And with features such as user-adjustable stock cast
and drop, and the companys Progressive Comfort recoil-
mitigation system and interchangeable cheekpieces, it didnt
shoot like it, either. Recalling a South Dakota pheasant hunt
in single-digit temperatures that saw the gun bring game to
bag in fluid fashion, Sheetz also found that its light 6-lb.,
8-oz. average weight was not a problem during extended
clays sessions. He concluded, That the 828U breaks with the
tradition of previous over-under shotguns and with all other
guns that have come from its family before it is without
question. And that it does so confidently and beautifully is
difficult to deny.
AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
Tactical Gun Of The Year: CMMG Mk47 Mutant
In a Dope Bag review (October 2015, p. 84), readers
who yearned for the pairing of a familiar cartridge with a
favorite platform were likely excited by the following open-
ing statement: With the emergence of the CMMG Mk47,
we see an effective melding of the 7.62x39 mm Russian
cartridge with Americas riflethe AR. Explaining that the
Mutant benefitted from the same basic operating system as
the AR and had a similar manual of arms, staff writers were
quick to point out that the magazine-related aspects of the
gun were pure AK. Functioning of the rifle was flawless, and
accuracy with one factory loading measured little more than
one minute of angle. We praised the Mutant
as pleasant to shoot due,
in part, to its efficient
AK-style muzzle brake. We also noted that the 7.62x39 mm
cartridge had the advantages of adequate supplies of
affordable loadings, increased bullet mass and frontal area,
and legality for hunting in some jurisdictions where .22-cal.
center-fires are not allowed. Finally, we also lauded the
rifle for the way in which its designers went back to the
drawing board to ensure that they had devised a result that
we characterized as a functional and
reliable hybrid.

Handgun Of The Year:

SIG Sauer P320
For handgun authority and American Rifleman Field Editor Wiley
Clapp, who penned a feature story titled Tomorrows SIGs Today
(April 2015, p. 64), the SIG P320 represented a significant departure
in design for the respected maker of hammer-fired guns. But the
P320 was striker-fired, and employed a modular frame chassis
design wherein the module is the serialized receiver, making
interchangeability of entire grip sections both practical
and paperless. Reviewing full-size and compact models in
9 mm Luger, Clapp found them to be businesslike in
appearance, controllable even in fast-paced shoot-
ing exercises and unfailingly reliable. The P320 is
obviously the system designed to carry the SIG Sauer
banner deep into the 21st century. And, referring to the
militarys Modular Handgun System program, Clapp stated,
Only time can tell which marqueeif anyis going to win the
big service pistol race it seems clear that the P320 is as good as
any and probably better than most.

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG MAY 2016 85

 GOLDEN BULLSEYE

Accessory Of The Year:

LaserLyte Score Tyme Target
The magazines Dope Bag reviews generally focus on firearms and optics,
but some shooting accessories represent a combination of sophistication and
usefulness that can only be addressed in a similar manner. Such was the case
with LaserLytes Score Tyme Target (May 2015, p. 77), a laser-activated, battery-
powered LED display that occupies minimal space on a bookshelf yet can actually
make the user a better shooter. With 147 LEDs to register hits from a suitable
laser-equipped pistol, the Score Tymes multiple modes can be started and reset
remotely. During hours of testing we found the unit to perform
exactly as it should and to be quite a lot of fun in the process.
Using the companys blue polymer faux pistols, we practiced
drawing, aiming and firing at the unit to build muscle memory. We
concluded, When it comes to pistol training, there is no substi-
tute for pulling a trigger. LaserLytes trainers offer a means
for high-volume practice shooting that is easy-to-use and
completely safe, anywhere.

Pioneer Award:
Randy Brooks, former president/CEO, Barnes Bullets
Randy Brooks grew up as an avid
shooter and hunter in his native Utah,
and in the 1970s took up custom-
loading ammunition to help support his
young family. At the urging of friend
Fred Barnes, founder of the namesake
component bullet company, Brooks
acquired what remained of the firm
after new owners had allowed it to
languish. Soon the familys basement
became the company workshop,
where Randy, his wife, Coni, and
daughters Chandra and Jessica
seated bullet cores in jackets.
Brooks development of a
new dangerous-game solid won
favor with gun writers, includ-
ing NRA Publications Senior
Field Editor Charles Askins,
who wrote, [L]et me assure
you, these slugs really get the
job done!
Even so, the company
struggled until Brooks devised
the product that would forever
change big-game hunt-
ers expectations for bullet
penetration and terminal
performance, the all-copper
Barnes X Bullet. Although it
took three years of trial-and-
error experimentation with
homemade hand and machine
tools, Brooks perfected the

86 Photo courtesy of Barnes MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

process for manufacturing X Bullets.
Then, over the next two decades,
he continually improved the design
and modified it to fit a host of new
applications. Todays Barnes TSX and
related variants are among the worlds
most highly regarded and oft-imitated
hunting bullets.
After selling the company to
Remington Outdoor Co. in 2010, Brooks
continued to develop new products,
including the well-received Barnes
VOR-TX loaded ammunition and new
projectiles intended for military use.

Reasons to Join
As an Army veteran, he is proud that
TELL YOUR FRIENDS

Barnes bullets are now serving with

American troops and security officers
around the globe. 1. For Your Freedom
Brooks is an accomplished big-game
hunter, particularly experienced on 2. For Your Family
dangerous game in Alaska and Africa. 3. For Your Community
He is a staunch supporter of NRA and NRA has trained more than 55,000 law enforcement firearm
the freedoms protected by the Second instructors, who in turn have passed their knowledge on to millions
Amendment. Though much of his suc- of duty officers. NRA priorities also include helping local groups
cess can be attributed to lead-free establish safe shooting ranges and protecting schools from criminals.
bullets, he steadfastly refused to coop-
erate with anti-gun and media forces 4. For Your Country
that repeatedly sought his validation
for banning lead projectiles.
5. For Your Future
AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG MAY 2016 87
 ong decades have passed since the M1 carbine was
removed from military service, but the years have
done little to diminish the popularity of the diminu-
tive rifle. Today, thanks to a variety of factors, the Light
Rifle still enjoys one of the broadest fan bases in the gun
worldand in many ways a high-quality, modern reproduc-
tion is just as appealing as a wartime relic.
For one, it is easy for virtually anyone to use. Short, light,
well-balanced, soft-recoiling and fast-firing, it is a joy to
shoot for even the small-statured and recoil-averse. Secondly,
88 MAY 2016
due to its unique production history, with numerous manufac-
turers making countless iterations of the same model, the M1
carbine is a gun collectors dream. But ask a collector if you
can take a few shots through one of his mint prized pieces,
and his eyes will likely go wide with trepidation. On the
other hand, a replica that looks, handles and shoots as well,
if not better, than the original provides the same experience
without the risk of anything unpleasant happening to dimin-
ish the value of a cherished heirloom. Nostalgia also plays a
role in the continued popularity of the platform, as veterans,
AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
 THE RIFLE
Built to the same specifications as their World War II-era
forebears, a complete line of new-production M1 carbine models
from Inland Mfg. look and feel as good as the originals
and shoot even better.
BY KELLY YOUNG, Associate Editor

Photos by Forrest MacCormack;

original M1A1 carbine and accoutrements
courtesy of Philip Schreier AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG MAY 2016 89
INLAND The Inland Manufacturing Division of General Motors produced more
than 2.6 million M1 carbines between 1942 and the end of World
War IIapproximately 40 percent of the nations total supply.

todays Inland offers a full line of carbines that look and

and their family members, are often keen to own a high-
functioning facsimile of the arm they (or a loved one) once
carried into war.
With total production exceeding 6.5 million units,
the M1 carbine was the most prolifically manufactured
American small arm of World War II, and no firm produced
more than the Inland Manufacturing Division of General
Motors. But while the original Inland left the firearm
industry nearly 70 years ago at wars endand indeed
has since ceased to exist altogetherin recent years a
new company has sprung up to resurrect the tradition of
producing American-made M1 carbines bearing the Inland
name. Precisely reproduced from the original specifications,
and built using 100 percent domestically sourced parts,
feel just as good as the genuine articleand, in most cases,
shoot even better.
The U.S. Carbine, .30 Caliber, M1, much more com-
monly known as the M1 carbine, was created in response
to a U.S. Army requirement for a Light Rifle to augment
the standard-issue M1 Garands already in service. Primarily
intended for use by rear-echelon troops who, until that
time, had either been unarmed or carried only a side-
arm, the carbine was also issued to specialized frontline
troopssuch as signal corps personnel and crew-served
weapon operatorswho were likely too encumbered with
their own equipment to also wield the sizeable Garand
service rifle. Many gunmakers provided entrants for the
government trials; however, it was the Winchester design
that company having already developed the Light Rifle
projects rimless, .30-cal. cartridge, the .30 Carbinethat
received the unanimous support of the Ordnance com-
mittee. Initially only two companies were contracted to
produce the new rifles, Winchester and Inland. It quickly
became apparent that demand would far outpace supply,
and eight other facilities (including incongruous choices
such as IBM, National Postal Meter and Rock-Ola) would
eventually tool up to build M1 carbines, as well.
The Inland Manufacturing Division of General Motors

reasons whyAmerican Standard walk-in

5 bathtubs are the best choice for you
Backed by 140 years of experience by the name of
1 American Standard.

2 Ultra low entry for easy entering and exiting.

3 Patented Quick Drain fast water removal system.

LIMITED TIME
ONLY
4 Lifetime warranty on the bath AND installation. FREE American
Standard Cadet
Pro Toilet
5 44 Hydrotherapy jets for an invigorating massage.
fill out, clip and return this coupon

LIMITED-TIME OFFER
CALL 1.855.811.2879 Redeem
Your Fre
e Saving
s Card
Today!

Commended For your no-risk, FREE Info Kit 1,00

$
Savings 0
by the Arthritis C ard
Foundation Name_______________________________________________________
Address_____________________________________________________
Phone (Required)______________________________________________
City_____________________________State______ Zip______________

CALL NOW TOLL FREE! Mail to:

American Standard
2201 Broadway Ste. 103
855.811.2879 Oakland, CA 94612 USA
TM

Handcrafted
in

or visit us at:
www.AmericanStandardBath.com
Discount applied by team member at time of purchase contract execution. Offer expires 9/30/16, one discount per household, first
time purchaser only. Free American Standard toilet available with purchase and installation of Liberation bath. Liberation by American
StandardTM is a licensed brand and product of Safety Tubs Company, LLC. Safety Tubs Company, LLC is an affiliated company of
American Standard Brands. Offer only eligible on a fully installed Liberation Walk-In Bath. *Subject to credit approval by Synchrony
Financial. Minimum monthly payments required. Please see www.AmericanStandardBath.com for license information.

90 MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

had been created in October 1922 to manufacture
car steering wheels, but by the start of World War II
had expanded its operations to fabricate more than 1,300
products for planes, trains, automobiles, washing machines
and refrigerators. Operating out of Dayton, Ohio, in the
very hangers that once housed Orville and Wilbur Wrights
defunct Wright Airplane Co. (explaining the companys
hanger-shaped logo), Inland was already churning out war
matrielsuch as plastic helmet liners, anti-aircraft gun
sights and tank tracksprior to its involvement with the
M1 carbine.
The first production run of M1 carbines left the Inland
plant in early 1942, and production would continue until V-J
Day (Aug. 15, 1945). Originally, Inland was to ship 22,000
carbines per month, but by the end of the war that figure
Inlands product
line of era-accurate
M1 carbines includes
long guns and the
Advisor (above)
a handgun.
had increased to an incredible 90,000 units a month. Later
in 1942, a wire-stocked variant of the carbine, the M1A1,
was created and adopted by the military, and Inland was the
exclusive manufacturer of the paratrooper-friendly carbines.
Inlands engineering department was also responsible for
the development of the M2 carbine and the FP-45 Liberator

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG MAY 2016 91

INLAND
The internal workings of new-
production Inland M1 carbines will be
familiar to those already accustomed
with the original World War II-
vintage rifles, as they are built to the
same specifications.
pistol (which was subsequently produced by GMs Guide
Lamp Division). All told, during a three-year period, Inland
produced a total of 2,625,591 M1 carbinessingle-handedly
responsible for roughly 40 percent of the total supply.
The M1 carbine would go on to see combat in both Korea
and Vietnam, remaining in service long after many of its
contemporaries had been forced into retirement. At the
conclusion of World War II, Inland returned to automotive
manufacturing, and in 1989 merged with other GM proper-
ties and was eventually spun off from the parent company
in 1999. This would have been the end of the Inland story,
were it not for veteran, former U.S. Army Marksmanship
Unit member and firearm developer Ron Norton, who
founded Inland Mfg., LLC, a few years ago and set up shop
just two short miles from where the original GM plant stood.
The city of Dayton has always taken great pride in its
historic ties to the old Inland plant, and as a Dayton native
himself, Norton had grown up with a special appreciation for
the M1 carbines produced there. So when he left Chiappa
Firearms, Ltd., in 2013 to pursue a different venture within
the firearm industry, the transition to producing high-
quality, historically accurate reproductions of Inlands M1s
not only came naturally to Norton; it was a project close
to his heart. At the time of this writing, Inlands product
line stood at four M1 carbine-based modelsthree rifles
(M1 1944, M1 1945 and M1A1) and the Advisor handgun
however several new models were introduced at SHOT Show
2016. For more information regarding these recent addi-
tions, visit americanrifleman.org/inland2016.
A New Generation Of .30 Carbine
W
hile the M1 carbine has earned many fans during the
past seven decades, it has also accumulated a few
detractors, as well, and much of that acrimony stems
more from the cartridge it fires than from the firearm itself.
Carried by our troops concurrently with the M1 Garand, the
M1 carbine is sometimes hurt by unfair comparison to its big-
ger, older brotheras the .30 Carbine cartridge of the latter
doesnt come close to matching the power of the .30-06 Sprg.
of the former, nor was it ever intended to do so.
Over time, the .30 Carbines original military loading,
a 110-gr. full-metal-jacketed projectile propelled at 1900
f.p.s., developed a reputation with some of our troops for
being inadequate to the task of effectively stopping advanc-
ing enemy forces. But the civilian market is not limited to
non-expanding projectiles in the same way that Uncle Sam
was, and during the intervening years several ammunition
manufacturers have started producing loads utilizing more
92 MAY 2016
Throughout its production life, the M1 carbine continu-
ally evolved, as upgrades and design modifications through
the years led to alterations to numerous component
partsincluding the wood stock, trigger housing, extrac-
tor, recoil plate, magazines and safety, among othersas
well as changes in barrel steel and annealing methods.
This constant progression is reflected in Inlands catalog of
M1s, which all share the same guts, yet vary in terms of
furniture, features and accessories.
Like their storied forebear, Inlands new M1 carbine models
rely on a short-stroke-gas-piston system in order to cycle.
Gas siphoned from the barrel pushes a tappet-style piston
back roughly 1/3" to strike the operating slide, which, during
its rearward movement, cams a rotating bolt to unlock the
action and extract the spent case. Following ejection of the
case, the recoil-spring assembly then returns the operating
slide forward again, causing the bolt to strip a fresh cartridge
from the detachable box magazine and chamber it prior to
locking into the receiver. The bolt can be locked back using a
pin located on top of the slide. To activate, just pull the slide
back fully and then depress the pin until it nests within an
indentation in the upper surface of the receiver.
advanced bullet designs and faster velocities that
considerably increase the .30 Carbines potential as a
self-defense and hunting cartridge. Below are a few
options available on the market today for those shoot-
ers who desire to put their M1 carbines to uses other
than simply plinking and target shooting.
COR-BON is the exception in modern .30 Carbine options,
most of which retain the 110-gr. bullet weight of the
military ball load. Its DPX offering, topped with an
expanding, solid-copper bullet, instead pushes a 100-gr.
projectile to 2025 f.p.s. and 910 ft.-lbs. of energy.
FEDERAL PREMIUM offers two .30 Carbine choices, both
achieving what has seemingly become the industry
standard for the cartridge1990 f.p.s. and 967 ft.-lbs.
of energy: an American Eagle FMJ load and a Power-Shok
AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

Magazines drop free from the new
Inland models when the release, located
behind the magazine well is pressed.
The new carbines are produced using both steel compo-
nents and stocks that meet the original G.I. specifications,
meaning that parts for the new guns will interchange with
those assembled during the war. Built on investment cast
receivers, most of the metal parts on the new guns bear
a Parkerized finish, and the included staggered-column
SPECS: M1 1945
MANUFACTURER: INLAND MFG., LLC (DEPT. AR); 6785 W. THIRD ST., DAYTON, OH 45417; (877) 425-4867; INLAND-MFG.COM
35.75"
1.25"
2.5"
13.25"
CHAMBERING: .30 CARBINE
ACTION: GAS-PISTON-OPERATED, SEMI-AUTOMATIC,
CENTER-FIRE RIFLE
FINISH: PARKERIZED
STOCK: WALNUT WITH STEEL BUTTPLATE AND OILER CUTOUT
SIGHTS: ADJUSTABLE APERTURE REAR,
FIXED FRONT
Soft-Point Round-Nose. Federal markets the Power-Shok
as being intended for use on varmints, predators and
small game at short range.
HORNADY has three .30 Carbine loads, two of which feature
expanding projectiles: an FMJ, a Round-Nose and a Critical
Defense load topped with an FTX bullet. Each is loaded a
little hotter than most of the competitionreaching 2000
f.p.s. and 977 ft.-lbs. of energy.
MAGTECH offers an FMJ load and a Soft-Point hunting load in
.30 Carbine that attain 1990 f.p.s. and 967 ft.-lbs. of energy.
For hunting purposes, the Soft-Point offering maintains
602 ft.-lbs. of energy at 100 yds., and 433 ft.-lbs. at 200 yds.
PRVI PARTIZAN offers an FMJ and a Soft-Point Round-Nose. The
SP-RN load reaches 1990 f.p.s. and 967 ft.-lbs. of energy,
AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG
magazine has been blued. Although the stocks are made of
somewhat plain-figured walnut, this actually adds to the
authenticity of these replicas, as high-grade wood was under-
standably not a priority on World War II-era carbines.
The catalogs two full-stocked rifles bear an Ordnance
crossed cannons stamp on the right side of the butt-
stock, while the mark is located under the pistol grip
on the M1A1 and Advisor models. The barrels of all four
models are marked INLAND MFG DAYTON, OHIO just
rear of the front sight. All four Inland M1 carbines are
also marked U.S. CARBINE, CAL 30 M1 atop the front
of the receiver, and INLAND MFG at its rear.
The product lines three long guns all feature 18" barrels
with four-groove rifling and a 1:20" right-hand twist, and
the Advisor only differs in its truncated 12" barrel and lack
of buttstock. Front sights for all models are a fixed post with
a protective wing on each side, and the aperture rear sights
are adjustable for both windage and elevation. The sights are
mounted very low to the bores axis, with a trough cut into
the upper handguard being necessary for a sight picture to
be achieved. All of Inlands M1 carbine models feature stocks
continued on p. 106
18"
RIFLING: FOUR-GROOVE, 1:20" RH TWIST
TRIGGER: 7-LB., 5-OZ. PULL
MAGAZINE: DETACHABLE BOX; 15-ROUND CAPACITY
WEIGHT: 5 LBS., 3 OZS.
ACCESSORIES: OWNERS MANUAL, GUN LOCK,
SLING, OILER
MSRP: $1,079
and, when zeroed at 100 yds., drops 12.7" at 200 yds.
REMINGTON produces two .30 Carbine loads, a fully jacketed
UMC load for practice and a Soft-Point load for small game
hunting. Like many of its competitors, both leave the muzzle
at 1990 f.p.s. and 967 ft.-lbs. of energy.
WINCHESTER has two loads for the .30 Carbine: a non-expanding
FMJ and a Super-X load that provides rapid, controlled expan-
sion for use against small prey. Each option is loaded to 1990
f.p.s. and 967 ft.-lbs. of energy at the muzzle.
In addition to these expanding loads, more manufactur-
ers are currently producing FMJ .30 Carbine ammunition than
ever before. Ammunition makers that offer ball .30 Carbine
loads (in addition to the ones listed above) include: Aguila,
Armscor, Sellier & Bellot and Tula.
MAY 2016 93
AMMUNITION

Jack OConnor was in his early 20s when he acquired his first .270 Win. rifle, but
some years would pass before he became the champion of that cartridge. It's not
certain which rifle is pictured here, but it appears to be a Springfield action, likely
in .30-'06 Sprg. The deer is a nice Coues whitetail from OConnors native Southwest.

