As the United States celebrates its 249th birthday this month, a model dressed as an early American Revolutionary War militiaman brings to life some of the period pieces created by highly skilled craftsmen for auction at the 29th Annual Contemporary Longrifle Association Show & Meeting next month in Lexington, Kentucky. (CONTEMPORARY LONGRIFLE ASSOCIATION)
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WHY THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR IS STILL RELEVANT TODAY
Class is in session and our staff history and civics professor Frank Jardim has some reminders about the ideals of and sacrifices made by American leaders and militiamen that have made our nation great from the start.
FEATURES
24 KIT OF AN AMERICAN MILITIAMAN
Ahead of the 29th Annual Contemporary Longrifle Association Show & Meeting next month, we take a look at some of the period pieces up for auction, including a replica longrifle, belt pouch and knives that wouldn’t have been out of place 250 years ago at the Battles of Lexington and Concord.
53 ROAD HUNTER: TOP WATERFOWL GEAR FOR THE WIN!
It’s high summer for most of us, but leave it to Scott Haugen to already be thinking ahead to the wet, dark days of fall and winter. Indeed, waterfowl season will be here before you know it, and Scott shares some of the best shotguns, calls, waders and other duck hunting equipment he field tested last season.
59 BULLET BULLETIN: STANDARDS AND ODDBALLS ALIKE
Call it music to the ears of our sales manager, but paging through American Shooting Journal led Phil Massaro to the doorstep of his Upstate New York neighbor William Noody, purveyor of “excellent handmade projectiles not only in common calibers, but in some of my beloved oddballs as well.” Massaro details Northern Precision Custom Swaged Bullets’ wares.
70 PHEASANT HUNTING 101
Add one part dedicated wingshooter to one part world-class shotgunner and what do you get? Larry Case and Dave Miller – yes, that world-record holder and upland bird addict –teaming up to talk Great Plains ringneck pheasant hunting!
76 SC ATTERGUN ALLEY: THE DOUBLE GUN RISES AGAIN Semiautos, inertia systems and the like are all the rage with bird hunters, but if you yearn for the good ol’ days and “chunk chunk” sound of shells being dropped into a pair of side-by-side barrels, Heritage Manufacturing’s Badlanders just might soothe your soul, writes our scattergun guru.
83 SELF-DEFENSE TRAINING: PREPPING FOR A TWO-WAY BATTLE (PART TWO)
Safe to say that Paul Pawela got his money’s worth out of a recent Tactical Anatomy Summit! In the second half of his series, he shares training lessons on targeting critical body parts as they shift during dynamic engagements.
89 TACTICAL TRAINING: WHERE PROTECTORS REFINE THEIR EDGE (PART ONE)
Surviving a fight well before a gun is drawn was the subject of a recent two-day Private Security Detail course taught by Graciela Casillas of Executive Security International. In the first half of her series, she details combatives training she delivered to highly motivated, ex-military participants.
95 TACTICAL TRAINING: A TRAINING RIFLE, AND DRILLS TO GO WITH IT
One thing Ash Hess hates is articles that go long on a product and then utterly fail to lay out best practices for its use. So he’s turning the tide with not only a review of Unit Solutions’ realistic non-lethal Unit4 training rifle, but the drills you can perform with it to improve your firearms skills.
(VIA METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART)
31 BL ACK POWDER: .50-70S, TO THE LINE!
It did and didn’t go according to plan – Mike Nesbitt reports back from his black powder cartridge club’s annual specialty match for shooters of buffalo rifles in .50-70 and other calibers.
101 L AW ENFORCEMENT SPOTLIGHT: REMEMBERING SERGEANT GARRETT
It’s been 40-plus years since a Northern California officer was gunned down by a bank robber, but the memory of Sergeant George Garrett lives on each May 8. Nick Perna recalls the only cop ever killed in the line of duty at his old department and how Garrett’s death changed procedures.
36 HENRY REPEATING ARMS GOLDEN BOY REVOLVER
Pardon the theme song music playing in the background –“Da-da-da-daaaaaaaa …” – but this top-quality retro-style .22 revolver just might inspire some Indiana Jones daydreaming. It sure did when Trampas Swanson got his paws on one for a review!
45 L ASER-FOCUSED ON REFINEMENT
Meet Carl Collins, “a guy who loves quality leatherwork, loves handguns … and I’ve built this business around that.” He shares all the craftsmanship that goes into his Exodus Gunleather holsters and belts.
(TRAMPAS SWANSON)
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July 19
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July 9-13
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July 11-13
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July 11-13
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July 10
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July 12-13
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July 26-27
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WHY THE REVOLUTIONARY IS STILL RELEVANT
REVOLUTIONARY WAR RELEVANT TO AMERICA
Remembering the ideals, sacrifices and heroes that have made our nation great from the start.
STORY BY FRANK JARDIM
Last year, Mr. Ronald Spinella died. He had a genuine passion for early American history and devoted his life to teaching it. He was my high school history professor and I have never studied under a better mentor. He knew it was important that young Americans, like my classmates and I, understood who we were as a people and why being an American made us different – and yes, better –than any other nationality.
These lessons can be drawn from many periods in our history, but it’s the American Revolution that first, and best, demonstrates it. After all, it’s our origin story. Through it, the United States and the American people were formed 250 years ago when the real “greatest generation” among our ancestors embarked on an ambitious effort to secure for us the right to representative government. The magnitude of that effort is underappreciated today in both the originality of its intellectual scope (of which the Declaration of Independence is a prime example) and the massive, practical obstacles the rebelling colonists faced in challenging one of the world’s most powerful empires. Failure resulting in the confiscation of their property, incarceration and probably execution was far more likely than achieving independence; yet they chose the path of rebellion against royal authority anyway. Who does that kind of crazy?! Americans do.
