Gun World 201411

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411

1/100

www.gunworld.com

1 1

0 74470 03105 5

NOVEMBER 2014 VOLUME 55, NO.11$4.99 U.S. DISPLAY UNTIL: 11/18/14

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411

2/100

No Colt revolver has earned more fame than the Single Action Army

Revolver (SAA), most notably for its role in winning the West. Moreimportant is its lasting reputation as an accurate, durable and reliablefirearm perfect for competitive shooters and collectors alike. Whenlooking for the ultimate revolver, demand quality; demand Colt.

INTRODUCED IN 1873.

THE REST IS HISTORY.

COLT.COM 800.962.COLT FACEBOOK.COM/COLTFIREARMS @COLTFIREARMS

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411

3/100

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411

4/100

CONTENTS NOVEMBER 2014

GUN WORLD (ISSN 0017-5641) Volume 55,

Number 11, is published monthly, 12 times

a year by Beckett Media, LLC, 22840 Savi

Ranch Parkway, #200, Yorba Linda, CA 92887.

Periodical postage paid at Anaheim, CA, and

additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send

address changes to Gun World c/o Beckett

Media, 4635 McEwen Road, Dallas, TX 75244.

Return undelivered Canadian addresses to: Gun

World c/o Pitney Bowes, Inc. PO Box 25542,

London, ON N6C 6B GST#855050365RT001

4 GUN WORLD | NOV 2014 www.gunworld.com

16

54

92

34

24

FEATURES

44

Rockin RimfireSmith & Wessons new

M&P 22 Compact pistol

is loads of fun to shoot

and a perfect compan-

ion for plinking, practice

and dispatching small

game.

By Mike Dickerson

The Other BenelliBenellis semiautos

added Inertia-Driven to

the common vernacular.

But for those looking for

a less expensive way to

add a Benelli to your

arsenal, dont overlook

the Nova pump.

By Brad Fitzpatrick

Raging BullIn bear country and

closer to home, the .454

Casull revolver may be a

short-barreled lifesaver.

By Jerry Catania

Versatile VelocityThe .338 Lapua

Magnum has found

wide popularity with

military snipers, and

the ArmaLite AR30A1

continues to gain plentyof new fans as well.

By Leroy Thompson

Mil Spec MarvelConceived in the world

of special operations,

the Daniel Defense

M4A1 Mil Spec+ gets

down and dirty, and

looks good doing it.By Mike Dickerson

CZ with a StingThe 527 American from

CZ-USA is a useful and

accurate varmint rifle.

By Jerry Catania

16

PhotobyMikeDic

kerson

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411

5/100www.gunworld.com NOV 2014 | GUN WORLD 5

12 Ask the Experts

Tim Stetzer

64 Todays Hunter

Thomas C. Tabor

70 Reload

James E. House

76 Concealed Carry

Dave Workman

COLUMNS

ON THE COVER:

Photographs byMike Dickerson, Leroy Thompson and Daniel Defense

Cover design by Eric Knagg

8 Up Front

Craig Hodgkins

10 New Products

Brad Fitzpatrick

82 Gunsmithing

Steve Sieberts

98 Back Pages:

Johnny Cash

Craig Hodgkins

54

24

PhotobyDanielDefense

Photoby

Benelli

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411

6/100

JANTZT H E S U P P L I E S Y O U N E E D

F O R T H E K N I F E Y O U W A N T

P r e - S h a p e d H a n d l e s , B o l s t e r s a n d C u s t o m C o m p o n e n t s

a v a i l a b l e f o r t h e s e P a t t e r n B l a d e s a t k n i f e m a k i n g . c o m

PATTERN 31

PATTERN 61

Pattern 31 BladesOverall Length: 7 5/8"

Blade Length: 3"Width: 1 1/8"

Thickness: 5/32"

Pattern 61 BladesOverall Length: 7 3/4"

Blade Length: 3 1/4"Width: 1 1/4"

Thickness: 9/64"

#31Bolsters

#61Bolsters

#31Fasteners

#61Fasteners

CAT.# STEEL FINISH PRICE

J3198J319KJ3127J3128J3147J3148J3189

10951095

D2 SteelD2 Steel154CM154CM

Damascus

SatinBlack Teflon

PeenedSatin

PeenedSatin

Random

24.9524.9531.9531.9535.9535.9599.95


J6127J6128J6107J6108J6157J6158J6189

D2 SteelD2 Steel

440C440C

CPM154CPM154

Damascus

PeenedSatin

PeenedSatin

PeenedSatin

Random

32.9532.9532.9532.9544.9544.9589.95

CAT.# THICK ALLOY PRICE

K311K316K313K314

3/163/16

1/41/4

BrassStainless

BrassStainless

6.956.956.956.95

CAT.# THICK ALLOY PRICE

K613K614

3/163/16

BrassStainless

6.956.95

CAT.# TYPE ALLOY QTY/SIZE PRICE

B052A062B760A724B326A346

TorxTorx

CorbyCorbyPinsPins

BrassStainless

BrassStainless

BrassStainless

Two/1/4Two/1/4Two/1/4Two/1/4Six/3/32Six/3/32

3.954.952.903.701.991.99

CAT.# TYPE ALLOY QTY/SIZE PRICE

B451A461B660A624

TorxTorx

CorbyCorby

BrassStainless

BrassStainless

Two/1/4Two/1/4Two/1/4Two/1/4

3.954.953.493.49

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411

7/100

PATTERN 41

PATTERN 42

KN I F EMAK I NG . COM

M A D E I N U S A - B l a d e s , H a n d l e s , S t e e l , M a c h i n e r y a n d

m o r e ! G e t w h a t y o u n e e d o n l i n e o r c a l l 1 - 8 0 0 - 3 5 1- 8 9 0 0

Pattern 41 BladesOverall Length: 7 5/8

Blade Length: 3

Width: 1Thickness: 1/8

Pattern 42 BladesOverall Length: 6 5/8

Blade Length: 2 5/8

Width: 7/8

Thickness: 1/8

550lb Parcord 100ft

550lb Parcord 100ft

Kydex Sheath

Kydex Sheath


J4298J429KJ4227J4228J4207J4208J4257J4258J4289

10951095

D2 SteelD2 Steel

440C440C

CPM154CPM154

Damascus

SatinBlack Teflon

PeenedSatin

PeenedSatin

PeenedSatin

Random

24.9524.9532.9532.9532.9532.9539.9539.9569.95


J4198J419KJ4127J4128J4137J4138J4189

10951095

D2 SteelD2 Steel

CPMS 30VCPMS 30VDamascus

SatinBlack Teflon

PeenedSatin

PeenedSatin

Random

24.9524.9532.9532.9542.9542.9579.95

CAT.# COLOR PRICE

PC114PC115PC102PC103PC104PC108

TealDark BrownBlack

Olive DrabCoyote Brown

Burgundy

6.996.996.996.996.996.99

CAT.# COLOR PRICE

PC118PC122PC109

PC113PC127PC128PC140PC134

Neon OrangeGold

MidnightDark Green

Desert CamoFoliage Green

GI CamoStars & Stripes

6.996.996.996.996.996.996.996.99

CAT.# DESCRIPTION PRICE

KT420 Kydex Sheath 12.95

CAT.# DESCRIPTION PRICE

KT410 Kydex Sheath 12.95

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411

8/1008 GUN WORLD | NOV 2014 www.gunworld.com

NOV 2014 VOLUME 55 NUMBER 11

EDITORIALEditor in Chief: Craig HodgkinsManaging Editor: Kari WindesSenior Creative Director: Eric KnaggArt Director: Johann Frederick Mendoza

CONTRIBUTORS

Todd Burgreen, Jerry Catania, Mike Dickerson,Brad Fitzpatrick, Paul Hantke, James House, JamesonParker, D.K. Pridgen, John Raguso, Steve Sieberts, DaveSpaulding, Tom Tabor, Chuck Taylor, Leroy Thompson,Martin Topper, Dave Workman

ADVERTISINGGabe Frimmel: Ad Sales Director(714) 200-1930 [email protected] Clifford: Senior Account Executive(717) 896-8956Mark Pack: Senior Account Executive(714) 200-1939Gennifer Merriday: Ad Trafc Coordinator

DIRECT MARKETING GROUPJohn Bartulin (866) 866-5146 ext. 2746Paul Caca (866) 866-5146 ext. 4961Ryan Lauro (866) 866-5146 ext. 2756Mary Ann Jaca (866) 866-5146 ext 2716

OPERATIONSGus Alonzo: Newsstand Sales & Marketing Manager

Celia Merriday: Newsstand 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.comwww.facebook.com/gunworldmagazinewww.facebook.com/eembybeckett

GUN WORLD (ISSN 0017-5641) Volume 55, Number 11, ispublished monthly, 12 times a year by Beckett Media, LLC,22840 Savi Ranch Parkway, #200, Yorba Linda, CA 92887.Periodical postage paid at Anaheim, CA, and additionalmailing ofces. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to GunWorld c/o Beckett Media, 4635 McEwen Road, Dallas, TX75244. Return undelivered Canadian addresses to: GunWorld c/o Pitney Bowes, Inc. PO Box 25542, London, ONN6C 6B GST#855050365RT001 2014 by Beckett Media,LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material from

this issue in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.

