Estimated to number well over several hundred thousand, nonnative green iguanas are taking over Florida, leading state wildlife managers to declare open hunting season on the destructive, invasive pests. With no hunting license or permit needed on private property (permission is still required) and more than 30 state-managed lands, the lizards make for a good hunting opportunity for a good cause. (HUNTINGIGUANAS.COM)
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CONTENTS
FEATURES
25 ROAD HUNTER: PLAINS GAME SAFARI – THE TIME IS NOW!
Recent years’ Covid travel restrictions have left South Africa with plentiful game animals, and in accordance with the laws of supply and demand, that’s pushed down prices to hunt prime critters. Sixteen-time safari vet and trip booker Scott Haugen lays out why to sign up now for a budget-friendly adventure that will not only test your physical and mental strength, but your shooting skills as well.
32 SC ATTERGUN ALLEY: REMINGTON DOUBLES UP
Harkening back to the early days of its famed brand name, Big Green recently introduced a pair of double-barrels. Larry Case takes a trip down a memory lane that leads to today’s Remington Model 1816 Precision Double side-by-side and Model 1816 Precision Field overand-under shotguns.
53 BL ACK POWDER: PREPARING FOR THE .50-70 MATCH
Before the shooting at black powder rifle cartridge matches can begin, guns, bullets and more need to be squared away, and that’s where things recently got interesting for Mike Nesbitt. He shares what went into setting up his shooting partner with a .50-70 right before a match.
71 BULLET BULLETIN: THE LITTLE .380
With a lineage tracing back to John Moses Browning, he of so many firearms innovations, the .380 Auto has been punching above its weight class for well over a century. Phil Massaro shares an appreciation for the cartridge, as well as some of today’s bullets that make it a self-defense force to be reckoned with still.
STORY
36 HUNTING IGUANAS IN FLORIDA
Invasive, destructive, costly – there are a lot of good reasons to join the fight against Florida’s rampant green iguana population. Our Paul Pawela tried his hand at hunting these wily nonnative reptiles and reports back on what it’s all about.
81 SELF-DEFENSE TRAINING: ALWAYS BE PREPARED FOR DEADLY-FORCE ENCOUNTERS
Citing the motto “practice makes perfect” and drawing on expert hand-to-hand combat lessons for facing an armed attacker, Paul Pawela illustrates five strategies for defending yourself against the odds.
(HUNTINGIGUANAS.COM)
87 TACTICAL TRAINING: Q&A WITH MASSAD AYOOB
You could get worse self-defense advice than from Massad Ayoob, a longtime firearms instructor. Graciela Casillas shares a conversation with her old training partner, whose wisdom might boil down to “it’s not about paranoia but preparation, and not about violence but vigilance.”
95 C ALL FOR PRAYERS
Podcaster Jenn Griff of Warrior Talk Radio, who has been an angel to veterans and veterans’ causes, needs help now in her fight against liver disease. Pawela shares an update on his friend’s dire condition.
47 RECHARGING BLACK POWDER LEGACIES
From their headquarters in the Northern Rockies, C. Sharps Arms and Buffalo Arms Company share not only a close working relationship that also benefits the black powder industry, but a unique bond – a new generation has taken the reins at both family-owned businesses. Katie Aumann chats with the companies’ Zach Schoffstall and Aja Richardson.
MORE FEATURES
43 L AW ENFORCEMENT SPOTLIGHT: LIEUTENANT PERNA IS ‘10-7’ Officer. SWAT member. Undercover cop. Nick Perna reflects on a varied 24-plus-year career with Northern California’s Redwood City Police Department that was far more rewarding than the line of work he initially got into coming out of active duty with the US Army.
99 2025 NRA ANNUAL MEETINGS AND EXHIBITS PRODUCT SHOWCASE
With the National Rifle Association’s big convention in Atlanta on April 24-27, check out our special showcase of firearms, ammo, accessory, adventure and other advertisers!
Gun REVIEWS
14 TNW 1911 AERO SURVIVAL RIFLE
When Frank Jardim got a hold of a TNW Firearms Aero Survival Rifle, a versatile pistol-caliber carbine platform for survivalists, he decided to try out its long-range capabilities. Find out this .45 ACP PCC’s maximum practical range.
58 SIG SAUER P365-FUSE
Trampas Swanson has tested a lot of handguns over the decades, and when it comes to concealed weapons, he says there’s a lot to like in the latest product in Sig Sauer’s P365 series. He shares his review of the 9mm P365-Fuse, a carry gun that bridges the gap between size and practicality.
(TRAMPAS SWANSON)
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TNW 1911 AERO SURVIVAL RIFLE
Pushing the .45 ACP PCC to maximum practical range.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY FRANK JARDIM
gun review
The pistol-caliber carbine, or PCC, has been around since the days of the Old West. There is a practical simplicity in having a long gun and handgun in the same caliber. It appealed to cowboys on the frontier and it still does to survivalist-minded types today. TNW Firearms (tnwfirearms.com) broke the mold for the PCC when they developed the Aero Survival Rifle (ASR) around the concept of a versatile multi-caliber weapon capable of being broken down for very compact storage, fully assembled in moments, and instantly ready to accurately and predictably get bullets to the target.
Within the range limitations of
pistol calibers, it is a capable performer in self-defense and hunting roles and may well be the best survival carbine available today. By switching the barrel and sometimes magazine, bolt head and trigger group (actually a complete lower receiver assembly), it is easily convertible between nine chamberings (.17 HMR, .22 Magnum, .22 LR, 9mm, 357 Sig, .40 S&W, 10mm, .45 ACP and .460 Rowland).
The ASR is semiautomatic, blowback-operated, simple and rugged in construction, reliable in operation, easy to assemble and maintain without tools, weighs less than 6 pounds, and is adaptable to right- or left-side ejection and safety operation. All barrel muzzles
are threaded for suppressor use. All the barrels mount on the same receiver unit so only one set of sights or optics is needed. Finally, and most remarkably, all barrels will return to their established zero regardless of how many times they are taken off or reinstalled. Most use common Glock pattern magazines; however, the 1911 ASR accepts 1911 pistol mags (seemingly all types in my testing), which makes it very appealing to fans of the classic handgun platform.
LOOKING AT THE 1911 ASR as a survival tool rather than a competition or home-defense gun, I wanted to test it out at ranges longer than most PCC shooters typically use them.
The TNW Firearms Aero Survival Rifle is, in author Frank Jardim’s opinion, the best and most versatile pistolcaliber carbine platform for survivalists. This latest version is designed to accept 1911 pistol magazines. Jardim wanted to try it out at long range and equipped it with Firefield’s new Rapidstrike LPVO 1-6x24mm optic and a B&T Industries Atlas Precision Sniper Rifle bipod.
gun review
Test targets were shot at 50, 100 and 200 yards from the bench with a sandbag under the butt and a B&T Industries (accu-shot.com) Atlas PSR (Precision Sniper Rifle) bipod, which I prefer over Caldwell’s The Rock adjustable shooting rest when a rifle has a Picatinny rail on the forend. Not to be confused with the Swiss gunmaker, B&T is known for topquality, American-made, extremely durable rifle accessories for serious military, law enforcement and civilian marksmen. I would have also used their Accu-Shot precision monopod instead of a sandbag if the ASR had a buttstock rail to mount it.
Made of aluminum and stainless steel, the Atlas PSR bipod (model BT47-LW17 with an MSRP of $375) is versatile, easy to manipulate, compact,
battle-proven, has an American Defense single-lever release Picatinny mount and weighs just 13 61 ounces. The legs have an elevation range of 5 2 to 9 6 inches and are quickly adjusted with one hand by pulling down the spring locking collar. This height is ideal for bench shooting, but you can add 3-inch extensions (BT22; $60) if you need more. By depressing each leg’s position button, you can rotate them forward or back through 0, 45, 90, 135 and 180 degrees. The bipod allows 30 degrees of cant and pan and has a tensioning knob to tighten it up for target shooting. It has quickchange feet too. Rubber ones are standard, but stainless steel Raider Claw feet are a more aggressive option (BT74; $75). A custom nylon carrying pouch (BT30; $60) keeps everything
The ASR is held together with tensioned pins and requires no tools to field strip. To save weight, the receiver, trigger group, buffer tube and barrel nut are aluminum. The barrel, bolt head, bolt carrier and buffer are steel.
The ASR has four different trigger group assemblies to accommodate various calibers. The 1911 ASR shown here accepts standard 1911 pistol magazines for use with .45 ACP or .460 Rowland.
The receiver attachment screws and the barrel nut can sometimes loosen up in heavy use, but both issues are easily remedied. A straight screwdriver and some blue thread locker will tighten the receiver to trigger housing fit.
The ASR barrel is held in the front of the receiver by a ratcheting nut similar to those on the Uzi submachine gun. Barrel and barrel nut use mating cones machined around their circumference to consistently center the barrel in the receiver.
1911
author
a
organized when not mounted.
I chose Firefield’s (firefield.com) new Rapidstrike LPVO 1-6x24mm optic for this test. An Americanengineered product made in China, it delivers well above its $150 retail price. It’s rugged, lightweight and compact, which is exactly what I want for a breakdown survival PCC like the 1911 ASR. The optic features fully multi-coated lenses and a bullet-drop reticle that you can illuminate in red or green with five brightness settings if needed. The Rapidstrike is IP67 waterproof and dustproof, fogproof, can withstand recoil up to .338 caliber, is rated for temperatures from -13 degrees Fahrenheit to 131 degrees Fahrenheit, is parallax-free beyond 100 yards, and weighs only 13 8 ounces. It includes a sturdy monolithic
The breech end of the barrel is extraordinarily beefy, like you would expect for rifle caliber pressures. The bolt face seats deeply and completely inside the breech supporting the cartridge case. The author says he can’t recall ever seeing a stronger design. This kind of overbuilding might be a life-, and gun-, saver if you ever seriously overcharged a handload.
The ASR has a 5-pound, two-stage trigger pull. The second stage has considerable creep, but it is not overly long and Jardim was able to do some good shooting with it. Any grip designed for the AR will fit. Note the bolt hold open notch for the bolt handle.
aluminum Picatinny rail mount, flip-up lens covers, a honeycomb lens filter to improve visibility and prevent light reflection off the objective lens that might give away your position, diopter adjustment, an optional extended throw lever on the ocular, and locking ½-MOA-click adjustable turrets.
This Firefield Rapidstrike is a second focal plane optic. This means that the reticle stays the same size regardless of the magnification and thus the bullet drop graduations in the reticle can only be accurate at one magnification setting. Typically, as it is here, that’s the scope’s maximum magnification.
Calibrated for a 5.56mm, 55-grain bullet load, the bullet drop graduations in the reticle aren’t much use to you until you figure out what they represent in actual size at a specific
magnification and distance. Reticle dimensions are usually expressed in milliradians (mils) or minutes-of-angle (MOA). Those units of measure are easily converted to inches. I had to contact the manufacturer to get this optic’s reticle dimensions, which were represented in MOA. I converted the dimensions to inches for practical purposes. At 100 yards, 1 MOA equals 1 047 inches. (At 200 yards, double it. At 300, triple it … and so on.)
Once I converted the various aiming points in the reticle to inches, I could identify which points most closely corresponded to the bullet drop of the .45 ACP ammunition types I was shooting. I generated trajectory tables for both the Winchester Super X WinClean 230-grain jacketed, flatnose, truncated cone bullet load, and the
The
ASR was TNW’s first to feature their patented multi-caliber universal bolt head. The tensioning arm (bottom) works with the tensioned extractor to center cases of various diameters on the bolt face for chambering.
The
tested
half dozen 1911 magazines with slightly differing details, mostly in the followers, and found all of them fed reliably in the 1911 ASR.
gun review
Black Hills Ammunition 135-grain Honey Badger solid copper bullet load using online ballistic calculators. I wouldn’t take these as gospel because a lot of factors affect a bullet’s trajectory and I didn’t enter any of the environmental ones, but they at least gave me an idea of the kind of bullet drop to expect at long range.
To use these ballistic calculators, at the very least you need to know the muzzle velocity from your gun and the specific bullet’s ballistic coefficient and drag function. You may need to contact
Like most LPVO scopes, the bullet drop graduations are calibrated for a 5.56mm rifle, which is no help to PCC shooters. For quick shooting at distant targets, Jardim wanted to translate these aiming points for .45 ACP.
the manufacturer for the last two.
In this case, I did not find the bullet drop data from the calculators to be especially accurate. When setting up my targets for field testing, I allotted 10 inches above and below the expected point of impact to ensure I recorded where my shots were actually hitting.
THE .45 ACP isn’t what anyone would call a flat shooter. I chose two very different loads with an eye for their effectiveness in pistols and their terminal performance at long range when fired
To translate the reticle, you need to know its dimensions. The author had to request this information from the manufacturer. He fired test targets at various ranges to evaluate the actual bullet drop of the load and matched it to the closest aiming point on the reticle. Don’t rely on ballistic calculators. Test!
The diopter adjustment should be the first setting you figure out. Once Jardim matched the scope to his eyesight, he marked the spot with a pencil line in case the adjustment ring got moved when using
at an elevated velocity through the 16-inch barrel of the 1911 ASR. The Winchester 230-grain jacketed bullet, with its flat nose of exposed lead and 988-feet-per-second (fps) muzzle velocity, offered good penetration with better knock-down power than a military FMJ roundnosed bullet. It’s also the traditional bullet weight for a huge range of .45 ACP loads popular in handguns, and I hoped its trajectory would be fairly representative of all 230-grain bullets fired in a PCC.
