gun world 201310

www.gunworld.com

OCTOBER 2013 VOLUME 54, NO.10$4.99 U.S. DISPLAY UNTIL: 10/8/13

GW_1310-COVER 8/7/13 5:18 AM Page US_C1

NUMEROUS FEATURES.

Welcome to the closest bond yet between hand and gun. Between grip

and control. Between fit and performance. With three interchangeable

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ambidextrous features, the M&P Pro Series is truly tailored to you.

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GW_1310_C2 8/5/13 12:49 AM Page C2

GW_1310_3 8/5/13 12:36 AM Page 3

DO IT YOURSELF

4 GUN WORLD | OCTOBER 2013 www.gunworld.com

OCTOBER 2013CONTENTS

18EASY DUTYThe P-09 Duty, the newest member of the CZ-USA handgun family, is a powerful successor to themuch-ballyhooed CZ-75.By Todd Burgreen

GUN WORLD (ISSN 0017-5641) Volume 54,Number 10 is published monthly, 12 times a year by Beckett Media, LLC, 22840 SaviRanch Parkway, #200, Yorba Linda, CA 92887.Periodical postage paid at Anaheim, CA, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Sendaddress changes to Gun World c/o BeckettMedia, 5430 LBJ Freeway, Ste. 1200 Dallas, TX 75240. Return undelivered Canadian addresses to: Gun World c/o Pitney Bowes, Inc.PO Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6BGST#855050365RT001

FEATURES

SPECIAL SECTION!

26SELF HELPFrom outfitting a corner of your garageto dedicating an entire room, a home gun-smithing shop can be anything you want orneed it to be.By Steve Sieberts

31LOSE THAT WAITInstead of waiting to have a 1911 custombuilt for you, enroll in Jim Garthwaites pistol-smithing class and build your own!By Dr. Martin D. Topper

46SUPER SNUBPerfect for concealed carry or as a backup, Smith & Wessons Custom Model 637Deep Cover packs a +P punch.By Jerry Catania

64DIE STURMGEWEHRSince WWII, the compact assault rifle hasled many a battle charge. Third in a series ontactical weapons.By Leroy Thompson

76WINGSHOOTERS WONDERThe author found plenty to like about thePathos from F.A.I.R., which comes up quickly,points well, and swings fast.By Dave Workman

82FINDING TAVORThis short, street-legal bullpup is idealfor hunting in thick cover, competition andhome defense.By Dr. Martin D. Topper

38RUGERS RISK, YOUR REWARDRuger continues to innovate, and their new M77Hawkeye Magnum Hunter rifle is built to handle the ele-ments.By Mike Dickerson

64

26

OOPS!Due to an editing error on page21 of Augusts Muscle Guncover story, 1,230 fps and1,010 fps were changed to1,230 foot pound and 1,010foot pounds. We apologize forthe confusion.

COVER STORY

STEVE S

IEBERTS

LERO

Y T

HO

MPSO

N

GW_1310-TOC 8/7/13 5:05 AM Page 4

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GW_1310_5 8/5/13 12:35 AM Page 5


CONTENTS

COLUMNS 8 UP FRONTCraig Hodgkins

10 NEW PRODUCTS

14 ASK THE EXPERTSGun World Contributors

52 RELOADJames E. House

56 TODAYS HUNTERThomas C. Tabor

72 CONCEALED CARRYDave Workman

86 TACTICAL GEARD. K. Pridgen

92 QUESTIONS &ANSWERSCraig Hodgkins

97 BACK PAGESCraig Hodgkins

ON THE COVER:Photographs provided by CZ-USA,Mike Dickerson and Jerry CataniaCover Design by Eric Knagg

86

DAVE W

ORKMAN

72

18

CZ-USA

ADVANCED TACTICAL

GW_1310-TOC 8/7/13 5:05 AM Page 6

400

300

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ER

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50 100 150 200

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INC

HE

S

TRAJECTORY VS. RANGE

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GW_1310_7 8/5/13 12:34 AM Page 7

Agood name, wrote KingSolomon, is more desir-able than great riches.Smart companies know the two dont

have to be mutually exclusive.My son is a Los Angeles Clippers fan,

and my oldest daughter attends USC, soI find myself in downtown LA frequentlythese days. Recently, I trekked a fewblocks southeast from the Staples Cen-ter in search of 1220 SouthGrand Avenue, once amecca for anyone seekinghigh quality firearms, un-paralleled gunsmithing andinnovative products.

For decades, it was thestreet address of the Pach-mayr Gun Works.

Today, its a parking lot.And yet, even though

Frank Pachmayr sold hisfirm more than 30 yearsago, the sweat equity heand his employees investedin his namesake companycontinues to pay dividends,long after they paved para-dise and put up a parkinglot. The Lyman Corporation,which purchased Pachmayrfrom another group in1996, still offers Franks rev-olutionary recoil pads, sling swivels andhandgun grips, and these continue tomake shooting more comfortable, con-venient and accurate for new generationsof enthusiasts.

And with the wisdom of Solomon,

Lyman markets Pachmayr products asAmericas most trusted name...

A good name can outlast bricks andmortar, but it cant be developedovernight.

While paging through Gun WorldsOct. 1973 issue recently, I read a feature

on Brownells Inc., and their new facilityin Montezuma, Iowa. Like Pachmayr, theBrownell name has become synony-mous with quality, and every gunsmithIve spoken with has them on virtualspeed dial. Its no wonder they continueto burst at the operational seams as theyapproach their 75th year in business.

In one 1973 photo (below), founderBob Brownell and his son Frank pose

outside headquarters. Today, their web-site features a photo of Frank, nowChairman, and his son, Pete, the currentCEO, breaking ground on their newestwarehouse and office facility in nearbyGrinnell, Iowa. But unlike Pachmayrs inLA, the headquarters will remain in thesame Montezuma building they ex-panded back in 1973.

It seems that a good name is desir-able, whether it hangs outside a certainbuilding or not.

But I wonder since I cant walkwide-eyed through Pachmayrs retailstore in downtown LA, is the walk-upwindow at Brownells headquarters stillopen? GW


UP FRONTOCTOBER 2013

VOlumE 54 NumBER 10

EDITORIAl Editorial Director: Doug JeffreyEditor: Craig Hodgkinsmanaging Editor: Breanna ArmstrongArt Director: Thomas Kimball

CONTRIBuTORs Lee Boyt, Todd Burgreen, Jerry Catania, Mike Dickerson, Dave

Emanuel, Tara Dixon Engel, Jim Dickson, Abe Elias, Brad Fitzpatrick,Paul Hantke, James House, Dave Norman, Jameson Parker, BuckPope, D.K. Pridgen, John Raguso, Steven Sieberts, Dave Spaulding,Tom Tabor, Chuck Taylor, Leroy Thompson, Martin Topper, DaveWorkman

ADVERTIsINGGabe Frimmel: Ad sales Director(714) 200-1930 [email protected] Beckler: Outdoor Group Director(972) 448-9173Casey Clifford: senior Account Executive(717) 896-8956mark Pack: senior Account Executive(714) 200-1939Gennifer merriday: Ad Traffic Coordinator

OPERATIONsGus Alonzo: Newsstand Sales & Marketing ManagerCelia merriday: Newsstand AnalystArmit sharma: Newsstand & Production Analystmohit Patel: Newsstand & Production AnalystAlberto Chavez: Senior Logistics & Facilities ManagerJohn Cabral: Creative Graphic Designer

EDITORIAl, PRODuCTION & sAlEs OFFICE22840 Savi Ranch Parkway, #200Yorba Linda, CA 92887(714) 939-9991www.gunworld.com

GUN WORLD (ISSN 0017-5641) Volume 54, Number 10 is publishedmonthly, 12 times a year by Beckett Media, LLC, 22840 SaviRanch Parkway, #200, Yorba Linda, CA 92887. Periodical postagepaid at Anaheim, CA, and additional mailing offices. POsTmAsTER:Send address changes to Gun World c/o Beckett Media, 5430 LBJFreeway, Ste. 1200 Dallas, TX 75240. Return undelivered Canadianaddresses to: Gun World c/o Pitney Bowes, Inc. PO Box 25542,London, ON N6C 6B GST#855050365RT001 2013 by BeckettMedia, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material fromthis issue in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.

CusTOmER sERVICEBeckett media, llC4635 Mc Ewen Road. Dallas, TX 75244

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This magazine is purchased by the buyer with the understandingthat information presented is from various sources from which therecan be no warranty or responsibility by Beckett Media, LLC as to thelegality, completeness or technical accuracy.

GST #855050365RT001Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement #40612608Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:

PITNEY BOWES, INC.P.O. Box 25542London, ON N6C 6B2

NAME RECOGNITIONBy Craig Hodgkins

A good name canoutlast bricksand mortar

Brownells, Inc. in the October 1973 issue of Gun World.

GW_1310-upfront 8/5/13 3:21 AM Page 8

GW_1310_9 8/5/13 12:36 AM Page 9

NEWPRODUCTS

LYMAN PRODUCTS

PRODUCTS: Tools for SeriousShooters and Reloaders

WEBSITE:www.lymanproducts.com

Brands That Perform is more thanan advertising slogan to the teamat Lyman. It means delivering valuewhile advancing technology, andmost importantly, listening to theneeds of shooters. Lymans prod-uct development team pays carefulattention to customer feedback,and to comments from the retailerswho supply them. Whether pio-neering the use of digital technol-ogy in reloading tools, orreintroducing antique calibersand bullet molds, Lyman continuesto improve and innovate the toolsused by serious shooters and re-loaders.


