Kyle Lamb has long been a man of action. Paul Pawela highlights Lamb’s service as a Delta Force operator, which included being awarded the Silver Star, to today owning and operating Viking Tactics with his wife, Melynda, and being known as a world-class firearms trainer. (LUKAS LAMB)
FEATURES
23 TACTICAL TRAINING: THE GUARDIAN’S MIND, REWIRED (PART II)
“You’re carrying the weight of someone else’s life. But they’ll never feel it. And that’s the point.” So states one of the instructors in Executive Security International’s dynamic Protective Security Detail course. Graciela Casillas shares lessons from the 18-day class graduates use to keep principals safe.
29 SHARPER SHOOTING: A GOOD PLACE TO START (AND IMPROVE!)
The Civilian Marksmanship Program’s Rimfire Sporter competition will make you a better shot. John Hawes’s journey in the program began with a local club match, but soon found him jumping into CMP’s national championship. He shares how easy it is to begin competing and the benefits therein.
39 R OAD HUNTER: JUMP-START YOUR ELK SEASON
With elk season straight ahead, now’s the time to be out scouting, sorting out your hunting gear and getting in shape for fall. Scott Haugen shares his expert game plan for tagging out on one of North America’s most iconic big game species.
45 BULLE T BULLETIN: THE GREAT PARTITION
It’s the “golden age of projectiles,” Phil Massaro admits, but he’s still drawn to John Nosler’s classic design born out of an unsatisfying 1940s moose hunt. He shares how the Nosler Partition remains a great bullet for the serious big game hunter looking for expansion and penetration.
66 R OAD TRIP! THE PAWELAS’ SUMMER VACATION
What do Deadwood, South Dakota, various Pony Express stops and the sites of Wild Bill Hickok’s first gunfight and death have in common?
Paul Pawela recounts he and his wife’s 5,000-mile journey looking for America through the eyes of Western pioneers, cowboys and gunfighters.
73 L AW ENFORCEMENT
SPOTLIGHT: A WILD WEST NAME TO REMEMBER
Born into slavery, Bass Reeves spent much of his life in and around the Oklahoma Territory, where he would go on to be one of the first African American deputy US Marshals west of the Mississippi River. Relive the life of this remarkable man who brought thousands of criminals to justice.
76 THE TOWNSFOLK WHO STOOD UP TO OUTLAWS
The James-Younger gang thought the First National Bank would be a pushover when they rode into Northfield, Minnesota, that fateful day in 1876. Learn how ordinary citizens helped put an end to one of the most violent terrorist gangs of their time.
99 BL ACK POWDER: FROM THE BONES OF BISON
Back in the day, gunmakers used bone charcoal made from the skeletons of Great Plains bison to give firearms’ metal surfaces unique coloring, but today casehardening is done a little differently. Mike Nesbitt takes a look at the process with a little help from friends at the Ebonex Corporation and C. Sharps Arms.
COVER STORY
KYLE LAMB: MAN OF ACTION
Longtime Delta Force operator who was decorated for his role in the Battle of Mogadishu. Viking Tactics owner. Worldclass firearms trainer. Author. Those are just a few of the titles Kyle Lamb carries. Paul Pawela shares his story.
(LUKAS LAMB)
35 M AKING THE CUT: HOW TACTICAL ANATOMY INSTRUCTORS MAKE THE CUT
Among our knife column’s goals is to introduce you to blade experts, and this issue we chat up Chuck Haggard and Shane Kerwin. Find out what these Tactical Anatomy Summit instructors run as their everyday carry knives.
52 S TACCATO HD P4
Just as with Ruger, Staccato has come out with a handgun that accepts Glock magazines, the HD P4. So how does this 2011-style 9mm perform? Nick Perna recently put one through its paces and reports back on the spendy but worthwhile sidearm.
86 3 LEVER-ACTION CARBINES
Frank Jardim makes the case for .357 Magnum lever guns for plinking and self-defense through the lens of a review of three pistol-caliber carbines – the Cimarron Firearms John Russell Model 1873, Heritage Firearms M92 Carbine and GForce Saddlehorn LTAC 357.
59 ‘PRACTICAL, PURPOSE-DRIVEN DESIGNS’
What began as a side project for Indiana craftsman Andrew Henry has turned into Henry Holsters, a full-time endeavor driven by innovative processes and products. We check in on how Henry uses CNC machining and vacuum forming to produce multiple holster lines.
82 PASSPORT TO WONDER
Get your trigger finger ready – for your camera, that is! Aggressor Adventures shares details about its new lodge in Chiang Mai, a home base for travelers looking to immerse themselves in northern Thailand’s rich culture and which features the company’s signature amenities.
104 A BETTER BOOM FOR YOUR BUCK
No, Jason Brooks wasn’t looking for an exploding target for a gender reveal, he’s just a fan of seeing and hearing things go boom. That’s why he found himself on the range with Firebird Targets’ bull’s-eyes. He shares his review of the reactive, biodegradable targets that require no mixing.
(FRANK JARDIM)
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KYLE LAMB
Meet the longtime Delta Force operator and current Viking Tactics owner and world-class firearms trainer.
The Combat Applications Group, Task Force Green, 1st SFOD-D, Army Compartmented Element – these are all given names to the US Army’s most elite counterterrorist unit, comprising the world’s greatest warriors, better known as Delta Force.
Loosely modeled after the organized structure of the British 22nd Special Air Service Regiment, Delta Force has a four-man team as its smallest unit. Four or five teams, along with a small headquarters element, make up a troop. Two troops – an assault troop and a sniper troop – form a squadron.
Delta Force operators are highly skilled soldiers specializing in reconnaissance, climbing, rappelling, rigging, explosives and tactical breaching. They are elite soldiers capable of infiltrating enemy territory, blending in, working with local citizens, sabotaging enemy installations, disrupting enemy operations, gathering intelligence, and, if needed, assassinating enemy leaders.
They are also the best tactical shooters in the world. A Delta Force operator will shoot around 200,000 rounds a year in handgun ammunition alone; this does not account for shotgun ammunition, rifle ammunition or any other type of weapon systems that they may use in performing their duties.
It is said that what makes the men of Delta Force larger than life are their hearts, minds, belief in the American way of life and dedication to preserving it. The operators tend to be predominantly conservative men who put God, country and family first. They are motivated by the glory of combat, unafraid to fight and eager to go into battle because they are empowered by righteousness, courage, training and honor.
STORY BY PAUL PAWELA • PHOTOS BY LUKAS LAMB
Retired US Army Sergeant Major Kyle Lamb.
DELTA FORCE USUALLY recruits from the military’s top combat units, like the Rangers and Special Forces, members of which have already undergone some of the most physically demanding and rigorous training in their fields.
Delta Force always selects the best of the best in their military field. To become an operator, one first has to pass several demanding physical training tests within a set time limit. Some examples include a 40-yard inverted crawl in 25 seconds, 37 situps and 33 push-ups each within a minute, a 2-mile run in no more than 16 minutes and 30 seconds, and a 100-meter lake swim fully dressed, including wearing jump boots.
After passing these tests, potential recruits enter the “stress phase,” where they are required to endure long forced marches over rough terrain against the clock. The march is estimated to cover between 40 to 45 miles in 24 hours, with the potential candidate wearing a rucksack weighing an estimated 55 pounds.
The mental aspect of this challenge is that while the candidates know there is a time limit, they do not know what it is. Each individual has to push himself as hard and as long as he can. Delta is looking for men who can tap into qualities they barely know they possess, similar to a marathoner hitting the wall when they’re burned out and have nothing left, yet continue to push themselves, testing their willpower. This is what selection is all about.
If the potential operator passes the stress phase, they will then undergo an intense psychological exam and a grueling question-and-answer session lasting hours with senior members of the unit.
Selected recruits then are sent to an Operator Training Course, which is a six-month program that offers the most comprehensive and in-depth instruction of its kind, developing
Lamb while serving overseas. (KYLE LAMB)
Since retiring from military service, Lamb has become a legend in the tactical and firearms training world.
Lamb and his wife Melynda founded Viking Tactics, a top-tier firearms training organization known for its high quality and innovative instruction.
skills to make the best counterterrorist fighters on the face of the Earth.
It is said that an individual has a better chance of making it into the National Football League than into Delta Force. It has also been claimed that members of Delta Force are Olympic combat athletes.
NOW IMAGINE, IF you can, climbing the ladder in Delta Force: becoming an assault team leader, a sniper team leader, a troop sergeant major, a combat development sergeant major, and a task force sergeant major.
That is exactly what retired Sergeant Major Kyle Lamb did throughout his career. Lamb served for more than 21 years in the United States Army, including 15 years with Delta Force.
While on active duty, Lamb took part in combat operations across multiple theaters, such as Desert Storm, Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan and others. However, he received numerous awards and decorations, including the Silver Star, for his role in the Battle of Mogadishu, which later inspired the bestselling book and movie Black Hawk Down.
Lamb was a member of C Squadron. I have had many mentors who have been with Delta Force, but the men from C Squadron hold a very special place in my heart.
Like many of his fellow Delta Force operators, Lamb is a very normal, down-to-earth man devoid of ego. Lamb has nothing to prove because he’s a been-there-donethat kind of man; however, he is incredibly kind to everyone he interacts with. He is a devoted husband and a role model father –the kind of father his father was.
Lamb is also an author, and I strongly recommend his books, Stay in the Fight!! Warriors Guide to the Combat Pistol and Green Eyes & Black Rifles: Warriors Guide to the Combat Carbine. There are many excellent books on shooting pistols and rifles, but you can save a lot of money by simply buying these two books.
Lamb has always been a passionate hunter, competitive shooter and firearms instructor. After retiring from service, he and his wife
Melynda Lamb founded Viking Tactics (vikingtactics.com), a top-tier firearms training organization known for its high quality and innovative instruction. VTAC also produces innovative gear, including one of the top tactical slings for AR rifles on the market, the Viking Tactics Sling.
AS A WORLD-CLASS firearms trainer, author, guest lecturer and equipment innovator, Lamb is a giant in the shooting industry in every capacity. He also gives back to the community, as he and his wife are founders of the veterans nonprofit group Stay in the Fight Foundation. Its mission is to deliver time-sensitive funding for assistance with food, clothing, shelter or healthcare needs to individuals facing unexpected crises.
Kyle Lamb is a highly compassionate individual, a man of God, and it’s evident in every area where he dedicates his efforts. He is a role model of the highest standards.
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.
Tim Harmsen of the Military Arms Channel and host for American Stories’ Wild Shots, author Paul Pawela and Lamb. (PAUL PAWELA)
Lamb and Melynda. (PAUL PAWELA)
Lamb is also passionate about hunting. (KYLE LAMB)
TRAINING
THE GUARDIAN’S MIND, REWIRED (PART II)
A deep dive into Executive Security International’s dynamic Protective Security Detail course.
Some arrive fresh from deployments. Others have never worn a uniform. It doesn’t matter. What matters is who’s willing to show up, stay coachable and learn to think like a protector. At Executive Security International in Colorado, students enrolled in the Protective Security Detail course are challenged to let go of
what they think they know about security work. Here, everyone starts at zero.
Led by Marine Corps veterans Aaron Mauldin and Jim Wenzel, the PSD course is a reset. Not just for combat vets transitioning to private security, but for anyone serious about acquiring realworld protective skills. You don’t have to be battle-tested to train like someone who is. And you don’t need overseas contracts lined up to justify wanting the skills that might save lives – your own or that of someone under your protection.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY GRACIELA CASILLAS
Instructor Jim Wenzel coaches US Army veteran Logan Bellard during an end-of-day challenge where students have one shot to hit a 150-meter target in a standing shooting position after a long day of drilling.
“You’re carrying the weight of someone else’s life,” says instructor Aaron Mauldin. “But they’ll never feel it. And that’s the point.”
TACTICAL TRAINING
FROM COMBAT TO CURRICULUM
Mauldin’s experience reaches far beyond instruction. He’s walked the roads of Pakistan, Eastern Europe, North Africa, Mexico City and Honduras. He’s protected diplomats and corporate executives in volatile regions. He helped launch ESI’s Covert Protection program and later contracted to support NASA’s international launch operations. As High Value Asset Program manager, he coordinated security for missions in Russia, Kazakhstan, India and French Guiana, serving as a liaison to the Pentagon for international arms compliance.
“Most people assume they’re ready for this kind of work because they’ve served or trained with a firearm,” Mauldin explains. “But this environment requires a different mindset. It’s not about engaging threats; it’s about keeping them from happening in the first place.”
The work required more than tactics. It demanded meticulous planning, cross-cultural awareness and the ability to remain calm in environments where a wrong move could trigger international consequences. These hard-won lessons shape the PSD course at ESI.
Wenzel brings a similarly robust background. A former Marine with decades of private and federal experience, his résumé includes managing security at nuclear facilities,
conducting disaster relief operations with FEMA, and serving as a project manager for high-risk global operations. He has served as an instructor for the Department of State’s Worldwide Protective Services program and is a certified instructor in multiple tactical disciplines. His training methodologies integrate both high-threat firearms instruction and scenario-based protection protocols that mirror realworld demands.