By contrast, the Black Hills Honey
It was good luck that Jardim matched his 200yard bullet drops almost exactly to these two aiming points in the reticle. He also matched aiming points for 100 yards quite well. At 50 yards, the 230-grain load was zeroed to the dot, but the 135-grain load hit much higher where Jardim had to estimate the aiming point by holding off the thickness of the ring, just below its inside edge.
the flip-up lens cover on the ocular.
The Firefield Rapidstrike LPVO 1-6x24mm scope has ½-MOA click-adjustable locking turrets. Here, the author repositions the knobs to his range-determined zero.
gun review
Badger load uses a very light-forcaliber 135-grain solid copper bullet with a Phillips screwdriver-like tip engineered to deliver maximum hydrostatic shock by snowplowing its way through living tissue. This bullet left the muzzle at 1,345 fps, about 26 percent faster, and was noticeably flatter-shooting than the 230-grain load. I zeroed the scope for the 230-grain load at 50 yards and discovered that it was also the 100-yard zero for the 135-grain load. I maintained this zero through the whole test. At 50 yards, the 135-grain Honey Badger impacted 3.76 inches above the 230-grain load. At 100 yards, the Honey Badger was right on target while the 230-grain load had dropped 5 13 inches below the point of aim. However, at 200 yards, the gap didn’t widen to the 30 inches projected by the ballistic calculator. The 230-grain
Bench shooting the 1911 ASR for accuracy at 50, 100 and 200 yards with bipod in front and sandbag under the butt.
The Atlas PSR bipod with optional stainless steel Raider Claw feet, 3-inch leg extensions and custom nylon carrying pouch to keep everything organized when not mounted.
Inset photo: The American-made B&T Industries Atlas PSR bipod is an extremely durable rifle accessory for serious military, law enforcement and civilian marksmen. By depressing each leg’s position button, you can rotate them forward or back through 0, 45, 90, 135 and 180 degrees. The bipod allows 30 degrees of cant and pan, and has a tensioning knob to tighten it up for target shooting.
gun review
Equipment: TNW .45 ACP 1911 Aero Survival Rifle with Firefield Rapidstrike 1-6x24 scope, B&T Industries PSR Atlas bipod (model BT46-LW17)
Range: 200 yards
Conditions: Fired from the bench with bipod and 6x magnification.
The two loads tested at 200 yards showed adequate (battlefield) accuracy for defensive purposes, but Jardim knows this carbine can cut that spread in half with the right ammo. All groups were shot using the reticle aiming points he had identified in earlier testing.
bullet was only 6.13 inches below the 135-grain. This suggests the ballistic calculations were flawed, probably more so with the Honey Badger than with the 230-grain bullet trajectory.
My testing was hardly exhaustive, but it was careful. Naturally, there will always be some sighting variation from shot to shot, and seemingly small variations in velocity can easily shift bullet impacts up or down an inch at 200 yards. In range testing at 200 yards, the 230-grain load dropped 51 88 inches and the 135-grain Honey Badger dropped 45.75 inches. The Honey Badger bullet design has a braking effect on the projectile regardless of whether it is traveling through air or tissue. It became evident at 200 yards that the lighter weight and greater drag of the Honey Badger caused it to shed energy faster than
the 230-grain bullet. At 200 yards, it may be getting more hitting power from its engineering than from its mass and velocity. If you are using it in your pistol, it’s worth further experimentation. Had I spotted any coyotes in the field I was shooting over, I could tell you myself.
The 1911 ASR has shot 4- to 5-inch groups at 200 yards in the past, and failure to reach the accuracy level I know this PCC is capable of is the result of an imperfect pairing of barrel and ammunition. The Winchester load averaged 2.92-inch groups at 50 yards, 7.08-inch groups at 100 yards, and 10.25-inch groups at 200 yards. The Black Hills load averaged 3.00-inch groups at 50 yards, 5 00-inch groups at 100 yards, and 10 33-inch groups at 200 yards. I picked these test loads because I thought they would
have good terminal performance, but neither proved especially accurate in the 1911 ASR.
For comparison, in previous 50yard range tests with this very carbine using a red dot with a 5x magnifier, and shooting from the bench, I tested three loads that shot around 30 percent tighter. Winchester PDX1 Defender 230-grain JHP gave me five-shot groups averaging 2.03 inches and 1,069 fps, Federal Premium 230-grain HST hollowpoint averaged 2 2-inch groups and 1,064 fps, and Remington Golden Saber Black Belt 230-grain JHP averaged 2.21-inch groups and 949 fps.
To make the most of the 1911 ASR, you might need to use different loads for handgun and carbine. That’s not to say a load that works great in both isn’t possible; it’s just beyond the scope of this article. ★
ROAD HUNTER
PLAINS GAME SAFARI: THE TIME IS NOW!
Plentiful animals and lower prices on tap in southern Africa.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY SCOTT HAUGEN
year ago I completed my 16th safari to Africa. That’s not a lot of safaris in a 32-year timespan, but it’s enough to speak to the trend of hunting in Africa, specifically South Africa.
AOn the latest safari, I went with the intent of firing two shots: one at a sable and one at a roan. Both antelopes had topped my wishlist since I began going to the African continent. I returned home having done what I wanted. Two shots, two kills.
Why didn’t I take these two prized animals on prior safaris? For starters, they used to be very expensive. Today, the cost for both animals is the lowest I’ve ever seen. I was hunting with Rosedale Safaris out of Port Elizabeth, South Africa. I’d hunted here before. Full disclosure: I also book safaris for this exceptional operation and have helped arrange many trips for people over the years.
The sable cost me $3,800, while the roan carried a price tag of $5,000. “PreCovid, roan were $13,500 and sable were $12,000,” shares Charl le Roux, owner and lead professional hunter at Rosedale Safaris. “Since Covid, there’s been a surplus of animals because people weren’t traveling, and this means prices for many species are at an alltime low.” I remember when sable were
On last year’s safari to South Africa, author Scott Haugen’s buddy Jon Draper scored on this high record-book waterbuck. Animals of this quality speak to the importance of considering a safari sooner rather than later.
ROAD HUNTER
$15,000 in places I’ve hunted.
Another popular plains game species, bontebok were recently delisted after seven years of CITES, or Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, restrictions. The cost of one of these prized antelope is now $800. Not long ago they were $2,500 and I’ve seen them fetch over $7,000 in places.
PLAINS GAME HUNTING in South Africa is big business. One scan of all the people waiting to board a trans-Atlantic flight to there will tell you that, as upwards of half the 747 planeload may consist of fellow hunters. Do the math: With two flights leaving the East Coast every day to Johannesburg, then calculating that over a six-month period, that’s a lot of hunting. That’s big business and safari outfitters want international hunters.
In the mid-1990s, wherever you drove in South Africa, livestock ranches dominated. Today, game
a
preserves prevail, both for hunting and photo safaris.
With Covid travel restrictions came more than two years of very little hunting in South Africa. Many operations were totally shut down, some for three seasons. This gave
animals time to reproduce and grow big. Today, the surplus of animals means PHs can lower prices on what they have to offer.
“Many outfitters, us included, can now offer very reduced rates for glamour animals like sable, roan,
South Africa offers
wide range of unique habitats to hunt, and some will test your physical and mental toughness, not to mention your shooting skills.
Never has the price for sable, the prince of the plains, been so affordable. Shaundi Campbell took advantage of the great deal and scored on a true giant of a bull last year.
ROAD HUNTER
bontebok and Cape kudu because there are so many of them,” shares le Roux. “The number of animals a hunter can get now, and the overall quality, is better than I’ve ever seen!”
Le Roux speaks the truth. While I only fired two shots on my recent safari, six friends from the hunting industry accounted for over 50 more big game animals during our safari. One buddy took the biggest waterbuck I’d ever seen, and another the largest eland I’ve ever put my hands on. Numerous other animals were of
record-book quality, including my sable and roan, both of which surpassed numbers that were considered almost unreachable 30 years ago. If hunting high-quality game of record-class caliber is your goal, the time has never been better in South Africa.
What makes le Roux’s operation so unique is the amount of land he has access to. The habitat is vast and varied, which means more species of animals can be hunted. From the high desert in the Karoo to the southern coast of South Africa, up to the
Limpopo River Valley and the rolling hills between, le Roux is able to hunt for over two dozen species.
On the first day of my latest safari, I hunted with my buddy, Jace Bauserman. It was Jace’s first trip to Africa. I love seeing Africa through the eyes of a firsttimer. One thing Jace appreciated was the amount of animals we saw, both in numbers and species. “I’ve seen more animals today than the last 10 years of hunting at home,” he smiled, as we left the expansive area we’d been hunting all day. “What’s the most species you’ve seen in a day in Africa?” he asked me. “Seventeen,” I smiled. “Well, we’re at 15 right now,” he came back. When we pulled into the lodge right before dark, two ostriches ran across a meadow and behind them stood a herd of blue wildebeest. “That’s it, 17!” Jace shouted.
Think about it. Where else can you go and see 17 species of huntable big game animals in a single day?
A SOUTH AFRICAN safari serves many purposes. For some it’s the quest to attain multiple species. If you’re a long-range shooter, Africa offers more opportunities in a week than you’ll encounter in multiple seasons back home. And if shooting eight to 10 trophy animals at long range isn’t enough, consider a cull hunt. Heck, even if long-range shooting isn’t your deal, you’ll still want to consider a cull hunt, especially if looking to build your hunting and shooting skills.
Cull hunts are very popular in South Africa and they’re hunting’s way of helping control burgeoning populations of big game. They can take on many forms, from night hunts for warthogs that are uprooting prime tracts of land, to springbok herds numbering into the hundreds. Cull hunts may equate to taking out the old, weak, diseased or even trophy-class animals with a broken or misshapen horn. Even overpopulated giraffe are culled, and often meat from such a hunt is donated to local villages, where it feeds thousands of people.
One of the biggest benefits of a
Jace Bauserman took a once-in-a-lifetimesized eland on his first safari. Plentiful big animals are the norm on well-managed concessions in southern Africa due to three slow years of travel restrictions during Covid.
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$4,850per person Includes round trip charter from King Salmon. Call for more details.
ROAD HUNTER
cull hunt is shot repetition. You can punch paper all you want, but if you are serious about taking your shooting skills to another level, the best way to do it is on animals. Studying animal behavior and learning when to take the shot is important. The process of repetition teaches you to calm your nerves, relax and focus. “Shooting 25 to 35 animals in a week is doable on a cull hunt,” shares le Roux. “We get many hunters wanting to simply build their shooting skills at big game, and what better way to do it than on a cull hunt?”
Last year a bullet company offered me a hunt. It was for one whitetail
buck on a ranch in Texas. “Let me get this straight,” I came back to the man on the other end of the phone. “You want me to fly to Texas, take one shot at a deer and write about how good your bullet is?” “Well, um, yeah,” the gentleman came back. “Why not get me 10 management doe tags, or send me to Africa where I can shoot 25 animals in a few days for nearly the same price, then I’ll let ya know my thoughts on the bullet?”
I kindly declined the deer hunt. Drawing a conclusion about a bullet’s performance after one shot is speculation. Doing so after shooting 25
animals offers a more accurate study, the conclusions of which are based on first-hand experience.
Think about how many animals you’ve shot in North America over the past decade. Now think about going to Africa and pulling the trigger on 25 big game animals, or more, in a week. Not only will doing this build solid shooting skills, but it’ll leave no question as to the performance of your gear, from the bullets to the rifle to the scope, and even your boots, clothes and pack.
ON MY HUNT for sable and roan, I had ulterior objectives. First, I wanted to see how Browning’s 6.8 Western in their new X-Bolt 2 Speed SPR performed. I’d only shot one animal with this caliber at the time. I also wanted to confirm the bullet performance of Browning’s 175-grain Long Range Pro Hunter Sierra Tipped GameKing. I’d seen buddies kill elk with this bullet and wanted to test its performance on Africa’s big, thick-chested, tough antelope. I also wanted to try Leupold’s new VX-6HD rifle scope in a 3-18x44. The scope’s Custom Dial System, or CDS, was calibrated for the average elevation to be hunted in South Africa.
Every bit of gear performed flawlessly. Three other hunters took multiple big game animals with this same setup. I now own that gun and scope and shoot those loads – and have taken elk, deer and bear with it. I’ll be moose hunting in Alaska with it soon.
No hunting experience grips you like Africa, and never has the time been better to go. With plentiful, high-quality plains game at affordable prices, now is the time to check off that bucket list dream. But be warned, by the time your plane touches down on American soil, you’ll be planning your next African safari. ★
Editor’s note: To book your plains game safari through Scott Haugen, visit scotthaugen.com. Follow Scott’s adventures on Instagram and Facebook.
Haugen has been on many African safaris over the decades, and says now is the best time to go that he’s ever seen. Lots of big animals at all-time low rates and the ease of international travel make the experience very doable. Southern greater kudu, like this big bull, are the number one draw for plains game hunters.
SCATTERGUN ALLEY
YOU ARE IN FACT SEEING DOUBLE
Remington is back in the double-barrel game with the Model 1816 Precision shotgun line.
STORY BY LARRY CASE • PHOTOS BY REMINGTON
emington Firearms folklore says that in about 1816, Eliphalet Remington II asked his father for the money to buy his first firearm. Dad reportedly refused and young Eliphalet, using the metal forging skills he had already obtained, made his own barrel and soon put together his first muzzleloading rifle. We are told that he took this rifle to a local shooting match, placed second in the competition, and came home with so many orders for rifle barrels that he was now in the firearms business. Eliphalet Remington never looked back and went on to found a gun company known for quality and innovation in the production of firearms.
Many of you out there know some of the history of Remington Firearms and even more of you have treasured Remington rifles and shotguns stashed in gun cases, closets and safes all over the country. One could say the history of Remington runs close to that of America in that this company has supplied arms and ammunition in every
Remington Firearms has brought back side-by-sides and over-and-unders with the introduction of the Model 1816 Precision Double (above) and Precision Field shotguns.