94 MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN Photo courtesy of Safari Press

 Nearly a century after it was introduced, the
.270 Winchester cartridge is still going strong.
And while its success is often attributed solely
to Jack OConnors praise for it, the evidence
suggests it was a good cartridge all along.
BY CRAIG BODDINGTON

ust more than 90 years ago, the .270 Winchester

cartridgecommonly abbreviated .270 Win. or
referred to simply as the .270was introduced
in the Model 54 bolt-action. Based on a simple necking
down of the .30-06 Sprg. case, the .270 Win. was very
fast for 1925, but its velocity was not unprecedented. A
decade earlier the Charles Newton-designed .250 Savage
became the first commercial cartridge to break 3000 feet
per second (f.p.s.). Other earlier cartridges came very
close, including Newtons own .256 and .30 Newton; the
Canadian .280 Ross; and the British .275 H&H Mag. The
.270 Win. got there solidly and with authoritya 130-gr.
bullet, originally advertised at 3100 f.p.s.
Its probably an exaggeration to say that it took the
shooting world by storm. The cartridge did get noticed,
but it wasnt all good. Velocity probably exceeded 1925
hunting bullet technology; there were complaints, no
doubt true, about explosive effect and excessive meat
damage. Also, in a time when very few shooters used
scopes, one must question the relevance of a flattened
trajectory. In time, however, the .270 caught on. As a
sporting cartridge, it has never quite equaled the popular-
ity of its parent, the .30-06 Sprg., but it has come close
and, despite generations of fast magnums that have fol-
lowed, it remains a perennial favorite.

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG MAY 2016 95

 .270 WINCHESTER
It is said that development of
the .270 began in 1923. Surely the
Winchester engineers didnt pull the
bullet diameter out of thin air, so at
that time their reason for settling on
.277" must have been based on some
sort of rationale. Unfortunately, it
seems to have been lost to the sands
of time. Even then, most of todays
standard bullet diameters were
already in common use. Using the
British convention of measuring bore
diameter across the grooves rather
than the lands, the .256 Newton
was actually a 6.5 mm, caliber .264.
Similarly, the .275 H&H Mag. was a
7 mm, bullet diameter .284". Two
experimental military cartridges of
the day, the British .276 Enfield and
American .276 Pedersen, were also
more or less 7 mms. The .270 Win. was
the first Western cartridge to use a
.277" bullet.
If you think about it, its an odd
choice: The difference between .277
and the 7 mm is just 0.007", truly not
enough to argue about. The difference
between the .270 and the 6.5 mm is
a bit more, 0.013", but still hardly
enough to get worked up over. Frank
C. Barnes Cartridges of the World sug-
gests that there was an experimental
Mauser military cartridge developed
96 MAY 2016
for China that used the .277" bullet
diameter, theoretically the 6.8x57 mm
Mauser. Although apparently cham-
bered by both Mauser and Mannlicher
before World War I, the cartridge is so
obscure that my research turned up
not a single photographeven Barnes
exhaustive work has no photo. In the
1920s we were practicing gunboat
diplomacy in China, so although its
possible Winchester knew of this
.277", it seems unlikely.
It does seem that the company's
goal was to increase velocity and
flatten trajectory by necking down
the .30-06 Sprg. caseperhaps with
an eye toward reducing recoil as
well (which is part of what the .276
Pedersen experiment was about).
An Internet search turned up sev-
eral interesting comments, includ-
ing that the 6.5 mm and 7 mm were
European bullet diameters, both
with numerous cartridges and case
dimensions already on the market,
but unlikely to sell well in post-World
War I America. And there was one
incredibly simple explanation that
never, ever crossed my mind: Multiply
our popular .308" diameter by 0.90,
and the result is .277". So .270" is 90
percent of, or 10 percent smaller in
diameter than, the then-standard .30
caliber. Perhaps that is coincidence
and the explanation remains lostor
perhaps that 10 percent represented
the engineering design goal.
Whatever the case, it worked.
It worked so well and became so
The universe of car-
tridges using .277"
bullets is very small.
Pictured from right to
left: .270 Win. (1925);
.270 Wby. Mag. (1943);
.270 WSM (2002); and
6.8 mm SPC (2003).
AMERICAN RIFLEMAN Photo by author
popular that, unlike most standard
bullet diameters, the .277" has never
proliferated into a wide array of
cartridges. In fact, there are just three
other cartridges that share this bullet
diameter. The .270 Wby. Mag., devel-
oped in 1943, was actually the first of
what would become Roy Weatherbys
line of magnum cartridges. In 2002,
Winchester necked down its .300
Winchester Short Magnum case to
.270" and 7 mm, simultaneously
introducing the .270 and 7 mm WSMs.
Although neither have been wildly pop-
ular, both the .270 Wby. Mag. and .270
WSM are good cartridges, faster and
flatter-shooting than the .270 Win.,
and delivering noticeably more bul-
let energy. Also, in 2002 Remington
began work with SOCOM (Special
Operations Command) to develop the
6.8x43 mm Special Purpose Cartridge
(SPC). Based on the old .30 Rem.
case, this .270 was designed to fit
into the AR-15/M16 action, deliver-
ing more energy than the 5.56x45
mm NATO. Acceptance by the military
Know Your
has been limited, but the cartridge
has gained acceptance among hunters
who choose the AR platform. As for
Firearm
the original .270, well, it just keeps
rolling along.

Jack OConnor was among the early Introducing the newest

buyers of the Winchester Model 54 in product from Lyman: the
.270 Win. Just 23 in 1925, he hadnt yet BorecamTM Digital Borescope
returned to his native Arizona. When with Monitor. It gives you
he got that first .270 Win., he might access to the inner secrets
have been attending his last year of your gun may be keeping from
college in Arkansas, it might have been
you. Images from the miniature
during a brief stint as a cub reporter in
digital camera can be captured
Chicago, or he might have been doing
post-graduate school in Missouri, but he from the display and saved to
was not the legendary outdoor writer he a memory card. Keep ahead
would become. He was also not a sheep of wear and damage with
hunter, not quite yet. His first sheep technology you can trust
hunt was in Sonora in the blistering
August of 1934. He was accompanied
Inside & Out from Lyman Products.

by one of his English students, my

uncle, Art Popham. OConnor didnt get
a ram on that hunt; he went back a few www.lymanproducts.com
months later and took his first desert

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG MAY 2016 97


.270 WINCHESTER
bighorn, and of course went on to
take many more wild sheep.
My uncle was successful, and wrote
a great story about the hunt, Ram
from Inferno, originally published
in Outdoor Life and included in his
book and one of mine. Unfortunately,
he didnt mention whether OConnor
carried a .270 Win. on that hunt, and
thats a question I wish I had asked.
It was a good question, because
although OConnor and the .270 Win.
are inextricably linked, in the 1930s
and even into the 1940s his use of the
.270 wasnt as exclusive as legend has
it. In his earlier days he was a fan of
the .30-06 Sprg. (like most Americans
of his day), and he also liked the .257
Roberts and 7x57 mm Mauser. In truth,
his use of the .270 was never exclusive.
As a gunwriter with obligations, he
used a lot of cartridges. He is known
to have taken one desert ram with a
Winchester Model 71 in .348 Win.,
and by choice and preference he used
much larger cartridges for much larger
game, including the .375 H&H Mag.,
.416 Rigby and wildcat .450 Watts.
That said, OConnor did love the
.270! By the early 1950s he was our
Jack OConnor with one of his
last sheep, a Stone ram from
British Columbia taken in the
early 1970s. The rifle is his
pet Number 2, an excep-
tionally accurate Winchester
Model 70 Featherweight in
.270 Winchester, stocked by Al
Biesen. OConnor used this rifle
extensively from 1960 until his
death in 1978.
Photo courtesy of Safari Press
best-known gunwriterwith enough In 1948 the OConnors moved
clout to use the rifles he preferred (at from Arizona to Lewiston, Idaho,
least most of the time). More often and of course his .270s went with
than not he chose the .270, carrying him, continuing to account for elk,
it on numerous sheep hunts in west- mule deer and more. At the end he
ern Canada. This meant that his .270s remained faithful, carrying his beloved
also accounted for several moose and and famous Al Biesen-stocked .270
grizzlies, along with goats and caribou. Number 2 on his last sheep hunts
Although he took larger calibers for the in the early 70s, and for the hunting
dangerous game, the .270 was his pre- he was still able to do as his health
ferred light rifle in Africa, accounting declined. I believe the .270 Win. would
for a wide variety of game on his several have been a success without OConnors
safaris. He used a .375 on his tiger hunt help, but their stars rose together, and
in India, but the .270 was his choice on the .270 continues to shine brightly
his shikars to the mountains of Iran. now 38 years after his passing.

WORLD STANDARD
O
mitting that little-known German-Chinese connection, Pat Fisher. No problem; he handed me a Remington Model
the .277" bullet diameter is primarily an American 700 ADL in .270 Win. And the list goes on.
phenomenon, seated only in American-developed As weve seen throughout the past decade, some of
cartridges. And yet the .270 Win. has crossed borders and our brave new magnums have already come and gone.
oceans and become a world-standard cartridge. In Europe it The .30-06 Sprg. has long since passed the century mark
is not as popular as the metrics, but all European manufac- and is still going strong. Its first-born and favorite child,
turers chamber for it and make ammunition. Elsewhere, Ive the .270 Win., is hale and hearty at 91, and will still be
run into it in some odd places. In 1977, on my first African with us long after some of the upstarts have vanished.
hunt, my Kenya professional hunter, Willem van Dyk, was a OConnor chose well, but his pet cartridge doesnt remain
staunch .270 manand shot it from a battered Model 70, of popular just because of OConnors legacy. It continues
course. In 2010 my Nepalese outfitter, Mahesh Busnyat, was because it deserves to.
also a .270 man, also in a Model 70. In different times hed
used it not only for blue sheep and tahr, but also for leopard
and sloth bear. In 2011, I hunted tropical whitetails in Peru.
Thats a country where an outsider can get a license, but
cannot bring in a firearm. No worries; I was issued a Model
70 in .270 Win. The ammunition was round-nose Core-Lokt
all they hadit pounded a nice buck right in his tracks.
Hawaii has some odd rules about bringing in rifles, so when I
hunted there in 2012 I chose to borrow a rifle from outfitter
Hunting the open floodplains of coastal Mozambique, the author
could not get close to this exceptional Lichtensteins hartebeest, so
he made the shot at 375 yds. with a Blaser R8 in .270 Win.

98 MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN Photo by author

 Protect Your Whole House
in Under an Hour
We built SimpliSafe so anyone can install it (weve even
There are many great cartridges, seen an eight year old do it). Theres no hardwiring
but in OConnors era it was normal and no drilling needed...so you can skip the
for a gunwriter to champion a favor- installation fees and save hundreds instead
ite. Col. Townsend Whelen was a with our award-winning protection.
.30-06 Sprg. man; Warren Page was a
7 mm man; Elmer Keith loved the .33s;

Col. Charles Askins chose the 8 mms.
When I started, the likely choices
were all taken. I did have a .270 in my
late teens and 20s. It saw a lot of use
and served me well, but I didnt write
about it much because, after all, what
fledgling writer would dare to address
Jack OConnors cartridge?
Years later, in the 90s, the .270 Win.
was a cartridge I circled back to. I have
never been exclusive with any cartridge,
and I admit to some oddball favorites,
SimpliSafe.com/SJ
F
but the .270 is a cartridge and caliber SimpliSafe takes less than 30 minutes to set-up and
I keep returning to. Over the years Ive saves you hundreds. Try it today with our 60-day
used it on all the continents, taking Money Back Guarantee. Make your home safe again.
a wide variety of sheep, goats, deer
and antelope. There was a time when I
questioned its adequacy for elk, leaning
more toward the Elmer Keith school. Ive

Save space.
gotten past that. Elk are tough, and you
must be careful about bullet placement
no matter what you use, but the .270 is

Save paper.
enough gun, and even better today than
in OConnors time because we have bet-
ter bullets. The .270 worked fine on the
longest shot Ive ever made on an elk,
405 yds., with a classic load consisting
of a handloaded 150-gr. Nosler Partition.
It worked equally well on a huge-bodied
Anatolian stag in Turkey, at a similar
distance, with a then-new Hornady GMX.
As for smaller game, the .270s
never had a problem. I still dont think
its perfect for elk, nor perfect for
moose, and certainly not a wise choice
for grizzly. But its amazing what it
can do, and what it will dowithout
obnoxious recoil or blast. My wife,
Donna, uses it almost exclusively (she
can, shes not a writer!), and has used
it to take game up to the size of elk
and the heavier African plains game
such as kudu, zebra and wildebeest.
Even in her very light MGA .270, the
recoil is mild; for most of us, whether Visit www.nramemberservices.org/go-digital
we like to admit it or not, shootability
has much to do with shot placement. to switch to a digital subscription today.
OConnor used mostly 130-gr.

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG MAY 2016 99

.270 WINCHESTER .270 WINCHESTER
17 30'
.441"
.310" .308"

.473"

bullets, now standard at 3060 f.p.s. I

messed around with 150-gr. bullets for 1.948"
2.156"
a time, now standard at 2850 f.p.s., 2.540"
but for years compromised on the 3.340"
140-gr. bullet, rare in OConnors day.
Somehow that extra 10 grs. gave me
a bit more confidence, and it always
worked well. Now Ive circled back
on bullets as well; today we usually
shoot 130-gr. bullets. Standard factory
loads are plenty fast and plenty flat,
but its no great trick handloading up
to 3100 f.p.s. and change. And there
are faster loads out there. Hornadys
Superformance with 130-gr. GMX is
rated at 3190 f.p.s., which is get-
ting into .270 WSM territory. And of
course the tough homogenous bullets Photo by author
like the GMX and Barnes TSX will
hold together and penetrate, even at The .270 Win., shown to the right of a .30-'06 Sprg. cartridge (l.), was created by neck-
the highest velocities. They are good ing down the .30-'06 case to accept a .277" bullet. The 10 percent reduction in caliber
choices for larger, tougher game. yields higher velocity and flatter trajectory with a significant reduction in recoil. The .270
The one fly in the .270s ointment has never been considered a match-level cartridge, but many individual .270s are capable
is accuracy. Dont get me wrong: Most of superb accuracy. This group (r.) was fired with an MGA .270 with 130-gr. Hornady GMX
continued on p. 119 bullets; the recovered bullet is from a Turkish stag taken at about 400 yds.

REDEMPTION CERTIFICATE Keycode 712.01

Yes! I want to order my Freedom Knife Prestige

Edition (Item # 527-943-1) a $59.95 value for just
$19.95. Shipping and handling is FREE.
layered PA RESIDENTS ADD 6% SALES TAX.
in
24k __________________________________________________
GOLD Name

__________________________________________________
Street Address
America was founded on the notion
that all men are created equal and that we, its __________________________________________________
City
citizens, should enjoy certain unalienable rights such as life,
_______ ____________ (______) ______________________
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We call this freedom. The principle of State Zip Code Phone
freedom is the tie that binds this great country together. It is the dream that brings __________________________________________________
those less fortunate to our country. And it is the cause that we fight to defend. E-Mail

Please charge my: VISA MasterCard

24K GOLD-LAYERED PRESTIGE EDITION KNIFE
Available exclusively from American Mint, this museum-quality collector knife is a __________________________________________________
Credit Card Number
patriotic tribute to freedom. Crafted in 420 stainless steel, the blade is luxuriously
layered in 24k gold with Freedom etched on the front and Prestige Edition on ________/________ ________/________/________
Valid Through Order Date
the back. The 24k gold-layered bolster gleams with finely-detailed antiqued filigree.
The simulated bone handle features a patriotic work of art with the look and feel of Display Box

__________________________________________________
Signature (all orders subject to approval)
intricate scrimshaw. This exclusive pocket knife begins the American Virtues Prestige
Edition knife collection and is strictly limited to just 9,999 complete collections worldwide. Check / Money Order enclosed (payable to American Mint)

Mail this completed form along with your payment to:

Crafted in 420 stainless steel
with the word FREEDOM
expertly etched on the 24k
gold-layered blade
The back of the gold-layered
blade is etched with the Prestige
Simulated bone handle featuring a
patriotic image of a bald eagle with
the look of hand-tinted scrimshaw
Available exclusively from American
Mint and strictly limited to 9,999
24k gold-layered bolster
with antiqued filigree
Presented in a handsome
display box P.O. Box 10, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
8.6" fully SPECIAL American Mint Satisfaction Guarantee
2016 American Mint LLC

By returning this form, you will have the privilege of receiving

Edition mark complete collections worldwide

ACT NOW TO GET YOUR PRESTIGE EDITION KNIFE

extended $
19.95
(a $59.95 va
lue)
future issues in the collection through our FREE in-home approval
service. No further action is required on your part. If you do not wish
to preview future issues of the collection, please X out this paragraph.
The American Mint Preferred Collectors Price is guaranteed for you.
You will be billed only for the items you decide to keep. If you pay
COLLECTOR
A $59.95 VALUE FOR JUST $19.95! S by credit card, future shipments will not be charged until 25 days
PRICE after the invoice date. You are under no obligation! If you are not
satisfied with any item that is shipped to you, you may send it back
within 20 days at our cost for replacement, credit or refund. American

3 easy ways
to order:
Mail in your completed
order form and payment
Call us toll-free at
877-807-MINT (6468)
Go to americanmint.com/712.01 Mint has no minimum purchase requirements. You can cancel this
service at any time by calling toll-free 1-877-807-MINT.

100 MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

 SAVE
83%

$ 19
POWERHOUSE 12 CIGAR COMBO
95
Compare
similar $119.85
ORDER NOW! Limited Supply

12 Premium Hand-Rolled Cigars Ultra Reliable Butane Lighter
Bonus Cherrywood-finish Humidor (Holds 20) A Guillotine Cutter

Call 1-800-886-9251
2016 Thompson Cigar Co.