“Everything starts from day one,” Wenzel says. “This isn’t one of those courses where you sit and listen to lectures. The minute you enter the classroom, you’re treated like you’re part of an operational team. Everyone is assessing each other; not just learning information but learning how to assess teammates for competence, consistency and composure.”
PSD is a primer course to prepare everyone for the selection process for the US State Department. The goal is to prepare them to be ahead of other applicants for the hiring and vetting process. According to Mauldin, PSD is ESI’s Executive Protection course on steroids. Approximately 90 percent of the students have gone through the 28-day EP course, which makes it a seamless transition.
A DAY IN THE LIFE
Each day in the PSD program is a full operation. Movement starts at the hotel.
Bellard engages targets during bounding and maneuvering drills.
Navy vet Zach Cloverfield provides cover fire during bounding and maneuver drills with downed vehicles. Bounding is a tactic where two (or more) teams alternate their movements, with one providing cover for those who are in motion.
During an “attack on principal” drill, students need to cover and evacuate the principal and move them to a hardpoint.
Students rotate roles: One plans the route, another handles advance, another commands the detail. No one repeats the same task. Every movement is rehearsed as if the principal’s life is on the line. Range work is just as demanding. Students shoot pistol and rifle daily. Drills are designed to build muscle memory under pressure. Mauldin structures the training around the US State Department’s pistol and rifle qualification standards. Many students arrive strong on rifles, weak on handguns. That gap doesn’t last. Wenzel emphasizes that even small lapses are unacceptable. “One student kept treating the blue training gun like a toy, bouncing it off his foot. I pulled him out. If you can’t handle the basics with discipline, you’re a liability,” he says. “We train with redundancy so that under stress, when your brain can only access three responses, they’re the right ones.” The course pushes them hard. It’s 18 days of high-threat firearms, motorcade operations and detail planning, supported by combatives, surveillance detection and operational leadership. What separates this course from others is the integration of all these skills under pressure.
PRACTICAL SCENARIOS, REAL-WORLD LESSONS
Planning is central. One exercise has students map a high-risk travel route Mauldin ran from Islamabad, Pakistan, to Jalalabad, Afghanistan. The route goes through Khyber Pass,
which was extremely volatile and dangerous. They must plan three viable options and brief them in full detail: terrain, alternate routes and risk factors including conducting research on the principal. It’s not academic. It’s survival.
Students also run full site surveys and advances. They execute operational planning under stress. When things go wrong, and they do, it becomes a lesson. During one rotation, students struggled with strong and weak side drops. Mauldin dedicated the entire day until they locked it in.
Instructors regularly simulate realworld dilemmas: vehicle breakdowns, sudden changes to principal movement and live reaction drills. Mauldin tests adaptability by pulling students from formations midoperation. Wenzel challenges students to recognize when a teammate is unfit for the mission. “If someone’s off their game – bad news from home, emotional stress – we pull them out. In the field, you don’t get a second chance.”
URBAN TRADECRAFT AND CULTURAL AWARENESS
Tradecraft extends beyond tactics. Students are expected to adapt culturally. Whether ditching their ball caps for local soccer jerseys and track suits or learning to drive a stick shift for work in foreign countries, every detail matters. “In French Guiana, 99 percent of our vehicles were manual,”
Army vet Beckett provides cover for team members who are bounding back to vehicles to disengage from a threat.
TACTICAL TRAINING
Mauldin recalls. “We had two new contractors who couldn’t drive stick. That became a mission liability.”
“Soft skills are nonnegotiable,” Wenzel adds. “You’re not just moving through terrain. You’re managing tension, talking to clients and reading every room you enter.”
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL SHIFT
Veterans accustomed to aggressive postures must recalibrate. Anticipation now replaces reaction. Students are evaluated not only for physical ability
but emotional resilience. “We look for emotional composure, humility and a willingness to learn,” Wenzel says. “The ego gets shelved. Leadership in PSD isn’t about barking orders. It’s knowing when to lead, when to follow and when to get out of the way.”
The course forces students to internalize fundamental psychological lessons: adaptability, self-awareness and self-regulation. “We teach students to know themselves under stress,” Wenzel explains. “That’s how they learn to make hard calls in silence.”
LAYERS OF RISK
The curriculum dives deep into multidimensional risk analysis. Students are taught to look beyond the physical. Every movement carries strategic, reputational and operational risks.
“We don’t just protect people. We protect everything attached to them,” Mauldin says. They apply risk analysis frameworks that factor in financial, strategic and emotional consequences. One wrong decision doesn’t just compromise the client – it can dismantle a company’s reputation, impact diplomatic relationships or affect the long-term careers of everyone on the team.
DECISION-MAKING UNDER PRESSURE
Shoot/no-shoot drills are built into the training. But the emphasis isn’t on trigger speed, it’s on judgment. Students are taught to weigh the consequences of force – not just legally, but morally and operationally.
Wenzel integrates soft skills into every exercise. “You’re not just shooting. You’re talking to a principal under stress. You’re not just driving. You’re navigating hostile terrain and communicating with your team.”
“Hick’s Law tells us the brain can only recall three things under stress,” Wenzel
Students learn how to walk in various formations so as to provide 360-degree security coverage while maintaining the pace of the principal. Demonstrated here is an extended diamond formation.
US Army vet Kameron Stewart learns the difference between traditional close-quarters battle tactics and establishing a foothold and hardpoint during attack- on-principal drills.
explains. “That’s why we emphasize repetition and simple commands: set, moving, move. It’s not just muscle memory – it’s mission memory.”
ACCOUNTABILITY AND EVALUATION
According to Mauldin, evaluation happens daily. Through critical task evaluations, or CTEs, instructors monitor every student’s mindset, tactical ability, retention and leadership. “Skillsets can be taught. Attitude and character cannot,” Wenzel states. “We’re training people to self-assess, to admit when they’re not OK and to operate with integrity under pressure.”
Students conduct operational briefs, choose their own teams and are responsible for peer evaluations. If someone isn’t ready, they don’t go out. It’s a lesson in humility, accountability and leadership.
WHO SHOWS UP
Students vary in age, experience
and background. Many are military veterans. Some served in combat. Others are new to the field. Several have never deployed but still want to serve a larger purpose. And there are those who simply want to become harder targets themselves. The program makes room for all.
But by the end of the course, graduates walk away with more than skills. They walk away with a new lens. They move with purpose, plan with precision and speak only when it matters. Success in personal protection is invisible. The client gets home safely. No one notices the security detail. The threat that could have been never materializes.
“You’re carrying the weight of someone else’s life,” Mauldin says. “But they’ll never feel it. And that’s the point.”
A MIND REWIRED
This is not training for those chasing action. It’s training for those who
value prevention. Students leave recalibrated. They don’t need recognition. They need results. The guardian’s mind isn’t built on adrenaline. It’s built on discipline. On forethought. On humility. It’s knowing when to act and knowing when not to. That’s what the PSD course delivers. And that’s what its students carry with them, long after the final debrief. ★
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.
Ron Spada at 503-539-5396 with any questions or to set up a time to tour the club. siducks.com
sharper shootING
A GOOD PLACE TO START (AND IMPROVE!)
The
Civilian Marksmanship Program’s Rimfire Sporter
STORY AND PHOTOS BY JOHN HAWES
he Civilian Marksmanship Program’s Rimfire Sporter discipline is not only the perfect shooting sport to get first-timers involved in competitive shooting, but also great for developing your own skill, regardless of experience level.
TAdopted by the CMP in 2002, Rimfire Sporter has grown tremendously. Rimfire Sporter is a three-position, 60-shot match, fired at 50 yards (prone and sitting/kneeling) and 25 yards (standing). From each of the three positions you will fire a 10-round-in-10-minute slow-fire stage
competition will make you a better shot.
and two five-round rapid-fire strings. Rapid-fire strings are 25 seconds per five rounds for semiautomatic rifles or 30 seconds for manually operated rifles, and the time includes your transition into the firing position.
A GREAT THING about Rimfire Sporter is that it is designed around common .22 LR rifles most people already possess and have at home for casual shooting and hunting. In fact, specialized match rifles aren’t allowed. The heavy overall weights, light triggers and adjustable stocks of many match rifles are disqualifying features. The Rimfire Sporter target is generous in size with a 1 7-inch 10-ring, yet challenging when fired at from the basic field-
style positions, with only one perfect 600-point score ever recorded by the CMP. A rifleman/rifle combo that can hold the 10-ring or better from only sling-supported positions at 50 yards on the Rimfire Sporter target is an excellent standard to strive for and I encourage anyone to try it.
Rifles for Rimfire Sporter are divided into four separate categories –T-, TU-, O- and M-Classes; we’ll define each in a minute – and competitors only compete against one another within their respective classes. Rifles can be either manually operated or semiautomatic, but for T, TU and O, a few rifle restrictions are shared across all three classes. The rifle with empty magazine must have an overall weight
Jason, a retired soldier and friend of author John Hawes, fires the 25-yard standing stage at the 2024 Civilian Marksmanship Program Eastern Games in North Carolina.
sharper shootING
that does not exceed 7.5 pounds, the trigger must have at least a 3-pound pull, slings must be basic militarystyle slings not to exceed 1¼ inches in width, stocks cannot have adjustable butt plates or adjustable cheekpieces, and optical sights (if used) are limited to 6x magnification. Don’t worry if your scope goes above 6x, like a 3-9x or 4-12x. For sanctioned matches, the CMP will place a wrap of tape around the magnification ring with it set at 6x for official use in the competition.
T-Class is for traditional sporterstyle rifles with a classic sporter profile stock and non-fluted barrel. Scopes or aperture (peep) sights may be used. TU-Class stands for tactical unlimited, originally created for more modern “tactical”-style rifles like AR clones
chambered in .22 LR, but I think of it more as the nontraditional sporter class because any features such as adjustable-length stocks (which must remain in the same position throughout the match), pistol grips, thumbhole stocks and fluted barrels will place you in TU-Class.
O-Class is the open-sight class and must have traditional-style “open” sights with a rear notch and a front blade-style sight. Aperture sights do not count in this category and will place the rifle in either the T- or TU-Classes, depending on its other features.
New for 2025 is M-Class, which is for military training rifles, a type of rifle the CMP has been known for selling for many decades. This class includes original condition military
surplus rifles chambered in .22 LR like the Remington 513T, Mossberg M44 and Winchester 52. Rifles must be equipped with the issued receiver sight and the Rimfire Sporter weight limits do not apply to M-Class.
ONE OF THE most appealing things about Rimfire Sporter competition is its practical nature. No specialized equipment is needed. Specialized shooting jackets or padded gloves are not permitted. A basic mechanic’sor batter’s-style glove is allowed. A spotting scope is not necessary. The bare minimum required to compete is a rifle that falls within one of the aforementioned classes along with ammo. Speaking of ammo, the most important thing is using the most
New competitors Johnny and Mary participate in the 2024 CMP Rimfire Sporter Small Arms Firing School at Camp Perry, Ohio.
reliable and consistent feeding ammo you can find for your rifle, particularly if using a semiauto. Rimfire Sporter is a no-alibis match; a malfunction will not get you a reshoot.
Rimfire Sporter allows shooters to hone their marksmanship ability by requiring competitors to master shooting practical positions with common rimfire rifles, standard weight triggers and basic slings for support. These are skills that can translate to practically any firearm. No bipods or shooting bags – just a competitor and their rifle.
It is the lack of specialized equipment and the multiple classes of rifles within Rimfire Sporter that make it very likely most shooters already possess a rimfire rifle that is suitable
for the competition. And if you happen to own several suitable rimfire rifles, it’s easy to get your friends and family involved in shooting Rimfire Sporter with you. With an easy-to-learn course of fire, basic equipment, low recoil, affordable ammo and no long-distance firing, Rimfire Sporter can be fired nearly anywhere and is the perfect place to get started in competitive shooting. For the seasoned competitor, it still offers an incredible opportunity to master your position building and shot process under the stress of a timed event.
MY CMP RIMFIRE Sporter journey began in 2021 by competing in a local club’s match, but just a few weeks later I jumped headfirst into the sport and
competed in the Rimfire Sporter National Championship, an annual event held every July at Camp Perry, Ohio. Since then, I have competed in a few matches nearly every year, including local club matches, multiple regional CMP Games matches, and the CMP’s National Match (Championship). The low barrier to entry, both in terms of necessary equipment and match fees, has allowed me to get several new shooters involved along the way.
A retired Army friend of mine shot his first ever civilian shooting match with me at a local club’s Rimfire Sporter event before putting together a Ruger 10/22 rifle of his own for T-Class and attending a CMP Games match. Three other close friends fired their first ever Rimfire
Hawes fires prone at the 2024 CMP New England Games in Vermont.
sharper shootING
Sporter matches, borrowing rifles of mine, while attending the National Championship with me.
In 2021, the CMP began a Small Arms Firing School for the Rimfire Sporter discipline, where competitors get a one-day clinic to learn about the sport and practice it the day before the National Championship is held, and all three friends took advantage of that opportunity. A work colleague has joined me for a local Rimfire Sporter match. An invite to the CMP Eastern Games was the perfect meetup for two more old Army buddies of mine who came out and shot Rimfire Sporter for the first time ever with me this past spring.
