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FEBRUARY 2020 | VOLUME 64, NUMBER 2 | PUBLISHED MONTHLY

CONTENTS

Guns & Ammo’s

subscriber cover

spotlights Ed

Brown’s new

commemorative

Model 1911

to honor Jeff

Cooper’s legacy.

p. 46

BY KEITH WOOD

STILL

EZ

SMITH & WESSON’S M&P9

SHIELD EZ IS NOW IN A

CALIBER MOST OF US WANT.

PHOTOS: NEWSSTAND AND SUBSCRIBER COVERS AND LEFT, MARK FINGAR

48

ANOTHER STEEL FIST

Ed Brown commemorates

Jeff Cooper — again.

54

CARRY LARGE EVERYDAY

Wilson Combat gives us a long

slide with the new EDC X9L.

60

DAD’S LUGER

A long-lost pistol tells a tale

of war and friendship.

68

THE 6.5 PRC MAGNUM

Barnes Bullets takes the 6.5

PRC into elk-capable territory.

by eric r. poole

by keith wood

by dave emary

by joseph von benedikt

Reader Blowback 9

Editorial by Eric R. Poole 13

Gun Room by Garry James 15

Handgunning by Jeremy Stafford 21

The Carry Rig Blackhawk 3-Slot Leather Pancake 25

Gun Tech by Richard Nance 29

Rifles & Glass by Tom Beckstrand 31

Bullet Board by Dave Emary 37

Proofhouse CZ 1012 Bronze 12 ga. 74

Spent Cases by Keith Wood 80

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Please include your city and state of residence. Letters may be edited for brevity and clarity.

February 2020 G&A 9

READER

BLOWBACK

January 23, 1946: President Harry Truman joined hands with four

servicemen he had decorated with the Medal of Honor including

(left-to-right) then-Sgt. John McKinney, Lt. Daniel Lee, Lt. Donald

Gray and Cdr. Joseph O’Callahan.

AMERICAN PROFICIENCY

PHOTO COURTESY OF NATIONAL ARCHIVES

Private John R. McKinney was a soldier who received the

Medal of Honor during the World War II campaign to

recapture the Philippines from Japanese forces in 1945.

In his single-digit years, he hunted rabbits to feed the

family with a rented, single-shot .22 rifle that was eventually

sold to him. At Luzon, he faced combat for the first

time as his company occupied a spit of land on the coast.

The spit ended with a passage from the sea to the lagoon

on the other side. He woke up in the morning hearing

shooting and seeing a disposal-minded Japanese officer

with a Samurai sword enter his tent. The officer was killed

instead. Pvt. McKinney walked outside the tent with his

rifle and some ammo and started killing the enemy. His

audible signature presented no threat, so he continued to

work and picked up rifles among the dead and wounded

as he did not bring enough ammunition with him. The

Banzai attack was eventually over. It was difficult to say

what Pvt. McKinney had done, but it was estimated that he

dispatched between 50 and 100 of the enemy. He was the

classic firearm-proficient civilian that was thrust into live

fire. He only suffered a cut from the Samurai sword.

Rifle marksmanship is

not a skill; It is a bundle of geek with thick glasses in

separate skills, each one grades seven through 12, I

requiring a separate time to attended my school’s rifle

learn including the mastery club, which was subsidized

of using sights and manipulating

the trigger withship

Program (CMP). I liked

by the Civilian Marksmanout

disturbing the sights. the challenge of making

Proficient people will not small groups of holes on

willingly fire a miss.

paper. I fired a box of

As an underweight, .22 cartridges each week

small, pencil-necked purchased at a subsidized

price. I could afford no

equipment and had none.

I was an extremely slow

learner, but was not discouraged

as others passed

by me in progress. I liked

the process of self-struggle

even though improvement

was glacial. By the age of

15, I would not fire a miss.

Let us consider the

unasked question array:

How many gun owners are

there? How many of those

practice shooting? How

many of those are proficient?

How many of those

that enter the military are

proficient? If guns are gone,

how long will it take for our

nation’s proficiency with

firearms to vanish? How will

this absence of proficiency

affect the military? How

will the lack of proficiency

affect the non-military

population that constitutes

the militia? The interest in

banning black rifles such as

the AR-15, especially the

use among young students

of proficient gun owners,

will end up causing more

casualties when future

generations are called on to

defend this nation.

Darryl Davis

Shoreline, Washington

TERRIFIC

THOMPSON

It all started with your

January 2013 issue of Guns

& Ammo. Inside, I read

Garry James’ feature on the

Auto-Ordnance Thompson

1927-A1 in .45 ACP and

JANUARY ’13

Author Garry James reviewed

the new Auto-Ordnance

Thompson Model and

recounted the history of the

namesake’s original configurations

from the 1920s through

World War II. He concluded

that for those wanting to own

a “Chicago Typewriter” as

close to the real thing without

having to purchase an “original

period piece worth five

figures,” this was it. His conclusion

remains true today.

added it to my collection,

which already contained a

1927-A3 in .22LR. I contacted

Auto-Ordnance to

purchase another drum

mag and was told “lots of

luck” in finding one. The

customer service representative

was able to help me

by selling a .45 ACP mag

with a .22-caliber magazine

inside of it. All I had to do

was to remove the adaptor

used to hold the .22 mag

and slide the .45 in like in a

1927-A1. My regret is that

I only purchased one and

they no longer produce this

item. Still, I would enjoy

more information on my

Auto-Ordnance 1927-A3 in

one of G&A’s issues.

Bob Calgaro

Bridgeville, Pennsylvania

10 G&A February 2020 | reAder blowbAck

EXACT SAME

In Garry James’ September

2019 “Gun Room” column,

he discussed the Peerless

bolt-action rifle in .22LR.

The safety is a little different,

but I am sure that it is

the same rifle as my Springfield

Model 53-B. They

were made between 1935

and 1948. These cock-onopening

single shots are

very accurate.

Jeff orr

Umpqua, oregon

HOW MUCH?

Regarding the present

officers of the NRA, I joined

the association roughly

70 years ago to protect

our rights and the Second

Amendment. Since then,

I have been an instructor

in most of NRA’s classes

including law enforcement.

I am also a chief

range officer and a training

counselor, and a benefactor

member. These facts are

pointed out only to show

that I have worked my

tail off to help others with

safety and competence

through NRA classes. I have

noticed that in all of the

NRA books and magazines

through the years, I have

never seen anything regarding

the money we pay our

officers. I was curious and

called the NRA trying to get

the information on wages.

I have been insulted, put

down and told that what

the officers are paid is none

of my business. I was also

made to understand that

those I could speak to were

there to prevent calls like

mine from going further. I

suppose the officers have

more important things to

do than to talk with me, but

I never got any farther while

trying for 3 years. Something

smells.

Joe M. ramsey

Milton Freewater, oregon

First, let me thank you.

You have been one of the

volunteers that has made

the NRA such a strong

force. As someone who has

invested time and money

into the organization, you

have a right to know where

your dollars are being

spent. According to various

media reports, CEO Wayne

LaPierre’s annual salary is

around $1 million, which

does not include other

compensation. In 2015,

LaPierre reportedly earned

a total of $5.1 million

that included a $4 million

special-employee retirement

payment. Josh Powell,

NRA’s executive director

of General Operations,

earns nearly $800,000.

Several other officers are

paid in excess of $500,000.

In fairness to these individuals,

I must note that these

are tough jobs in high costof-living

areas.

— K. Wood

TESTING RAINDROPS

About 6 years ago, I had

done the experiment

that Tom Beckstrand and

Dave Emary discussed

for Beckstrand’s column

“A Single Drop” in the

December 2019 issue. I was

thrown out of many sniper

forums for heresy! I have

a video at youtube.com/

watch?v=UusiTSu1tSU. It

isn’t comprehensive, but a

reader blowback | February 2020 G&a 11

response to naysayers.

Steve caldwell

carrollton, ohio

We watched the video

and concluded that your

test technique is sound. It

confirms what we observed

with high-speed video. Scientifically,

it is a nice piece

of work!

— D. Emary

MADE WHERE?

In Eric Poole’s article

“Hellcat” featuring Springfield

Armory’s attempt at

a better SIG Sauer P365, I

cannot tell from the pictures

where the gun is manufactured.

Was it made in the

U.S. or another country? It

is important to me where

the firearms I buy are made.

carl rusch

email

Like Springfield Armory’s

other polymer-framed pistols,

the Hellcat is manufactured

in Croatia.

— E. Poole

.357 MAG FOR DEER?

The .357 Magnum has

always been considered

inadequate as a whitetail

deer cartridge, but lately

articles have suggested

that it is effective for deer

at modest ranges. What

would you consider a .357’s

maximum range in a handgun

or in a rifle (unscoped)

for whitetails? And broadside

shots only?

John kaviuk

International Falls,

Minnesota

The .357 Magnum is definitely

adequate for deer.

In a handgun, I would opt

for a long barrel for higher

muzzle velocity and longer

sight radius. I would not

use a bullet lighter than 158

grains. I would not hesitate

to take a 50- to 75-yard

shot with a revolver. A rifle

opens up a wider range of

performance. With 158- to

180-grain bullets in a rifle,

you should have better

accuracy and terminal performance

for shots to 125

yards. Shots should be kept

on a direct path to the vital

organs. I would not depend

on a lot of penetration to

reach vitals.

— D. Emary

CARRY ON

Glenn Garrett’s letter “Tone

It Down” in the September

2019 issue has me wondering,

has he picked up a

newspaper or turned on the

TV lately? Our great country

has turned into a battleground!

Many people don’t

feel safe in their own home,

in a mall or even a church.

My wife and I are NRA

members and carry concealed

handguns. We also

train every Friday. I like Guns

& Ammo’s articles on urban

combat and speed loading.

These remind me of lessons,

and that we need more

armed people among the

soft targets to deter these

nuts and make them think

twice before terrorizing the

innocent. Please, continue

to publish article about ways

to keep ourselves safe. I

can’t be the only one who

likes these articles. Don’t

think these critical incidents

can’t happen to you!

lynn Siegel

Port St. John, Florida

STILL MAKING

HISTORY.

COLT.COM/PYTHON

EDITORIAL

February 2020 G&A 13

The .308 Winchester is still a winner.

DEER HUNTER

AS A YOUNG MAN, I met disappoint after watching the

1978 war drama “The Deer Hunter,” starring Robert De

Niro, Christopher Walken and John Savage. I enthusiastically

picked up a copy on VHS after mining through a discount

bin of used video tapes. I flipped over the box to read the

summary and was impressed by the picture of De Niro carrying

a Remington 700 BDL —

a left-hand model mind you.

Filled with intrigue, I thought

I had spent my hard-earned

dollars on an Academy

Award-winning film about an

epic whitetail adventure. Oh,

how wrong was I.

I’m often distracted from

the tried-and-true while

testing new introductions

such as rifles chambered

in 6.5 Creedmoor and

.300 PRC, but I’ve found

my way back to the .308

Winchester. It’s a versatile

cartridge whose case has

been used as the parent

for the .243 Winchester, 7mm-08 Remington, .260 Rem.,

6.5 Creedmoor and .338 Federal, among others. After

35 years of shooting, my conclusion is if you could only

own rifles in one caliber, a strong argument can be

made for the .308 given modern bullet technology.

I’m on a lifelong quest to try and take a deer in

all 50 states, a Grand Slam I invented for myself.

As I continued this pursuit in Kansas last fall, I was

reminded why I love the .308.

Last year, I hunted a lot with a selection of new

Savage rifles, including a 110 Lightweight Storm

topped with a Bushnell Nitro 3-12x44mm. The

stainless action and adjustable stock are impervious

to weather, affordable and as versatile as the .308. In

Kansas, I hiked across a cut, slushy corn field to my

stand at the corner and toughed out a bone-chilling

drop in temperature for three days. One morning,

before the sun crested the trees, I saw

antlers begin to creep out. I

didn’t trust my eyes and pulled

up a pair of binos to accurately

ERIC R. POOLE

@GUNSANDAMMOMAG

identify the buck. I started counting to myself, one, two,

four, six, eight … until I couldn’t believe I was still trying

to count his points. He was a shooter. I thought to myself,

You’re wasting time! He is not going to stand there forever!

With his head turned away, I quickly picked up the Savage,

zoomed up to 6X and shot a 165-grain Barnes TSX (loaded

by Federal Premium) into

his shoulder — or so I

thought. It sounded like a

good thwack, but he turned

and dove behind a tall pine

tree. In that same moment,

a group of deer took off

up and over a hill into the

trees. I imagined my buck

was among them. Seeds

of doubt around my shot

grew. Did I get him?

Minutes later, I was

horrified to only find a small

drop of blood where he’d

been hit. For more than

an hour, the outfitter and I

hiked and retraced each set

of tracks until we couldn’t. Deciding to take a break and

leave to fetch another searcher, we caught a whiff of the

buck’s scent and saw him piled up in a thorn bush just

under a pine tree. He had been just a few feet from

where was shot. Relief and excitement ensued.

He was a non-typical eight with a drop tine and a

total of 16 measurable points — plus trash. It’s the

most character I’ve ever found in a deer, especially

one taken by a single shot. This hunt serves to remind

me that the .308

Winchester is

still a capable

cartridge, especially

now with

improved bullet

technology. The

adventure contained

all of the

FEDERAL PREMIUM BARNES 165-GR. TSX, 20 CT.: $30

drama I had hoped to watch in

“The Deer Hunter,” one worthy

of an award.

GUN ROOM


“Maybe one of my sharp-eyed readers more

versed in the history of the 101 Ranch than

I can provide us with further information.”

IDENTIFICATION

& VALUES

WORLD WAR I LUGER

Q: This Luger has been in the family since a great uncle

brought it back from Europe in 1945. The numbers match

as seen in the pictures. It was produced in 1918. The

holster has a date of 1942 and a Wehrmacht army stamp

on the back. Unfortunately, in New York City during the

1960s, when registration first started, the firearm was

taken to a police station where, as you can see, they

etched “NYC” and the registration number into the side.

My questions are: What is the value of the pistol and holster

and how badly did the etching hurt it? I know trying

to get it removed would hurt it even more. Now that I’ve

moved, I’ve been able to shoot it and was very pleasantly

surprised by how comfortable it shot.

J.E.

Bolivia, North Carolina

A: You have a World War I

vintage P.08 manufactured

by Deutsche Waffen- und

Munitionsfabriken (German

Weapons and Munitions

public limited company),

also known as “DWM.”

DWM manufactured some

190,000 Lugers in 1918.

Condition on your piece

appears to be about 60

percent. The electric pencil

markings definitely affect

the gun’s value, though the

DWM P.08 LUGER, 9MM, 60%: $1,000

two matching magazines

are a plus. The holster is

also a good period piece in

fair shape, though a world

war later than the pistol.

I’d value the whole rig at

around $1,100. The electric

pencil markings could be

removed, though to do it

properly would be pricey.

The fact the piece has been

worked on would not gain

you much in the way of

value. Cosmetics, however,

are another matter. If you

can live with the police

registration number, I’d say

do so.

GERMAN ÒTIGEÓ RIFLE

Q: Though I enjoy and use

all types of firearms, my

preference leans toward

blued steel and walnut, thus

I turn to your articles first. I

have my great grandfather’s

caplock rifle. I believe he

immigrated from Prussia

in the 1860s. I don’t know

if he brought the rifle with

him or if it was acquired in

this country. It is .54 caliber.

The bore is rifled with eight

grooves, approximately

1-in-32-inch right-hand twist.

It has an octagonal barrel

with a length of 28¾ inches.

The barrel is swamped with

maximum distance across

the flats being 1.065 inches.

THE AUCTION BLOCK

GARRY JAMES

GARRY.JAMES@

OUTDOORSG.COM

It has one standing and one

folding leaf rear sight. It also

has an aperture sight. The

aperture provides a good

sight picture, but there are

no graduations to allow

repeated adjustments. It

has double set triggers.

All furniture appears to be

iron with the exception of

the brass-tip ramrod that

is obviously designed for

the pointed bullet that is

cast from the mold that

accompanied the rifle. The

number “97” is stamped on

the underside of the barrel,

lock plate, trigger plate,

breach plug and trigger

guard. None of these are

visible when the rifle is

assembled. An elongated,

hexagonal box with the

letter “S” inside is stamped

next to the 97 on the barrel.

Metal-to-wood fit is tight.