Here are some things you should know about the Revolution and the people who made it happen almost by force of will alone.
Washington Crossing the Delaware by Emanuel Leutze, oil on canvas, 1851. The painting shows General George Washington crossing the Delaware River during the Battle of Trenton in December 1776. (VIA METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART)
THE BOUNDLESS
OPPORTUNITIES
in the North American British colonies attracted men of ambition, audacity and courage. Add hard work and good luck, and no accomplishment seemed beyond attainment. The colonies lacked the safety and order of old European civilization, but they didn’t hold a man back for lack of social standing or wealth. In England, labor was abundant and cheap, and land scarce and expensive. A farmer might never own the land he worked and a laborer could rarely aspire to more than a rented dwelling. In the colonies, it was hard to hire labor at any price, and land was abundant and comparatively cheap and even free for the taking on the frontier. In the colonies, a man would work for someone else no longer than he needed to earn enough money to pursue his own ambitions! With a farm, a man could be self-sufficient and beholden to no one. Men of humble birth amassed fortunes through their own endeavors. The colonies were a wellspring of selfmade men accustomed to making their own decisions and deciding their own fate.
The American Revolution wasn’t a spontaneous peasant revolt of the unwashed starving masses. That was the type of revolt European kings
were quite familiar with. In the British colonies, there were noblemen, but there was no peasantry. In fact, the British colonists in North America had a higher standard of living than their fellow Englishmen in the British Isles. Their path to rebellion was paved with thoughtfully written challenges to perceived wrongs widely read in newspapers and published in pamphlets (Thomas Paine’s Common Sense is an example). The revolutionaries were educated men with a stake in their society. They had a lot to lose. They were property owners, business owners, professionals, artisans, farmers and above all else – taxpayers. When the colonists decried “taxation without representation,” they felt sincerely wronged by the crown’s policies (i.e., the Stamp Act, Townshend Acts). The decision to rebel against the crown wasn’t an easy one. It took more than a decade of “abuses” and requests for relief before open war broke out in April 1775.
The American Revolution was unique in its legal and moral justifications in a way that couldn’t have happened anywhere other than an English colony after the rise of representative government in the mother country as a counterpoise to the traditionally unlimited power of a divine-right monarchy. Timing, and
place, was everything.
The American Revolution was also a civil war within the colonies/ states. Only about a third of the population of the colonies was in favor of independence from England. They were called patriots or rebels, depending on your point of view. A third of the people were neutral on the issue and wished to stay out of it, or at least out of the war’s way. Another third supported the crown and actively fought against the patriots. They were called Tories or Loyalists. New York leaned toward the Tories. New England leaned heavily toward the patriots.
The Continental Army was an entirely volunteer force led by a volunteer general. George Washington served as the commander-in-chief without pay. The rest of the army was supposed to be paid, but that turned out to be easier said than done. The army never exceeded 48,000 men, spread across all theaters. Because of the relatively short enlistment periods (by modern standards) and inconsistent (often poor) support from the Continental Congress and the new state governments, it was extremely challenging for Washington to maintain the Continental Army as a fighting force. That he did was one of his greatest achievements. His decision to allow free African Americans to join the army was motivated by the constant need for fighting men. In total, approximately 231,000 men served in it during the war, which lasted from the spring of 1775 to the fall of 1783 with 6½ years of that time being active combat operations.
The sacrifices made by these patriots from deprivation alone were great. Poor and/or inadequate food, clothing and shelter were generally the norm for the soldiers. Most horribly, more American prisoners of war died from starvation and disease confined in prison ships and warehouses in New York than the total number of killed and wounded in battle. Estimates are that the Continental Army suffered approximately 6,090 killed in action,
American prisoners of war died by the thousands from starvation and disease while incarcerated on British prison ships in New York Harbor. (FROM THE COLLECTION OF ALAN TAYLOR, UC DAVIS)
7,783 wounded, and 25,000 captured, of which probably 18,000 died from cruel treatment in captivity. The British viewed Continental Army and patriot militia prisoners as criminals and they did not have the protections afforded POWs under British law.
DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY
War, American patriots were the underdog in just about every theater, but they kept fighting and eventually won because they made enough headaches for the British government that Parliament finally just decided to quit and cut their losses! Truth be told, the British never went all-in against the rebelling colonies. Even though the Royal forces deployed were a small fraction of their overall military assets, the Americans knew it was highly unlikely that they could defeat the British Army on land or the Navy
at sea without some foreign allies possessing serious military mojo.
In an astonishingly unlikely hail Mary diplomatic effort, the American patriots got both France and Spain to support them against the British. France and Spain had big armies, but more importantly, they had big navies, and all of a sudden Britain found her campaign to crush a rebellion in her colonies had exploded into a full-scale war at sea. Benjamin Franklin was the man who made it happen. There’s a good reason he’s on the $100 bill.
General Washington justly deserves to be known as “the father of our country” because of his devotion to the patriot cause and long service both in war and as two-time president of the new republic after the war was won. Do the math and you’ll see this man spent over 16 years away from his home. People didn’t live all that long in those days. He died three
years after completing his second term in office at age 67. You will fully understand what he was sacrificing if you visit his home at Mount Vernon and sit on his porch looking out over the cliffs at the Potomac River below. Ask yourself, if you had a life this beautiful and comfortable, would you ever want to leave it?