A few hundred competitors attend the Rimfire Sporter National Championship annually and the regional CMP Games matches regularly bring in 50 to 80 competitors each. Regardless of the size of the match, any one is a great starting point to get involved in Rimfire Sporter. Whether a new or seasoned competitor, there is a place on the line for everyone, and something to learn and improve upon at every Rimfire Sporter match. So I encourage you to get to a match and bring a friend. The more shooters we have on the line and improving, not only do we grow as individuals, but also as a larger and more involved shooting community.
For more on the Civilian Marksmanship Program and Rimfire Sporter competition, see thecmp.org. ★
Editor’s note: John Hawes is a retired US Army soldier and has been a competitive shooter for over 25 years. With a specialization as a sniper, Hawes has graduated from multiple sniper and SDM/CQM courses. He served as a member of the US Army Reserve Service Rifle Team and earned the Distinguished Rifleman badge. A graduate of the Pennsylvania Gunsmith School and holding numerous instructor credentials, Hawes enjoys teaching others how to shoot, repair firearms and hunt. His two young daughters are his favorite shooting companions.
Lifelong shooter Mike prepares to shoot Rimfire Sporter for the first time at the 2021 CMP Rimfire Sporter SAFS.
The author and his daughters observe Terry, a retired Army sniper, fire his first Rimfire Sporter match at the 2025 CMP Eastern Games.
MAKING THE CUT
HOW TACTICAL ANATOMY INSTRUCTORS MAKE THE CUT
A pair of trainers on their everyday carry knives.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY PAUL PAWELA
often use the backdrop of the Old West as the main setting for self-defense issues, since there is a documented historical record from 1836 to 1890 showing how people of that era defended themselves in deadly situations.
IFights were not always settled with guns. On the contrary, the knife was often used in deadly confrontations. One notable case involved Ben Thompson, an Indian fighter, gambler and ruthless killer. Thompson was in a knife fight with a Frenchman named Emile de Tour. The
fight started, as many do, over a woman and de Tour challenged Thompson to a duel. Known for his excellent gunfighting skills, Thompson switched the game and chose knives as his weapon.
Thompson further insisted that the duel be fought in a dark room, with each man blindfolded. Thompson knew what he was doing because, after just a few minutes, he was the only one to come out of the room.
skinning animals, and as a weapon for both offense and defense.
Knives have always been a vital tool in American history, commonly used for everyday tasks such as
and
I have long recommended that individuals carry a gun or two and always have a reliable fighting knife on their person as well. One of the main reasons for this advice is that in high-adrenaline, stress-filled deadly-force encounters, surprisingly large percentages of shooters miss their targets even at extremely close range, either due to panic, severe degradation of fine motor skills, or grappling with an opponent who is pushing their gun or gun arm.
cutting rope
Chuck Haggard displays his everyday carry knives, the Spyderco Delica 4 FRN Emerson Opener and the Ka-Bar Original TDI knife.
A close-up of the Emerson Opener (left) and TDI knives.
MAKING THE CUT
At arm’s length, a knife can deliver multiple wounds very quickly, just like a firearm, but unlike a firearm, it never runs out of ammunition. A knife thrust may penetrate deeper than a bullet and cause more damage. A single thrust can cut through bone, arteries, muscles, tendons and major organs, creating a large, permanent wound cavity.
THIS KNIFE COLUMN, “Making the Cut,” serves several purposes. First, it is always my intention that, if needed, the information provided in these pages can be helpful in a court of law in a justifiable case of deadly force. Another purpose is to provide valuable information on tactical knives that serve as both tools for self-defense and instruments, and to explain why they excel in both roles. The final purpose is to include experts in the field whose information is accurate and reliable.
A notable example of this is Shane Kerwin, owner and founder of Personal Survival Solutions, and one of the main instructors at the recent Tactical
Anatomy Summit that I attended and covered in the June and July issues. Kerwin is not only an experienced Green Beret and Special Forces veteran, but I believe he is a must-attend instructor for essential life-saving classes, no matter what subject he teaches.
I asked Kerwin to tell our readers about the knife he carries and why. Here are his thoughts:
“The knife I have been carrying is a Winkler SD2 Standard Duty knife. It was a gift from a close friend who is with the United States Marshals Service. He kind of tricked me into it. He was at Blade Show a couple of years ago and sent me pictures of four knives, asking for my opinion on them and which one I would choose. The Winkler was the one I selected. Why did I choose that one? I like the aspects of the knife that allow it to serve a dual role: as a protective knife and also for utilitarian purposes when I am out in the woods or the wilds and need the strength of a small, fixed-blade knife as opposed to a folder.”
“I have carried that knife for about
two years now and subscribe to what Craig Douglas says about EDC knives: It is a small fixed-blade carried at the hip that can be accessed with either hand while in an entangled fight, aka in-fight weapon access. It can be used to create space or to buy some time to access my firearm or other weapons.”
“I can use the blade and spine to clear limbs, with the handle design creating a pummel that I can use for striking or to help clear lenses to gain advantageous angles during a closed-end fight. I carry it in front of my left hip, opposite my firearm, inside-the-waist [tourniquet] holder. The knife is held vertically, slightly to the left, inside the waist belt, with presentation in a reverse grip.”
CHUCK HAGGARD, ANOTHER instructor at Tactical Anatomy Summit, is undoubtedly one of the top law enforcement trainers in the business today. Not only is he an experienced law enforcement instructor trainer, but he also has extensive real-world, streetlevel confrontation experience.
On Haggard’s person, you will find the Spyderco Delica 4 FRN Emerson Opener, an excellent pocket folder that features a blade that can be opened by the hook on the knife, which attaches to the pocket of the pants, making for a simple draw and easy opening, yet still is easy to conceal.
The other knife on Haggard’s person is the Ka-Bar Original TDI Knife, a fixedblade measuring just 2.313 inches in blade length and 1.25 inches in blade width, yet easy to manage in tight spaces.
I have already established, through personal firsthand experience, that fine motor skills deteriorate in closequarter conflicts and gross motor skills are most effective for fending off assailants. The Original TDI Knife was designed based on those facts alone, which is why many professionals like Haggard choose such a safety tool; maybe you should too!
The Tactical Anatomy instructors make the cut in both their knowledge of all things tactical and their choices of knives. ★
Shane Kerwin with his Winkler Standard Duty 2 knife.
A close-up of the fixed blade.
ROAD HUNTER
JUMP-START YOUR ELK SEASON
Now's the time to be scouting, figuring out gear and getting in shape for fall's hunts.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY SCOTT HAUGEN
hough I wanted to gain over 2,000 feet in elevation, I didn’t leave the tent until daylight. I knew elk were bedding high in a timbered draw but wasn’t sure where they were feeding at night, nor how they reached their secluded sleeping grounds.
TIf I left in the dark, I might pass by the elk or spook them. If I waited too
long, the herd might be bedded and hard to approach amid rising thermals.
Halfway up the mountain I found a herd of elk grazing in an open meadow. It was surrounded by aspens. A lone bull fed with the cows and when I let out a cow call, the bull lifted its head and bugled.
I cut the distance to 300 yards, calling as I moved. The bull answered nearly every sound I made. The terrain opened up, so I set up and called, not wanting to risk getting busted. Soon the
bugling bull busted out of the timber and waltzed to within bow range. My arrow hit the mark, and just like that, two hours into a seven-day hunt, my Rocky Mountain elk tag was filled.
THE TIME TO SCOUT IS NOW!
While the hunt ended fast, the ground work was laid months in advance. Starting in July I began scouting the area. I also set out multiple trail cameras. By the time opening day arrived, I’d logged several days of scouting.
Once the rut kicks in, things quickly change in the elk woods.
ROAD HUNTER
If you have the luxury of elk hunting close to home, August is prime time to physically scout for bulls. When their antlers are in velvet, bulls are visible because much of their time is spent in the open, as they don’t want to damage their valued headgear.
Setting trail cameras to not only size up bulls but also to see how their movements fluctuate is a real eye-opener. In one area I hunt, I was surprised to catch a big bull on camera in a rugged draw, and get it 9 miles away the following day. On day three, the bull was back at the first locale, and it was rugged country being traveled.
As soon as bulls strip their velvet, testosterone levels spike and they’re ready to rut. During the pre-rut time –until cows come into heat – bulls can travel many miles, and trail cameras will reveal valued insight. I set all my cameras on video mode, as the sights and sounds of video reveal far more than a still image.
August is also the time to pay
Setting trail cameras on video mode reveals a lot of information about elk movement and behavior. Note the date on this trail camera capture from one year ago.
Don’t just look at elk rubs; study them to see if they’re still moist from being freshly stripped, or if the edges of the bark are dry and curling, indicating an older rub.
attention to wildfires in your hunting area. With the severe droughts that have plagued the West in recent years, fires have routinely shut down access for many elk hunters. It’s a good idea to have at least two areas in mind to hunt, in case one is closed due to fire danger. Having two backups is not an overkill.
If hunting an area known to be occupied by wolves, call regional wildlife officials to see what impacts the predators have had. In multiple places I’ve hunted, wolves have pushed elk completely out. Some areas have been devoid of elk for over a decade.
WHAT IF I CAN’T SCOUT?
Not all hunters have time to scout for elk because the place we hunt is a state away, maybe further. Perhaps a busy work schedule or family obligations get in the way. Whatever the reason, don’t panic, it just means you have to hunt smart once the season commences.
When hunting areas I’ve not had the opportunity to scout, I’ll stay in the field all day. Elk are crepuscular, so you’ll want to spend the early morning and final evening hours looking for animals. During the middle of the day, search for fresh elk sign.
The two signs I look for are fresh rubs on small trees and wallows. If you find these, and closely study the trails traveling to and from them, the odds of success greatly increase. If rubs are still seeping tree sap and wallows muddy, bulls could be near. If the smell of rutting bulls permeates the air, that’s even better.
Fresh droppings also hold valuable information, including how frequently elk are using an area. Follow trails and you’ll likely find feeding areas where cow herds are concentrating. Once feeding sites are located, scour the area for bull sign, usually in the form of rubs, raking of the ground, even dry wallows. Dry wallows are where a bull rolls in the dirt, often urinating on itself to spread the smell of pheromones.
Be careful not to encroach on a bedded herd of elk in the middle of the day. If you locate a herd, sit on the
outskirts and listen or even watch them if the habitat allows. Often a bull or single cow calls and the whole herd gets fired up, creating an opportunity to start calling yourself or move in for a shot. Pay close attention to swirling winds and shifting thermals, for if a bull smells you, it’s game over.
PREPARING FOR THE HUNT
If you’ve not already started, now is the time to get in shape for elk season. Of all the camps I’ve been in, the number
one reason tags go unfilled is because hunters aren’t in good enough shape to get to where the elk are. With increased hunting pressure, elk are moving into more desolate, rugged terrain, and it’s not easy to reach them.
Make sure your bow or rifle is dialed in and you’re shooting with confidence. When practicing shooting, do so from various angles, ones you might encounter during a hunt. If rifle hunting, know your tripod and how to use it without thinking about
Author Scott Haugen has been chasing elk throughout the West for decades, and he credits his success to preseason preparation and capitalizing on elk behavior as it shifts throughout the fall.
ROAD HUNTER
SLAYER ELK CALLS
When it comes to diaphragm calls, I’ve heard all the excuses as to why they don’t work. “My mouth’s not the right shape; the call makes me gag; my mouth gets too dry when I’m hunting; it tickles too much” – and these are just some. Truth be told, diaphragms are one of the most versatile elk calls out there, and you need to know how to use them in order to deliver a range of precise sounds if you want to consistently fool bulls. But if you’re dead certain there’s no way you’ll ever be able to operate a diaphragm call, there is hope. It’s called the Enchantress, and it’s made by Slayer Calls.
The Enchantress Cow Call is a push-button mouth call that uses a diaphragm reed set inside a short tube. Simply hold the tube in your hand and blow into the end. When blowing air into the Enchantress, applying pressure with a thumb or forefinger will regulate the sounds. The more pressure you apply to the button, the more tension on the reed and the higher the pitch will be. It’s easy to emulate a range of cow and calf sounds with the Enchantress.
The Enchantress can also be attached to Slayer’s Swagger bugle tube to create location bugles and lip bawls. The Swagger bugle tube delivers very consistent sounds. I suggest getting an extra replacement reed for the Enchantress Cow Call, just in case.
When you are ready to take the step and use diaphragm calls, try Slayer’s Clearwater Series. Each of the Clearwater diaphragm calls features a dome that sits above the reeds. This ensures proper placement in the mouth and helps prevent the gagging reflex by firmly holding the call in place.
The Clearwater Series consists of seven custom elk reeds. Latex thicknesses, tension and stretch are meticulously designed to deliver precise sounds based on tongue and air pressure. Each call produces a different sound, which is why I carry all seven models. Elk communication changes throughout the season, and having a selection of calls in order to accurately mimic what’s being heard is important if you want to put meat in the freezer.
If diaphragm calls are new to you, start with the light pressure reed and work your way up. If you’re a veteran, you’ll quickly see the application each of the Clearwater diaphragm calls has in producing a range of sounds.
it. If bowhunting from a treestand overlooking a trail, practice shooting from this angle. When it comes time to take a shot, it should come naturally, almost like a reaction, with no distracting thoughts.