A rare and desirable Elgin Cutlass pistol at the October 22, 2019,

Morphy Auctions sale realized a very respectable $12,000 including

buyer’s premium. The Bowie blade of this scare U.S. martial sidearm

was manufactured by A.P. Ames of Springfield, Massachusetts,

and the pistol itself by C.B. Allen, also of Springfield. It is dated

1837 and is one of only 150 that were issued, specifically for the

Wilkes South Sea Exploring Expedition of 1838 to 1842. This

example is serial number 147. The barrel and blade exhibit a brown

finish over minor pitting. The one-piece walnut grip has a small

split at the butt, but in general condition is quite good for this type

of arm. All-in-all, it is a fine example of a sought-after U.S. martial

pistol. For more information about this and future auctions, contact

Morphy Auctions at morphyauctions.com or 877-968-8880.

16 G&A February 2020 | Gun room

Workmanship seems to be

good, though tool marks

are visible on parts that cannot

be seen. The rifle was

loaded when I acquired it

for at least 60 years (probably

for over a century). I was

unable to pull the bullet,

so I removed the breech

plug. There I discovered it

had a tige breech. There

was a ¼-inch-diameter pillar

threaded into the breach

plug. It extends ¾ inch into

the chamber, parallel to the

bore. Through experimentation,

I found that I am

only able to use 24 grains

of Pyrodex before the pillar

would be covered and thus

unable to upset the bullet.

That seems like a very light

load. It is probable that

part of the pillar has rusted

away over the years. The

barrel appeared sound, so

I loaded it with 24 grains of

Pyrodex. I cast the bullets

from pure lead and greased

them with Crisco. They

pushed easily down the

bore and I seated them with

five blows from the ramrod.

Velocity averaged 668 feetper-second.

Accuracy was

horrible with five rounds

HOLLYWOOD HARDWARE

in 2 feet at 50 yards with

most bullets hitting on their

side. Still, it was a blast to

shoot something my great

grandfather used. Can you

provide any information on

this rifle as to origin or date

of manufacture?

J.H.

Email

A: An interesting piece,

all the more so because it

is apparently unmarked.

As the French inventor

Louis-Etienne Thouvenin

originated the “tige” or

“pillar” breech, it’s tempting

to believe the gun’s origin

would be Gallic, however

the tige system was used

by other countries including

Germany (sporting and

military) and Denmark.

The style of bullet you are

shooting — I’m assuming

a mold came with the gun

— along with some subtle

design features indicate the

gun is probably German.

Shooting a tige rifle can be

a bit tricky. Five blows of the

ramrod may be a bit excessive

depending upon how

much force you are using. I

only employ three relatively

There is no more iconic American blade than the legendary Bowie

knife. Hollywood has made generous use of this spectacular sidearm,

and none is more revered than the version made by Arthur

Rhodes and used by Alan Ladd in the 1952 Bowie biopic, “The

Iron Mistress.” Like many featured firearms, swords and knives,

rubber copies were made and used when the real article would not

be appropriate from handling or safety standpoints. Seen here is

just such a clone. Even fairly close up, it is difficult to tell it from

the real article. The Rhodes Bowie was also used in other films

including “Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier” (1955), “The

Last Command” (1955) and “The Alamo” (1960). Courtesy of Joe

Musso and the National Firearms Museum, Fairfax, Virginia.

moderate taps when firing

my Delvigne-system rifle and

get quite good results. Perhaps

you are deforming the

bullet? You did not include

a photo of the tige, so it’s

difficult for me to assess

whether or not it is intact.

Sometimes the pillar had a

slight point. Is one present?

Still, the fact that one is not

there does not mean the

tige is damaged as most

were flat. Is there much corrosion?

Date of manufacture

of the rifle is somewhere in

the late 1840s to early 1850s.

I’d say 24 grains of Pyrodex

is something of a fairly light

load for a .54 caliber rifle,

though you do not want the

charge to cover the tige.

GASSER REVOLVER

Q: A friend of mine recently

came into possession of an

old revolver and we were

trying to determine exactly

what it might be. The

finish is completely gone

and it was quite rusty on

the outside. He soaked it

overnight in penetrating oil

and surprisingly, everything

functions. It looks similar

to your Austro-Hungarian

model 1870 Gasser. It is

stamped “L.GASSEr -

WEIn”, same as the model

1870 Gasser, but there

are some notable differences.

my friend’s revolver

GASSER (MONTENEGRIN-TYPE), 11MM, 20%: $200

has a fluted cylinder and

shorter barrel. The grips

are rounded at the top

where the 1870 grips are

squared off. The ejector

rod for my friend’s revolver

slides inside the cylinder

when not in use. You pull it

forward out of the cylinder

and then it cranes over to

the right side to put it in

position to push out the

spent casings. We were

hoping that with your

knowledge of the model

1870 Gasser you might

know what variant or model

he has. While we realize

this revolver has little if any

real value left, it is a cool

relic and we are curious

exactly what it is. Any information

you may have and

be able to share would be

appreciated.

J.R.

North Liberty, Indiana

A: I rather fancy Gasser and

Gasser-type revolvers as they

have a wonderful Ruritainian

look to them. In fact, Gassers

were used in the 1937

version of the film, “The

Prisoner of Zenda.” Now

to your friend’s gun. From

what I can see in the photos,

it appears to be what is

known as a “Montenegrin

Gasser,” this one actually

manufactured by Gasser.

The “Patent Ottakring”

18 G&A February 2020 | Gun room

designation refers to the

location of one of Leopold

Gasser’s factories, the other

being in Vienna —“Wien.”

Most Montenegrin Gassers

encountered were copies

or hybrids manufactured

in Belgium, often bearing

spurious markings. There

were many variants; some

UNKNOWN BELGIAN-MFG. MODEL 1873 (COMMERCIAL), 30%: $400

were top-breaks, others

had solid frames. These

guns were highly popular in

the Balkans and many can

be found with some very

elaborate decoration. While

the first Gassers were used

by the Austro-Hungarians,

some were sold by Gasser to

Montenegro, and it is there

they achieved their greatest

renown. Caliber was usually

11mm, but other chamberings

are also seen.

FRENCH POLICE

REVOLVER?

Q: I have a revolver that my

grandfather gave me about

60 years ago. He bought it

from a European immigrant

in Detroit about 85 years

ago and was told it was a

French police pistol. The

only name is on the barrel

and it says “Acier Fondu”,

which is French for “cast

steel.” It has quite a bit of

engraving, ivory grips, the

inside is jeweled, and it was

originally plated. Serial no.

is 9XXX, caliber is approximately

.38 or 9mm, and

it appears to be rimfire.

The famous Liege-Belgium

proofmark is on the face

of cylinder. It is a six-shot,

double action, with hinged

side plate, possibly a

Galand-type lock. Perhaps

it is made by Francotte

& ronge and is similar to

Danish model 1880. I would

appreciate any information

you could provide about

the unusual pistol.

J.V.

Robards, Kentucky

A: The photos you sent

show me a pistol that looks

much like the French Model

1873 service revolver. The

rearward opening loading

gate, removable sideplate

and ejector rod, along with

the gun’s general silhouette

lead me to surmise it may

be a down-sized Belgian

product inspired by the

11mm M1873 — though I

will admit the internals are

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gun room | February 2020 g&A 19

somewhat different. As it

is Belgian-made, engraved

and nickel-plated with ivory

grips, I think it is highly

unlikely that it is a French

police sidearm. I’m quite

sure it was intended for the

civilian market. There were

so many Belgian makers

that without some sort of

manufacturer’s designation

it is very difficult to pinpoint

the revolver’s builder.

101 RANCH COLT

.38 DA REVOLVER

Q: I have recently received

this pistol. It is in excellent

shape and has engraving

on the side “101 ranch

Blue Steel Joe round up”.

All numbers matching and

I have replaced two broken

springs. The rifling is excellent.

All I have read about

these suggest they had

wood or rubber grips. This

one has bone and the Colt

logo in in the frame instead

of on the grips. I have

attached photos and ask

if you could give me some

information and worth.

J.T.

Email

A: From what I can see, it

appears you have a Colt

New Army and Navy (A&N)

military revolver that has

been “civilianized” some

time in its past. The serial

number, 14XXX, indicates

it was made in 1894. The

grips certainly appear to be

pearl. The A&N was made

featuring several major

and minor modifications

from 1892 to 1907. Though

it was Colt’s first revolver

with a swing-out cylinder

and the U.S. military’s

premier double-action

general service revolver, the

mechanism left something

to be desired and, despite

a production run of some

291,000 units, reception of

the piece was mixed. Too,

the .38 Colt chambering was

also criticized as being less

than a sure-stopper. The

rather crude engraving on

the revolver is interesting

and undoubtedly goes back

a ways. The 101 Ranch in

northeastern Oklahoma was

the initial site of an early

COLT MODEL 1892 NEW ARMY AND NAVY (MODIFIED), .38 COLT, 60%: $300

travelling wild west show

similar to Buffalo Bill’s operated

by the Miller Brothers

from around the turn of

the 20th century until the

latter 1920s. The Round Up

was an annual event at the

ranch. One of the originators

was Joe Zack, so perhaps

that is what the “Joe”

refers to in the markings.

Maybe one of my sharpeyed

readers more versed in

the history of the 101 Ranch

than I can provide us with

further information.

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HANDGUNNING


Drop holsters can be dangerous.

HOLSTER HEIGHT

RECENTLY I WAS TALKING to Guns & Ammo Editorin-Chief

Eric Poole, and our conversation turned to the

writers and pistoleros of yesteryear. We both consider ourselves

history buffs when it comes to firearms, so

this line of discussion is common. Poole mentioned

that he was re-reading Bill Jordan’s

“No Second Place Winner,” and recalled

that Jordan had some very specific ideas

when it came to holster design and

positioning. While some of the Jordan’s

musings are somewhat dated (and fodder

for another article), his thoughts on holster

position remain relevant, even today. As

the conversation turned from yesteryear

to today, Poole said, “I think you

have your next column here.”

Indeed. In fact, this article

is not going to make me

any friends, especially

amongst those in my

chosen profession as a

police officer.

You see, the drop

swivel holster used

by my department,

and the doubleleg-strapped

Safariland

found in

many others, are

more than just a

means of carrying

secure, quick access

to a gun. They’ve

become a symbol that suggests,

“Hey, look at me! I’m

a gunfighter!” Except that

they’re not. These types

of holsters are garbage

that need to be sent to the

dustbin of holster history, along

with holsters that don’t cover the

triggerguard and those offering

no retention.

Yes, you read that right. Drop

holsters are garbage.

JEREMY STAFFORD

Bold words, I know. And now you want to fight me? The

painful truth is always better than a soothing lie, so let me

explain why drop-leg holsters are less than optimal for

today’s law enforcement officer, soldier, sailor, Marine,

and others.

First, let’s talk about the argument that

many proponents default to: speed.

Before we even consider drills against

a shot timer, let’s just look at the physics

of the draw. You are not likely to start the

draw with your hand on the gun. The days

of resting your hand on the butt of the pistol

when speaking to members of the community

are long gone. (Besides, it makes you look

scared, so don’t do it.) When drawing, the

further away the handgun is from your waist

line, the further your hand has to move

to get to get a grip. Now that you’ve

had to move your hand further down

your body toward your knee, you’re

going to have to bring it back up

your body to present the pistol

toward the target. Because of

that distance, the mechanics

of the draw are also going

to be compromised with

your bigger, less efficient

torso movements necessary

to get the gun aimed. While it

might not seem like much time or

distance, a long draw time consumes

time in a gunfight, a luxury you’re not

going to have much of when someone

is trying to kill you.

The next factor to take a hard look

at is our ability to control the holster.

There are many times in the course of

a fighting person’s career that being

able to physically control the holster

becomes a matter of life and death,

the chief concern during a lifethreatening

altercation in which a

bad guy attempts to disarm the

good guy. I have taught defensive

tactics and firearm retention to

22 G&A February 2020 | hAndGunninG

The Safariland Model 6360 ALS/

SLS Mid-Ride Level iii retention

duty holster is a popular rig

for law enforcement. Available

in seven colors, finishes and

patterns, it is also available to

accept pistols with a red dot

(6360RdS shown) and/or those

pistols equipped with a light.

MSRP ranges $189 to $245.

thousands of professionals in uniform

from all over the world, and there

is one incontrovertible truth when it

comes to holstered handgun retention:

The further away the holster is

from the torso, the harder it is for the

shooter to maintain control of the

pistol. The further away the holster

is, the more the arms need to be

extended to control it. The further

extended the arms are, the weaker

they become. Again, physics rears its

head. Don’t believe me? Then why do

PERFORMANCE

running backs hold the football high

and tight in the body? That’s right,

HOLSTER

because when that arm comes out it’s

easier to strip the football away.

For smaller statured officers, an

often-taught retention technique is to

wedge an arm under the holster, forcing the butt of the gun

into the abdomen and making it almost impossible to strip

the gun out; this technique is not possible with a drop holster.

Likewise, the default technique of “capping” the pistol

in the holster becomes much more difficult and less effective

with a drop holster. Building on the capping technique

is the consideration that in the event of a fight over your

gun occurs, the primary hand should be able to control

the holstered primary firearm on its own while the support

hand does something useful, such as parrying blows to

the face or drawing a backup gun to end the fight quickly.

Every year people are disarmed and killed with their own

pistols. Stop thinking that it’s never going to happen to you

and start training like it might.

Moving on from the fighting aspect of holster control,

let’s take a look at another area of concern for drop holsters:

running or climbing. I try not to get into telling too

many cop stories, but this one is particularly relevant. As a

young police officer working in Los Angeles’ Rampart Division,

my partner and I were involved in a foot pursuit with

a robbery suspect. At the termination of the foot pursuit,

I had taken the suspect into custody. I looked down at my

partner’s holster and it was empty! During the chase his

holster snap had come undone and his Beretta 92FS had

launched itself, unknown to my partner who’d been running

as fast as he could to catch the bad guy. Luckily, it was

recovered about a half-block down in the gutter resulting

in some good-natured ribbing rather than if he would have

AVERAGE TIME

(SECONDS)

Safariland 6360 ALS/SLS DFL 1.31

Safariland 6360 Sam Browne UBL 1.13

Note: Draw time is the average of a hit in the A-zone from 7 yards.

lost his sidearm. This scene

is not unheard-of when

running with a drop swivel.

It happens. But hey, gotta

look the part, right?

Now let’s take a look

at the shot timer. While my old Hoyt drop swivel and the

boat anchor of a Smith & Wesson 4506 that rode in it are

long gone, I still own one drop rig: My High Speed Gear

Battle Belt with a Safariland 6360 mounted on a Safariland

6004 Drop Flex Adapter (DFA) with a single leg strap kept

strapped high and tight (highspeedgear.com; safariland.

com). This is the rig I wear when I’m serving warrants, and

the butt of the pistol sits just at the bottom of the belt so

that it has clearance from my external ballistic vest and

plate carrier. I would prefer to use the Safariland Rigid

Universal Belt Loop (UBL) shank, but because of my height

and build that set-up makes it impossible to sit without the

gun driving up into the vest and becoming inaccessible.

My uniform holster is the same 6360 attached on the Sam

Browne with the UBL, which keeps the butt of the pistol

aligned with the top of my belt. There is less than a 3-inch

difference in height between the two, but the difference in

the draw times was a noticeable .18 second. My average

time from the Sam Browne to an A-zone hit at 7 yards was

1.13 seconds. My average time from the DFA was 1.31.

The difference of .18 second is an eternity in a gunfight.

If you’re running a drop rig because of external armor,

make sure that the butt of the pistol is as high up as

possible. If you’re running one because you like the way

it looks, or because it’s more comfortable to swivel on top

of your leg in the car, then please reconsider your choice.

Your life and the life of the people that you are sworn to

protect are more important than style.

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Carrying the antiqued look.


THE CARRY RIG

The Blackhawk 3-Slot Leather

Pancake Holster is a proven beltworn

rig that’s now available in a

handsome Antique Brown. $74

B ACKHAWK 3-SLOT LEATHER PANCAKE

AS TEMPERATURES DROP, I begin to reevaluate my

concealed-carry options. If I can properly hide the gun

and holster, I prefer to fill my hand with a larger platform

and increased capacity that is quick to access. The fastest

concealed carry style for me to draw from is the appendixinside-the-waistband

(AIWB) position using a Level 1 holster

that features friction-fit retention. (For AIWB holsters, I

prefer a pistol featuring a manual safety.) Next, my fastest

draws are a tossup between using a crossdraw holster and

those worn over the hip and outside-the-waistband (OWB).

When considering an OWB holster worn over or behind

my hip, I can appreciate the security of a Level 2.