Though a very good strategist, General Washington wasn’t all that good a tactical leader and lost more battles than he won. In fairness, he didn’t have previous experience managing a force as big and complex as an army, but he was the best man we had. Unlike Britain, the colonies didn’t have a standing army of trained professional soldiers (regulars). Washington had to essentially build the Continental Army from scratch. Some of his early accomplishments included successfully forcing the British out of Massachusetts during
The Battle of Trenton followed the Continental Army’s surprise attack at Princeton. Painting by Hugh Charles McBarron, Jr. (US ARMY CENTER OF MILITARY HISTORY)
the Siege of Boston; retreating with the remnants of his shattered army from the disastrous Battle of Long Island right under the noses of the British; his spectacular crossing of the Delaware River, thick with floating ice, to capture Princeton, New Jersey, in a surprise Christmas Day attack on the large Hessian mercenary garrison there; and how he kept the army together during the terrible winter at Valley Forge while substantially improving its martial capabilities with the help of German volunteer General Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben. Washington was in it to win it. He was ultimately the architect of the final battlefield victory at Yorktown precipitating the Treaty of Paris in 1783 that ended the war. If not for Washington, there would have been no decisive victory at Yorktown and the rebellion would very likely have failed for no other reason than the Americans were utterly exhausted. After 6½ years of fighting, the patriots were at the end of their rope, while the British, with the power of an empire and control of the seas, could reinforce as needed. It was Washington who convinced the French Admiral François Joseph Paul de Grasse to keep the full strength of his fleet in support
of his strategic plan at Yorktown, contrary to competing French interests to sail south to protect their West Indies colonies. Washington was truly the indispensable man for the patriot cause.
THE
WAR
WAS
fought in many theaters against British Regulars, Hessian mercenaries, Tory Loyalists, British-allied Indians and Canadian militias. Battle was joined on land, from city to wilderness, and on the rivers, lakes and open ocean. From these many battlefronts emerge scores of heroes, the names and deeds of which every American should know.
In the north, Vermont’s Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys captured Fort Ticonderoga without losing a man. Colonel Henry Knox, a former Boston bookseller and self-taught artilleryman (he read the books he ordered in for British officers), made a seemingly impossible 300-mile cross-country trek across a frozen landscape with 60 tons of heavy cannon from the recently captured Fort Ticonderoga to successfully conclude the Siege of Boston. Colonel Benedict Arnold (paradoxically later a traitor) was the bold and intuitive combat hero of the Battle of Saratoga in 1777. That victory convinced France that the American rebellion against England might actually succeed and opened
Battle of Yorktown. Storming Redoubt 10. Painting by Hugh Charles McBarron, Jr. (US ARMY CHIEF OF MILITARY HISTORIANS OFFICE)
Colonel Henry Knox transports heavy artillery from Fort Ticonderoga 300 miles to the Siege of Boston. (DIXON TICONDEROGA COMPANY)
the door for the fateful alliance that made ultimate victory possible.
On the western frontier, Lieutenant Colonel George Rogers Clark captured Vincennes in 1779.
In the south, Colonel William Moultrie successfully defended Charleston against an invading British fleet in 1776 with a well-placed and hastily built sand and palmetto log fort. Not only did the British lose several ships to his artillery, but they had to suffer having their own recently landward-fired cannon balls returned to them out of the mouths of the American guns! Moultrie’s success bought the southern theater two more
years of relative peace.
Lieutenant Colonel Francis Marion, known as The Swamp Fox, waged a self-supporting campaign of harassment (terrorism in the eyes of the British and their allies) in the south that made him a legendary guerilla warrior in his time. He proved impossible to capture.
Brigadier General Daniel Morgan’s tactically excellent leadership at the Battle of Cowpens in South Carolina resulted in a heavily one-sided victory that instigated the British withdrawal from the countryside to Yorktown, where they eventually surrendered.
Complementing the heroes of the American Revolution on land was the Continental Navy’s Captain John Paul Jones. In command of the 42-gun converted Dutch merchantman USS Bonhomme Richard, he spent hours in close combat with the 44-gun British HMS Serapis, much of it with the two ships lashed together and battering each other with cannon and musket fire and grenades. Seeing the heavy damage to Jones’s ship, the British captain called for his surrender. Jones replied, “I have not yet begun to fight,” and it was the British who finally struck their colors.
IN ADDITION TO
being a genuinely gripping story, studying the American Revolution illustrates how much today’s average Americans take for granted. Our ancestors shouldered their muskets and marched off to do the real heavy lifting to create the most free civilized society the world has ever had so we didn’t have to. Subsequent generations just had to maintain it.
American cannons entrenched at Dorchester Heights force the British out of Boston, ending the siege. Painting by Louis S. Glanzman. (NATIONAL PARK SERVICE)
Colonel Benedict Arnold wounded at Saratoga. (ANNE S. K. BROWN MILITARY COLLECTION)
Lieutenant Colonel George Rogers Clark captures Fort Sackville, 1779. Fall of Fort Sackville by Frederick Coffay Yohn. (INDIANA HISTORICAL BUREAU)
Yet, to my astonishment, too many of today’s citizens are disengaged from their responsibility.
Our constitutional republic only functions properly when the electorate and the elected are intelligent and educated enough to both understand how they can act within its longestablished legal framework and guiding principles and how to identify the current challenges that can and should be addressed by government for the common good.