CUSTOMER SERVICEBeckett Media, LLC4635 Mc Ewen Road. Dallas, TX 75244

SUBSCRIPTIONS, ADDRESS CHANGES,RENEWALS, MISSING OR DAMAGED COPIES(800) 764-6278(239) 653-0225 Foreign [email protected]@beckett.com

BACK ISSUES: www.engagedmediamags.comBOOKS, MERCHANDISE, REPRINTS: (239) 280-2380DEALER SALES: (239) 280-2380NEW PRODUCTS OR TO CONTRIBUTE A STORY OR [email protected]

SUBSCRIPTION RATES$17.95/1 year, $27.95/2 years. Foreign $33.95/1 year,$59.95/2 years. Single copy price is $4.99. Please allow 6

to 8 weeks for new subscriptions to begin.

Beckett Media, LLCNick Singh: Executive DirectorVikas Malhotra:Vice PresidentJennifer Degtjarewsky: Group Editorial& Business Unit Director

This magazine is purchased by the buyer with the under-standing that information presented is from varioussources from which there can be no warranty or responsi-bility by Beckett Media, LLC as to the legality, complete-ness or technical accuracy.

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

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

For the past few decades, Ive

described myself as a book guy,

but more often than not these days,

I hear myself replacing book with

media. After all, its right there on

my official business card.

Its true that some peopleabsorb information via video better

than they ever have in print, and the

proliferation of excellent Internet

information sources gives readers

an opportunity to flip virtual pages

instead of the kind that can give

paper cuts.

Still, I must admit that my

bookish heart skips a beat when I

arrive at the office and see a box onmy desk from a publisher, as it did

this week when the most recent

edition (the 5th) of the Ammo

Encyclopedia arrived from the

Gun Values people, Blue Book

Publications. This new edition

clocks in at 1,008 pages and

contains more than 100 chapters

on all rimfire cartridges, centerfire

cartridges and shotshells. Theyeven cover air rifle pellets.

Obviously, this is not a book

most people will read from cover to

cover (although you can probably

name a few who may try), but the

enlarged and comprehensive index

will help readers track down the

needed information when and

where it is needed. Like otherreference works of its kind,

cartridges are pictured in actual

size, and a handy 16-page color

section depicts more than 320

items.

In addition to everything youd

expect to find in a volume like this,

I enjoyed the nicely illustrated

chapters on interior and exterior

ballistics, which will delight theengineers and history buffs

among us.

The book offers more thanenough value for any gun lover to

appreciate (the gift-giving season is

on the near horizon), but it will be

especially invaluable to reloaders

and those working behind the

counter at a firearms retailer.

The book is now available in

the media section of your favorite

firearms store, or direct from Blue

Book Publications. GW

UP FRONT

Book

ItCraig Hodgkins

GUN WORLDIN SOCIAL MEDIA:

Website:www.GunWorld.comFacebook:www.facebook.com/GunWorldMagazine

Twitter:@gunworldmag

5th Edition Ammo Encyclopedia

For All Rimfire and CenterfireCartridges, Plus Shotshells!

By Michael Bussard

1,008 pages, paperbackSuggested List Price: $34.95

CONTACT

Blue Book Publications

(800) 877-4867

BlueBookofGunValues.com

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411

9/100

GEAR THATTRIES YOU ON

FOR SIZE.

In 1990 a Navy SEAL was nav igating a minefield when his pack failed. As his gear tumbled to the ground,

he vowed that if he got out of there alive he would make gear the right way. Today this obsession with

quality applies to every thing we do. Were constantly researching, refining and perfecting every detail

to provide gear that wont let you down. Because were not just making stuff. Were honoring a vow.

2013 BLACKHAWK!NORFOLK, VA U.S.A. BLACKHAWK.com

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411

10/100

For almost a century, O.F.Mossberg and Sons has been build-

ing quality firearms for American

shooters and hunters, and in the

latter part of 2014, the company is

releasing the most extensive cata-

log of youth-friendly firearms, ever.

Mossbergs focus, throughout

the companys history, has re-

mained on providing exceptional

quality and value-added features toour firearms, for hunters and shoot-

ers of all ages, while promoting safe

gun-handling, commented Iver

Mossberg, CEO. Introducing a

young or new shooter to recre-

ational shooting or hunting pro-

vides an opportunity to teach

discipline, responsibility, sports-

manship and a respect for the out-

doors. And with firearms that fitproperly, the shooting sports can

provide years of enjoyment.

COMFORT AND CONTROL

The products in the new Moss-

berg youth catalog are specifically

engineered to increase comfort and

control for small shooters, not only

shortening length of pull but also

adding additional features like theEZ-Reach foreend on pump

shotguns, which is positionedcloser to the receiver and is smaller

in diameter.

Mossberg is also offering Super

Bantam stock spacers that allow

for up to 1 inch of variation in the

length of pull in its rifles and shot-

guns. The FLEX TLS (Tool-less

Locking System) allows for quick

changes of stock, foreend, and bar-

rel, and the smaller dimensions andlighter weight of the youth versions

make them more manageable for

younger shooters.

In addition to making guns

more comfortable for small shoot-

ers, Mossberg is also working to

promote firearms safety and pro-

vides gun locks with all their mod-

els, as well as additional safety

materials, including the 10 Com-mandments of Gun Safety. Moss-

berg is also offering youth firearms

sets to hunter education instructors

through the International Hunter

Education Association (IHEA).GW

To view the full catalog of

Mossberg youth firearms online, visit

its website or an authorized

Mossberg dealer.

NEWPRODUCTS

Large AssortmentForSmaller ShootersMossbergs New Catalog Offers 45 Firearm Products ForYouth And Small-Statured Shooters

Text by Brad Fitzpatrick


Phot

ographybyMossberg

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411

11/100

Startingat

$489MSR

P

SAVAGE

ARMS.CO

M

ACCUTRIGGER

|WEAVER SCOPE

|SILKYSMOOT

HBOLTACTION

|DETACHABLE

BOXMAGAZIN

E

Weve

DoneIt

Again

Whenwec

ameoutwiththe

AXISXPa

fewyearsb

ack,ittota

llychanged

whathunte

rsexpected

fromanentry-leve

lrifle.With

accuracyt

hatbeat

anythingat

itspricean

dbeyond,i

tquicklybe

cameoneofthe

mostpopu

lar

riflepackag

esinAmer

ica.Weved

oneitagain

withtheA

XISIIXP.Wetook

everything

thatmadeth

eAXISgre

at,andadd

edourlege

ndaryAccu

Trigger

andaWea

verKASPA

scope(M

SRP$150

),whichco

mesmounte

dand

boresighte

d.Allyoun

eedtodois

opentheb

ox,finetune

thezeroan

dhunt.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411


Question: Manufacturers

seem to use different meth-

ods to produce the rifling in

gun barrels, and I'm confused

as to the differences and

which produces the best re-

sults. Is one type any better

than another?

John C., Omaha, NE

Tom Tabor Answers: Experts dis-

agree all the time on this subject,

but most quality firearm barrels

produced todaywhether they

have been produced by what is

commonly referred to as button

processing or by broach cutting

will usually exceed the shooting ca-pabilities of most shooters.

There are far more button bar-

rels produced than broach or cut

barrels, largely because they are

quicker and easier for the manufac-

turers to produce. But dont equate

speed with low quality. This process

involves more of a swaging process

rather than actually cutting the

metal away. In other words, pullingor pushing a tool made of carbide

or other very hard material through

the barrel produces the grooves,

and this controls the twist rate.

Some individuals believe that a

swaging process produces a higher

degree of metal stress and fatigue

than an actual cutting process. Un-

like broach or cut rifling, the button

rifling process is usually accom-plished when the barrels are in their

full blank form, after which they can

be turned down to whatever outer

contour desired.

The oldest method of barrel

makingthe cut, or broach cut,

methodis produced by running a

cutting tool through the barrel to re-

move the necessary metal. Some

manufacturers draw a distinctionbetween the terms cut barrel and

broach cut barrels, but for simplic-

itys sake, I will group them together.

This is a more time-consuming

process, requiring multiple passes

through the bore to accomplish the

desired result. The twist rate in this

case can vary, based on a number of

factors.

Although these methods takelonger, some believe it produces

ASKtheEXPERTS Wedo theresearch so youdont have to.

The SpinRiflingOn

Rifle barrels and muzzles

come in all shapes, sizes

and configurations, which

could be the result of either

button-processed, broach

or broach cut.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411


less metal fatigue and stress than

the button-processing method, and

there have been claims made that

barrels produced in this manner last

a bit longer. In reality, unless you are

varmint hunter or target shooter

that burns a lot of powder, most

shooters will never burn a barrel out

in their lifetime. My personal belief

is that broach rifling may produce

more uniform consistency to the ri-

fling twist, but the difference is not

noticeable by most shooters.

The rifle barrels made today

are for the most part very good

products, whether they are button

or cut produced. I do believe that allbarrels should be hand lapped after

the bore work has been completed.

Lapping a barrel can result in re-

moving any small imperfections

that can trap lead, copper and the

products of combustion, making

them shoot more accurately and

less of a hassle to clean.

As a side note, always follow

proper procedures to break in a newbarrel and be careful to not damage

the bore while cleaning it. It is all

too easy to scratch or mar the in-

side of a barrel through poor clean-

ing practices.