There are various ways to achieve Level 2, including push

buttons activated by the trigger finger and thumb breaks

unsnapped during the grip process. (I recommend thumbbreak

holsters over those with a button near the trigger.)

Level 2 holsters prevent a pistol from being launched up

and out of the holster should a person sit down and catch

the muzzle on the armrest of a chair, for example, but they

also add a level of difficulty for a potential threat that’s

intent on ambushing you and grabbing your gun.

Though I understand the virtues of an open-slide OWB

holster such as the Yaqui Slide, I prefer closed holsters

with an open muzzle that protect the full length of a pistol.

Blackhawk’s pancake holster fits the description.

Most of us familiar with Blackhawk’s leather holsters

know of the Italian-made 3-Slot Leather Pankcake Holster

in black. The holster isn’t new, but it’s now available in two

new brown colors: Antique Brown and Burnished Brown,

which was a good-enough excuse for me to revisit the classic

and comfortable pancake design for concealed carry.

The original pancake holster was developed decades

ago by Roy Baker as a flat, two-slot holster worn close

the the body. The style is popular and tested. Blackhawk’s

design is different in that it’s adaptable due to the threeslot

design that allows us to carry it with zero cant or a

45-degree forward rake. Thinking outside the box, the

3-slot design offers multiple carry angles and positions

26 G&A February 2020 | the cArry riG

Blackhawk 3-Slot Leather Pancake

Materials Leather (two pieces)

Carry Type Outside the waistband (OWB)

Retention Type Level 2; locking snap button and friction fit

Adjustability Yes; cant and belt position

MSRP $74

Handgun Fit Semiautos and revolvers; model specific (SIG Sauer P320 tested)

Accessory Rail Accommodations No

Positions to Carry OWB, 3 to 5 o’clock (right or left hand); AOWB or Crossdraw OWB

Average Time to Attach 45 seconds

Comfort Rating 5/5

Concealment Clothing Long jacket or loose-fit; untucked button-down shirt

Average Draw-to-Fire Time 1.45 seconds

Manufacturer Blackhawk, 406-284-3840, blackhawk.com

Draw-to-fire time is the average of five clean draws producing an A-zone hit on a stationary target positioned at 21 feet.

2.48 in.

7.48 in.

including strong-side hip carry and crossdraw options.

Blackhawk’s approach to the pancake holster features a

reinforced thumb break that allows quick access with minimal

motion. (It cost me .4 seconds at the range versus an

OWB leather pancake holster without a thumb break.)

Blackhawk’s holster is a two-piece design with reinforcement

stitching at the contours. The leather is premium and

molded to curve around our waist structure. The belt slots

pull it tight to the body and increase retention.

This is an ideal platform for larger handguns, but it also

works with smaller guns.

The triggerguard is fully

covered for safety, yet cut

for a full firing grip.

After 90 days of carry, I

can easily recommend this

holster. It’s been comfortable

to wear and dependable

to draw from.

Ñ E. Poole

<

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GUN TECH


Streamlight TLR-7A High & Low Switch

RICHARD NANCE

New from Streamlight is the TLR-7A,

a small and mightly light offering

500-lumens of power. Two rear switch

options are included simply described

as “high” and “low.” (Low switch shown

above and right.) $226

SHINE ON

I’M A BIT PARTIAL to Streamlight products. I’ve used a

300-lumen TLR-1 ($250) on my duty gun for well over a

decade. There’s no shortage of quality gun lights on the

market these days, but the TLR-1 has never let me down.

Not only is my TLR-1 reliable, its toggle-activation switch is

tough to beat and it’s easy to take off or attach.

The classic TLR-1 is a relatively big light. It’s well suited

for a full-sized, openly worn pistol, but for those needing a

more compact rail-mounted light, the new TLR-7A is a sensible

alternative with two switch options. It’s robust with an

anodized machined aluminum housing. Overall, it stands

1.27 inches tall and is 2.58 inches long. It weighs mere 2.4

ounces, which includes the supplied CR123A battery. At

the back, the switch housing is constructed of impact- and

chemical-resistant polymer. The lens is an impact-resistant

Borofloat glass. (Google it!)

The TLR-7A is loaded

with technology designed

to give the user a tactical

advantage. Powered by

a single, 3-volt CR123A

lithium battery for its 500-

lumen to 140 meters, the

TLR-7A offers a concentrated

LED beam of light

with a run time of 11/ hours

of continuous operation

to the 10-percent output

level. A “safe off” feature is

activated by rotating the bezel 90 degrees, which prevents

unintentional activation and subsequent loss of battery life

while stored. (This is a feature you’ll learn to appreciate.)

The TLR-7A can be operated in three modes. A quick

press and release of the switch produces a constant light.

Press and hold the switch for momentary mode. There’s

even a strobe option activated by tapping either switch

twice within a quarter of a second. Whether you select a

high or low switch, it’s intuitive to employ.

Each unit comes with a high switch and a low switch,

enabling us to choose based on comfort and accessibility.

This a primary reason to consider this light since gun size,

hand size and grip preference can dramatically affect how

a shooter interfaces with the gun and the light’s activation

switch. As with all TLR lights, the 7A’s activation switch is

ambidextrous.

Full size to compact,

M1913 or proprietary,

Streamlight includes

easy-to-install rail

adapters.

The TLR-7A comes with

several mounting adaptors,

making it compatible with

an array of guns. The unit

can be easily mounted to

the rail of your handgun

without tools and without

having to put your hand in

front of the muzzle when

installing it or changing

batteries. For $225.75, the

TLR-7A offers a lot of light

for the money.

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RIFLES & GLASS


Leupold VX-3i 4.5-14x40mm CDS-ZL

TOM BECKSTRAND

HUNTING MADE EASY

I HUNTED IN COLORADO last fall and was reminded

that really good equipment doesn’t have to cost a bunch

of money. Lower prices frequently mean fewer features

and less capability. That is not the case when reviewing

Leupold’s new VX-3i 4.5-14x40mm scope with Wind-Plex

reticle. Even if I had a lot of money to spend, this would

still be one of my top picks for a hunting optic.

Leupold.com suggests that the retail price of the VX-3i

with 4.5-14X magnification starts at “$844.99.” That

number is expensive for a hunting scope. However, surfing

around the internet reveals that the same scope is available

from select retailers for around $560. That doesn’t

make it cheap, but it does make it an excellent value.

The VX-3i series have similar optical performance when

compared to Leupold’s old Mark 4 scopes — at half the

price. I can see no difference in resolution between the

two product lines. I also think the VX-3i scopes have better

coatings than the old Mark 4 scopes because there is a

slight increase in low-light performance. I compare the

VX-3i to the Mark 4 because the U.S. military still issues

some Mark 4 scopes and many law enforcement agencies

around the country have been using them for decades.

Getting that kind of recognized and vetted performance

for under $600 is a big deal, in my opinion.

Added to the enhancements made to the optical performance

of the VX-3i scope are some huge improvements

made to the mechanical qualities, specifically tracking. This

significant improvement is what’s allowed Leupold to put

their Custom Dial System (CDS) on the scope.

Manufacturing changes over time. Just as cell phones

32 G&A February 2020 | rifles & GlAss

WIND-PLEX RETICLE

and computers are much more capable

and economical than they were a

few years ago; So are the computercontrolled

machines in use by manufacturing

today. Leupold’s precision

manufacturing gets better every year,

so the turrets that they make today

are more precise than even the ones

they made just 5 years ago.

The result is a sub-$600 rifle scope

that tracks better than a $1,600 scope

made 10 years ago. Since tracking is a

scope’s ability to adjust in precise and repeatable increments,

this becomes a compelling feature for anyone that

wants to dial an elevation correction.

Not only do the turrets do an excellent job tracking, the

owner has a couple of options. Each of these scopes ships

with an exposed and locking elevation turret that adjusts in

.25-minute of angle (MOA) clicks. All that’s required to hit

(when using a good ballistic calculator) is a quick twist of

the turret. Once the shooter fires,

a quick spin of the turret will take

it back to the original zero where

it will stop and lock. I can’t think

of another scope that has a quality

zero stop and a zero lock that’s

anywhere near this price range.

The scope I’ve been hunting

with sits atop a .270 Winchester,

so I took advantage of the CDS

system and had Leupold make a

custom turret for it. Some information

is required to get an accurate

turret made, but it’s included in the

Leupold VX- 3i 4.5- 14x40mm

(30mm) Side Focus CDS

Power: 4.5X-14X

Objective: 40mm

Tube Diameter: 30mm

Elevation

Adjustment: .25 MOA per click

Windage: .25 MOA per click

Reticle: Wind-Plex

Length: 12.6 in.

Weight: 13 oz.

Eye Relief: 4 in.

MSRP: $845

Manufacturer: Leupold, 800-538-7653,

leupold.com

cost of the scope, and is worth the

effort.

To get an accurate CDS turret

made, the following information is

necessary: bullet weight, bullet brand,

bullet type, ballistic coefficient (BC),

muzzle velocity, temperature and elevation.

The temperature and elevation

will vary at your hunting location, but

as long as the actual conditions are

within 20 degrees in temperature and

2,000 feet of elevation, the custom

CDS turret will be accurate out to 600 yards or so.

The scope I hunted with was one of the first VX-3i models

that features the CDS turret. It was a great companion

to have on a hunting rifle because once Leupold has the

necessary information, they engrave a turret that allows

the shooter to dial the distance to the target. The resulting

elevation adjustment will be dead-on. There is no need to

mess with a ballistic calculator or a range card in the field,

which is nice because animals don’t

usually stand around so that you can

make the perfect shot. If the target

is 250 yards away, spin the turret to

“2.5” and let her fly.

As much as I think the CDS turret

is a great feature to have on any

hunting scope, Leupold’s Wind-Plex

reticle is equally important. The reticle

subtends along the horizontal axis in

1-MOA increments. From the center

of the reticle, there are 10 MOAs in

each direction.

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34 G&A February 2020 | rifles & GlAss

In addition to the easy-to-read CDS turret with zero stop, the VX-3i

is also available with a side-focus knob for parallax adjustment.

might argue that 10 MOA of wind hold in the reticle isn’t

enough. There’s a ton more windage adjustment available

if the shooter is willing to dial down from maximum magnification

and do some simple math.

For example, the scope I had was a VX-3i 4.5-14x40mm.

At 14X it has 10 MOA of adjustment in each direction. At

7X, that same scope and reticle has 20 MOA of adjustment

in either direction. These are second focal plane (SFP)

reticles, so when the magnification gets cut in half, the

The power-adjustment ring is tactile and offers fair amount of resistance

for precise magnification stops.

value of each subtension mark doubles. Further, if the wind

is howling, dialing the scope all the way down to 4.5X gives

approximately 30 MOA of wind hold on each side of the

reticle.

Even with the Wind-Plex reticle, knowing the correct

wind hold is either going to take a lot of time, attention

and field experience or some savvy use of a ballistic calculator.

Any free ballistic calculator app that’ll download

to a smartphone can calculate a wind hold given muzzle

rifles & glass | February 2020 g&a 35

The magnification range comes by a versatile 3:1 zoom ratio erector

system that is ideal for a range of field conditions.

velocity, BC, distance to the target and wind speed. A

prepared hunter could have a range card for wind done by

calculating wind holds in 5 mile-per-hour (mph) increments

out to the furthest distance one is willing to shoot. That

is something that could be done before ever leaving the

house to head out and hunt.

The ability to have a scope that has a side-focus turret,

a vetted optical system with improved coatings, turrets

that are repeatable and accurate, zero stop, zero lock and

Leupold’s Twilight Max Light Management System is applied to the

lenses for glare reduction and sharp imagery in low-light situations.

a reticle that allows for basic wind holds is a relatively new

combination. Getting all that for under $600 is unheard of.

(Don’t be scared off by the $845 suggested retail price.)

Like any Gold Ring scope that Leupold makes, the

consumer gains the added comfort of knowing it is made

in America and comes with a lifetime warranty that’ll likely

never require use. In an optics world that sees more and

more options available every day, I take comfort in products

that offer the performance I desire from a source I trust.

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Understanding suppressed firearms and ammunition.

GOING SUBSONIC

DAVE EMARY

SUBSONIC AMMUNITION is not a new thing, but the rise

of the .300 Blackout and firearms chambered for it have

brought subsonic ammunition, firearms and suppressors

into the limelight. The military has been using subsonic

ammunition for some time to provide stealth in engagements

and to improve

close quarters battle (CQB)

communication.

There has been purpose-built

subsonic

ammunition in existence

for a long time, but only

in recent years has it been

a design criterion for the

masses. Many of the old

blackpowder pistol cartridges

and the original

40-grain loading of the .22

Long were subsonic. Of

course, the original 230-

grain loading of the .45 ACP was subsonic. There were

guns specifically designed and fielded by the U.S. Office

of Strategic Services (OSS) and British Special Air Service

(SAS) for special operations in World War II that used subsonic

ammunition such as the .22-caliber High Standard

HDM; the British Welrod bolt-action pistol in .32 ACP and

9mm; and the British De Lisle carbine in .45. The first loads

that I am aware intentionally developed to be subsonic

for use in suppressed firearms was the 9mm 147-grain

full metal jacket (FMJ) loading for use in suppressed and

modified Smith & Wesson Model 39s carried by U.S. Navy

SEAL teams starting in 1966 and early HK MP5s elsewhere

entering service that same year. The MP5 chambered a

load operating at 985 feet per second (fps), while the Mark

144 round was specially developed for the Model 39 and

featured a 158-grain FMJ bullet traveling at 965 fps. Interestingly,

the modified Model 39 was classified as the Mark

22 Mod. 0 and nicknamed “Hush Puppy.” The Model 39

was replaced in 1996 by the the HK Mark 23 in .45. The

Mark 144 load was recently recreated and is available

commercially from Super Vel under the Hush Puppy name.

($39, supervelammunition.com)

HORNADY SUB-X, .300 BLACKOUT 190-GR. XTP, 20 CT.: $23

What is Subsonic? The term “subsonic” refers to something

that is travelling slower than the speed of sound

(SOS). SOS in a standard atmosphere at sea level is 1,116

fps. Above this velocity an object is travelling supersonic.

At supersonic velocities the air can no longer get out of

the way and flow around the object travelling through it.

Essentially, air piles up in front of a supersonic object and

is compressed to the point

of producing a shock wave,

an abrupt pressure and

density change of the air.

If you have ever shot high

power matches or done any

pit duty, the loud crack you

hear when someone shoots

is the shock wave from the

nose of a supersonic bullet.

The SOS is strongly

dependent on temperature.

At 80 degrees Fahrenheit

(°F), the SOS is 1,138 fps.

At 50°F, SOS is 1,106 fps.

At 20°F, SOS is 1,073 fps. As you can see, the speed of

sound varies significantly depending on temperature. This

variation has to be considered by an ammunition manufacturer

when designing subsonic ammunition. Not only does

variation in temperature have to be considered, but also

the variation in the muzzle velocity of their ammunition

when deciding what velocity specification to load to.

Subsonic Ammunition Limitations Most of the requirements

for subsonic ammunition originate with the military.

The military has been pursuing subsonic ammunition that

will function normally in all of their standard-issue firearms,

including automatic platforms, for some time. I did a considerable

amount of work in the late 1990s and 2000s trying

to make reliable functioning subsonic ammunition for

the AR-15/M4/M16, M14 and SR-25 platforms. We never

succeeded in getting anything in the 5.56mm or 7.62mm

calibers that reliably functioned in these platforms. We

went as far as 300-grain bullets with a jacketed tungsten

core in the 7.62 in an effort to get lower muzzle velocities,

but we could never truly get reliable functioning from the

M14 or SR-25.

The problem lies in the low charge weights that are

required to produce subsonic velocities. These usually

result in low loading density, erratic performance and

38 G&A February 2020 | bullet boArd

insufficient gas volume

to run the gun. The other

approach was to use

heavier charges of very

slow propellants. This still

didn’t work because the

slow propellants didn’t burn

fast enough to produce

much more gas impulse to

the gas system. It just blew

a lot of unburned propellant

out the muzzle. They

did not produce any better

performance uniformity and

they fouled the gas system with carbon very rapidly.

The introduction of IMR (now Hodgdon) Trail Boss

propellant finally offered a propellant that filled the case,

produced uniform performance and subsonic velocities.

However, because of the low charge weights, it still didn’t

function a gas-auto firearm. If you have an urge to experiment

with your own subsonic loads, you won’t be able to

beat Trail Boss for performance as a single-shot round or

for a bolt action. Experiment with bullet weights to tune

your load for best performance.