SCATTERGUN ALLEY
major conflict going back to 1845, when the young company procured its first contract to supply rifles for the military. Like many companies, down through the years Remington was bought and sold several times but continued to introduce what would become classic firearms for shooters and hunters.
I would not even fathom a guess of how many different rifles and shotguns Remington has given us over the decades, but I will offer a couple of the most famous examples. American hunters and competition shooters have had a long love affair with the Remington Model 700 rifle. The 700 has been made in a vast array of variants. The venerable 700 action is still highly prized by those building their own custom rifles. Likewise, the Remington Model 870 shotgun forged its place as an iconic shotgun with sportsmen around the world.
Those of you who follow me in these pages know that a few years ago we talked about a “new” 870 that came on the scene, the 870 Fieldmaster. I bought one of these guns, shot it extensively and put it through the mill to see how it would hold up, including dunking the shotgun in a creek and then putting it in a freezer overnight. I fired the Fieldmaster the next day several times with no problems. The point of all this was to show the naysayers that the new Model 870 could hold up to all these rigors just like the one your granddad hunted with.
NOW REMINGTON HAS started a new era with the announcement that they will be producing a new line of over-andunder and side-by-side shotguns.
“One of the first questions we got at Remington Firearms was when we were going to bring back some classic
side-by-side and over-and-under shotguns,” said Jeff Galloway, product manager at Remington Firearms.
“We searched everywhere for the best answer. The Model 1816 Precision Double and the Model 1816 Precision Field by Remington was the choice for today’s classic, modern needs. Under our strict quality requirements, we were able to have some of the finest shotguns produced currently in the world. Side-by-side and over-and-under shotguns require a lot of hands-on work and timing. No machine in the world can duplicate the hand fitment and attention to detail of our partnered master gunsmiths.”
“We are very excited to be able to bring you the Model 1816 Precision Double and the Model 1816 Precision Field by Remington,” Galloway added. “Personally, I can’t wait to get them back out in the field. They both come with a lightweight, rugged green carrying case and five flush chokes: skeet, improved cylinder, light modified, modified and full.”
If you haven’t seen one of the new
1816 Precision doubles, they are lovely. Both feature color case hardened receivers (a favorite of mine), single selective triggers, deep bluing and nice Turkish walnut furniture. The side-by-side is currently available in 20 gauge and the over-and-under in 12. I have to note that the side-by-side has a handsome little splinter forearm (another favorite of mine).
Many of us long for a classic double gun that won’t break the bank. Remington has filled this niche with the 1816 Precision shotguns. Visit remarms.com for more.
Editor’s note: Larry Case has been a devoted outdoorsman since he was a child. He will admit to an addiction to turkey hunting (spring and fall), but refuses any treatment. He enjoys the company of gobblers and cur dogs that are loud and people who speak the truth softly. Case served 36 years as a game warden in West Virginia and retired with the rank of district captain. You can check out his podcast and other stories at gunsandcornbread.com.
Closeups of the new 1816 Precision Double. The sideby-side features color case hardened receivers, single selective triggers, deep bluing and a nice Turkish walnut furniture, and it is available in 12 gauge.
Hunting Iguanas In Florida
Invasive, destructive, costly –there are a lot of good reasons to help eradicate these wily nonnative reptiles.
In the classic movie Big Jake, John Wayne plays the part of Jacob McCandles, who – together with his two sons – is hunting down the men who attacked his ranch and killed several of his ranch hands.
In one scene, Big Jake asks his youngest son Michael if he is proficient with his firearm. After Michael confirms that he is, Big Jake tells him to shoot a buck 400 yards away. Michael protests, saying, “I don’t kill to make a point, Father.” To which Big Jake responds, “Michael, there’s two reasons to kill – survival and meat. We need meat!” Michael then proceeds to shoot the buck.
That movie was made in 1971, and to this day, Big Jake’s words of wisdom still ring true. However, we can now add another reason to kill: controlling invasive animals that are not
STORY AND PHOTOS BY PAUL PAWELA
Monster iguanas are evasive creatures and make for a great hunt. If you have kids or women in your family who wish to learn how to shoot and hunt, iguanas are a great way to start learning. (SHUTTERSTOCK)
native to a local community. One such example in Florida is iguanas.
As with other invasive species, the problem with iguanas is that many people who keep them as pets eventually grow tired of them and dump them into local habitats. In Florida, we have an epidemic of invasive species – Burmese pythons, piranhas, feral pigs and iguanas.
IN 2019, THE Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) encouraged Florida homeowners to exterminate green iguanas whenever these reptiles appear on their property. Iguanas are problematic because they destroy the natural ecosystem and cause massive damage to local infrastructure by digging burrows that eventually erode and collapse foundations, seawalls, sidewalks and canal banks.
Florida provides many of the nation’s vegetables and fruits. These crops are also desirable to the invasive iguanas, causing massive losses for local farmers.
Since iguanas can live over 10 years in the wild and even longer in captivity, they can typically grow up to 4 or 5 feet in length. Some iguanas can reach 6 feet long and weigh up to 20 pounds. Population estimates are difficult to come by, but it is believed that hundreds of thousands of iguanas are running around in the wild. If you spend a little time in South Florida, you will eventually see many in neighborhoods, local parks or just running across the street. The iguanas are mostly found near water, such as canals.
According to the FWC, iguanas “can be captured and humanely killed year-round and without a permit or hunting license on 32 public lands in south Florida.” There are many guided hunting opportunities as well.
Most hunts start on a small boat with other passengers. Therefore, this is an excellent place to demonstrate the fundamentals of safety with a firearm. Even though it’s only an air rifle, the following general safety rules still apply.
• Treat all guns as if they are always loaded.
Guided iguana hunting trips in Florida are primarily offered by boat, allowing hunters to access areas where iguanas congregate, but some companies also offer land-based hunts.
Iguana hunting is typically done with air rifles. It offers a precise and humane method for dispatching the reptiles.
• Keep your finger off the trigger until the sights are on target.
• Never let your muzzle cover anything you are unwilling to destroy.
• Know your target foreground and background.
Once the iguana hunt begins, it’s important to remember the four fundamentals of marksmanship:
• Steady position of the rifle.
• Steady aiming alignment with the rear sight to the rifle’s front sight.
• Steady breath control from inhaling to exhaling before one pulls the trigger.
• Proper trigger squeeze.
The rifle platform used for hunting iguanas is an air rifle, usually in .22 or .30 caliber. These rifles are excellent for the first-time shooter, as there is no recoil or loud noise.
ON A RECENT hunt that I participated in, our crew used scoped air rifles to hunt iguanas. However, I would recommend using an air rifle without a scope. To quote retired master sergeant and former Delta Force operator Paul Howe, “Iron sights have been called the stick shift in the AR world. I grew up on them and will always revert to and favor them. At this point in my life, I shoot them faster than a red dot, as I have practiced with them more, and they have never failed me.”
Establishing reference points on the rifle is essential: front hand, back hand and head/eye position. This will work prone, kneeling, standing and sitting. It’s important to set up the same index points on the gun every time for consistent and accurate shots, and to look through your sights or optics the same way each time you pick up the rifle.
Iguanas are great game to hunt due to their evasiveness and speed, as well as their ability to hide and camouflage themselves in trees or the brush. I have always stated that it is much more difficult to shoot an iguana when it is running, dodging and ducking than shooting at a target standing still. The iguana is not always downed by one shot either; sometimes it takes multiple shots to end its existence.
Unlike regulated game species, there are no size restrictions or bag limits on iguanas, as they are considered invasive – and tasty! They’re nicknamed the “chicken of the trees” for the quality of their meat. (HUNTINGIGUANAS.COM)
MY HUNTING PARTNERS and I found the iguana hunt to be an excellent way for men to bond together for fun and friendship. But this hunting excursion is open to all, and our tour guide said he often books trips for families seeking adventure and memories together.
While I did not cook or eat any of the iguanas we killed, some say they taste like chicken, and green iguanas even have the nickname “chicken of the trees.” After our hunt, the boat captain took the day’s collection to sell to a group that enjoys the meat.
Iguana hunts have a wide variety of benefits. They are not as expensive as many other family interests, such as theme parks, and they are full of adventure and bonding for the participants.
The most crucial part is that these hunts help the environment, and who doesn’t want that?
You can search iguana hunts online, and I highly recommend visiting huntingiguanas.com or contacting brett@bassonline.com.
Author Paul Pawela with his kill – one less iguana infesting the Sunshine State!
L.E. SPOTLIGHT
LIEUTENANT PERNA IS ‘10-7’
A ‘great run’ wraps up for officer, SWAT member, undercover cop.
I’m going to mix things up a little bit this month and write about a topic I know pretty well – myself. Two weeks ago I got to celebrate my retirement from law enforcement. I spent over 24 years of my life as a police officer, retiring as a lieutenant.
I wasn’t one of those guys who always wanted to be a cop. I sort of fell into
it. After leaving active duty with the Army, I decided to make some changes in my life. One was to move out West, and the other was to get a “normal” job. Three years of jumping out of planes for Uncle Sam was great, but I thought at the time that I should choose something safer and more sustainable. I enrolled in graduate school at the University of San Francisco to become a teacher. That seemed like a safe thing to do. This proved to be a bad move. For one, I found out I really
didn’t like teaching kids. I taught at public middle and high schools and found I hated it. God bless anyone who can successfully make a career out of teaching. Babysitting other people’s kids for the kind of money teachers make was not for me.
WHEN I WENT online to apply for teaching jobs at various city and county websites, I often saw postings for police officer positions. This got me thinking, Why not be a cop? I
STORY AND PHOTOS BY NICK PERNA
After leaving active duty with the US Army, author Nick Perna became a teacher, only to discover he didn’t like it. But he did enjoy a 24-plus-year career as a police officer in Northern California.
L.E. SPOTLIGHT
liked shooting guns, driving fast and adrenaline spikes, so why not? Also, at the same time I was going to grad school and teaching, I was also doing some freelance law enforcement work as a bounty hunter (so much for “safer”). Also, cop jobs paid by the hour and the pay was better than what teachers were making.
The first place I applied was with the Redwood City Police Department and I basically bombed the interview. When asked questions about the demographics of the city, I had no
answers. When asked by the interview panel, I didn’t know the name of the mayor or even the chief of police! Despite all of that, RCPD really needed cops at that time, so they actually hired me.
I spent my whole career with RCPD and had a great run. I got to do a lot of cool things like SWAT and undercover work. I rubbed elbows with some of the greatest folks I’ve had the honor to know, my fellow cops.
Someone once told me that a cop job is “the best seat in town for the
greatest show on Earth.” This is an accurate description. It was a thrill a minute, exciting to the end. True, the drawbacks are many: working odd hours and days, mandatory training and court appearances on days off, missing important family functions. The list goes on and on. But when you choose to take a job that is anything but normal, you have to be a little flexible.
SO NOW WHAT? My days of foot pursuits, fast driving and wool uniforms are over. I’ll keep writing this column and others for American Shooting Journal. I’m working on the second edition of my book, The Street Crimes Investigations Handbook, a primer for cops who are interested in working on cases involving gangs, drug dealers and human traffickers.
I’m working on trying to break some of my old cop habits, like looking at drivers on the road to see if they are wearing their seatbelts, or getting excited when I see a car full of dirtbags, wondering how many warrants, drugs, guns and other illegal stuff they have on them.
With that, there are some new habits I’m looking forward to. One is sleep. I can sleep all night knowing no one is going to call me at 3 a.m. for a SWAT operation or detective callout. I also get my First Amendment rights back, too; no longer can city government tell me what to say.
So it’s with a heavy heart that I say I’m going “10-7” (out of service/off duty) for the final time. It was a great run.★
Editor’s note: Author Nick Perna served for more than 24 years with the Redwood City Police Department in Northern California before his recent retirement. He previously served as a paratrooper in the US Army and is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also has a master’s degree from the University of San Francisco. He is a frequent contributor to multiple print and online forums on topics related to law enforcement, firearms, tactics and veterans issues.
Perna recently retired as a lieutenant from the Redwood City Police Department.
RECHARGING BLACK POWDER LEGACIES
A new generation takes over at two family-owned companies and aims to work together for the good of the shooting industry.
STORY BY KATIE AUMANN
PHOTOS BY C. SHARPS ARMS AND BUFFALO ARMS COMPANY
ach Schoffstall grew up helping out at his father’s black powder cartridge rifle company, C. Sharps Arms. He has fond memories of going to gun shows and shooting matches with his father, John Schoffstall, and even recalls the construction of their new building in Big Timber, Montana.
Z“My involvement with C. Sharps Arms effectively began at birth,” jokes Schoffstall. “My first official job was answering phones, talking to customers, and helping to mail out brochures back when I was 9 or 10. I attended and worked my first NRA Show along with my parents when I was in sixth grade.”
He continued to work for the family business through high school, moving into the production side of things –running machines, deburring parts and performing basic assembly tasks. But it was also at this point that John Schoffstall encouraged his son to work outside the family business and to develop his own interests.
“For my father, C. Sharps Arms was all-consuming and he never asked or expected me to come back to his business,” says Schoffstall. “I went on to pursue and live my own life, through college, into the military, and subsequently on to become a special
agent with the FBI.”
But when his father’s health began to decline in late 2016, Schoffstall started his slow path back to C. Sharps Arms.
“Initially I worked with Dad’s legacy employees to keep C. Sharps Arms operating business as usual, but as the years went on and my father’s health continued to deteriorate, I became more and more involved in the business’ operations,” he says. “By 2024, I was fully invested, and after my father’s passing, I became owner, operator and president of the corporation.”