The two basic methods used by barrel

manufacturers to produce the rifling

are the button method and the broach

or broach-cut methods.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411


Question: I was reading a

book by a World War II OSS

agent and he mentioned a

Marlin submachine gun that

he used. I own a Marlin lever-action rifle, but I was not

aware it ever made a subma-

chine gun.

Gary M., Tampa, FL

Leroy Thompson Answers:

Youre far from alone in not know-

ing about the SMG made by Marlin

during World War II. Though somecalled it the Marlin, it was more

commonly known as the United

Defense M42. Early in World War II,

the U.S. armed forces were looking

for a replacement for the Thomp-

son SMG, which was expensive,

time-consuming to manufacture,

and heavy. One design that

showed promise was the United

Defense Model 42, which was orig-inally intended to be chambered

for 9mm and .45 ACP, but produc-

tion models were almost all in

9mm Parabellum.

Although the weapon was

adopted and quickly went into pro-

duction in 1942 (hence, M42), it had

various problems. A straight blow-

back, select fire weapon, the UD

M42 used a 20-round magazine;sometimes, two were welded to-

gether for a faster reload. Ironically,

since it was intended to be easier to

produce than the Thompson, it

proved labor intensive, and there

were problems with the magazines

warping. Overall, it did not stand up

well to rough combat conditions.

Well-known gun makers, High

Standard and Marlin, produced ap-proximately 15,000 UD M42s, but

as soon as the U.S. M3 submachine

gun became available, the UD M42

was declared substitute standard.

Many were acquired by the Office

of Strategic Services (OSS) for use

by agents and for supply to Resist-

ance groups.

One notable feature of the UD

M42 is the front pistol grip, which inmy experience, makes it easier to

control than many other SMGs of

the time.GW

Our November Experts:Thomas C. Tabor is Gun Worlds resident hunting columnist, and routinely goes afield in pursuit of small birds, largegame and good stories. His Todays Hunter column can be found on page 64.

Leroy Thompson is an internationally recognized authority on weapons and tactics, and is the author of more than50 books. His feature on the Armalite AR30A1 .338 Lapua Magnum can be found on page 44.

Name ThatSMG!

Right-side view of the

UH M42. Note the 180-

degree selector switch

and the fore grip.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411

15/100

LASER.FEATURING A BUILT-IN

M&PBODYGUARD380

M&PBODYGUARD38

The M&PBodyguard380 and M&PBodyguard38 are expertly engineered to work in

sync with a laser sight, so you can focus on one thing your target. For personal protection,

theres only one choice on the market with a built-in Crimson Tracelaser. This is it.

DRAW THE LINE AT SMITH-WESSON.COM/380REASONS

THERES A THIN, RED LINE

BETWEEN PREPARED ANDUNPREPARED.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411


COVERSTORY

With a full, 10-round magazine, the

pistol weighs just 18 ounces, making it

an easy-to-carry trailside companion.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411


My initial introductionto Smith & Wessonsnewly announced

M&P 22 Compact pistoloccurred several months agowhen I got a sneak peek at thenew gun during a prairie dogshoot in Wyoming. I quicklyput the pistol to productiveusepurely in self-defense,mind youin dispatching acouple of bloodthirsty,charging prairie dogs.

ROCKINRIMFIRE

Smith & Wessons newM&P 22 Compact Pistol IsLoads Of Fun To ShootAndA Perfect Companion ForPlinking, Practice AndDispatching Small Game

Photos and text by Mike Dickerson

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411


COVER STORY

Well, they might not have been

charging, exactly, but they did have

the impertinence to pop out of their

holes within pistol range while I and

a handful of fellow scribes were en-gaged in what came to be known as

the Zombie Prairie Dog Apoca-

lypse while testing a variety of

S&W firearms. While I didnt have

time to fully evaluate the pistol

then, I made arrangements to con-

duct a full test and evaluation as

soon as the cloak of secrecy was re-

moved.

Comparisons are inevitablewith any new handgun, and it didnt

take long for some observers to

start calling the new pistol the 22

Shield. There are some obvious

similarities to the M&P Shield in ap-

pearance and how the pistol feelsin the hand, but there are also sig-

nificant differences. The most obvi-

ous is the fact that the new pistol is

a rimfire, which I would never rec-

ommend as a primary concealed

carry weapon. Some people who

may not be able to handle center-

fire pistols due to disability or other

reasons may use it in that role, and

thats infinitely preferable to beingunarmed. Under most circum-

stances, however, the 22 Compact

is more gainfully employed as a fun

gun for plinking, practice and dis-

patching small vermin.

Happily, from my point of view,the 22 Compact comes with a

grown-up thumb safety. Ive never

much cared for the small manual

safety on the original Shield pistols.

Others apparently agreed because

S&W subsequently produced

Shield models without one. Thats

fine on a striker-fired, double-action

pistol, so long as the user remains

appropriately safety conscious, butits a bad idea to go sans safety

The pistol can be field

stripped to its basic

components in seconds.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411


with a single-action, internal-ham-

mer .22 rimfire pistol design.

Several people have asked me

why S&W didnt go with a striker-

fired design for this pistol and du-

plicate the trigger pull of its larger,

striker-fired M&P stable mates.Thats a fair question. The last

time I looked, there arent a lot of

true, striker-fired .22 rimfire pistols

out there because that action is

simply not the best choice for reli-

able function in a pistol cham-

bered for .22 rimfire. A lot of .22

pistols which people think are

striker-fired are not. They are, like

this .22 Compact, a single-action,internal-hammer design. You just

cant see the hammer without

breaking the guns down.

While were on the topic of trig-

gers, the 22 Compact employs an

articulated trigger that feels similar

to the trigger on my full-size M&P

.40. The trigger on the pistol sent to

me for testing had a slightly lighter

break and a tad more creep in it,

after initial take up, but its close

enough to stand in for the M&P

centerfire guns for the purpose of

some inexpensive practice.

The 22 Compact does not

come with the interchangeable gripbackstraps of other M&P pistols,

but S&W got the ergonomics right

on this rimfire version. Every writer

present at the Wyoming shoot

commented on how good the pistol

feels in the hand, and I wholeheart-

edly agree.

Unlike the Shield, the 22 Com-

pact has a Picatinny-style rail for

attaching lights or lasers. It alsocomes with a threaded muzzle.

Youll have to remove the muzzle

cap and, most likely, use an adapter

to convert the barrel threads from

3/8-24 to -28 threads for most

.22 rimfire suppressors.

Should you be tempted to

compare the 22 Compact to the

full-size M&P 22, its worth noting

that the latter is actually made byWalther in Germany. The 22 Com-

pact is made by S&W, in Springfield,

Mass., with all U.S.-made parts.

With these basic similarities

and differences aside, heres a

closer look at what makes this little

pistol a joy to shootand why it has

a reserved spot in my collection.

BY THE NUMBERS

Dimensionally, the 22 Compactis small enough to carry concealed

should you choose to do so. Overall

length is 6.7 inches. Overall height,

including sights, is 5 inches, and

width is 1 inch if you dont count the

controls. Weight with an empty

magazine is 17 ounces. A full, 10-

round magazine bumps the weight

up just 1 ounce. The pistol is sup-

plied with two magazines, whichutilize a stainless steel, electro-pol-

ished magazine tube. S&W built a

magazine safety into the pistol, so it

wont fire without a magazine in

place.

The barrel length is 3.6 inches,

with six-groove, right-hand rifling.

Rate of twist is 1:15. The barrel is

made of 4140 carbon steel and has

a blued finish. As noted, the muzzleis threaded and covered with a

SPECIFICATIONS

SMITH & WESSON

M&P 22 COMPACT

Action: Single-action, internal hammer

Frame: Polymer

Caliber: 22 Long Rifle

Mag. Capacity: 10 rounds

Barrel Length: 3.6 inches

Overall Length: 6.7 inches

Weight (Empty): 17 ounces

Sights: 3 white dot, adjustable

Finish: Black hard coat anodized slide,blued barrel

MSRP: $389

A takedown lever speeds disassembly of the pistol for cleaning or maintenance.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411


muzzle cap which must be in place

for normal operation if youre not

using a suppressor.Trigger pull weight is advertised

at 5.8 pounds. When I measured

the trigger pull on my test gun, it

came in acceptably close at 5

pounds, 12 ounces. With a slow trig-

ger squeeze, I noticed a slightly

gritty bump before the trigger hits

firm resistance and breaks. I sus-

pect that will smooth out a bit with

use. Trigger travel distance to fire is0.302 inches, and trigger reset dis-

tance is 0.150 inches.

Sights are of the standard,

white-dot variety, and are ad-justable for windage and elevation.

The front sight is made of polymer,

while the rear sight has a polymer

body and blade with a zinc alloy die

cast arm. The three generously

sized white dots provide a decent

sight picture, even in relatively dim

light. In normal light, the post of the

front sight nestles fairly tightly in

the groove of the rear sight, and Iactually shot the pistol best by sim-

ply focusing on the dots.

The slide is made of hard-coat

anodized 7076 T651 aluminum.

Wave-pattern serrations on the

rear provide ample purchase for

racking the slide. S&W thankfully

kept the slide relatively clean. The

left side sports a white S&W logo

and the words, M&P 22 Compactin stylish lettering, while the right

side displays just the words,

Smith & Wesson, Springfield, MA.

U.S.A. On top, youll find an open-

ing at the rear of the barrel hood

that serves as a loaded chamber

indicator.