Muzzle velocity uniformity is critical to the accuracy

performance of subsonic ammunition. A 100-fps muzzle

velocity variation, which is not uncommon in subsonic

ammunition, is nominally a 10 percent difference in muzzle

velocity. This would correspond to a 300-fps variation in a

3,000-fps cartridge. This muzzle velocity difference from

the slowest to fastest round results in substantial vertical

stringing on target.

With a subsonic round, vertical stringing can become

quite big at longer ranges. In subsonic ammunition, a 100-

fps muzzle velocity variation will result in a 31/-inch elevation

point of impact (POI) difference at 100 yards and 12

inches at 200 yards — and that’s not considering anything

else but muzzle velocity variation.

terminal Performance Subsonic ammunition has significant

limitations when it comes to terminal performance.

Because of the low velocity, it is difficult to obtain terminal

performance in anything other than a pistol caliber. Rifletype

bullets do not have the large frontal area that hollow

points and other pistol bullets do. Most of the platforms

such as the AR-15/M4/M16, M14 and SR-25 have a fixed

feed ramp configuration and do not

function well with a blunt bullet profile

and large meplat diameter. This puts

severe restrictions on what a bullet

designer can do to try to design a bullet

that will expand at subsonic velocities.

One very interesting aspect of subsonic

terminal performance is that once

a bullet drops below supersonic velocities

the drag on the bullet drops to low

DRAG COEFFICIENT

G7 DRAG COEFFICIENT

MACH NUMBER

HORNADY 190-GR. SUB-X

SUPERSONIC vs. SUBSONIC

VELOCITY LOSS

VELOCITY (FPS)

RANGE (YDS) SUPERSONIC SUBSONIC

0 2,500 1,050

100 2,305 998

200 2,119 956

300 1,942 919

FIGURE 2

FIGURE 1

levels and is, for the most

part, constant. This means a

subsonic projectile will lose

velocity very slowly. If a projectile

can be designed that

expands and has a couple

hundred fps velocity range

over which it expands, it

will give terminal performance

over a range that

is outside the ability to

accurately shoot it.

Look at the G7 drag

coefficient curve in Figure

1. As you can see, the drag of the projectile drops rapidly

after its speed drops below Mach 1. By .9 Mach, 1,005 fps,

nominally the muzzle velocity for a lot of subsonic ammunition,

the drag coefficient has dropped tremendously

and does not get a lot lower. As an example, look at the

retained velocity table in Figure 2 for Hornady’s new .300

Blackout 190-grain Sub-X bullet ($23, hornady.com). The

Sub-X bullet barely loses 130 fps at subsonic velocities in

300 yards. The same bullet at a supersonic muzzle velocity

of 2,500 fps loses 660 fps in 300 yards. The Sub-X bullet

will expand down to about 900 fps. It offers terminal performance

far beyond the effective range of the cartridge.

enter the 300 blackout The 300 Blackout is, for all practical

purposes, the .300 Whisper developed by J.D. Jones of

SSK Industries for use in Thompson/Center Contender

single-shots in the 1990s. It was based on the .221 Fireball

case necked up to 30 caliber and was aimed at efficiently

and reliably producing subsonic velocities with heavy

bullets. The cartridge nominally uses 10 grains of propellant

and provided an excellent round for adapting to the

AR platform for a dedicated, gas automatic, suppressed

firearm for reliable functioning subsonic performance.

With a short barrel, short gas tube and a suppressor, the

.300 Blackout in the AR-15 platform performs reliably. I

have to add at this point that to get truly reliable subsonic

performance from an AR chambered in .300 Blackout,

a suppressor is highly recommended. The very limited

amount of gas available from this cartridge benefits substantially

from a suppressor’s added back pressure to force

more gas back into the system.

The .300 Blackout has been a highly successful cartridge

that has also been responsible for the

current interest in subsonic ammunition,

and the rapid increase in demand for

suppressors. There are other offerings

available for subsonic ammunition. Let’s

take a look at a few.

other Subsonic Ammunition Major

rimfire manufacturers offer subsonic

.22 LR ammunition including Aguila

bullet board | February 2020 G&a 39

(aguilaammo.com), Beck (beckammunition.com), CCI

(cci-ammunition.com), Eley (eleyammunition.com), Federal

(federalpremium.com), Gemtech (gemtech.com), Norma

(norma-ammunition.com), RWS (rws-munition.de), Remington

(remington.com) and Winchester (winchester.com).

These loads are generally advertised as functioning semiauto

firearms. I can confirm that Aguila’s 60-grain bullet

does run most semiautos. The catch here is that it needs

a faster 1:12-inch twist rate to stabilize the long bullet.

Winchester offers an interesting .22 WMR subsonic load.

Anyone who has ever used a .22 WMR knows they can be

quite loud. This is a lower powered, but effective, option.

All of the Big Four ammunition manufacturers, as well as

Atomic (atomicammunition.com), Beck and Gemtech offer

a subsonic loading for the .300 Blackout. Bullet weights

vary from 190 grains to 220 grains. Most subsonic .300

Blackout loads use a 208- to 220-grain match bullet. Most

will function in a 16-inch-barreled .300 Blackout-chambered

AR-15. SBR-length barrels shorter than 16-inches will

function more reliably with a suppressor attached.

Atomic ammunition offers 5.56 NATO, .223 Remington,

curiously a 6.5 Creedmoor load, .308 Winchester and

7.62x39mm subsonic ammunition. A number of these are

offered with heavy-for-the-caliber bullets. Beck Ammunition

offers 5.56 NATO, .223 Rem. and .308 Win. subsonic loads.

A number of these use a monolithic copper bullet that has

a large hollow point and are advertised as expanding. Both

manufacturers suggest specific barrel lengths and suppressors

for reliable functioning.

Subsonic Firearms Most AR-15 manufacturers offer uppers

chambered in 300 Blackout. These uppers have been

optimized with gas port sizes and gas tube lengths that

will provide reliable functioning with commercial ammunition.

In general, if you want to build an AR-15 in 5.56

NATO/.223 Rem. or AR-10 in 7.62 NATO/.308 Win. you

will want to use a short barrel with the shortest gas tube

you can find. Due to the limited gas volume produced

by these subsonic loads, the closer the gas port is to the

chamber and the greater the bullet travel after passing the

port and exiting the muzzle, the better the gun will run.

Experimentation can also be done with gas port size or an

adjustable gas port.

Summing up The most commonly found subsonic ammunition

is .22 LR and .300 Blackout. Subsonic loads in 5.56

NATO/.223 Rem. and 308 Win. are not too difficult to find.

However, expect to have functioning problems with most

semiautos with the latter. They have a narrow window of

firearms setup where they will function reliably. Recently,

expanding-bullet subsonic loads have been introduced that

open up some interesting options for short-range hunting

and personal defense. If you are interested in subsonic

shooting, you now have good commercially loaded ammunition

available. For the highest levels of function reliability,

I recommend getting a suppressor.

40 G&A February 2020

STILL

EZ

SMITH

WORDS BY KEITH WOOD | PHOTOS BY MARK FINGAR

& WESSON’S

M&P9 SHIELD EZ

IS NOW IN A CALIBER

MOST OF US WANT.


42 G&A February 2020 | still EZ

THESE HAVE BEEN UNCERTAIN TIMES for the firearms

industry with sales slumping since the 2016 election of President

Donald Trump. The bright spot for business has been the concealable

handgun market. The best sellers have been compact strikerfired

semiautos or those with an internal hammer chambered in

9mm. It is a fact that more Americans than ever are carrying handguns

for self-defense, and the market has adjusted accordingly.

Smith & Wesson (S&W) helped initiate America’s interest in

these types of handguns with its 2012 introduction of the M&P

Shield. This class of 9mm compacts continues to evolve from

that single-stack with each brand fighting to be recognized as the

universal choice for concealed carry. Among the newest comes from

S&W in its EZ series that was first introduced to Guns & Ammo’s

staff as a .380 ACP model in late

2017. Publicly released in January

2018, the M&P380 Shield

EZ has been well received, but

most of us have had our fingers

crossed for an EZ in 9mm.

The EZ series is not a me-too

concept. It’s been difficult to

find a defensive semiauto that

is this easy for people of all

ages and strength to manipulate

and shoot. The EZ is

arguably the best design for

shooters with these concerns.

It is easy to load, easy to rack,

easy to manipulate safely and

Designed for safety-conscious shooters, the M&P9 shield EZ

offers active safety measures including an ambidextrous thumb

safety lever and a grip safety that pivots on its pin at the bottom

of the grip. it is quickly depressed as the hand begins to touch it.

easy to shoot. The “EZ” nickname perfectly describes these models

for the intended customer.

About Safety Not everyone who decides to purchase or carry

a gun is an enthusiast. In the case of compact handguns, many

purchase their first and only firearm. For a non-enthusiast, one of

the primary drivers of firearm choice is safety. While many of us

who carry and shoot handguns regularly are comfortable carrying

a semiautomatic handgun having no manual safety and a round in

the chamber, not everyone shares the same confidence. While many

manufacturers have been hesitant to add optional manual safeties to

their striker-fired handguns, S&W has been offering them for years.

The Shield EZ has several active and passive safeties to prevent

an accidental discharge.

There is an optional framemounted

thumb safety lever

that’s ambidextrous. This lever

is well-located, intuitive and

easy to engage or deactivate.

The thumb safety does not

lock the slide so the gun can

be loaded with the safety

engaged.

The second safety feature

is one that has been eliminated

on all but a few modern

handguns: a grip safety. Grip

safeties have been around since

1887 when they first appeared

still EZ | February 2020 G&A 43

on the S&W Safety Hammerless

revolver, also nicknamed

the “Lemon Squeezer.” A grip

safety also appeared in 1908

when John Browning integrated

one to the backstrap

of the Colt Vest Pocket pistol.

The intent of the grip safety is

to prevent the gun from firing

unless the safety is intentionally

deactivated with a proper

grip. The Shield EZ in .380

ACP and 9mm both use a

polymer grip safety lever on the pistol’s backstrap. It disengages as

soon as the web of the hand presses against back of the grip. From

our evaluation of both models, it is virtually impossible to grip the

Shield EZ without actuating the long grip safety, which means that

it doesn’t interfere with using the handgun. The presence of the

safety is not something that we noticed when testing these pistols.

The Shield EZ also uses a passive internal mechanism to

ensure that the striker does penetrate the firing pin hole unless

the trigger is pulled. As the trigger is pulled, the transfer bar’s

disconnector sweeps and pushes up on an interrupting safety

plunger, only then allowing the firing pin to pass by it.

These handguns do not feature a magazine safety, which is a

largely loathed feature among gun enthusiasts who are defensive

minded.

On top of the slide is another passive safety device: the loaded

chamber indicator. With a cartridge case in the chamber, the indicator

protrudes above the slide as a visible and tactile reminder that

there is a round in the chamber. Being a lever that can be touched, a

the chamber’s status can be confirmed in complete darkness.

To Be EZ “EZ” means that the pistol is easy to load. Hand most

handguns to someone of small or weak stature, particularly

someone with arthritic hands, and you’ll see them struggle to

rack the slide fully. Trying to even load a semiauto handgun is

a real issue to many, and some of those same Americans might

the front and rear sights are low profile and snag resistant. they

are simple in that they offer three white dots for sight alignment.

the “EZ” name

refers to the inherent

tasks that are typically

a challenge to

those with strength

or manual dexterity

issues. Racking the

shield EZ’s slide

requires less effort

than any other

carry-ready 9mm,

and loading the single-stack

magazine

is aided by pulling

down the two tabs

on each side of the

follower.

be targeted by criminals for

violent crime due to size, age,

health or gender. Everyone

deserves the right to selfpreservation.

For decades, the

recommendation has been

the revolver or even a pistol

chambered in .380. However,

with the introduction of the

M&P9 Shield EZ, there is

finally a semiautomatic option

in 9mm that virtually everyone

can physically handle.

The slide on the Shield EZ is so easy to manipulate that it often

surprises someone who racks it for the first time. Making the

Shield EZ in 9mm was a real achievement though that required

significant engineering apart from the original .380. This is due

to the fact that customers expect to run any load through it.

Unfortunately for handgun makers, there is a long list of 9mm

cartridges with different pressures and bullet weights ranging

from Inceptor’s 65-grain ARX lead-free projectile to standard

pressure, subsonic 147-grain bullets. S&W addressed this and

came up with a unique recoil spring design and slide mass to run

common defensive and target loads.

At the rear of the slide is aggressive scalloping and flares, or

“wings,” to increase the cocking grip surface. One can firmly pinch

BUY IT NOW!

log on to galleryofguns.com, select this firearm, pay a deposit and it will be

at your local gun store in two days. When purchased from galleryofguns.com,

Davidson’s guarantees to repair or replace this firearm for life.

low profile controls are the theme including the flush takedown

lever and the small, fenced-in slide-lock lever. the magazine

release button protrudes with familiar M2.0 texturing, but it’s out

of the way. For a high grip, the triggerguard is given an undercut.


or grasp the slide on the Shield EZ

with no fear that your fingers will

slide off before fully racking it. To

test the real-world utility of this feature,

I asked individuals of varying

age and strength abilities to rack the

slide; Everyone was able to do so.

Even the Shield EZ’s single-stack

magazine was easy to load. On both

sides are tabs that allows a shooter

to push down on the follower with

maximum leverage. Because it’s only

a single stack magazine, the spring

is also more easily compressed. One

could argue for increased capacity,

Smith & Wesson M&P9 Shield EZ

Type: Internal hammer fired,

recoil operated, semiautomatic

Cartridge: 9mm

Capacity: 8+1 rds.

Barrel Length: 3.67 in.

Overall Length: 6.7 in.

Height: 4.85 in.

Weight: 1 lbs., 2.5 oz.

Materials: Stainless steel (slide assy.);

polymer (frame assy.)

Finish: Armornite (slide);

Matte black (polymer frame)

Grip: M2.0 textured polymer,

18-degree angle

Trigger: 4 lbs., 4 oz. (tested)

Sights: Three white dot; post (front),

drift adj. notch (rear)

Safety: Manual lever; grip lever;

firing pin block

MSRP: $416

Manufacturer: Smith & Wesson, 800-331-0852,

smith-wesson.com

but that would require a more forceful magazine spring, which goes

against the goals set out for engineering the EZ. It is the gun’s slim

lines that give it its only real disadvantage in this growing category

of compact 9mms. Due to the single-column mag, the M&P9

Shield EZ capacity is eight plus one in the chamber, if you desire.

Other compacts are now offering 10 to 15 rounds of 9mm capacity,

but they’re not as easy to load and rack as this Shield is either.

In order to be useful for self-defense, the Shield EZ has to be

easy to shoot. Two things are required to

make a handgun shootable: a good trigger

and serviceable sights, and the Shield EZ

has both. The sights are robust, made of

steel and installed into dovetails making

them drift adjustable for windage. They

are quite visible with the front post with

white dot measuring .135-inch wide,

while the snag-free rear sports a .140-inch notch flanked by

white dots. These are non-luminescent sights, so you might want

to consider upgrading the sights for self-defense use.

The trigger was crisp rather than spongy as many striker-fired

pistols tend to feel. Of course, the internal hammer helps keep

trigger pull weight down and we measured a short single-stage

draw that released the hammer after 4¼ pounds. There was little

discernable creep. The trigger on the M&P9 Shield EZ felt lighter

the dustcover and rails feature s&W’s M2.0 stainless steel reinforcement

as well as front scallops for manipulating the slide.

A long, spring-loaded lever serves as a visual and tactile aid to

the condition of the chamber. this image shows it unloaded.


to ready the slide for removal, simply lock the slide to the rear

and rotate the disassembly lever down.

than measured. There is a molded overtravel stop behind it. Trigger

reset was fairly short, and both tactile and audible.

Most controls on this handgun are ambidextrous or reversible

including the magazine release, which can be configured for

right- or left-hand use. The exceptions to this are the slide-stop

and takedown levers, which are both located on the left side of

the frame and cannot be relocated.

Notably, there is no need to pull the trigger to unload the

Shield EZ, which could be considered yet another safety

feature. To disassemble, the slide is locked to the rear and the

With the slide assembly removed, the inner workings reveal the

shield EZ’s internal hammer assembly and trigger linkage.

takedown lever is rotated. The slide can then come forward and

off the grip frame, which then allows you to remove the barrel

and recoil-spring assembly. No further disassembly is required

or recommended.