Est. 1915 or visit thompsonspecials.com

Promo Code TA457 OFFER GOOD FOR 30 DAYS
Add $4.95 for Shipping #926985. One per customer, Florida residents ADD 7%
CIGAR sales tax, not available to minors and good only in the USA. All written orders
require your date of birth and signature. In the event of high demand, substitutions of equal
or greater value may occur.
DOPE BAG
D
esigned to be easily broken
down for convenient trans-
port and storage, yet with the
capacity to be rapidly reassembled
and brought to bear if needed, take-
down models of long guns have been
produced since the latter part of the
19th century. While several takedown
models exist on todays market, few
contemporary manufacturers are as
fond of the idea as Ruger.
At home in a product line that also
includes takedown variants of the
companys 10/22 rifle and 22 Charger
pistol, the SR-556 Takedown is Rugers
application of the takedown concept
to the AR-15 platform. An upgraded
version of its piston-driven SR-556
(October 2009, p. 62), the Takedown
not only adds a quick-detach bar-
rel system, but also contains a few
additional improvements to the rest of
the gun.
Rugers SR-556 Takedown model
offers the reliability of the com-
panys piston-operated AR-style
rifle, but with the addition of a
quick-detach barrel system and
new furniture options.
102
Ruger SR-556 Takedown
While the lower receiver is stan-
dard AR fare, the rifles barrel can be
removed from the upper with only a
twist of the wrist. When assembled,
eight lugs located on the outside
surface of the barrel extension solidly
engage the inner splines of the upper
receivers barrel nut to hold the two
parts together. To remove the barrel,
just lock the bolt back, depress the
spring-loaded latch located at the
front of the handguard and twist the
barrel assembly an eighth of a turn
counter-clockwise. The barrel, gas
block and front sight will now freely
slide from the handguard.
To reinstall, with the bolt locked
back, just insert the barrel back
into the upper (it can only be fully
inserted the correct way) then twist
the assembly clockwise until it clicks
into place. A protrusion at the 9 oclock
position of the barrel extensions face
mates with an indention in the bolt
MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
carrier during lockup and ensures that
the barrel cannot be either removed or
installed while the bolt is forward, thus
preventing potential out-of-battery dis-
charges. The rifles tight tolerances and
repeatable assembly mechanics ensure
that the SR-556 Takedown is capable of
consistent accuracy. As well, because
the front sight is both elevation- and
windage-adjustable, each barrel retains
its zero even after repeated reassembly.
The Takedowns operating system
with energy from the piston acting on
a transfer rod that in turn acts upon
the bolt carrieris ideally suited for
life in a takedown model. The guns
gas block and piston are part of the
barrel assembly, and the transfer rod
is a part of the upper, with the inter-
face between these two components
providing the perfect location for
barrel separation.
Apart from the addition of the
takedown mechanism, Rugers newest
SPECS
MANUFACTURER: STURM, RUGER & CO., INC. (DEPT. AR), 411 SUNAPEE ST., NEWPORT, NH 03773; (336) 949-5200; RUGER.COM
0.5" 0.5"
1078"-1418"
CALIBER: 5.56X45 MM NATO (.223 REM.);
.300 BLACKOUT (OPTIONAL)
ACTION TYPE: SHORT-STROKE, GAS-PISTON-
OPERATED SEMI-AUTOMATIC RIFLE
RECEIVER: HARDCOAT ANODIZED ALUMINUM
MAGAZINE: DETACHABLE BOX;
30-ROUND CAPACITY
SR-556 is also an upgrade over the
original model in a number of ways.
The Takedown ships from the factory
with Rugers Elite 452 MSR trigger
installed. The two-stage unit provides
a crisp pull with a 2-lb., 8-oz. first
stage and a clean 4-lb., 8-oz. break.
Standard SR-556s come with a single-
stage G.I. trigger with a pull weight
range of between 7 and 9 lbs.
The new model also includes a
Magpul MOE SL buttstock and MOE
pistol grip, as opposed to the G.I.
M4-style stock and neoprene Hogue
grip of the standard SR-556. It is
up to the shooter to decide if the
changes constitute an upgrade; how-
ever, the new parts do help contribute
to the takedown model weighing
nearly 5 ozs. less than its predecessor.
The rest of the Takedown remains
largely unchanged. A semi-automatic
rifle chambered in 5.56x45 mm NATO,
the gun utilizes a four-position gas
regulator. Both the upper and lower
receivers are forged from 7071-T6
aluminum then hardcoat anodized.
The 16.1", cold-hammer-forged,
chrome-lined barrel is made of 41V45
chrome-moly-vanadium steel. All
components of the operating system
are chrome plated for greater wear
and corrosion resistance, as well as
increased lubricity. Standard features
With the addition of Rugers 300 AAC
Blackout Barrel Kit, the SR-556 Takedown
becomes a dual-cartridge-capable rifle.
32"-36"
1618"
TRIGGER: ELITE 452 MSR; TWO-STAGE,
4-LB., 8-OZ. PULL
STOCK: SYNTHETIC MAGPUL SL BUTTSTOCK,
QUAD-RAIL HANDGUARD
BARREL: CHROME-LINED, COLD-HAMMER-FORGED WEIGHT: 7 LBS., 9 OZS.
41V45 CHROME-MOLY-VANADIUM STEEL ACCESSORIES: OWNERS MANUAL, TWO
RIFLING: SIX-GROOVE, 1:9" RH TWIST EXTRA MAGAZINES, THREE RAIL COVERS,
SIGHTS: STEEL; WINDAGE- AND ELEVATION- NYLON TRANSPORT CASE
ADJUSTABLE FRONT AND REAR; FLIP-UP MSRP: $2,049
SHOOTING RESULTS (100 YDS.)
.223 REM. VEL. @ 15' ENERGY GROUP SIZE (INCHES)
CARTRIDGE (F.P.S.) (FT.-LBS.) SMALLEST LARGEST AVERAGE
LIBERTY 2950 AVG. 1,063 1.56 2.04 1.82
55-GR. CIVIL DEFENSE 30 SD
HPR 2703 AVG. 1,006 1.40 1.86 1.66
62-GR. BLACK OPS OTF 28 SD
HORNADY 2523 AVG. 1,060 1.18 1.80 1.47
75-GR. MATCH BTHP 19 SD
AVERAGE EXTREME SPREAD 1.65
NOTES: MEASURED AVERAGE VELOCITY FOR 10 SHOTS FROM A 16.1" BARREL OVER AN
OEHLER MODEL 36 CHRONOGRAPH AT 15 FT. ACCURACY RESULTS FOR FIVE CONSECUTIVE,
FIVE-SHOT GROUPS AT 100 YDS. FROM A BENCH REST. TEMPERATURE: 64 F. HUMIDITY: 28%.
ABBREVIATIONS: BTHP (BOAT TAIL HOLLOW POINT), OTF (OPEN-TIP FRANGIBLE), SD
(STANDARD DEVIATION).
include metal flip-up sights, a dust 300 AAC Blackout Barrel Kit ($449),
cover, a forward assist and a flash available at shopruger.com, which
hider. Our evaluation gun featured includes a 16.1" takedown barrel
a quad-rail handguard, however, assembly chambered in .300 Blackout
Ruger has introduced a new model and two additional magazines. As both
furnished instead with a KeyMod- cartridges utilize the same bolts, buffer
compatible handguard. The new springs and magazines, a 10-second
model weighs 8 ozs. less than the barrel change effectively makes the
quad-railed rifle reviewed here. The SR-556 Takedown a dual-cartridge-
guns ship disassembled in a non- capable rifle. To minimize the risk of
descript, easily toteable, 24" nylon shooters potentially trying to fire a
case, with three, 30-round Magpul .300 Blackout cartridge through the
PMAGs and three rail covers. 5.56 NATO barrel, all components
Further increasing the SR-556 included in the kit are emblazoned
Takedowns versatility is Rugers with .300 BLK on the side.
AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG MAY 2016 103
DOPE BAG
Previous evaluation of the original
SR-556 revealed it to be capable of 1.5"
to 2" groups at 100 yds., and our test-
ing of the Takedown indicated that the
addition of its quick-detach barrel sys-
tem did not have a deleterious impact
on the platforms accuracy. Repeatedly
switching between the 5.56 and .300
Blackout barrels also did not result in a
shift in point-of-impact for either bar-
rel. Results are tabulated nearby, and
The SR-556 Takedowns barrel, and the optional .300 Blackout barrel, are easily removed
and reinstalled. Because each barrel assembly includes a fully-adjustable front sight, bar-
rels can be zeroed independently and, assuming no change to the rear sight, will retain
zero between swaps and takedowns.
T
rijicons core competence is build-
ing battle-rifle sights like the
ACOG, whose value to U.S. soldiers
and Marines is well-documented.
To excel in combat, those mil-spec
Trijicons are purpose-builtand per-
haps overbuiltfor unfailing durability.
The same is now true of the Michigan-
based companys new AccuPower scopes,
a four-piece line intended to handle a
broad range of shooting applications
and to have broad appeal thanks to
mid-level pricing.
The rugged construction is imme-
diately apparent. There are no plastic
parts on an AccuPower, and apart
104
the gun functioned flawlessly through-
out our testing.
Reliable, accurate, eminently por-
table and dual-cartridge-capable, the
SR-556 Takedown raises the versatility
of the AR platform to a level rarely
seen before. Ruger intends to eventu-
ally migrate all SR-556 production to
the takedown configuration, and the
new model certainly seems to be a
worthy successor to the original.
Trijicon AccuPower
4-16X 50 mm
from the lenses, externally it is a earlier, costlier, AccuPoint scopes.
uniform, precision-machined billet of The major functional change is in
aircraft-grade hard-anodized alumi- how the reticles work. Whereas the
num rendered in the bulbous lines of AccuPointlike other mainstay
high-end European optics. Its a unit Trijicon opticsrelies on tritium plus
that feels a bit heavy for its size. The fiber optics to power its illuminated
tight-fitting turret caps shield adjust- reticles, the AccuPower contains a
ment dials equipped with click stops CR2032 battery, housed within the
as deliberate as those on a high-grade illumination adjustment dial, for that
socket wrench. The magnification purpose. The reticles, offered in four
ring is equally snug and sure-handed; different styles, are in the second focal
theres no slop. plane (non-magnifying) and can be
In recent months we have func- had in red or green LED, delivered in
tion- and field-tested various 11 brightness increments with a conve-
AccuPower models, and found they nient off setting between each step.
compare quite favorably to Trijicons The turret adjustment click values
MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
SPECS

MANUFACTURER: TRIJICON (DEPT. AR), P.O. BOX 930059, WIXOM, MI 48393-0059; (248) 960-7700; TRIJICON.COM
14.2"

50 MM 30 MM

5.8"

MAGNIFICATION/OBJECTIVE LENS DIAMETER:
4-16X 50MM
RETICLE: ILLUMINATED, RED (GREEN
OPTIONAL); DUPLEX (TESTED), MOA
CROSSHAIR, MIL-SQUARE CROSSHAIR
POWER SOURCE: ONE CR2032 BATTERY EYE RELIEF: 3.7"
ADJUSTMENT RANGE: 80 M.O.A./23.7 MILS FINISH: MATTE BLACK
CLICK VALUE: 1/4-M.O.A. WEIGHT: 23.3 OZS.
FIELD OF VIEW @ 100 YDS.: ACCESSORIES: OWNER'S MANUAL, LENS COVERS
25.8 FT. (4X) TO 6.4 FT. (16X) MSRP: $999

are the familiar 1/4-minute-of-angle
(m.o.a.) or 0.1 mils, depending on
the selected reticle. Battery life at the
maximum setting is rated at 31 hours.
Imaging performance from the
AccuPowers also proved to be more
than satisfactory. The most versatile
of the lot, the 4-16X 50 mm, delivered
evenly sharp, clear and color-true
images well after dusk, with only
minimal fringing in transitional
lighting. We found the AccuPower
to compare favorably, with quite
similar optical performance, to the
AccuPoint 5-20X 50 mm. With both
scopes set at 16X, headlines like the
one on this page were clearly legible
out to 105 yds. (in full daylight),
and from 100 yds., black-and-white
soccer ball sections could be dis-
tinguished until 45 minutes after
sunset. The AccuPowers field of view
is good, delivering 25.8 to 6.4 ft. at
100 yds.in the middle of the pack
of competitive models.
Our test scope was an early-
production example equipped with
a standard duplex crosshair, shown
nearby. We used it in a rifle-test
The scope features an infinite parallax adjustment knob in addition to elevation- and
windage-adjusment turrets. The latter offer 1/ 4-m.o.a. click values. The serrated
magnification ring (opposite) features a raised lever for fast adjustment.
project, firing more than 200 rounds
of .308 Win., during which the fine
illuminated crosshairs were ideal for
shooting bench groups, and there
was no indication of point-of-impact
shift. The 1/4-minute/0.1 mil clicks at
100 yds. were as stated, though when
making gross elevation changes we
noticed a slight left-hand drift, on the
order of 1/2 m.o.a. over the span of
10". The total adjustment range is 80
m.o.a./23.7 mils. Current-production
4-16X 50 mms are also available with
two different ballistic-compensating
reticles, the MOA Crosshair and the
MIL-Square Crosshair, completing
an assortment geared to long-range
precision shooting, but which will also
serve most big-game hunting purposes.
The scopes 30-mm tube, along with
its lengthy 50-mm objective bell and
eyebox, make it a rather substantial
unit. We had no trouble mounting it
on a short-action rifle, but, because it
offers relatively little free mounting
area, that may not be the case on mag-
nums, and could necessitate the use of
extension rings. At 23.3 ozs., this scope
is comparatively heavy, ranging from 2
to 6 ozs. more than many corresponding
models, though not the heaviest in its
class. That could be a concern to owners
operating in rough terrain or at high
altitude, however that bulk, reflective
of the scopes rock-solid construction,
can actually contribute to a steadier
hold when shooting.
Our final test involved freezing the
scope and then dunking it in warm
water. There were no leaks and no
internal fogging, and throughout our
evaluation, its non-reflective, matte
finish proved notably durable, as one
would hope from a design and a brand
that emphasizes durability.
Owners will appreciate the value of
an optic that transmits bright, clear
images in all practical shooting condi-
tions, and which, more importantly,
promises the level of dependability
and ruggedness that has made Trijicon
a preferred supplier to the most
demanding users on the planet.

The American Rifleman has used the phrase Dope Bag since at least 1921, when Col. Townsend
Whelen first titled his column with it. Even then, it had been in use for years, referring to a sack used
by target shooters to hold ammunition and accessories on the firing line. Sight dope also was a
traditional marksmans term for sight-adjustment information, while judging wind speed and direction
was called doping the wind.

WARNING: Technical data and information contained herein are intended to provide information based
on the limited experience of individuals under specific conditions and circumstances. They do not detail
the comprehensive training procedures, techniques and safety precautions absolutely necessary to
properly carry on similar activity. Read the notice and disclaimer on the contents page. Always consult
comprehensive reference manuals and bulletins for details of proper training requirements, procedures,
techniques and safety precautions before attempting any similar activity.

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG MAY 2016 105

INLAND
continued from p. 93

M1
M1 194
1945 SHOOTING RESULTS (100 YDS.)
.30 CARBINE VEL. @ 15' ENERGY GROUP SIZE (INCHES)
CARTRIDGE (F.P.S.) (FT.-LBS.) SMALLEST LARGEST AVERAGE
ARMSCOR 1574 AVG. 605 2.24 6.80 3.60
110-GR. FMJ 25 SD
FEDERAL 1931 AVG. 911 2.60 3.48 3.00
110-GR. SPRN 15 SD
HORNADY 1941 AVG. 920 3.72 6.30 4.42
110-GR. CD 21 SD
AVERAGE EXTREME SPREAD 3.67 The new Inlands late-model
NOTES: MEASURED AVERAGE VELOCITY FOR 10 ROUNDS OVER AN OEHLER MODEL 36 CHRONOGRAPH carbine (M1 1945) comes
AT 15 FT. ACCURACY FOR FIVE CONSECUTIVE, FIVE-SHOT GROUPS AT 100 YDS. FROM A BENCH REST WITH with a period-correct bayonet
OPEN SIGHTS. TEMPERATURE: 61 F. HUMIDITY: 36%. ABBREVIATIONS: CD (CRITICAL DEFENSE),
lug and 15-round magazine.
FMJ (FULL METAL JACKET), SD (STANDARD DEVIATION), SPRN (SOFT-POINT ROUND-NOSE).

of the low wood variety, meaning that extra wood in the
vicinity of the operating slide has been trimmed away in
order to increase clearance and facilitate smoother cycling
of the rifle. Carbines produced early in the war did not have
near as large a recess in which the slide could reciprocate,
and today are referred to as high wood guns.
Magazines are fed into the firearms via a magazine well
located forward of the trigger guard. A push-button maga-
zine release is located on the right side of the receiver, and
ejected magazines fall free of the gun without manual assis-
tance. The magazine well also contains a support arm that
allows the use of bulkier, 30-round magazines in the guns.
Located between the trigger guard and the magazine
release is the guns crossbolt, push-button safety. Although
it operates in a manner similar to most modern safeties
of the same type, with the button pushed to the right for
safe and to the left for fire, it does not feature a red
ring when in the fire position that most such safeties have
today. Early examples of wartime M1 carbines employed a
push-button safety similar to the ones used on the new
Inlands rifles, however, because they functioned similarly,
and were similarly located to the guns magazine releases,
reports started coming in of soldiers attempting to switch
off their guns safety under duress and instead dropping
their magazine. To address this potentially disastrous issue,
the safety on later World War II-era carbines was changed to
a flip-lever design (as seen on the original M1A1 on p. 88),
and anyone interested in installing a flip safety on any of
Inlands guns can do so without additional alterations.
As can be inferred from the model designation, the new
Inlands M1 1944 is so named because it faithfully repli-
cates the carbines that the original company was churn-
ing out during 1944, and this model is the most simply
adorned of the companys rifles. However, this simplicity
comes with a major benefitfeaturing a Type 2 barrel
band, lacking a bayonet lug and shipping with a 10-round
magazine (the companys other offerings all come with
15-round magazines), the M1 1944 is legal for purchase
even in some states with restrictive magazine and bayonet
lug laws such as California and New York.
With the exception of the aforementioned bayonet lug
and the standard-capacity, historically accurate 15-round
magazine, the M1 1945 is in all other ways identical to the
44. The M1 carbine was not adapted to mount a bayonet
until the latter days of the war. The gun measures just
35.75" long and weighs a slight 5 lbs., 3 ozs. The buttstock
contains a cutout for housing an oiler and attaching a sling
(both of which are included with all the various M1 mod-
els), and the front sling attachment point is located on the
left side of the rifles barrel band.
The M1A1 was the only gun during World War II specifically
made for use by U.S. Army Airborne Forces, and the replica of
this Inland-exclusive rifle is every bit as compact and portable.
Featuring a left-side-folding wire stock and a pistol grip, the
carbine measures the same length as its wood-stocked brethren
when extended (35.75"), and a full 10" shorter (25.75") when
folded, and weighs in at 5 lbs., 3 ozs. Installed midway along
the top of the steel stock is a leather cheek pad that makes
acquiring a sight picture and firing the wire-stocked gun a
much more pleasant experience. Inlands M1A1 is not furnished
with a bayonet lug, and its sling is attached to the rear of the
gun via a metal loop affixed to the bottom of the pistol grip.
A favorite practice among many military advisors dur-
ing Vietnam, as well as tunnel rats and Special Operations
Groups that had need of a close-quarters defensive firearm,
was to cut down an M1 carbine and convert it into a hand-
gun. Both full-stocked carbines and M1A1s were adapted
in this way, with the paratrooper models being much pre-
ferred but harder to come by, which is why the new Inland
chose to alter its own M1A1 when designing the aptly
named Advisor pistol. Essentially an M1A1 without the
wire buttstock, the Advisors barrel has also been reduced
to 12", and an era-correct bell-shaped flash hider has been
affixed to the end. The abbreviated barrel and missing
buttstock give the Advisor an overall length of 21" and a
heft of 4 lbs., 9 ozs. It is assembled by the manufacturer as
a pistol, however, should an NFA collector desire to legally
build a short-barreled M1 carbine for himself, the compo-
nents needed to do so are available from Inland.
Complaints of marginal accuracy have long dogged war-
time M1 carbines; some will shoot better and others worse,
continued on p. 114

106 MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

 WHY LIFELOCK IS THE BEST
U.S.-Based
LifeLock Protection Agents and
Restoration Specialists are located
right here in America to help serve
you better.
Help Fix Identity Issues
If your identity is stolen, we will
do whatever we can to fix the
problem.
$1 Million Guarantee
If your identity is stolen, we will

When taking days off spend up to $1 million on lawyers

and experts, if needed, to work
toward resolving your case.

this summer, remember, Proprietary Technology

LifeLock is constantly monitoring
ID thieves never do. over a trillion data points to help
detect suspicious activity.

IDENTITY THEFT FACTS

Free credit monitoring does
In todays always-connected world, its important to keep a close eye on nothing to help fix identity theft
your identity whether youre away on vacation or not. And when it comes to problems.
identity theft protection, LifeLock is a leader in the industry. Before heading Theres a new victim of ID fraud
out this summer, take advantage of your NRA membership discount. every two seconds.1
Visit LifeLock.com or call 1-800-LifeLock (543-3562)
Military personnel suffered 28%
higher rates of new account fraud.1
Simply using public Wi-Fi can
increase your risk of identity theft.2

IDENTITY THEFT TRAVEL TIPS

Before you go lock up
documents, lighten your wallet,
put mail on hold
While youre gone use credit
(not debit), beware of odd ATMs,
be cautious on public Wi-Fi.
When you get home wait until
now to post any pictures online.