The slide stop is made of 410

stainless steel, and has a block

oxide coating, while the ambidex-trous, stainless steel thumb safety

is overmolded with polymer. I liked

the frame-mounted thumb safety.

Its easy to reach, and it operates

with just the right amount of resist-

ance and a distinctly audible click.

The slide stop, on the other hand,

while reachable with the thumb,

was small and not easily disen-

gaged. I found it much easier to loadthe gun via the slingshot method.

PERFORMANCE RESULTSS&W M&P 22 COMPACT

LOAD AVG. 12-YARD BEST 12-YARDGROUP (INCHES) GROUP (INCHES)

Federal Champion 1.32 1.25

40-gr. solid

Winchester Super Speed 1.09 0.7237-gr. copper-plated HP

Winchester White Box 0.95 0.7036-gr. copper-plated HP

Winchester M22 40-gr. 1.23 0.84black copper-plated,round nose

COVER STORY

The front sight is

drift-adjustable.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411


In addition to the trigger bar

blocking manual safety, the pistol

has a trigger-activated firing pin

block and drop safety as well as an

internal lock (or accursed lawyer

lock, depending on your point of

view) which you can use, if desired,to lock the manual safety to the

safe position.

The magazine catch has the

same stipling found on the grip, and

is reversible for southpaws. In oper-

ation, it positively ejects magazines.

Field stripping and reassembly

may seem a bit unusual, at first,

given the pistols fixed barrel, but

the procedure is easily mastered.With the magazine removed, you

simply lock the slide back and en-

gage the slide stop. Then rotate the

takedown lever down, pull the slide

fully to the rear and lift the rear por-

tion of the slide clear of the frame.

With the rear part of the slide held

up, slide it forward and off the

frame. You can then remove the

captured recoil spring/guide rod as-sembly from the frame. Thats as

far as you need to go to perform

routine cleaning and maintenance.

To reassemble, make sure the

hammer is cocked to the rear and

insert the recoil spring/guide rod as-

sembly back into the frame in its

proper orientation. With the take-

down lever in the down position,

start the slide back onto the framefrom the front, again holding the

rear part of the slide up clear of the

frame. When its as far back as it

will go, push the rear of the slide

down over the frame rails and let

the recoil spring power the slide for-

ward. Pull the slide back and use

the slide stop to lock it back, and

rotate the takedown lever to the up

position.Its simple, really, and you can

break it down a lot faster than it

takes to read these instructions.

SURPRISINGLY

ACCURATE

Its no secret that semi-auto .22

rimfire pistols can be a bit finicky in

their ammo preferences. This

ammo sensitivity is more pro-nounced in some guns than others,

but Ive seldom fired a .22 rimfire

semi-auto that ate everything I

threw at it without expressing dis-

pleasure with some loads. Theres

so much variation in .22 rimfire

ammo that you really have to do

your own testing to find out what

your particular pistol prefers.

The 22 Compact was no excep-tion, although early reports indicate

it is less finicky than most. I didnt

have a lot of different ammo on

hand to test in the pistol, and was

limited to four different factory

loads. The test pistol sent to me

didnt care much for the first load

tested, Federals Champion 40-gr.

solid lead load, which exhibited

multiple failures to eject and feed.Oddly enough, that load performed

in stellar fashion in Wyoming, but

my test pistol didnt care for it. As

noted, thats not uncommon with

.22 rimfire pistols. Guns, like people,

can behave as individuals.

Things improved with the sec-

ond round tested. Shooting 100

rounds of Winchesters Super

Speed, hollow point, copper-plated37-gr. load, with an advertised ve-

locity of 1330 fps, produced two

failures to feed.

Now for the good news: The

pistol had zero problems digesting

100 rounds of the slightly slower

(1,280 fps) Winchester white box

36-gr. hollow point, copper-plated

load. It also showed positive affec-

tion for Winchesters M22 round,which is a black copper-plated, 40-

gr. round-nose load designed for

reduced fouling and enhanced

functioning at a rated muzzle ve-

locity of 1,255 fps. Both of these

loads performed flawlessly, re-

gardless of whether the pistol was

clean or dirty.

In testing, I found the 22 Com-

pact to point naturally, and thesights were easy to pick up. As a re-Controls are ruggedly constructed and within easy reach of the gun-hand thumb.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411


COVER STORY

sult, the pistol shot well for me

off-hand, whether I was taking my

time and aiming carefully or dump-

ing a magazine into a target. To get

a better idea of the pistols accu-

racy potential, I shot it over sand-

bags from the bench at the rather

arbitrary distance of 12 yards, and

quickly found that it shot tighter

groups than I expected.Shooting five-round groups, I

found that the four tested rounds

produced average groups that ran

from just less than an inch to 1.32

inches. The average size of all aver-

age groups was just 1.14 inches. The

best five-shot group from each load

showed the little pistols real accu-

racy potential, as bullets from three

of the four loads tested nestled into

groups measuring less than an inch.The ergonomics of the pistol

undoubtedly contribute to its

accuracy. Thanks to the way Smith

& Wesson designed it to rest natu-

rally and comfortably in the hand,

and the ease with which you can

pick up the sights, this pistolshoots well.

The toughest part of owning

this pistol, for the foreseeable fu-

ture, may be finding enough .22 LR

ammo to keep it fed.GW

CONTACT

Federal Premium Ammunition

FederalPremium.com

Nagels gun Shop

NagelsGuns.net

Smith & Wesson

Smith-Wesson.com

Winchester Ammunition

Winchester.com

The author first test fired the M&P

22 Compact while on a prairie dog

shoot in Wyoming.

The author found the M&P 22 Compact capable of very good accuracy for a gun with a

3.6-inch barrel.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411

23/100

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

Search. Find. Buy.

Capacity:4+1

BBL: 28

Sights:Fiber Optic Front

Capacity:5+1

BBL: 21

Sights: Bead

2014 DAVIDSONS, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

A5Realtree Max-5 Camo

Pardner Pump Compact

0118212004

12 Gauge

NP1-2S1

20 Gauge

Get Your Instant Quote at www.galleryofguns.com

Capacity:5+1

BBL: 24

Sights:No Sights

BBL: 28

Sights:Hi-Viz

Capacity:4+1

BBL: 26

Sights:Bead

Capacity:5+1

BBL: 28

Sights:Brass Bead Front

Capacity:4+1

BBL: 26

Sights:Bead

Capacity:4+1

BBL: 26

Sights:Bead

Capacity:2

BBL: 28

Sights:Dual Bead

Flex 500 Hunting Adaptive

Versa Max

SA-08 Deluxe PA-08 Synthetic

1187 Sportsman Field

Escort Ladies Model Silver Reserve II Sport

55129

12 Gauge

81048

12 Gauge

Capacity:3+1 or 2+1

SA08D2826PGM

28 Gauge

PA08S1228PGM

12 Gauge

83704

20 Gauge

HAM20YAO26MMG

20 Gauge

75444

12 Gauge

Capacity:4+1

BBL: 28

Sights:TRUGLO True-Bead

930 Waterfowl

Duck Commander

85132

12 Gauge

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411

24/100

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411

25/100

What comes to mindwhen you think aboutBenelli guns? For

many, its the hard-workingSuper Black Eagle, the go-to

scattergun for a sizable chunk ofthe nations serious waterfowlhunters. Perhaps you imagine atactical gun, the M2 or the M4,both highly successful defensiveand competition guns.

BENELLIBenellis Semiautos RevolutionizedShotgunning And Added InertiaDriven To The Common Vernacular.But For Those Looking For A LessExpensive Way To Add A Benelli ToTheir Arsenal, Dont Overlook The

Nova Pump.

Story & Photosby Brad Fitzpatrick

TheOther

This SuperNova features a 24-

inch barrel, a black finish and

boasts a 3 -inch chamber. For

turkeys, upland game, and home

defense, its a great option, and

the ability to swap out barrels

makes it more versatile still.

www.gunworld.com NOV 2014 | GUN WORLD 25

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411


Perhaps what comes to mind

is the avant-garde look of the Vinci

or Super Vinci, or for those who at-

tended SHOT Show, the violinists

that provided a beautiful sound-

track to the introduction of the

Ethos.

Notice a pattern (besides the

violinists)? Yes, Benelli is and likely

will always be known best for itssemiautos. The Inertia-Driven

craze helped put Benelli on the

map, and that technology has now

bled into the brands other offerings

from Franchi and Stoeger, other

companies residing under the

Benelli umbrella.

Theres a reason for all that

fuss; the Intertia system is ex-

tremely simple and very reliable,and chances are youll never shoot

Even though Benelli is most

associated with its line of semiauto

guns, the company also makes

outstanding pump guns as well.

The Nova and SuperNova lines are

budget options for those that dont

mind shucking their own empty

shells, and there are a number of

different options available.

The SuperNova has an oversized trigger guard,

which allows the shooter to manipulate the

trigger even when wearing heavy gloves. The

controls are also easy to find and use; the action-

release button and safety are both located just in

front of the right side of the trigger guard.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411


enough to wear one of these guns

out. But that new technology

comes at a price, and some folks

just cant swing the high price tag of

a Benelli semiauto (Stoeger and

Franchi offer less expensive alter-

natives. Please see sidebar).But just because youre on a

budget doesnt mean you cant

come home from the gun shop with

a Benelli box. If you dont mind cy-

cling your own gun, let me introduce

you to the most underrated Italian

shotgun in years, the Benelli Nova.