What has always impressed me about the Shield lineup has

been the size. Shields have always struck a balance of being small

enough to conceal, but large enough to shoot well. The barrel

on the M&P9 Shied EZ measured 3.675-inches long, which puts

the overall length at 6.7 inches. This handgun is also slim with a

slide width of just under 1 inch. Unloaded it weighs 18½ ounces.

still EZ | February 2020 G&A 47

Pardon the Pun Shooting the

M&P9 Shield EZ was easy.

Our first shots were hits. The

comfortable, textured grip

frame features a high cut at

the back of the triggerguard,

which allows for a high and

secure grip on the gun. The

combination of the grip and

PERFORMANCE

LOAD

the short trigger reset made rapid follow-up shots a simple task.

It was obvious that the M&P9 Shield EZ is a gun that will be easy

for shooters with different experience levels to master.

Recoil and muzzle rise were a bit stout with defensive ammo

such as SIG Sauer’s Elite 124-grain V-Crown load, but it wasn’t

unmanageable or painful. In contrast, the 100-grain Hornady

Critical Defense Lite was very pleasant to shoot and would be my

recommendation for shooters who are shy about recoil. Winchester’s

147-grain load fits the bill for those who prefer more

bullet weight in a self-defense load. Our sample’s mechanical

accuracy potential at 25 yards was not exceptional compared to

other defensive 9mm pistol on the market, but we found it more

than adequate for its intended purpose. Running drills between

7 and 10 yards, it was no trouble to keep all of the shots grouped

within in the A-Zone of a silhouette target.

The Smith & Wesson Shield has been on the short list of great

carry guns since its

introduction. With the

VEL.

(FPS) ES SD

BEST

GROUP

(IN.)

AVG.

GROUP

(IN.)

Hornady Critical Defense Lite 100-gr. FTX 1,109 40 11.8 3.3 3.69

SIG Sauer Elite V-Crown 124-gr. JHP 1,127 46 15.3 2.24 2.47

Winchester Defender Elite 147-gr. JHP 917 25 9.1 2.6 3.11

Notes: Accuracy is the average of five, five- shot groups from a sandbag rest at 25 yards.

Velocity is the average of five shots recorded by an Oehler Model 35P chronograph.

addition of the Shield

EZ series, this already

excellent handgun

design is even more

attractive to a new

segment of potential

customers. For those

looking for a compact,

lightweight 9mm pistol that’s easy to load, easy to rack and shoot

and loaded with safety features, the M&P9 Shield EZ is the pistol

you’ve been asking for.



WORDS BY ERIC R. POOLE | PHOTOS BY MARK FINGAR

ANOTHER

STEEL

ED BROWN

COMMEMORATES

JEFF COOPER — AGAIN.

50 G&A February 2020 | Another steel fist

Ed Brown Jeff Cooper Commemorative

Type: Hammer fired, recoil operated,

semiautomatic

Cartridge: .45 ACP

Capacity: 8+1 rds.

Barrel Length: 5 in.


Weight: 2 lbs., 6 oz.

Finish: Blued; polished (slide), matte (frame)

Trigger: 3 lbs., 11.5 oz. (tested)

Sights: Novak Low Mount; gold bead (front);

drift-adj. square notch (rear)

Safety: Manual, single sided

MSRP: $3,170 (pistol only); $3,420

(pistol and Commemorative package)

Manufacturer: Ed Brown Products, 573-565-3261,

edbrown.com

LT. COL. JEFF COOPER OPENED “Cooper on Handguns”

(1974), an out-of-print special issue published by Guns &

Ammo,

An unarmed man can only flee from evil, and evil is not overcome

by fleeing from it. This book will examine one particular

form of weapon: the handgun. The handgun is an interesting

artifact, and its mastery is a notable accomplishment. Those

who master it achieve a peculiar satisfaction, for they partake

in some measure of one of the attributes of the gods: The ability

to point the hand and smite at a distance. This idea existed millennia

before anyone ever saw a pistol. So, it must be an innate

human aspiration, independent of technology. It is obviously the

basis of the pleasure we take in pistol craft. As the handgun has

no evil of its own, it has no skill of its own; however, in a master’s

hands, its efficiency is almost unbelievable. As with all instruments,

it is the man, not the tool, that makes the difference. The

more subtle the tool, the greater the difference. Skill with a shovel

makes less difference than with a violin. The handgun lies somewhere

between.

Appearing since Guns & Ammo’s first issue in 1958, Cooper

penned reviews and thought-provoking commentary. I met him

on two occasions at his home adjacent to the Gunsite Academy

in Arizona and was privileged to discuss The Modern Technique,

as well as study his collection of small arms and books in his

library. My lasting takeaway has been that Cooper was well read

with deep interests in classic literature, early automobiles, firearm

development in addition to military and world history. His use

of the written word reflects that of a master who benefited from

a thorough education and a love for reading. Combined with

his service as a U.S. Marine officer during World War II and

the Korean War, his experiences and understanding of human

instinct made him a writer with few peers.

Cooper believed in deductive logic, the process of reasoning to

reach a definitive conclusion. This is most apparent when considering

his recommendation of the .45-caliber Model 1911A1

as the preeminent defensive handgun. Forever a student, Cooper

continued to consider and evaluate new models as they were

introduced but felt that all other handguns, though they may

be deemed “adequate,” fall short of the 1911’s standard for one

reason or another.

When Cooper passed away at the age of 86 on September 25,

2006, the industry mourned with his family and friends. We all

did. Ed Brown collaborated with Cooper’s surviving family members

to develop an authentic pistol that would honor him with

proceeds benefiting the Jeff Cooper Legacy Foundation. Janelle,

Cooper’s wife, and Lindy Wisdom, Cooper’s daughter, provided the

another steel fist | February 2020 G&a 51

Browns access to his collection of 1911s, as well as to his collection

of personal notes. One year after Cooper’s passing, Ed Brown

introduced the Jeff Cooper Commemorative 1911 with a ship date

of September 25, 2007. Brown announced that after September 25,

2008, “no more will ever be made available for order.”

Never say “never.” More than a decade after the original Ed

Brown Jeff Cooper Commemorative went out of production, the

company decided to update and produce another low-production

Jeff Cooper Commemorative. In truth, the latter is not exactly

the original, and the differences are in the details. In 2007, a

limited run of leather-bound copies of Jeff Cooper’s must-read,

“Principles of Personal Defense,” was included with the gun. For

this new commemorative, a leather-bound copy of “The Yankee

Fist” was produced by Cooper’s family. This was originally an

article that appeared in Guns & Ammo’s February 2003 issue and

highlights Cooper’s reflections on the Model 1911. To add, Ed

Brown ships the new edition with a leather-bound, red-felt-lined

case that appears as if it were a large bible when closed. Inside is

a certificate of authenticity, patch, challenge coin, and lapel pin

each featuring Cooper’s “JC” pen-and-sword logo.

The new pistol also differs from the original Jeff Cooper Commemorative

in that this one wears a brilliantly polished blued

slide with a gold-inlaid signature. (Slightly different than the sig-

nature engraved on the original with matte

finish.) The original pistol also sported a

three-hole Videki-style aluminum speed

trigger, while this new pistol features a

long, solid aluminum trigger. Ed Brown’s

Chainlink texturing dressed the frontstrap

and mainspring housing, while the new

pistol has also been cut with 25 lines-perinch

(lpi) checkering, perfectly executed.

I’m sometimes asked, “What makes a

Model 1911 worth more than a standard

Colt?” As a school-trained pistolsmith

that once specialized in building custom

1911s, I appreciate time-consuming

handwork labor, flawless fitting and attention to detail. For

example, on Ed Brown’s 1911s, there isn’t the usual line or two

of checkering that hangs outside of the textured box. When you

begin to see the flaws in another 1911, you appreciate the man

hours invested and intensive training that went into fitting parts

and blending crisp edges to every contoured line.

Other Details Like the original, the new Cooper commemorative

is complete with cocobolo wood grip panels, smooth except for

the JC logo laser engraved on each. Modern Allen-head screws

secure each panel to the forged steel frame, which is also machined

in-house. I’ve visited Ed Brown’s shop in Perry, Missouri, and

remember being taken back by how much of the pistol was made

right there from raw materials and forgings. This shouldn’t surprise

the custom pistolsmith because we’ve been using Ed Brown’s parts

such as the legendary Memory Groove Beavertail Grip Safety ($70)

for more than 20 years. For those unfamiliar with the history of

Ed Brown, he got his start in the 1970s as a competitive shooter

that would perform trigger jobs after competing in matches. He

then invented part designs still imitated by other brands today, and

supplying improved parts for the 1911 ever since.

Inside Ed Brown’s shop is a unique broach machine that was

sourced long ago from a World War II-era U.S. Navy ship. Brown

retrofitted it with a long string of cutters that gradually increases

52 G&A February 2020 | Another steel fist

ed Brown’s barrel and bushing

are fitted tightly to the slide.

A checkered plunger locks the

bushing in place.

two magazines are provided

including one with an extended,

protective basepad and another

flush-fit without the pad. Pads

are attached by two screws.

the solid, aluminum trigger is

expertly fitted to ed Brown’s

frame. there is access to

adjust overtravel, but you

won’t need to.

novak lo-Mount sights appear

with a 14-carat gold bead at

the front and a blacked out

ramped rear notch.

the size of a hole. This one-of-a-kind machine is used for the

otherwise complicated process of boring a perfect hole to accept

a magazine. This machine is an example of the unique tools of

the trade that make Ed Brown’s

products so precise.

Of course, precision is held

to the tightest tolerances with

regards to the barrel, slide

and frame-rail relationship. To

my surprise, the engineering

and precision machining is so

good that little hand fitting is

required during the assembly

process. (This is unlike other

1911 makers I’ve observed

PERFORMANCE

LOAD

having to marry oversized parts.) There exists the slightest

amount of movement at the rear of the slide on Guns & Ammo’s

test sample and none along the slide rails or between the barrel,

bushing and muzzle of the slide. However, unlike other tightly

fitted 1911s that need to be worn in, Ed Brown’s 1911s do not.

At the Range I suspect most who seize the opportunity to own

this collectible will keep it ready for display in its leather-bound

case. As nice as this pistol is, it seems sacrilegious to shoot it —

but somebody had to.

I fired a little more than 500 rounds through the new Jeff Cooper

Commemorative 1911 with my mind drifting off to memory

lane. If you’re a fan of Cooper or have trained at Gunsite, you’ll

understand. Blasting through and reloading the two supplied

magazines — Ed Brown mags, mind you — I chuckled as I

remembered shooting steel pepper-popper targets in the Donga

at Gunsite where targets were rigged not to fall as authoritatively

when struck by the puny 9mm. It’s just another insight into Cooper’s

personality and his favoritism toward the .45 ACP.

VEL.

(FPS) ES SD

BEST

GROUP

(IN.)

AVG.

GROUP

(IN.)

Handload 230-gr. FMJ 827 30 11 1.04 1.66

Winchester WIN-1911 230-gr. JHP 862 39 16 1.22 1.67

SIG Sauer Elite V-Crown 200-gr. JHP 919 29 11 1.43 1.62

Black Hills Barnes TAC-XP +P 185-gr. JHP 921 41 15 1.59 2.04

notes: Accuracy is the average of five, five- shot groups from a sandbag rest from 25 yards.

Velocity is the average of five shots recorded by an Oehler Model 35P chronograph set 7

feet in front of the muzzle.

Recoil is stout when

shooting +P loads through

any 1911, but it’s very

manageable for experienced

pistol shooters and

an all-steel gun like this.

I didn’t clean the pistol or

prep it with oil, and still,

there were no malfunctions

during this evaluation

under sloppy skies and over muddy earth. I introduced a personal

target handload for the accuracy test, which featured mixed

cases, Winchester primers, a light charge of Winchester WSF ball

powder and Sierra MatchKing 230-grain full-metal-jacket (FMJ)

round-nose (RN) bullets. The powder produced a fair amount

of filth throughout the gun, but the tightly built Ed Brown pistol

kept running and shot this load incredibly well.

The bead sight up front isn’t brass; it’s real 14-carat gold. It

offers adequate contrast, though isn’t as easy to discern in certain

lighting conditions as fiber optics or the latest night sights with

brightly colored day-glow rings. This contemporary approach to

sights became popular at the end of Cooper’s career, and he was

more traditional with his sight choices. I noted that a couple of

Cooper’s Colt 1911A1s were equipped with this gold bead sight,

so Ed Brown’s choice is appropriate for this model. The rear sight

is the drift-adjustable Novak ramp with a black square notch.

This set-up is great for carry and keeps the shooter’s focus on the

front gold bead rather than superfluous dots at the rear.

Cooper didn’t believe in left-handed controls on guns used by

another steel fist | February 2020 G&a 53

the high-polished blued slide features traditional square-cut slide

serrations on the rear only. Jeff Cooper’s signature is inlayed in

gold on the ejection port side.

the left side of the slide features ed Brown’s right-hand-only

extended thumb safety and slide-lock lever. the left slide slab is gold

inlayed “DVC,” a latin abbreviation for “accuracy, power, speed.”

someone who wasn’t left-handed, so it’s no surprise to me that

this pistol continues the tradition of right-hand-only buttons

and levers. However, what’s there is Ed Brown’s extended thumb

safety that is great for pressing down on with your thumb to aid

recoil management. However, there’s no risk in unintentionally

activating the thumb safety on any of Ed Brown’s 1911s; to push

it up and engage the slide requires considerable force. When it’s

time to send the cocked-and-locked hammer forward and engage

targets, deactivating it requires only moderate effort by contrast.

The trigger experience is also incredible. To shoot an Ed Brown

1911 is to remember why we all love the feel of a single-action

trigger. The raceway in the frame is like that of a fine watch as

the trigger bow glides through it to push

against the sear. There is no binding

that causes stuttering. To fire the pistol

required less than 4 pounds of smooth

pressure and there was no hiccup to start,

grit in the middle or overtravel at the end.

Seriously, the trigger felt flawless.

A great trigger like this can bring

out any pistol’s accuracy potential. In a

Ransom Rest, this is a 1-inch gun at 25

yards. At the bench at the same distance, I

managed to fire a several groups that measured

between 1.04 and 1.45 inches. (It

wasn’t as hard as it sounds.) On average, I

could free-hand 1.8-inch groups standing

perpendicular and bladed to the target as

if I were shooting in a bullseye match. I’ve

the cocobolo grips are smooth

and feature Jeff Cooper’s logo, his

initials over a sword and quill pen.

forgotten how rewarding it feels to repeatedly win the struggle to

print small groups. You can’t help but to love a gun that shoots

this accurately.

The acronym “DVC” appears on both the original Ed Brown

1911 and this remake. The letters stand for “diligentia, vis, celeritas,”

Latin for “accuracy, power, speed.” Cooper popularized this

phrase as the goals of learning defensive shooting. Given this

pistol’s extraordinary accuracy, the .45’s power and the speed of

employing a single-action trigger with short reset qualifies this

pistol as a sidearm Cooper would approve of.

Why now? Ed Brown said they wouldn’t make a Jeff Cooper

Commemorative again after September 25, 2008,

so I called and spoke to John May, Ed Brown’s

sales and marketing director, to ask why they

would reintroduce this model.

“Do you know how many shooters I speak to who

have never heard of Col. Cooper?,” May replied.

“Too many. The original pistol was designed to

honor Cooper’s legacy and all that he had done for

our industry. We have so much to be thankful for.

For the next generation to go without his Cooperisms,

reading his writings or learning The Modern

Technique, we would have forfeited his memory.

It’s important for us to keep Cooper’s history and

teachings alive. A portion of the proceeds from this

project will go to the Jeff Cooper Legacy Foundation

to help continue their work in letting the next generation

know what this man meant to all of us.”



WILSON COMBAT

GIVES US A LONG

SLIDE WITH THE

NEW EDC X9L.

CARRY

LARGE

EVERYDAY

WORDS BY KEITH WOOD | PHOTOS BY MARK FINGAR

WILSON COMBAT has been a leader in the custom gun world since 1977,

and after all those years former competitive shooter Bill Wilson’s company still

drives innovation in many ways. Perhaps the pinnacle creation debuted in 2016:

the EDC X9 9mm pistol. Still available to shooters with discriminating tastes, its

compact hybrid design incorporated many Model 1911A1 elements and added

modern features such as a high-capacity aluminum frame and a tri-top slide for

concealed carry. Reviews of the EDC X9 were positive, even among those who felt

that no handgun could be worth $2,895. Still, many of Wilson’s loyal customers

wanted to see these features applied to a full-size format. Enter the Wilson

Combat EDC X9L. The X9L is a 5-inch-barreled everyday carry

(EDC) gun with a capacity of up to 18 rounds of 9mm.