A HANDY HALF-DOZEN FROM

LYMAN AND PACHMAYR

MICRO-TOUCH 1500Lymans smallest electronic scale, the Micro-Touch 1500 hasall the features of much larger models combined with state-of-the-art touch screen controls. Just 3.25 wide by5.375 long and 1.25 tall with the dust cover in place.This scale has a full 1500 grain capacity. It is pow-ered by an included AC adapter, but can alsofunction on battery power when at the rangeor camp. The Micro-touch 1500 also in-cludes its own powder pan and calibrationweight. MSRP: $69.95

THE BRASS TAPPER GUNSMITHING HAMMERLymans no-mar gunsmithing hammer and drift pin. For gun-smithing and other delicate jobs, this hammer has three inter-changeable heads including nylon, brass and steel. For delicatetapping, a knurled brass drift pin stores inside the handle.MSRP: $19.95

REVOLUTION ROTATING GUN VISEThis revolutionary multi-function gun vise (featured on page 27 of our Do it Yourself section) handlesdozens of maintenance chores, and is ideal for everyone from the active gunsmith to the casual shooter.Engineered with a full range of adjustments, the Lyman Revolution tilts, clamps and has inserts to se-curely hold any firearm. The padded contact points protect the firearm during cleaning, maintenance orgunsmithingeven bore sighting. Secure, padded clamping and a wide range of adjustment make thisunique vise an essential item for anyone who cares about their firearms.MSRP: $95.95

GW_1310-products 8/13/13 2:26 AM Page 10

GW_1310_11 8/5/13 12:40 AM Page 11

DECELERATOR GRIPSAll guns recoil, and recoil affects your accuracy, control, and overall shooting en-joyment. For shooters who want the most out of their shooting experience, Pach-

mayr offers the Decelerator Grips. After years of research, Pachmayr has developed thisbreakthrough rubber material - 50% softer than a regular grip. The New Finger Groove De-celerator Grip is designed to control the recoil produced by a powerful revolver. Combined

with recoil absorbing air cushions along the backstrap, this grip is ideal for shooters that requirethe ultimate control and shooting comfort. The Decelerator is shown on a Ruger Redhawk.MSRP: $39.98

PACHMAYR

PRODUCTS: Recoil reduction,grips and accessories

WEBSITE: pachmayr.com

Frank Pachmayr was a gifted anddedicated shooter who understoodthe needs of shooters, and thePachmayr name continues to repre-sent quality and innovation. Today,the products he created or inspiredremain the first choice of shooters,gunsmiths, law enforcement profes-sionals and firearm manufacturersseeking top quality handgun grips,recoil pads and firearm accessories.Pachmayr products possess an un-equaled combination of superiormaterials and advanced engineering.

NEWPRODUCTS


TACTICAL GRIP GLOVESThese Stretch-to-fit Grip Gloves are custom molded for each top-selling pistol model, which makes them ideal for the popularpolymer frame handguns that have no replacement grips available. In addition, Pachmayr Decelerator material delivers proven re-coil reduction and enhanced control that no other slip-on can match. They also have the right shape and flexibility to make instal-lation a snap no trimming, tearing or hard work - just a perfect fit. Finally, the distinctive ventilated side panels and finger grooves provide more instinctive gun orientation, enhanced control and

they look more professional than the old, one-size-fits-all rubber band models. Tactical Grip Gloves are the only ones that fit likea glove. MSRP: $13.98

RECOIL PADSPachmayr remains the industry standard for reducing feltrecoil, and continues to offer the broadest selection ofhigh quality recoil pads available designed to suit theneeds of every shooting sport. Pachmayr recoil pads are

blended from only the highest quality rubber com-pounds and dont cut corners on quality like thosemade from synthetic materials. Their Pre-Fit De-celerator Pads (shown) provide superior re-coil control and great looks and, best of all,you can install them yourself. Designedto fit within .050 inch tolerance on fac-tory stocks, these pads will enhancethe look and feel of the gun, improveyour shooting performance to helpyou shoot tighter groups, bag more

game or break more clay. MSRP: $41.98

GW_1310-products_Layout 1 8/5/13 3:48 AM Page 12

Get Your Instant Quote at www.galleryofguns.com

All rearms purchased from GalleryofGuns.com are covered by the Davidsons GuaranteeD Lifetime Replacement Warranty.

Search. Find. Buy.

Capacity: 3+1BBL: 22.438

Sights: No Sights

t4BUJO4UBJOMFTT4UFFM'JOJTIt#PMU"DUJPOt#MBDL4ZOUIFUJD4UPDLt3PVOE%FUBDIBCMF#PY.BHB[JOFt"EKVTUBCMF5SJHHFSt4DPQF3JOHT

*UFN04054$BMJCFS30-06 Sights: Adjustable Iron


t#MVF'JOJTIt#PMU"DUJPOt#BWBSJBO4UZMF.BOOMJDIFS8BMOVU4UPDLt4UFFM.V[[MF$BQ

*UFN013708203$BMJCFS12 Gauge

Capacity: 2BBL: 30

Sights: Ivory Front & Mid Bead

t3FBMUSFF.BY'JOJTIt0WFS6OEFSt%VSB5PVDI"SNPS$PBUJOHt7FOU3JCt"EKVTUBCMF$PNCt.VMUJ$IPLF'VMM.0%*$

tw$IBNCFS

*UFN 70524$BMJCFS30-30


Sights: Front: Hooded Ramp Rear: Semi-Buckhorn

t#MVF'JOJTIt-FWFS"DUJPOt8BMOVU'JOJTIFE$VU$IFDLFSFE-BNJOBUF4UPDLtw-014UPDL

*UFNS20-243RBS$BMJCFS20 Gauge|243

Capacity: 1BBL: Shotgun: 28 Rie: 23

Sights: Shotgun: Bead Rie: Fiber Optic Front Sight

t#MVF'JOJTIt4DPQF.PVOU#BTFPO3JF#BSSFMt3FNPWBCMF$IFFL1JFDFt$BSSZJOH$BTFXJUI%VBM1VSQPTF4USBQt'JYFE.PEJFE$IPLFtw$IBNCFS

*UFN 6904$BMJCFS243

Capacity: 4+1BBL: 22

Sights: No Sights

t#MBDL.BUUF'JOJTIt#PMU"DUJPOt1PXFS#FEEJOHt'SFF'MPBUJOH#BSSFMt.BSLTNBO"EKVTUBCMF5SJHHFS

t#MVF'JOJTIt4JEFCZ4JEFt$ISPNF-JOFE#BSSFMTt&YUSBDUPSTt%PVCMF5SJHHFSt"EKVTUBCMF#BSSFM3FHVMBUJPOtNN%PWFUBJM3BJM

*UFN VBE257WR4O$BMJCFS257WBY


Sights: No Sights

t.BUUF#MVF'JOJTIt#PMU"DUJPOt8IJUFUBJM#PO[4UPDLt$POUPVS#BSSFMt"EKVTUBCMF5SJHHFS

2013 DAVIDSONS, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Tikka T3 Lite Cynergy

CZ 550 FS 336Y Compact

Matched Pair Full Size American Rifle

MP221 Vanguard S2 X

*UFN JRTB316$BMJCFS308


t.PTTZ0BL/FX#SFBLVQ'JOJTIt4FNJ"VUPNBUJDt7FOU3JCt.VMUJ$IPLF.PEJFE

tw$IBNCFS

1187 Sportsman

*UFN9895$BMJCFS12 GaugeSights: Bead

*UFN 489980$BMJCFS45-70

Capacity: 2BBL: 23.5

Sights: Open

*UFN55122$BMJCFS12 Gauge


Sights: Adjustable Fiber Optic

Flex 500 HuntingAdaptive Platform

t0%(SFFO'JOJTIt-1""EKVTUBCMF5SJHHFSt1VNQ"DUJPOt.PTTZ0BL#SFBL6Q*OOJUZ4ZOUIFUJD4UPDLt5PPMMFTT-PDLJOH4ZTUFNt.VMUJ$IPLF9'BDUPS1PSUFEtw$IBNCFS

USSG

GW_1310_13 8/5/13 12:39 AM Page 13

ASK theEXPERTS We do the research so you dont have to.

QUESTION: I have a Winchester Model 70 chambered in.458 Win. Mag, and Im planning a trip to Africa to hunt buffaloand hippo. It is equipped with open sights, but it has beendrilled and tapped for scope mounts. I have scopes on all myother rifles, but Ive heard that big bores were never meant tohave scopes, and the recoil would likely destroy the scopeanyway. Is there a problem mounting one on my .458? And ifthere isnt, what type of scope do you feel would be best?

Bob M., Atlanta, GA

TOM TABOR ANSWERS: Like you, Ive occasionally hadpeople tell me that a scope should never be mounted on a bigbore rifle, but I too find a scope much more to my liking in thevast majority of shooting situations. The idea of open sights isa good one when your game is close and quick shooting iscalled for, but buffalo and hippo arent al-ways shot at close range, and it isthese times that a low poweredscope can give the safarihunter a significant edge.Buffalo and hippo are fre-quently the most dangerousof the Big 6 to hunt on sa-fari. So, the way I see it, if ascope will help you to placeyour shots more precisely,mount one on your rifle and

ignore the naysayers comments. Likely, they may have nevereven set foot on the Dark Continent, much less hunted there. There is an option that can provide you with the best of both

worlds, iron sights for the very close shots in dense cover anda scope for when longer shots are called for. It comes in theform of a quick detachable mounting system, such as thosesold by Leupold, Warne and Weaver. These systems allow thehunter to quickly and easily remove the scope when it isntneeded, and then remounted with no change to the bullet im-pact point. Ive used these systems for many years and foundthem to be completely reliable and they generally wont costyou much more than a standard set or rings. As far as scopes go, for a big bore, Id recommend a low

magnification variable. Shots are usually not tremendouslylong when hunting dangerous game in Africa, so a scopesomewhere in the area of a 1.5-5x would be perfect in my

opinion. By turning the scope down to the lowest possiblesetting a scope like this will even work in

close quarters situations. Iwouldnt scrimp when itcomes to scope qualityhowever. The heavy re-coil that big bores pro-duce could be damagingto low-end type optics, but

the better quality scopes cangenerally handle this abuse infine fashion.