Be sure your boots are broken in and all clothes fit perfectly and perform as you expect. Never should gear be tested on an elk hunt; it should be used with confidence and do the job it’s designed for.
If calling elk, make sure to practice. You don’t need to be a competition elk caller to bring in a bull. But you do need to make quality sounds and know when to make certain precise sounds.
Cow and calf talk are a big part of my calling sequence in early archery season, as are subordinate bugles. As the season progresses, more aggressive bugles and intense cow chatter are what I turn to. Trust your calling, base it on what you’re hearing in the woods, and use this form of communication with a purpose.
Before the hunt, prepare to break down an elk once it’s down. A high number of elk are killed right before dark, and you need to have a headlamp, extra batteries, a knife and sharpener handy. At the very least, gut the bull and get it cooling, but it’s best to get it quartered and hanging so it can cool even quicker. Elk leg bones are big and hold in a lot of heat, so the sooner a bull can be quartered, the better the quality of the meat will be.
With elk season near, do what’s in your control to help fill a tag. Elk hunting requires a lot of work, and the more time you put in on the front end, the quicker the actual hunt may go. ★
Editor’s note: Next issue, author Scott Haugen will get down and dirty on elk, detailing what you can learn by reading their wallows. Meanwhile, want to learn how to skin and cape a bull? Order Haugen’s bestselling instructional DVD, Field Dressing, Skinning & Caping Big Game, at scotthaugen.com. Follow Scott on Instagram and Facebook.
A selection of diaphragm elk calls from Slayer alongside the push-button Enchantress Cow Call.
THE GREAT PARTITION
John Nosler’s classic design still works perfectly for big game hunters.
STORY BY PHIL MASSARO • PHOTOS BY MASSARO MEDIA GROUP
We are living in the golden era of projectiles, and by that I mean that our bullets have never been more consistent, efficient and reliable. There are designs that use such sophisticated geometry that they quite literally fall
under the heading of “rocket science,” though the percentage of shooters and hunters who will take full advantage of those features is very small. Looking back 150 years, we saw nothing but pure lead projectiles. Though they defined the early era of metallic cartridges, they wouldn’t be king of the hill for long.
Jacketed bullets came along in the 1880s, changing the game; when coupled with the revolutionary
smokeless powder, the velocity figures increased without the bullets causing excessive leading in the bore. More speed saw flatter trajectories and more striking energy, and once again the need for a stronger projectile was evident. Yes, the conventional lead core/copper jacket projectiles of the late 19th century can still be very effective, but if they don’t have the proper sectional density values, and if driven to excessive velocities, they
Nosler’s Partition remains a great bullet for the serious hunter looking for expansion and penetration.
can be rather explosive. For example, were you to stuff a 150-grain bullet in the .300 Winchester Magnum, you can make quite the mess on a game animal. Bloodshot meat on the impact side can be massive, while penetration is rather poor. But even some of the venerable designs that are still with us – the Remington Core-Lokt comes quickly to mind – are wonderfully effective if of proper weight for caliber.
Back in the 1940s, not all bullets were created equal, as Mr. John Nosler found when he used his .300 H&H Magnum on a mud-caked bull moose in Canada. The target was close, impact velocity high, and bullet performance less than poor.
JOHN SET OUT to build the bullet he couldn’t buy, knowing that a different design would outperform those projectiles he’d been using. And build a bullet he did! His idea was brilliant: In order to prevent premature bullet breakup, he would employ a partition of gilding metal (hence the name) between
two lead cores. The front lead core would expand (there is exposed lead at the nose and the jacket thickens as it heads toward the base), giving a large wound channel to destroy as much vital tissue as possible, while the partition would protect the rear core, allowing for deep penetration even when required to penetrate thick skin and heavy bone.
It took a bit to iron out the wrinkles, but once John had the details sorted, he had what would become one of the most
African heavyweights,
iconic American bullets ever produced, and one that would play a significant role in the premium bullet market. In most of its guises, the Nosler Partition is a flatbased spitzer bullet, capable of giving decent trajectory and wind deflection figures, though it might not make the greatest long-range projectile in the world. Mind you, in the late 1940s, the average rifle scope was less than reliable and iron sights still ruled the roost, so hunting performance beyond 250 or 300 yards didn’t play the same role that it does here in the 21st century. Being completely honest, the vast majority of my hunting shots stay inside of 300 yards, with rare exception. And it should be said plainly that the Nosler Partition is a hunting bullet, first and foremost.
The Partition is generally praised for its high weight retention –oftentimes recovered bullets will have 80 to 90 percent of their original weight – and reliable expansion. There are those who feel the front half of the bullet is a bit too soft, as on truly heavy game it has been known to smear or wipe off. But I will be the first to say
The Nosler Partition shown in cutaway form; note the separate cores and the partition of copper between them. (NOSLER)
The .308 Winchester is a great all-around hunting cartridge, made better when using the Nosler Partition projectile.
For every species shy of the true
the Nosler Partition will get the job done. These Winchester Safari loads in .416 Rigby use a 410-grain Partition.
that the only reason we know that the front half has wiped off is because the bullet was recovered from a dead animal, so there’s really no denying that it did the intended job.
Over the years, Nosler has seen fit to offer the Partition bullet in calibers from .22 up to .458, though their website currently indicates that the component projectiles only go as large as .375-inch diameter. Though the Partition was initially offered only in component form – and that would continue until the 1980s – it has been loaded in factory form by several companies over the years. Weatherby, Federal Premium, Winchester and Norma are among the bigger names that’ve relied on the Partition in their factory loads.
IF I WERE to describe the advantages of a Partition bullet over a cup-and-core design, it is that the shooter can rely on both expansion and penetration, even if not in the heaviest bullet weights. For those who enjoy the lower recoil of the .22 and 6mm centerfires, the Nosler Partition allows those calibers to punch above their weight class. For the common “do-all” cartridges, like the .270 Winchester, 7mm Remington Magnum, .308 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield and, yes, the 6.5 Creedmoor has become popular enough to make this list, the Nosler Partition gives the added penetration that many of the cup-and-core bullets might not. And while it has been touted as a tough bullet for tough game, the Partition is a great choice for deer, especially when there is the possibility of other species.
Here in my native New York we are blessed with the Catskill and Adirondack State Parks, which offer plenty of public land for hunters and the opportunity to take not only whitetail deer, but black bear as well. The Partition is one of my favorite choices for a dual-purpose projectile, and in my Ruger 77 .308 Winchester, a 165-grain Partition checks all the boxes. That bullet took my best whitetail in New York; I tracked that eight-pointer in 2 inches of fresh snow on a Thanksgiving
morning, as he was following a hot doe. It’s a memory I’ll never forget.
In the bigger calibers, the Partition is often relied on for the big bears of Canada and Alaska, and it works wonderfully for moose and elk. It is a popular choice for many of the African species, including the Cape buffalo, though more than one professional hunter has opined that the front half of that bullet is too soft for that task. I might say that there are better bullet choices for
a buffalo hunt, but I’d be perfectly happy with a Partition of proper weight and caliber against any plains game species, as well as lion or leopard.
In component form, the Partition can be a game saver, giving those rare cartridges with limited bullet selections a new lease on life. A .300 Savage loaded with a 150-grain Nosler Partition can revitalize one of those old Savage 99s, and the roundnosed variant of the .30-caliber Partition
The .240 Weatherby Magnum is a speedy 6mm cartridge, and Weatherby has seen fit to equip it with the 100-grain Nosler Partition.
The .338 Winchester Magnum is a fantastic cartridge for Alaska, Africa and more, and is well served by the Nosler Partition; shown here is a Federal Premium 250-grain load.
If you’re a fan of using a .22 centerfire for deer and similarly sized game, a 60-grain Partition can make the little cartridges very effective. Shown here is the .22-250 Remington from Federal Premium.
(FEDERAL PREMIUM)
The 165-grain .30-caliber Nosler Partition is a sound choice for the common cartridges like the .308 Winchester and .30-06 Springfield, as well as any of the .300 Magnums.
takes a .30-30 Winchester to the next level. Loading the Partition is a relatively straightforward affair, but be aware that with the exception of that 30-caliber round nose and the bigger bullets in 9 3mm and .375 caliber, none of the component varieties of the Partition have a cannelure, or crimping groove. Oddly, in many of the factoryloaded Partition cartridges I’ve seen, the projectiles have a cannelure; I’m assuming Nosler makes a different bullet for factory contracts than is sold to the public in component form.
IN A WORLD of polymer tips, boattails and long, sleek ogives, the Partition might seem old fashioned, or even outdated.
Wanna give your .30-06 Springfield a shot in the arm? Load it with a 220-grain Nosler Partition semi-spitzer, perfect for big game at medium ranges.
Nothing could be further from the truth; if we are honest with ourselves, the average hunting shot is inside 200 yards, and the conformation of the Partition presents no handicap at that range. The ogive is short enough to make loading the bullet at the prescribed overall length easy, while still fitting in the rifle’s magazine. The flat base allows for a shorter bullet length, which in turn takes up less room inside the case, and that’s a good thing, especially in the shorter cases like the .308 Winchester and 7mm08 Remington.
Since 1948, the hunting world has enjoyed the benefits of the Nosler Partition. And while Nosler has a wonderful lineup of projectiles to choose from – including the Ballistic Tip, the AccuBond and the Expansion Tip – the Partition remains the flagship of the fleet, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. ★
Author Phil Massaro’s best New York whitetail, taken with a 165-grain Partition from his Ruger M77 in .308 Winchester.
The flat-base design of the Nosler Partition means it won’t take up as much room in the case as a boattail design, making it a good choice for shorter cartridges like the .350 Remington Magnum.
For the woods hunter, the .30-30 Winchester remains a popular choice; it is made even better when loaded with the roundnose Nosler Partition, should you cross paths with a black bear or large feral hog.
Happy results at the target board, with the 180-grain .30-caliber Partitions printing yet another sub-MOA group.
STACCATO HD P4
Nine millimeter a spendy though impressive 2011-style handgun.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY NICK PERNA
The Staccato HD P4 has a high price point but is “worth every penny,” says author Nick Perna.
gun review
In the firearms industry, it’s pretty rare for a manufacturer to come up with a completely new design or concept. Considering the fact that firearms have been in existence for hundreds of years and have been improving in quality, innovation and design throughout the entire history of gun manufacturing, there’s not a lot of room for improvement. Consequently, when a manufacturer does come up with a new concept, it’s generally going to be based on already existing technology.
Numerous firearms companies have realized that if something works, don’t try to fix it. To take it a step further, if something works, even if it is from a competing manufacturer, figure out a way to incorporate it into a firearm of your own design.
Glock makes a pretty good magazine. They have made improvements over the years to their primarily plastic mags so they are reliable and at a price point below what other competitors sell similar magazines for.
gun review
Ruger realized this years ago. Their PC Carbine takes Glock mags and, taking it a step further, their new “Glock off” (aka knock off), the RXM, is actually a Glock design.
FOLLOWING RUGER’S LEAD, Staccato has introduced a handgun that takes Glock mags. Unlike the Ruger RXM (reviewed in the June issue), the Staccato HD P4 is a traditional M2011-style handgun, similar to other Staccato models. It can use Staccato-manufactured magazines, magazines built by Glock and Glockstyle mags built by other companies. This is truly a big deal, as Staccato mags are some of the most expensive ones on the market, costing close to $100 each. Comparatively, Glock mags go for around $25 a unit.
The HD P4 comes in 9mm. It’s made from 4140 steel billet and weighs in at 32 ounces (empty with no magazine), typical for all metal 2011-style guns. It has a 4-inch barrel contained in a 7.6inch slide. Trigger pull is a crisp 4 to 4 5 pounds. It comes with two 18-round Glock-style magazines.
Like all Staccato handguns, it is RMR-capable and comes with a unique backup iron sight system with the rear sight placed forward of where the optic
would be mounted. This is good sight placement, as the rear sight is less likely to interfere with the RMR.
Now for the sticker shock. Staccatos
aren’t cheap. The baseline model lists for $2,499. The preferred package, with an illuminated Trijicon front sight, goes for $2,699. The premium package, with two extra mags, goes for $2,999. I’d avoid the premium package since it doesn’t seem to make fiscal sense to drop an extra $300 for two extra mags. If your tax return was a lot higher than you expected, you can pair the gun with Staccato brand ammunition, which the company now sells. Obviously, the gun will function with any type of credible ammo.
I RECENTLY GOT a chance to run the HD P4 through its paces. The model I shot was paired with a Trijicon RMR HD optic. First thing I noticed was the gun didn’t have the traditional 1911-style grip safety. At first, this seemed to be a little unsafe for the traditional “cocked and locked” 2011 design, but Staccato came up with a unique work around. The ambidextrous thumb safety is designed to automatically return to the locked
The new HD P4 pictured with a Staccato magazine, though it accepts Glock and Glock-style mags as well, making it more cost-effective.
The Trijicon RMR HD optic and the ambidextrous thumb safety, which is designed to automatically return to the locked position after it has been engaged.
gun review
to automatically return to the locked position after it has been engaged. In other words, the safety is on until you push the lever down to disengage it. Once you release thumb pressure on it, it goes back to the locked position.