Few handgun designs can match the single-action

trigger pull, ergonomics and overall shootability of a really

good M1911, and Wilson Combat’s 1911s certainly fit into

that category. There is no doubt though that the M1911’s

limited magazine capacity is a negative, but with the .45

ACP there is only so much that can be done in that regard

without creating an unwieldy handgun. By combining the trigger,

safety, hammer and top end of the 1911 with the high capacity

aluminum 9mm frame, Wilson Combat created a novel handgun in

the EDC X9 series that offers the best of both types.

Compared to the original EDC X9, the EDC X9L has a longer barrel,

longer sight radius and greater overall weight, all of which make it potentially

easier to shoot well compared to a compact. “There was a lot of customer

demand for a full-size EDC and it was always part of the evolution plan for the

platform,” Wilson Combat’s founder Bill Wilson told us.

Since the company’s humble beginnings tuning and building custom M1911s

for International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) competition, Wilson

Combat has become a company possessing an impressive manufacturing

capability. Their seven-building complex now includes three complete machine

shops and 50 gunsmiths who work on nothing but handguns. Wilson Combat

is also capable of making every component of their handguns on-site — including

the X series — and only outsources the G10 grips to VZ Grips (vzgrips.com)

and the magazines. They even produce barrels, which is rare these days.

56 G&A February 2020 | cArry lArGe everydAy

With the optional magwell installed, the

pistol includes two 18-round magazines.

Unlike the original edc X9, the

X9l uses a fitted bushing.

The trigger is serrated and adjustable for overtravel.

reaching it and the magazine release is comfortable.

Building the EDC X9L started with Wilson Combat’s X-frame,

which is CNC machined from billet 7075-T6 aluminum. The

frame is what sets the EDC series apart, as it incorporates the

high-capacity dual-column magazine used by many 9mm handguns

while maintaining the ergonomic and familiar controls of

the M1911A1. Despite the capacity, the X-frame’s grip is actually

smaller in diameter than that of a single-column magazine 1911.

The X-frame doesn’t just hold more rounds than the singlestack,

there are other differences. For starters, there is no separate

mainspring housing and the grip safety has been deleted, which

simplifies the grip contour. The frontstrap and backstraps are

machined with an integral diamond pattern that provides plenty of

purchase without being abrasive to skin or clothing. Four independent

frame rails allow the slide to move with limited friction when

compared to the original M1911 format. Wilson calls them “reliability

enhanced frame rails.” Frames are available with or without

light rails on the dust cover. (G&A’s test model did not wear rails.)

The combination of a built-in magazine funnel and a magazine

that tapers to a single column is conducive to fast reloads.

The steel and polymer magazines are an adaptation of the unit

found on the Walther PPQ M2 and are produced by Mec-Gar

(mec-gar.com). The proprietary 15-round magazines use quarterinch

base pads and fit flush with the bottom of the grip frame,

while the 18-rounders extend just beyond the bottom with the

optional and removeable magazine funnel in-place. The funnel

arches upward on both sides of the frame allowing the shooter

the ability to strip a magazine from the gun in the event of a

malfunction. Specially designed G10 grips attach to the frame

using dovetails, so there are no screws, the result is a slim profile

despite the gun’s capacity. The frame is also cut high under the

carry large everyday | February 2020 g&a 57

The barrel is about accuracy. It measures 5 inches, is

stainless steel and features a flush-cut reverse crown.

triggerguard, which allows a

high grip on the gun. A beavertail

prevents hammer bite.

In terms of controls, the

trigger, slide stop, magazine

release and manual safety are

all of the M1911A1-style. Both

Wilson’s Bulletproof slide stop

PERFORMANCE

LOAD

and safety levers are constructed with oversize surfaces, so they

are easy to manipulate in a hurry. I have average-sized hands

and was able to actuate the checkered magazine release without

shifting my grip on the handgun. Likewise, the serrated trigger

was within easy reach. Our test gun’s trigger fires after a crisp and

clean 31/ pounds. There was some take-up in Guns & Ammo’s

sample. However, the trigger reset was extremely short resulting

in fast split times between shots.

Wilson’s use of CNC milling stations is immediately evident

when examining the X9L. There is complex cross-hatching

cuts present on both the frame and slide, for example. The

X-TAC pattern milled into the slide takes the place of front and

rear cocking serrations and provides ample grip. Instead of a

traditional rounded top on the slide, a five-sided surface results

in a unique but attractive profile that also cuts weight. The slide

is milled narrower near the muzzle in the style of the Browning

Hi-Power and some of the custom M1911s of yesteryear. Wilson

calls them “carry cuts” and it is a good look. Ball-end mill cuts

on the slide’s transition to the dust cover adds a custom touch as

well. The bottom edge of the slide is chamfered to eliminate the

sharp edge. All of these cuts aren’t just for aesthetic reasons. The

result is a low-mass slide that still

manages to temper muzzle rise.

While the lower half of the

EDC X9L has more features of a

modern double-stack handgun,

the top end is like an M1911A1.

The slide is machined from 416R

stainless steel, as is the 5-inch

match ramped barrel. Neither

component is coated, which gives

the gun a two-tone look. A nearly

imperceptible reverse crown protects

the rifling from real-world

Sights encourage precision with the rear being adjustable yet snag-free. a

serrated topstrap prevents glare to focus on the green fiber optic front.

VEL.

(FPS) ES SD

BEST

GROUP

(IN.)

AVG.

GROUP

(IN.)

Horn. Amer. Gun. 115-gr. XTP JHP 1,148 58 19.3 1.11 1.34

SIG Sauer 365 Elite 115-gr. FMJ 1,198 47 17.3 2.29 2.5

Federal Syntech Range 124-gr. FMJ 1,129 22 8.4 1.61 1.97

Notes: Accuracy is the average of five, five- shot groups from a sandbag rest at 25 yards.

Velocity is the average of five shots recorded by an Oehler Model 35P chronograph.

abuse and the barrel locks up

by means of a single top lug.

Though the more compact

EDC X9 uses a fluted-cone

barrel that deletes the need

for a bushing, the X9L uses a

traditional barrel bushing to

secure it for better fitment at

the muzzle. Though the bushing may seem antiquated to some,

it has a purpose: Bushings can be replaced to account for wear,

which is important on a gun that will see tens of thousands of

rounds. (It is better to wear out the bushing than the frame.)

The EDC X9L uses the standard recoil spring and plug arrangement

of the M1911 with no full-length guide rod. Wilson’s polymer

Shock Buff pad provides cushion to the metal components

when the slide slams to the rear upon firing. As a result, disassembly

of the X9L follows the traditional M1911 steps and will be

familiar to any shooter comfortable with that manual of arms.

The sights on the EDC X9L are tall, visible and excellent. A

user-replaceable fiber-optic front sight is framed by an adjustable

snag-free black rear with 40 line-per-inch serrations. These cuts

continue on the rear surface of the slide, cutting glare and looking

good doing it. The flat on the slide’s top is serrated 30 lines-perinch.

The sights are adjustable for both windage and elevation

using two Torx and one standard screw, respectively. Rounding out

the slide, the ejection port is generously wide to allow for flawless

ejection and the slide-mounted spring-loaded extractor and framemounted

fixed ejector get empties out of the gun with authority.

The machining and polishing on the EDC X9L are first rate,

without a single visible flaw in the

various cuts made on the frame

and slide. The barrel locks up

tight, leaving no wobble when the

hood is depressed. Slide-to-frame

fit allows just enough clearance

to ensure reliability. The surface

finish is Wilson’s Armor-Tuff black

coating, which is durable but

only .001 inch thick so it doesn’t

interfere with the critical fitting

between the pistol’s various parts.

I’m a big fan of custom Model

58 G&A February 2020 | cArry lArGe everydAy

1911 handguns, so I was excited to shoot the EDC X9L. I have

already evaluated the compact original, too. Like that one, the

X9L is a soft-shooting pistol with what I can only describe as a

slow recoil impulse. Clearly, the 9mm chambering is part of the

recoil equation, but I’ve shot other 9mm 1911s and none of them

were this easy to shoot. Just as the sights are coming down from

the peak of recoil, the gun can be felt locking back into battery.

The X9L is a pistol that is most easy to control.

Accuracy ranged from average to great depending on the load.

Reliability was 100 percent, but for heavy-for-caliber subsonic

ammunition tempted the gun’s boundaries.

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INCREASES AFFECTION FROM WOMEN

♥ Ken (WA) “My wife likes me better when

I wear 10X. It just works. I know the difference

between men and women. I know men

are simple. Switch on or off. Women, dials

rheostats gauges. Much more complex. But

when I wear the 10X it dials in and it is all

tuned. She wants to be with me. I am a

happier person.”

According to Wilson, “The basic EDC X9 has proven to be the

most functionally reliable variant we’ve ever produced.” Thanks

to a clean and consistent trigger, excellent sights and a wellengineered

frame, the X9L was exceedingly easy to shoot with a

blend of speed and precision.

What role does this handgun fill? Virtually any that a 5-inch

Model 1911 would, and then some.

“Full size pistols are still our best sellers,” Wilson said. “And a

lot of people carry a five. The X9L meets this need and is also a

very good pistol for range use and IDPA competition in the ESP

division.” (Team Wilson Combat’s Mandy Bachman recently used

an X9L to win the High Lady slot at the

UNSCENTED

INCREASES YOUR ATTRACTIVENESS

Vial of 1/6 oz. added to 2-4 oz. of

fragrance, worn daily lasts 4-6

mos. Effective in published

studies. Cosmetic. Will work for

most, but not all. 10:13 for women

$98.50, 10X for men $99.50.

2019 IDPA World Championship.)

The X9L is also ideal for all-around

defensive use, and would be a fantastic

choice for a high-round-count handgun

course where a .45 ACP might take its toll

on the shooter. A dedicated individual

could use it for EDC, and it is a perfectly

suitable duty pistol for officers willing and

able to pay the tab.

No one needs a gun for self-defense

that runs just south of $3,000, but some

are willing to pay that sort of price for

a quality firearm built with premium

components. Otherwise, Wilson Combat

wouldn’t be the successful business it is.

The EDC X9 and X9L are not guns built to

meet a price point, but rather a handgun

made to be the best that it can be.

Wilson Combat nailed it on this one.

The company’s long experience with the

1911 combined with the manufacturing

capability to adapt and update the

platform really shine with this model. The

EDC X9L is built to shoot and is accurate,

reliable and ergonomic. It’s a handgun

that combines the shootability of the 1911

with less recoil and double the capacity.

You’ve gotta shoot one.

Wilson Combat EDC X9L

Type: Recoil operated,

semiautomatic

Cartridge: 9mm

Capacity: 18+1 rds.


Height: 5.25 in.

Weight: 2 lbs., .4 oz.

Material: 416R stainless steel (slide),

Aluminum (frame)

Grip: VZ Grips G10 Starburst

Trigger: 3 lbs., 8 oz. (tested)

Safety: Manual thumb lever

Finish: Armor-Tuff black

Sights: Wilson Combat fiber optic

(front); adj. notch (rear)

MSRP: $2,995

Manfacturer: Wilson Combat, 870-545-

3310, wilsoncombat.com


The author didn’t get to see his

father’s P.08 Luger as a boy, but

a family friend retained it for 60

years, returning it to an older Emary

in 2006. The tale of how he came

to have the Luger is a story of hard

combat and an enduring friendship.


MORE THAN 60 YEARS

AFTER T/SGT. ROBERT EMARY

RECOVERED IT FROM A

FALLEN GERMAN TANKER,

A 1937- MANUFACTURED

LUGER IS RETURNED HOME.

DAD’S

LUGER

WORDS BY DAVE EMARY | PHOTOS BY MARK FINGAR

62 G&A February 2020 | dAd’s luGer

We’ve all seen perfect, factory- new

lugers, but the author’s has the benefit

of honest wear and a true story. A trophy

pistol of this condition and having a real

war story behind it is a prize for any

enthusiast.

FROM AN EARLY AGE, I knew my father, T/Sgt. Robert J.

Emary, had served in World War II in the U.S. Army. As I became

older, my mother explained to me that my father had been a

paratrooper in the 101st Airborne and had fought at Bastogne.

At that point in his life, my father talked very little about the

war. This started me to reading as much as I could as a second

or third grader on World War II history. This early knowledge of

my father’s service has had a huge impact on my

entire life leading to an early fascination with the

military, my own military service and a lifelong

interest in history, especially firearms and all

things shooting.

I remember as an eight- or nine-year old, reverently

looking through the box of my father’s war

memorabilia. In that memorabilia was an AG USFET

No. 33 official capture paper for a Luger pistol.

As any eight-year-old who had some knowledge

of World War II history and guns would think,

where’s the Luger? My father’s answer to that question

was that he had given it to a friend.

As you can imagine, I was quite disappointed

to not be able to see or handle such an incredible

piece of militaria. However, this was not the end of

the story. Sixty-one years after it was captured and

40 years after my first knowledge of the Luger, it

was given to me by my father’s best friend from

high school, Gordy.

Background My father graduated from high school in 1942 at

the age of 16. He worked for 16 months and then enlisted in the

military on his 18th birthday in 1943. He wanted to be a naval

aviator, but was rejected because he was told his teeth were too

crooked to work with the oxygen masks. After getting this news,

he enlisted in the U.S. Army Airborne.

Several days after his enlistment he received a letter from the

U.S. Navy saying that he could report for induction.

The problem had been resolved, but it was a

little too late for the Navy. After basic training and

jump school, my father arrived in England shortly

after D-Day and was a member of the first wave of

replacements after the invasion of Normandy.

He was assigned to the 506th Parachute Infantry

Regiment (PIR), 3rd Battalion, I Company,

101st Airborne. For those of you who are history

buffs, this is the same regiment as E (“Easy”) Company

in Stephen Ambrose’s book, “Band of Brothers.”

My father was a couple companies down the

line from E Company.

The Capture I had a long talk with my father in

early February 2006, right after I received the Luger

from his friend Gordy because I wanted to know the

history of where and how he got it. Here is what he

said: “That Luger belonged to a Panzer commander.

It was after Bastogne and after we had attacked Foy.

dad’s luger | February 2020 g&a 63

For reasons unknown, the

pistol was carried in a swiss

holster with the muzzle end

trimmed off rather than the

usual hardshell german holster.

This left the muzzle unprotected,

but makes the ensemble all the

more interesting.

The “s/42” mark indicates manufacture

at the Mauser factory in Oberndorf. The

1937 date is correct with the excellent

prewar finish having straw colors and

bright blue parts. The gun was likely in

storage for years before being issued.

We were charging out of some woods when

we were attacked by the Panzer, but one of

our bazooka teams hit the Panzer. I ran up

to the tank and jumped on it.

You know that’s what the procedure

was. After you hit one with a bazooka you

were supposed to jump on the tank and throw grenades in the

hatch. I noticed that the hatch was partially open and I pulled it

open to throw a grenade in.

It looked like a side of meat hanging there, it didn’t look like

a person. He hadn’t just been hit in the head, his head was gone,

his lungs had been sucked out and you could see his rib cage. I

thought, Wow! I didn’t see anybody else moving in the tank. Then

I noticed he was wearing a Luger. I just cut his belt off and took

the belt with the holster and put it in my musette bag.”

My father had given me his 1945 506th PIR (Parachute Infantry

Regiment) scrapbook with very detailed maps of the major

actions involving the 506th. There were also detailed maps of

the actions at Bastogne, day by day. It also contained a period

topographic map of the Bastogne area that showed where woods

were. From these maps, I was able to locate where and when the

action my father described had to have taken place.

Gen. George Patton’s Third Army broke the siege of Bastogne

on Christmas Day, 1945. The 101st and attached units began

being resupplied by ground on December 27th. Rather than being

relieved, the 101st was ordered to hold and then lead the counterattack

to push the Germans back.

A part of this effort to push the

Germans back was the attack and capture

of Foy by 506 PIR E and I companies on

January 13 and 14, 1945. At the end of this combat,

I Company was down to less than a platoon: 21 men. This is the

engagement my father was talking about when he said he captured

the Luger after Foy. I Company and the rest of 3rd Battalion

were then withdrawn and held in reserve in the woods north of

Bastogne near Lake Fazone, which is no longer there.

I Company was not in combat again until January 16, when it

participated in a regimental attack that pushed the Germans east

of the small town of Wicourt. There were only two wooded areas

along I Company’s line of advance. There were woods northwest of

Noville, but this area had been taken by 1st Battalion 506th on January

15. In addition, 3rd Battalion’s line-of-advance was just north

of Vaux, which would have taken them north of these woods.