AJA RICHARDSON, TOO, grew up around the industry, as her father Dave Gullo ran Buffalo Arms Company in Ponderay, Idaho. And while getting into the business was never her dream, she
Buffalo Arms Company founder Dave Gullo and daughter Aja Richardson, who came home to work for the business, share a light-hearted moment in 2022 near the company’s north Idaho headquarters.
John and Zach Schoffstall in the C. Sharps Arms Co. booth at the 2002 NRA Show in Reno, Nevada.
John teaches Zach to shoot a classic Winchester pump .22 near their home in Big Timber, Montana, in 1983.
COMPANY SPOTLIGHT
respected what her father accomplished.
“I always had the utmost admiration for Dad, for creating this company out of nothing, and starting something he was passionate about, turning it into his career,” she says. “Isn’t that the American dream? Your passion is your career, therefore it doesn’t feel like work?”
Richardson herself is an entrepreneur, opening three businesses over the span of 27 years. But when the Covid pandemic forced her to close her day spa, she returned home to join her father at Buffalo Arms Company.
“It’s been a fascinating journey with my dad, and the dynamic has definitely evolved over time,” she says. “It’s taken three years and I am finally proving myself through passion, interest and love of the industry; with the people involved, it’s not hard. I am a people person (and) our customers, spanning worldwide, are amazing! At first, there was a lot of me figuring things out on my own, and he was always there as a guide but never forced his way in. That sense of freedom to figure things out has really shaped how I approach the business – learning from him without feeling pressured has given me the confidence to carve my own path.”
“As I’ve taken on more responsibility, our relationship has shifted from just father-daughter to more of a mentormentee dynamic,” Richardson adds. “He’s not just a parent now; he’s someone I can lean on for advice, but I also see the impact of my decisions on the business in a way I never did before. It’s a new balance – he trusts me more, and I trust myself more as I navigate the role. It feels like we’re both learning from each other as we move forward, which is kind of an unexpected but welcome twist!”
WHILE ONE MIGHT think two black powder companies would be in direct competition with each other, C. Sharps Arms and Buffalo Arms Company actually have a close working relationship that aims to not only help their two businesses, but also help the black powder cartridge shooting industry grow.
“I believe the guiding principle that brings companies like C. Sharps Arms and Buffalo Arms together is that of mutual support and benefit,” says Schoffstall. “How do we work to support each other in the shooting industry space and not work against each other?
For C. Sharps Arms and Buffalo Arms, that means finding areas where we are stronger working together than working on our own. C. Sharps Arms specializes in manufacturing benchmade American single-shot rifles and it’s an obvious benefit to have a company like Buffalo Arms selling and marketing our product. But for Buffalo Arms, it is also a benefit to their business model to grow their customer base leveraging a 50-year-old brand like C. Sharps Arms and bringing more and more shooters into the black powder shooting industry.”
Richardson agrees, saying, “To carry the industry into the future and beyond, it’s our duty to work together, sharing the passion, knowledge and commitment so the history stays alive for future generations. It’s essential to collaborate with various companies
and organizations that share the same enthusiasm. By working together, we can ensure that the legacy of black powder cartridge (BPC) matches is preserved and appreciated by future generations. I plan to work closely and unite as many companies in this industry as possible and bring back long-distance BPC matches in the NRA like they’ve never seen before. After all, BPC is the very foundation the NRA was built on! It deserves recognition, preservation and appreciation for the foundational nation’s history.”
Schoffstall credits Richardson and her father with helping to renew interest in BPC silhouette and long-range matches by the NRA and says this will lead to gradual growth in the industry. “You will also see a continued growth in nontraditional BPC long-range matches such as the Quigley match in Forsyth, Montana,” adds Schoffstall about the Matthew Quigley Buffalo Rifle Match, which draws approximately 600 shooters annually. “Other areas where I believe you will see growth is the .22 rimfire silhouette matches that mirror BPC
The Schoffstalls pose with a pair of C. Sharps Arms Model 1877 Sharps in .40-70 Sharps Straight and a very nice bull elk taken near Riggins, Idaho, in 2009.
COMPANY SPOTLIGHT
matches.”
Richardson says the key to future growth is enticing younger generations to find a passion for the history and the sport.
“I love the idea of connecting with the younger generation; being able to relate to them and attract them without relying on promotion is a unique strength,” she says. “It’s more authentic that way, and people can tell when someone truly believes in what they’re doing. Shooting black powder yourself is such a powerful way to connect with your customers! I plan to enter my first [black powder cartridge rifle] match this June at the Quigley Match. I have a ton of support from our customers and friends in the industry, especially Dad. It’s a perfect example of leading by example.”
IT’S CLEAR THAT the future of the black powder cartridge shooting industry –and the shooting industry at large – is in good hands with this new generation of leadership.
“C. Sharps Arms is 50 years old this
year, and many of our legacy American companies in the shooting industry are now either on or are turning to subsequent generations to run their businesses,” says Schoffstall. “I believe it is important for new generations to learn and understand what made the previous generations successful. What were their strengths, what were their weaknesses, where did they
succeed and where did they fail. But this knowledge of the past must be empowering, not restricting. America is changing, the shooting industry is changing, and it will take the energy, work and insight of a new generation to change along with it.”
Schoffstall says that for him, it’s a question of how to introduce younger generations to the value of historical American firearm designs, the value of American benchmade craftsmanship, and the value of being different from the crowd.
“We are not another plastic gun company; our products are not cheap. But what our products are is timeless quality, in both design and craftsmanship. That quality has value, and it will take the ingenuity of a younger generation such as myself, Aja, and others to demonstrate that value to a new and younger group of American shooting enthusiasts.” ★
Editor’s note: For more information, visit csharpsarms.com and buffaloarms.com.
Gullo and Albert “Al” Lee, one of the two southeast Montana ranchers and local shooters who in 1990, right after seeing Quigley Down Under, came up with the idea to hold a long-distance shooting match based off of the iconic movie starring Tom Selleck. Lee passed away in 2024 at age 94.
At 2023’s edition of the Matthew Quigley Buffalo Rifle Match, Gullo became a four-time overall winner.
BLACK POWDER
PREPARING FOR THE .50-70 MATCH
Before the shooting begins, rifles, bullets and more need to be squared away.
STORY AND
GBY MIKE NESBITT
etting ready for any shooting match requires a little bit of preparation, of course. And the annual .50-70 match held by the Black River Buffalo Runners at their home range of Capitol City Rifle & Pistol Club near Olympia, Washington, is really not any different.
As of this writing, the match is just two days away. And as we prepare, Mike Holeman and I have teamed up and we are planning on shooting in the match as partners, at least in one regard. Mike borrowed a rifle from me to use in the match because he presently does not have a .50-70. Likewise, he has no ammo for a .50-70, which also means he has no reloading gear for this grand old cartridge either … That means I’ll be
supplying the ammo for his shooting, as well as a rifle.
Let me point out that a .50-70 rifle – be it a Sharps, a Remington or a Springfield – is not actually required for shooting in our . 50-70 matches. That might sound like double talk, but let me explain. Any black powder cartridge rifle shooting black powder loads with cast lead or swaged bullets is welcome. However, all other calibers
PHOTOS
Mike Holeman checks the sights on a rebuilt Remington rolling block rifle loaned to him by author and shooting match partner Mike Nesbitt.
BLACK POWDER
are secondary to the old .50-70 guns, and at the awards ceremony those shooters using other calibers will watch all of the .50-70 shooters receive their prizes first. So, the .50-70 rifles and shooters are not exclusive, they’re just given priority. In fact, the .50-70 match was introduced to give the old rifles a chance to be the top dogs. Doing it this way has proven to be a lot of fun and it is very interesting to see the variety of rifles and ammo that gets taken to the firing line. The ammo, as you might expect for a buffalo rifle match, includes both “greasers” (those bullets with lube grooves) and the “slick-sided” paper-patched bullets. The rifles might be, as mentioned above, Sharps ’74s, Remington rolling
blocks or Springfield trapdoors. Those trapdoors, of course, were the first rifles made for the .50-70 cartridges.
THIS YEAR’S .50-70 match will be the sixth time we’ve held this event and it gets bigger and better every year.
The first edition of the match was shot with targets posted at just 50 and 100 yards, with 10 shots at each distance. Those proved to be rather easy, so the next time we shot our big 50-70s, the targets were posted at 100 and 200 yards. This was both more challenging and also more rewarding for the shooters, and so we’ve held it at the longer distances – even though this is still a “short-range match” – ever since. (Short-range matches are those held from 100 to 300 yards, while 300 to 600 yards are considered midrange matches and 700 to 1,200 yards are long-range events.)
While Mike had participated in our .50-70 matches for the past two years, he didn’t shoot a .50-70 in either of those matches. Last year he used his ’74 Sharps in .45-70 caliber and before that he shot a Remington rolling block chambered in .38-55. For this year’s match, he really wanted to do his shooting with a .50-70-caliber rifle, perhaps so he’d be among the shooters vying for the .50-70 awards. That’s when he came to me with a question about borrowing a .50-70 rifle, along with ammo for it.
My immediate reply was “Certainly!”
A handful of .50-70 cartridges, both greasegroove bullets and paper patched.
The .50-70 rolling block features a custom barrel from Oregon Barrel Company.
A target from the first annual .50-70 match held by the Black River Buffalo Runners at their range near Olympia, Washington, in 2019.
Jerry Mayo is very proud of his new custom rolling block in .50-70.
BLACK POWDER
and I suggested that he shoot with my Remington rolling block, which I rebuilt about seven years ago. That Remington has a good history and Mike was certainly delighted to be able to use that gun.
This same rolling block was a featured rifle in our .50-70 match back in 2020. Before that match, Jerry Mayo came to me asking if he could borrow a .50-70 rifle, and I simply said, “Of course.” Then he told me which 50-70 rifle (because I did have more than enough) he wanted to use, my recently finished (at that time) rolling block. I tried to sway him into using a different rifle because I wanted to do
my shooting with the rolling block, but Jerry remained adamant and suggested that we could both use it.
Sharing that rifle presented no big problems. We’d simply shoot in different relays and that was easy to do because we were already partnered; when I did my shooting, he was my spotter and when he did his shooting, I’d spot his shots for him. But what did raise its head as a bit of a problem was the ammunition. I didn’t have quite enough for both of us to use, at least not with the same loading.
The solution was for Jerry to do his shooting with grease-groove bullets, while I used some paper-patched loads.
Doing that worked very well, especially in Jerry’s favor. He was our top .50-70 shooter, using my rifle. Similarly, “Doc” Ritter placed second while shooting his father’s rifle, another .50-70 rolling block. Then I placed third with my paper-patched loads and I was followed by “Loco Jeff” Ritter. So those four places were filled with just two rifles, and both of the “borrowers” outshot the guns’ owners.
It was just over a year later that Jerry got his own .50-70 rolling block, taking an original Remington action and having it rebarreled by C. Sharps Arms and restocked, which made for a very fine-looking rifle. Jerry is very proud of
Nesbitt’s heavy .50-70 Sharps, which he calls “Moonbeam,” by C. Sharps Arms. This is the rifle he’ll be shooting at the club match.
The author at the bench, making good hits and getting ready for the friendly competition, now in its sixth year.
that gun and he is still using it.
FOR THIS YEAR’S match, ammunition has proved to be, once again, a slight problem. The rifle I’ll be using is my ’74 Sharps by C. Sharps Arms, the gun I like to call “Moonbeam.” That’s the rifle I’ve used for just about all of my .50-70 shooting since I got it, right out of the C. Sharps Arms showroom while on my way to the Matthew Quigley Buffalo Rifle Match. All of my loaded cartridges as well as any fired empties were “made” for this rifle and not the rolling block.
The reason this became an issue is because while reloading those cartridges, I had not resized the brass cases. This is a very reasonable thing to do but only if the reloaded ammo is going to be fired in the gun that was used to fire-form the brass. And after being fired in the Sharps, my cartridges could not be chambered completely so the rolling block could close all of the way without being fulllength resized. What this boiled down
to is that the two rifles, both in .50-70 caliber, would need to be treated as individual guns, with ammunition individually loaded for each of them. So, a block of cartridge cases, just 25 of them, was selected for the Remington rifle. Those were fulllength resized, as well as checked and trimmed for length, just to be sure. Then the cases were expanded to receive the bullets and primed with Remington No. 2 ½ large pistol primers. They were then loaded with 65 grains of Olde Eynsford 2F powder, which was compressed under a single .030-inch fiber wad, and finally loaded with well-lubed .512-inch-diameter, 450-grain bullets cast from Accurate Molds’ No. 52-450L2
With those loads, Mike could get some practice, find his sight settings, and enjoy the shooting. Following that, I’d reload the cases, by then fire-formed for the rolling block, and make sure he had good ammo for the match.
At the same time, I was doing almost the same thing, more or less, for the ammo I’d be shooting in the Sharps. The resizing of the brass wasn’t necessary, but the same loading went into those cases. After shooting for practice, the important thing was to keep the empties from those two rifles separated.
NOW WE’RE JUST about ready for the match. Today I fired just 13 rounds for practice. At 100 yards, all of my shots stayed in the black, although just a bit low. Perhaps a sight adjustment will be made to correct this during the match. At 200 yards, my shots went slightly high, so I’ll look forward to another possible sight correction after the match begins. Those shots were fired over a chronograph and averaged 1,227 feet per second with a rather close extreme spread of velocities. The shooting pleased me. Meanwhile, Mike also says he is ready for the match to begin.
Stay tuned to hear how it goes! ★
Nine-millimeter handgun bridges many gaps for those who carry concealed.