10% OFF
+ 60-Day Money
Back Guarantee*
Promo Code: AR516

Come visit our booth 2249 | NRA Annual Meeting May 22-24 | Louisville, KY
No one can prevent all identity theft. LifeLock does not monitor all transactions at all businesses.
*Credit card required at enrollment. If youre not completely satisfied within your within your 60-day risk free period, just call 1-800-LifeLock to receive a full refund of your purchase. Upon enrollment, your card will
be billed automatically ($8.99mo/$98.90yr plus applicable sales tax for LifeLock Standard membership or $17.99mo/$197.90yr plus applicable sales tax for LifeLock Advantage membership or $26.99mo/$296.90yr
plus applicable sales tax for LifeLock Ultimate Plus membership). You can cancel LifeLock services anytime without penalty by calling 1-800-LifeLock. Offer is for new LifeLock members only. Offer is available for
LifeLock Standard, LifeLock Advantage and LifeLock Ultimate Plus memberships only. Not combinable with other offers.
Service Guarantee benefits for State of Washington members are provided under a Master Insurance Policy issued by United Specialty Insurance Company. Benefits for all other members are provided under a
Master Insurance Policy underwritten by State National Insurance Company. Under the Service Guarantee LifeLock will spend up to $1 million to hire experts to help your recovery. Please see the policy for terms,
conditions and exclusions a lifelock.com/legal.
1 2015 Identity Fraud, Javelin Strategy & Research, March 2015
2 Identity Theft Study, a commissioned survey conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of LifeLock. Results are based on survey participant identity theft and life events between April 2013 and May 2014. No NRA
member dues or contributions are used for this promotion, program or any other related expenses.
OFFICIAL JOURNAL

ILA report: Latest legislative news from inside the NRA Institute for Legislative Action

Gun-Ban Billionaire Bags Presidential Run

F
ormer New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced in early March
that he is abandoning a potential run for the White House in 2016 after con-
cluding he could not win and would be more likely to siphon voters away
from the staunchly anti-gun Democratic candidate.
Bloomberg admits he gave the idea of a 2016 race serious consideration. His
team had set up campaign offices and produced ads and a website, featuring the
draft slogan, All Work and No Party.
However, one national poll found that out of 4,000 registered voters, 43 per-
cent either didnt recognize Bloombergs name or had no opinion about him. To
the extent that he is known outside the Empire State, its for trying, as mayor, to
impose his paternalistic vision of America through bans or restrictions on smok-
ing, sodas, Styrofoam, pain medication and transfats.
Bloomberg, although not generally recognized as one who understands his
personal limitations, at least in this case is aware that his restrictive inclinations
dont resonate especially well with the American public.
Commenting on Bloombergs decision, Hillary Clinton responded that she
look[s] forward to continuing to work with him and finding ways in which he
can show leadership which he has done so well over the years. On gun con-
trol at least, there can be little doubt that Clinton and Bloomberg, through his
Everytown for Gun Safety groups efforts to restrict the Second Amendment, see
eye to eye.
Photo by AP Images / Sylvain Gaboury Having Bloomberg decide not to run for president doesnt mean he wont be
heavily pushing his gun control agenda in this years elections, however. Bloom-
berg will focus on ballot initiatives and supporting candidates who want to restrict
the Second Amendment into oblivion. All work and no party, indeed.

Entertainment Industry Conditioning the Public Against Gun Ownership

D
oes it ever seem like the enter-
tainment industry needlessly
interjects biased content into oth-
erwise entertaining television programs
or films? If so, rest assured youre not
unreasonably suspicious. The truth is that
Hollywood is engaged in a concerted
effort to propagandize unsuspecting
Americans on certain political issues, and
one of their chief causes is gun control.
This point was recently made by Daily
Caller writer Dan Griffin, who brought
much-needed attention to the Entertain-
ment Industries Council (EIC). EICs mission
is Encouraging the entertainment industry
to more effectively address and accurately
depict major health and social issues.
To further this effort, EIC provides
those in the entertainment industry with
a list of Depiction Suggestions for how
firearms should be portrayed on televi-
sion and in film.
To cite one of the 30 examples:
Consider reflecting the reality that
homeowners often freeze up or tremble
so badly when trying to use a gun in self-
defense that they are unable to deploy it.
Or show them as being too frozen in fear to
even get the gun.
The groups characterization of armed
self-defense appears informed solely by
their anti-gun prejudice. First, only a small
part of defensive gun incidents involve
an individual firing at a criminal perpetra-
tor; often the mere presence of a firearm
deters further aggression. Second, in their
book Armed: New Perspectives on Gun
Control, researchers Gary Kleck and Don B.
Kates cite evidence that those who resist
crime using a firearm have more favorable
outcomes than those who do not resist.
EIC has pushed gun control for more
than 15 years, with their Firearm Depic-
tion Tip-Sheet launching in 2000. A few
years later, EIC created a woefully biased
guide to firearm issues for industry
members. The guide gives special
thanks to representatives from the Brady
Campaign, the Coalition to Stop Gun
Violence, the Million Mom March and the
Violence Policy Center.
The guide stresses, All genres of
entertainment can and do impart infor-
mation to their audiences, which in turn
may influence real-life decisions and be-
liefs. All types of programmingfrom
television comedies to country music
can find an angle.
In order to combat this type of
conditioning, it is vital for gun owners
to inform others of this effort to indoc-
trinate the public. Additionally, the next
time youre at home watching television
and encounter this sort of propaganda,
just remember, there was a reason your
mother called it the idiot box.

108 MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

Too Good to Last? Threes the Charm? Sportsmens Legislation
Federal Appeals Court Passes House

I
Grants Rehearing in n February, a bipartisan majority in Forest Service and the Bureau of Land
Gun Ban Challenge the U.S. House of Representatives
passed the Sportsmens Heritage and
Management to facilitate hunting, fish-
ing and recreational shooting.

O
nly last month, we were report-
ing good news about the case
of Kolbe v. Hogan, a challenge to
Marylands 2013 ban on semi-automatic
firearms like the AR-15. A divided three-
judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals
for the 4th Circuit determined the lower
court had analyzed the case under the
wrong standard and returned the case
for reconsideration under strict scrutiny,
the most demanding test of a laws valid-
ity. A dissenting judge speculated that
this foretold the demise of the ban.
No sooner had that issue starting
shipping when a majority of 4th Circuit
judges voted to have the full court rehear
the case. Arguments in the rehearing are
scheduled for May 11 in Richmond, Va.
Considering how courts continue to
defy the Second Amendment, this de-
velopment is unfortunately no surprise.
Yet it underscores the critical importance
of electing a president who will appoint
judges dedicated to protecting all consti-
tutional rights, including the right to
keep and bear arms.
Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act
of 2015. After passage, the bill headed
to the Senate, where a similar package,
the Bipartisan Sportsmens Act of 2015,
had already advanced out of two com-
mittees. This is the third straight Con-
gress in which the House has passed
far-reaching sportsmens legislation,
with the prior versions falling prey to
bottlenecks in the Senate.
The SHARE Act is a compilation of a
number of separate bills. The overarch-
ing goal is to promote Americas rich
heritage of hunting, fishing and recre-
ational shooting.
To cite just a few examples, this
years bill would: allow a greater
proportion of the federal excise tax
on firearms and ammunition to be
returned to the states for acquisition of
land for public target ranges; protect
the possession of otherwise lawfully
carried firearms in publicly accessible
recreational areas under the Army
Corps of Engineers jurisdiction; and
require management plans of the U.S.
The House also defeated a number
of adverse amendments that would
have undercut the purposes of the
bill. Meanwhile, a critically important
amendment introduced by Rep. Mor-
gan Griffith, R-Va., was adopted to clar-
ify 1986s Firearm Owners Protection
Act (FOPA), which protects the lawful
transport of firearms from one location
where they are legal to another. This
amendment addresses problems from
states like New York and New Jersey
that continue to defy FOPAs protec-
tions. It would more clearly delineate
protected behavior and provide rem-
edies for persons whose rights under
FOPA are violated.
The NRA is pleased to see the broad
support this legislation enjoyed in the
House. We urge the Senate likewise to
give the SHARE Act favorable consider-
ation and support Americas rich out-
door heritage and sporting traditions.
Hopefully, the third time will prove
the charm for this important legislative
package.

IN MEMORY NRA-ILA CONTRIBUTIONS

February 1, 2016 February 29, 2016
James B. Thurman, Salisbury, TN (from: Ronald & Julia Zellner); Sherman Jones, Monroe, LA (from: Ronald & Julia Zellner); Gordon Red DeBruyn, Oak-
land, CA (from: Fred Davis); C.A. Chuck Ries, Grants Pass, OR (from: Robert Huff ); John Firley, Coral Gables, FL (from: Robert Vogel); Danny S. Sampson,
Carlisle, KY (from: Tressia Sampson); Terry Ward, Santa Rosa, CA (from: Ron & Norma Kennemer); Robert Petersen (from: Johnny & Mary Campbell);
Robert Deutschman, North Platte, NE (from: Janis George and Sara Jordening); Gerald Burke (from: Dundee Sportsmans Club); Daryle W. Jockisch, Ver-
mont, IL (from: Sandra Jockisch); Les Arant, Colusa, CA (from: Gayle E. Arant); Doug Snow, Valencia, CA (from: Robert & Marlene Snow); Cecil J. Buckner,
Cicero, IL (from: Marianne Buckner); Leslie H. Baker, Allentown, PA (from: Ronald & Mariann Baker, Bob & Debbie Schmidt, Angela & Jason Bashaw and
Ryan, Jessica & Evan Baker); Robert F. Stary, Crescent City, CA (from: Wesley Ingram); William J. Gabriel, Johnstown, PA (from: Mary Frances Sandusky);
Orlando Gabriel, Johnstown, PA (from: Mary Frances Sandusky); Charles William Wood, Balboa, CA (from: Bob & Helen Phillips)

ILA CONTRIBUTIONS
(The following have contributed $1,000.00 or more to the NRA Institute for Legislative Action: January 27, 2016 February 25, 2016)
Sturm, Ruger & Co. Inc., Southport, CT; Robert Allison, Houston, TX; Karen Lien, Perkasie, PA; Lee-Ann Ledbetter Burgess, Norman, OK; Maj. T. Del
Watkins II, Fayetteville, NC; Thomas Zeigler, Gardners, PA; Thomas J. Folk, Ruston, LA; Ervin A. Baumann, Midland, TX; Jim Fox, Oklahoma City, OK;
David Y. Rogers, Midland, TX; David W. Fuller, Castro Valley, CA; Mike Brierton, Abilene, KS; John J. Mallia, Amsterdam, NY; Arlan A. Hesse, Proctorville,
OH; William L. Walker, Kansas, OK; Kent McCue, Wasilla, AK; Geraldine Mc Daniel, Chino Valley, AZ; Frank Dulcich, Edmonds, WA; Ruth Brewer, Plat-
teville, CO; David ONeill, Greenwood Village, CO; James Jones, Watcross, GA; Rock Island Auction Co., Rock Island, IL; John Schumann, Vero Beach, FL;
William L. Shores, Longwood, FL; Estate of Eugene Kenneth Fowler, Scottsdale, AZ; Dakota Territory Gun Collectors Association, Inc., West Fargo,
ND; Tom Brantley, Carlsbad, NM; George Brantley, Carlsbad, NM; Simmonds Electrical of Naples, Inc., Bonita Springs, FL; R. W. Dunaway, Saint Louis,
MO; D. G. Pierce, Apex, NC; Nate Crain, Dallas, TX; Davidsons, Prescott, AZ; J. F. Strohmeyer, Naples, FL; North South Gun Club, Huntsville, AL; John
P. Kiilunen, Brighton, MI; Philip B. Voght, Centerville, OH; Hibbing Rifle and Pistol Club, Hibbing, MN; Robert Rimlinger, Gateville, TX; Mark A. Co-
peletti, New Windsor, NY; Daniel L. Chirchward, Fort Wayne, IN; Mary L. Ferris, Bostwick, GA; Russ R. Richards, Helendale, CA; Edward C. Kuhn, Tucson,
AZ; Al H. Osterman, Neshanic Station, NJ; David M. Sizemore, Fairbanks, AK; Robert A. Gehring, Doylestown, PA; Richard A. Foster, Emporium, PA;
David Levy, Fort Washington, PA; Eddy Wright, Millport, AL; Peter D. Nagle, Cable, WI; Jim P. Ritter, Nederland, TX; George Norsworthy, Jackson, WY;
William D. Evans, McCall, ID; James J. Milano, Longboat Key, FL; Robert Price, Gate City, VA; Julian E. Jeffers, Hardeeville, SC; Kerry Creek, Carmel, IN;
Jack M. Selich, South Beach, OR; The Stark Gun Collectors Inc., Massillon, OH; Forsyth Rifle & Pistol Club, Forsyth, MT; Cape Radiology Group, Cape
Girardeau, MO; Five Points Hunting Club, Moon Township, PA; Ray Gannon, Nashville, TN; Robert Gehring, Doylestown, PA; Russell Viering, Groton,
CT; Chisholm Trail Antique Gun Association, Wichita, KS; San Fernando Valley Arms Collectors Association, Sylmar, CA

IL A G ra ssro o t s: ( 8 0 0 ) 3 9 2 - 8 6 8 3 NR A- I L A : ( 703) 267-1170 NR A- I L A web s i te: nr ai la. org

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG MAY 2016 109

OFFICIAL JOURNAL

regional report central

2016 NRA ANNUAL MEETINGS MAY 20-22 LOUISVILLE, KY
For hotel accommodations at the NRA Annual Meetings, visit nraam.org

Youll have the opportunity to participate field representative or call

in games, raffles, live and silent auctions (800) 672-3888, ext. 1351.
and more. Your attendance contributes
IA, NETim Bacon
to grants that promote firearm

F riends of NRA events celebrate tbacon@nrahq.org

education, safety and marksmanship. To
American values with fun, fellowship learn more about events in your area, Northern ILMike Huber
and fundraising for The NRA Foundation. visit friendsofnra.org, contact your local mhuber@nrahq.org
Southern ILDonald Higgs
dhiggs@nrahq.org
INCraig Haggard
chaggard@nrahq.org
MIAllan Herman
aherman@nrahq.org
WIScott Taetsch
staetsch@nrahq.org
Northern MOTravis Scott
tscott@nrahq.org
Southern MOGregg Pearre
gpearre@nrahq.org
KYJohn LaRowe
jlarowe@nrahq.org

areashoots
PISTOL
IONA, MI MAY 1
This Ronald Reagan commemorative plaque, featuring a picture of Reagan at his ranch in California CHANDLER, IN MAY 2
WATERMAN, IL MAY 14
and a presidential seal, is available exclusively at Friends of NRA events. LEROY, IL MAY 15
WEEPING WATER, NE MAY 21
BARNHART, MO MAY 27-28
Member information & benefits NRA Headquarters: (703) 267-1000
SMALLBORE
MEMBERSHIP ACCOUNT INFORMATION: (877) 672-2000 INTERNET ADDRESS: nra.org LOUISVILLE, KY MAY 21-22
MEMBER SERVICE (800) 672-3888 OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT/ HIGH POWER
GIFT PLANNING 877-NRA-GIVE
NRAstore.com (888) 607-6007 THE NRA FOUNDATION 800-423-6894 MONTEZUMA, IA MAY 1
NRA INSTRUCTOR/ HOLTON, MI MAY 7
MEMBER PROGRAMS COACH FIREARM TRAINING 703-267-1500 CORNELL, IL MAY 8
Hertz Car Rental CDP# 166609 (800) 654-2200 EDDIE EAGLE GUNSAFE PROGRAM 800-231-0752 LOUISVILLE, NE MAY 14
AVIS Car Rental AWD# A832100 (800) 225-7094 REFUSE TO BE A VICTIM 800-861-1166 BORDEN, IN MAY 14
NRA Endorsed Insurance Programs (877) 672-3006 RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS 703-267-1511 LODI, WI MAY 28-29
NRA Endorsed Prescription Plan (888) 436-3700 NRA AFFILIATED CLUBS 800-NRA-CLUB
NRA Endorsed Check Program (888) 331-6767 SILHOUETTE
NRA VISA Card (866) NRA-VISA RANGE SERVICES 877-672-7264
COMPETITIVE SHOOTING 877-672-6282 BELOIT, WI MAY 13
NRA Real Estate/Relocation Services (800) 593-2526
NRA Endorsed Moving Program LAW ENFORCEMENT 703-267-1640 ITHACA, MI MAY 14-15
North American Van Lines (800) 524-5533 FRIENDS OF NRA 703-267-1342 PARIS, MO MAY 15
Allied Van Lines (800) 871-8864 NRA MUSEUMS/ BENNET, NE MAY 21
GUN COLLECTOR PROGRAMS 703-267-1600 DANVILLE, IN MAY 28
INSTITUTE FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION SHOWS & EXHIBITS 866-343-1805 ASHLAND, KY MAY 28
Grassroots/Legislative Hotline (800) 392-8683 MEDIA RELATIONS 703-267-1595
The NRA Regional Report, a service for NRA members, appears in every issue of American Rifleman, American Hunter and For more information, contact Shelly Kramer
Americas 1st Freedom. The Regional Report is an up-to-date listing of NRA conducted and/or sponsored events scheduled at (703) 267-1459 or mkramer@nrahq.org. For a complete
in your region for the current month. Call to verify event dates and locations before traveling. listing, see shootingsportsusa.com.