For a big bore,Id recommend a

low magnicationvariable.

SCOPES ORSIGHTS?

A low power variable scope like this 1.5-5x Leupold isa great choice for dangerous game. In this case I haveit mounted on a Kimber .458 Lott chambered rifle.

These Weaver Grand Slam Lever Lock Rings are a fine ex-ample of modern quick detachable scope mounts.


WEAVER

GW_1310-experts.BA 8/5/13 3:46 AM Page 14

www.gunworld.com OCTOBER 2013 | GUN WORLD 15

Thomas C. Tabor is Gun Worldsresident hunting columnist, androutinely goes afield in pursuit ofsmall birds, large game and goodstories. His Todays Hunter col-umn may be found on Page 56.

Leroy Thompson is an interna-tionally recognized authority onweapons and tactics, and is theauthor of 50 books. His most re-cent feature, on the tactical em-ployment of the assault rifle, maybe found on Page 64.

Mike Dickerson is a widely pub-lished outdoor writer and photog-rapher, and has pursued biggame, predators and upland gamebirds for decades. His passions in-clude accurate rifles, fine shotgunsand defensive handguns. His re-view of the Ruger Magnum Huntermay be found on Page 38.

QUESTION: I tried copper factory ammo in several huntingrifles many years ago, but none shot accurately. Im moving toCalifornia, but the state is trying to ban all lead hunting ammo.What do you recommend?

Bill H., Las Vegas, Nevada

MIKE DICKERSON ANSWERS: My results with the earlyBarnes X copper bullet were mixed. Some rifles loved them,but many did not. Accuracy improved when Barnes re-designed the shape of some bullets and brought out their TSX,or Triple Shock Expanding bullet, which uses driving bandsand cannelures to reduce peak pressure and copper fouling.The newest generation TTSX, or Tipped Triple Shock, uses apolymer tip for more rapid and reliable expansion. Competitorshave introduced many other non-lead rounds, so there are nu-merous factory alternatives.

Before you rush out and buy a bunch, use a good copper re-mover on your barrels and make sure all action, scope baseand ring screws are torqued to spec. Search the Internet to seehow others fared with copper ammo for your specific makes

and models of rifles. You might also contact the rifle manufac-turer. Some will provide specific recommendations. All rifleshave individual preferences, but this may provide a good start-ing point.

Lately, Ive been impressed with Barnes VOR-TX (TTSX) andFederals Trophy Copper loads. Ive yet to find a rifle in my col-lection that wont shoot them well. Additional candidates in-clude Hornady GMX, Winchester E-TIP and Remington PremierCopper Solid. Other manufacturers offer ammo loaded withthe same bullets used in some of these loads.

If none of these works for you, consider handloading. Cop-per bullets generally shoot more accurately in standard-twist(versus slow-twist) barrels and when seated off the lands andgrooves.

COPPERCONUNDRUM

Accuracy improved whenBarnes redesigned the shape

of some bullets

The author is impressed with the newest generationBarnes VOR-TX (TTSX) and Federals Trophy Copperloads. So are his rifles.

OUR SEPTEMBER EXPERTS

GW_1310-experts.BA 8/5/13 3:46 AM Page 15

GW_1310_16 8/5/13 12:38 AM Page 16

ASK theEXPERTS


QUESTION: I recently rented the film Never So Few aboutthe OSS in Burma, and noticed that Frank Sinatra and othercharacters were using the Sten submachine gun. Did the OSSreally use the Sten, and if so, was it very effective?

Lawrence H., Cleveland, Ohio

LEROY THOMPSON ANSWERS: The Sten would havebeen available to members of the OSS through their Britishequivalent, the SOE, though in Burma the OSS often used theM1 Carbine as their primary car-bine. Later, the OSS orderedsome M3 Grease Guns (whichwere normally in .45 ACP) in9x19mm caliber and some withsuppressors. Members of theOSS definitely used the Sten inEurope working with the FrenchResistance prior to D-Day sincequite a few Stens had been dropped to French, Dutch, Danish,and other Resistance groups. The OSSand later the CIA andUS Special Forcesused suppressed Stens in Vietnam.

As far as its effectiveness, the Sten was a weapon of itstime. It was designed to be produced cheaply and quickly at atime when the British feared a German invasion and needed toarm as many troops and Home Guard as possible. The mostwidely produced version, The MK II Sten, could be just as dan-gerous to its user as the enemy. Its safety consisted of a notchcut into the receiver, into which the cocking handle could berotated so that it could not go forward.

Additionally, the Sten fired from an open bolt, and even ifcarried without a round in thechamber and the bolt forward,the bolt could jar back allowing around to chamber and the Stento fire on full-auto. There werealso reliability problems with theStens magazine, which was adouble column design thatmerged to a single column prior

to feeding. This magazine fed from the left side of the Sten,which added a protrusion that could catch on vines, etc. in jun-gle fighting. GW

SINATRAS STEN

Members of the OSSdenitely used the Sten

in Europe...

Thompson firing a MK II Sten Gun.

GW_1310-experts.BA-CX 8/13/13 2:27 AM Page 17


The CZ P-09 design minimizes recoil impulse, allowinga user to keep sights on target during strings of fire.

GW_1310-CZP09.BA 8/5/13 3:58 AM Page 18


The youngest member of the CZ semi-auto family traces its her-itage back to the 1970s and the CZ 75, a gun that none other than the

late Jeff Cooper heralded as the finest 9MM service pistol ever made.Very few of these made their way to the US during the Cold War, and the

ones that did are held onto tightly by the fortunate individuals blessed tohave one.

Story & Photos by Todd Burgreen

With the P-09, CZ Offers a Powerful Successorto the CZ 75 and P-07

Even the most successful handgundesigns evolve. Although thisevolution can happen for a varietyof reasons, changes often come aboutbecause of market and technologicalpressures magnified by the ever-chang-ing mission requirements of end users.The CZ P-09 Duty could be the posterchild for successful design modification.

GW_1310-CZP09.BA 8/5/13 3:58 AM Page 19

The end of the Cold Warcombinedwith rescinding of the misguided (at best)high capacity magazine banled to therebirth/re-emergence of the CZ WonderNine. Most of us would admit that carry-ing eight rounds of .45 ACP in the classic1911 frame is preferable to ten rounds of9MM, but the choice gets tougher oncethe 9MM count gets to 15+ rounds.

The P-09 packs a very generous 19+1in 9mm, which helps make CZs newestwonder gun a much easier choice.

A NEXT GEN CZThe CZ P-09 may be viewed as the up-

dated polymer sibling of the legendary

CZ 75 and the more recent P-07. Whilenot an exact match, the P-09 comes veryclose to the classic grip shape of itspredecessor, and there are other nu-ances to the CZ P-09 that further distin-guish it. The frame has been upgradedwith a railed dust cover, allowing for ac-cessories such as lights and lasers, andCZ has included interchangeable backstraps of different sizes to enable a userto obtain their preferred grip.

One feature that attracted many to theCZ 75 was that you could carry itcocked and locked (similar to the 1911and Browning Hi-Power) or hammerdown (typical of DA/SA designs), but

the P-09 arrives with a de-cocking safetylever as its standard configuration. Still,CZ 75 aficionados should enjoy the newOmega trigger system, which has fewerparts than the 75 and touts a better trig-ger pull. While long in travel (as is typicalof DA/SA handguns), the pull is smoothin the Double Action mode, with the Sin-gle Action featuring a light break withshort reset. The other benefit of theOmega trigger is the ability to switch theP-09 from the standard de-cocking safetyto a safety set up similar to the CZ 75 al-lowing for Condition One cocked andlocked carry. This safety changeover issimple enough for a layman to accom-


CZ IN A NUTSHELLCZ-USA is the U.S. importer for the Czech Republic-based CZ (Ceska

zbrojovka Uhersky Brod) Corporation. Created in 1936 via a political de-cision of the Czechoslovakia National Defense Council, CZ began theproduction of military and civilian arms in January 1937. The first prod-ucts were aircraft machine guns, military pistols and rifles, and duringthe Nazi occupation the plant was forced to produce and repair militaryarms. Events leading up to and through WWII (and the subsequent ColdWar) kept CZ products from reaching the U.S. market for the latter halfof the 20th Century. In 1990, however, CZ ceased manufacturing goodsfor the Czechoslovakian armed forces and turned its newly available ca-pacity to expanding production of arms for hunting and sporting pur-poses, as well as exports for police and military units.

The P-09packs a verygenerous19+1

in 9mm

The slide is machined from bar stock and features front andrear serrations to aid in manually manipulating the slide.

GW_1310-CZP09.BA 8/5/13 3:59 AM Page 20

plish, and the company website featuresa video tutorial in support of the OwnersManual directions. The P-09s beavertail frame and grip

panels are textured, allowing a positivegrip even with slippery hands. CZ alsoincluded rough textured patches on theforward part of the frame that serve asmemory spots for a shooter using thepreferred thumbs forward grip. The slideis thicker than the CZ 75s, the result ofbeing machined from bar stock, andmany will find the thicker slide easier togrip when manipulating it. The slidemoves along rails embedded inside thepolymer frame, not outside the frame aswith Glocks or 1911s. Proponents of thisslide action point to benefits such assmoother cycling and finer tolerances,


800-GUNHIDE 631-841-6300Dept #GWO3www.desantisholster.com431 Bayview Avenue, Amityville, NY 11701

Neutral cant/ strong side or cross draw Trailing loop for best concealment Exact molding for VSHFLFJXQ Molded site track

We didnt invent concealment,we just perfected it!