For anyone who has trained on a M1911- or 2011-style firearm, the current manual of arms has the shooter keep his thumb on the safety while handling the firearm. It is a natural, comfortable place to put your thumb and ensures that it doesn’t interfere with the movement of the slide during firing. It just makes sense that the safety automatically defaults to the “safe” position.
The gun ran smoothly with no malfunctions, even though we didn’t use Staccato ammunition. We did run Glock magazines through it with no issues. Despite the high price point, the HD P4 is worth every penny. ★
Editor’s note: Visit staccato2011.com for more information.
Putting the gun through its paces.
‘PRACTICAL, PURPOSE-DRIVEN DESIGNS’
A look at Henry Holsters’ innovative processes and products.
PHOTOS BY HENRY HOLSTERS
hen Andrew Henry, an Indiana-based violinmaker and craftsman by trade, set out to create custom holsters for himself and his friends, it began as a side project. It was a new and interesting way to flex his precision and problem-solving skills. But little did he know back in 2009 that his basement lark would soon become a full-time endeavor.
W“With a background in industrial design and manufacturing, Andrew saw an opportunity to apply modern
processes – like CNC machining and vacuum forming – to holster production,” explains Greg Findlay, Henry Holsters’ director of sales.
“What began as a side project steadily evolved into a business focused on scalable, high-quality concealment solutions for professional end users and OEM partners that also shows our passion for lean manufacturing.”
Henry Holsters focuses on consistency, function and integration. Their designs prioritize secure concealment, fast and intuitive access,
and durable, high-performance materials. They also use precisionmilled aluminum molds and in-house CNC machining to maintain tight tolerances across every holster.
“We’re also known for pioneering concepts like the Link attachment system, which has recently become our first patented design!” adds Findlay. “Every detail – down to how a holster clears a belt line or interfaces with a weapon light – is deliberately considered. We proudly boast a 100-percent
rating on every
test fit
Henry Holsters owner Andrew Henry (left), Chief Operating Officer Ben Crum and Director of Sales Greg Findlay.
Cipher is Henry Holsters’ slim, ambidextrous holster designed around compatibility with both Discreet Carry Concepts clips and the
holster that leaves our facility.”
Their product line includes the Spark, a full-sized “light-bearing” holster that is designed to securely hold a firearm by perfectly gripping the light attachment; the Flint and Flint Compact, minimalist “foldover”style holsters (made from a single piece of Boltaron folded over) that are extremely sturdy yet lightweight; the Ember, precision-designed for your compact handgun with a compact weapon light; and the Cipher, a streamlined, ultra-slim ambidextrous holster designed for everyday comfort and concealment.
All products are compatible with a wide range of firearms, and Henry is adding new models frequently. For example, says Findlay, “we are expanding our Cipher line to include
options that are compatible with the H&K VP9 A1F, Shadow Systems CR920XP, and the Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro.”
AT HENRY HOLSTERS, they aim to deliver the highest standards of concealability and comfort with a focus on “solving real-world problems with practical, purpose-driven designs,” says Findlay.
“We serve a broad customer base – from individual concealed carriers to competitive shooters … Whether you’re carrying AIWB with our Cipher holster or running a light-bearing setup with the Ember, our goal is the same: to support your mission with gear you can trust,” he explains. “In fact, we are so confident in the quality of what we make that Henry Holsters also offers a lifetime warranty on all of our products.”
The company’s lightweight and rugged duty belt attachment system known as Link is made from laser-cut Propex Curv. Propex is described as a “polypropylene composite fabric that has a durable water-repellent face, high tensile strength and outstanding impact resistance.”
The
PHLster Enigma system.
Link EQ Adapter
COMPANY SPOTLIGHT
With reliable performance under real-world conditions and an extreme attention to detail using American-made materials and modern manufacturing methods, the folks at Henry Holsters take pride in their products, and rightfully so. ★
Editor’s note: For more, visit henryholsters.com.
“Our thermoformed holsters are made out of Boltaron, which we prefer over standard Kydex or other thermoplastics,” a company statement says. “Henry Holsters are formed using custom-made, precision molds and then trimmed and shaped on state-of-the-art CNC mills to ensure consistency in our process.”
CLINGER HOLSTERS
clingerholsters.com
Clinger’s IWB Hinge Holster melts into your waist. Their Hinge Tab flexes, crushing hot spots and killing print, allowing for all-day comfort. The rugged shell utilizes Clinger Holsters’ Core System, adapting to your needs quickly. Carry in virtually any spot, any style – comfort stays locked in all day.
HOLSTER GALLERY
EXODUS GUNLEATHER
exodusgunleather.com
Crafted from horsehide and premium exotic leather, the Illusion holster combines rugged durability with refined elegance. Handcrafted for precision fit and long-lasting wear, it offers secure firearm retention and unmatched style. Ideal for the barbecue or everyday carry, it’s a standout piece that blends function with luxury.
TRIPLE K MFG.
triplek.com
Featuring a dual over-theshoulders harness system that provides balance, comfort and maximum retention, Triple K’s innovative chest plate design allows for holster angle adjustment that best meets your style of carry. Adjustable holster angles allow for canted 45-degree-, horizontal- and vertical-style carry. Rugged and reliable with easy-to-personalize adjustments for all torso sizes. Constructed of premium saddle-grade vegetable tanned leather, solid brass rings and Chicago screws that are resistant to the most diverse elements. Havana brown color. MSRP: $310.
HENRY
HOLSTERS
henryholsters.com
The Cipher is a slim, ambidextrous holster designed around compatibility with both Discreet Carry Concepts clips and the PHLster Enigma system. It features an open muzzle, a symmetrical, ambi midheight sweatguard, and generous clearance for optics and suppressor-height sights mounted to your Glock.
HOLSTER GALLERY
GEAR FOR PATRIOTS
gearforpatriots.com
The Victory chest rig has a harness that allows for more than 12 inches of adjustment around the body and 8 to 10 inches over the shoulder. Gear for Patriots knows that everyone is not built the same, so they designed their holster to have six different draw angles based on the preferences of the user. They also designed the Victory harness in three sizes, from small to 4XL. Their clients have noticed that once they adjust the holster and harness to their liking, they almost forget they are wearing it.
MERNICKLE HOLSTERS
mernickleholsters.com
Discover the AlphaMag Holster – the perfect balance of security and accessibility. With its Magnetic Retention Assist, the AlphaMag provides an extra layer of hold to help keep your firearm in place while ensuring a smooth, effortless draw when you need it.
THUNDERWEAR
thunderwearholsters.com
Thunderwear is the ultimate concealed carry holster designed for maximum comfort and minimal clothing. Worn discreetly inside the waistband, it lets you carry securely without belts or bulky layers. Ideal for active lifestyles, offering perfect concealment with total freedom to dress how you want – no compromise, just comfort and security.
THE PAWELAS’ SUMMER VACATION
Seeing America through the eyes of Western pioneers, cowboys and gunfighters. 8 9 10 11 12 13
Back in June, my wife Linda, dog and I embarked on a road trip that covered over 5,000 miles as we traveled through 19 different states and visited some of the most historical places in the beautiful United States. Here is a brief recap of the amazing places we were able to experience and cross off my ever growing bucket list.
1 ROCKLEDGE, FL
Before we began our journey, I prepared and packed up the Bronco for whatever we might encounter. I started with securing my firearms, knives, magazines, medic kit and other protective gear inside a V-Line Industries’ Tactical Weapons Locker XD. With some minor adjustments this locker fit perfectly in the back of the Bronco. I also packed my Squatch backpack and pouch. Lastly, I strapped on
STORY AND PHOTOS BY PAUL AND LINDA PAWELA
The authors’ V-Line Industries’ Tactical Weapons Locker XD packed to the hilt.
1880s town – Midland,
Mount Rushmore.
Bison on the Terry Bison Ranch.
Bass Reeves.
Guns that opened gambling in Deadwood, South Dakota.
Sign that marks the Pony Express trail.
The 5,000-mile, 19-state journey, taken in a Ford Bronco, began and ended in Florida.
Display of Tops Knives at the Blade Show.
Graphic for the TV Show Wild Shots
Abraham Lincoln birthplace, National Historic Site, located at 2995 Lincoln Farm Road in Hodgenville, Kentucky. (NATIONAL PARK SERVICE)
Chicago’s Cloud Gate sculpture.
South Dakota. Joseph Heywood.
2 ATLANTA, GA
Our first stop was the Blade Show in Atlanta. As part of my research for my Making the Cut column, I was able to meet with lots
my Crossbreed holster. Look for my review on the V-Line Locker and Squatch gear in the next issue.
of manufacturers and see what new models will be hitting the market. I must say that I was quite impressed with the offerings from WE Knife Co., Tops Knives, Takumitak knives and Doug Marcaida Knives. Look for my reviews in the upcoming issues.
3
NASHVILLE, TN
Next stop along the road was to the set of the new American Stories TV show, Wild Shots. This show follows in the footsteps of their previous hit show Surviving Mann. It is hosted by Tim Harmsen and features trick shooters showing off their trick shots. On this stop, we watched as they filmed an episode at the home of Dave Nash, aka “22 Plinkster,” a trick shooter made famous on YouTube. Dave has made his mountainous backyard into a range where he can practice and film his shots.
4 HODGENVILLE, KY
The historic birthplace of our 16th president, Abraham Lincoln.
5 CHICAGO, IL
Next stop, the Windy City. A visit to Chicago would not be complete without walking under the Cloud Gate sculpture, aka “The Bean.”
6 NORTHFIELD, MN
This is the first of several old historic towns on our journey. Northfield is famous for the attempted bank robbery by the James-Younger gang in 1876. See page 76 to read about how the citizens banded together to protect their town and put an end to the James-Younger gang.
Paul Pawela with his Crossbreed Holster.
Pawela with Doug Marcaida, a judge on the show Forged in Fire and knife designer for Bastinelli Creations.
A few models from WE Knife Co.
Tim Harmsen, host of Wild Shots.
Staff from Tops Knives.
Crown Fountain, sometimes known as the “Squirting Faces”, is an interactive work of public art and video sculpture featured in Chicago’s Millennium Park.
The Minnesota bank famous for the 1876 robbery attempt by the James-Younger gang.
7
NEW ULM, MN
New Ulm was designated a Preserve America community back in 2006. Here the Kiesling House, constructed in 1861, is one of the few wood-framed houses remaining from before the USDakota War of 1862. Linda’s maiden name is Keesling, which is why we went here. A possible connection to distant relatives from Germany.
8 MIDLAND, SD
Midland is an 1880s town directly off I-90. It’s a living museum that showcases 30 buildings. Some are from the movie set Dances with Wolves and many of the other old buildings are from all over South Dakota. You can dress up like a cowboy and walk around town and see a gunfight.
9 KEYSTONE, SD
Your drive through South Dakota would not be complete without a stop at one of our national treasures, Mount Rushmore. Sculpted by Gutzon Borglum from 1927 to 1941, along with the help from his son Lincoln Borglum. He named it the Shrine of Democracy. The sculpture features the 60-foot-tall heads of four United States presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.
10
DEADWOOD, SD
Well known for its lawlessness. Murders were common, and justice for murders not always fair. Named by early settlers after the dead trees found in its gulch. After the discovery of gold back in 1874, the city grew to a population of 25,000 and reached further notoriety when gunman Wild Bill Hickok was killed on August 2, 1876. Both he and Calamity Jane were buried at Mount Moriah Cemetery.
11 CHEYENNE, WY
Linda wanted to feed the bison, so we stopped at Terry Bison Ranch. We took a ride in a custom-built train to see all the animals on the ranch while Linda fed the bison.
12 OGALLALA, NE
A Pony Express stop known as one of the most dangerous places in the nation in the 1870s. We visited a recreated cowboy town on Front Street.
Mount Rushmore.
The historic site where Wild Bill Hickok was killed.
The famous Bullock Hotel.
Old railroad car in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Old buildings along Front Street.
14
FAIRBURY, NE
Rock Creek Park was a relay station for the Pony Express and also the location of Wild Bill Hickok’s first gun fight.
13
GOTHENBURG, NE
On the Pony Express Trail, it still has two original stations.
15 ST. JOSEPH, MO
Home of the Pony Express Museum and the first station on the Pony Express Trail. From here it took 10 days for a letter to reach Sacramento, California.
16
FORT SCOTT, KS
Home of an 1840s fort with 20 historical structures. It is also the home of Fort Scott Munitions.
17
BENTONVILLE, AR
A stop requested by Linda, who is a huge fan of the HGTV series Fixer to Fabulous. Afterwards we drove through parts of the Ozarks until we reached ...
18 FORT SMITH, AR
Here is the story of Bass Reeves, one of the first African American deputy US Marshals west of the Mississippi River. He worked a total 32 years as deputy. For more about Bass Reeves, see page 73.
19 FOUKE, AR
One of my favorite stops was the Boggy Creek Monster Mart – a convenience store, souvenir shop and mini museum all about the legend of the Bigfoot-like creature.
20 WETUMPKA, AL
Another stop requested by Linda, this town was featured on the HGTV series Hometown Takeover.