Twenty-eight years ago, I began legally carrying a concealed handgun by state permit nearly every single day except where prohibited. Prior to, during and after my law enforcement career, I began everyday loading, holstering and wearing a firearm. Even when in uniform with my service weapon on my duty belt, I wore a second firearm concealed. This continues to not just be a habit but a discipline. A conscious decision each day to equip myself with a firearm, along with other daily carry tools such as a tourniquet, cell phone, Swiss Army knife and such to protect myself and my family.
During nearly three decades of concealed carry, I, like the rest of you who carry daily, have searched for the best balance of weight, concealment and firepower. Notice I did not say comfort? My years of firsthand experience have proven over and over that if a gun is comfortable to carry concealed, you aren’t carrying enough “gun” to fight with. Modern firearms guru Clint Smith, the founder of Thunder Ranch, said it best: “Guns aren’t supposed to be comfortable; they are supposed to be comforting!” Great words by a great mind in our business.
Over the years I have been fortunate to carry some of the best brands in the firearms industry, such as Glock, HK, Sig Sauer and others. Unfortunately, I found myself continuing to search for the perfect concealed carry gun. Smith & Wesson
SIG SAUER P365-FUSE
STORY AND PHOTOS BY TRAMPAS SWANSON
P365-FUSE gun review
In June 2024, amid the growing success of Sig Sauer’s P365 series, the company released its most recent variant, known as the Sig P365-Fuse. It was created to “fuse” the gap between size and practicality.
gun review
Airweight revolvers carried well but lacked capacity. The Ruger LCP carried in a front pocket was underpowered and slow to access. The Avidity Arms P10 offered 9mm firepower within a carry pistol that shot like a full-size duty pistol. Sadly, it was limited to only 10-round magazines despite being on the larger end of the concealed weapon spectrum. The S&W Shield was a decent option, but left me still wanting more like I did with the P10. It was easy to shoot, but limited in its capacity compared to its size.
Many will ask about the Springfield Hellcat and my short answer is: junk. The company makes some amazing firearms, but I have seen firsthand how many Hellcats malfunction compared to other brands. It’s safe to say, I would never carry a Hellcat to protect myself or anyone else. Fun to shoot, but I just don’t trust them.
TO
UNDERSTAND THE rest of this article, you must put it in the context of my age, size and body type. I’m a married 49-year-old father of two, broad in the shoulders, “dad bod,” 5-foot-6 and 190 pounds. A narrow waist with a bit of a belly negate an appendix carry option, which I would be hesitant to do either way. What may be “compact” to a larger-than-average person may be a bit more difficult to conceal for most of us. When I was younger and thinner, I could dress around a Glock 19 9mm, but as I got older and a little heavier, I needed to downsize a bit to better conceal a firearm.
Through two decades of professionally instructing firearms safety, combined with well over a decade writing reviews of the latest firearms to come to market, I had begun to wonder if a true balance of all things needed in a carry pistol would ever be discovered. Thankfully, in June 2024, Sig Sauer released what I think is quite possibly the best answer to come to the concealed carry world thus far. Amid the growing success of the company’s P365 series, the most recent variant known as the Sig P365-
The progression of the Sig Sauer P365 series. At the top is the Fuse, which followed the Macro, released in 2022, and finally the TacOps XL, which came out in 2019.
Fuse was created to “fuse” the gap between size and practicality.
WHEN SIG SAUER released the original P365 pistol in 2018, I began my journey into its continued development. Although the original carried well, it took a good bit of skill to shoot well compared to a larger pistol. During a time when smaller and thinner pistols were the new trend – with the Glock models 43 and 48 limited to 10-round magazines – the P365 offered a smaller, thinner profile with the same capacity. The pistol’s new pyramid-shaped magazines allowed the P365 platform to slowly separate itself from its competitors.
Less than a year later in 2019, Sig released the P365-XL. With its slightly longer barrel and grip frame, now shooters had basically the same compact gun, just with more to hold onto and stabilize the gun during recoil. The overall balance was noticeably better than the original design as well. This reduced much of the snappy feeling from shot to shot and increased accuracy. As a bonus, the longer grip allowed for a flush-fit magazine offering an added two rounds with its 12-round magazines. I did not waste any time in acquiring one of these pistols for review and in the process, I found a gun I gladly carried every day for over three years.
In 2022, Sig followed up on their success with the release of the P365Macro. This variant offered a longer 3.7-inch barrel compared to the original 3.1-inch barrel. Once again, Sig increased the round capacity from 12 in the XL to 17 in the Macro. Who doesn’t like more grip space and five extra rounds in each of the three factory-provided magazines? Shortly afterwards, Sig released the P365-XMacro TacOps, which added a beneficial flared magazine well and interchangeable grip panels to adjust the grip closer to your optimal grip size. In addition, the pistol shipped with four rather than three 17-round magazines. The TacOps, in my opinion, slightly tweaked a good design into a much better product. After pouring thousands
SIG SAUER P365-FUSE SPECS
Caliber: 9mm
Barrel length: 4.3 inches
Action: Striker-fire
Sight radius: 6 inches
Sights: Fiber optic front, black serrated rear
Overall length: 7.2 inches
Overall width: 1.1 inches
Overall height: 5.1 inches
Weight: 23.1 ounces
Optics-ready? Yes
of rounds through this gun and doing both an initial review and a long-term review of this pistol for publication, I was sold on carrying it daily.
Finally, in June 2024, Sig decided to further push ahead of the rest of the concealed carry gun world with the release of the P365-Fuse. As much as I was enjoying the TacOps, I must admit I was intrigued. How do you improve on what already checks all the boxes for a real carry gun? After a former student of mine, Susan Smith, purchased one and put it through the paces, she reached out to share her thoughts on it. Susan is a highly dedicated student and an accomplished instructor in her own right. Currently, she is even the Florida state leader of the not-forprofit organization Armed Women of America. I was impressed with Susan’s review and gave a lot of thought to testing one for myself.
APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS after contacting Sig Sauer, I had a Fuse
on my desk to inspect and field test. I was happy to see that Sig kept the flared magazine well design but also added a better-feeling textured grip. In handling the gun, working the action and dry practicing with snap caps, the gun just “felt right” in the hand, noticeably more so than the slickerfeeling Macro version. Despite the Fuse’s slightly longer barrel (4.3 inches versus 3.7 inches), the balance still felt just as good as the Macro.
The Fuse shipped with two 21-round magazines and one 17-round magazine. As I see it, that’s one magazine to fit flush in the magazine well for concealed carry and two in reserve for added firepower to stay in the fight longer. At that point, who cares how ugly the longer magazines look hanging down out of the magazine well?
As with all the variants in the P365 series, the Fuse came optics-ready for red dot mounting. I had opted not to run a red dot on the Macro after three years of carrying and shooting the XL with
The Fuse shown with a 21-round magazine. It comes with two 21-round magazines and one 17-round magazine.
gun review
a Holosun red dot. I had just ended up tired of always cleaning the glass before shooting. The inside-the-waistband (IWB) holster I had used did not cover the optic as well. This resulted in skin flakes, sweat, hair, dust and other debris collecting on the glass daily.
When I was offered an opportunity to test the Holosun EPS Carry sight along with the Fuse, I decided to give it a try. The EPS is one of the newest in the company’s expansive line of topquality optics. The EPS Carry-GR-MRS is an enclosed handgun sight designed for narrower concealed-carry-style firearms such as the Fuse. The design allows for the optic to sit lower on the slide and provide a true co-witness with the factory-provided fiber optic sights. This was a huge win in my book. I could not wait to range this gun as soon as possible.
FOR RANGE TESTING, I decided to only test the P365-XL, XMacro TacOps and Fuse in a side-by-side comparison to see exactly which of these three performed better. From two previous articles I have written for other publications on the P365 and P365-XL variants, I already knew the original was too snappy and did not perform as well as the slightly larger versions. A combination of Blazer 115-grain Full
Remington 115-grain
ammunition was used to test how reliable each gun performed with both ball and hollowpoint ammo.
Over a period of four months of testing both on indoor and outdoor ranges, the performance and reliability were very impressive. Most of the testing was done using the standard US Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) 50-round course of fire on International Defensive Pistol Association targets. This included 15
rounds fired at 4 yards, 15 rounds fired at 7 yards, 10 rounds fired at 10 yards and 10 rounds fired at 15 yards. Only shots within the IDPA target’s 9-inch center would count.
While all three pistols were able to obtain perfect scores, the flared magazine well of the XMacro TacOps and the Fuse seemed to anchor both guns much better in the hand during live-fire exercises in preventing the master grip from slipping down the grip in recoil. This allowed for shooting the course of fire quicker than with the XL. Within the 9-inch circle at 15 yards, my groups were tighter with the Fuse using the EPS versus the TacOps, as well as faster than the XL with the Holosun 507K X2 red dot.
The few test shootings from a bench off a sandbag netted practically the exact same groupings at 4, 7 and 10 yards. Using iron sights for all three, there were no noticeable variations between impressive one-jagged-hole groups. At 15 yards, optic-equipped pistols seemed to have an edge over iron sights, although the fiber optic sights clearly performed better than the fatter combat sights of the Sig X-ray sights. Going beyond standard defensive distances, the EPS-equipped Fuse began to really shine. More on that in a moment. Despite one clear shooter error, there were zero
Metal Jacket (FMJ), Hornady Critical Defense 124-grain XTP (hollowpoint) and
FMJ
P365-series handguns laid out in preparation for testing.
Most of author Trampas Swanson’s testing was done using the standard US Concealed Carry Association 50-round course of fire on International Defensive Pistol Association targets.
background with a “Don’t Tread on Me” logo in the foreground, expertly bent and crafted ...
malfunctions among the three pistols out of a combined 1,500 rounds fired during test sessions.
IN DECIDING TO officially make the switch from the TacOps to the Fuse, I wanted to change up the holster I normally used to something that would protect the Holosun EPS sight as well. As I researched my options, I decided on two different styles. One would be a more modern approach with everyone’s favorite medium, Kydex, while the other would be a throwback to classic leather carry.
Kydex is great for keeping body sweat off your gun during those hot months in Florida, and it offers a nononsense zero angle, or “zero cant,” draw. Since the holster is primarily inside the waistband, the color or design is more for when it’s sitting on my desk at the end of the day, showing off to friends or going into the safe each night. Since there is no tactical advantage to basic black or tan, why not have a cool custom holster to look at?
When it comes to custom holsters, the first name that pops into my head is longtime friend John Phillips, owner of Survivor Creek Tactical. Many in the Las Vegas, Nevada, and Jacksonville, Florida, areas know him better as the “King of Kydex.” After looking through
his selection of Kydex samples, we decided the Fuse needed a true patriotic holster in an IWB configuration. This consisted of an American flag background with a “Don’t Tread on Me” logo in the foreground, expertly bent and crafted into a form-fitting work of highly functional holster art. John is awesome like that. He is truly a man who takes pride in his work, and the detail and beauty in his creations clearly shows that.
For dressier occasions that require
The author needed a new custom holster to accommodate the Fuse. He chose two different ones. First a Kydex version from Survivor Creek Tactical, which showcases an American flag
... And for dressier occasions, Swanson went with a new holster from one of the oldest and biggest names in the biz, Galco Holsters.
gun review
a nice tan leather belt and holster combination to go with my cowboy boots and dress shirt, I decided to select a new holster from one of the oldest and biggest names in the holster industry, Galco Holsters. For over 30 years now, our family has carried a myriad of different holster creations by Galco for hunting, personal protection and on- and offduty assignments.
New to their amazing lineup of beautifully crafted holsters is the Hawkeye IWB holster. The quality of the leather and stitching on any Galco holster is second to none, and the new Hawkeye would prove to be no different in keeping with those high standards and valued traditions. The Hawkeye brought a slight butt-forward cant to the draw stroke to better aid in concealment.
Since just prior to Christmas, I have been carrying the Fuse daily in one of the two aforementioned holsters based on my daily attire. I could not be more pleased with either of them. The quality of both products is a credit to the individual medium in which each holster-maker works. The two spring clips on the Survivor Creek holster allow for a wide range of options with the lack of angled cant. This makes an easy transition for someone wishing to carry in the appendix position one day and at the 3 to 5 o’clock positions on other days. The two 1¾-inch straps on the Hawkeye from Galco, meanwhile, do a great job anchoring the holster on either side of my belt loop to place the pistol in the optimum position for the canted draw stroke. I can confidently say, either of these holsters would serve someone well as their everyday carry option.
OVERALL, I BELIEVE the best concealed carry pistol comes down to individual preference of what feels right for each person. Size and weight are interpreted completely differently depending on the size of the person carrying the firearm. For someone who is 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds, a full-size Sig P320 or Glock 17 may seem compact and easy to carry. Unfortunately, for the average-size person within the United States who carries a concealed firearm, smallerframe firearms are needed. The Sig P365-Fuse will fall more along the lines of being a good balance for firepower and concealability if proper measures to dress around the gun are taken. If you are simply going to toss on a T-shirt and shorts for the day, I would probably suggest going with the slightly smaller Sig P365XL for a more reduced footprint. I wholeheartedly recommend the Sig Fuse if you are willing to accommodate it. You’ll need to consider a loose-fitting button-down summer shirt rather than your bumaround T-shirt to conceal it. But if the most that is required is to step up your fashion sense and overall heightened appearance, I honestly don’t see a problem. Trust me, being better armed and better prepared always looks good on anyone.