If you’ve ever felt like your local government has taxed you “without
representation” when learning about some new levy for the first time after it’s already law, remember it was your duty to show up at the meeting the tax was proposed at. Just so there’s no confusion, let me clarify that your duty is to show up, give your opinion, and initiate a civil and honest public discussion on the merits of the tax. It is not to shout down and harangue the opposition.
In closing, I’d like to mention that if after reading up on the Revolution you decide you really love the subject, you should know that there are several
well-regarded reenactment groups dedicated to public education that recreate many of the important battles and events of the period in authentic reproduction uniforms and kit, sometimes at the actual historic sites.
And while uniforms and kit are available from many sources, safe, firing reproduction British Brown Bess and French Charleville muskets of excellent quality are only made by Davide Pedersoli SRL in Italy, but can be ordered from their American agents in Texas at italianfirearmsgroup.com. ★
Davide Pedersoli British Brown Bess Musket. (DAVIDE PEDERSOLI)
A model dressed as an American Revolutionary War militiaman brings to life some of the period pieces created by highly skilled craftsmen for the annual Contemporary Longrifle Association auction.
KIT OF AN AMERICAN MILITIAMAN AT THE OUTSET OF THE REVOLUTION
A look at some of the period pieces up for auction at the 29th Annual Contemporary Longrifle Association Show & Meeting next month.
STORY BY FRANK JARDIM • PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE CONTEMPORARY
LONGRIFLE ASSOCIATION
On August 8 and 9, in the elegant exhibition spaces of Lexington, Kentucky’s Central Bank Center, the Contemporary Longrifle Association will hold its 29th annual meeting. Dedicated to preserving the artisanal skills of American craftsmen and -women spanning the colonial era through the start of the 1840s, the CLA membership encompasses hundreds of artists working as gunmakers, horners, leather workers, weavers, embroiderers, clothing makers, blacksmiths and blade makers, potters, furniture makers and more, with virtually all professions, as well as the conventional decorative arts, represented. If it was made by skilled hands in America before 1840, there’s someone in the CLA who’s still doing it that way and they will have their best on display for sale.
Show hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday and 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, and it will take attendance on both days to just begin to take it all in. Admission requires membership, but a special one-time $30 prorated family membership can be purchased at the door allowing entry for parents and their kids. One of the highlights of the event is the fundraising auction sponsored by the Contemporary Longrifle Foundation (contemporarylongriflefoundation.org) to support the CLA’s programs. This year, 43 artists contributed their talents to create 23 unique lots, from firearms to fine art. The live auction will be held Friday, August 8, at 5 p.m., but the foundation has instructions for absentee bidders to participate by phone or e-mail on their website.
THE REPLICA LEATHER dispatch case (Lot 25), modeled after one known to be present on the field when “the shot heard ’round the world” was fired, drew my imagination back to the Massachusetts towns of Lexington and Concord where, on the morning of April 19, 1775, colonial militiamen clashed with British Regulars, starting the American Revolution. Among the expertly crafted auction items, I found much of the kit one would expect a patriot militiaman to have, and the CLA graciously arranged for a model to pose with some of them for photographs to bring to life, in modern living color, what one of these patriots could have looked like 250 years ago.
Rather than a uniform, our recreated militiaman is more typical in that he wears his own civilian clothes: a broad-brimmed slouch hat, brown button-up coat of homespun wool fabric and a homespun, natural linen shirt. He carries his own arms and accoutrements: a civilian longrifle with no provision for a
bayonet, a hunting bag, and loose black powder in a locally made horn instead of a soldier’s cartridge box of preloaded paper cartridges. He appears more prepared for hunting than battle. British Regulars, clad in their elegant red regimental coats and military headwear, were not initially impressed by the colonial militia, which they perceived to be a disparate rabble of farmers under arms rather than a serious military force. That was only partially correct. They were in fact mostly farmers under arms, but with much greater organizational and fighting prowess than they ever anticipated. Clues that the Massachusetts colonial militias were highly organized were evident before the British troops ever encountered them.
When approximately 700 British troops left Boston in the dead of night, attempting to march in secret and seize the militia’s military supplies before they could protest, the surprise was spoiled by Boston silversmith Paul Revere, who became a hero of the patriot cause by spreading the word through the countryside as fast as his horse could carry him. He was not the only man involved in this complex espionage and alert system. It was soon apparent to the British that the patriots knew they were coming.
Hours later, the assembled militiamen that met the British on Lexington green were too few to challenge them with hope of success, nor did the leaders of either force want or expect a fight. To this day, exactly who fired the first shot that sparked a revolution is unknown. The British won the skirmish that followed, but by the time they reached Concord, the patriot militia’s numbers had swelled to about 400. When the British force broke up to search for hidden military stores, the security force they left guarding the now famous North Bridge found itself badly outnumbered by patriot militia and was
driven away under fire. By midday it was clear to the British field officers that more and more militia companies were arriving hourly, they were already badly outnumbered, and it was long past time to return to Boston. Unfortunately for them, the patriots were not through fighting. An American legend was born that very afternoon.
MOTIVATED AND ORGANIZED,
militia and minuteman units pursued and repeatedly attacked the retreating British troops withdrawing down the road to Boston, inflicting heavy casualties with few losses of their own. Rather than face the British in line on an open field in the traditional European professional military manner, the Americans made use of the terrain to afford themselves cover and to conceal their movements, firing from behind stone walls, trees and even from houses along the way. They attacked from the front, rear and flanks as it suited their circumstances. Lacking bayonets, the Americans held their distance from the British troops, usually withdrawing and slipping away when the Regulars deployed to counterattack. British casualties mounted with each mile.