110 MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

 TRAINING
Crime Prevention
T he NRAs Refuse To Be A Victim
program provides men and women
with crime prevention and personal
safety strategies. To learn more about the
program, visit refuse.nra.org. The most
up-to-date schedule is available on the
Internet at nrainstructors.org, by email
at refuse@nrahq.org or by phone at
(800) 861-1166.
MAY 5JOLIET, IL
(Seminar)
Edward Martin (815) 280-1555
MAY 5SOUTHFIELD, MI
(Seminar)
Dashika Reece (313) 355-3432
MAY 7SOUTHFIELD, MI
(Seminar)
Dashika Reece (313) 355-3432
MAY 19SOUTHFIELD, MI
(Seminar)
Dashika Reece (313) 355-3432 gunshows
MAY 28EAST SAINT LOUIS, IL
(Seminar) MAY 1 BAY CITY, MI MAY 15 CRYSTAL LAKE, IL
Mark Martin (314) 581-8721 Bay County Civic Arena, PJS Promotions LLC Holiday Inn Convention Center, DJ Guns
(989) 798-8709 (815) 385-1982
MAYONLINE MAY 6-7 JANESVILLE, WI
(Instructor Development Workshop) Rock County Fairgrounds, Bob & Rocco Gun Shows
MAY 20-22 UNION GROVE, WI
Racine County Fairgrounds, Bob & Rocco Gun
(608) 752-6677
Visit nraonlinetraining.org for more Shows (608) 752-6677
information. MAY 6-8 WEST SALEM, WI
LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway, Marv Kraus MAY 21-22 NEW BERLIN, IL
Promotions (563) 608-4401 Sangamon County Fairgrounds, Central Illinois Gun

STATE ASSOCIATIONS MAY 8 ST. CHARLES, IL

Kane County Fairgrounds, Kane County Sportsmans
Collectors (217) 416-0618

MAY 21-22 CHEBOYGAN, MI

F
Show (815) 758-2773 Cheboygan Ice Arena, Sport Shows Promotions Inc.
or more information about your
MAY 13-14 PHILLIPS, WI (517) 676-4160
state association, contact your state
Phillips Municipal Building, Ray Kangas Productions
association listed here, or log on to (715) 372-4654 MAY 21-22 CROWN POINT, IN
clubs.nra.org. Lake County Fairgrounds, Central Indiana Gun
MAY 13-15 SIOUX CITY, IA Shows (765) 855-3836
Illinois State Rifle Assn. Inc. Sioux City Convention Center, Marv Kraus
isra.org Promotions (563) 608-4401 MAY 27-29 ELKHART, IN
Northern Indiana Event Center, Gun Slinger
MAY 14-15 BELLEVILLE, IL
Indiana State Rifle & Pistol Assn. Inc. Belle Clair Fairgrounds, ECA Hunting & Trade Shows
Promotions USA (260) 624-5996
isrpa.org (618) 495-2572
MAY 27-29 MOUNT PLEASANT, IA
Iowa State Rifle & Pistol Assn. MAY 14-15 EVANSVILLE, IN Midwest Old Threshers, Marv Kraus Promotions
iasrpa.org Vanderburgh County 4-H Center, Central Indiana (563) 608-4401
Gun Shows (765) 855-3836
League of Kentucky Sportsmen Inc. MAY 27-29 EAGLE RIVER, WI
kentuckysportsmen.com MAY 14-15 FORT WAYNE, IN Eagle River Ice Arena, Bob & Rocco Gun Shows
Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, CPI Shows (608) 752-6677
Michigan Rifle & Pistol Assn. (260) 483-6144
michrpa.com MAY 28-29 HARRISON, MI
MAY 14-15 FRIENDSHIP, IN
Clare County Fairgrounds, Sport Shows Promotions
Old Mill Campground, Straight Shooters Enterprises
Missouri Sport Shooting Assn. (812) 498-3833
Inc. (517) 676-4160
missourisportshooting.org
MAY 14-15 BIRCH RUN, MI MAY 28-29 GREENFIELD, IN
Nebraska Marksmanship Assn. Birch Run Expo Center, Sport Shows Promotions Hancock County Fairgrounds, Central Indiana Gun
nemarksmanship.org Inc. (517) 676-4160 Shows (765) 855-3836

Wisconsin Firearm Owners, Ranges, Clubs &

Educators Dates and locations subject to changecontact the show before traveling. Discounted NRA membership sold through NRA
recruiters. *Some shows may offer free admission for new membership and renewals. To become an NRA Recruiter call (703) 267-3776.
wi-force.org

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG MAY 2016 111

OFFICIAL JOURNAL

regional report east

2016
2016NRA
NRAANNUAL
ANNUALMEETINGS
MEETINGS MAY 20-22
20-22 LOUISVILLE,
LOUISVILLE,KY
KY
For hotel accommodations at the NRA Annual Meetings, visit nraam.org

Eastern VA, Eastern MD, Washington, DC Pennsylvania Rifle & Pistol Assn.
David Wells pennarifleandpistol.org
dwells@nrahq.org
Rhode Island 2nd Amendment Coalition
Western VA, Western MD, WVJim Kilgore ri2nd.org

F riends of NRA events celebrate

American values with fun, fellowship
and fundraising for The NRA Foundation.
jkilgore@nrahq.org Vermont Federation Of Sportsmens Clubs Inc.
vtfsc.org

Youll have the opportunity to participate in STATE ASSOCIATIONS Virginia Shooting Sports Assn.
myvssa.org
games, raffles, live and silent auctions and

F or more information about your West Virginia State Rifle & Pistol Assn.
more. Your attendance contributes to grants wvasrpa.org
that promote firearm education, safety and state association, contact your state
marksmanship. To learn more about events association listed here, or log on to
in your area, visit friendsofnra.org, contact clubs.nra.org.
your local field representative or call Connecticut State Rifle & Revolver Assn. LAW ENFORCEMENT
(800) 672-3888, ext. 1351. csrra.com
Eastern Region DirectorBryan Hoover
bhoover@nrahq.org
Delaware State Sportsmens Assn.
dssa.us
(Maine) Pine Tree State Rifle & Pistol Assn. Inc.
P ublic and private officers interested in
becoming firearm instructors should
attend one of NRAs Law Enforcement
Northern OHMarc Peugeot
mpeugeot@nrahq.org mainerpa.org Firearms Instructor Development Schools,
Goal (Massachusetts)
Southern OHAndrew Root
aroot@nrahq.org
goal.org
Maryland State Rifle & Pistol Assn.
areashoots
ME, VT, NHBrian Smith msrpa.org PISTOL
bsmith@nrahq.org SCARBOROUGH, ME MAY 1
Gun Owners Of New Hampshire Inc. WAPPINGERS FALLS, NY MAY 1
NJ, MA, RI, CT, Southern NYJim Reardon gonh.org CANTON, OH MAY 1
jreardon@nrahq.org BROOKHAVEN, PA MAY 1
Assn. Of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs Inc. MONTPELIER, VA MAY 7
NYJay Rusnock anjrpc.org PRINCETON JUNCTION, NJ MAY 14
jrusnock@nrahq.org VERNON, CT MAY 14-15
New York State Rifle & Pistol Assn. Inc.
Eastern PA, DEKory Enck nysrpa.org SMALLBORE
kenck@nrahq.org MANASSAS, VA MAY 14
Ohio Rifle & Pistol Assn. MURRYSVILLE, PA MAY 21-22
Western PATom Baldrige orpa.net PLYMOUTH, NH MAY 22
tbaldrige@nrahq.org
HIGH POWER RIFLE

Member information & benefits

MILLVILLE, NJ MAY 1
NRA Headquarters: (703) 267-1000 COLONIE, NY MAY 7
MEMBERSHIP ACCOUNT INFORMATION: (877) 672-2000 INTERNET ADDRESS: nra.org CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA MAY 7
HAMPDEN, ME MAY 14
MEMBER SERVICE (800) 672-3888 OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT/ ANNVILLE, PA MAY 14
GIFT PLANNING 877-NRA-GIVE
NRAstore.com (888) 607-6007 THE NRA FOUNDATION 800-423-6894 LEXINGTON PARK, MD MAY 14
NRA INSTRUCTOR/ CHANDLERSVILLE, OH MAY 15
MEMBER PROGRAMS COACH FIREARM TRAINING 703-267-1500 MILFORD, DE MAY 15
Hertz Car Rental CDP# 166609 (800) 654-2200 EDDIE EAGLE GUNSAFE PROGRAM 800-231-0752 BEDFORD, MA MAY 22
AVIS Car Rental AWD# A832100 (800) 225-7094 REFUSE TO BE A VICTIM 800-861-1166 WEST BOLTON, VT MAY 28-30
NRA Endorsed Insurance Programs (877) 672-3006 RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS 703-267-1511 LYNDEBOROUGH, NH MAY 29
NRA Endorsed Prescription Plan (888) 436-3700 NRA AFFILIATED CLUBS 800-NRA-CLUB
NRA Endorsed Check Program (888) 331-6767 SILHOUETTE
NRA VISA Card (866) NRA-VISA RANGE SERVICES 877-672-7264
NRA Real Estate/Relocation Services (800) 593-2526 COMPETITIVE SHOOTING 877-672-6282 NEW FREEDOM, PA MAY 1
NRA Endorsed Moving Program LAW ENFORCEMENT 703-267-1640 SHIPPENSBURG, PA MAY 21
North American Van Lines (800) 524-5533 FRIENDS OF NRA 703-267-1342 MONTPELIER, VA MAY 21
Allied Van Lines (800) 871-8864 NRA MUSEUMS/ STATEN ISLAND, NY MAY 22
GUN COLLECTOR PROGRAMS 703-267-1600 BRADFORD, PA MAY 22
INSTITUTE FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION SHOWS & EXHIBITS 866-343-1805 HOLDERNESS, NH MAY 29
Grassroots/Legislative Hotline (800) 392-8683 MEDIA RELATIONS 703-267-1595
The NRA Regional Report, a service for NRA members, appears in every issue of American Rifleman, American Hunter and For more information, contact Shelly Kramer
Americas 1st Freedom. The Regional Report is an up-to-date listing of NRA conducted and/or sponsored events scheduled at (703) 267-1459 or mkramer@nrahq.org. For a complete
in your region for the current month. Call to verify event dates and locations before traveling. listing, see shootingsportsusa.com.

110 MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

designed to enhance the instructors
firearm knowledge and handling skills,
as well as prepare them to develop
effective training programs, instruct
in a professional manner, and conduct
practical training exercises.Restricted to
law enforcement officers only.
MAY 2-6MONROEVILLE, PA
(Handgun/Shotgun)
MAY 9-13DAVIDSONVILLE, MD
(Handgun/Shotgun)
MAY 23-27ELIZABETHTOWN, PA
(Patrol Rifle)
Contact Erika Buchanan at ebuchanan@
nrahq.org or (703)267-1638.
MAY 18KILMARNOCK, VA MAY 22NEW STRAITSVILLE, OH
(Seminar) (Seminar)
Robert Heller (804) 410-5905 Honi Greenlee (740) 385-1028
MAY 19EAST HAVEN, CT
MAY 23MANCHESTER, NH
(Seminar)
Louis Bonito (203) 907-6594 (Seminar)
Robert Boilard (603) 566-1727
MAY 21WEST ORANGE, NJ
(Instructor Development Workshop) MAY 23MANCHESTER, NH
Paulo Henriques (973) 820-5744 (Instructor Development Workshop)
Robert Boilard (603) 566-1727
MAY 21BRISTOL, CT
(Seminar)
Michael Ptaszynski (860) 582-4388 MAYONLINE
(Instructor Development Workshop)
MAY 22BRISTOL, CT
(Instructor Development Workshop) Visit nraonlinetraining.org for more
Michael Ptaszynski (860) 582-4388 information.

Police Competition gunshows

N RA Police Pistol Combat competition
is intended to be used as an extension
of an officers training. See PPC Rulebook
MAY 1 BRODHEADSVILLE, PA
West End Fire Co., West End Fire Co. (570) 977-7822
MAY 21 MONROE, OH
Treasure Aisles Event Center, Patriot Gun & Knife
Show (513) 638-8688
(Rule 2.4) for eligibility requirements. MAY 7 MONROE, OH
Treasure Aisles Event Center, Patriot Gun & Knife MAY 21 SIDNEY, OH
MAY 7SCITUATE, RI Show (513) 638-8688 Shelby County Fairgrounds, River Valley Classic Gun
(Approved) Show (937) 418-2179
MAY 7-8 DOSWELL, VA
MAY 14LEBANON, PA The Meadow Event Park, SGK Gun & Knife Shows MAY 21-22 RICHMOND, VA
(757) 483-5385 Richmond Raceway Complex, Showmasters Gun
(Approved) Shows (540) 951-1344
MAY 7-8 SPRING BROOK TOWNSHIP, PA
MAY 14FREDERICK, MD
Spring Brook Fire Co., Jaeger Arms Promotions MAY 21-22 MANSFIELD, OH
(Approved) (570) 470-6404 Richland County Fairgrounds, Heritage Arms LLC
Contact Tiffany King at tking@nrahq.org Gun Shows (330) 806-1110*
MAY 7-8 LIMA, OH
or (703)267-1621. Allen County Fairgrounds, Tri-State Gun Collectors MAY 21-22 NEWBURGH, NY
(419) 647-0067 Ice Time Sports Complex, New Eastcoast Arms
Collectors Assn. (518) 664-9743
MAY 7-8 WILMINGTON, OH
TRAINING Roberts Centre, Ohio Gun Collectors Assn.
(330) 467-5733
MAY 21-22 LANCASTER, OH
Fairfield County Fairgrounds, JS Shows Ltd.
(614) 523-7767
Crime Prevention MAY 14 MONROE, OH

T he NRAs Refuse To Be A Victim Treasure Aisles Event Center, Patriot Gun & Knife MAY 21-22 OAKS, PA
Show (513) 638-8688 Greater Philadelphia Oaks Expo Center, Eagle Arms
program provides men and women Productions (610) 393-3047
with crime prevention and personal MAY 14-15 MAUMEE, OH
safety strategies. To learn more about the Lucas County Recreation Center, Maumee Valley MAY 21-22 OXFORD, ME
Gun Collectors Assn. (419) 893-1110 Oxford Fairgrounds, Norway-Paris Fish & Game
program, visit refuse.nra.org. The most (207) 998-2374
up-to-date schedule is available on the MAY 14-15 MIDDLETOWN, NY
Internet at nrainstructors.org, by email Orange County Fairgrounds, New Mart Promotions MAY 21-22 PAINESVILLE, OH
(914) 248-1000 Lake County Fairgrounds, LG Firearms Productions
at refuse@nrahq.org or by phone at (216) 338-1271
(800) 861-1166. MAY 14-15 ALLENTOWN, PA
Allentown Fairgrounds Agri-Plex, Forks of the MAY 21-22 WASHINGTONVILLE, OH
MAY 2MIDLOTHIAN, VA Delaware Historical Arms Society Inc. Beaver Creek Sportsmans Club, Beaver Creek
(Seminar) (610) 438-9006 Sportsmans Club (330) 502-8429
Sydney Van Buren (804) 874-2343
MAY 14-15 DAYTON, OH MAY 21-22 BUTLER, PA
MAY 7ASHAWAY, RI Dayton Hara Arena, Bill Goodmans Gun & Knife Pullman Square, Pennsylvania Gun Collectors Assn.
(Seminar) Shows (502) 538-3900 (412) 486-1129
Lyd Neugent (401) 377-8184
MAY 14-15 MARIETTA, OH MAY 28-29 GETTYSBURG, PA
MAY 14QUAKERTOWN, PA Washington County Fairgrounds, Front Sight Allstar Events Complex, Eagle Arms Productions
Promotions (740) 667-0412 (610) 393-3047
(Seminar)
Wayne Downs (215) 536-7875
Dates and locations subject to changecontact the show before traveling. Discounted NRA membership sold through NRA
MAY 15RANSON, WV recruiters. *Some shows may offer free admission for new membership and renewals. To become an NRA Recruiter call (703) 267-3714.
(Seminar)
Dennis Stoika (732) 620-2311

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG MAY 2016 111

OFFICIAL JOURNAL

regional report midwest

2016 NRA ANNUAL MEETINGS MAY 20-22 LOUISVILLE, KY
For hotel accommodations at the NRA Annual Meetings, visit nraam.org

and fundraising for The NRA Foundation. in your area, visit friendsofnra.org, contact
Youll have the opportunity to participate in your local field representative or call
games, raffles, live and silent auctions and (800) 672-3888, ext. 1351.
more. Your attendance contributes to grants

F riends of NRA events celebrate Midwest Region DirectorTom Ulik

that promote firearm education, safety and
American values with fun, fellowship tulik@nrahq.org
marksmanship. To learn more about events
ARErica Willard
ewillard@nrahq.org
COBrad Dreier
bdreier@nrahq.org
KSChristine Sharp
csharp@nrahq.org
NMKevin Post
kpost@nrahq.org
OKDarren DeLong
ddelong@nrahq.org
Northern TXTerry Free
tfree@nrahq.org
Southern TXLiz Foley
efoley@nrahq.org
Western TXJack Cannon
jcannon@nrahq.org

areashoots
PISTOL
HOLMWOOD, LA MAY 14
MANOR, TX MAY 15
BYERS, CO MAY 15
This Ronald Reagan commemorative plaque, featuring a picture of Reagan at his ranch in California OKLAHOMA CITY, OK MAY 21
WHITEWATER, KS MAY 21
and a presidential seal, is available exclusively at Friends of NRA events.
SMALLBORE
PINE BLUFF, AR MAY 7
WHITEWATER, KS MAY 7
Member information & benefits NRA Headquarters: (703) 267-1000 ATASCOSA, TN MAY 14
MEMBERSHIP ACCOUNT INFORMATION: (877) 672-2000 INTERNET ADDRESS: nra.org HIGH POWER RIFLE
MEMBER SERVICE (800) 672-3888 OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT/ SKIATOOK, OK MAY 1
GIFT PLANNING 877-NRA-GIVE HUTCHINSON, KS MAY 8
NRAstore.com (888) 607-6007 THE NRA FOUNDATION 800-423-6894 MANSFIELD, TX MAY 8
NRA INSTRUCTOR/ NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR MAY 14
MEMBER PROGRAMS COACH FIREARM TRAINING 703-267-1500 BRAZORIA, TX MAY 21
Hertz Car Rental CDP# 166609 (800) 654-2200 EDDIE EAGLE GUNSAFE PROGRAM 800-231-0752 RAMAH, CO MAY 22
AVIS Car Rental AWD# A832100 (800) 225-7094 REFUSE TO BE A VICTIM 800-861-1166
NRA Endorsed Insurance Programs (877) 672-3006 RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS 703-267-1511 SILHOUETTE
NRA Endorsed Prescription Plan (888) 436-3700 NRA AFFILIATED CLUBS 800-NRA-CLUB
NRA Endorsed Check Program (888) 331-6767 DELPHOS, KS MAY 1
NRA VISA Card (866) NRA-VISA RANGE SERVICES 877-672-7264 EL PASO, TX MAY 1
NRA Real Estate/Relocation Services (800) 593-2526 COMPETITIVE SHOOTING 877-672-6282 HOBBS, NM MAY 7
NRA Endorsed Moving Program LAW ENFORCEMENT 703-267-1640 ARCADIA, OK MAY 8
North American Van Lines (800) 524-5533 FRIENDS OF NRA 703-267-1342
AURORA, CO MAY 21
Allied Van Lines (800) 871-8864 NRA MUSEUMS/
GUN COLLECTOR PROGRAMS 703-267-1600 BAUXITE, AR MAY 22
INSTITUTE FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION SHOWS & EXHIBITS 866-343-1805 FRIENDSWOOD, TX MAY 28
Grassroots/Legislative Hotline (800) 392-8683 MEDIA RELATIONS 703-267-1595
For more information, contact Shelly Kramer
The NRA Regional Report, a service for NRA members, appears in every issue of American Rifleman, American Hunter and at (703) 267-1459 or mkramer@nrahq.org. For a complete
Americas 1st Freedom. The Regional Report is an up-to-date listing of NRA conducted and/or sponsored events scheduled listing, see shootingsportsusa.com.
in your region for the current month. Call to verify event dates and locations before traveling.

110 MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

 safety strategies. To learn more about the Oklahoma Rifle Assn. Inc.
LAW ENFORCEMENT program, visit refuse.nra.org. The most oklarifle.org
up-to-date schedule is available on the
Texas State Rifle Assn.
Internet at nrainstructors.org, by email tsra.com

P ublic and private officers interested in

becoming firearm instructors should
attend one of NRAs Law Enforcement
at refuse@nrahq.org or by phone at
(800) 861-1166.
gunshows
Firearms Instructor Development Schools, MAY 9WICHITA, KS
designed to enhance the instructors (Seminar) MAY 13-15 EAGLE, CO
Warren Glore (316) 641-2842 Eagle Valley Fairgrounds, Eagle Valley Rod & Gun
firearm knowledge and handling skills, Club (719) 395-4424
as well as prepare them to develop MAY 23WICHITA, KS
effective training programs, instruct MAY 14-15 LOVINGTON, NM
(Seminar) Lea County Fairgrounds, Western Frontier Gun
in a professional manner, and conduct Warren Glore (316) 641-2842 Shows (575) 430-8681
practical training exercises.Restricted to
MAYONLINE MAY 14-15 HOUSTON, TX
law enforcement officers only. NRG Arena, Houston Gun Collectors Assn.
(Instructor Development Workshop)
(713) 981-6463
MAY 2-6HENRYETTA, OK
(Handgun/Shotgun) Visit nraonlinetraining.org for more MAY 14-15 OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
information. Oklahoma State Fair Park, Oklahoma CIty Gun
Show Inc. (405) 842-3277
MAY 16-20GUNNISON, CO
(Handgun/Shotgun ) MAY 14-15 AZLE, TX
404 Main Place, Whipp Farm Productions
MAY 23-27GARDEN PLAINS, KS
(Tactical Shotgun)
STATE ASSOCIATIONS (817) 929-1816

MAY 14-15 ORANGE, TX

F or more information about your Orange County Expo Center, Real Texas Gun
MAY 23-27SAN ANTONIO, TX Shows (713) 724-8881
state association, contact your state
(Handgun/Shotgun)
association listed here, or log on to MAY 21-22 AMARILLO, TX
Amarillo Civic Center, Pioneer Gun Collectors
Contact Mary Shine at mshine@nrahq.org clubs.nra.org. Assn. (806) 570-9745
or call (703)267-1628.
Colorado State Shooting Assn. MAY 21-22 BELTON, TX
cssa.org Bell County Expo Center, Lone Star Gun Shows
(214) 635-2009

TRAINING Arkansas Rifle & Pistol Assn.

arpa-online.org
MAY 21-22 GLEN ROSE, TX
Somervell County Expo, Whipp Farm Productions
(817) 929-1816
Kansas State Rifle Assn.
Crime Prevention ksraweb.org MAY 21-22 SAN ANTONIO, TX

T he NRAs Refuse To Be A Victim Austin Highway Event Center, Austin Highway

Gun Show (210) 242-3683
program provides men and women New Mexico Shooting Sports Assn. Inc.
with crime prevention and personal nmssa.org MAY 21-22 LEWISVILLE, TX
Lakeland Plaza, Premier Gun Shows
(817) 732-1194

MAY 21-22 HOUSTON, TX

George R. Brown Convention Center, High Caliber
Gun & Knife Show (281) 489-1741

MAY 28-29 BRYAN, TX

Brazos County Expo Center, High Caliber Gun &
Knife Show (281) 489-1741

MAY 28-29 MESQUITE, TX

Big Town Event Center, Premier Gun Shows
(817) 732-1194

MAY 28-29 KINGSLAND, TX

Kingsland Community Center, Wild Weasel
Productions (210) 827-6302

MAY 28-29 NEW BRAUNFELS, TX

New Braunfels Civic Center, Liberty Gun Shows
(512) 774-0486

MAY 28-29 TULSA, OK

Tulsa Fairgrounds, R.K. Shows Inc. (563) 927-8176

Dates and locations subject to changecontact the show

before traveling. Discounted NRA membership
sold through NRA recruiters. *Some shows may offer free
admission for new membership and renewals.
To become an NRA Recruiter call (703) 267-3776.