After 17 days on the road, we returned home to Florida with tons of memories and a sense of pride in the beauty and history of this great country. I encourage everyone to go out and explore this great nation we all live in and learn about all the fascinating tales it has to tell us. An extra shout out to my wife Linda for being my travel partner and doing an amazing job driving the entire trip. ★
One of the orginal Pony Express outposts.
A sculpture depicting a rider for the Pony Express.
Another Pony Express office in Nebraska.
The Pony Express Museum.
The house Hickok shot his first man. Hickok was behind this curtain when he shot David McCanles with a rifle.
Monster Mart, home of the Boggy Creek Monster Museum.
A WILD WEST NAME TO REMEMBER
Deputy US Marshal Bass Reeves helped rein in criminals in troubled territory.
STORY BY PAUL PAWELA
n the March 2023 issue of American Shooting Journal, I wrote an article titled “Six Gun Territory: A Ride Through One Man’s Magic Kingdom” about a beloved Wild West theme park in Florida.
IIn that article, I referenced the fact that my dad had influenced me and taught me about the old Wild West and its heroes. His knowledge, especially from the gunfighters’ point of view, served him well in World War II.
My dad had mentioned many famous Western gunfighters, lawmen, outlaws and so on. When I asked him who he considered the most impressive man in the Wild West to be, without hesitation my dad responded with the name Bass Reeves. I was stunned by that response, as I had never heard of that name – not in books, movies or any other source, for that matter. When I asked my dad to explain his choice, I received a valuable education into one of the best men I would ever come to know about.
Reeves would also eventually become one of my all-time favorite Western heroes. Please allow me, dear readers, to share with you the story of this great man and how we should honor him.
BASS REEVES WAS a black American born into slavery in Crawford County, Arkansas, in 1838, and was later relocated to Texas. He was the property of a man named William Reeves but early in his life was given to Reeves’s son, George. While growing up, Bass Reeves never learned to read or write; his mother taught him the Bible and
Bass Reeves was among the first African American deputy US Marshals west of the Mississippi River. (THE WESTERN HISTORY COLLECTIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA LIBRARY)
he was known to recite verses from memory. He was also such a good marksman with both pistols and rifles that George Reeves often entered him in shooting contests.
George Reeves eventually became the sheriff and tax collector of Grayson County, Texas, and a colonel in the 11th Texas Cavalry Regiment during the American Civil War; he undoubtedly was pleased to have his sharpshooting servant at his side. While reports
regarding Bass Reeves’s military service are unclear, historians believe it is likely that he served under Colonel George Reeves for the Confederacy during the Battle of Pea Ridge.
It was around this time that Bass Reeves got into a physical confrontation with his owner, in which Reeves knocked the man out – a crime that was punishable by death in Texas.
Forced to flee for his life, Reeves headed into Indian Territory – presentday Oklahoma – and eventually settled into it. He lived there peacefully with the native tribes, white squatters and white criminals escaping justice.
Reeves learned to speak the languages of several tribes, including Chickasaw, Seminole, Creek, Cherokee and Choctaw. He gained a reputation as a skilled tracker, horseman and dead shot, utilizing both right and left hands with both pistols and long guns.
DUE TO ALL these exceptional traits, he became a trusted guide and interpreter for the US Marshals riding that range. The Indian Territory was one of the most dangerous places in the world. There’s an anonymous quote from the time that went as follows: “There is no Sunday west of St. Louis – no God west
The Colt Single Action Army revolver carried by Reeves. (PAUL PAWELA)
Reeves was offered a permanent position as a deputy US Marshal by Judge Isaac Parker in 1875. (WIKIPEDIA)
Reeves (left) with a group of marshals in 1907. (WIKIPEDIA)
of Fort Smith.” The murder rate rivaled that of the worst cities in the country. People were killed over everything from horse theft to the mere exchange of ugly words. It was once estimated that out of 22,000 white men living in the territory, 17,000 were criminals who were on the run from the law.
While tribal courts had jurisdiction over Native Americans, white criminals had to be taken to Fort Smith, Arkansas. The only law enforcement was the few deputy US Marshals working out of Fort Smith; there was often no lawman to be found within 200 miles.
President Ulysses S. Grant appointed Judge Isaac Parker to bring law and order to the western district of Arkansas, which included all of western Arkansas and the Indian Territory. These roughly 74,000 square miles were considered a safe place for every type of criminal – murderers, rapists, cattle robbers, thieves, bootleggers, etc. – to hide out.
Judge Parker was permitted to hire 200 new deputies. Hearing that Reeves could speak several Native languages and often assisted marshals, Parker offered him a permanent position as a deputy US Marshal. This was hazardous work, as it was recorded that more than 130 deputy marshals were killed in the territory before Oklahoma became a state in late 1907
REEVES GAINED A reputation as an honest, by-the-book lawman. He believed in bringing prisoners back alive; however, he would not hesitate to shoot a man when it became necessary.
Over his 30-year career in law enforcement, Reeves brought more than 3,000 criminals to justice. In the line of duty, he killed 14 outlaws. He was known for bringing in some of the most dangerous fugitives, and among his most famous apprehensions, Reeves tracked outlaw Tom Story for five years, eventually killing him in a gunfight.
It is worth mentioning once again that Reeves was a fair and honest law enforcement agent. On one occasion,
he arrested his church minister for selling illegal alcohol, and he even had to arrest his own son for murder. Reeves’s reputation was that he would never back down from any man.
In addition to being a lawman, Reeves was a dedicated man of God who served as a deacon in his church. He would often preach the gospel to the criminals he apprehended and
attempt to change their ways, helping them find a better life in the Lord. Reeves was also a faithful husband who, with his wife Nellie, would eventually have a total of 11 children. Recently, I had the trip of a lifetime where part of my travels led me to Fort Smith. There I visited the US Marshals Museum and the statue of my hero –Bass Reeves, a true American icon. ★
A statue of Deputy Bass Reeves of the US Marshals Service stands in Fort Smith, Arkansas. (PAUL PAWELA)
WHEN TOWNSFOLK
How the ordinary citizens of Northfield, Minnesota, ended one of the most violent terrorist gangs of their time.
As this article goes to print, we have just celebrated our nation’s 249th birthday. No one can deny that our freedom has been fought for with violence since 1776. Freedom is not a license to do whatever we want; it’s a call to live uprightly, honorably and responsibly. Freedom demands responsibility. As Americans, we have the duty to
defend our Constitution, our values and our neighbors. Freedom has never come free; it has always been paid for in blood.
But whereas the heroes – and even antiheroes – in our history books get all the fame and glory, it is the ordinary citizens who deserve more recognition for their accomplishments.
For example, if names like Joseph
STORY AND PHOTOS BY PAUL PAWELA
STOOD TALL
Lee Heywood, Alonzo E. Bunker, Frank J. Wilcox, Dr. Henry Mason Wheeler or Anselm R. Manning come up in a conversation, most people won’t recognize these individuals. However, in the same conversation, if the names Jesse and Frank James or Cole, Jim and Bob Younger are mentioned, most people would know who they are. In 10 years, the James-Younger gang carried out 14 robberies of
banks and trains, stealing a total of more than $149,000. But this is not the story of the outlaw gang; it is the story of the brave heroism of the good citizens of Northfield, Minnesota, who defended their town and ended the James-Younger gang.
IT WAS SEPTEMBER 7, 1876, when eight desperados on horseback rode into Northfield with the intent of robbing
the First National Bank.
The seasoned outlaws learned their trade during the Civil War, training and refining guerrilla tactics. They were now using those same tactics to prey on innocent victims through daring bank and train robberies.
The gang entered the town in three groups. The men going into the bank were Frank James, Charlie Pitts and Bob Younger. The next outlaws
A view looking down Division Street, Northfield, Minnesota, in 1877. (NORTHFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY)
to arrive were Cole Younger and Clell Miller. They came up Division Street from the south and positioned themselves in front of the First National Bank. The last group, consisting of Jesse James, Jim Younger and Bill Caldwell, positioned themselves near the iron bridge over the Cannon River to guard
the escape route.
Several townspeople were suspicious of the riders, especially J.S. Allen, who owned a local hardware store in Northfield. Trusting his instincts – Allen had just left the bank before the would-be robbers entered – he noticed Miller standing outside
and grew wary. Allen tried to reenter the bank but was stopped short by Miller and his revolver.
Understanding what was happening in real time, Allen ran straight down Division Street, shouting the phrase that would forever be synonymous with the citizens of Northfield: “Get your guns, boys, they’re robbing the bank!”
Wheeler, a medical student at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, heard the call, borrowed a rifle from a nearby hotel owner, and positioned himself at a second-floor window across from the bank, prepared to shoot at the outlaws.
Allen, meanwhile, ran into his hardware store and handed out weapons and ammunition to anyone who wanted them.
Inside the bank, three citizens were working on that fateful day: Bunker, the teller; Wilcox, the clerk; and Heywood, the acting cashier.
Heywood’s resolve was unwavering as he refused to open the bank safe, even as he was threatened at gunpoint. Heywood heroically tried to close the vault door on Pitts as he entered the vault. When Pitts pushed back to get out of the vault, Heywood shouted, “Murder! Murder! Murder!” Pitts replied by badly pistol-whipping Heywood. Hearing gunshots outside the bank, the robbers knew they were running out of time.
OUTSIDE THE BANK,
gang members started going up and down the street yelling and shooting their revolvers in the air. An early display of shock and awe, but the citizens of Northfield were not phased. Farmer Elias Stacy
The heroes, from left to right: Joseph Heywood, who gave his life for his community; Anselm R. Manning, responsible for killing bank robber Bill Caldwell; Alonzo Bunker, a teller who escaped from the bank but was shot by one of the robbers and survived his wounds; Henry Wheeler, who, after taking a position from a second-story window, was responsible for shooting and killing robber Clell Miller and badly wounding Bob Younger; and Frank Wilcox, bank bookkeeper. (NORTHFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY)
The villains, from top to bottom, and left to right: Jesse James, Frank James, Cole Younger, Bob Younger, Jim Younger, Bill Caldwell, Charlie Pitts and Clell Miller.
drew first blood on the outlaws with a shotgun from Manning’s hardware store. He saw Miller getting on his horse and, aiming at the outlaw’s head, he discharged his shotgun. The charge was only birdshot, but the blast knocked Miller to the ground. Miller picked himself up and got back on his horse, but he could not shake off the stinging from the shotgun pellet wounds.
While arming his fellow citizens, Manning remembered he had a Remington rolling block rifle in the store’s window. It used a .45-70 metallic cartridge. Manning grabbed the Remington, stuffed a handful of heavy cartridges into his pocket, and ran out the door, inserting a cartridge into the chamber as he headed toward the sound of gunfire. Manning aimed and fired his gun, hitting the horse that belonged to Bob Younger. It collapsed in front of the bank.
his subclavian artery. Division Street, which was 80 feet wide, quickly turned into a shooting gallery with the outlaws as the targets.
that all the funds were kept in the safe; he knew that if the money was stolen, the town would suffer devastating financial consequences.
Wheeler had a .50-caliber Smith carbine. He aimed at Miller, who was bent over in the saddle, and aimed low on Miller before squeezing the trigger. The shot was devastating; the heavy lead round pierced through the outlaw’s right shoulder and severed
Cole Younger was then shot in the hip with Manning’s Remington rifle. Manning reloaded and aimed at the outlaw Bill Caldwell, shooting him dead.
INSIDE THE BANK,
the robbers were furious at Heywood for not opening the vault. But Heywood understood
While Pitts threatened Heywood with a Bowie knife, Bunker, who was being held at gunpoint, jumped up and ran toward the back of the bank. The back door was open, and he tried to escape. But Pitts ran to the door, aimed carefully at Bunker, and fired, hitting him in the right shoulder.
View of the Northfield Bridge. (NORTHFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY)
A view outside the bank and of Division Street today. The bank is now a museum.
With bullets flying everywhere, the street was chaotic and a melee of violence. Amid all the chaos, Cole Younger ordered the bank robbers to get out of the bank because they were being shot to pieces. Hurrying out of the bank, Frank James, in total frustration, aimed at Heywood and shot him in the head, killing him instantly.
In the aftermath, two members of
the outlaw gang lay dead in the streets, and most of the other outlaws were either seriously wounded or had minor injuries from the townspeople’s gunfire. After barely escaping with their lives, the rest of the outlaws fled Northfield.
A week later, a posse of seven men surrounded the remaining members of the James-Younger gang near Madelia, Minnesota, 80 miles from Northfield.
Interior view of the First National Bank building at the time of the James-Younger gang’s bank raid on September 7, 1876. (NORTHFIELD HISTORICAL SOCIETY)
... and where Heywood fell.
Author Paul Pawela at the actual bank vault. The clock shows the actual time of the robbery.
A very grim reminder – Heywood’s blood stains on the bank ledger ...
Tour guide and historian Christine Grosse displays the actual sack of the money the gang stole – a total of $26.70.
Jesse and Frank James separated from the rest of the badly shot-up gang and managed to get away from the posse.
A shootout broke out. Pitts was shot in the heart and killed; Cole Younger was shot 11 times but survived. Brother Jim was shot five times and lived, and brother Bob was shot in the chest and survived. (The outlaws were sentenced to life in prison.)
THE COURAGE, LOYALTY and quick thinking of the ordinary townspeople of the Northfield community would go down in history.