Among the militiamen from the more civilized eastern shore regions of the colonies, the smoothbore civilian fowler was more common than the rifle, though some rifles were surely present. Rifles were slower to load than muskets, and a close, fast-moving
The Battle of Lexington. (WILLIAM BARNS WOLLEN/NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM)
The second of four engravings by Amos Doolittle from 1775, depicting the British entering Concord. (HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES LIBRARY/PRINT COLLECTION, MIRIAM AND IRA D. WALLACH DIVISION OF ART, PRINTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS)
fight did not allow them to use their greater range and accuracy to full effect. Whether fighting with rifle or smoothbore, the Americans showed themselves to be deadly shots. In short order the British troops were exhausted, thirsty and nearly out of ammunition. By the time they could see Lexington, they were effectively routed. If not for approximately 1,000 British reinforcements from Boston that met them there, they would likely have surrendered. Even with reinforcements, the British continued to suffer casualties from militia attacks until they finally reached the safety of Boston. It is estimated that 49 patriots were killed, 39 wounded and five reported missing in the day’s fighting, while the British tallied 73 killed, 174 wounded and 53 missing, a substantially higher percentage of their total force.
As news of the skirmishes spread through New England, even militia from neighboring states arrived outside Boston. The British found themselves surrounded by an estimated 14,000 patriot militiamen. What started as a discreet reconnaissance in force to seize colonial military stores and reduce the chance of armed confrontation inadvertently precipitated the siege of Boston and the fighting part of the Revolutionary War!
Before the running battle back to Boston, the British underestimated both the organizational capabilities and the fighting spirit of the New England militias. It’s true the militias were generally not grandly equipped with regimental coats and conventional military arms. Nor were they especially disciplined or familiar with contemporary military drill. However, to their credit they played critical roles, on and off, throughout the various theaters of war.
LOOKING OVER THE
auction catalog, the six CLA creations on the following pages jumped out at me as things a typical militiaman would likely have possessed. Your imagination may take you to different places. I encourage you to indulge yourself and take the time to visit the auction website and check out the rest. ★
LOt 13
Bag & HOrn SEt by Tim
SannEr
and JEff Luke
The bag and horn represents a well-made set that could have been carried in the eastern region of the country. It would not have been out of place on a Massachusetts farmer. The set was built around a gorgeous banded horn by Tim Sanner, which utilizes a natural gray/green coloration and features turned horn bands affixed with hardwood pins and a turned Sapelli wood base plug stained with cherry coloration in the Berks County style. The finished horn was aged by Sanner with his proprietary techniques to give a worn look.
The accompanying bag is a rather large piece with several details and features incorporated to give it a bit of an upscale, shop-built appearance common in many bags of the period. From the bag’s straps hang the horn, using small buckles for adjustment. The forged buckles are the work of John Rader. The bag is constructed of various weights of vegetable-tanned cowhide, which were worked and dyed to give a well-used appearance. Despite their aged look, these pieces were built to be used and appreciated for decades to come.
LOt 28
LOnGrIfle by DaVid AlleN
David Allen contributed this breathtaking Pennsylvania-style longrifle that will serve the modern hunter or target shooter as well as the originals did the longhunters of the 18th century. It began as a Jim Chambers early Lancaster kit, with a 44-inch, C-weight, .54-caliber swamped barrel and an always reliable Chambers lock. Allen added subtle relief carving around the
entry pipe, the tang and on the wrist. The rifle also exhibits carved decorative molding on the cheekpiece and down the forearm. The stock, painstakingly finished with aqua fortis and linseed oil, also exhibits graceful silver wire inlay. This rifle is decorated to a level somewhat above what one would expect to find in the hands of a common frontiersman. It would not be out of place above the mantle of a prosperous farmer.
The pouch is a replica of a dispatch case carried by militiaman Silas Mann in the fight at Concord’s North Bridge. The original is on display at the Concord Museum. It is very neatly made with precise stitching and four slits on the back side forming loops for belt carry. The cover flap has a locking loop to secure the contents, as did the original. In the 18th century, it was intended for the protection of important paper documents like maps and correspondence when outdoors. Today it is a great convenience when dressing in 18th century garb because it allows the inconspicuous carrying of a cell phone!
Lot 10
Folding KniFe by Scott SummervilLe
A pocket knife was even more important 250 years ago than it is today. It could be used to cut a patched ball when loading a rifle, make a quill pen or cut a plug of chewing tobacco, to name just a few uses. This Barlow-style knife was a very common design in the 18th century. The blade is modern 1095 high-carbon steel with a typical 18th century
Lot 20 Sash by Christine TolberT
Though not depicted on our militiaman, he surely owned one. Often used in lieu of a conventional belt, since it needed no buckle, a sash was typically worn wrapped twice around the waist. A sash was commonly used in early America to close a man’s hunting frock and support the weight of a knife or tomahawk tucked inside it. With a warp of linen thread in brown, rust and dark red, and a tawny brown wool weft, the sash measures a full 5 inches wide and 157 inches long, with several inches of twisted linen fringe at each end. The linen used for the warp of this sash is some of the finest quality thread available for weavers today and was processed, spun and dyed in Sweden using environmentally friendly practices that conform to the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation. Handwovens made with this linen are durable, stable in their length either wet or dry, and have a subtle sheen.
The wool used for the weft is 100-percent virgin Shetland wool, spun in New Hampshire from a blend of Australian fine wool and sturdy New Zealand wool. This tightly spun yarn has a luster and durability that will become better with use and wear over the lifetime of the piece.