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG MAY 2016 111

OFFICIAL JOURNAL

regional report south

2016 NRA ANNUAL MEETINGS MAY 20-22 LOUISVILLE, KY
For hotel accommodations at the NRA Annual Meetings, visit nraam.org

Western NCDoug Merrill Tennessee Shooting Sports Assn. Inc.

rmerrill@nrahq.org tennesseeshootingsportsassociation.org

TNMike Webb
mwebb@nrahq.org
F riends of NRA events celebrate
American values with fun, fellowship SCFreeman Coleman
LAW ENFORCEMENT
P
and fundraising for The NRA Foundation. fcoleman@nrahq.org ublic and private officers interested in
Youll have the opportunity to participate in becoming firearm instructors should
games, raffles, live and silent auctions and attend one of NRAs Law Enforcement
more. Your attendance contributes to grants
that promote firearm education, safety and STATE ASSOCIATIONS Firearms Instructor Development Schools,
designed to enhance the instructors
marksmanship. To learn more about events
F or more information about your firearm knowledge and handling skills,
in your area, visit friendsofnra.org, contact as well as prepare them to develop
your local field representative or call state association, contact your state
association listed here, or log on to effective training programs, instruct
(800) 672-3888, ext. 1351. in a professional manner, and conduct
clubs.nra.org.
Southern Region DirectorAl Hammond practical training exercises.Restricted to
ahammond@nrahq.org Alabama Rifle and Pistol Assn. law enforcement officers only.
asrapa.org
LAChad Bowen MAY 2-6TUSCALOOSA, AL
Florida Sport Shooting Assn.
cbowen@nrahq.org (Patrol Rifle)
fssaf.wildapricot.org
AL, MSGene Newman
gnewman@nrahq.org
Georgia Sport Shooting Assn.
gssa.info
areashoots
PISTOL
Northern FLBret Eldridge Louisiana Shooting Assn. COVINGTON, GA MAY 8
peldridge@nrahq.org louisianashooting.com HOLMWOOD, LA MAY 14
JACKSONVILLE, FL MAY 15
Southern FLTom Knight Mississippi State Firearm Owners Assn. SOUTH CONGAREE, SC MAY 21
tknight@nrahq.org msfoa.com COOKEVILLE, TN MAY 22
CREEDMOOR, NC MAY 28
GANeely Raper North Carolina Rifle & Pistol Assn.
SMALLBORE
nraper@nrahq.org ncrpa.org ORLANDO, FL MAY 7
Eastern NCLloyd Edwards CUSSETA, GA MAY 8
Gun Owners of South Carolina
CREEDMOOR, NC MAY 14
ledwards@nrahq.org gosc.org GUNTERSVILLE DAM, AL MAY 14
RIDGEVILLE, SC MAY 21
BRUNSWICK, TN MAY 21
Member information & benefits NRA Headquarters: (703) 267-1000 HIGH POWER RIFLE
MEMBERSHIP ACCOUNT INFORMATION: (877) 672-2000 INTERNET ADDRESS: nra.org COVINGTON, GA MAY 7
COLUMBIA, SC MAY 8
MEMBER SERVICE (800) 672-3888 OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT/ CHARLOTTE, NC MAY 14
GIFT PLANNING 877-NRA-GIVE
NRAstore.com (888) 607-6007 PINSON, AL MAY 14
THE NRA FOUNDATION 800-423-6894
NRA INSTRUCTOR/ PALM BAY, FL MAY 21
MEMBER PROGRAMS COACH FIREARM TRAINING 703-267-1500 DONALDSONVILLE, LA MAY 21
Hertz Car Rental CDP# 166609 (800) 654-2200 EDDIE EAGLE GUNSAFE PROGRAM 800-231-0752 LAKELAND, TN MAY 28
AVIS Car Rental AWD# A832100 (800) 225-7094 REFUSE TO BE A VICTIM 800-861-1166
NRA Endorsed Insurance Programs (877) 672-3006 RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS 703-267-1511 SILHOUETTE
NRA Endorsed Prescription Plan (888) 436-3700 NRA AFFILIATED CLUBS 800-NRA-CLUB RUTHERFORDTON, NC MAY 7
NRA Endorsed Check Program (888) 331-6767 HOOVER, AL MAY 7
NRA VISA Card (866) NRA-VISA RANGE SERVICES 877-672-7264
NRA Real Estate/Relocation Services (800) 593-2526 COMPETITIVE SHOOTING 877-672-6282 CHULUOTA, FL MAY 8
NRA Endorsed Moving Program LAW ENFORCEMENT 703-267-1640 BRANDON, MS MAY 14
North American Van Lines (800) 524-5533 FRIENDS OF NRA 703-267-1342 BRUNSWICK, GA MAY 21
Allied Van Lines (800) 871-8864 NRA MUSEUMS/ GASTON, SC MAY 21
GUN COLLECTOR PROGRAMS 703-267-1600 CHATTANOOGA, TN MAY 21
INSTITUTE FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION SHOWS & EXHIBITS 866-343-1805 QUITMAN, LA MAY 21
Grassroots/Legislative Hotline (800) 392-8683 MEDIA RELATIONS 703-267-1595
The NRA Regional Report, a service for NRA members, appears in every issue of American Rifleman, American Hunter and For more information, contact Shelly Kramer
Americas 1st Freedom. The Regional Report is an up-to-date listing of NRA conducted and/or sponsored events scheduled at (703) 267-1459 or mkramer@nrahq.org. For a complete
in your region for the current month. Call to verify event dates and locations before traveling. listing, see shootingsportsusa.com.

110 MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

MAY 16-20FLORENCE, AL
(Handgun/Shotgun)
MAY 16-20JENSEN BEACH, FL
(Handgun)
MAY 23-27SOPCHOPPY, FL
(Tactical Shooting)
MAY 23-27NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FL
(Handgun)
MAY 23-27ROCK HILL, SC
(Patrol Rifle)
Contact Rudis Amaya at ramaya@nrahq.org
or (703)267-1636. gunshows
Police Competition MAY 7-8 RALEIGH, NC
North Carolina State Fairgrounds, Dixie Gun & Knife
MAY 21-22 ORLANDO, FL
Central Florida Fairgrounds, Florida Gun Shows

N RA Police Pistol Combat competition

is intended to be used as an extension
of an officers training. See PPC Rulebook
Show (919) 781-1287
MAY 7-8 NASHVILLE, TN
Nashville Expo Center, R.K. Shows Inc.
(407) 410-6870

MAY 21-22 JACKSON, TN

Jackson Fairgrounds Park, R.K. Shows Inc.
(Rule 2.4) for eligibility requirements. (563) 927-8176 (563) 927-8176
MAY 14SUMTER, SC MAY 7-8 MUSCLE SHOALS, AL
North Alabama State Fairgrounds, VPI Gun Shows MAY 21-22 BIRMINGHAM, AL
(Approved) Greater Birmingham Civic Center, Great Southern
(256) 381-0506
Gun & Knife Shows (865) 671-4757
MAY 14NORMAN, OK
MAY 14-15 FLETCHER, NC
(Registered) Western North Carolina Agricultural Center, MK MAY 21-22 GONZALES, LA
MAY 27SUMTER, SC Shows (770) 630-7296 Lamar-Dixon Expo Hall, Classic Arms Productions
(Approved) (985) 624-8577
MAY 14-15 JACKSONVILLE, NC
American Legion, S&D Gun & Knife Show
Contact Tiffany King at tking@nrahq.org MAY 21-22 MACON, GA
(252) 745-5647
or (703)267-1621. Macon Centroplex, Eastman Gun Shows
MAY 14-15 HIAWASSEE, GA (229) 425-9881
Towns County Recreation Center, North Georgia
Gun Show (828) 557-1543 MAY 28-29 WILMINGTON, NC
Wilmington National Guard Armory, S&D Gun &
TRAINING MAY 14-15 FERN PARK, FL
Orlando Live Events Center, New Florida Gun
Knife Show (252) 745-5647

Shows (407) 568-3365 MAY 28-29 WINSTON-SALEM, NC

Crime Prevention Winston-Salem Fairgrounds, C&E Gun Shows

T
MAY 14-15 PALMETTO, FL
he NRAs Refuse To Be A Victim Bradenton Convention Center, Florida Gun Shows
(540) 953-0016
program provides men and women (407) 410-6870
MAY 28-29 BLUE RIDGE, GA
with crime prevention and personal MAY 14-15 POMPANO BEACH, FL Kiwanis Fairgrounds, North Georgia Gun Show
safety strategies. To learn more about the Elks Lodge, Florida Gun Expo (305) 922-3677 (828) 557-1543
program, visit refuse.nra.org. The most MAY 14-15 STUART, FL MAY 28-29 FORT LAUDERDALE, FL
up-to-date schedule is available on the Martin County Fairgrounds, Great American National Guard Armory Fort Lauderdale, Gun Show
Internet at nrainstructors.org, by email Promotions (865) 453-0074 Team (561) 288-8425
at refuse@nrahq.org or by phone at MAY 14-15 JACKSON, MS
Mississippi Trade Mart: State Fairgrounds, Jackson MAY 28-29 JACKSONVILLE, FL
(800) 861-1166. The Morocco Shrine, Cliffhangers Gun Shows
Gun Show (601) 922-8138
(386) 325-6114
MAY 2LUTZ, FL
MAY 14-15 WEST MONROE, LA
(Seminar) West Monroe Civic Center, Jean LaFitte Promotions MAY 28-29 MIAMI, FL
Bob Donaghy (813) 334-7412 (337) 302-5535 Miami-Dade Fairgrounds, Florida Gun Shows
(407) 410-6870
MAY 6FORT MYERS, FL MAY 14-15 PALMETTO, FL
(Instructor Development Workshop) Manatee County Civic Center, Shoot Straight Gun MAY 28-29 VERO BEACH, FL
Alecs Dean (239) 357-3437 Show (407) 889-7662 Indian River County Fairgrounds, Patriot
Productions LLC (866) 611-0442
MAY 7LAKE PARK, FL MAY 14-15 WEST PALM BEACH, FL
(Seminar) South Florida Fairgrounds, Sport Show Specialist MAY 28-29 CHATTANOOGA, TN
David DEugenio (561) 844-1381 (321) 777-7455 Camp Jordan Arena, R.K. Shows Inc. (563) 927-8176

MAY 14LILBURN, GA MAY 21-22 CLEWISTON, FL MAY 28-29 HUNSTVILLE, AL

(Seminar) Jon Boy Building, Great American Promotions Von Braun Civic Center, Collectors & Shooters Club
Greg Schreffler (770) 367-3525 (865) 453-0074 (334) 322-8818

MAYONLINE MAY 21-22 MIAMI, FL MAY 28-29 PONCHATOULA, LA

(Instructor Development Workshop) Miccosukee Gaming Resort, Florida Gun Expo Ponchatoula Lions Club, Ten Ring Arms
(305) 922-3677 (225) 573-2232
Visit nraonlinetraining.org for more Dates and locations subject to changecontact the show before traveling. Discounted NRA membership sold through NRA
information. recruiters. *Some shows may offer free admission for new membership and renewals. To become an NRA Recruiter call (703) 267-3772.

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG MAY 2016 111

OFFICIAL JOURNAL

regional report southwest

2016 NRA ANNUAL MEETINGS MAY 20-22 LOUISVILLE, KY
For hotel accommodations at the NRA Annual Meetings, visit nraam.org

and fundraising for The NRA Foundation. in your area, visit friendsofnra.org, contact
Youll have the opportunity to participate in your local field representative or call
games, raffles, live and silent auctions and (800) 672-3888, ext. 1351.
more. Your attendance contributes to grants

F riends of NRA events celebrate

American values with fun, fellowship
that promote firearm education, safety and
marksmanship. To learn more about events
Southwest Region DirectorJason Quick
jquick@nrahq.org
AZWinston Pendleton
wpendleton@nrahq.org
Mid CABob Anderson
randerson@nrahq.org
Central CAPaul Rodarmel
prodarmel@nrahq.org
Northern CADan Wilhelm
dwilhelm@nrahq.org
Southern CAMike Davis
mdavis@nrahq.org
Eastern CACole Beverly
cbeverly@nrahq.org
NVSteve Wilson
swilson@nrahq.org
UTJohn Kendall
jkendall@nrahq.org

areashoots
PISTOL
VENTURA, CA MAY 1
SLOUGHHOUSE, CA MAY 1
This Ronald Reagan commemorative plaque, featuring a picture of Reagan at his ranch in California PHOENIX, AZ MAY 15
and a presidential seal, is available exclusively at Friends of NRA events. REDWOOD CITY, CA MAY 22
CUPERTINO, CA MAY 30
SMALLBORE
Member information & benefits NRA Headquarters: (703) 267-1000 SOUTH EL MONTE, CA MAY 21-22
MEMBERSHIP ACCOUNT INFORMATION: (877) 672-2000 INTERNET ADDRESS: nra.org
HIGH POWER RIFLE
MEMBER SERVICE (800) 672-3888 OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT/ OJAI, CA MAY 1
GIFT PLANNING 877-NRA-GIVE IMPERIAL VALLEY, CA MAY 1-2
NRAstore.com (888) 607-6007 THE NRA FOUNDATION 800-423-6894 BOULDER CITY, NV MAY 8
NRA INSTRUCTOR/ DULZURA, CA MAY 8
MEMBER PROGRAMS COACH FIREARM TRAINING 703-267-1500 CASTAIC, CA MAY 14
Hertz Car Rental CDP# 166609 (800) 654-2200 EDDIE EAGLE GUNSAFE PROGRAM 800-231-0752
AVIS Car Rental AWD# A832100 (800) 225-7094 SEELEY, CA MAY 14
REFUSE TO BE A VICTIM 800-861-1166
NRA Endorsed Insurance Programs (877) 672-3006 YUMA, AZ MAY 15
RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS 703-267-1511
NRA Endorsed Prescription Plan (888) 436-3700 NRA AFFILIATED CLUBS 800-NRA-CLUB
NRA Endorsed Check Program (888) 331-6767 SILHOUETTE
NRA VISA Card (866) NRA-VISA RANGE SERVICES 877-672-7264 PHOENIX, AZ MAY 1
NRA Real Estate/Relocation Services (800) 593-2526 COMPETITIVE SHOOTING 877-672-6282
TUCSON, AZ MAY 1
NRA Endorsed Moving Program LAW ENFORCEMENT 703-267-1640
FRIENDS OF NRA 703-267-1342 CUPERTINO, CA MAY 14
North American Van Lines (800) 524-5533
Allied Van Lines (800) 871-8864 NRA MUSEUMS/ SAN FERNANDO, CA MAY 14-15
GUN COLLECTOR PROGRAMS 703-267-1600 MESA, AZ MAY 15
INSTITUTE FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION SHOWS & EXHIBITS 866-343-1805 LAKEPORT, CA MAY 28
Grassroots/Legislative Hotline (800) 392-8683 MEDIA RELATIONS 703-267-1595
For more information, contact Shelly Kramer
The NRA Regional Report, a service for NRA members, appears in every issue of American Rifleman, American Hunter and at (703) 267-1459 or mkramer@nrahq.org. For a complete
Americas 1st Freedom. The Regional Report is an up-to-date listing of NRA conducted and/or sponsored events scheduled listing, see shootingsportsusa.com.
in your region for the current month. Call to verify event dates and locations before traveling.

110 MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

 gunshows
MAY 1 CRESCENT CITY, CA
Del Norte Fairgrounds, Phoenix Productions
(707) 496-1883
MAY 7-8 ELKO, NV
Elko County Fairgrounds, American Dream Gun
Show (775) 835-9677
MAY 7-8 LAS VEGAS, NV
Santa Fe Station, Western Trails Gun & Knife Shows
(702) 222-1948
MAY 14-15 TUCSON, AZ
Tucson Expo, AZ Gun Radio (650) 520-6002
MAY 14-15 BAKERSFIELD, CA
Kern County Fair Grounds, Central Coast Gun
Shows (805) 481-6726
MAY 14-15 ONTARIO, CA
Ontario Convention Center, Crossroads of the
This Silver Stag Elk Antler West Gun Shows (801) 544-9125
Bull Nose Slab Knife, made MAY 14-15 VALLEJO, CA
in the USA and featuring Solano County Fairgrounds, Code of the West
a 3.5-inch jeweled blade, TRAINING Productions (530) 676-8762
MAY 14-15 VISALIA, CA
is available exclusively at
Visalia Convention Center, Rocky Mountain Gun
Friends of NRA events. Crime Prevention Shows (801) 589-0975

STATE ASSOCIATIONS
T he NRAs Refuse To Be A Victim
program provides men and women
with crime prevention and personal
MAY 21-22 FLAGSTAFF, AZ
Fort Tuthill County Fairgrounds, Arizona
Collectibles & Firearms (928) 310-8544

safety strategies. To learn more about the MAY 21-22 DEL MAR, CA

F
or more information about your
state association, contact your state
association listed here, or log on to
clubs.nra.org.
Arizona State Rifle & Pistol Assn.
asrpa.com
California Rifle & Pistol Assn.
crpa.org
Nevada Firearms Coalition
nvfac.org
Utah State Rifle & Pistol Assn.
usrpa.org
program, visit refuse.nra.org. The most
up-to-date schedule is available on the
Internet at nrainstructors.org, by email
at refuse@nrahq.org or by phone at
(800) 861-1166.
MAY 7MENIFEE, CA
(Seminar)
Larry Johnston (951) 487-3707
MAYONLINE
(Instructor Development Workshop)
Visit nraonlinetraining.org for more
information.
Del Mar Fairgrounds, Crossroads of the West Gun
Shows (801) 544-9125
MAY 21-22 SANTA MARIA, CA
Santa Maria Fairpark, Central Coast Gun Shows
(805) 481-6726
MAY 21-22 RENO, NV
Reno-Sparks Convention Center, Crossroads of the
West Gun Shows (801) 544-9125
MAY 21-22 SANDY, UT
South Towne Expo Center, Rocky Mountain Gun
Shows (801) 589-0975
Dates and locations subject to changecontact the show
before traveling. Discounted NRA membership
sold through NRA recruiters. *Some shows may offer free
admission for new membership and renewals.
To become an NRA Recruiter call (703) 267-3784.