Ironically, three days before the robbery and shootout, Heywood and his friend James Strong were discussing a string of bank robberies in a Vermont town where the perpetrators had successfully taken $200,000.
Strong asked Heywood a pointed question: “Do you think, under like circumstances, you would open the safe?” “I do not think I should,” Heywood answered. Strong was convinced of his friend’s resolve and believed that Heywood would never
give in to the demands of any bank robber.
Heywood was a man of his word and dared to give his own life to protect the people in the town he loved so dearly. ★
Editor’s note: American Shooting Journal dedicates this article to Joseph
Heywood and all the brave citizens who stood up to the outlaws. Author Paul Pawela also wishes to thank tour guide Christine Grosse, who provided an inspiring narration of the events that took place inside and outside the First National Bank, as well as on the streets of Northfield, Minnesota, on September 7, 1876.
Some of the firearms the townspeople used against the robbers.
Aggressor Adventures’ newest signature lodge in Thailand’s Chiang Mai province is the gateway to serenity, natural beauty and enchanting culture.
The intricately
Pha Chor Mae Wang National Park will be on your agenda for day six. Old Signature temple in Chiang Mai.
COMPANY SPOTLIGHT
PASSPORT TO WONDER
Aggressor Adventures’ new lodge immerses travelers in Thai culture, company’s signature amenities.
PHOTOS BY AGGRESSOR ADVENTURES
For 43 years, Aggressor Adventures has been creating five-star luxury adventures for intrepid travelers.
From liveaboard scuba diving trips to the Galapagos to river cruises down the Nile and excursions in Sri Lanka, each Aggressor destination around the world “offers up its own version of our ‘Adventure of a Lifetime,’” says Wayne Brown, the company’s president and CEO. “Our small groups (16 to 20 guests) ensure every guest feels like they are the center of attention.”
One of Aggressor’s newest signature lodges is in Chiang Mai, Thailand, the largest city in the north of the country and located 400 miles from Bangkok.
“Thailand is known as ‘The Land of Smiles’ for good reason,” says Brown. “It is one of the friendliest countries on Earth. Add their incredible northern city of Chiang Mai, located in a beautiful mountain range, and you have a combination that is a must experience for everyone.”
During a weeklong trip, guests are immersed in Thai culture while enjoying
Day seven of the tour will take you to the Phra That Doi Suthep Temple.
intricately carved pillars of the Golden Pavilion in Chiang Mai.
COMPANY SPOTLIGHT
Aggressor’s signature amenities and service. The Chiang Mai lodge consists of individual chalets with a central dining and reception building where guests can mingle with other likeminded adventurers. Other amenities include a pool, bar and five-star dining.
When not relaxing at the lodge, guests explore the cultural sites, Buddhist temples and villages of Chiang Mai via a comfortable air-conditioned bus with a driver and local guide.
The Aggressor website (aggressor .com) breaks down the daily itinerary, though it is subject to change. But no matter what the day holds – whether it’s a visit to an elephant sanctuary, a scenic hike on the Ang Ka Nature Trail, or a Thai cooking class followed by a massage at the lodge – it is sure to be an extraordinary adventure.
Visit Aggressor Adventures’ website to find out more about the Chiang Mai lodge and all the other worldwide adventures the company has to offer. ★
Day two includes a visit to an elephant sanctuary and Long Neck Tribe Village (below).
Architectural concept of the lodge’s restaurant/clubhouse, interior of the villas, and bathroom inside the villas.
The trio of .357 lever-action pistol-caliber carbines tested by author Frank Jardim. Top: Cimarron Firearms John Russell Model 1873 with uncommon button magazine factory option. It’s a careful reproduction of the classic Old West Winchester and the most historically authentic in appearance and function. Center: Heritage Firearms M92 Carbine. Not as authentic in its receiver lines and other details as the Cimarron, but it captures the basic look of the Winchester Model 1892 carbine in blued steel and wood with complete functionality. Bottom: GForce Saddlehorn LTAC 357. A more radical reinterpretation of the short Model 1892 “trapper” carbine with an aluminum receiver, M-Lok front handguard and Picatinny rails for optics and accessories like a tactical light that would make it ideal for home defense.
STORY
FRANK JARDIM
Do you own a lever-action rifle? If you don’t, the .357 Magnum cartridge is a good reason to take it under consideration. I recently realized that my collector interests in vintage Henry, Winchester and Marlin leveractions somewhat blinded me to their contemporary applications in modern calibers. After testing out a trio of lever guns in .357 Magnum, I’ve reached enlightenment.
For over 100 years, lever-action repeaters were the long guns of choice when you needed firepower for hunting and protection. The most popular models of the 1800s were what we would call today pistol-caliber carbines, or PCCs, which in the typical 20-inch-barrel carbine configuration could hold 10 rounds in their tubular magazines. That might not seem like much firepower in the modern era of 30-round detachable magazines, but consider that it is still more than a revolver and twice the capacity of most bolt-action hunting rifles.
THE CASE FOR .357 MAGNUM LEVERACTION CARBINES
AND PHOTOS BY
gun review
Made by Uberti in Italy, the blued-steel Cimarron is exceptionally well finished and stocked with elegant European walnut. Note the curved rifle-style butt plate. The extra attention to historic detail is what Cimarron is famous for. Naturally that comes with a higher price tag. With an MSRP of $1,780, this was the most expensive gun of the trio, and the most beautiful, in the author’s opinion.
These early PCC lever-actions traded the heavy-hitting power and range of the big black powder game cartridges of the day (e.g., .38-55, .4570, .50-95) for greater ammunition capacity, lighter recoil and faster handling. That is not to say one couldn’t kill buffalo with the .44 Henry rimfire or .44-40, .38-40 and .32-20 Winchester Center Fire cartridges they were mainly chambered in. It was done, but usually from what we would regard today as uncomfortably close range. They were intended to kill game of deer size or smaller, and of course men, inside of 100 yards.
I can’t say with certainty how much the taming of the American West had to do with the decline of the leveraction PCCs, but it appears that with the lack of hostile Indians or outlaws
The Model 1873 used a toggle link action that was very fast and very smooth in operation with its original tapered-case, black powder chamberings. While not as strong as the action on the Model 1892 Winchester, it is completely adequate for .357 Magnum pressures.
Note the authentically styled tang markings on the Cimarron and the cut hammer serrations. They also use historically appropriate roll marking on their barrels instead of laser etching them on.
to fight, their popularity seriously, and permanently, dropped off in the decade before World War II. Tapping into a nostalgia for the Old West that never really went away, the sport of cowboy action shooting revived interest in the old lever-action PCC chambered in easy-to-obtain contemporary .357 Magnum/.38 Special, .44 Magnum and .45 Colt calibers. This revival later included vintage-type lever-actions in big game calibers too, which bled into, and got traction in, the larger community of gun owners interested in recreational shooting, hunting and self-defense.
I GOT INTO the old pistol-caliber lever guns and their long-obsolete original chamberings out of historical interest rather than practical reasons. They were expensive to shoot and a little tricky to
handload because of their delicate case mouths but, boy, did they load smoothly thanks to the generous taper of the cases. The ammunition was literally designed for these guns.
Over 30 years ago I rationalized buying one of the first Uberti-made replicas of the Winchester Model 1873 in .45 Colt, a straight-walled case that the guns were never chambered in
The Cimarron John Russell Model 1873 (cimarron-firearms.com) is a copy of the one used by Paul Newman in the classic Western film Hombre. The 1873 was a much heavier and longer gun than the Model 1892. With a 20-inch barrel and six-round-capacity button magazine, the John Russell still weighs 7 pounds, 13.2 ounces empty and its overall length is 39 inches.
The Cimarron has an authentically styled buckhorn spring and step rear sight. While Jardim says this is fine for hunting, he hates them for target shooting. Still, he was able to shoot great groups with them from the bench at 50 yards.
gun review
historically. Unfortunately, it never lived up to my expectations. The action had lost its legendary smoothness as the straight-sided case dragged against the chamber walls with every stroke of the lever. The monstrous 255-grain slug wasn’t the flat shooter that the 200-grain .44-40 was, either. Shooting at a distance felt like casting rainbows. Later I got a gorgeous Miroku-made Browning replica of the Winchester Model 1892 carbine in .44 Magnum that had no shortage of power and range, but cycling the action was even more tortured due to the increased case expansion in the chamber from the magnum’s high pressures. Again, I had a gun that looked like a vintage lever-action, but it didn’t feel like one and that took the fun out of it for me. Twice burned, it would be another three decades before I tried one chambered in .357 Magnum. I wish I’d done it sooner. I would have been turned off by the inevitable straightsided case drag on the chamber walls, but I would eventually be won over. Back in those days, .38 Special and 357 Magnum brass was as common on range floors as 9mm is today and it was
free for the taking. It was economical for me to shoot these calibers because I already handloaded them and these lever guns could handle both.
Sooner or later I know I would try some .38 Special in the gun and realize that the shorter case cycles more smoothly, the nickel-plated cases commonly used by police chambered more smoothly than brass ones, and the .38 Special’s moderate pressures don’t make the fired cases clingy in the chamber. In short, the .38 Special/.357 Magnum lever gun was a winner in ways the .44 Magnum and .45 Colt models weren’t.
NOW LET’S JUMP to the present and my recent experiences with three newly manufactured guns, all modeled, to varying degrees of historical accuracy, on the traditional Winchester Model 1873 and 1892 lever-actions. These were the most popular designs in their day and likewise in the present.
The guns I tested included a very historically authentic Cimarron Firearms John Russell Winchester Model 1873 with an uncommon button magazine factory option; a classically
Old West-styled Heritage Firearms M92 Carbine based on the Winchester Model 1892; and a full-tactical, aluminum-receiver, optics-ready GForce Saddlehorn LTAC 357 based around the short and handy Winchester Model 1892 “trapper” carbine.
The new guns retain the design merits, and flaws, the originals had. When paired with a handgun of the same caliber, one ammunition type can be shared between the two. They are sleek and compact thanks to their tubular magazines, but reloading is a slow, one-round-at-a-time process through the loading gate on the right side of the receiver. Some bullet designs, especially those with exposed soft lead tips, can get marred during loading and actually jam up the process.
Unlike modern semiauto PCCs, which are nearly idiot-proof in their function and manual of arms, a leveraction requires some physical finesse. Fortunately, it is not hard to master.
Lever-actions cycle best when held upright and worked with manly vigor. Baby them and you’ll induce a jam. Taking some time to learn the loading and cycling rhythm of a lever gun is a
The Heritage Firearms M92 (heritagemfg.com) is made in Brazil to closely resemble a Winchester Model 1892 carbine with a 20-inch barrel and carbine-style banded magazine tube, forend and butt stock with a heavy sheet metal buttplate. It is a good value among blued-steel, hardwoodstocked, traditionally styled lever-actions with an MSRP of $863. Actual retail price appears to be in the $680 range.
Overall length of the Heritage 92 is a compact 37.2 inches and it weighs 6 pounds unloaded. These guns are basically scaled down Model 1886 Winchesters and use the same type of dual rear-locking bolts to secure the breech bolt in battery. They are overbuilt for pistol calibers, .357 Magnum included.
Unlike the original Winchester Model 1892, the Heritage 92 has a breech bolt-mounted hammer block safety switch in addition to the usual half-cock notch for the hammer.
The Heritage 92 has traditional open sights, a windage/elevation-adjustable buckhorn rear sight and a windage-adjustable front side blade with brass bead. Magazine capacity is 11 rounds of .38 Special or 10 rounds of .357 Magnum.
The stock is a stained hardwood with the Heritage logo deeply laser cut at the toe of the butt stock.
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prerequisite to reliable operation. What the modern lever guns have that the originals didn’t are better, stronger materials, modern highprecision manufacturing processes, and better-quality, more consistent ammunition. In my opinion it’s the ammunition part that makes the .357 Magnum lever-action PCC relevant. Today’s semiautomatic PCCs are chambered in today’s automatic pistol calibers: .380 ACP, 9x19 mm (9mm Luger), .40 S&W, .45 ACP and 10mm.
The most popular caliber by far for a PCC is 9mm. The most powerful, and expensive, is the 10mm. Comparatively few handguns are chambered in 10mm simply because it is too much for most shooters to handle comfortably. You could say the same about .357 Magnum, but revolver shooters must be a tougher breed because the .357 Magnum, alongside the .38 Special, are the most popular calibers for centerfire revolvers. A matching .357 Magnum/.38 Special lever gun PCC is a natural companion for the revolver lover; it appears more versatile on the top end of the power curve than all the semiauto chamberings with the possible exception of 10mm.
I TESTED THE three .357 Magnum factory loads in a 6-inch-barrel revolver and 20-inch-barrel lever-action carbine and the difference was impressive
with increases in velocity sometimes exceeding 550 feet per second. The semiautomatic pistol cartridges I had comparative data for weren’t nearly so spectacular, showing gains less than 200 fps from a 16-inch barrel, and much less in the case of .45 ACP. Already something of a beast among handgun cartridges, the .357 Magnum from a 20-inch-barrel lever-action PCC becomes a
lot more potent and a more practical killer inside 100 yards than it ever was in any of its original 19th century chamberings and with performance superior to all of its modern semiauto PCC peers except 10mm.