After it was woven, this sash was wet finished and fulled, a process that turns the work into a finished fabric that will neither stretch nor shrink with use and wear. The sash has a twill weave structure and was woven on a four-shaft jack floor loom. This type of loom would have been a common style of floor loom used in the home in 18th century colonial America.
Lot 5
EngravEd FrontiEr belT
KniFe by heinz AhlErs and PauL young
This knife is a collaboration by Heinz Ahlers and Paul Young. The 6.5-inch blade was forged at Woodbury, Kentucky, in that “hammer close to the finish product” style. The 1084 carbon steel was left in its tempered blue color. The blue contrasts nicely with the copper bolster and rivets. Copper was used by Native Americans who obtained pure copper ore from deposits on the Keweenaw Peninsula of northern Michigan. This knife honors that tradition. The bolsters and rivets are also nicely engraved. The floral-patterned eight-pointed star sets off the bone grip scales. This is a fancy yet functional belt knife fit for eating, dressing game and, when necessary, fighting. It could easily have been tucked in the belt of a New England militiaman.
BLACK POWDER
.50-70s, TO THE LINE!
Report from a black powder cartridge club's annual match.
When the match director for our annual .50-70 match, held by the Black River Buffalo Runners at the Capitol City Rifle & Pistol Club near Olympia, Washington, called for “Shooters, to the line!” some of us thought we were ready. Actually, some of us were, but in general the results of the match didn’t turn out quite the way we had expected.
It wasn’t all bad; there was a pleasant surprise too. And the chilly February weather was actually good to
us. So this was a fine shooting match and some of us were surprised that more shooters didn’t take advantage of the good shooting opportunity.
The .50-70 match is a specialty match that is not part of our yearly aggregate for the Old West Centerfires matches, although it is shot on the same range and at the same standard bull’s-eye targets. When we started putting on the .50-70 matches, the idea was that it might be just a little more reflective of the old buffalo hunters, and would also give the .50-70s more of a fighting chance at getting better scores. The first such match was held in 2019 and we had a rather light
turnout with only three shooters using rifles in .50-70 caliber.
While this is a special .50-70 match, other calibers are certainly not excluded. Those “other flavors” are more than welcome to shoot too, but they do take a secondary place when it comes to the lineup for the awards –even if they are the top shooters, as is often the case.
FOR THIS YEAR’S match, we had a total of just 11 shooters, with eight of them shooting rifles in .50-70 caliber. We hoped there’d be more, but as it was, things were pretty good. By “pretty good,” I mean we had just
A Sharps .50-70 with gear, ready for a buffalo hunt – or at least a shooting match.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY MIKE NESBITT
BLACK POWDER
enough shooters to completely fill one relay, so all of us shot at once, unless we were spotting the shots for a partner. Adding to the “pretty good” atmosphere, the weather, while being forecast as dismal with rains, was actually in our favor. At first there
wasn’t enough of a breeze to clear the smoke from the range, but that seemed to get taken care of anyway. So we had all the makin’s for a good, enjoyable match that morning.
Jerry Mayo was our match director and he partnered with me, spotting for
my shots whenever I wasn’t spotting for him. We seem to work pretty well together and having a spotter is always a great help. Generally, Jerry shoots first and that’s the way we did it this time too. And to give both of us a slight breather, Jerry fired his 10 shots at his 100-yard target, then had me shoot mine at that distance before we both gave attention to our 200yard targets.
Our club enjoys a convenient policy allowing shooting in advance, with witnesses, if you can’t make it to the shoot on the scheduled day. Allen Cunniff took advantage of that policy and did his shooting a couple of days early. That’s why he does not appear in the group picture on the last page of this article (it was taken just after our only relay was shot). That doesn’t take anything away from Allen – he was still our top .50-70 shooter, using his C. Sharps Arms ’74 with the Badger barrel and firing paper-
Allen Cunniff, the match’s top .50-70 shooter, hit the range a few days before the other competitors.
As another shooter looks on, author Mike Nesbitt (right) waits for the smoke to clear to see where a shot hit.
patched bullets.
Taking second place was Bob DeLisle, also shooting with paperpatched bullets. Bob was shooting bullets cast in Accurate Molds’ No. 50-490P (accuratemolds.com) and doing very well with them. It should be pointed out that Bob’s rifle is a C. Sharps Arms Hunter’s Carbine with a 26-inch barrel. With that 9-pound rifle, his shooting is just as good and most often better than others using heavier guns.
ONE OF THOSE shooters using heavier guns was me. I placed third among the .50-70 shooters. My rifle was the one I call “Moonbeam,” my ’74 from C. Sharps Arms with the 30-inch, No. 1¾ Heavy barrel, and which weighs nearly 13 pounds. Both Allen and Bob simply outshot me and my lower score was not my rifle’s fault at all. I was shooting bullets from Accurate Molds’ No. 52-450L2 over 65 grains of Olde Eynsford 2F powder, a load that has often worked very well for me.
Tom Witt was just a couple of points behind me and I believe he was shooting a load very similar to mine. His rifle is also by C. Sharps Arms but
with a No. 1 Heavy barrel, which is just that much lighter that you can see and feel the difference. For some unknown, but coincidental, reason, the four top 50-70 shooters were all using Sharps rifles and that isn’t always the case.