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG MAY 2016 111

OFFICIAL JOURNAL

regional report west

2016 NRA ANNUAL MEETINGS MAY 20-22 LOUISVILLE, KY
For hotel accommodations at the NRA Annual Meetings, visit nraam.org

and fundraising for The NRA Foundation. in your area, visit friendsofnra.org, contact
Youll have the opportunity to participate in your local field representative or call
games, raffles, live and silent auctions and (800) 672-3888, ext. 1351.
more. Your attendance contributes to grants

F riends of NRA events celebrate Western Region DirectorBrad Kruger

that promote firearm education, safety and bkruger@nrahq.org
American values with fun, fellowship marksmanship. To learn more about events
MNEric Linder
elinder@nrahq.org
ND, SDClay Pederson
cpederson@nrahq.org
Northern AKJosh Toennessen
jtoennessen@nrahq.org
Southern AKGreg Stephens
gstephens@nrahq.org
IDSteve Vreeland
svreeland@nrahq.org
MTJoe Crismore
jcrismore@nrahq.org
OR, HIMike Carey
mcarey@nrahq.org
WAMichael Herrera
mherrera@nrahq.org
WYDave Manzer
dmanzer@nrahq.org

areashoots
PISTOL
LAKE ELMO, MN MAY 1
This Ronald Reagan commemorative plaque, featuring a picture of Reagan at his ranch in California SPRINGFIELD, OR MAY 15
and a presidential seal, is available exclusively at Friends of NRA events. SHERWOOD, OR MAY 21
RAVENSDALE, WA MAY 22
SMALLBORE
Member information & benefits NRA Headquarters: (703) 267-1000 ST. FRANCIS, MN MAY 15
MEMBERSHIP ACCOUNT INFORMATION: (877) 672-2000 INTERNET ADDRESS: nra.org CORVALLIS, OR MAY 21-22
MEMBER SERVICE (800) 672-3888 OFFICE OF ADVANCEMENT/ HIGH POWER RIFLE
GIFT PLANNING 877-NRA-GIVE REXBURG, ID MAY 7
NRAstore.com (888) 607-6007 THE NRA FOUNDATION 800-423-6894 BILLINGS, MT MAY 7-8
NRA INSTRUCTOR/ DULUTH, MN MAY 14
MEMBER PROGRAMS COACH FIREARM TRAINING 703-267-1500
Hertz Car Rental CDP# 166609 (800) 654-2200 EDDIE EAGLE GUNSAFE PROGRAM 800-231-0752 BOTHELL, WA MAY 15
AVIS Car Rental AWD# A832100 (800) 225-7094 REFUSE TO BE A VICTIM 800-861-1166 VALE, OR MAY 15
NRA Endorsed Insurance Programs (877) 672-3006 RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS 703-267-1511 BENTON CITY, WA MAY 20-22
NRA Endorsed Prescription Plan (888) 436-3700 NRA AFFILIATED CLUBS 800-NRA-CLUB
NRA Endorsed Check Program (888) 331-6767 SILHOUETTE
NRA VISA Card (866) NRA-VISA RANGE SERVICES 877-672-7264
COMPETITIVE SHOOTING 877-672-6282 SHERWOOD, OR MAY 7
NRA Real Estate/Relocation Services (800) 593-2526 MISSOULA, MT MAY 7
NRA Endorsed Moving Program LAW ENFORCEMENT 703-267-1640
North American Van Lines (800) 524-5533 FRIENDS OF NRA 703-267-1342 SNOHOMISH, WA MAY 15
Allied Van Lines (800) 871-8864 NRA MUSEUMS/ LANDER, WY MAY 15
GUN COLLECTOR PROGRAMS 703-267-1600 BLACKFOOT, ID MAY 21
INSTITUTE FOR LEGISLATIVE ACTION SHOWS & EXHIBITS 866-343-1805 PE ELL, WA MAY 22
Grassroots/Legislative Hotline (800) 392-8683 MEDIA RELATIONS 703-267-1595
For more information, contact Shelly Kramer
The NRA Regional Report, a service for NRA members, appears in every issue of American Rifleman, American Hunter and at (703) 267-1459 or mkramer@nrahq.org. For a complete
Americas 1st Freedom. The Regional Report is an up-to-date listing of NRA conducted and/or sponsored events scheduled listing, see shootingsportsusa.com.
in your region for the current month. Call to verify event dates and locations before traveling.

110 MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

 LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING gunshows
P ublic and private officers interested in
becoming firearm instructors should
attend one of NRAs Law Enforcement
Crime Prevention
T he NRAs Refuse To Be A Victim
program provides men and women
MAY 6-8 CASPER, WY
Central Wyoming Fairgrounds, Up In Arms Gun
Shows (208) 241-4005

Firearms Instructor Development Schools, with crime prevention and personal

MAY 7 SANDPOINT, ID
designed to enhance the instructors safety strategies. To learn more about the VFW Hall, VFW 10320 (208) 610-8165
firearm knowledge and handling skills, program, visit refuse.nra.org. The most
as well as prepare them to develop up-to-date schedule is available on the MAY 7-8 TACOMA, WA
effective training programs, instruct Internet at nrainstructors.org, by email Marymount Event Center, Big Top Promotions
in a professional manner, and conduct at refuse@nrahq.org or by phone at (253) 228-1648
practical training exercises.Restricted to (800) 861-1166.
MAY 7-8 YAKIMA, WA
law enforcement officers only. Central Washington State Fairgrounds, Sports
MAY 21COLVILLE, WA Connection (406) 633-2206
MAY 2-6RICHLAND, WA (Seminar)
(Handgun) Nancy Hockley (509) 935-6224
MAY 14 VANCOUVER, WA
MAY 9-13RICHLAND, WA Clark County Square Dance Center, Arms
(Patrol Rifle) MAYONLINE Collectors of Southwest Washington
(Instructor Development Workshop) (360) 263-7511
Contact Mary Shine at mshine@nrahq.org
or (703) 267-1628. Visit nraonlinetraining.org for more MAY 14-15 RIDGEFIELD, WA
information. Clark County Event Center, Big Top Promotions
Police Competition (253) 228-1648

N RA Police Pistol Combat competition

is intended to be used as an extension MAY 14-15 EUGENE, OR
Lane County Fairgrounds, Collectors West Gun &
of an officers training. See PPC Rulebook
(Rule 2.4) for eligibility requirements.
STATE ASSOCIATIONS Knife Shows (800) 659-3440

MAY 7RICHLAND, WA
(Approved) F or more information about your
state association, contact your state
association listed here, or log on to
MAY 21-22 COEUR DALENE, ID
Kootenai County Fairgrounds, Sports Connection
(406) 633-9333
MAY 14ALBUQUERQUE, NM
clubs.nra.org.
(Registered) MAY 21-22 PORTLAND, OR
Portland Metropolitan Exposition Center, Wes
MAY 21ARLINGTON, WA Alaska Outdoor Council Inc. Knodel Gun Shows (503) 363-9564
(Approved) alaskaoutdoorcouncil.org
MAY 21-22 BREMERTON, WA
Contact Tiffany King at tking@nrahq.org Kitsap County Fairgrounds, Falcon Gun Shows
or (703) 267-1621. Hawaii Rifle Assn. (360) 202-7336
hawaiirifleassociation.org
MAY 21-22 CENTRALIA, WA
Idaho State Rifle & Pistol Assn. Southwest Washington Fairgrounds, Wes Knodel
idahosrpa.org Gun Shows (503) 363-9564

Minnesota Rifle & Revolver Assn. Inc. MAY 21-22 PUYALLUP, WA

mrra.org Western Washington Fairgrounds, Washington
Arms Collectors (425) 255-8410
Montana Rifle & Pistol Assn.
mtrpa.org MAY 21-22 MOOSE LAKE, MN
Riverside Arena, AC Expos (218) 290-0274

North Dakota Shooting Sports Assn.

MAY 22 PORTLAND, OR
ndssa.org Jackson Armory, Oregon Arms Collectors
ggdavid56@comcast.net
Oregon State Shooting Assn.
ossa.org MAY 28-29 YAKIMA, WA
Yakima Convention Center, Big Top Promotions
South Dakota Shooting Sports Assn. (253) 228-1648
sdshootingsports.org

Washington State Rifle & Pistol Assn. Inc. Dates and locations subject to changecontact the show
wsrpa.org before traveling. Discounted NRA membership
sold through NRA recruiters. *Some shows may offer free
admission for new membership and renewals.
Wyoming State Shooting Assn. Inc. To become an NRA Recruiter call (703) 267-3784.
wyossa.com

AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG MAY 2016 111

OFFICIAL JOURNAL
programs & services Toby Keith is
F
rom his first No. 1 smash
In Memoriam: Shouldve Been A Cowboy to
Joseph Clark White Jr. his new album 35 mph Town,, Toby
Keith has been one of the most consis-

J
oseph Joe Clark White Jr., a former member tent, self-directed hit makers of his era. At the core of Tobys unparalleled
of the NRA Board of Directors and a high-level success is his songwriting, which has powered an astounding succession
pistol shooter, passed away in Rock Hill, S.C., on of hit songs to the tune of more than 87 million Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI)
Feb. 14. He was 95. performances on commercial radio stations worldwide. His albums have
White led an accomplished professional life, sold more than 40 million copies.
with successes in the military, the civil service His tours have drawn more than one
and as a real estate agent. million fans each year for the last
After serving in World War decade. But Tobys most reward-
IIfirst as an infantryman, ing experiences, as exhibited in his
then as a pilot in the Army continual devotion to them, come
Air CorpsWhite joined from giving back. Whether its help-
the U.S. Border Patrol, ing sick children and their families
serving until retirement in in his native Oklahoma through the
1974. Then he turned his Toby Keith Foundation and its cost-
attention to his long-time free homethe OK Kids Korralor
interest of real estate. supporting U.S. troops by singing in
In the late 1970s, White 11 USO Tours throughout the world,
started working for the Keith has never lost touch with the
NRA, serving as an execu- most important things in life. The
tive assistant and deputy Made In America superstar will per-
executive vice president under the associations form on Saturday, May 21, 2016, at
then-President Harlon Carter. He was later nominated the KFC Yum! Center in downtown
to the Board, where he served on the Competition Louisville, Ky., as part of NRAs 145th
Rules and Programs, Clubs and Associations, Pistol, Annual Meetings & Exhibits.
Elections and Protest committees during his term. We are thrilled to have Toby
White racked up a number of achievements on Keith join us for this key event at
the pistol range. As a member of the U.S. Border Annual Meeting, said NRA Coun-
Patrol Pistol Team, he demonstrated mastery of .22-, trys Vanessa Shahidi. With songs
.38- and .45-cal. handguns by placing second in the like Courtesy of the Red, White,
National Pistol Individual Championship in 1954, and Blue and American Soldier,
finishing just 15 points behind the winner, Camp and all of the work he has done

Photo by Richard McLaren

Perry legend Lt. Harry Reeves. He also placed second
the next year. He went on to win the Senior Pistol
Championship six times (five years in a row, from
1984-1988, then again in 1990). He was named the
Maryland Resident Pistol Champion for nine years
in a row, starting in 1982. And the U.S. Border Patrol
teams that he participated on over the years won five
team matches at the national championships.
with USO Tours, he definitely relates to his fans and our members. It is
going to be a great show!
NRA Country is a lifestyle and a bond between the country music
community and hard-working Americans everywhere. Its powered
by pride, freedom, love of country, respect for the military, and the
responsibilities of protecting the great American life. For more infor-
mation visit nracountry.com, follow on Twitter @NRACountry, and
NRA_Country on Instagram.

NRA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Joe M. Allbaugh, Texas; William H. Allen, Tennessee; Thomas P. Arvas, New Mexico; Scott L. Bach, New Jersey; William A. Bachenberg, Pennsylvania; Frank E. Bachhuber, Jr.,
Wisconsin; M. Carol Bambery, Michigan; Bob Barr, Georgia; Ronnie G. Barrett, Tennessee; Clel Baudler, Iowa; David E. Bennett III, New Mexico; J. Kenneth Blackwell,
Ohio; Matt Blunt, Virginia; Dan Boren, Oklahoma; Robert K. Brown, Colorado; Pete R. Brownell, Iowa; Dave Butz, Illinois; J. William Carter, Kentucky; Ted W. Carter,
Florida; Richard R. Childress, North Carolina; Patricia A. Clark, Connecticut; Allan D. Cors, Virginia; Charles L. Cotton, Texas; David G. Coy, Michigan; Larry E. Craig,
Idaho; John L. Cushman, New York, William H. Dailey, New Mexico; Joseph P. Debergalis, Jr., New York; R. Lee Ermey, California; Edie P. Fleeman, North Carolina;
Joel Friedman, California; Sandra S. Froman, Arizona; James S. Gilmore III, Virginia; Marion P. Hammer, Florida; Maria Heil, Pennsylvania; Graham Hill, Virginia;
Steve Hornady, Nebraska; Susan Howard, Texas; Roy Innis, Nevada; H. Joaquin Jackson, Texas; Curtis S. Jenkins, Georgia; David A. Keene, Maryland; Tom King, New
York; Timothy Knight, Tennessee; Herbert A. Lanford, Jr., South Carolina; Karl A. Malone, Louisiana; Sean Maloney, Ohio; Carolyn D. Meadows, Georgia; Bill Miller,
West Virginia; Owen Buz Mills, Arizona; Grover G. Norquist, Washington, D.C.; Oliver L. North, Virginia; Robert Nosler, Oregon; Johnny Nugent, Indiana; Ted Nugent,
Texas; Lance Olson, Iowa; James W. Porter II, Alabama; Josh Powell, Michigan; Peter J. Printz, Montana; Todd J. Rathner, Arizona; Wayne Anthony Ross, Alaska; Carl T. Rowan,
Jr., Virginia; Don Saba, Arizona; Robert E. Sanders, North Carolina; William H. Satterfield, Alabama; Mercedes Schlapp, Virginia; Ronald L. Schmeits, New Mexico;
Steven C. Schreiner, Colorado; Tom Selleck, California; John C. Sigler, Delaware; Leroy Sisco, Texas; Dwight D. Van Horn, Idaho; Linda L. Walker, Ohio; Howard J. Walter,
North Carolina; Robert J. Wos, Florida; Donald E. Young, Alaska.
Communications intended for any member of the NRA Board of Directors should be addressed to: (Name of Board member), NRA Office of the Secretary, 11250
Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030; or nrabod@nrahq.org; or (703)267-1021. Please include your name, contact information and NRA membership I.D. number,
as only communications from NRA members will be forwarded.

112 MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

 ADVERTISEMENT

My friends all hate their

M ith

G bl r L K.
D es
in W

et e
w
nt o

ou fo TAL
ct

ut E
Co N
ra
cell phones I love mine! FRE

ife
E
Car
Heres why. Charg
er

Say good-bye to everything you hate about cell phones. Say hello to Jitterbug5.
Cell phones have gotten so small, I Monthly Plan $14.99 $19.99
can barely dial mine. Not Monthly Minutes was 50 NOW 200 was 200 NOW 600
Jitterbug, it features a larger keypad
Operator Assistance 24/7 24/7
for easier dialing. It even has an
Long Distance Calls No addl charge No addl charge
oversized display so you can actually
see it. Voice Dial FREE FREE

Nationwide Coverage YES YES

I had to get my son to program
it. Your Jitterbug set-up process is
simple. Well even pre-program it with
your favorite numbers.
I tried my sisters cell phone
I couldnt hear it. Jitterbug is
designed with a powerful speaker.
Theres an adjustable volume control,
and Jitterbug is hearing-aid compatible.
I dont need stock quotes, Internet
sites or games on my phone, I just
want to talk with my family and
friends. Life is complicated enough
Jitterbug is simple.
What if I dont remember a number?
Friendly, helpful Jitterbug operators are
available 24 hours a day and will even
greet you by name when you call.
Id like a cell phone to use in an
emergency, but I dont want a high
monthly bill. Jitterbug has a plan to
fit your needs and your budget.
Friendly Return Policy 1 30 days
30 days
More minute plans available. Ask your Jitterbug expert for details.
My cell phone company wants to lock me in on a
two-year contract! Not Jitterbug, theres no contract
to sign and no penalty if you discontinue your service.
My phones battery only lasts
a couple of days. Unlike
most cell phones that need to
be recharged every day, the
Jitterbug was designed with one
of the longest-lasting batteries
on the market, so you wont
have to worry about running
out of power.
Enough talk. Isnt it time
you found out more about the
cell phone thats changing all
the rules? Call now, Jitterbug
product experts are standing by.
Available in
Blue and Red.

Order now and receive a Jitterbug5 Cell Phone

Call toll free today to get your own Jitterbug5.
FREE Car Charger for your Jitterbug
Please mention promotional code 103038.
a $25 value. Call now!
1-888-676-0512
www.jitterbugdirect.com
We proudly accept the following credit cards.
47644

IMPORTANT CONSUMER INFORMATION: WE TALK offer valid on 400 minute plan and applies to new GreatCall customers only. Offer valid until plan is changed or cancelled. Jitterbug is owned by
GreatCall, Inc.Your invoices will come from GreatCall. All rate plans and services require the purchase of a Jitterbug phone and a one-time set up fee of $35. Coverage and service is not available everywhere.
Other charges and restrictions may apply. Screen images simulated.There are no additional fees to call GreatCalls U.S. Based Customer Service. However, for calls to an Operator in which a service is completed,
minutes will be deducted from your monthly balance equal to the length of the call and any call connected by the Operator, plus an additional 5 minutes. Monthly minutes carry over and are available for 60
days. If you exceed the minute balance on your account, you will be billed at 35 for each minute used over the balance. Monthly rate plans do not include government taxes or assessment surcharges. Prices
and fees subject to change. We will refund the full price of the GreatCall phone and the activation fee (or set-up fee) if it is returned within 30 days of purchase in like-new condition. We will also refund your
first monthly service charge if you have less than 30 minutes of usage. If you have more than 30 minutes of usage, a per minute charge of 35 cents will be deducted from your refund for each minute over 30
minutes.You will be charged a $10 restocking fee. The shipping charges are not refundable. Jitterbug and GreatCall are registered trademarks of GreatCall, Inc. Samsung is a registered trademark of Samsung
Electronics Co., Ltd. 2016 Samsung Electronics America, LLC. 2016 GreatCall, Inc. 2016 firstSTREET for Boomers and Beyond, Inc.
 A Settlement has
been Proposed in a
Class Action Lawsuit that
Alleges Safety Defects in
Taurus Pistols
PLEASE READ
Important Information
Concerning Your Options
Para una notificacin en Espaol, visitar
www.TaurusCarterSettlement.com
WHATS THIS ABOUT?
A class action settlement of a lawsuit alleging
safety defects in certain Taurus pistols has
been proposed. The lawsuit claims Class
Pistols may unintentionally fire with the
safety in the on or safe position, and may
unintentionally fire when dropped or bumped.
Taurus denies all allegations of wrongdoing
and liability.
WHOS INCLUDED?
You may be a Class Member if you are a resident
or entity of the U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin
Islands, or Guam and own at least one Class
Pistol (these include PT, Millennium, and
24/7 models; see the website for a complete
listing) on July 30, 2015. The settlement
doesnt include Taurus G2 model pistols.
WHAT ARE THE
SETTLEMENT BENEFITS?
Taurus will provide a free, transferable
lifetime enhanced warranty benefit.
Taurus will pay shipping and inspection
costs and repair or replace the pistol, with
no requirement that the owner prove the
alleged safety defects. No repair is currently
available, so pistols returned under this
option will be replaced with a comparable
Taurus G2 (or similar) model pistol at this
time. You can receive a replacement only
if applicable law permits the shipping of a
replacement pistol to your state (visit the
website for details). If Taurus develops a
repair, it can repair rather than replace
Class Pistols. Taurus will also provide
safety training videos to all Settlement
Class Members.
Settlement Class Members who want a
cash payment may return their Class Pistol
to Taurus (with shipping paid by Taurus).
They will receive up to $200 per pistol,
depending on the total number returned.
Total cash payments will not exceed
$30 million. If the Court approves the
settlement and there are no appeals, the
claims period for cash payments will run
from approximately August 22, 2016 until
December 20, 2016.
WHAT ARE YOUR OTHER OPTIONS?
You can opt-out or object to the settlement,
but must do so by May 18, 2016. If you do not
opt-out, you release Taurus from liability for
alleged design or manufacturing defects
that may result in an unintended discharge.
If you opt-out, you will not get a benefit from
this settlement.
The Court will hold a continued Final Approval
hearing on July 18, 2016, to consider whether
to approve the settlement.
This is a Supplemental Summary authorized
by the Court. For detailed information, visit
the website, call 1-844-528-0180, or write to
Taurus Class Action, c/o Heffler Claims Group,
P.O. Box 230, Philadelphia, PA 19107-0230.
www.TaurusCarterSettlement.com
114
INLAND
continued from p. 106
but 4-minute-of-angle accuracy is a more-than-fair approximation of what the
World War II rifles were capable of. Citing precision-bored barrels, more consistent
bedding of the actions to the stocks and tighter tolerances throughout the guns,
Inland claims its new-production rifles are considerably more accurate than the
originalswith some samples purported to even manage 1- to 2-m.o.a. groups
at 100 yds. While the accuracy testing we conducted with a factory-supplied M1
1945 did not approach those levels of precision, our results were certainly an
improvement compared to what could be expected from the average 70-year-old
war remnant. Initially we did experience a number of stoppages, however, they
were quickly diagnosed as being magazine-induced, and we encountered no fur-
ther issues after swapping out magazines.
In addition to the reasons listed above, since opening shop, Norton has
discovered another, unforeseen yet welcome, factor contributing to the modern-
day popularity of the M1 carbineits frequent inclusion in video games. With
countless combat-themed video games available on the market, he said it is not
at all uncommon for him to encounter a young person who is obviously well-
acquainted with the M1 carbine platform, but who will confess to him that he
or she has never gotten to actually handle a real one.
It is because of this unflagging popularity across a broad range of demo-
graphics, however, that prices of original M1 carbines have continued to rise.
While well-worn, more commonly produced examples could be had at gun shows
as recently as five years ago for as little as $500, today these same models tend
to start in the $800 range and go up from thereand may still be of dubious
shootability. Meanwhile, superb-condition carbines in desirable configurations,
such as the M1A1, can fetch premium price tags approaching $4,000. In a mar-
ket such as this, opting instead to purchase a new-production Inland carbine,
none of which retail for more than $1,200, makes a lot of sense.
After having the opportunity to extensively handle and fire several new-
production Inland M1 carbines, it is apparent to me that the workers producing
them have a thorough understanding of, and deep appreciation for, both the
rifles design and the enduring legacy of the original companyand thats exactly
the kind of people I want to have reproducing such a historically vital gun.
Inland M1911s?
T
he Inland Division of
General Motors never
got into the business
of producing M1911s during
World War II to assist in the
war effort, although the company actually did
produce a concept M1911 made from metal stamp-
ings during the war. But the pistol was never put into
production due to it being larger and heavier than the
standard M1911A1. The new Inland (Inland Mfg., LLC),
however, offers two models for fans of John Moses Brownings masterpiece. Both
guns are chambered in .45 ACP and are 100 percent made in America, featuring 5"
barrels and feeding from seven-round, detachable-box magazines.
Inland founder Ron Norton calls his companys M1911 A1 Government the
M1911 that Inland could have built. An accurate reproduction of the World War
II-era pistol, the A1 Government (MSRP $749) wears a Parkerized finish and has
an empty weight of 39 ozs. Meanwhile, the M1911 Custom Carry (MSRP $995)
sports a stainless steel finish and features numerous modern refinements to the
M1911 platformincluding Novak-style sights, an extended beavertail, skeleton-
ized hammer and trigger, front cocking serrations, and texturing on the frontstrap
and mainspring housing. Inland offers Custom Shop options to its line of M1911 pis-
tols, and also plans to introduce new handgun models to its line in the future.
MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
 N A T I O N A L R I F L E A S S O C I A T I O N of A M E R I C A