There were also woods southwest of Wicourt that I Company

had to have advanced through. The action my father described in

which he captured the Luger occurred on January 16, 1945, and

had to have taken place just north of the woods, southwest of

Wicourt, Belgium.


The author has

avoided shooting

the luger with

the original

grips in place,

as they are

thin and

prone to

cracking after

more than 80

years. reproduction

grips of

various materials

are available.

The P.08 luger was produced

through the 1930s, but was

largely supplanted by the

P.38 after 1940. As the noose

tightened around the Third

reich, all sorts of small arms

began to appear from storage

depots.

This action all took place between modern day Belgian highways

E25 and N30, between Cobru and Wicourt. The 101st

Airborne was relieved by the 17th Airborne Division on January

17, 1945. I company was down to 11 men.

Finally Seeing the Luger In early January 2006 during a conversation

with my father, he told me his friend Gordy had called and

asked if my father wanted the Luger back. My father said no. I told

my father if Gordy no longer wanted the Luger, I would be happy

to buy it from him. About two weeks later, I received a letter from

Gordy that briefly gave the history of how he got the Luger from

my father, and an incredibly generous offer to give me the Luger.


The toggle shows almost no wear. some german tanks had firing

slits to allow the crew to shoot at enemy soldiers clambering

aboard, but Panzer crewmen had relatively little occasion for

shooting pistols in anger.

german arms makers obsessively serial-numbered everything,

including small luger parts. Finding a battlefield capture “numbers

matching” luger is an accomplishment for any collector. expectedly,

this one was missing the spare magazine.

straw colors on the trigger and takedown lever are usually a sign

of prewar manufacture when commercial standards were still in

effect. Otherwise, there is little wear anywhere on the specimen.

My father and Gordy were best friends in high school. Gordy

served in the U.S. Merchant Marines as a crewmember on an

anti-aircraft gun and was badly wounded in a kamikaze attack

in late 1944. He said in his letter, “As I remember things, I was

in the South Pacific in 1944 and I wrote your dad, who was in

Europe. I said, ‘If you can, I’d like for you to get me a Luger.’

To my great delight, when we both got home he came to

my parent’s house and handed me a package and said,

‘Here’s your Luger.’

“He related to me some of the incident in

which he acquired the pistol, and I realized that

there is a great deal of sentiment and meaning

attached to the gun. Knowing how much my

son is interested in certain aspects of my naval

experience, I imagine you probably have the same

interest in your dad’s service. If you wish, I would be

very pleased and honored to turn the Luger over to you so

you can have this memento which is really a tribute to your

dad.” I was quite overwhelmed and said “Yes,” of course.

I was able to sit down with my father and Gordy in the summer

of 2006, and talk to both about some of their war experiences

and their life after the war. This was a very special time that

I will never forget.

The Luger I received the Luger about a week after the letter

from Gordy. I wondered what I would see when I opened the

box, and I about fell over when I got it open. Inside the leather

holster was a pristine Luger. It looked like it was nearly brand

new. The only wear on the gun was some compression of the

checkering on the right grip from the holster brass closure button,

and some bluing wear at the muzzle.

The gun was all matching with a mismatched aluminumbottom

magazine. There was no spare magazine in the holster

magazine pouch. The Luger is a S/42 Mauser Orberndorf-1937

manufacture gun. It has a 4-inch barrel with a vivid straw color

on the trigger and extractor. It has deep and bright bluing, and

what I would consider commercial-quality fit and finish. The

barrel is very lightly frosted inside, but shiny.

The holster is very interesting, as it is not the standard German

period-issued hard-leather holster. I took the gun to a dealer

who specializes in Lugers and was told the holster was a “Swiss”

holster. The bottom of the holster had been cut off at some point,


The luger has had few

opportunities to slide out of its

swiss-made leather holster in

the 60 years it was held by the

author’s father’s friend, Gordy.

It functioned flawlessly when

recently test-fired.

which allowed the muzzle to protrude from the bottom. This

accounted for the bluing wear at the muzzle.

I asked Gordy if the gun ever had a spare magazine and he

said, “No, only the one in the gun.” I find this very interesting,

as the Panzer commander either acquired the Luger and holster

from someone who didn’t need it anymore or was issued whatever

the quartermaster could scrape together. At this point in the

war, the Germans had not been issuing Lugers as standard equipment

since about 1940 when the P.38 was standardized. It’s also

interesting that there was not even a spare magazine available.

The ad-hoc weapons being thrown together probably reflects the

desperate supply situation the Germans were in by then.

I have fired exactly five rounds from the Luger. During my visit

to the dealer who appraised it for me, he said if I was going to

shoot it to use replacement grips; The original grips crack quite

often if the guns are shot very much.

I fired five rounds of Hornady’s 90-grain XTP factory ammo

through the gun. The rounds chronographed 1,246 feet per sec-


ond (fps). This load is long discontinued, but it was loaded to a

nominal 1,275 fps. This shows the barrel is in quite good shape.

The five-shot group I fired was quite small by my standards at

21/ inches at 25 yards. The gun functioned flawlessly and had a

heavy, but crisp, trigger.

Closing Thoughts My father and his friend Gordy have both

passed away. I am deeply thankful that they allowed me the

opportunity to share in this piece of history, and have a sense of

connection to the history that they lived and participated in.

Certain elements in our society are doing everything they can to

erase our history. In my opinion, this is an effort to convince people,

especially the young, that American history is not a story of

accomplishment and honor, but rather one of failure and shame.

If you know veterans of military service from any era, please

talk with them. If they are willing to relate their experiences,

please write them down. Theirs is a living history that can’t be

replaced when they are gone. We need to preserve this history

for our own sense of who we are and where we came from. One

of the most powerful ways I know of doing this is recording and

remembering the experiences of those who lived history and why

they did it.

In contrast to current military policy that strongly discourages

the practice, the u.s. army of World War II worked to facilitate a

soldier’s natural desire to bring back their war trophies. unfortunately,

most troops today can’t bring home non-gun souvenirs.

How the pistol’s previous owner came by a swiss-flap holster

allows lots of speculation. It was probably a little more comfortable

inside a tank, but obviously failed to protect the muzzle.

Note the empty magazine pocket.

68 G&A february 2020

Editor’s note: Pre-production

cartridges are shown. Production

cartridges will feature

tarnish- and corrosion-resistant

nickel-plated cases.

february 2020 G&A 69

THE

6.5 PRC

MAGNUM

BARNES BULLETS TAKES THE 6.5 PRC

INTO ELK-CAPABLE TERRITORY.

BY JOSEPH VON BENEDIKT

A SINGLE CALF CALL brought elk pouring off the ridge above.

Several were bulls, but the forest was thick making it difficult to

identify the best one. I could only see pieces of elk between tree

trunks and branches.

It was the heat of the rut, and a collision of herd bulls and

lonely satellite bulls fired off a ruckus. It was music to an elkaddict’s

soul. Bugles rasped the morning air, some so close and

deep they reverberated in my chest. A heavy antlered 5x5 paused

right in front of me, a front leg lifted in suspense. A younger

bull plunged his muzzle into a pool of water nearby and drank.

Still, there were bulls I hadn’t seen, and I figured

at least one would be a 6x6. I hunkered behind

my new Ruger Precision Hunter, reflecting wryly

that its superb long-range accuracy potential was

wasted on the current situation. Hopefully, the

elk wouldn’t smell me before I could pick out the

biggest bull.

At least, I figured, I had the right load in the

chamber. In this thick timber, my shot would be

Made to match standards

and loaded with

the accurate, tough and

deep-penetrating 127-

grain LRX bullet, Barnes’s

new 6.5 PRC load is

outstanding for all game.

For hunters, this new 6.5

PRC cartridge is truly

adequate for elk.

close and likely at an angle rather than the ideal broadside presentation.

Barnes’ 127-grain LRX bullet in the prototype VOR-TX

LR cartridge I was using on this hunt should have the toughness

to drive the necessary depth and destroy vitals.

A gnarly bugle growled from a thicket to my right. Through

a narrow gap in the trees, I picked out the heavy shoulder of a

mature bull. Sure enough, he was quartering to me. A whaletail-looking

fork of antler floated high above. That’s all I could

see, but it was enough to gamble on. I glued the crosshairs to the

point of the massive shoulder and squeezed the trigger.

The Cartridge Introduced just a few years ago,

the 6.5 Precision Rifle Cartridge (PRC) is the

trendiest round in the 6.5mm hunting realm. In

engineering terms, it’s arguably the best 6.5mm

hunting cartridge ever designed. It sports a reasonably

short, fat case that provides a plethora of

accuracy-benefitting characteristics.

What are they? The short, broad column of

70 G&A february 2020 | the 6.5 PRC mAGnum

6.5x300 WEATHERBY MAG.

.26 NOSLER

.264 WIN. MAG.

6.5 PRC

Introduced in 2017, the

author believes that the

6.5 PRC (left) is possibly

the best 6.5mm hunting

cartridge ever designed.

engineered for accuracy,

it provides excellent

velocity in a short-action

cartridge. Ballistics mirror

the .264 Win. mag. (near

right). It’s slower than

6.5mm muscle cartridges

such as the 6.5-300

Weatherby (right, middle)

and .26 nosler (far right),

but doesn’t have any of

the temperamentality.

gunpowder contained inside enables faster and more even

ignition than a traditional long, slender propellant column. As a

result, it’s more efficient and more consistent. Both are good for

accuracy.

Also, the shoulder angle is steep enough to provide square

and concentric alignment without introducing significant feeding

issues. When paired with min-spec match-grade chambers, more

consistency — that word again — results.

Finally, and critically, the chamber’s throat dimensions are

designed to promote bullet concentricity and alignment as the

projectile enters and engraves into the rifling leade. Hornady

designed the 6.5 PRC, and much of the black magic that makes

the 6.5 Creedmoor so incredibly

accurate was incorporated

when engineers designed the

6.5 PRC’s throat.

One other characteristic is

worth noting: The 6.5 PRC

achieves admirable levels of

velocity without pushing the

envelope so far that accuracy,

barrel life and the forgiving

nature of the round suffers.

It’s not a muscle cartridge like

the .26 Nosler or 6.5-300

Weatherby. Those cartridges

have their place, but are not as

versatile and forgiving as the

6.5 PRC is.

excellent accuracy such as this .39-inch three-shot group is common

with Barnes Bullets new LRX. this 100-yard group was fired

using Ruger’s new m77 hawkeye Long Range hunter.

Missing Puzzle-Piece Barnes Bullets has just introduced factory

loaded 6.5 PRC ammunition, adding a much-needed dimension

to the cartridge.

There’s been a missing piece to the 6.5 PRC picture: a factory

loaded, tough, deep-penetrating bullet designed for heavy bodied

game such as elk. Hornady’s factory ammo is loaded with the

streamlined 143-grain ELD-X bullet, an outstanding extendedrange

deer bullet. However, I’ve observed that the ELD-X sometimes

pancakes on impact and fails to penetrate deep enough for

quartering shots on up-close elk, particularly when fired at 6.5

PRC velocities.

The lack of controlled-expansion bullets in factory ammo is no

problem for handloaders. The

6.5 PRC world is their oyster

and they can choose whichever

projectile they wish to

shoot. For those who lack the

time or inclination to roll their

own ammo, it’s an issue.

Hopefully, Hornady will soon

introduce a factory load with a

heavy version of its tough GMX

bullet. Until then, the Hornady’s

6.5 PRC ammo is best reserved

for deer-sized game.

Enter Barnes To make the

6.5 PRC capable of taking big,

heavy bodied bull elk from

the 6.5 PRC magnum | february 2020 g&a 71

PHOTOS: WAYNE VAN ZWOLL

all the common shot presentations —

broadside, quartering away and quartering

to — it must be loaded with a controlledexpansion

bullet designed for deep

penetration. In my book, all other considerations

come second. (That includes

the fervor for extremely aerodynamic,

high-BC bullets optimized for long-range

shooting.)

When engineering its 6.5 PRC load,

Barnes took a no-nonsense, no compromise

approach and chose a bullet known

for bone-breaking penetration, good

aerodynamics, low-velocity expansion

and superb accuracy. While not as heavy

as many 6.5mm projectiles, the 127-grain

Long Range Expanding (LRX) bullet is a

monometal design. As the savvy elk hunters

amongst us already know, the long, allcopper

bullet’s shank can’t be destroyed

no matter how much bone and heavy muscle it encounters.

These can be counted on to penetrate deep at any angle.

The LRX bullet is the flagship of Barnes’ lineup. Decades of

experience molded its on-impact characteristics, making for a

bullet that opens properly at long range yet holds together when

impacting up close and fast. Doppler radar guided the engineering

and helped maximize its ballistic coefficient (BC), enabling

it to flow through velocity-robbing air molecules with minimum

Bull down! As the echoes of my shot

rippled away, the forest erupted with an

avalanche of running elk. Leaping to my

feet, I unsuccessfully searched for a bull moving like he’d been

shot. Then, as the trample of hooves quieted into the distance,

I heard a final, labored exhale from the thicket. Topping off the

magazine, I listened to the fading bugles of bulls attempting to

regroup their harems.

I never ranged it, but my shot was certainly inside 70 yards,

maybe as close as 50. A heavy-antlered 6x6 bull laid not 15 steps

from where I’d shot him, killed cleanly and quickly by the deepthe

petals sheered off this Barnes 127-

grain LRX bullet. It impacted the point of

a heavy- bodied bull elk’s shoulder, smashing

a 2- inch section of wrist- size bone. the

remaining shank passed through 8 inches

of shoulder muscle before smashing a

rib, driving through 20 inches of vitals

and coming to rest in the opposite ribs.

Retained weight measured 90.4 grains,

about 71 percent of its original mass.

friction. Precise equipment and uncompromising quality control

adds match accuracy potential to the bullet’s design.

Comparison Test Ahead of this evaluation, Barnes provided

me a few boxes of prototype ammunition to test and hunt with.

Lab techs pointed out to me that the final version will offer a bit

more velocity. Tested using LabRadar, the prototype load exited

a 22-inch barrel of a Ruger M77 Hawkeye Long-Range Hunter at

2,990 feet per second (fps), which isn’t bad at all. That’s about 50

fps more than is generated by both of Hornady’s factory loads, but

keep in mind that the monometal bullet is about 10 percent lighter

and, therefore, should be faster. Production Barnes ammo is said to

be rated at around 3,050 to 3,100 fps when fired from a 24-inch

barrel, so it’s fair to expect 40 to 60 fps less from a 22-incher.

To provide a comparison, I fired three consecutive, three-shot

groups with the Barnes pre-production load followed by the same

with Hornady’s 143-grain ELD-X and

147-grain ELD Match loads. Two of the

three loads averaged sub-minute-of-angle

(MOA) groups. That’s a good indication

of the performance of the relatively light,

slender barrel on the Ruger M77 Long

Range Hunter. Of the three, the Barnes

load was the tightest, turning in a tidy

.39-inch best-group measurement and a

.67 overall average.

Also impressive were the small standard

deviation (SD) numbers posted by all

three different loads. All clocked at or less

than that magic 10-fps mark coveted by

long-range shooters. That’s an excellent

testament of the consistency in the design

of the 6.5 PRC.

72 G&A february 2020 | the 6.5 PRC mAGnum

hornady’s 143-grain

eLD-X (right) bullet in

the 6.5 PRC is superb

for deer-size game.

Barnes’ new 127-grain

LRX (left) features a

monometal bullet with

controlled-expansion

for deep penetration.

the LRX is outstanding

for use on game up to

and including elk.

penetrating LRX bullet. After giving thanks for the winter’s meat

and taking pictures with friend and fellow writer Wayne van

Zwoll, we took the bull apart for the pack out.

Informal forensics told an impressive story: The 127-grain

LRX had impacted a couple of inches above the massive shoulder

knuckle. It took out a 2-inch

section of the wrist-size bone

of the lower shoulder blade.

Angling on toward the vitals, it

passed through a measured 8

inches of dense, tough shoulder

muscle, blew out a 21/-

inch section of rib, pulverized

the lungs and compromised

the plumbing atop the heart.

Finally, it broke the last rib on the other side of the

thoracic cavity where it came to rest. We estimated the

bullet produced 30 to 32 inches of penetration. Few

indeed are the bullets able to penetrate that deeply

and maintain straight-line penetration after impacting

that much bone.

Although I’ve come to

expect such results from the

larger-diameter, heavier versions

of the Barnes LRX, and

certainly hoped to see similar

stellar performance from the

6.5mm 127-grainer, I must

confess that I was impressed.

