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GUNS & AMMO
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
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
February 2020 G&A 15
“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.
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.
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
February 2020 G&A 21
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.
February 2020 G&A 25
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
February 2020 G&A 29
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
February 2020 G&A 31
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.
Hunters in the West and Midwest
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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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BULLET BOARD
February 2020 G&A 37
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.
February 2020 G&A 41
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.
44 G&A February 2020 | still EZ
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.
46 G&A February 2020 | still EZ
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.
48 G&A February 2020
February 2020 G&A 49
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.
Overall Length: 8.7 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.”
54 G&A February 2020
February 2020 G&A 55
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
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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
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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.
Overall Length: 8.7 in.
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
60 G&A February 2020
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.
February 2020 G&A 61
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.
64 G&A February 2020 | dAd’s luGer
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.
dad’s luger | February 2020 g&a 65
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,
66 G&A February 2020 | dAd’s luGer
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-
dad’s luger | February 2020 g&a 67
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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9mm handguns to follow. The K9 remains unrivaled as the pinnacle
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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.
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Finish: Sniper Grey Cerakote Frame and Slide,
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74 G&A February 2020
PROOFHOUSE
CZ 1012 Bronze 12 ga.
POWER OF MOTION
CZ HAS ADDED to its already extensive lineup of shotguns
by offering its first gasless inertia- operated 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.
February 2020 G&A 75
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
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4-Coin Set of
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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
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QTY DESCRIPTION PRICE TOTAL
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Includes Two
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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,
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in two days. When purchased from galleryofguns.
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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
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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%)
TOTAL HITS: 238 (52%)
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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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