With the Stroke of a

Pen, You Can Defend
Freedom Forever
NRA CAN SHOW YOU HOW

Championing the causes you cherish through a carefully

designed estate strategy could take months of planning and
costly legal legwork.
Now, NRA can help you knock this task and the costs
down to size with our 2016 NRA Member Planned Giving Guide. ACT NOW!
NRAs Creating a Constitutionally Centered Will lays out tips
and strategies that help you maximize charitable gifts while Request Your
minimizing estate taxes and meeting your long-term financial Complimentary Guide
goals. Today
Written by experts in the field, in easy-to-read, no-nonsense Call: 1-877-672-4483
language, this guide is the one tool to craft the estate Email: PlannedGiving@NRAHQ.org
strategy thats right for you. Web: www.NRAPlannedGiving.org
REVENANT
continued from p. 81

It was about the rifle. It was always about the rifle. Every
single 19th and 20th century retelling of the Glass saga cites
the recovery of his rifle as his prime motivation.
Glass lived another 10 years, trapping and trading from St.
Louis, to Taos, to Santa Fe, and in 1833 he found himself back
where his journey had begun in 1823, along the banks of the
Grand River in northwest South Dakota. He was back in the
land of the Arikaras. This time his luck failed to hold out for
him. He and two other trappers were set upon by 30 natives
while they attempted to cross a frozen river. Glass and his
trapping companions were all killed.
But the story of Glass gun does not end with his death.
A short while later the Arikaras responsible for Glass death
appeared at the camp of other trappers and feigned to be
friendly Mandans. Their deceit wasrevealed when one of the
men, Johnson Gardner, recognized Glass rifle. It had to be
a unique beauty, as Fitzgerald had clung to it for 10 months
while he thought Glass had been turned into worm food.
Gardner, too, saw the rifle for what it was, a rare and unique
specimen of Pennsylvania craftsmanship. Once he realized
the faux Mandans could only have killed Glass to possess it,
he set upon them with a vengeance, killing them all.
So in the end, it was Glass rifle that bought him 10
years of extra life, and it also avenged him after it had
ceased to be of earthly use to him.

Screenwriter Mark L. Smith, who shares the credit for the

screenplay with Alejandro Irritu, explained in an online
interview how the effort to reclaim his rifle was dropped as
Glass motivation for survival: In my earlier drafts before
Alejandro came on, my father-son stuff was different. My
story was that the son had died previous to the journey, that
he had been sick while he was young. You open with these
scenes of Glass and son, carving a star in a hunting rifle
the stock of a hunting rifle. While theyre carving the star,
the son is coughing and you know hes dying. The son pricks
his finger and blood falls into the star on the rifle, and then
you flash forward and were right where we are with the
attack. Glass is still holding the rifle, but its very worn and
you can still see the star on the stock of the rifle.
When Fitzgerald and Jim Bridger leave him, in
my earlier drafts, Fitzgerald took the rifle. All Glass
wanted to do was hold his rifle, so hes gripping his
rifle, because it means so much to him. Glass journey
was less about revenge, more about getting his rifle
backwhich is almost like his son. It was almost a kid-
napping story at that point. I didnt like the revenge
thing, so I didnt go that route. Then Alejandro came
in and added the son, because he thought it could be
really powerful, and [since] hes half-Native American
the racism angle could come in and you could show the
cultures and how they blended together. (Interview:
The Revenant Screenwriter Mark L. Smith Explores
Love and Fear. Posted on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016 by Jack
Giroux slashfilm.com)
So now the story of Hugh Glass has been told once
more. The liberties taken with the real history are almost
unforgivable, but not unexpected. At least Man in the
Wilderness (1971) had the decency to call Richard Harris
character Zachary Bass instead of Hugh Glass, saving the
memory of the hero from further indignation as the writers
and director played fast and loose with the facts.
The Revenant is an amazing film otherwise. It is
visually stunning, so much so it notched the Oscar for
best cinematography. DiCaprio turned in an Oscar-winning
performance. Alejandro Irritu earned an Oscar for
directing, but for what he did with the storyline and Mark
L. Smiths original screenplay, he should be locked up by
the History Police.

116 MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN Images courtesy of 20th Century Fox
 MINI SCABBARD

MARKETPLACE
Conceived for Men, but Women Love it Too!

Visit us @ NRA booth #5601 MSRP

$
6199
Premium cowhide
Detailed molding
Adjustable tension device
Style 019
800-GUNHIDE 631-841-6300
Dept. #AR46
431 Bayview Avenue, Amityville, NY 11701
www.desantisholster.com

NAVY ARMS

TO ADVERTISE IN THIS SECTION CALL 703-267-1300

THE FINEST REPLICAS

A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE FULL LINE OF

TO SUPPORT OUR TROOPS! NAVY ARMS PRODUCTS , GO TO
Donate Online Now
to Socks for Heroes WWW.NAVYARMS.COM
We asked our troops
what they needed
most, and they answered,
SOCKS! Your donation will be
used to purchase socks and
ship them to our brave
American Heroes
in harms way.

scmsg.org
AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG MAY 2016 117
 Over 600,000 Customers
Served Since 1998
MARKETPLACE

FDA-approved medications
from USA Pharmacies
Licensed USA Telemedicine
Physician Network
Call 7 days per week

HABLAMOS ESPAOL
CALL TOLL
TO ADVERTISE IN THIS SECTION CALL 703-267-1300

JOHN WAYNE DUKE

Single Action Historic Revolver
800-551-0464
FREE

Visit Viamedic.com/AR
for special offers

AGI

PA .177 cal. BB & pellet versions

pyramydair.com/duke 877 - 336 - 4867

Iver Johnson Arms MSRP: $865

10mm
Phone: (321) 636-3377 Eagle XL 6 1911

www.iverjohnsonarms.com NEW!

CARBINE UPPERS

Rugged Aperture Sights

10/22, Marlin 60 & 795,
Mini-14, SKS, AK 47,
Kel-Tec SU16 and more.

(843)332-8222
www.Tech-SIGHTS.com

118 MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN

 .270 WINCHESTER
2016 $1 Silver American Eagles IRA
Approved
As low as
$
2 75 each
over spot price*
(check/wire price)
FREE Shipping & Insurance
for the First 100 Orders ($5 Value)
continued from p. 100

1 oz. of .999 Fine Silver

Guaranteed & Backed .270s are plenty accurate for any and asked to. And since it hasnt been
by the U.S. Government all hunting purposes, but thats the asked, the bullet choices to make it
Gem Brilliant Uncirculated
Ask about Limit 5 per household
point: For 91 years the .270 has been a contender dont exist. Sierra has a
Quantity Pricing Price subject to change Availability not guaranteed considered primarily a hunting car- 135-gr. .277 MatchKing, but it has
Shop
Online
1.800 .822.4653
Vault Verification: Offer Expires:
tridge. It is almost never considered a never sold well. Berger, with perhaps
UAMRFRS0516 05/28/16 tack-driving winner of matches. From the most extensive line of match-grade
Beaumont, Tx *Spot Price: the daily quoted market price of precious
metals in bullion form, determined by Universal Coin
my standpoint, thats odd. Over the bullets, offers three VLD hunting bul-
& Bullion at time of transaction. Please read
important customer disclosures on our website or years Ive shot a lot of very good groups lets in .277, but no match bullets. In
that accompany products purchased, including
arbitration agreement. Image is not to scale. with several .270s, and have found the field, however, the .270 will accom-
most to be not only fairly accurate, but plish any reasonable task it is asked to
also quite tolerant, and not too finicky perform at any reasonable range.
ANNEAL-RITE FROM
$98.00
about loads. But heres reality: Very
few match-grade bullets, and almost
OConnor was in his prime when the
.264 Win. Mag. burst onto the scene in
Money Back Guarantee
See 8 min. video at no match-grade ammunition, have 1958. He damned it with faint praise,
www.cartridgeanneal.com
ever been produced in .270. Likewise, saying that it wouldnt do anything
ENTERPRISE SERVICES, LLC very few match-grade .270 Win. rifles his .270 wouldnt do. I have a soft spot
R0516 = $10 Disc. EXP. 6-1-16 479-629-5566
have ever been made. For a short time for the unloved .264, but, from the
Winchester offered its Model 70 Target standpoint of experience with both
in .270, but orders were so sparse they cartridges, I must admit that OConnor
MAC COBRAY SWD MPA RPB
We Have a Complete IN STOCK Selection of dropped the chambering. As gunwriter was right. He said pretty much the
Parts Barrels Magazines Accessories Jim Carmichel (who succeeded OConnor same thing when the 7 mm Rem. Mag.
* AR15 / M 16 * as shooting editor of Outdoor Life) came out in 1962. Remembering that
* Book s * D V D s *
* AK -47 * I ntratec *
* K nives * T ools *
recounted, Tim McCormack, long-time very slight 0.007" difference, and again
* & M uch M ore! * head of Remingtons Custom Shop, having a lot of experience with both
www.FTFINDUSTRIES.com doesnt recall getting a single order for a cartridges, I have to agree that, once
Model 40-XB in .270 Winchester. again, OConnor had it right.
The .30-cal. was once the darling This is the stuff campfire discus-
of the long-range accuracy crowd and sions are made of, and we can argue
it remains Americas most popular endlessly that the 6.5 mms greater
Professional Gunsmith Training since 1949 rifle bullet diameter. Nonetheless, sectional density and higher ballistic
812A Ohio River Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15202 while the 6.5 mm has never achieved coefficient prevail or that the heavier
(412) 766-1812 www.pagunsmith.edu general popularity in this country, a bullets available in 7 mm are game-
www.pagunsmith.edu/documents/FactsAboutPGS.pdf lot of 1,000-yd. shooters turned from changers. At the 1,000-yd. line with
.30-calibers to efficient 6.5s such as the best match loads, maybe. In the
the 6.5-.284 Norma and the 6.5 mm field, within normal ranges, the differ-
Creedmoor. They remain supersonic ences are hair-splitting. Both the 6.5
beyond 1,000 yds., but are a lot easier mm and the 7 mm are great calibers,
to shoot than the heavier .30s. For but the .270 will git er done just like
the same reasons, various 7 mms have it has for more than 90 years.
some popularity with the long-range
group. Of course many hunters love the
7 mm, and Lord knows there are plenty
of 7 mm cartridges to choose from. The
Fr ee ! .270 remains almost entirely a hunters
Real Estate Catalog caliber, and the .270 Win. remains the
Listings of all Types from the
Heart of the Ozarks leading most traditional choice. It doesnt win
Real Estate Firms long-range matches, not because it
1- 800- 591- 4047 couldnt, but because its never been
www.onlineoml.com
When the .264 Win. Mag. (l.) came out
in 1958 and Remingtons 7 mm Rem.
Mag., (r.) followed in 1962, the best
OConnor could say about them was that
they wouldnt do much of anything his
.270 Win. (center) couldnt do. This is the
stuff campfire arguments are made of, but
OConnor was at least close to the mark.

Photo by author AMERICANRIFLEMAN.ORG MAY 2016 119

I HAVE THIS OLD GUN

JAPANESE
TYPE 26 REVOLVER
GUN: TYPE 26
MANUFACTURER: TOKYO ARTILLERY ARSENAL
CALIBER: 9X22 MM
CONDITION: NRA EXCELLENT (ANTIQUE GUN STANDARDS)
MANUFACTURED: CIRCA 1900
VALUE: $800

Not wanting to be reliant upon well-configured with checkered beech

foreigners for their armament, the
Japanese embarked upon a program
whereby they would design and
build their own arms. In 1880 they
introduced their first infantry rifle,
the Type 13 Murata. It was followed
in short order by the improved Type
or, later, Philippine mahogany panels.
Much smaller than the Smith & Wesson
Russian, the Type 26 measured only
9.09" overall and had a 4" barrel, and
the quality of manufacture was excellent.
The finish was bright blue and sights
consisted of a simple groove in the top-

T
here are few more remarkable
national stories than that of
Japan during the latter part of
the 19th century. Between 1853, when
Commodore Perry first steamed into
Uraga Harbor in his four black dragons
spitting fire, and the Russo-Japanese
War of 1905 in which Japanese forces
humiliated those of the czar, the
country moved from a feudal nation to
a modern, industrialized society.
Things martial received top prior-
ity. When Perry arrived, the shoguns
forces were armed with matchlocks,
but in a scant half-century had pro-
gressed to state-of-the-art repeaters
though with a decidedly Asian twist.
Their interest was piqued by Perrys
gift of Maynard and Hall rifles, Army
pistols (probably single-shot, percus-
sion Model 1842s, and several models
of Colt revolvers on his second voyage
in 1854, the Japanese military subse-
quently investigated and adopted a pot-
pourri of Western arms. They included
Pattern 1853 Enfields, Spencer and
Henry repeaters, Martini-Henrys, Dreyse
Needle Guns and Remington Rolling
Blocks, to name a few.
In the handgun department, the
Japanese were particularly taken by the
wares of Smith & Wesson, ultimately
officially adopting several different mod-
els of the superb S&W Russian revolver.
120
16 and Type 18, and in 1889 by the
Type 22 smallbore repeater. While of
indigenous manufacture and design,
all of these arms manifested some
European influences.
Handguns, relegated slightly to the
back burner, were not forgotten and, in
1893, the emperors armorers unveiled
an indigenous revolverthe Type 26,
so-named because it premiered in the
26th year of the Meiji emperors reign.
Manufactured at the Tokyo
Artillery Arsenal (Koishikawa, Tokyo)
beginning in 1894, it was, to put it
politelyquite interesting looking.
Double-action-only and chambered for
a unique 9 mm rimmed blackpowder
cartridge, the six-shooter borrowed
major features from various American
and European handguns. Like the
Smith & Wessons, it was a top-break
with simultaneous ejection. The
mechanism was reminiscent of those
of the Austrian Rast & Gasser and
British Webley Mark I revolvers, and it
had a swing-open gate on the frame,
similar to those of the French Model
1873 and 1892 revolvers, that allowed
easy servicing and lubrication. The
combination of features lent the gun
a very distinctive appearance.
Being double-action-only, the
Type 26s block-like hammer had no
spur. The stocks were diminutive but
MAY 2016 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN
strap and a rounded-blade front pinned
into a grooved base at the muzzle.
Though serviceable, the gun had
one serious drawbackthe cylinder
locked only when the trigger was
pulled. Otherwise it free-wheeled,
which meant that if the shooter fired
only some of the guns rounds and
then replaced it in the clamshell hol-
ster, it would be possible to inadver-
tently turn the cylinder so the ham-
mer would fall on a spent casenot a
great feature in the heat of battle.
Though ultimately replaced by the
superior Nambu semi-automatic pistol,
the Type 26 remained in Japanese service
in primary and secondary roles through
the Second World War. Production ceased
in 1935, and a number of Type 26s were
also arsenal-refurbished. Those guns may
be recognized by their duller blue finish
and grooved stocks.
The Type 26 shown here is in excel-
lent condition both physically and
mechanically. Though there are no serial
number records, knowing that more
than 59,000 were made, and given this
revolvers 7000-range serial number, we
can guess it was turned out about 1900.
Though interesting, Type 26s are
not particularly desirable among
collectors. As such, a revolver in this
condition would be worth $800.
GARRY JAMES
 2016 Trijicon, Inc Wixom, MI 1.800.338.0563 MADE IN THE USA

THE NEXT{BRILLIANT} THING.

Introducing the Trijicon MRO TM
(Miniature Rifle Optic)
Engineered to give you the latest advancements in micro optics technology.

7075 Aluminum Ambidextrous Illumination Knob

Forged Housing shooting hand
virtually indestructable never leaves fire control
Intuitive Optical Design
reduced tunnel vision Sub-flush Adjusters
or tube effect prevents accidental
adjustment

RIOR FEATURE
SUPE S

OB
KN
E NT
TM
US
ADJ
ILLUMIN ATION

44%LARGER
2.6 OBJECTIVE LENS
FOR INCREASED
SITUATIONAL
AWARENESS

Find out more at www.trijicon.com T H E S C I E N C E o f B R I L L I A N T.

Kimber Two-Tone II and Stainless II
The new look for an iconic foundation.

The sophisticated two-

tone slide and frame finish
features brush-polished flats
on slide and is accented by
rosewood grips. Offered in
45 ACP and 9mm.

The Stainless II family offers

models in stainless steel
and aluminum construction.
Kimber logo rosewood grips
complete the classic look
on all Stainless II models.
Available in three sizes
and in .45 ACP and
9mm.

Transforming our foundation, the 2016 Kimber

Two-Tone II and Stainless II families have the custom
features that promote intuitive operation and
absolute dependability. As with all Kimber pistols,
each part is manufactured to the tightest tolerances
and fit together by hand. Three sizes and 2 calibers
are available in each family; the Ultra Carry II,
pictured here, features a 3-inch barrel and weighs
in at 25 ounces.

TM
(888) 243-4522
MADE IN A MERIC A WHAT ALL GUNS SHOULD BE kimberamerica.com

2016, Kimber Mfg., Inc. All rights reserved. Information and specifications are for reference only and subject to change without notice.