That specific scenario was the

PERFORMANCE

LOAD: 6.5 PRC

perfect storm of challenges that a big-bodied mature bull elk can

test a bullet with, and it performed splendidly.

In addition to Ruger, several rifle companies are on board with

the 6.5 PRC including Begara, Browning, Christensen Arms, Masterpiece

Arms, Montana Rifle Company, Mauser, Mossberg, Sauer

and Savage. I expect other

VELOCITY

(FPS) ES SD

BEST

GROUP

(IN.)

AVG.

GROUP

(IN.)

Barnes 127-gr. LRX 2,995 29 9 .39 .67

Hornady 147-gr. ELD Match 2,948 28 10 .86 .98

Hornady 143-gr. ELD-X 2,945 20 8 1.17 1.34

notes: Accuracy is the average of three, three- shot groups at 100 yards. Velocity is

the average of nine shots recorded with a LabRadar.

Test Barrel Length: 22 in.; Ambient Temperature: 50° F

this bull came to a

cow call and presented

a narrow shot

opportunity, quartering

steeply to, at

less than 70 yards.

Without a deeppenetrating

bullet,

the author could not

have ethically taken

the shot.

ammunition companies will

follow. For now, with Hornady’s

ideal-for-deer 143-grain ELD-X

and Barnes’ 127-grain LRX for

elk, hunters that want to field

the 6.5 PRC have everything

they need to hunt most hooved

game in the lower 48.

PHOTOS: WAYNE VAN ZWOLL

For 25 years, Kahr Firearms has produced the iconic K9 ® , the

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In honor of this milestone in firearms history, Kahr is

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Slide Width: 0.9”

Weight: Pistol 23.1 oz., Magazine 1.9 oz.

Sights: TruGlo Night sights

Trigger Pull Weight: 7.0 lbs

Finish: Sniper Grey Cerakote Frame and Slide,

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PROOFHOUSE

CZ 1012 Bronze 12 ga.

POWER OF MOTION

CZ HAS ADDED to its already extensive lineup of shotguns

by offering its first gasless inertiaoperated semiautomatic:

CZ 1012. The action is based on the Bruno

Civolani- designed inertia system that utilizes just three

primary parts: bolt body, inertia spring and rotating bolt

head. The CZ 1012 operates with a range of 12-gauge loads

and requires little maintenance.

When fired, recoil pushes the gun rearward. Inertia causes

the bolt body to remain stationary, compressing an internal

inertia spring. As the recoil force dissipates, the spring

thrusts the bolt body rearward, unlocking the bolt head.

The bolt assembly is free to slide rearward and the spent

shell is extracted and ejected. A metal tail at the rear of the

bolt compresses the recoil spring in the buttstock, and the

stored energy returns the bolt back into the forward position,

while picking up the next shell from the magazine

and pushing it into the chamber. It’s a simple system that

has been perfected these last 50 years. It’s easy to clean and

maintain since gases and debris exit the barrel instead of

being channeled through ports in the gun.

The CZ 1012 is manufactured in Turkey by Hatsan Arms

Company (hatsan.com.tr) and is currently available in five

different configurations: three with Turkish walnut stocks

featuring black, bronze or grey anodized aluminum receivers

and synthetic stocks versions in black or full-dip camo.

The version that Guns & Ammo tested featured a walnut

stock and bronze finish on the aluminum alloy receiver.

Currently, all 1012 models come in 12- gauge with 3- inch

chambers, 28- inch barrels with 8mm flat ribs, a single white

bead and five extended choke tubes — Cylinder, Improved

Cylinder, Modified, Improved Modified and Full. The 1012

weighs nearly 61/ pounds depending on stock density.

The control layout is similar to other available inertia

guns and feature a bolt release button on the right side of

the receiver, a shell drop lever alongside the right front

portion of the triggerguard and a crossbolt safety.


The triangular

safety button is

at the front of the

triggerguard rather

than the usual

location at the rear.

The bottom edge

of the shell droplever

is canted 90

degrees to make it

easier to find and

is protected by the

guard.

The CZ 1012’s bolt

is charged by a

large release. The

release button

is pressed down

and forward to

operate, which is

a more intuitive

action than what is

required with the

more traditional

round button.

The hourglassshaped

operating

handle is easy to

grab from any

angle, and is easy

to remove during

disassembly than

the usual C- shaped

handle. This is

a style that has

migrated from

tactical and competition

semiauto

shotguns.

CZ 1012 Bronze

Type: Inertia operated,

semiautomatic

Gauge: 12

Capacity: 4+1 rds.

Chokes: Cylinder, Improved

Cylinder, Modified,

Improved Modified, Full

Barrel length: 28 in.

Overall Length: 49½ in.

Sights: White bead (front)

Length of Pull: 14½ in.

Drop at Comb: 15/8 in.

Drop at Heel: 2½ in.

Weight: 6 lbs.

Stock: Turkish walnut (tested)

Finish: Cerakote bronze (receiver);

Black chrome (barrel)

(tested)

MSRP: $660

Manufacturer: Hatsan Arms Company,

Izmir, Turkey

Importer: CZ- USA, cz- usa.com,

800-955- 4486

PHOTOS: MARK FINGAR

Special Offer for New Customers Only

✓ Send me the 4-Coin Collector’s Set of Scarce American Classics for

❑YES!

ONLY $14.95 – reg. $51.95, plus FREE shipping (limit 5 sets). Also send my FREE

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ORDERS MUST BE RECEIVED

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Charge: oVISA oMC oAmEx oDisc

Card #: Exp. Date

4-Coin Set of

Scarce American Classics

76 G&A February 2020 | CZ 1012

The 1012’s controls offer some intelligent design upgrades

compared with other guns in this class. Most noticeable is the

hourglass-shaped lightened bolt handle. Unlike traditional inertia

guns with a C-shaped bolt handle, the CZ design is easy to grasp

and control from any angle, and is easier to pull free from the

bolt during disassembly.

The bottom portion of the shell drop lever is angled 90

degrees, which is easier to operate than competing models with a

flat profile-lever, and the triangular crossbolt safety is positioned

on the front of the triggerguard instead of the more traditional

position behind the trigger.

In place of a standard rounded bolt-release button, the CZ

utilizes an oblong button that looks like a shoe and widens at the

front. When the bolt is locked open, the wide portion of the bolt

release elevates from the side of the receiver, allowing the shooter

to push forward to close the bolt, which is a more natural action

when shooting rather than depressing a traditional button.

A wide-loading port makes it easy to load the magazine without

pinching your fingers, and the CZ’s tubular magazine holds

four 2¾-inch shells and comes with a plug that limits capacity to

two rounds.

The 1012’s Cerakote bronze receiver finish is durable and

looks good with the gloss black chrome dip finish on the barrel

and the Turkish walnut stock. The stock itself offers a semi-gloss

finish and good figure for a gun with a retail under $700.

Length of pull is 141/-inches with a 1 5 ⁄8-inch drop at the comb

Inertia operation

is popular in

semiauto shotguns

these days, and CZ

has joined the club

with its new 1012.

It offers some

distinctive features

that help it stand

out in an increasingly

crowded

market including

the option for an

attractive bronze

finish.

The inertia operating

system for

shotguns features

no moving parts

forward of the

receiver; There is

no piston, seals

or operating rods,

which allows for

a trim forend and

lets the gun remain

clean through thousands

of rounds of

firing.

SAVE OVER 70

(dates our

choice)

SAVE OVER 70%

QTY DESCRIPTION PRICE TOTAL

4-Coin Collector’s Set (limit 5 sets) $14.95

Add 20th Century Type Folders – $2.50 ea.

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*Sales Tax

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All over 70 years old, these vanishing classics feature

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* We are required by law to collect and remit sales tax for all states except FL and MO. Please

add the appropriate state and local tax for your order. For your convenience, all orders paid by

credit card will have the appropriate sales tax applied at that time. Tax requirements are subject

to change at any time. Please visit LittletonCoin.com/TaxInfo for the most up-to-date list of taxable

categories by state.

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Littleton NH 03561-3737

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Includes Two

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ISSUES!

CZ 1012 | February 2020 G&A 77

and a 2½-inch drop at heel, ideal for a wide range of shooters

and target presentations. There’s ample checkering on the forearm

and pistol grip, and a finger groove runs almost the entire

length of the forearm and offers a comfortable and secure grip.

The wrist of the pistol grip is rather straight for a semiauto

gun, but it provides plenty of control. There are angled cuts on

the forearm and stock that add a touch of modern style without

looking gaudy. As tested, the CZ 1012 Bronze retails for just

$659, making it an attractive option for inertia gun enthusiasts.

The shape of the

shotgun’s grip is,

to some extent,

determined by the

configuration of

the recoil tube that

passes through it.

The pistol grip is

relatively upright

in the style of

contemporary competition

shotguns.

In the Field With a balance point at the front of the receiver,

the CZ 1012 is neither nose-heavy nor whippy. There aren’t any

shims included for adjusting length-of-pull or cast, but the CZ

1012 does come with a functional hard-plastic case with a separate

case of choke tubes for easy transport and storage. Inertia

guns tend to be lighter than their gas gun counterparts, inherent

by design, and at 63/ pounds, the CZ 1012 is a gun that is light

enough to carry all day.

We’re fans of the bolt handle design and G&A’s staff also came

to appreciate the L-shaped shell release lever and the rocker-type

bolt release. The crossbolt safety’s position in front of the triggerguard

seems more intuitive than the more traditional behind-thetrigger

safety position of other inertia guns. It’s a great location.

We expect that shooters will also appreciate the extended choke

tubes. The constriction of each choke is printed on the exterior

of the tube, eliminating the need to count notches. The knurled

extension allows the tubes to be changed out without a wrench.

Guns & Ammo’s test staff believes the CZ 1012’s blend of

modern and traditional styling will appeal to most shooters. The

bronze color on the slide is a tasteful addition, and there are even

two cutouts machined into the top of the receiver for mounting

an optic. The rounded belly of the forearm and the corresponding

finger groove allow a natural grip with the non-shooting

hand. An angled cut on the right side of the bolt body gives it

a rakish modern look and shaves a few ounces of weight. The

semi-humpback receiver profile is also a styling plus.

The 1012’s comb profile and natural point-of-impact (POI) —

this gun shoots flat as you’ll see in the pattern test results — makes

it ideal for sporting clays, skeet and upland

hunting. On the skeet field, we found that

the 1012 came naturally to the shoulder,

and the between-the-hands balance made it

easy to track and break targets.

The flat rib and 50/50 POI were particularly

valuable for shooting incoming

birds — think Station 8 on skeet or a

hard-flying dove on a low approach —

BUY IT NOW!

Log on to galleryofguns.com, select this firearm,

pay a deposit and it will be at your local gun store

in two days. When purchased from galleryofguns.

com, Davidson’s guarantees to repair or replace

this firearm for life.

The DR ® Powerwagon

hauls up to 800 lbs!

78 G&A February 2020 | CZ 1012

Choke tubes are

knurled on the outside

for easy installation

and removal.

They are also

clearly marked;

You won’t need to

count notches. Five

tubes are supplied:

Cylinder, Improved

Cylinder, Modified,

Improved Modified,

and Full.

SELF-PROPELLED! Powerful engines make

transporting big loads EASY—even going

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POWERED DUMPING lets you unload with

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* Assembled in the USA using domestic

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1A893X © 2020

because you simply press the trigger as the bead meets the target.

The trigger itself has a nicely-rounded face and an acceptable

amount of take-up for a field shotgun trigger. It fired after 7½

pounds of pressure.

Light inertia guns are easy to carry in the field, but the equaland-opposite

aspect of lighter weight is more felt recoil than gas

guns. The 1012’s recoil is manageable with light loads, and even

with 3-inch magnums, it isn’t abusive thanks in part to a soft

and dense recoil pad. The pad features a radiused heel which

prevents it from hanging on clothing when firing from a low gun

position on targets or in the field.

Some inertia guns won’t cycle light loads, but the CZ had no

problems with 1 1 ⁄8 ounce AA Winchester target shells. In fact,

there were no issues cycling any of the rounds tested. CZ claims

that they fired nearly 5,000 rounds without cleaning, and while

we didn’t reach that number, G&A’s staff enjoyed several hundred

rounds without cleaning the 1012. It never malfunctioned.

Disassembly of the 1012 is simple: With the gun unloaded

and the bolt retracted remove the knurled magazine cap, then

the barrel and forearm; pull the bolt handle free, slide the bolt

assembly forward and you’ve stripped the gun for basic field care.

A wipe down of the parts and a light coat of lubricating oil on the

interior parts keeps the gun running.

CZ’s 1012 is a remarkable value, and the design and ergonomics

are very good. Any shooter looking for a versatile field gun

that will also double as a clay crusher should take

a hard look at the 1012. If this initial inertiaoperated

offering is any indication CZ might

become a major player in this market.

CZ 1012

WIN. AA LIGHT TARGET

23/- 1 1/8- 8

AVG. PELLET COUNT: 460

AVG. OF 1 SHOTS AT 25 YDS.

MODIFIED TUBE

5

36

48

16

8

23

63

23

The CZ 1012 Bronze performed exceptional

during Guns & Ammo’s roundtable. It was also

evaluated with Aimpoint’s Micro S-1 6-MOA red

dot sight designed specifically for use on shotguns.

It mounted low on the ventilated rib. $738

= POINT OF AIM

21 ¼- IN. INNER CIRCLE: 189 (41%)

30- IN. OUTER CIRCLE: 49 (11%)

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80 G&A February 2020 SPENT CASES

A recent study says Òno.Ó

KEITH WOOD

DO WAITING PERIODS PREVENT CRIME?

WAITING PERIODS were among the first efforts toward

gun control since the passage of the Gun Control Act

of 1968. The waiting period concept was intended to

give law enforcement time to ensure that a potential gun

buyer wasn’t prohibited from owning a firearm and to give

hot-headed individuals a few days to cool off. Congress

passed the Brady Act, a five-day waiting period on handguns,

effective in 1994 and several states followed with

laws of their own. Though the Brady Act lapsed with

the creation of the National Instant Criminal

Background Check System (NCIS)

in 1998, many state-level restrictions

remain on the books. But do they

work?

A group of researchers studied

this topic and published their

findings on March 22, 2018, in

“The Economic Journal,” a peerreviewed

scientific publication of

The Royal Economic Society. The

study began with a discussion of other

research on the effectiveness of waitingperiod

laws and other gun control measures,

including restrictions on gun show purchases.

The authors stated that “gun shows have no detectable

effect on homicides or suicides, and tighter

regulation of gun shows does not appear to

reduce firearm-related death … a large

portion of those who commit homicides

obtain firearms through theft or private

connections, and thus homicides are

unlikely to be significantly affected

by purchase delays.”

To quantify this theory, the

researchers compared data from

states with no waiting periods to

states with waiting periods in place.

According to the study, 32 states

impose no delay on firearm purchases,

with waiting periods in the remaining

states ranging from three days to six months.

Some states, Florida as an example, have waiting periods,

but waive them for carry-permit holders. Most waiting

periods only apply to handguns with only nine states and

Washington D.C. imposing delays on long guns.

The authors of the study specifically examined causeof-death

data from the National Center for Health Statistics

to determine firearm and non-firearm homicide rates

from 1990 to 2013. The authors don’t mince words on the

study’s results: “There appears to be no consistent statistically

significant relationship between handgun delay policies

and homicides.” What about straw purchasers?

The study goes on to state that, “a policy

designed to interrupt the legitimate sale

of firearms will not have any bite in

secondary or illegal markets.”

There is one catch to the data,

though, which relates to suicides.

“Handgun delay policies do have a

consistently negative and statistically

significant effect on firearm-related

suicides,” though that effect is only 2

percent. Suicides represent the majority

of deaths by firearm in the U.S., and to

put those numbers into perspective, “selfinflicted

gunshots kill more Americans every day

as the worst mass shooting in the country’s history.”

It bears noting that many of the nations with the

world’s highest suicide rates including Russia have

few, if any, firearms in private hands. Suicide

attempts are far more likely to be successful

with a firearm than without, though, something

that the study points out.

This data establishes what many

have said for decades: Waiting periods

simply don’t prevent crime. The

authors leave us with a final note,

one that we can probably all agree

upon, “A key element of depolarising

the normative debate about gun

control and gun violence is establishing

a foundation of facts about gun

control policies and gun violence.” I think

most gun owners would happily have an honest

debate about gun-related policies based on fact rather

than emotion. I know I would.

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