In Ohio, where I grew up, we

hunted virtually everything with

shotguns, and most of the hunters Iknew carried pumps. These were

squirrel guns, upland guns, and,

when deer season rolled around,

they brought home the venison (ri-

fles arent allowed for hunting deer

in Ohio). Pumps were economical,

reliable, and fast.

Coming from that background,

I have a soft spot for pump guns,

and even though I spent years tot-ing an over/under as a competitive

shooter, most of the guns I own

today are pumps. Why? Because

theyre in my budget, theyre darn

near indestructible, and they work

for just about everything, from

small game and upland birds to

deer to home defensive and even

competitive shooting.

SMOOTH FUNCTIONING,

WITH OPTIONS

The Nova and the powerful Su-

perNova pumps have, in my opin-

ion, been unfairly overlooked. Sure,

youll have to shuck your own emp-

ties and chamber the next shell, but

these guns allow you to do that

quickly and smoothly, thanks to an

oversized forearm and a slick rotat-ing bolt head that is extremely reli-

able, with two lugs that twist into

extensions in the steel barrel upon

chambering for a secure lockup.

To say that the Benelli is a de-

parture from the standard way in

which pump shotguns are con-

structed is an understatement. In a

realm where the great battle is be-

tween steel and aluminum alloy re-ceivers, Benelli ventured into totally

new territory by producing a shot-

gun with a steel framework that is

over-molded by high-tech, light-

weight, durable polymer. The result-

ing gun has a stock and receiver

that flows into one unit, and this is a

gun that can stand up to hard-core

hunting without worrying about

scratches, dings, or rust. The finishalso reduces glare, and it helps

keep you hidden from the eyes of

incoming gadwalls, wary coyotes,

or an unconvinced spring gobbler.

The 12-gauge version of the

Nova weighs around 8 pounds (de-

pending upon barrel length), and

the 20-gauge and youth versions

hover around 6.5 pounds, light

enough to carry, but substantialenough to keep recoil manageable.

The SuperNova 12-gauge, 3 -inch

gun features a ComforTech stock

that reduces recoil and has a

unique armored look to the receiver.

It is also available with a Steady-

Grip stock with a soft pistol grip

that helps manage recoil, a perfect

setup for turkey and predator

hunters. The safety is located at thefront of the trigger guard, which,

THE OTHER INERTIA GUNS

Benelli brought the inertia-driven concept to this country, but the company nowoffers that same technology in less expensive, ultra-reliable semiautos from itsFranchi and Stoeger brands. Franchi offers two semiauto shotguns with the inertia-driven system: the 3-inch Affinity and the 3 -inch Intensity. Ive hunted waterfowlwith both guns, and theres little question that they are effective and reliable. Fromthe salt flats of Texas to the grain field swamps of South Dakota, the reliable andreasonably priced Franchis have never failed me.

Now Stoeger also offers inertia guns as well, including the M3000, a 3-inch, 12-gauge version that is available in both black and camo finishes, and the M3500shotgun, which is chambered for 3 inch, 12-gauge shells. Recently, Stoeger addeda 20-gauge version to the M lineup, the M3020. With all these options, there is aninertia gun that fits your needs, as well as your budget.

For more information, visit FranchiUSA.com or StoegerIndustries.com

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411


other than a tang mount, is the

most logical and useful position, in

my experience.

The trigger guard has a flowing,

artistic look that may or may not

catch your eye, but the important

feature is that its oversized. Trying

to fit a big, fat gloved finger into asmall trigger guard while rising up

out of a goose pit is both irritating

and potentially dangerous, so the

generous trigger guard is a welcome

feature. It comes with sling studs,

an intelligent and useful touch.

There is a shell stop button located

in the center of the forearm, but it is

recessed and doesnt interfere with

normal function.There is a long list of available

options, and cataloging them is no

easy chore, but Ill give it a try: you

can select a Nova field model in ei-

ther 12 or 20 gauge with either a

black or camo (Realtree Max-5 or

APG) finish; theres also a youth 20-

gauge version with a shortened

length of pull. The 12-guage ver-

sions are available with three barrellengths (24, 26, and 28 inches), and

the 20 gauge comes with either a

24- or 26-inch pipe.

The SuperNova is available in

12 gauge, 3 -inch only, comes in

the same finishes and also offers

the option of a SteadyGrip or Com-

forTech stock. There is a long list of

speciality versions available for tac-tical or slug hunting, and Benelli of-

fers additional barrels to add to the

versatility and value of your Nova.

No matter your needs, theres al-

most certainly a Nova gun that fits

the bill. The MSRPs range from

$449 up to $929.

AN INTUITIVE GUN

The gun I tested was a Super-Nova in basic black with a 24-inch

barrel, a gun that would serve duty

as a home defense, turkey/predator,

and upland game gun. In an era

when everything seems to require a

specialized shotgun, the SuperNova

is a pump that can do everything.

Its versatile enough to handle just

about any situation, and the one-

piece coated stock and receiver isimpervious to the elements.

The ComforTech stock, which is found

on the SuperNova, does an excellent job

minimizing felt recoil. The standard Nova

comes without the ComforTech stock, but

recoil is still quite manageable.

SPECIFICATIONS

BENELLI NOVA

Action: Slide action

Gauge: 12, 20

Chamber: 3 inches, 3 inches

Finish: Black synthetic,camo synthetic

Weight: 6.4 to 8.0 pounds

Barrel: 24 to 28 inches

Stock: Non-ComforTech

MSRP: $449-$569

BENELLI SUPERNOVA

Action: Slide action

Gauge: 12

Chamber: 3 inches

Finish: Black synthetic,camo synthetic

Weight: 7.8 to 8.0 pounds

Barrel Lengths: 24 to 28 inches

Stock: ComforTech or SteadyGrip

MSRP: $549-$929

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411


The gripping surfaces are

large and easy to hold onto, and

the oversized forearm means

that no matter where you grab,

you can pump this gun. The trig-

ger is oversized and the safety

button is conveniently located infront of the trigger and not far

from the action release button.

The SuperNova becomes an

intuitive gun, one that you learn

to shoot by feel very quickly. The

ComforTech stock is a welcome

addition, especially if you plan

on utilizing the SuperNovas 3 -

inch capabilities. I didnt shoot

any 3 -inch magnum loads, butI did put several Winchester 3-

inch Longbeard XR Turkey loads

through this gun, and the recoil

was manageable.

Traditional wood-stocked

guns have the tendency to

crunch the shoulder joint under

heavy recoil, but the Benellis

stock and pad do an admirable

job dissipating that punch be-fore it jars the shooter. That

means faster follow-up shots,

andwhether you are hunting

deer, ducks, gobblers, or defend-

ing your own lifethats a good

thing.

The Nova and SuperNova

are both exceptionally reliable

and durable. The unique exterior

surface material protects theguns inner metal skeleton

against corrosion. In essence, the

Benellis are armored, and the

large, stylized plate pattern on

the rear of the SuperNova gives

the gun a mechanical, futuristic

look. Its rounded recoil pad

doesnt hang up on clothing, and

I shot a few clays from the low

gun position. Serious clay shoot-ers prefer a radiused heel, and

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411


the rounded figure of the Benelli is

quick to the shoulder.

The lines in the pistol grip and

the forearms matrix look may seem

to be simply aesthetic touches, but

in reality they serve very functional

purposes. The pistol grip provides asecure hold even when wet, and the

forearm is easy to grab and manip-

ulate, even for shooters with short

arms or for those wearing heavy

gloves.

The oversized trigger guard

isnt just nice to have, its a neces-

sity. The older I get, the less inclined

I am to sit in a duck blind or deer

stand without a pair of warmgloves, and theyre usually very

The SuperNova is available in a variety of configurations for both hunting and

tactical work. Tactical models have battle sights, shorter barrels, and a SteadyGrip

stock for a secure mount.

Many hunters are familiar with Benellis waterfowl guns, but the SuperNova

is an excellent duck and goose gun. The cost is reasonable, and the quality is

very high. The tough exterior surface can stand up to the elements, even in salt

marshes. This SuperNova is shown in Realtree Max-5 camo.

This is a gun that can

stand up to hard-core

hunting without worrying

about scratches,

dings, or rust.

WINCHESTERS NEW SHOTSHELLS

Over the past few years, Winchester Ammunition has added a number of

offerings to its existing lineup of shotshells. For turkey hunters, it now offers itsLongbeard XR in both 3- and 3 12-inch, 12-gauge loads that contain 1 34 and 2ounces of shot, respectively.

The Longbeard XR loads have a unique resin that helps keep the shot chargeclustered until it leaves the muzzle. The resin then evaporates (sometimes visible asa white cloud) and the shot charge remains extremely tight, producing outstandingpatterns out to long ranges. Also new from Winchester are two TrAAcker targetloads. These loads provide visible reference lines (either orange or black) when firedto help determine where the shot charge is traveling. This, in turn, allows targetshooters to determine why they are missing clays, an effective tool to improve yourshotgun performance.

Lastly, Winchester introduced its PDX-1 Defense shotgun loads, which contain alead slug and three buckshot pellets for added stopping power when you are facedwith a defensive situation.