MSRP

Style 115

$3199E

SPECIFICATIONSCZ P-09

Caliber: 9MM (tested; alsoavailable in .40 S&W)

Mag. Capacity: 19+1 in 9MM(16+1 in.40 S&W)

Barrel Length: 4.5 inchesOverall Length: 8.1 inchesWeight (empty): 28 ouncesSights: Fixed three dot

configurationFinish: Matte blackMSRP: $528

Disassembly is a simple matter that begins with aligning the two witness marks located on theframe and slide, and removing the slide stop lever.

GW_1310-CZP09.BA 8/5/13 3:59 AM Page 21

GW_1310_22 8/5/13 12:38 AM Page 22


translating into better accuracy potential.One drawback...the operator must bemore conscious of grip placement whenmanually operating the slide.

The dimensions are similar to a fullsize duty weapon. Frame and slide colorare black, and the P-09 utilizes an exter-nal extractor. Like the CZ 75, the P-09functions via a short recoil operatedlocked breech ala Brownings design.This serves to unlock and lower the bar-rel during the recoil cycle. CZ hasslightly modified this design by movingthe locking recess from the barrel. In-stead, CZ utilizes a single locking lugmilled above the barrels chamber usingthe slides large overhead ejection portas its locking recess. The front contourof the barrel lug cam slot has been cutsquare to direct counter-recoiling forces

up and forward into the barrel itself toreduce stress on the lug. The fixed steeliron sights are three-dot design; two onthe rear sight and one on the front post.

The Omega trigger provides a gooduser experience, and may force a re-evaluation of some DA/SA opinions, es-pecially if a user chooses to carry in aCondition One status after convertingfrom the standard de-cocking configura-tion. Once the Omega trigger control ismasteredwhich takes surprisingly littleorientation trainingthe P-09 is very ca-pable of firing multiple shot strings withthe utmost accuracy.

The P-09s modified profile wrappedaround a high capacity 19-round maga-zine makes it ideal for duty as a night-stand handgun and for open carry, but itwill also serve well on tactical response

A REAL ATTENTION-GETTERT&E was conducted at Echo Valley Training Center (EVTC), a private

range located near Winchester, VA, where many local and federal lawenforcement tactical team members train. It was difficult to count howmany of these professionals perked up when first exposed to the CZ P-09, but it was more than a few. I will say that just about every time onegot to handle and shoot the P-09, CZ obtained a convert. The dutyweapons these professionals brought with them ran the gamut, includ-ing custom tuned 1911 pistols, but all appreciated what the P-09 offersin accuracy, reliability, handling, capacity, lethality and reasonable price.

The CZ P-09 proved capable of putting anentire magazines worth of 9MM into 2 at20 yards from a standing position.

GW_1310-CZP09.BA 8/6/13 9:42 AM Page 23

LE teams and special military units, es-pecially in .40 caliber. There are a largenumber of holster manufacturers makingproduct for the P-09, including Bianchi,Dale Fricke, Crossbreed, Fist, andKramer, which only adds to its versatil-ity. Finally, the P-09 disassemblesquickly by pulling the slide open, align-ing witness marks on the frame andslide, and then rotating the takedownlever downward on the frame, freeingthe slide. The gun I tested exhibited no

evident tool marks and no lateral play inthe slides fit to the frame or barrel toslide, and the barrel locked up tightwhen in battery.

EVALUATION DRILLSI decided to dedicate some of my

evaluation time using several drills Iexperienced during training at SuarezInternational, Tactical Response, Gra-ham Combat, and other schools. Thesedrills included working around breach-

ing facades, door entries, and otherCQB activities encountered in shoothouse environments. In these scenar-ios, a premium is placed on a quickhandling accurate handgun (such asthe P-09), with multiple rounds fired inquick succession as the norm to put atarget down. The natural point-abilityof the P-09 really manifested itself inthis context, and reloading during highvolume drills exposed no idiosyn-crasies with the easily accessed maga-zine release button.The P-09 impressively handled all am-

munition brands, bullet types, andweights with equal aplomb. Black Hills,Federal, Hornady, and Winchester am-munition was used, and loads firedspanned 115 grains to 147 grains withhollow points and FMJ bullet types uti-lized. CZs ergonomics and handlingcharacteristics make a user understandwhy the P-09 is so well regarded, andthe beavertail grip frame and overall bal-ance made felt recoil negligible. Theslide reciprocated smoothly with thesights tracking effortlessly betweenshots fired, and significantly, no mal-functions were experienced while testfiring more than 500 rounds.I tested the CZ P-09 as it was designed

to be usedstanding without supportand moving dynamically to get off theX. To me, this is the true measure ofaccuracy, combining trigger pull, grip,and sights. After a few runs orientatingmyself to the first round DA trigger pull,first round hits became the norm on thevarious steel targets, plate racks, and du-eling trees. The beavertail frame settledthe pistol naturally into my hand andprovided a point of reference whendrawing rapidly from a holster. Through-out these tests, the P-09 did not disap-point, regularly producing 2 to 4-inchgroups at 25 yards when fired fromstanding unsupported positions.CZ deserves major kudos for maximiz-

ing the P-09s performance featureswithout turning it into a finicky or fussycompetition gun. The CZ P-09 is also ex-ceptionally adaptable to individual, de-partment or unit needs right out of thebox. Every type of userfrom the home-owner with a light/laser combo to anelite military team member with night vi-sion and an infrared target designatorwill find the P-09 worthy ofconsideration. And, with an MSRP of around $500,

buyers will also find the CZ P-09 to be agreat value. GW


CZ-USAPO Box 171073Kansas City, KS 66117800-955-4486www.cz-usa.com

ATK/Federal Cartridge Company 900 Ehlen DriveAnoka, MN 55303800-322-2342www.federalpremium.com

Black Hills AmmunitionPO Box 3090Rapid City, SD 57709605-348-5150www.black-hills.com

Echo ValleyTraining Centerwww.echovalleytrainingcenter.com

Hornady Mfg. Inc. 3625 Old Potash HwyGrand Island, NE 68802800-338-3220www.hornady.com

WinchesterAmmunition427 N. Shamrock StEast Alton, IL 62024www.winchester.com

A shared lineage with the CZ 75s grants the P-09 instant credibility.

CONTACTS

GW_1310-CZP09.BA 8/7/13 5:47 AM Page 24

1-800-LEUPOLD www.leupold.com 2013 Leupold & Stevens, Inc.

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Leupold is proud to support competitive shooting matches across the country, including 3-Gun Nations Rumble on the Range in Las Vegas.

Mark 6 1-6x20mm

G GW_1310_25 8/5/13 12:45 AM Page 25


DO IT YOURSELF

Pictorial by Steve Sieberts

SELF HELPA Photo Guide to Outfitting Your Own Gun Workshop

From outfitting a small corner ofyour garage with items to keepyour firearms clean, to buildingan entire room that rivals the con-tents of the newest Brownells cata-log, a home gunsmithing workshopcan be anything you want or need itto be.

On the next few pages, Steve Sieberts, an expertgunsmith for more than three decades, gives us aphoto tour of his home workshop, and offers time-tested recommendations about tools and equipmentessential for the craft. Editor

Explaining the functioning of the 1911A1 to my son Kyle.

A close-up of the workspace.

GW_1310-DIY.BA 8/5/13 4:07 AM Page 26


My bench features a vise withpadded jaws (Yost brand viseswill last a lifetime) and a rotatinggun vise. Made by Lyman, its agreat way to work on a variety offirearms, including handguns.The lower shelf is useful for stor-ing items such as a sandpaperroll, a bench brush, and addi-tional rags. Note: If you have agrinder or sander, try to keepthem as far away as possiblefrom the main workbench be-cause of the dust.

ABOVE: A sturdy, lockable tool chest with room to grow is es-sential. Tools are vital, and keeping them organized makes iteasier to perform repairs.RIGHT: A cleaning station includes a small coffee can filled withpaint thinner, which is cheap and works very well. A good as-sortment of brushes helps in getting into the small spaces. (L toR) A 1-inch paintbrush, brass bristle brush, rounded brush, GIcleaning brush, acid brush. Paintbrushes are soft, and wontdamage a guns finish. The brass brush is stiffer and will removecaked-on carbon. The rounded bristle brush is good for cleaningout tunnels and rounded grooves. The GI brush is my favorite, asit has two sets of bristles for cleaning. The acid brush is goodfor applying cleaning solutions and solvents that are too harshfor a nylon bristle brush.

GW_1310-DIY.BA 8/5/13 4:07 AM Page 27


DO IT YOURSELF

A selection of hammers needed for gunwork. (L to R) Heavy nylon hammer, dual head brass andnylon hammer, rubber mallet, rubber dead blow mallet. The dual head brass/nylon hammer isprobably used the most because we are always driving pins in and out and tapping things intoplace. The soft nylon and brass wont mar the finish of the firearm, and the heads are replace-able. The dead blow mallet is usually filled with lead or sand and does not bounce off the partwhen struck. This imparts the maximum force to the part and is useful when parts seize or areotherwise locked together.