Our shooter number five was “Loco Jeff” Ritter, booming away with his heavy rolling block, stocked somewhat like a Hawken or a Gemmer and chambered in .50-70 caliber. And just behind him was our match director, Jerry, shooting his very pretty Remington rolling block, rebuilt (by C. Sharps Arms) to a .5070 buffalo gun.
Then we come to Mike Holeman, shooting my borrowed .50-70 rolling block, as was pointed out in my story about preparing for this match (American Shooting Journal, April 2025). But Mike did better in practice than he did for scoring in competition. He might have had a “burr under his blanket” because he did not do as well in the match, but we’ve all been there.
And completing the list of .5070 shooters was “Doc” Ritter, doing his shooting with a nicely done Springfield/Gemmer, rebuilt from a Model 1868 Springfield trapdoor and
looking very much like a late-style plains rifle. He was our only .50-70 shooter using open sights.
Those not lucky enough to have a 50-70 also did very good shooting –much better, in fact, than the .50-70
The Remington rolling block that Mike Holeman borrowed from Nesbitt.
Shop drawing of bullet mold #52-450L2. (ACCURATE MOLDS)
The author’s rifle for the match, “Moonbeam,” a ’74 Hartford by C. Sharps Arms.
BLACK POWDER
Shooters at the .50-70 match pose for a group pic with their rifles.
shooters. That pack of scoundrels was led by Dick Elliott, who scored a 196-3X, only four points below the possible 200 points, with his .45-70 Sharps Creedmoor. Dick is often the top shooter in our events and he usually turns in remarkable targets. He was followed by Ken Kurfurst, scoring 189-7X with another Sharps
in .45-70. Finally, Jerry Johnson shot a 172-X with his Remington rolling block in .40-65
Then we got to the after-match, a “miss and out” match at the “bucket” gong with our lever-action rifles with black powder loads. Let me brag, however limitedly, that I was the first one to hit the target with my ’73 in
SCORES FOR .50-70 MATCH
1st
1st
44-40. Then I was followed by Tom and Bob. But I wasn’t good enough to make it through the second round, and neither was Tom. That left Bob winning the pot for the after-match with two good hits with his ’92 in .32-20.
Now we must wait another year before our .50-70 match rolls around again. Time for more practice! ★
The beautiful Henry .22 Golden Boy, with its blued metal finish, brass accent pieces and high-quality wood grips, looks amazing alongside a kangaroo leather whip and brown felt fedora. Pair it with a rich brown leather Falco holster and gun belt, and you will look and feel like a true adventurer.
gun review
Not long ago, I reviewed an interesting doubleaction revolver that came to market in the fall of 2023 from Henry Repeating Arms – yes, that Henry Repeating Arms. The one synonymous with top-quality retro-style lever-action rifles.
In my review, I said the Big Boy .357 Magnum revolver’s design resembled more of a turn-of-the-century mediumsize-frame revolver rather than the more mainstream “combat” variant produced by most manufacturers today. Despite previously offering the Mare’s Leg pistol, which was basically a legally chopped-down rifle, the Big Boy revolver was considered by many to be Henry’s first true venture into the handgun market.
I complimented the Big Boy in how it beautifully “fit” the lineup of other historically styled firearms offered by Henry for nearly three decades. I enjoyed working with the pistol on the range and in the field over a period of roughly five months. In my review’s conclusion, I mentioned that Henry had announced a follow-up to the Big Boy .357 Magnum that would be chambered in .22 caliber. While the Big Boy was accurate and fun to shoot, .38 Special and .357 Magnum cartridges were getting expensive. The introduction of the Henry Golden Boy .22-caliber revolver excited me greatly in hopes of much more affordable range time.
gun review
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Within just a few weeks of the official announcement of the Golden Boy revolver’s release, the previously requested review sample arrived. As I quickly unboxed the handgun, I noticed it was the bird’s head grip version. To me, this was a bonus because the .357 Magnum Big Boy I’d tested had come with the more traditional gunfighter grip. Now I would be able to get some experience with both grips to fairly and accurately say if I prefered one over the other on essentially the same gun, without regard to caliber.
Just like its larger caliber counterpart, the beautifully polished blued finish, brass accents and American walnut grip panels on the Golden Boy revolver are simply gorgeous. It immediately brought to mind my beloved Henry .22-caliber Golden Boy lever-action rifle sitting in the safe, with which this pistol shares its name. Despite being chambered in the diminutive rimfire cartridge, it still retains a robust 4-inch barrel like its .357 Mag sibling. When releasing the hefty cylinder from the frame, it reveals a true delight of not just six but 10 chambers to load rounds.
The action is initially very tight, with the hammer cocking and trigger breaking a bit stiff at first, but much smoother after its initial range visit to begin the break-in period. The trigger features a smooth-faced guard to aid in a comfortable, consistent pull with each shot. This is especially pleasing when pulling the trigger through long, deliberate 12-pound double-action shots. I have found that checkering on the trigger face, as other companies have done in the past, can lead to blisters on high-round-count range days. The hammer offers wide serrations for a sure purchase with the thumb when shooting in single-action mode.
One of the unique features of Henry’s design of the Big Boy and Golden Boy is a small latch located inside the front of the trigger near the frame. When the cylinder is in an open position, this latch can be pushed inward to release the cylinder/crane assembly free of the
frame. This can make deep cleaning the cylinder a much easier task and ensure a longer service life free of potential mechanical failures.