For more information on Winchesters newest loads, visit Winchester.com.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411

31/100

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411


thick. Having to take your gloves off

to shoot a gun is often very irritat-

ing, but thats not a concern when

shooting the Benelli pumps.Speed is relative when it comes

to pump guns. Most experienced

pump shooters with a familiar

weapon can cycle shells as fast (or,

in some cases, even faster) than

those using a semiauto. My own

test for speed with a pump is sim-

ple: how hard is it to break the dou-

bles at station one on a standard

skeet field?For those unfamiliar with the

sport, the first station starts under

the high tower and the first clay of

the pair comes from overhead and

is followed by a low crosser at a

sharp angle from the low (oppo-

site) tower. Bottom line, youre

breaking one bird thats pretty quick

and easy and following that up by

getting back in battery, changing di-rection, and breaking a swiftly ap-

proaching second bird. With a fast,

smooth pump that swings well, you

can break that second target with

time to spare. If there are any hang-ups, you wont.

I shot about a half-dozen pairs

with the Benelli, and each pair was

easy and unhurried. I followed the

top bird out (the red fiber optic is

great; very easy to see in your pe-

ripheral field of view), broke it,

pumped and swung back to break

the second bird. Its not scientific,

but it tells me everything I need toknow about a pump. With the

Benellis speed, I know I wouldnt

have any trouble with wild birds in

the field.

Benelli may never be synony-

mous with pump guns, but the

budget-friendly Nova family offers a

great deal to like. Its extremely

reliable, its tough, and its afford-

able. If youre in the market for anItalian gun but cant afford Benellis

more expensive semiautos, look to

the Nova or SuperNova. They are a

great value on a hard-working

scattergun that brings with it thetype of quality youd expect from

the brand.GW

CONTACT

Benelli USA

(301) 283-6981

BenelliUSA.com

The SuperNova is available in a variety of configurations, including this slug gun version

with a Burris red dot sight. The ComforTech stock with raised cheekpiece helps align the

eye with the optic or iron sights without transferring the full recoil energy to the face.

The SuperNova Turkey model is shown here with a red dot sight and SteadyGrip stock. Benelli offers a wide variety of options in the

Nova and SuperNova line, so no matter what youre looking for, youll be able to find a gun that meets your needs, whether thats a highly

specialized gun like the one shown here, or a do-all pump that can accomplish a variety of tasks.

The budget-friendly

Nova family offers a

great deal to like.

Its extremely reliable,

its tough, and itsaffordable.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411

33/100

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411


The Taurus Raging Bull 454 can save your

life when going up against the really big stuff.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411


A

few years ago, a snappingtwig alerted a man walkinghis three dogs to a charging

900-pound Alaskan brown bear.Neither the man nor his dogs wereaware of the bears presence untilthe man turned and saw the bearattacking from 20 yards at fullspeed with its head down and itsears laid back.

Yanking his short-barreled.454 Casull revolver from itsholster, the man fired two to threeshots, killing the huge bear almost

instantly. It slid to a stop just pastthe point where he had beenstanding. Although he had to checkthe cylinder to determine exactlyhow many shots he fired, he knewone thing: the .454 did the job.

RAGING

BULLIn Bear Country And Closer ToHome, This .454 Casull RevolverMay Be A Short-Barreled Lifesaver

Story & Photos

by Jerry Catania

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411

36/100

If youre ever out wandering in

bear country, the Taurus Raging Bull

Model 454 revolver fits the bill as a

short-barreled lifesaver. More than

adequate for black bears, mountain

lions, wild hogs, and moose, the

Raging Bull can save your life when

going up against the really big stuff.

Featured in the hands of Ethan

Hawke in the movie, The Purge, theRaging Bull is a handsome, sturdy,

and functional hand-cannon. Engi-

neered like a Tiger Tank, the Raging

Bull .454 is a fusion of craftsman-

ship and strength.

GUN DETAILS

Built on a large, hammer-

forged stainless steel frame, the

Raging Bull features a massive five-round cylinder that locks up in three

This close-up shows the two

cylinder locking latches, fore and aft.

A top view of the fixed notch rear sight.

The front sight featured a red fiber optic.


8/9/2019 Gun World 201411

37/100

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411


places: on the yoke (or crane) at the

front of the cylinder (not at the end

of the ejector rod), at the back of

the cylinder, and at the bottom of

the cylinder. So secure is the lock-

up that it requires two hands to

open the cylinder mechanism. The

fluted cylinder rotates counter-

clockwise, and the ejector rod turnswith the cylinder.

Lock-up is extremely tight with

zero play fore and aft and no side-

to-side play when the hammer is

locked back before firing. The lock-

ing bolt notches are cut midway be-

tween chambersright over the

cylinder flutesfor maximum

strength. The locking bolt is over-

sized as well, and the entire mecha-nism works with the precision and

CHRONOGRAPH DATA

LOAD454 CASULL MUZZLE VELOCITY (1) MUZZLE VELOCITY (2) MUZZLE ENERGY

DT 400 GR. WFNGC CAST* 1,150 FPS (2.5) 1,109 FPS 1,096 FT.-LBS.

DT 360 GR. WFNGC CAST** 1,225 FPS (2.5) 1,189 FPS 1,123 FT.-LBS.

DT 325 GR. EQUALIZER 1,000 FPS (2.5) N/A N/A

FED 300 GR. A-FRAME 1,520 FPS (ON BOX) 1,317 FPS 1,152 FT.-LBS.

FED 260 GR. FUSION 1,350 FPS (ON BOX) 1,169 FPS 796 FT.-LBS.

BB 360 GR. LBT-LWCGC 1,425 FPS (ON BOX) 1,229 FPS 1,206 FT.-LBS.

LOAD45 COLT +P MUZZLE VELOCITY (1) MUZZLE VELOCITY (2) MUZZLE ENERGY

BB 325 GR. LBT-LFN 1,325 FPS (ON BOX) 1,202 FPS 1,043 FT.-LBS.

BB 260 GR. DEER GRENADE 1,449 FPS (4) 1,292 FPS 967 FT.-LBS.BB 260 GR. JHP 1,450 FPS (ON BOX) 1,264 FPS 928 FT.-LBS.

Legend: Data recorded on an Oehler 35p, 2,000 feet elevation, temp of 85 degrees. Muzzle velocity (1) isthe advertised velocity. Muzzle velocity (2) is the actual chronographed velocity, which was the averageof four (4) shots with five rounds in the cylinder to record any jumped crimps.

*- means the bullet in the fifth chamber jumped its crimp.**- means the bullet in the fifth chamber jumped its crimp and tied up the cylinder.

The yoke-mounted cylinder lock.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411

39/100

www.lesbaer.com

See our entire line ofhigh performance custom rifles and pistols at

When we decided to build our own line ofAR rifles, we knew they couldn't be like everyoneelse's. So, from the beginning, our AR rifles havefeatured the very best parts available anywhere,many of them forged for toughness, then precisionmachined on our own CNC horizontal machiningcenters and broaching machines. They're all custombuilt with painstaking care and they perform like noother AR on the planet. More than 20 models are

available with multiple caliber choices and high techmission-specific options for law enforcement/tacticalor sporting use, including:

Les Baer Custom AR Super Varmint Model.223 cal/ 5.56 mm, .204 Ruger, .2 64 LBC-AR TM, 6 x 45

Les Baer Custom . 30 8 Cal/7.62mmNATO Sniper Rifle

Les Baer Custom .308 Cal/7.62mmNATO MONOLITH SWAT ModelStd or Mid-Length Barrel

Les Baer CustomMonolith.308 Semi-Auto SWAT

Model

Les BaerCustom .308NATO Sniper

Rifle

1911Les BaerCustom

Boss .45

Les BaerCustom

Ultimate 1911Tactical Carry

5" Pistol

Les Baer Custom ARSuper Varmint Rifle

www.lesbaer.com

Also available:Les Baer Custom 1911 PistolsMore than thirty models of breathtakingly accuratecustom pistols including:

Les Baer Custom 1911 Boss .45Les Baer Custom Ultimate 1911 Tactical Carry 5" Pistol

Performance. Its Everything.

1804 Iowa Drive LeClaire, Iowa 52753Ph: 563-289-2126 Fx: 563-289-2132

Email: [email protected] Hours: 8:00 AM 5:00 PM Central Time

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411


strength of a bank vault. The

rounded and knurled knob on the

end of the full-length ejector rod

that enables the ejection of stub-

born cases with little effort or pain,

is also a nice touch.The barrel on this model of

Raging Bull is 2 14 inches long.

Other models have barrels ranging

from 5 inches to 8 38 inches with

adjustable sights. The short-barrel

.454 comes with a red, fiber-optic

front sight and a fixed rear notch.

This combination provided an ex-

cellent sight picture under virtually

all conditions except full dark. Therear sight is cut in such a way that it

casts a shadow on itself in the right

place, and enhances visibility where

it counts.

Best of all, Taurus engineered

this piece so that lateral bullet im-

pact (windage) was spot-on withevery load. Elevation was so close

with all loads (from .45 Colt to full-

power .454s) that there was no

practical difference in a gun de-

signed for close-in protection. The

short barrel is ported with three

ports on each side of the front

sight. Recoil was masterfully sub-

dued and muzzle flip was almost

eliminated.The trigger was wide and

smooth and did not pound my trig-

ger finger upon firing. The hammer

was wide and well shaped, but had

extremely sharp edges. Twenty sec-

onds with a Dremel around the

edges solved that problem, nicely

and invisibly. At first, the single-ac-tion pull was heavy and stiff, but

smoothed up a bit with some oil

and usage. It had a bit of creep and

over-travel, as well. The double-ac-

tion pull was very heavy and

stacked badly at first. It smoothed

up greatly after hundreds of dry

fires, and became quite nice, al-

though still heavy. The heavy cylin-

der definitely had an effect here,and on the overall smoothness of

the DA pull.