The Federal Premium 130-grain
Also based on the Winchester Model 1892, the Turkish-made GForce Arms Saddlehorn LTAC 357 (gforcearms.com) is the lightest, shortest and most dramatically modernized gun of this trio with an aluminum receiver and M-Lok front handguard. It weighs 5 pounds, 9 ounces empty and measures 34.5 inches overall.
The steel barrel is 16.5 inches long and threaded at the muzzle. Lever guns are ideal for use with suppressors since there is no gas escape from the closed action. Its MSRP is $779.
The wooden butt stock on the Saddlehorn LTAC 357 is fitted with a very untraditional soft rubber buttplate, which mitigates the already mild recoil for those especially sensitive to it. It also does a better job than a steel buttplate at staying put in our shoulder and preventing the rifle butt from slipping along the floor when the gun is leaned up against the wall. It comes with sling swivel bases installed on butt stock and forend.
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Hydra-Shok JHP averaged 1,553 fps from the revolver with 696 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle, and 2,139 fps from the rifle with 1,321 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle. Black Hills Ammunition’s 158-grain JHP averaged 1,206 fps from the revolver with 510 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle, and 1,774 fps from the rifle with 1,104 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle. The Winchester 110-grain JHP averaged 1,327 fps from the revolver with 430 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle, and 1,776 fps from the rifle with 770 footpounds of energy at the muzzle.
Other .357 Magnum loads tested through a 4-inch revolver and a 16.5-inch-barrel lever gun produced the following results: From the revolver, Black Hills Ammunition’s 127-grain, all-copper Honey Badger load averaged 1,375 fps
and 696 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle. From the carbine, it averaged 1,822 fps and 936 foot-pounds of muzzle energy. From the revolver, Federal American Eagle 158-grain JSP averaged 1,241 fps and 540 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle. From the carbine, it averaged 1,818 fps and 1,159 foot-pounds of muzzle energy. From the revolver, Winchester Super X 125-grain JHP averaged 1,452 fps and 585 footpounds of muzzle energy. From the carbine, it averaged 2,195 fps and 1,337 foot-pounds of muzzle energy. I observed that it was common for a .357
Magnum load fired from a revolver to have more muzzle energy than a 9mm load fired from a 16-inch-barreled PCC. The only thing a semiauto PCC has over a .357 Magnum leveraction PCC is rate of fire and speed of reloading.
In my opinion, all the guns
Intended for use with red dot optics, the Saddlehorn has a Picatinny rail mounted on the barrel and semi-fixed iron sights consisting of an elevation-only adjustable rear and fixed fiber optic enhanced front blade.
The Saddlehorn has the same safeties as the Heritage 92, a manual hammer block safety at the rear of the breech bolt and half-cock notch on the hammer.
gun review
I tested showed very good accuracy. I noticed that their exterior barrel profiles looked identical to those chambered in .44-40, which makes for a heavier, stiffer barrel on a .357 bore gun. That could be part of the reason these guns shot so well.
Magnum loads fired from the bench at 50 yards produced average fiveshot groups ranging from 1.82 to 3.63 inches with the average group size of all the loads tested coming in at (a very respectable for iron sights) 2 54 inches. If what you’ve read here has piqued your interest and you decide to get a .357 Magnum lever-action, I’m warning you now that it could very well lead to taking up handloading and bullet casting to keep them fed. The guns are pleasant and fun to shoot with minimal recoil, and .38 Special and .357 Magnum are easy to handload. Finally, regardless of where they are made, lever-actions are as American as Ford trucks and “The Star-Spangled Banner.” ★
The 50-yard accuracy with the Saddlehorn LTAC 357 was impressive. Less so the cartridge holder that can be positioned where you like on the forend. It grips the rounds so tightly that there is no chance of losing them on the trail – or getting them out in a hurry if you need them, says Jardim.
FROM THE BONES OF BISON
A look at the casehardening process, from yesteryear to today.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY MIKE NESBITT
Ebonex Corporation is a company rather well known to professional gunsmiths but probably not as well known to general shooters. The reason for that is because the products Ebonex offers are used for finishing the metals on guns, either for bluing or for
the very colorful casehardening. To be more specific, Ebonex offers two granulations of bone charcoal that is used for both color casehardening and for the distinctive charcoal bluing, and it takes an experienced ’smith to really put the bone charcoal to use.
In order for me to adequately tell you about the Ebonex products, I needed to “get the story” and share
was using it. So I asked the folks at Ebonex for some names of gun shops or gunsmiths who were currently their customers. I was both surprised and delighted to see C. Sharps Arms on the list of names they gave me. Plans were immediately made to visit C. Sharps Arms to get the story from Pat Dulin, their main shop man who supervises the color casehardening
A Sharps Model 1874 by C. Sharps Arms, with color casehardened action.
A recent rifle made by C. Sharps Arms with vivid casehardening colors on the action.
BLACK POWDER
Nowadays the person who does most of the color case work for C. Sharps Arms is Kaysen Schmidt, who, at just 23 years of age, is doing a remarkable job. He learned from Pat, liked what the job was, and after showing his talent, more or less took over the task. Now at C. Sharps Arms, they say, “Kaysen does the casin’.”
LET ME GIVE you a bit of history on
the use of bone charcoal in the old black powder days. In the 1870s and later, there were large quantities of buffalo bones on the prairies, left by the buffalo hunters. Those bones were picked up by the wagon load and shipped to the East Coast by rail. Most of the notes about those bones suggest they were used by the fertilizer plants. However, a good portion of those buffalo bones were
turned into bone charcoal and possibly used by the firearms manufacturers such as Sharps, Colt, Winchester and Remington, among others, that offered color casehardening as a standard or optional finish to their guns. Of course, color casehardening is not exclusive to black powder guns.
One company that expanded during this time was Michigan Carbon Works, which originated in Detroit in 1873. That company concentrated on making bone charcoal for the refinement of sugar but rather quickly looked into making glues, fertilizers and other bone-based products. As soon as 1880, production reached 5,000 tons of bone charcoal annually. One source claimed Michigan Carbon Works used 13 percent of all bison bones harvested on the plains.
The Michigan Carbon Works business still exists today as Ebonex, located in Melvindale, Michigan. According to the Ebonex website, “As buffalo bones became scarce in the 1890s, bone scavengers resorted to raiding Native American burial sites, leading to significant ethical and legal conflicts. Eventually, human bones were banned from the industry, and
A shipping label from Ebonex.
C. Sharps Arms’ kiln with the crucible inside, and yes, it is hot.
Another fine example of color casehardening.
companies had to seek alternative sources of raw materials. Michigan Carbon Works, anticipating this crisis, stockpiled bones and later diversified into phosphorous-rich bone black dust for fertilizers. Despite the decline in buffalo bone availability, the industry survived by adapting to changing materials and demands.”
One demand that has remained the same, or so it appears, is for the color casehardening in the firearms industry. Frames for the Colt Single Action Army, and the replicas of those guns, are still beautifully color casehardened. Likewise, the actions on the Sharps rifles, both new and old, certainly offer a note of identity to those guns.
With that in mind, it seemed like a visit to C. Sharps Arms for a discussion about color casehardening and Ebonex bone charcoal was the perfect place to get the whole story.
HERE’S THE PROCESS: First, of course, the steel parts to be color casehardened are polished and prepared. And, as I was told rather conversationally, Ebonex produces the bone charcoal
to prepare a mixture for just one job; likewise, at C. Sharps Arms the gun parts are color casehardened for just one gun at a time. (I don’t know if other manufacturers have other methods.)
That mixture is where the bone charcoal is blended, about 50-50, with a wood charcoal, which adds another type of carbon to the mix and that does affect the colors seen in the metals.
This mixture, or the bone charcoal itself, can be used more than once. However, the colors in the metals will not be as bright when the charcoal mixture is used a second time. With that in mind, the charcoals at C. Sharps Arms are only used once.
Gun parts that are being prepared for color casehardening at C. Sharps Arms are annealed by being heated to 1,400 degrees. Then they are left to cool very slowly, overnight.
One little “trade secret” that I witnessed – and that I am allowed to mention – is how Kaysen applied a thin coating of beeswax to the inside of the crucible (the heavy container for casehardening the parts) and that beeswax adds another type of carbon to the charcoal mix.
With the beeswax applied, the crucible is filled with the mixed charcoals and the gun parts are also added, completely covered by the charcoals. Next, the crucible is sealed
Sparks fly as the hot crucible is opened.
Kaysen Schmidt shows off parts for a First Sergeant rifle.
BLACK POWDER
and placed inside the kiln for heating. When I asked how hot it needed to be heated, I was told that it is a trade secret, so I will just say it is over 1,200 degrees. But just how hot, and for how long it will remain in the kiln, is something that only the color case supervisor will know because their experience tells them what they need to do in order to get the best colors. Finally, tap water is used for the quench.
C. SHARPS ARMS certainly does get good colors. I wasn’t able to be there when the crucible was opened – that is a spectacular sight to see, with several flying sparks – but later, Kaysen did show me the pieces I had watched him put into the crucible and they came out looking very good.
Of course, I have some examples of the color casehardening that C. Sharps Arms does on some of my own rifles.
Selecting which of my rifles to include in this story was too difficult a task, simply because I do have my favorites, so instead I have selected some pictures from C. Sharps Arms’ files.
Getting back to Ebonex for just a moment, this company was formed in the 1960s and it continues to produce bone charcoal today. While bones are no longer obtained from the prairies, charred animal bones are still processed in much the same way as they were over a century ago. Ebonex upholds a legacy of quality and customer service, maintaining bone charcoal as a valued product in specialized industries.
After watching Kaysen perform his magic, which I found to be very impressive, Pat joined our conversation and we concluded our discussion about the Ebonex bone charcoal. Pat put the cap on it by saying, “If it wasn’t the best, at C. Sharps Arms we wouldn’t be using it.” ★
A C. Sharps Arms #4 rolling block was given away as a youth prize at this year’s Matthew Quigley Buffalo Rifle Match in eastern Montana. (C. SHARPS ARMS)
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Boom! Detonating a Firebird Targets product at the range. (JASON BROOKS)
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
A BETTER BOOM FOR YOUR BUCK
A look at Firebird Targets’ exploding bull’s-eyes.
STORY BY JASON BROOKS
hooting at various things to make them go boom is nothing new. I remember as a young lad of about 10 running around with a BB gun, my friends and I liked to shoot at empty bottles in the desert. The sound of the glass breaking was always satisfying, until we discovered a neat trick – if we shot a full bottle, it exploded!
Sthink that was the catalyst that made me want to become a Marine, but it was not. It did, however, make me more vigilant around things that can go boom.
I haven’t thought about that day for many decades now, but after spending a day on the range with my Henry Rifle and some Firebird Targets, I look back at it fondly, as I am just as ecstatic now as I was back then. There is something about
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
targets are made with a biodegradable polymer shell that shatters upon impact and naturally degrades over time, leaving minimal cleanup. Inside each shell is a premixed explosive compound that is stable in storage and cannot be improvised into larger explosives. The target has a peel-and-stick adhesive, allowing simple attachment to steel plates, wood, clay pigeons, archery targets and other sturdy backings. Firebird Targets have an instant hit confirmation with flash, sound and smoke – all while being safer and more environmentally friendly than traditional binary explosive targets. These are not binary targets, so they don’t need mixing and are safe for transport. While Firebird Targets offer the same heart-pounding blast as other exploding targets, Firebird’s proprietary mixture and self-contained shell make it a safer alternative to Tannerite and other binary compounds. Firebird Targets also don’t contain ammonium nitrate and are not classed as a high explosive. Firebird is the only exploding target licensed for retail sales in the US. While the high explosive binary
targets measured at 50 feet.
These Moderated targets (M65, M65IR and M50) are not only useful when introducing youth shooters to the sport, but have become popular among suppressed shooting enthusiasts, sporting clay shooters, as well as night vision shooters. The term “Moderated” was coined after the air gun industry term for “suppressor,” as most pneumatics do not practice hearing protection.
Firebird Targets are versatile across different weapon platforms, as they are compatible with rifles, pistols, shotguns, air rifles, crossbows and compound bows. Their targets are useful for law enforcement and military training since they simulate combat or reactive engagement conditions. The targets offer auditory and visual stress cues to improve shooter response and accuracy.
target safety distance is 100 yards due to potential blowback of loose materials, because of its low pyrotechnic energy, Firebird’s minimum safety distance is only 50 feet.
IN ADDITION TO their standard line of targets, Firebird’s IR line provides infrared/night shooting by virtue of the glint tape on the face of the target. Their Moderated line, meanwhile, is a reformulation of the pyrotechnic compound to produce only 65 decibels measured at 25 feet. (The same 50-foot safety distance for all Firebird Instant Hit Recognition Targets holds true.) The M line produces substantially lower noise than the standard 140-decibel
For more information on Firebird Targets or to find out where to order them, please visit their website at firebirdtargets.com. ★
Editor’s note: Author Jason Brooks is a combat medically retired marine, force recon hand-to-hand instructor, counterterrorism instructor trainer, recognized national law enforcement trainer, active personal protection specialist and co-owner of Assault Counter Tactics. Visit assaultcountertactics.com for more.
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