As for the Sig P365-XMacro TacOps versus the Fuse, the slight edge goes to the Fuse. While the TacOps is essentially the same gun as the Fuse, there are three factors that put the latter ahead. The first would obviously be the slightly longer barrel. It is true that the barrel length was not a noticeable factor among any of the three models tested at common self-defense distances. However, once distances were pushed to 25 yards or more, the added barrel length eventually did show some advantages. Braced 50-yard shots on a steel torso target were just as easy with the Fuse as they were with previously tested Sig P320 AXG and Legion models. I’d rather have an advantage and possibly
From Swanson’s point of view, having tested hundreds of firearms over the decades, the P365-Fuse from Sig Sauer answers the call for most concealed carry needs.
gun review
not need it than to ignore the option and regret it later. When it comes to barrel length with concealed carry, it usually doesn’t factor in when carrying at the 4 or 5 o’clock positions.
The next factors are the thinner fiber optic front sight and blacked-out rear sight of the Fuse. While bulky combat night sights are great for shooting quickly up close on large targets, in low light, two tritium dots on a rear sight and one in the middle of a white ring in the front can be confusing as hell and feel very crowded in the heat of the moment. The added bulk of this system makes it hard to put in any real focus on precision drills to hone your skills simply due to covering up too much of the target at distances beyond 10 yards.
Finally, the grip stippling differences between the two guns. If this was a comparison between the standard Macro and the Fuse, I would again mention the flared magazine
well benefits. Since the TacOps version tested offered this same beneficial option, I will just comment that the low-profile sandpaper-like grip of the TacOps fell short of competing with the deeper and surer grip feel of the Fuse. When riding IWB during concealed carry, the skin on my side was much happier brushing against the Fuse than the TacOps. After eight to 12 hours every single day, this alone can be a deciding factor in which I would choose.
Regardless of what your carry preferences are, just make sure you have a reliable firearm with enough “gun” to stay in the fight and get the job done decisively. From my point of view having tested hundreds of firearms over the decades, the P365Fuse from Sig Sauer answers the call for most CCW needs. To date, I have already taught several defensive firearms courses using the Fuse in class without fail. I encourage you to
check out sigsauer.com to find the pistol that best fits your needs. Until next month, folks – stay safe and I hope to see you on the range. ★
Editor’s note: Retiring early from law enforcement in 2011, Trampas Swanson has worked as a deputy sheriff, primarily serving as a SWAT sniper. Early in his career, he trained fellow law enforcement officers before transitioning to private military personnel and civilians. Swanson currently travels throughout the country teaching as an NRA and USCCA training counselor and instructor in his 23rd year as a professional firearms trainer.
Swanson is also easily recognized in the media industry for his work on over two dozen US and international publications worldwide ranging from recreational shooting to serving seven years as the editor for the private military contracting world’s top industry magazine.
THE LITTLE .380
John Moses Browning's cartridge has been punching above its weight class for well over a century.
STORY BY PHIL MASSARO • PHOTOS BY MASSARO MEDIA GROUP
In the process of choosing a cartridge for a compact handgun, you will have many choices, from the older designs like the oh-so-common .22 Long Rifle to the .25 ACP and .32 ACP, to modern designs like the .30 Super Carry. But my eye has been drawn, for a number of years, to the good old 380 Auto.
The brainchild of one John Moses Browning, the .380 Automatic is a derivative of the earlier Browningdesigned .38 ACP, which had some issues in the handguns of the early 20th century. The .380 Automatic used the .355-inch bullet diameter of the earlier 9mm Luger, and was a truly rimless design, headspacing off of the case mouth. With a case measuring just 0 680 inch in length – shorter than the 9mm Luger’s 0.754-inch case – the
380 ACP, better known as the .380 Auto, delivers lower velocities than the older Luger design, but can also be housed in a smaller gun.
IT IS THE “micro guns” that generate appeal for cartridges like the .380 Auto, and modern projectiles have only made the venerable cartridge better than it has ever been. I’d like to take you through the modern loads for the .380 Auto to look at how they’ve
Modern projectiles make the classic .380 Auto better than it has ever been.
improved the little Browning case.
The original loads for the .380 Auto consisted of a 95-grain FMJ, and it wasn’t long until several European countries adopted the cartridge for a military sidearm; Italy was using it, under the name 9mm Corto, as early
as 1915. No matter the name, and there were many, the little cartridge isn’t exactly a man-stopper, at least not in the same vein as the .44 Magnum, 10mm Auto or the mighty .45 ACP. However, the ability to be housed in those pocket guns yet still generate
enough energy from a bullet that is “heavy enough” has a certain appeal. While the full patch bullets used among the military are one thing, there are some great modern designs that have been engineered to maximize the ballistics generated by a cartridge.
Here are some of my favorite loads for Browning’s .380 Automatic.
Federal HST: If you aren’t familiar with the Federal HST, I highly
Federal’s HST is author Phil Massaro’s favorite defensive bullet, as it delivers consistent expansion throughout a number of mediums and can neutralize a threat quickly.
The expanded HST resembles a terrible metallic flower; it can quickly transfer energy and destroy tissue, while giving deep penetration. (FEDERAL PREMIUM)
Federal’s Punch is an affordable defensive option; it feeds reliably and opens consistently.
The jacket of the Punch is wrapped around the rim of the hollowpoint, and will peel back a bit further upon expansion. (FEDERAL PREMIUM)
BULLET BULLETIN
advise that you remedy that fact as soon as possible. The HST is the brainchild of Federal’s engineer Tom Burczynski, who also designed the Hydra-Shok bullet. Using a skived jacket for consistent expansion at the nose, and a cannelure to keep the lead core and copper jacket together throughout the terminal phase of the bullet, the HST does not “plug up”
like so many hollowpoint designs do. Instead, it gives reliable expansion and penetration throughout a number of situations, including the FBI testing protocol where heavy clothing, sheetrock and ballistic gel are all employed to certify that a bullet performs properly. The HST, when recovered in expanded form, looks like the flower from a nightmare, with
razor-sharp petals poised to create all sorts of trauma in a would-be attacker. In the .380 Auto, Federal loads a 99-grain HST at a muzzle velocity of 935 feet per second, perfect for the micro guns. I load the HST in all my carry guns, and would do the same in the .380 Auto. Expect very high weight retention and expansion to almost twice caliber dimension.
Federal Punch: If you are on a budget and want what I consider to be the best value in the defensive handgun ammunition market, look no further than Federal’s Punch ammunition line. While the HST and Hydra-Shok were both cunningly engineered to adhere to the regulations and performance levels set forth by law enforcement, the Punch series is manufactured with the defensive shooter – and defensive situations – in mind. It features a deep hollowpoint and a skived jacket, so both expansion and energy transfer are
The Speer Gold Dot is very popular among law enforcement officials and defensive shooters alike. (SPEER)
With a core chemically bonded to the jacket, the Gold Dot is a very strong bullet that will not separate in the terminal phase. (SPEER)
BULLET BULLETIN
immediate and reliable. While originally loaded in nickel-plated cases – which I love for daily carry ammo, as I can quickly corrode brass cases – they are currently loaded in brass cases, but still feature the excellent sealed Federal primers and a bullet geometry that feeds well in all the .380 Auto pistols I’ve tested. Federal loads the Punch at 85 grains at a muzzle velocity of 1,000 fps. This affordable ammo – at the time of this writing, it sells for a bit over $1 per round – feeds very well and, for a defensive handgunner who needs to get to safety or neutralize a threat, checks all the boxes.
Speer Gold Dot: Long the preferred choice of law enforcement officials, Speer’s Gold Dot is a bondedcore hollowpoint that delivers unprecedented penetration, yet expands to eye-opening dimensions. Speer’s Gold Dot is one of those unsung heroes, not gathering attention yet quietly giving the defensive shooter all the qualities he or she could ask for. Speer’s factory ammunition gives the shooter a nickel-plated case and a sealed primer for reliable performance, and in the case of the .380 Auto, a 90-grain Gold Dot bonded-core hollowpoint at a muzzle velocity of
1,040 fps, generating 216 foot-pounds of muzzle energy. In my experiences, the Speer Gold Dot has been both accurate and effective, giving no feeding issues, and the terminal ballistics of the bullet leave little to be desired. For a cartridge the likes of the 380 Auto, this bullet will make it that much more effective.
Hornady American Gunner with XTP bullet: Hornady’s XTP (eXtreme Terminal Performance) bullet has long
been a favorite of mine, as I’ve been loading that projectile in component form for well over two decades. The American Gunner line features a .380 Auto load with the 90-grain XTP, with its jacket rolled over the edges of the core at the mouth of the hollowpoint so no lead is exposed until expansion. The XTP is loaded to a muzzle velocity of 1,000 fps, in reloadable brass cases. Like so many premium projectiles, you can expect high weight retention and
The XTP is a cupand-core hollowpoint with a sound reputation for reliable performance. (HORNADY)
The Hornady XTP shown in section; note the thick jacket and deep cannelure which locks it into the lead core. (HORNADY)
Cutting Edge Bullets’ PHD line features their Handgun Raptor, engineered to segment upon impact.
BULLET BULLETIN
The Handgun Raptor shown in component form and recovered from ballistic gelatin. Note the blades that break off for a wide trauma cavity upon entry, and the base that gives the penetration.
proper penetration from the XTP. Cutting Edge Bullets Handgun Raptor: For the monometal crowd, Cutting Edge Bullets offers their Handgun Raptor bullet in the PHD (Personal Home Defense) ammunition line. Perhaps the most unique bullet design of the bunch, the Handgun Raptor is purposefully designed to break into pieces. The skived copper walls of the hollowpoint break off into blades after 2 inches or so of penetration, giving a star-like pattern of tissue damage, while the base of the projectile continues in a straight line, penetrating deeply into vital tissue. CEB loads the 75-grain Handgun Raptor to a muzzle velocity of 950 fps; if you appreciate new projectile technology, this bullet should appeal to you.
Federal Hydra-Shok Deep: As if the Hydra-Shok – that excellent softpoint projectile that uses a center post to prevent plugging and assure reliable expansion in myriad situations –weren’t a fantastic bullet to begin with, Federal’s engineers made some design tweaks to see the bullet deliver the desired penetration qualities. The FBI testing requires 12 inches of penetration, and in the .380 Auto, that
dimension is achieved. The 99-grain Hydra-Shok Deep leaves the muzzle at 975 fps, generating 209 foot-pounds of energy, and the nasty little hollowpoint is loaded into nickel-plated cases for corrosion resistance. To maximize the capabilities of the low-recoiling, mildreporting .380 Auto, you could do much worse than choosing the Hydra-Shok Deep. It’s one helluva defensive bullet.
WHETHER YOU CALL it the .380 ACP, .380 Auto, 9mm Kurz, 9mm Corto, 9mm Browning, 9mm Browning Short, or 9x17mm, this little cartridge comes with a lineage and pedigree that is undeniable. Though it isn’t a powerhouse by modern definitions, the .380 Auto definitely possesses the capability of stopping an assailant, and with proper shooting will get you and yours to safety. It makes a great choice for home defense – where over-penetration is an undesirable characteristic – as it gives that “just right” blend that Goldilocks was so fond of.
Claiming well over a century of service, the .380 Auto – like so many of John Moses Browning’s designs –remains a viable choice, and is one that won’t be fading away anytime soon. ★
While the .380 Auto was introduced almost 120 years ago, it still makes for a good, lowrecoiling choice for compact handguns.
The Federal Hydra-Shok Deep expanded. (FEDERAL PREMIUM)
Self-Defense TRAINING
ALWAYS BE PREPARED FOR DEADLY-FORCE ENCOUNTERS
Practice makes perfect when it comes to defending yourself from an armed attacker.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY PAUL PAWELA
have stated many times in the pages of this very magazine that when faced with a physical confrontation, you had better have weapons on your person – whether they are guns or knives, or both – you should be effective
Iwith those weapons, and you should be prepared for the lethality that follows. The purpose of trying to motivate individuals to develop selfdefense skills is to imbue them with the confidence to use said skills if necessary. An individual who is not motivated at all will not practice, and little or no learning will result in disaster. A motivated individual
A chart denotes lethal stabbing or shooting points of the body.
Always train the way you fight, and always use safe training aids. Here, author Paul Pawela (left) uses a Bastinelli Creations Push Dagger Trainer – he carries a real one at various times – while his opponent, playing the role of the attacker, uses a SIRT Training gun.
SELF-DEFENSE TRAINING
devotes significant effort to the task with more serious practice and more extended practice periods, leading to more effective learning to help with his/her survival skills.
The proven learning cycle begins with the need to learn, which motivates practice, creates competence and leads to confidence. In self-defense training, the skill may work fine in the static training environment, but the biggest question is whether that skill will work under the stress of a lethal confrontation. Violent encounters are generally conducted at very close distances, from within arm’s reach to 3 feet away.
Another valuable thing to remember is that human beings are creatures of habit. When faced with danger, they will do exactly what they have programmed themselves to do. Unfortunately, the person who never develops a plan to handle a dangerous situation will do nothing.
IN HIS EXCELLENT book, The Seven Strategies of Hand-to-Hand Combat, Ernest Emerson, considered one of the fathers of close-quarter fighting, states there are three laws of combat.
One is to control the distance, as he or she who controls distance controls the fight. This includes when to attack, when to disengage, and the choice of staying outside the effective range of the enemy weapons, within the effective range of the enemy weapons, and inside the effective range of the enemy weapons. You must be the one making the choices of controlling the distance between combatants, and as a result you are also working in a significant way to bring the second law into effect.
The opponent must react to you, not you to him. A person cannot react faster than another person can act, and controlling the distance is already a factor in forcing the opponent to respond to you. You have the upper hand as long as the bad guy is reacting to you. The key is to not allow your attacker to have time to act, but only
Response 2: hand immobilization attack, or HIA.
Photo 1) Attacker has the drop on defender, who can’t get to his primary weapon. Photos 2, 3 and 4) By utilizing the HIA technique in tying up the attacker, defender can go to a backup weapon, in this case a push dagger, and has several different options for where to strike the attacker’s body.