The reach from the grip to the

trigger was very long, and I had

trouble with it at first. This was

SPECIFICATIONS

Manufacturer:

Taurus International

Model: Taging Bull 454ss2m

Caliber: .454 Casull

Weight: 48 ounces

Material: Stainless steel

Capacity: Five rounds

Front Sight: Fiber optic

Rear Sight: Fixed, non-adjustable

OAL: 7.5 inches

Barrel Length: 2.25 inches, ported

Extra: Taurus lifet ime warranty

MSRP: $1,054.78

The Taurus Raging Bull

fits perfectly in Galcos DAO

(Dual Action Outdoorsman)

holster.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411


made a bit more difficult by the

special Taurus rubber grip with a

58-inch wide red insert of some

rubber-like material. The special in-

sert was supposed to dampen re-

coil, but I found that my hand was

stung the most in a line where thenarrow red insert came across my

hand, even with the heavy +P .45

Colt loads.

I took my Dremel (again) and

whittled away some of the insert

(which originally protruded about

18 inch) to fit my palm, and that

made a near 100-percent improve-

ment in handling and shooting for

me. Any old pistolero will tell youthat to reduce felt recoil, use a wide

grip that spreads out the jolt across

your palm, not one that will focus it

in one spot.

Originally, Id intended to test

both the Taurus and the Ruger

The internal lock is

located in the hammer.

Nowin

PINK

YOU CAN WAIT FOR HELP TO ARRIVE.

OR YOU CAN JUSTCARRY IT WITH YOU.THE CHOICE IS YOURS.

Lightweight, compact, and carrying 10 powerful 9mm cartridges,

the SCCY CPX is reliable...and ready when you need it.

The NEW American gun

company founded on the radical

1800 CONCEPT COURT, DAYTONA BEACH, FL 32114866.729.7599 | WWW.SCCY.COM

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411


Alaskan, but although the trigger

reach on the Ruger was perfect for

me, and the grip nice and soft, it

kicked badly. That gun actually in-

timidated me. After putting on a

heavily padded shooting glove, I

could still barely hold the thingdown. Muzzle flip was so pro-

nounced that I decided to abandon

the dual-gun idea.

By contrast, the wide-and-

smooth-triggered Taurus did not

hurt my finger at all and muzzle flip

was reduced to near nothing (for

the caliber). The shape of the trig-

ger and the porting really paid off

for me, at least. Heavy recoil wasstill there, and after I whittled the

insert down, I still had to put a big

adhesive pad across my palm and

wear a light glove. That let me

shoot a few dozen rounds through

the chronograph, and as I did, I be-

came more tolerant and started

shooting better, as well. We kind of

grew on each other. Blast did not

seem any worse than with the un-ported Ruger.

SHOTS FIRED

The darling of my tests was the

DoubleTap Equalizer load, con-

sisting of a 185-grain JHP on top of

a 140-grain hard-cast ball for a

total of 325 grains. Two hits with

every shot makes for a formidable

defense load for two-legged preda-tors, especially when you can make

hits on a man-sized B-27 target out

to 50 yards. Recoil was relatively

mild, and the Taurus shot these to

perfection. There is no doubt you

could successfully hunt big game

with the super-accurate Raging

Bull, even with its short barrel and

fixed sights. It is also viable for

home defense.

The Raging Bulls five-round cylinder.

A line-up of some of the many .454 and .45 Colt loads.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411


Using the Equalizer load, or any

of the fine .45 Colt loads, one caneasily find the right combination for

your needs. Another load I really

liked was the Buffalo Bore Deer

Grenade, consisting of the proven

(and hardened) LSWC-HP bullet,

travelling nearly 1,300 fps out of a

.45 Colt case. This should stop any

black bear, hog, or cougar in its

tracks; it also makes a near-perfect

deer-hunting load.

Two of DoubleTaps loads

(both lead bullets) jumped theircrimp. One of them tied up the

cylinder and jammed the gun. It

was the fifth shot in the cylinder. No

problems were encountered with

any of the other loads.

The power of the .454 is simply

addicting. In spite of the pain, you

just have to keep shooting it. As the

Taurus Raging Bull 454 breaks in,

and as you become more comfort-able with it, a change will take

place, a feeling of power and the

ability to control any situation.

Thats a good feeling to have,

especially out in bear country.GW

CONTACT

Taurus, USA

TaurusUSA.com

Buffalo Bore AmmunitionBuffaloBore.com

Double Tap Ammunition

DoubleTapAmmo.net

Federal Premium Ammunition

FederalPremium.com

Galco HolstersGalcoGunLeather.com

The .454 Casull

Designed in 1958 by Dick Casulland Jack Fullmer, the .454 Casull usesa lengthened and strengthened .45Colt case with a small rifle primer toachieve power levels that were un-heard of back in the day. Even today,with the advent of the more special-

ized .460 and .500 Smith & Wessoncartridges, the .454 is just about themost power that can be had in a nor-mally sized revolver.

Using a Triplex mix of powders,the original load launched a 250-grainbullet at a sizzling 1,900-plus feet persecond with 2,000 ft.-lbs. of energy,and operated at a pressure of 60,000CUP. Some of todays loads seemtame by comparison.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411


VERSATILE

VELOCITYArmaLite AR30A1 .338 Lapua Magnum Sniper Rifle

Story & Photos by Leroy Thompson

Over the last decade, the.338 Lapua Magnum hasachieved wide popularity

with military snipers, especially inthe special ops community. Withgreater range and striking powerthan the .308 or .300 Win Magsniping rifle, yet lighter and easierto transport than the .50 BMGanti-material gun, the .338 LapuaMagnum is arguably the mostversatile sniping rifle in the world.In fact, the current worlds longestsniper kill of slightly farther than1.5 miles was by a British sniperusing one.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411


The AR30A1 ready for firing

from the bench; note that the

bipod allows enough clearance

to change the magazine

without lifting the rifle.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411


Ive recently begun work on a

book on .338 Lapua rifles, a task

that demands I test most of thecurrently available models in that

caliber. I have found the more Ive

shot themincluding the Armalite

AR30A1 youll read about herethe

more Ive become a fan.

I imagine that most people

reading this are like me and are

used to semiauto Armalite AR-type

rifles. Ive had an AR-10 Ive been

using for years and like a lot, andmany years ago in Africa shot some

of the early military AR-10s that

were sold there, but the AR30A1 is

the first bolt-action Armalite rifle

that Ive fired.

TESTING THE TARGET

There are two versions of the

AR30A1: the standard and target

models. I evaluated the target ver-sion, which features an 18-inch top

Although the bulk of shooting

with the AR30A1 was done prone,

I also tried the rifle using various

improvised shooting positions.

Leupolds MK4 LR/T 6.5-

20x50mm scope used on the

AR30A1; note the elevationdial calibrated for .338 Lapua

ammunition.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411


Picatinny rail (to allow use of night

vision scopes or other accessories),

rails on the sides of the forearm for

pointers or illuminators, a bottom

rail for mounting a bipod, a verti-

cally adjustable cheek piece, and a

horizontally adjustable butt pad forlength of pull.

The two models share other

characteristics, including an aggres-

sive-looking and very effective muz-

zle brake threaded for a suppressor,

a receiver that is through hardened

for decreased wear and smooth-

ness of operations, a bolt-mounted

safety that locks the firing pin to the

rear when applied, multiple sling at-tachment points, military-grade an-

odizing and phosphating, and a

buttstock that can be removed for

ease of transporting the rifle.

Among other features that aid

accuracy are the competition-

grade, 26-inch barrel and the V-

Block into which the barrel and ac-

tion are bedded. Plus, the

aluminum stock offers additional

reinforcement for the receiver.

Designed for smooth operation,the bolt is what Armalite terms er-

gonomically improved for smooth

operation. Armalite also cites the

competition grade dimensions

and tolerances in the receiver that

allow smooth and fast bolt opera-

tion. The bolt handle is large

enough to allow ease of operation;

however, I did find that there was

not much tolerance for operationwith a low-mounted scope.

To aid in fast and reliable oper-

ation of the bolt, the ejection port is

large enough that even a loaded

.338 Lapua round may be ejected if

necessary, or so that a round may

be single-loaded. To point out a few

other characteristics of the bolt: it

cocks on opening, locks with dual-

opposing lugs, and has a separatebolt head with a plunger ejector.

In many rifles, the magazine

design can inhibit smooth feeding.

But, great pains were taken in de-

signing that of the AR30A1. It is a

single-stack design, fabricated of

steel rather than polymer or alu-minum. In addition to aiding reliable

feeding, the magazines slimmer

design limits the amount of mate-

rial removed to create the mag well,

thus increasing the strength of the

receiver. This magazine well is also

deep enough to position the maga-

zine for reliable feeding, as well as

allow the magazine to be removed

or replaced easily.Another plus is the well-de-

signed central magazine release

catch, which can be operated with

either hand. I found that it works

best for me to use my support hand

(left) so that I can grasp and with-

draw the magazine as I hit the re-

lease.