TEENAGEMOTIVATIONDont tell Steve Sieberts that

teenagers lack direction or motiva-tion. He knew he wanted to workon firearms when he was fifteen.Like many enthusiasts, he re-

ceived a good deal of practicalexperience in the military. Istarted out as a Small Arms Techwith the 82nd Airborne Divisionat 21, he told me recently. Iplaced 2nd in the Ft. Bragg PistolChampionships, got picked up bythe Ft. Bragg Team, then theArmy Marksmanship Unit, whereI shot for four full seasons, receiv-ing the Distinguished Pistol ShotBadge, 2600 Club, and Presi-dents Hundred Tab.His skill soon led to other oppor-

tunities. While attending theCounter-Sniper School at Ft.Meade, he worked with the TeamPistolsmith Mike Zeffiro, and whenZeffiro became the Chief Gunsmithat the Secret Service, he askedSieberts to join him. He spent 18months in Germany as the SmallArms Shop Supervisor for 8th In-fantry Division, and later joined theDoD working on R&D and Testingand Evaluation of small arms sys-tems for classified Special Ops. After several decades at the

craft, Sieberts remains connectedto gunsmithing because of teenagemotivation. This time, however, theteenager is his nineteen year-oldson, Kyle.Hes expressed an interest in

shooting and tinkering onfirearms, reports his proud father,and would like me to teach himwhat I know about gunsmithing,marksmanship, reloading, ballisticsand firearms in general. I want toshow him that firearms are a safeand fun hobby that can be enjoyedfor a lifetime. Craig Hodgkins

A good assortment of quality files will be yourbest friend. Files are necessary because manymetal parts are made to specific tolerancesthat may or may not fit your specific firearm.If they dont, you will need to file off some ofthe material to make them fit. Many times,parts advertised as drop-in, in fact, do not.Also, many parts are intentionally made over-sized so you have to fit them. Rear sight dove-tails and sights are a good example. Sightsbases are intentionally left a little oversized sothey have to be a drive fit. Many people dontknow that the sights go into the dovetail fromthe right, and out from the left, always. Todrive them in or out any other way will en-large the dovetail and ruin it over time.

From L to R; #0 double cut file, round parallel file, 60 degree sight base file, #00 flat file, 20LPICheckering file. If you dont clean your files with a good file card as you use them, they will getclogged and gouge the metal, making deep grooves which will have to be filed/sanded out, pos-sibly causing the gunsmith to remove more metal than they intended and ruining the part.

GW_1310-DIY.BA 8/5/13 4:07 AM Page 28


An assortment of handy tools include; T-handled tap handles, an assortment of Allen wrenches,a metal scribe, and a blue Sharpie for marking parts to show where they are rubbing. Top is achamfering/deburring tool for screw/pin holes.

Measuring tools are always essential for precise work. From the Top; Machinists scale, Brownand Sharpe calipers, feeler gauges, square, micrometer. Do not try to save money on measuringtools. A little money spent up front and the tool will last a lifetime. Machinists tools like Starrettand Brown and Sharpe are always a good investment.

FROM DO IT YOURSELF TO BUILD YOUR OWNPaladin Press offers a variety of popular Home Workshop titles for the gunsmith,featuring several booksand a step-by-step DVD Guideby esteemed gunmaker Ben Holmes.Many are also available as eBooks and for the Kindle. These titles include:

Home Workshop Guns for Defense and Resistance (Volumes 1-5) $18 - $25 ($81.95/set)A Master Gunmakers Guide to Building Bolt-Action Rifles (Pictured) $27Home Workshop Prototype Firearms $32Home Workshop Weaponry (A DVD/Video Guide) $29.95

For more information on these titles, and to see Paladins full catalog of offerings on firearms, self-defense,historical arms and combat, and other topics, visit www.paladin-press.com.

12GUNSMITHINGESSENTIALS

1. A clean, well-lit place to work. 2. A quality toolbox to

keep things organized.

3. A sturdy workbench at least4x2, with a lower shelf for

storage.

4. A quality bench vise, withpadded jaws, mounted

solidly to the bench.

5. A cleaning station for cleaningfirearms.

6. An air compressor, the biggerthe better.

7. A gunsmithing screwdriverset, NOT from the hardware

store.

8. An assortment of punches:drift, center, roll pin, brass,

nylon, etc.

9. A good brass and nylonhammer. Brass and nylon

wont mar finishes.

10. A selection of polishingstones.

11. An assortment of pliers. 12. An assortment of files.

GW_1310-DIY.BA 8/5/13 4:08 AM Page 29


DO IT YOURSELF

A Gunsmiths screwdriver set from Brownells is critical. Hollowground screwdriver bits like these keep screw heads from being dam-aged. Also shown are an assortment of punches, including a brass,nylon, and a center punch.

If you have a drill press (nice to have, but not essential), quality drillbits and center drills and taps are whats needed if you are drilling andtapping screw holes. 2nd from the left is a TiN coated drill bit. (Tita-nium Nitride is a coating that extends the life of drills and end mills.)

Scope mounting the Ruger 10/22.

POLISHING STONES(L to R): Square India stone, triangle India,

square hard Arkansas, ruby stone, diamondstone, diamond lapping stone, Top, diamondbench stone.Quality polishing stones are also necessary for

smoothing and deburring internal parts. Firearmsparts are frequently manufactured in a mass pro-duction facility, and while most companies do agreat job removing tool marks and burrs, theycannot economically take the time to perform theamount of handwork needed to smooth and pol-ish the internal parts. This is where the gunsmithcomes in. Be aware, however, some surfaces onsome internal parts should be left untouched orleft to a professional. For example, the case hard-ening on S&W trigger parts is very thin, if you pol-ish through this, you are exposing softer internalmetal that would wear very quickly, making for apossibly unsafe firearm.

GW_1310-DIY.BA 8/5/13 4:08 AM Page 30


Story & Photosby Dr. Martin D. Topper

Jim Garthwaite Will Teach You Howto Build Your Own Custom 1911

Cant find a factory 1911 with the features youwant? Youre not alone.Each year, thousands of shooters order cus-tom-built 1911s, or send their guns out for aftermarketupgrades. Then they waitand waitsometimes for ayear or more!

The fitting of the hammer and sear on a 1911 is critical to good performance and safety. Jim Garthwaite manufactures his own 1911 fire controlsystem parts out of tool steel, and they are hand-fitted by his students under Jims personal supervision.

LOSE THAT WAIT

GW_1310-garth.BA 8/5/13 4:15 AM Page 31


DO IT YOURSELF

Others seek to speed up the waitinggame by installing after-market partsthemselves, but even drop-in partscan require some fitting to work prop-erly. If you dont have the right tools orknow what youre doing, you couldmake a very costly mistake.

Fortunately, there is a third option. Ifyou want to build your own custom.45and avoid the usual waityoushould seriously consider attending JimGarthwaites pistolsmithing class. Youllbe able to build the gun you want underhis expert direction, and youll get itright the first time!

MEET JIM GARTHWAITEJim Garthwaite is a member of the

American Pistolsmiths Guild, and wasthe Guilds Pistolsmith of the Year in2004. He builds high-end 1911s andBrowning Hi-Powers for his customers,and also teaches a course in how tobuild an M1911 several times a year athis workshop in Watsontown, PA. Jimtakes up to six students at a time andteaches them how to build and maintaina reliable 191l.

The class costs $2,950, and its worth

every penny. The tuition includes a newSpringfield National Match Pistol alongwith a number of high-quality customparts. These include a Kart NationalMatch barrel and bushing, dovetailed

Heinie or Novak Fixed front and rearsights, a high-sweep beavertail gripsafety, a custom thumb safety, allsprings and pins, Coco Bolo factorystocks, two high-quality magazines anda Garthwaite hammer, sear, disconnec-tor and trigger. These last four parts arecustom-made by Jim from tool-qualitysteel on his own CNC machinery. Theentire pistol is bead-blasted and fin-ished in a non-reflective matte blue.

Should the student desire differentstocks, sights and other accessories,they can be added for an additionalcost. Many high-end custom 1911s arenow going for over $3,500, so getting a

SPECIFICATIONSGARTHWAITE CUSTOM SPRINGFIELD NM 1911

Action: Single Semi-AutomaticCaliber: .45 ACP

Barrel Length: 5 inchesOverall Length: 8.5 inches

Height: 5.7 inchesWeight: 38 ounces

Capacity: 8 rounds with one round inchamber

Grips: WalnutSights: Heinie Fixed Rear Sight,

Garthwaite Gold Bead Front SightMSRP: $2,950 (for Class and Pistol)

The Garthwaite custom 1911 is built on aSpringfield Armory National Match qualitypistol because the pistolsmith feels theyprovide a consistently high quality platformfor customization. The pistol John Yarnellbuilt under Jims direction has relativelythin grips, a short trigger and a flat main-spring housing. It fits Johns hand perfectlyand therefore makes it very easy for him toshoot fast and accurately.

The class costs $2,950,and its worth every penny.



complete custom gun and the knowledgeof how to build and maintain it for $2,950is a good value.

AN EXCELLENT MATCHJim sent me a National Match Spring-

field Armory 1911 (customized in his classby probation officer John Yarnell), and itreceived very positive comments when Ipicked it up at the Florida Gun Exchange.The bead-blasted matte finish is evenlyapplied and the blueing is without blem-ish. The double-diamond checkered CocoBolo grips have an attractive dark grain.Overall, the pistol has a clean and busi-ness-like appearance. There are no burrsor tool marks anywhere on the pistols in-terior surfaces.Jim told me that he focuses on three

critical areas when his students build theirpistols; barrel fit, sight fit and trigger fit. Ifthese areas are properly fitted, the pistolwill provide maximum accuracyand reliability. JohnYarnell must have paidkeen attention, be-cause the internal

The serrated rear surface of the Heinie sight helps reduce glare andprovides an excellent sight picture. The sights contoured profile is also

easy on the hand when the slide is racked quickly.



workmanship on the pistol is well exe-cuted. All of the parts fit together pre-cisely. Lock-up is tight and there is noplay between the barrel, slide and framewhen the pistol is in battery.