The scenario: An altercation with a neighbor makes a potentially deadly turn, which the author has many documented cases of.
Response 1: single direct attack, or SDA.
Photo 1) Attacker with a gun. Photo 2) What looks like a surrender position, but the defender is about to make his move.
Photo 3) Stepping to the side of the attacker and controlling their weapon. Photo 4) A shoot/don’t-shoot situation.
SELF-DEFENSE TRAINING
react. This holds true to the adage that the best defense is a good offense.
And third, destruction of the opponent must altogether remove the threat’s ability to harm you, your loved ones, or any innocents.
And Emerson says any technique should be fast and straightforward. It should work without modification to range application. In other words, the technique should work interchangeably for any type of attack using any weapon. It must be easy to learn and practice, and should put you in a position to follow up with more techniques. I could not agree more.
Further applying Emerson’s wisdom regarding incapacitating the offender, his strategies to disable the opponent are: the destruction of the opponent’s balance, the obstruction of airways or blood flow, the obstruction of vision, and structural damage or disruption of the nervous system. These strategies can be seen in the photographs accompanying this article and are further explained in the captions.
I WOULD BE remiss if I did not acknowledge my formal training in Bruce Lee’s jeet kune do, otherwise known as JKD. Modifying the art form from empty hands to the use of weapons such as knives or guns, below I explain the five pathways of JKD attack and where they coincide with weapons systems.
Single direct attack (SDA): Simply moving to an angle of the opponent’s body and delivering a devastating blow using empty hands or, in this case, with various weapons systems.
Hand immobilization attack (HIA): The moment that becomes available
times at different locations to the
the
Response 3: progressive indirect attack, or PIA.
Photos 1 and 2) The attacker holds the gun on defender. (Note: Getting off line of the attacker’s weapon and deflection is done simultaneously.)
Photo 3) The attacker assumes the defender is going to get shot in the head and starts to flinch.
Photo 4) That gives the defender a chance to change locations for a close-contact shot (note green dot on attacker’s shirt by his belly).
Response 4: attack by combination, or ABC. Photos 3, 4 and 5) In pretty much the same scenario setup as elsewhere here, the defender draws his backup weapon and uses it multiple
body, stabbing
throat, a thrusting stab to the kidney, and a final stab to the femoral artery.
SELF-DEFENSE TRAINING
where you can tie up your opponent’s hands or arms while leaving one of your hands free to strike your opponent. Simply put, you’re tying up your opponent’s limbs so your other free hand can use your weapon.
Progressive indirect attack (PIA): As the name implies, a progression of techniques that leads up to an attack directly on the intended target. This could be a fake of going to one target by deception, then switching to an alternate with just as much lethality.
Attack by combination (ABC): Utilizing multiple combinations of any part of the opponent’s body. While using a knife or firearm, this means multiple stabs or gunshots that can go to any angle of the opponent’s body, from high to middle to low, or vice versa – or any combination one can think of.
Attack by drawing (ABD): This tactic is used to set your opponent up for him to launch a predetermined attack or give your opponent what he thinks is an opening. Let’s say the opponent has the drop on you with his firearm. As a source of intimidation, they will try to push the gun in your face as close as possible. While your hands are up in the surrender position, you might fake a heart attack (your best acting is required for this) or pretend to see someone behind the attacker (Wild Bill Hickok used this very tactic to defeat a mounted opponent). As this is happening, you make your move and make a brutal counterattack!
These techniques aren’t complicated but must be practiced to be effective. As always, the author recommends training tools like SIRT guns; in this set of photos, a Bastinelli Creations Push Dagger Trainer was also used.
You have been gifted one life. Learn to defend it so you may live to fight for your loved ones. And that’s my two cents! ★
Editor’s note: Author Paul Pawela is a nationally recognized firearms and self-defense expert. For his realistic self-defense training, see assaultcountertactics.com.
Response 5: attack by drawing, or ABD. Photo 1) In this scenario, the attacker is lured in by the defender instead of trying to do a weapon disarm, which the author never advises. Instead, attack the entire body of assaulter. Photos 2 and 3) The defender deflects the attacker’s gun and immediately goes for a carotid artery. Photos 4 and 5) Now the defender has total control of the neck of the attacker and can easily manipulate the head to slam it into the wall of the building.
Q&A WITH MASSAD AYOOB
Longtime self-defense instructor on firearm training, situational awareness and avoiding conflict.
During my early days of training, I had the opportunity to meet and train with Massad Ayoob, a highly respected authority on the use of firearms and deadly force. As a martial artist, I believed that our training was incomplete without addressing firearms and the legal aspects of using deadly force. My journey led me to attend the Lethal Force Institute (LFI), and then completing LFI I, II and III during the 1980s. In more recent years, I reconnected with Ayoob and attended his MAG20 (a two-day, 20-hour course), MAG40 (four-day, 40-hour course) and the 40-hour MAG-DFI, or Deadly Force Instructor, course.
For some additional background on Ayoob, he has taught police techniques and civilian self-defense to both law enforcement officers and private citizens since 1974. He has also published thousands of articles in gun magazines, martial arts publications and law enforcement journals, and authored some 20 books on firearms, self-defense and related topics.
It was an honor to sit down and interview Ayoob, a mentor who has helped shape my understanding of selfdefense beyond martial arts.
Graciela Casillas Since the US Supreme
Court ruled that applicants for concealed carry permits no longer must provide a “proper cause” or specific need to carry, there has been a surge in CCW applications nationwide. Requirements typically include a 16hour course on firearm handling. Do you think this is sufficient training?
Massad Ayoob One can learn to handle a firearm safely in four to eight hours, but I prefer a minimum of 20 hours, which is how I structure my classes. However, it’s not fair to demand this from people who may need it most – those living in high-crime areas where police response
may be delayed. Beyond basic handling, understanding the legal aspects of selfdefense is critical. Books like my Deadly Force or Andrew Branca’s The Law of Self-Defense are good resources to supplement training.
GC What is the primary reason people seek out your training?
MA Some come due to a general fear of crime, while others have had a specific threat or incident that woke them up to the need for self-protection. It helps to know if they are high-risk individuals – stalking victims, high-value retailers,
STORY AND PHOTOS BY GRACIELA CASILLAS
Author Graciela Casillas and Massad Ayoob in Sacramento in 2021. Casillas trained with Ayoob in the 1980s and reconnected with him again for several training courses.
TACTICAL TRAINING
Uber or Lyft drivers – who realize they are regularly exposed to potential harm. Identifying their unique risks allows us to tailor training to their needs. Additionally, there are those who have never held a firearm before and want to ensure they learn the right way from the start. The common thread among all of them is the realization that their personal safety is their own responsibility.
GC Many people mistakenly believe that just owning a firearm makes them safer. Your thoughts?
MA The truth is, without proper training, a firearm can be a liability rather than an asset. Self-defense requires more than marksmanship; it requires judgment, awareness and an understanding of when force is justified. A lack of knowledge about state and local laws can turn a lawful defensive action into a legal nightmare. That’s why I encourage ongoing education beyond the minimum requirements.
GC So, you believe those who carry should continue training beyond the required course?
MA Absolutely. I’ve been training all my life and still take classes at other schools. Self-defense is a lifelong study, but the basics are accessible. State laws vary widely, and it’s crucial to know where you can and cannot carry. Handgunlaw.us is an excellent resource that I check before crossing state lines, since reciprocity agreements can change overnight. It’s the most up-todate of the different compendiums on the gun laws in the different states.
Ongoing training also helps maintain perishable skills. Shooting is not like riding a bike; if you don’t practice regularly, your proficiency declines. Handling high-stress situations also requires conditioning. When the adrenaline dumps and heart rate spikes, many people freeze or panic. Training under simulated stress helps override that instinct and ensures better decisionmaking under pressure.
GC Can someone who has never faced a violent encounter develop the mindset necessary to press the trigger in a deadly-force situation?
MA Yes, though belief systems play a role. While some faiths discourage violence, major religious texts all provide for the use of force to protect the innocent. The Bible, the Koran, the Book of Mormon – all have some provision for the use of deadly force to protect the innocent against evil. Shooting another human being is repulsive, violating both instinct and social conditioning. But in a do-or-die situation, survival takes precedence. When people say they’d rather die than kill an attacker, I ask, “What if that attacker were about to kill your child?” Almost always, the parental wolf instinct kicks in – they would fight. Then I ask, “What’s the difference between protecting your child and protecting yourself for your child’s sake?” If you die, the attacker now knows where you live. Almost
Ayoob demonstrates “tactical turtle,” shooting with the head in a down-and-forward position. He recently wrote that the derided technique “turns out to have a purpose for both competition and self-defense.” (MASSAD AYOOB)
TACTICAL TRAINING
all of us carry a wallet that has some state-mandated piece of ID that has our residential address on it, not a PO box. Almost all of us walk around carrying a key to our home. If we allow that man to kill us, he has a key to our house. He knows where that house is and we’re not going to be able to warn our family that he’s coming. And I remind them, that’s what you’re carrying the gun for. You have a responsibility to your family.
I carried a gun when my parents were alive to spare my parents the unnatural grief of having to bury a child. I carry it to be here to fulfill a covenant I made with another person that we’re going to grow old together and take care of each other. I carry that gun to fulfill my duty as a parent, even though my children are now adults, to be here for as long as I can to shepherd them through this unforgiving place. And in the end,
they must understand those are the stakes. That’s why we carry a gun.
John Hearne put it well: “It’s not about the odds, it’s about the stakes.”
It’s not about the likelihood on a given day that we’ll need the gun. It’s about the catastrophic nature of what will happen if we face death and don’t have the tool to get us away from it.
GC When training women, I emphasize finding their inner strength – the “lioness” within – to fight back. Loved ones can serve as an anchor when one feels like giving up. Beyond that, understanding the civil and legal consequences of lethal force is crucial.
MA Exactly. Lethal force isn’t used to protect property. You shoot an armed robber not for the money but because of the threat to your life. You shoot a rapist not because of the sexual assault but because of the violence that accompanies it.
GC What should a comprehensive selfdefense program include?
MA It should cover situational awareness; Colonel (Jeff) Cooper’s color codes are fundamental. Condition Yellow means relaxed alertness. Condition Red is when you’re actively dealing with a threat. Some trainers stop there, but I distinguish between Red and Black. Red is when you draw your firearm and take someone at gunpoint. Black is when you must pull the trigger. I’ve taken dozens at gunpoint but never had to shoot. If we fail to differentiate, we can’t defend our actions in court.
GC Some modern versions of the color code omit Condition Black, yet you still use it. Has the continuum changed?
MA I still use it, though some do not. Many see Red as the final stage, deciding whether to shoot. That’s flawed thinking. Law enforcement
Ayoob works with Casillas on the range in Idaho, circa 1980s.
TACTICAL TRAINING
and civilians alike must distinguish between taking someone at gunpoint and actually firing. Cooper refined the Marine Corps’ original five-color system down to four, but some of us – Ray Chapman, John Farnam and myself – went back to five. Some teach Condition Black as the final evolution, and that’s naked panic when you don’t know whether to sh*t or go blind. That infuriates me. To say that the natural continuum is to go from control of the situation to you lose your mind is really poor programming for self-defense. And it’s not the case. The people who panic are the people who don’t know how to fight, who don’t know how to deal with it.
GC Completing your Deadly Force Instructors course reminded me of how little the average individual knows of the civil and legal aspects of selfdefense. You have always emphasized the importance of understanding the law as it pertains to our right to employ lethal force when the situation warrants it.
MA Teaching conflict avoidance, firearm proficiency, legal knowledge and post-incident procedures is also paramount. Many people focus only on shooting but neglect the legal aftermath. A justifiable selfdefense shooting can still lead to criminal charges or civil lawsuits.
Understanding how to articulate your actions and handle interactions with law enforcement is critical … More than just knowing how to handle a firearm, people need to understand when to avoid trouble altogether. Avoidance is the first and best line of defense. A firearm is a tool of last resort. Part of our training involves recognizing pre-incident indicators – body language, behaviors and environmental cues that signal danger before it fully develops.
GC Some schools teach that you should never draw unless you intend to shoot. What are your thoughts?
MA That’s incredibly bad advice. Studies show that the overwhelming majority of defensive gun uses end without a shot fired. If a criminal realizes he could be shot and surrenders or flees, that’s a win. If you wait until the last second to draw, the attacker may have the drop on you. Getting your gun on him first gives you the advantage.
OUR CONVERSATION REINFORCED what I’ve always believed – training is not just about skill, but about cultivating awareness, responsibility and the mindset necessary to survive. Massad Ayoob’s decades of experience provide invaluable lessons for all who take self-defense seriously. His teachings remind us that it’s not about paranoia but preparation, and not about violence but vigilance. ★
Editor’s note: Author Graciela Casillas is a certified personal protection specialist who works as a staff instructor with Executive Security International bodyguard school (esibodyguardschool .com). She is also an advanced firearms trainer and has worked with many world-class firearms instructors. She has authored many articles on the subject for various publications and holds a bachelor’s degree in law and society, master’s degrees in education and physical education, and lifetime teaching credentials in psychology.
Ayoob demonstrates defensive tactics on the author during a Lethal Force Institute class, circa 1980s.
Podcaster Jenn Griff, angel to veterans, needs help now in her fight against liver disease.
CALL FOR PRAYERS
STORY BY PAUL PAWELA • PHOTOS BY JENN GRIFF
Long before the Shawn Ryan Show, a popular podcast that tells veterans’ stories and covers other newsworthy topics, there was Warrior Talk Radio. The podcast’s host was Jenn Griff, known to the radio world as GI Jenn. She came with beauty, poise and an attitude, which was good because she let nothing get in her way of getting veterans all the help they needed. That was her mission statement and one of her life’s worthy goals.