Although I used to be a com-

petitive weightlifter and have con-tinued to work out in the ensuing

The muzzle brake of the AR30A1 is aggressively impressive, but it is also very practical

and dampens felt recoil substantially.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411

48/100

years, Ive never tried shooting one

of the .338 Lapua rifles offhand. Im

sure there are some incredibly con-

ditioned U.S. military snipers who

have managed to do so, but not me.

As a result, I was glad that the

AR30A1 came with a short Harris

bipod. Whether shooting prone or

off a rest, the bipod is a great aid to

shooting the AR30A1 or anothersniping rifle. In the case of the

AR30A1, too, the bipod raises the

muzzle just enough to allow the

magazine to be removed without

shifting the rifle, though I did find

that it worked best if I tilted the rifle

slightly to one side.

SCOPING AND SNIPING

Although I have multiplescopes that are suitable for use on

long-range sniping rifles, I chose to

mount Leupolds MK4 LR/T 6.5-

20x50MM on the AR30A1. This is

my go-to scope because I have had

Leupolds Custom Shop make an

elevation dial for it that is designed

for use with .338 250-grain loads.

As is typical with .338 Lapua Mag-

num rifles, twist for the AR30A1 is

1:10, for which the 250-grain bulletis optimized.

Two reticles are available for

this scope: Mil Dot or TMR (Tactical

Milling Reticle). Both work well for

range estimation, though today,

most snipers, especially when using

a .338 Lapua at longer ranges, will

use a laser range finder. Still, having

the capability of estimating range

using the reticle is an importantbackup. Both reticles are illumi-

The length of the stock may be

adjusted by 2 inches, while the height

of the cheek rest may be adjusted by

1 inch, using the dials shown here.

SPECIFICATIONS

Armalite

AR30A1 .338 Lapua

Action: Bolt

Caliber: .338 Lapua Magnum

Overall Length: 50.1 inches(with butt adjusted to maximum

length)

Barrel Length: 26 inches

Weight: 15.3 pounds

Magazine Capacity: Five rounds

Sights: Picatinny rail for various

optical sights


8/9/2019 Gun World 201411


nated, a definite aid to lowlight

shooting. Although I use both types

of reticle, the scope I used for the

AR30A1 has the Mil Dot, a system

with which I have grown familiar

over the years.

Although I had both mediumand high rings available for the

MK4, I found even with the high

rings, it was difficult getting it

mounted high enough on the

AR30A1. I then had to experiment

to get the scope mounted in the

right position on the Picatinny rail

for best eye relief (3.6 to 4.4 inches

recommended). I have used this

scope on various .338 Lapua riflesin the past with medium rings with-

out a problem, but the 50mm ob-

jective lens of the Mk4 had only a

fraction of an inch of clearance with

the AR30A1. For purposes of the

testing, though, I made it work. If I

A good view of the AR30A1s

bolt handle and the safety in

the fire position.

A very comfortable pistol grip aids in shooting the AR30A1; note the magazine release just in front of the trigger guard and the bolt

handle.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411

50/100

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411


when testing a .338 Lapua rifle

with no special shoulder protec-

tion to see how the recoil is. After

that, if I need to fire many more

rounds I wear a ScotteVest low-

profile ballistic vest to spread re-

coil a bit. To test how comfortable

the recoil is with the AR30A1 is I

fired 40 rounds when doing theinitial zeroing and firing the rifle

without the protective vest. The

muzzle brake really does dissipate

recoil and the recoil pad cushions

residual recoil. I would say it is a bit

more noticeable than firing a

7.62x51mm sniping rifle, but no

more than firing a .300 Win Mag

one. Since I was firing a lot of other

rifles the day I took the AR30A1 out

the second time, I did use the ballis-

tic vest when shooting prone during

that session.I mentioned that I would have

liked the scope to be mounted a

little higher than it was. As it was, I

had to carefully assume my

Three-hundred-yard, 2.75-inch group fired with Black Hills250-grain JHP ammo.

One reason that use of .338 Lapua

rifles is limited primarily to military

and government agencies is that

ammunition is quite expensive.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411


shooting position to get the right

cheek weld with the cheek piece in

its lowest position. This was really

only noticeable when shooting off

of a bench while zeroing the scope.When I fired prone, it was much

easier to get a good cheek weld.

One other consideration with the

way I had mounted the scope was

that I had to take some care with

my finger placement while operat-

ing the bolt, making sure that I did

not graze the scope. I found the

safety quite easy to flip back and

forth between SAFE and FIRE,though using the thumb of my right

hand required me to shift from my

shooting grip. As a result, I used my

left (support) hand most of the

time.

Although I still managed to

shoot the AR30A1 fairly well, I think

if I were going to continue to use it

with the Leupold MK4 LR/T, I would

find a different mount. Still, withthe Black Hills 300-grain load, I

fired groups right around 2 inches at

200 yards and with the Black Hills

250-grian loads of about 2.75

inches at 300 yards. Those should

have been at least half that size, butthe fault was mine and my cheek

weld rather than the gun, scope, or

ammo. The AR30A1 will perform if

the shooter does his part.

The AR30A1 is designed so that

the butt stock may be removed for

easy carry. In fact, Armalite states

that using the pistol grip and bipod,

the rifle may be fired without the

butt stock. I did not try this, but Ican see that for use in very close

quarters and at urban ranges, that

might be an option.

Personally, I prefer a sniper rifle

with a folding stock, which allows it

to be slung and carried more read-

ily. This is especially the case for ri-

fles used by special ops snipers, as

many .338 Lapua rifles are.

One feature that should makethe AR30A1 interesting to someone

wanting a reasonably priced .338

Lapua Magnum rifle is that the

MSRP for the rifle I tested is $3,599.

Street price seems to run less than

$3,000 for some specialty sellers.GW

CONTACT

ArmaLite, Inc.

(800) 336-0184

ArmaLite.com

Leupold & Stevens, Inc.(800) LEUPOLD

Leupold.com

Black Hills Ammunition

(605) 348-5150

Black-Hills.com

COR BON Ammunition

(800) 6267266

Corbon.com

Even with a high scope mount,the objective lens is very closeto the Picatinny rail. The .338Lapua chambering is clearlymarked on the barrel.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411

53/100

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411

54/100

MIL SPEC

MARVELConceived In The World Of Special Operations,The Daniel Defense M4A1 Mil Spec+ Gets DownAnd DirtyAnd Looks Good Doing It

Story & Photos By Mike Dickerson


The author came away impressed

with the M4A1 Mil Spec+ carbinesaccuracy and reliability.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411

55/100

America now has an entire generationof military personnel, veterans andlaw enforcement professionals who

need no introduction to the M4 carbine. Incase youre unfamiliar with the platform orjust parachuted in from an AR-free zone, theM4 is essentially a lighter, shorter version ofthe M16 rifle, which the M4 is rapidlyreplacing in many military units.

www.gunworld.com NOV 2014 | GUN WORLD 55

8/9/2019 Gun World 201411


Over the past couple of

decades, thousands of Americans

have fought with an M4 by their

sides. The rifle is battle tested. Its

strengths and weakness are well

known. The M4A1 variant, which

gave military users a full-auto ca-pability versus three-round burst,

has been widely used by U.S. spe-

cial operations units. It is a popular

choice for urban fighting and close

quarters combat because it packs

a lot of firepower in a trim, handy

package.

While Daniel Defense cant sell

you a fully automatic version of the

M4A1, it can sell you a rifle that du-plicates M4A1 performance in virtu-

ally every other respect.

Our M4A1 is essentially a clone

of what several military assault

units are running, says Jordan

Hunter of Daniel Defense. Its our

take on the rifle thats been so suc-

cessful overseas. Its always been a

hot seller, but we wanted to put a

new spin on it. Customers asked usto look into a cerakote finish, and

we wanted to do something that

would be similar to the flat dark

earth color on our rail.

Mil Spec+ actually refers to the

color, he said, but it also signifies

something else. We dont just

meet mil-spec requirements. Weexceed them.

I really liked the look of the rifle

Daniel Defense sent us to test. An

anodizing process, such as is often

used on rails, can result in consider-

able variation in color. The color of

the cerakote applied to the Daniel

Defense carbine is much more con-

sistent, and the finish was well exe-

cuted on this rifle. The subtlecontrast between black compo-

nents and the flat, dark-earth cer-

akote results in a more-refined look

than that of the standard, all-black

M4 carbine. If the standard-issue

M4A1 conveys the attitude of a bel-

ligerent bulldog, the Mil Spec+ is

like the bulldog that went to a bet-

ter school.

Of course, cerakote isnt justabout appearance. Its beneficial

properties, such as increased corro-

sion resistance, durability and abra-

sion resistance, are well known, and

complement the M4 platform.

While this M4A1 has a more appeal-

ing appearance than other M4 ri-

fles, in my judgment, its real beautygoes beyond the surface.

Heres a detailed look at the

components that make the Mil

Spec+ a strong contender for the

limited space in my gun safe.

A WELL THOUGHT-

OUT DESIGN

You can buy more expensive

M4 rifles, and you can buy cheaperones, but youd be hard-pressed to

find one that delivers as much qual-

i

Gun World 201411

Documents

Transcript of Gun World 201411