In addition to these three criticalareas, the pistol showed many othersigns of excellent quality control. Themagazines insert easily and lock snuglyin place. The slide cycles smoothly withmoderate effort, indicating a true align-ment between major components. Themanual safety, grip safety and the dis-connector all function well. The fitting ofthe grip safety is even with a minimalgap between the safety and frame.When depressed, the rear surface of thesafety blends smoothly into the frame. Ifa 1911 is not well made, the fitting of thegrip safety will often be the first sign thatsomething is not quite as it should be.

The pistol has the quality one wouldexpect in any high-end tactical pistol,and it also has some features that makeit unique to Johns individual needs.

DO IT YOURSELF

PERFORMANCELoad Name Projectile Velocity Muzzle Best Average

Weight Energy Group Group

Black Hills 230 gr. 835 fps. 355 ft. pds. 1.49 2.26230 gr. JRN

Blazer Brass 230 gr. 833 fps. 354 ft. pds. 1.81 2.53230 gr. JRN

HPR XTP HP 230 gr. 904 fps. 417 ft. pds. 2.48 3.43

Winchester 230 gr. 923 fps. 435 ft. pds. 2.35 2.97230 gr. SXT

Average group size is the average of three five-shot groups at 15 yds. Velocity was measured at 15 from themuzzle using a PACT 1XP Chronograph

Dr. Topper fired the Army L Course at the Fla-gler Gun Club Informal Bullseye Match withthe pistol built by John Yarnell. He used full-power Black Hills ammo and an IsoscelesStance to score 94-2X during the 15-yardRapid Fire Stage.

GW_1310-garth.BA-CX 8/13/13 2:29 AM Page 34


The custom beavertail grip safety and Com-mander-style hammer eliminate any possibil-ity of hammer bite to the web of the shootinghand. The grip safety also provides a high gripthat aids in controlling the recoil of full-power.45 ACP loads.

The first is a short trigger reach. Mosttactical .45s have a flat mainspringhousing and a long trigger like the origi-nal .45 caliber pistol adopted in 1911.This pistol has a flat mainspring hous-ing and a short trigger. Using the shorttrigger and flat housing gives this gunthe minimum trigger reach that can beachieved on a standard frame 1911.John has strong, short fingers and thegun fits him very well. In addition, Johnset the trigger break at 4.5 pounds asmeasured by my RCBS trigger scale.This is light enough for good accuracywithout being too light. Trigger controlis the secret to fast and accurateshooting with any handgun, andhaving a 1911 built to your specifi-cations helps assure that youllshoot your best with it.

John chose fixed Heinie sightsfor his pistol. These rugged sightsare regulated for 230-grain ammu-nition and have arounded, no-snag

configuration. The rear sight has hori-zontal serrations on its rear surface toprevent reflection. It can also be driftedin its dovetail to adjust for windage. Thefront sight is slightly ramped and has ahighly visible Garthwaite gold bead.The Heinie sights promote a smoothpresentation from the holster and facili-tate getting on target fast. In the rareevent a stoppage needs to be quicklycleared, the rounded edges of the rear

sight wont cut the shooters hand whenthe slide is racked to the rear.

SHOTS FIRED The custom 1911 was tested with

four 230-grain loads. They were BlackHills JRN, Speer Blazer Brass JRN, HPRXTP JHP and Winchester SXT, and the

This custom Browning High Power built byJim Garthwaite has an excellent trigger pull, agold bead front sight and an ambidextrousspeed safety. These modifications greatly im-prove the utility of the High Power as a de-fense pistol, compared to the one that Dr.Topper owned in the early 1970s.

Heart and headshots from coverwere no problem.



DO IT YOURSELF

ATSAwww.teddytactical.com717-233-0402.

Black Hills Ammunitionwww.black-hills.com605-348-5150

HPR Ammunitionwww.hprammo.com928-468-0380

Florida Gun Exchangewww.floridagunexchange.com386-304-9499

Jim Garthwaitewww.garthwaite.com570- 538-1566

Leupold Opticswww.leupold.com800-538-7653

MTMwww.mtmcase-gard.com937-890-7461

PACT Chronographswww.pact.com800-722-8462

RCBS Trigger Gaugewww.rcbs.com800-533-5000.

Speer Ammunitionwww.speer-ammo.com800-256-8685

Springfield Armorywww.springfield-armory.com800-680-6866

Winchester Ammunitionwww.Winchester.com800-356-2666

CONTACTS

John Yarnell pies a corner with his Garthwaite/Yarnell 1911. Note that his finger is off the trigger until he identifies his target.



manufacturers graciously providedmost of the ammunition. There were nofailures to function of any type with anyof the ammunition. The gun ran just asit should, and thats probably becauseJims course includes a section onclocking the gun. Clocking is a reliabil-ity test in which several hundred roundsof ammo are marked as to brand andthen run through the gun to ensure it isreliable with a broad variety of commer-cial ammunition. All of the guns built inJims six most recent classes have hadzero problems with reliability.

Accuracy and velocity tests were per-formed at the Volusia County Gun andHunt Club. Testing equipment includedan MTM Front Sight Rifle Rest, a Le-upold Kenai Spotting Scope and aPACT chronograph. Since this is a tacti-cal pistol, accuracy tests were con-ducted at 15 yards. Average accuracy atthis distance ranged between 2.26inches and 3.43 inches. Best groupswere between 1.49 inches and 2.48inches. This is clearly sufficient for anytactical scenario. Even though the shorttrigger reach John built into the gun didnot fit my long, thin hands, I was able toshoot it reasonably well. I used a two-hand isosceles stance to shoot the pis-tol in a Flagler Gun Club BullseyeMatch, and my score on the rapid-firestage of the Army L Course was 94-2X at 15 yards. Not my best score, butstill quite respectable.

Velocity and energy levels were quitegood for standard pressure ammuni-tion. Both ball loads came in at a littlemore than 830 fps. which generated en-ergy levels in the 350 ft. pd. range. Thetwo 230-grain hollowpoint loads pro-duced more than 900 fps and left themuzzle with energy levels above 415 ft.pds. This is very good performance forstandard pressure loads in .45 ACP.

Following the accuracy and velocitytests, John joined me at the annual Tac-tical Camp of the American TacticalShooting Association. Using one ofRusty Sherricks custom holsters, Johndemonstrated just how quickly and ac-curately he could draw and fire in oneof the ATSA shoot houses at the WestShore Sportsmans Association in Har-risburg, PA. Heart and headshots fromcover were no problem. Since Im par-ticularly fond of Garthwaite High Pow-

ers, I couldnt resist borrowing onefrom ATSA President Skip Gochenour. Ifired four quick double taps from coverat a 7-yard target. All went into the cen-ter of an IDPA target, which is not badfor a gun Id never shot before.

FINAL NOTESIf youre looking to build a high-qual-

ity custom .45 to your specifications,contact Jim about enrolling in one ofhis classes. The 2014 class dates will beannounced soon on his web site. Notonly will you leave with a highly reliablepistol that precisely meets your individ-ual needs, youll take home the knowl-edge to keep it running trouble-free formany years to come. GW

John Yarnell installed Jim Garthwaites 10K gold bead front sight. The sight has a ramped no-snag design and is highly visible under a broad range of light conditions.

Dr. Topper fired four quick double taps from around cover at this IDPA target with a GarthwaiteHigh Power. All eight hits were in the vital zone with the last six forming a 1.5-inch group.


RUGERS RISK, YOUR

REWARD

Consider, for example, Rugers recent collaboration withHornady to develop (and chamber rifles for) new cartridgessuch as the .17 HMR, .204 Ruger, .375 Ruger, .300 & .338 RugerCompact Magnums, and .416 Ruger. Whether all of theserounds survive the test of time remains to be seen, but youhave to admire the companys willingness to take calculatedrisks.

This emphasis on improvement got a furtherboost when Mike Fifer took the reigns as CEOin 2006. He brought with him a belief that

growth is fueled by innovation and an emphasis on developingnew products with a keen understanding of what customersreally want.

Mix in some new lean design and manufacturing systems,and the result has been a steady parade of new products, suchas the LCP, LCR, LC9, SR9, SR40, SR45, and SR1911and thatsjust on the handgun side. The acclaim, awards and sales these

The New M77 Hawkeye Magnum Hunter Rifleis Built to Handle the Elements


Innovation rarely comes easily, and continuous im-provement can be even more difficult. Still, in fol-lowing the narrow path of no risk, no reward,Sturm, Ruger & Company continues to advance thestate of firearms technology and manufacturing.

Story & Photos by Mike Dickerson

GW_1310-magnum 8/5/13 4:34 AM Page 38


TOP: Rugers new M77 Hawkeye Magnum Hunter riflewas conceived as a go-anywhere, do-anything rifle thatcan take the most punishing weather Mother Naturecan dish out.LEFT: Rugers proprietary scope mount is milled rightinto the receiver. Rings are provided with the rifles.