Warrior Talk Radio was one of the first military podcasts dedicated to active-duty military personnel, veterans, first responders and intelligence community members. The show ran for eight straight years and accomplished many milestones.
Jenn Griff.
Through her tireless work on her podcast, Jenn has done many exemplary things for veterans. For example, she has sent veterans fully funded airline tickets so they could go to the Texas Brain Institute for treatment. She also helped get genetic testing into the Phoenix VA to ensure veterans were able to get this service. She has helped multiple vets get their VA claims approved, even getting President Trump to approve specific claims on behalf of several Navy SEALs.
One of Jenn’s other accomplishments was partnering with ex-Delta Force member Tom Spooner to provide several special operations members with HBOT, or hyperbaric oxygen therapy, for traumatic brain injuries. Jenn has also volunteered for multiple peer support
networks for veterans at risk of suicide, enabling them and their families to get the support they need.
WHEN JENN GETS involved in any case, she is 100-percent committed and hates losing. Unfortunately, in life and death matters, sometimes death wins. Jenn has known countless veterans who have either died from their injuries or who have taken their own lives, and the emotional toll is devastating.
Jenn has spent untold hours on her hands and knees, praying for the brave families and the wounded warriors
to see them live life for another day. The emotion of these endeavors is so draining that sometimes the only thing to do is to pray – for the combat soldiers, for their families and for their support networks.
And Jenn, too, needs prayers to continue her righteous fight. In 2011, she was diagnosed with polycystic kidney and liver disease, a genetic disorder that affects over 500,000 Americans every year. The disease causes cysts to grow in one of her kidneys and other organs. It also causes high blood pressure pain and difficulty eating due to abdominal
fullness, which increases the size of the liver. Other complications of the disease include kidney infections, liver infections, kidney stones, headaches, aneurysms and fatigue.
The number of cysts on Jenn’s liver has caused it to increase in size and push vital organs like her heart to abnormal spaces in her body. If Jenn does not get a medical miracle, she will need a liver resection, which is the removal of half of her liver. This could also lead to a lifetime of dialysis and possibly kidney transplants as well.
In her lifetime, Jenn raised between $500,000 and $700,000 for
At a Wounded Warrior fundraiser.
Griff at the Military Special Operations Convention, otherwise known as SOF Week, with Medal of Honor recipient Mike Thornton.
With MOH recipient Tom Norris.
At a Joint Special Operations Command training event.
With Ranger Hall of Famer Max Mullen (left) and multiple mixed martial arts world champion Shannon Ritch.
Charity benefit for veterans with actor Dean Cain.
veteran’s charities and foundations. She also provided free advertising for veteran-owned businesses on her podcast. Now it’s time for the prayer warriors to answer the call to help, as both insurance and the VA have denied her. Jenn needs both prayers and financial help.
Jenn is a proud woman; she would never ask for help publicly, so I will do so on her behalf. For the first time in my 35-plus years in the writing business, I am asking all of you to help save this young lady’s life. If you are able, please donate to Jenn’s GoFundMe at gofund .me/4b369b97. ★
Getting in some longdistance training.
“The Gunny,” the late legend R. Lee Ermey.
Griff with famed Navy SEAL Jason Redman.
Author Paul Pawela, Griff and Marcinko.
One of Griff’s best/favorite buddies, the late, great SEAL Team 6 legend Ron Bellan.
Mullen, the late Richard Marcinko, founder of SEAL Team 6 and Red Cell, Griff and Ranger Hall of Famer Gary O’Neal.
Griff’s father, who served in the Army.
Another Wounded Warrior charity event.
With an active duty Delta Force member, which is why his face is blurred out.
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KNIVES OF ALASKA
knivesofalaska.com
The Strike Force is an automatic knife built for everyday cutting tasks. This knife is crafted from MagnaCut steel, specifically engineered for knives. MagnaCut combines advanced edge retention, toughness and corrosion resistance, setting a new standard in knife performance. Deploy the blade quickly and conveniently with one hand, ideal for situations where speed is critical. A positive safety lock ensures the blade stays securely locked when closed to prevent accidental opening. Strike Force has an 8-inch open length, 4.65-inch closed length, and weighs 3.1 ounces for comfortable everyday carry. The G10 handle is CNC precision radius-finished for a comfortable grip, even during prolonged use.
EBONEX CORPORATION
ebonex.com
Gunsmithing is an art that has been passed down through generations, demanding the best material and craftmanship. Ebonex is a family company with four generations of experience in supplying those demands with high-quality bone charcoal. They understand and appreciate the commitment to keeping traditions alive. Contact Ebonex today, and they will be happy to play a part in your masterpiece.
C. SHARPS ARMS CO. INC.
csharpsarms.com
In commemoration of their 50th anniversary, C. Sharps Arms Company is offering 50 First Sergeant Ryan Limited Edition rifles. Each rifle consists of a New Model 1874 Hartford Sporting Rifle, chambered in .45-70, complete with 30-inch No. 1½ heart octagon barrel with Hartford collar. The barrel is finished with a rust blue, the receiver –complete with double set triggers – has been pack-hardened, and the hardware has been flame blued. The stock is straight-grain American walnut with Hartford nose cap and military-style steel butt plate. The rifle is equipped with Malcolm-style telescopic sight, all as depicted in Ralph Heinz’s First Sergeant Ryan painting. The rifles have unique serial numbers designating them as limited-edition rifles, 1SGT-1 through 50, and also include period First Sergeant bars engraved on the right flat. The rifles are matched to a Heinz signed and coserialized 20-inch-by-24-inch studioquality lithograph of First Sergeant Ryan, along with signed certificate of authenticity.
BUFFALO ARMS
buffaloarms.com
Durable, these new sight insert caddies are designed for outdoor enthusiasts and professionals who require reliable storage for their sight inserts. The waterproof and airtight features ensure that your equipment stays safe and functional in various weather conditions, making them ideal for hunting, shooting and other outdoor activities.
The caddy that holds 18 sight inserts uses a magnetic system, allowing for quick access and secure storage, while the vertical stacking design of the 80-sight insert caddy maximizes space without compromising on protection. Both options are lightweight, ensuring they won’t add unnecessary bulk to your gear.
These products reflect Buffalo Arms Company’s commitment to quality and innovation, providing users with practical solutions for their sight storage needs. Whether you’re a competitive shooter or a casual enthusiast, these caddies are poised to enhance your experience in the field.
OCTOBER COUNTRY MUZZLELOADING
octobercountry.com
Back in 1977 when the company was in its infancy, October Country Muzzleloading was a hunting bag. One product. Today, the northern Idaho-based outfit offers a complete and thorough line of muzzleloaders and muzzleloading accessories, including ramrods, Pushing Daisies patches, Blue Thunder solvent, Bumblin’ Bear Grease, quality leather shooting bags, powder horns and hand-forged shooting tools. All exceptional quality goods for the hunter, shooter, collector and history reenactor enthusiast. October Country products are made in the USA, and are designed and manufactured for muzzleloading, cowboy action and black powder cartridge shooters.
Product Showcase
DEVIL DOG CONCEPTS
devildogconcepts.com
Not all charging handles were created equal! Side charging is just more beneficial in nearly every facet of shooting, from ergonomics to gross motor skills to firearms control and much more. The problem? The cost of buying a new rifle with a built-in side charger, or having the know-how to rebuild your rifle or the machinist skills to install a dedicated side charger. Not anymore! With the Side Charging Handle from Devil Dog Concepts, you can turn your AR-15 or AR-10 into a side charger quickly and easily, with no modification and no machining. Get all the benefits of a side charger, plus even more!
CLINGER HOLSTERS
clingerholsters.com
Get ready for a game changer in your everyday carry! Clinger Holsters will be unveiling a groundbreaking upgrade to its trusted Gear Holster. The adjustable clip now offers precise 10-degree cant angle increments, letting you lock in your perfect carry angle with ease. Plus, the brand-new Clinger Claw attachment takes comfort and concealment to the next level by drawing your firearm snug against your body. These combined enhancements deliver an unparalleled fit, feel and customization. If you’re ready to step up your concealed carry, don’t miss the all-new Gear Holster. Discover why so many rely on Clinger Holsters for true peace of mind.
B&T INDUSTRIES, LLC
accu-shot.com
Established in 2000, B&T Industries LLC is a small American business located in Wichita, Kansas. They have designed, engineered, manufactured and assembled support products for precision rifles for over 25 years. Their flagship products, the Atlas Bipod and Accu-Shot Monopod, are trusted by military, law enforcement and civilian marksmen around the world. They have blazed a trail of patented features, proving the best function, performance and reliability over time and under recoil. Engineered to maximize their strengthto-weight ratio, B&T Industries’ products deliver solid support with intentional versatility adaptable to static and dynamic environments. Proudly made in the USA.
EXODUS GUNLEATHER
exodusgunleather.com
At Exodus Gunleather, they craft premium custom holsters using top-quality horse hide and exotic leathers for unmatched style, comfort and durability. Each holster is handcrafted with precision, ensuring that perfect fit with superior retention for your firearm. Their expert craftsmanship highlights the beauty and durability of exotic materials like shark, Cape buffalo, giraffe and elephant. Experience the perfect blend of tradition, innovation and elegance in every holster Exodus Gunleather creates.
EVOLUTION GUN WORKS
egwguns.com
Mount a red dot sight directly to your scope tube – no offsets, no compromises. The EGW Piggyback System fits 1-inch, 30mm and 34mm tubes and is fully compatible with their Keystone Rings. Perfect for close-range shots without losing magnified capability, it includes a ring and top plate that fits popular red dot footprints like the Trijicon RMR, Holosun and many more. Ideal for hunting, tactical and competitive use. Lightweight, low-profile and proudly made in the USA. Add versatility to your setup – order the EGW Piggyback System today!
GEAR FOR PATRIOTS
gearforpatriots.com
Using the highest quality leathers and exotics, Gear For Patriots handcrafts holsters, magazine holders, belts, wallets and other accessories. All your gear is custom, made to order in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. They take pride crafting gear for patriots by patriots. For more information, visit the website or email info@gearforpatriots.com.
HYPERION MUNITIONS
hyperionmunitions.com/decima
Hyperion Munitions is the exclusive US distributor of Decima firearms, bringing Nicola Bandini’s legendary craftsmanship to American shooters. A world-renowned innovator, Bandini revolutionized the industry with the Double Barrel 1911 and Strike One. As a leading distributor of elite firearms and premium ammunition, Hyperion ensures dealers and enthusiasts access to world-class products backed by industry-leading support.
Now, Hyperion and Decima take center stage on the Surviving Mann TV show, where viewers will witness the performance, precision and reliability of their ammo and Decima’s groundbreaking firearms. Don’t miss this exclusive showcase. Experience the innovation, precision and legacy that only Hyperion and Decima deliver!
ULTIMAK, INC.
ultimak.com
The UltiMAK AK optic mount system is legendary for its rock-solid stability, and for offering the lowest rail height, which allows for co-witnessing with some optics. There are several models to cover a wide variety of AK types and configurations. The model M2-B, pictured here, is the most versatile of their AK mounts. If you have a standard-length, standard-barrel AKM, with or without a ported gas chamber, then your AK can use the UltiMAK M2-B. Update your AK to the 21st century with an UltiMAK mount and a quality red dot sight. Also supports the M1 Garand, M14/M1A, Mini14 and 30, and M1 .30 Carbine.
Product Showcase
PEET DRYER
peetdryer.com
Peet, the original shoe dryer company, proudly presents the Peet Power Dryer Plus. This fan-driven travel dryer draws in outside air and channels it through its patented base, delivering warm air directly to the footbed for fast, efficient drying. Lightweight, compact and perfect for travel, it operates effortlessly with a 110 to 120V power source. Now available –ask your local dealer to get yours today!
IOSSO PRODUCTS
iosso.com
Iosso Case Polish works with tumbling media to reduce tumbling time and gives brass casings a like-new finish. It removes powder fouling, residue, oxidation, tarnish and discoloration. It brings casings to a high luster and protects casings from tarnishing.
Environmentally friendly, user-friendly, and great for users with allergies, as the USDA-certified bio-based formula has no odor.
Available in a variety of sizes in their signature cobalt blue bottles. Suggested retail for the 8-ounce bottle is $13.50; quarts are $35.95. Available in larger sizes from 1 gallon up to 55 gallons. For further information, call 888-7474332 or visit the website.
ELECTRONIC TRANSFER, INC.
electronictransfer.com
Electronic Transfer, Inc. is the nation’s largest outdoor sports credit card processor, specializing in FFL and ammo dealers nationwide. With 35 years of experience, they understand the unique needs of the firearms industry. Their services are integrated with GunBroker and many other platforms, ensuring seamless transactions for both buyers and sellers. This integration not only simplifies the buying process but also enhances security and compliance. The company prides itself on offering the best customer service and pricing in the market. Whether you’re a small local gun shop or a large-scale distributor, their tailored solutions ensure efficiency, reliability and growth for your business.
TRUE BLUE GUN LUBRICANTS
truebluegunlube.com
True Blue has the most unique and comprehensive firearms care products on the market. Proven lubricants. Smarter application devices. Suppressor care. Their Suppressor Syrup is the only product of its kind in the industry. Test. Prove. Trusted.
ANNEAL-RITE
cartridgeanneal.com
Why anneal brass cartridges’ case necks? Without annealing, brass cases begin failing after five to seven firings with cracked necks. It is well documented that correct brass case neck annealing increases accuracy and lengthens case life.
Anneal-Rite guarantees perfect results. Temperature control is provided with a bottle of 750 degrees Fahrenheit Tempilaq Heat Indicating Fluid. Anneal at a rate of up to 1,600 cases per hour, much faster than the induction unit and at a fraction of its price.