GW_1310-magnum 8/5/13 4:34 AM Page 39


products have generated attest to thesuccess of Rugers approach.Along the way, the company also took

a close look at its venerable Model 77bolt action rifle. In 2006, the M77whichhad by then evolved into the M77 MarkIIunderwent a second major redesignand emerged as todays M77 Hawkeye,and redesigns always carry an elementof risk. The biggest changes included aredesigned stock and the new LC6 trig-ger, a mostly successful attempt to ad-dress complaints about those featureson the Mark II.The Hawkeye did retain the M77s

solid, reliable Mauser-type action in-corporating twin-opposing locking lugsand a large external claw extractor forcontrolled-round feed. It has a fixed-blade type ejector for positive ejectionand a solid-steel hinged floorplate witha latch that fits flush with the triggerguard. A three-position safety allowsyou to load or unload with the safetyengaged. Another popular feature isRugers proprietary scope mount,which is milled right into the receiver.Rings are provided with the rifles.The M77s evolution continues this

year with the introduction of severalnew Hawkeye variants (Editors note:see last months issue for a review ofthe Ruger Model 77 African rifle). TheMagnum Hunter rifle, chambered in.300 Win. Mag. only, was conceived asa go-anywhere, do-anything rifle thatcan take the most punishing weatherMother Nature can dish out.The Magnum Hunter has a matte

stainless action and 24-inch barrel witha 1:10 twist. Magazine capacity is threeplus one. Overall length is 44.75inches. Tipping the scales at eightpounds out of the box, the rifle is nolightweight. Of course, not too manypeople relish the thought of launching.300 Win. Mag. bullets from an ultra-light rifle.

The rifles LC6 trigger has no creepand a crisp break. My only gripe is thatit breaks at a rather heavy five pounds,and isnt designed to be user-ad-justable (although you can lighten thepull by replacing the trigger searspring).What really sets this rifle apart are

a couple of key pieces of hard-

warespecifically, the stock and a newmuzzle brake systemthat merit moredetailed examination.

THE STOCK: HIT OR MISS?The use of a pillar-bedded HogueOverMolded stock is an interestingchoice. While the stock has manyfans, detractors assert that theforend is too flexible forprecision shooting orrepeatable accuracy.By this, they

The Magnum Hunters new proprietary muzzle brake systememploys a removable radial-port muzzle brake. It can

be removed and replaced with a dynamically-matched muzzle weight that enables the rifle

to shoot to the same point of aim.

Rugers new muzzle brake system includes a dy-namically-matched muzzle weight for times whenyou dont want to use the muzzle brake. Ruger alsoincludes a thread protector.

The biggest changes includeda redesigned stock and the

new LC6 trigger

GW_1310-magnum 8/5/13 4:35 AM Page 40


mean its too easy to apply sufficientpressure to make the rubber edges ofthe upper barrel channel contact thestock and lose the theoretical advantageof a free-floated barrel. This effect is re-portedly most pronounced, in some ri-fles, when a bipod is attached.

That simply wasnt the case with therifle I tested. I had my doubts when I firstinspected the rifle because the barrelwasnt precisely centered in the barrelchannel. It did, however, prove to betruly free-floated. I shot the rifle with theforward part of the stock resting onsandbags, and I shot it with a bipod at-tached. In both cases, results were thesame: the barrel retained its free-floatedstatus. On this rifle, at least, forend flexi-bility was a non-issue, and the rifle, asyoull see, was no slouch in the accuracydepartment.

The fact that Ruger and other manu-facturers have elected to offer riflesequipped with the OverMolded stockfrom the factory is, in itself, a vote ofconfidence. The stock does offer some

significant advantages, particularly in in-clement weather. Bonded chemicallyand mechanically to a rigid fiberglassskeleton, the soft, synthetic injection-molded elastomer stock material is im-pervious to the elements as well as theusual array of cleaning solvents and lu-bricating oils used on firearms. Its quietin the brush. It wont harden with age,and it provides a sure, non-slip grip,which is enhanced with a cobblestonetexture in the right places.

If youre a fan of lustrous, high-gradewood stocks or fancy paint jobs on syn-thetic stocks, youll find little to praiseaesthetically in the Hogue stock. If, onthe other hand, you find beauty in raw,utilitarian functionality, the OverMoldedstock may just be your cup of tea.

A NEW APPROACHTO MUZZLE BRAKES

Many custom rifle makers have, forsome time, installed muzzle brakes on ahigh percentage of their rifles. Some willput them on every rifle they make unlessthe customer specifies otherwise.

That fact has not gone unnoticed by

manufacturers, for muzzle brakes are in-creasingly showing up on factory rifles.While some might argue that this pointsto a general wimping-down of the shoot-ing populace, its a clear indication thatmanufacturers detect a trend and aremoving to capitalize on it.

The chief advantage offered by muz-zle brakes is their ability to reduce felt re-coil by as much as half, depending onthe caliber and design of the brake. Toput it in terms most shooters can easilygrasp, a decent muzzle brake will reduce.338 Win. Mag. recoil to a perceivedlevel approximating that of a .308 Win.,or tame a 30-06 Springfield down to .243levels. That can be a real blessing tothose with low recoil tolerance or shoot-ers with medical conditions that seri-ously restrict the choice of cartridgesthey can safely shoot. Many varmintshooters prefer muzzle brakes, eventhough they shoot rifles with very littlerecoil, in order to see bullet impact

SPECIFICATIONSRUGER M77 HAWKEYEMAGNUM HUNTER

Action: Bolt actionCaliber: 300 Win Mag

Mag. Capacity: 3 + 1Barrel Length: 24 inches

Overall Length: 44.75 inchesWeight (empty): 8 pounds

Sights: None, integralRuger ringmounts

Stock: Green HogueOverMolded

Finish: Matte StainlessMSRP (base): $1,099

The one-piece bolt uses a non-rotating, Mauser-style claw extractor for controlled-round feed

The Magnum Hunter rieuses Rugers new proprietary

muzzle brake system

GW_1310-magnum 8/5/13 4:35 AM Page 41


The three-position safety allows you to loador unload the rifle with the safety engaged.

Like all M77 Hawkeye rifles, the Magnum Hunter has a solid-steelhinged floorplate with a latch that fits flush with the trigger guardto guard against accidentally dumping cartridges.

GW_1310-magnum 8/5/13 4:35 AM Page 42


through their scopes and adjust aim ac-cordingly.Muzzle brakes also have disadvan-

tages. First and foremost is the in-creased noise and muzzle blast. I canassure you its no fun to stand off to theside of the muzzle brake-equipped bar-rel of a rifle chambered for one of thereal thumpers, like a .378 Wby. Mag.,when someone touches it off withoutwarning. I have figuratively had my bell

rung and literally had my hat blown offmy head in these situations. For this rea-son, some guides wont allow huntersto use muzzle brake-equipped rifles. Itsa great way to go deaf quickly if youdont use proper hearing protection.Ive also seen inexpensive scopes fail

on rifles with muzzle brakes. Im not en-tirely certain of the scientific explanationfor this, but it happens often enoughthat you would be wise to equip a heavy

hitting muzzle brake-equipped rifle witha scope proven to be rugged and reli-able.Another disadvantage stems from the

fact that most muzzle brakes are remov-able. Thats not a problem if you zero arifle with the brake on and leave it onpermanently, but if you remove it, barrelweight and harmonics are altered suffi-ciently that few rifles will shoot to thesame point of impact. Savage addresses

RUGER M77 HAWKEYE MAGNUM HUNTER RIFLE .300 WIN MAG

LOAD AVG. MUZZLE AVG. 100-YARD BEST 100-YARDVELOCITY (FPS) GROUP (INCHES) GROUP (INCHES)

Barnes VOR-TX 180 gr. 2957 0.70 0.47TTSX

Barnes VOR-TX 165 gr. 3231 0.88 0.67TTSX

Federal Vital-Shok 3124 1.30 0.73165 gr. Nosler Partition

Hornady Superformance 3338 1.51 1.29150 gr. GMX

Winchester Ballistic 3006 1.42 1.33Silvertip 180 gr.

The Magnum Hunter shot its tightest groups at the bench with Barnes VOR-TX 180-grain TTSX ammo.

GW_1310-magnum 8/5/13 4:35 AM Page 43


this issue with a twist-open, twist-closedmuzzle brake on several of their rifles.

Ruger is taking an entirely different ap-proach. The Magnum Hunter rifle usesRugers new proprietary muzzle brakesystem, which employs a removable ra-dial-port muzzle brake. Should you pre-fer not to use it, you simply unscrew itand replace it with what Ruger calls a

dynamically-matched muzzle weight(or an included thread protector if youdesire neither). Ruger claims that switch-ing between the brake and the weightwill not alter point of impact for a givenload. Does it work? Well reveal the an-swer shortly, but first, heres a rundownon how the rifle performed at the rangewith the muzzle brake attached.

ACCURACY TO SPAREVelocity testing yielded no major sur-

prises. All five factory loads tested overmy Competitive Edge Dynamics M2chronograph came in reasonably closeto their advertised velocities. The mostnoteworthy variance came from theBarnes VOR-TX 165-grain TTSX, whichaveraged 111 fps faster than factory-stated velocity. It was outpaced only bythe lighter 150-grain Hornady Superfor-mance load, which came in 62 fps belowfactory-stated velocity. Both the FederalVital-Shok 165-grain Nosler Partitionload and Winchesters 180-grain BallisticSilvertip sped along a bit faster than ad-vertised, while the Barnes VOR-TX 180-grain load was only three fps off themark.

Accuracy has long been a point of dis-cussion with the M77 rifle, starting in theearly years when barrel quality variedconsiderably. Today, barrel quality ismuch more consistent, and its beenquite some time since I encountered aModel 77 that couldnt be coaxed intoshooting with acceptable accuracy. TheMagnum Hunter didnt need much per-suasion.

Federals hard-hitting 165-grain Nosler Partition loads shot well in the Magnum Hunter.

Barnes Bulletswww.barnesbullets.com

Competitive EdgeDynamicswww.cedhk.com

Dietz Gun Shop &Shooting Rangewww.dietzgunshop.com

Federal PremiumAmmunitionwww.federalpremium.com

CONTACTS

Hornady Manufacturing Companywww.hornady.com

Nagels Gun Shopwww.nagelsguns.net

Sturm, Ruger & Companywww.ruger.com

Weaver Opticswww.weaveroptics.com

Winchester Ammunitionwww.winchester.com

GW_1310-magnum 8/5/13 4:35 AM Page 44


For testing, I mounted a new WeaverSuper Slam scope. I chose the 2-10 X 42mm. model with Weavers EBX ballisticreticle. The scopes sharp, multi-coatedoptics and pull-up turrets made sightingin a snap.

With limited ammo and time, accu-racy testing was restricted to shootingfour three-round groups for each loadtested. The rifle proved to be consis-tently accurate across a range of bulletstyles and weights, as demonstrated byan average group size, for all ammotested, of just 1.16 inches. The largest

average group size for any single loadmeasured was just an inch and a half.Clearly, if you do your part, the MagnumHunter will get the job done in the field.

While inch-and-a-half groups are per-fectly acceptable for an off-the-shelfhunting rifle shooting factory ammo,things got a bit more interesting when Ifed the rifle Barnes VOR-TX ammo withtipped triple shock bullets. Groups shotwith the 180 gr. load averaged just 0.70inches., with a best single group of 0.47inches. The 165-grain VOR-TX load was-nt far behind. Average groups meas-ured 0.88 in. with a best group of 0.67inches.

And what of Rugers claim that theMagnum Hunter shoots to the samepoint of impact with the muzzle brake ormuzzle weight installed? I put that claimto the test by firing one additional groupfor each tested load and found that therifle did, indeed, shoot to the same pointof impact with no discernible differencein average group size.

That effectively eliminates one of thedisadvantages of muzzle brakes. Youcan zero the rifle at bench, without beat-ing yourself up with recoil, and replace itwith the muzzle weight for field use withfull confidence that your rifle will still hitwhere its supposed to.

And, with its rugged, all-weather de-sign, it will do so just about any placeyou care to take it. GW

the MagnumHunter will

get the job donein the eld.

GW_1310-magnum 8/5/13 4:35 AM Page 45


SUPER

SNUBSmith & Wessons Custom Model 637

Deep Cover Packs a +P Punch

A right side view of the S&W Model 637Deep Cover. Note the Clip Grip.

GW_1310-snub.BA 8/5/13 4:47 AM Page 46

Built on the tried-and-true five shot J-frame platform, theDouble Action Only (DAO) 637 Deep Cover features an alu-minum frame for lightness and stainless steel cylinder, barrel,and other essential parts for corrosion resistance (read: sweatproof) and strength. The little 14-ounce gun can take the baddest+P .38 Special loads even ifyou cant. A smooth andhighly polished trigger allowsthe shooter to pull one of thebest out of the Double Actionbox triggers put on a factory gun.

The 637s hammer has been ground off andpolished to be as snag-free as a bobbed ham-mer can be. The polished cylinder flutes addsome class, and credit is given where credit is

due with the Gunsmoke logo etched on the right side of thebarrel and Wyatt Deep Cover on the left side of the frame. Thesights are standard fixed sights and there are no lasers, lightrails or other goofy stuff to inhibit this fighting guns primary

Story & Photos by Jerry Catania

Have you been snubbed lately?If not, Smith & Wesson has re-created a custom Model 637 first seen on thehighly rated television series American Guns, and even though the show hasbeen suspiciously cancelled, the Master Gunsmiths at the Performance Center have hon-ored original creator Rich Wyatt and his Gunsmoke gun shop in Colorado with this neat,little concealed carry revolver.

CONTACTSSmith & Wessonwww.smith-wesson.com

Buffalo Bore Ammunitionwww.buffalobore.com


Close-up of Clip Grip and polished smooth trigger. Tucked in a waistband, the Deep Cover is virtually invisible.

GW_1310-snub.BA 8/5/13 4:47 AM Page 47


purpose: Deep Cover Concealment. Thegun is a steal at its suggested retailprice.As neat as such a light .38 is, how-

ever, the thing that really intrigued mewas the Polymer Clip Grip. Old timerswill remember the original Clip Grip, asmooth plastic grip with a flare on theright to allow concealed carry in waist-band or boot that is still being produced

in its original form today. In fact, theoriginal customized Wyatt model usedthese grips. The S&W clip grip is made of polymer

(heyit looks like plastic to me) but in-corporates finger grooves and checker-ing for a superior grip. These grips donot cover the back strap, nor do they ab-sorb recoil, but they do have the flare tocarry the little revolver sans holster. Inmy opinion, having used both types,

they do provide a better grip while stillbeing minimal enough for concealedcarry. It works well, holding the gun se-curely and safely, yet allowing a full-handed grip as needed for a properdraw.

THE .38 SPECIAL: THENThe .38 Smith & Wesson Special was

designed in 1898 as a black powder car-

tridge offering more pizzazz than the.38Short Colt and .38 Long Colt cartridges.Before 1900, it was loaded with smoke-less powder and quickly became theleading Law Enforcement cartridge forDouble action revolvers, and remainedso for decades. Originally loaded with bullets running

the gamut from 110 to 200 grains, the.38 Special was largely standardized inthe 1940s with a 158-grain round nose

lead bullet travelling at about 850 feetper second muzzle velocity out of a fourto six inch barrel. This load did not ex-pand at all and proved inadequate as aman-stopper, causing the manufacturers(both big and little) to attempt to bringout something more effective. Severaldesigns were tried, but when the smokecleared, the Winchester +P 158-grainLead (un-jacketed) Semi-Wadcutter Hol-low point (at about 850 feet per secondmuzzle velocity) emerged as the bestload to be had. This came to be knownas the FBI Load after it was adopted bythat agency in 1972. It performed well infour-inch barrels and actually expandedin 2-inch revolvers, making it the No. 1choice for Belly Guns.Winchesters +P+ 110-grain Jacketed

Hollow Point load, nicknamed the Trea-sury Load, was used by the SecretService for a while and issued to theBorder Patrol from 1982 to 1986. Whileloaded to higher pressure, it failed toprovide adequate penetration in 2-inchbarreled revolvers and was discarded infavor of other options. The FBI load con-tinued on until semi-automatic handgunsreplaced the Bureaus revolvers in thelate 1980s, and remained the best of the

Both Bualo Bore loadsfunctioned and red with

100 percent reliability.

GW_1310-snub.BA 8/5/13 4:47 AM Page 48


Kodabow CrossbowsExtend Your Hunting Season

From the leader in innovative RECURVE crossbow design.The most versatile and feature-rich crossbow you can buy!

Learn the secrets of KODABOW!

Ruger invests in Kodabow!

Americas Crossbow CompanyRevolutionary split limb RECURVE design is quiet yet fast and delivers exceptional accuracy with little vibration. Kodabow has a high end firearms grade trigger system, with Anti-Dry Fire protection and Automatic Safety. Hit a quarter at 50 yards!

The 185 lb Koda-Express and 200 lb Bravo Zulu are popular hunting bows.

1045 Andrew Drive C-2 | West Chester, PA 19380 | 484-947-5471

Watch videos at www.kodabow.com

Real AR Components!

MADE IN THE USA

GW

G

SPECIFICATIONSSMITH & WESSONPERFORMANCE CENTER637 WYATT DEEP COVER

Caliber: .38 S&W Special +PCapacity: Five roundsBarrel Length: 1.87 inchesWeight: 14 ouncesAction: Double Action Only

(DAO)Frame Material: Aluminum AlloyCylinder and Barrel: Stainless

SteelFront sight: Integral with barrel

Matte SilverRear Sight: Fixed notchOAL: 6.31 inchesStocks: NEW Polymer Clip GripMSRP: $549

best until a company by the name ofBuffalo Bore came along.

THE .38 SPECIAL: NOWThe two things that made the Win-

chester load so good were its soft leadhollow point and higher than averagevelocity. Worth noting is the higher per-centage of one-shot stops when the loadis fired in a four-inch barrel versus whenits used in a snubbie. Keep this fact inmind. Now we have loads made by Buf-falo Bore that take those principles to thenext level. Utilizing the same type of soft(and they mean soft) lead hollowpointsemi-wadcutter, Buffalo Bore makes twoversions: a standard pressure load and a

The Model 637 with Buffalo Bore ammoloose and in an HK Speed Loader.

GW_1310-snub.BA 8/5/13 4:47 AM Page 49


Shooting the Buffalo Bore load at anindoor range in conjunction with theWinchester load proved that point be-yond dispute. The Winchester load pro-duced a cloud of black smoke while theBuffalo Bore load produced no moresmoke than a jacketed bullet. In thedimly lit indoor range, Buffalo Boresflash-suppressed powders verified thecompanys claims about reduced flash.Both loads hit hard, expand, and pene-trate deep. They are basically the moststreet-proven loadson steroids.Both Buffalo Bore loads functioned

and fired with 100 percent reliability. Thestandard pressure load in a two-inchbarrel equals (or exceeds) the velocity of

Copyright 2013 A.G. Russell Knives

SHOP ONLINE AT www.agrussell.com

2900 S. 26th St. - Rogers, AR 72758 For a free catalog, call 479-878-1644, Dept #D1013

Travel back with us 100 years...to when knives were personal & hunting was a way of life.

A. G. Russell Classic American-Style Hunting KnivesRU-T523BF Black Beauty $95.00RU-T523L stacked leather $95.00RU-T523K10 black G-10 (not shown) $125.00To order, call 1-800-255-9034.

n Polished CylinderFlutes

n Chrome-Platedbobbed hammer

n Gunsmoke Logo

n Hand PolishedChrome-Plated

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