The cylinder release button is noticeably smooth from the very start. It slides forward with minimal effort and springs back into place as if gliding on ice. There is a solid audible “click” in its cylinder lockup when pressing it back into place – give it the slightest wiggle to find its alignment. Those who know the mechanical love of a high-end timepiece will greatly appreciate both the form and function of how well the Golden Boy rotates with each cocking of the hammer. This may seem odd to some, but it’s truly the attention to detail that separates quality between Timex and Rolex.
As with the Big Boy model, the Golden Boy ships with three different height front sights. This aids in elevation adjustment corresponding with the fixed, square-notch rear sight, depending on shot placement of the ammunition of your choosing. As I learned with the .357 Mag, the importance of finding the best load to optimize your gun’s performance is often grossly underrated by many but can mean the difference between good shot groups versus great ones. More discussion on this later in the article.
RANGE TIME
One of the benefits of having already worked with the Henry Big Boy revolver prior to testing the Golden Boy was that I already had gear on hand to immediately start testing. Being roughly the same dimensions, the Golden Boy 22 fit perfectly into the Falco holster. Prior to my first review, I had Falco slightly modify one of their Colt Python holsters by half an inch in height and length to match the Big Boy specs. The custom holster now fits both Henry revolvers like a glove. So much so that I look for every opportunity to enjoy wearing it with the beautiful matching belt Falco previously sent as well.
Aside from the occasional hikes exploring nearby woods, most of the
The Golden Boy (top) with the bird’s head grip and the .357 Magnum Big Boy with the traditional gunfighter grip are roughly the same dimensions and fit perfectly into author Trampas Swanson’s slightly modified Falco holster.
gun review
testing was done at my home range, Gateway Rifle and Pistol Club, located in Jacksonville, Florida. The cool spring mornings and comfortable afternoons made long-term testing a pure delight in spending time on the range filming.
I decided to test the two brands of ammunition I had the largest supply of on hand. The first was Remington Bucket O’ Bullets 35-grain hollowpoints. This is basically generic fodder used to break in many of our test guns, as well as for fun trips with the kids plinking. The other ammo was CCI Mini Mag 40-grain hollowpoints, which I often carry for hunting small game or precision shooting. It has always been a proven top performer regardless of the make or model firearm I test.
To start warming up, I decided to shoot a few five-shot groups off a Caldwell sandbag at 10 yards as I got used to the single- and doubleaction trigger pulls. I started with four five-shot groups with the Remington ammunition before switching over to the CCI Mini Mag. As expected, the Mini Mag rounds came in at an average of 1 3-inch groups compared to a slightly larger 1 5-inch group average. I firmly believe these averages reflected more of my time adjusting to the 5-pound single-action and 12-pound double-action trigger pull weights than the pistol’s true accuracy. Regardless, it’s still very respectable.
Thankfully, deciding to run the medium height front sight to begin with seemed to be the right call, as my shots were all the perfect height on target. In my previous review, I noted the need to switch to a taller sight when testing full .357 Mag loads in the Henry Big Boy. While it doesn’t
GOLDEN BOY SPECS
Model number: H016BD
Action: Traditional double action
Caliber: .22 Short, Long, Long Rifle
Barrel length: 4 inches
Capacity: 10 rounds
MSRP: $928
have traditional adjustable sights, the Golden Boy offers practically bulletproof iron sights that you won’t have to worry about knocking out of adjustment if you fall or drop your gun in the field. While not highly likely, a couple decades ago I had to replace the rear adjustable sight on a Ruger Redhawk .44 Mag after snagging it during recoil on the side of the birch tree I was using as a brace for my shot.
Supported and unsupported shooting produced impressive groups at 3, 5 and 7 yards. I was able to shoot wooden clothespins off the top of the target where they were clipped. At 7 yards, I was able to keep all my shots inside of a typical-sized playing card. For a little extra fun, I even managed to split a pair of playing cards by shooting just the exposed edge of each with less than a full cylinder of ammo. While this is always an impressive trick to perform in our defensive handgun courses using a 9mm pistol, it’s much harder to do so with a .22 rimfire’s bullet diameter, as there is not as much margin of error!
During my third range trip for
testing, I had cleaned the revolver thoroughly and oiled it again using Modern Spartan synthetic oil, or as they call it, “accurizing oil.” After working the action several times and wiping it all down, I had stored it in the safe for a couple of weeks prior to this test session. During the supported and unsupported shooting at 3, 5 and 7 yards, everything about the Golden Boy felt buttery smooth. The hammer glided smoothly while cocking in single-action mode and the trigger felt just as crisp as before but slightly lighter. Even the cylinder seemed to spin more freely than previously.
I am not saying the oil performed like a magic potion, because the gun did have roughly 300 shots put through it by then as well to aid the break-in process. As previously mentioned, the revolver had received a deep cleaning to remove fouling, packing oil and other particulates prior to oiling the gun’s action. However, I do fully believe the Modern Spartan oil did its part to turn a good working gun into an exceptional feeling firearm.
The Golden Boy’s cylinder reveals a “true delight” – 10 chambers instead of just six to load rounds into.
gun review
FINAL THOUGHTS
During the whole test and evaluation process, I kept coming back to thoughts of how certain firearms can just make you feel nostalgic for certain time periods, historical or fantasy. Shooting a Single Action Army .45 Colt has always made me feel like a cowboy of the Old West as I explored my inner Marshal Dillon, the famed Gunsmoke lawman. Likewise, range days with my Thompson .45 ACP Tommy Gun always put me in the Roaring Twenties mindset, just imagining what it must have felt like for Texas Ranger Frank Hamer to chase down the notorious Bonnie and Clyde.
When it came to shooting the Henry Golden Boy, the feeling was no different. The classic lines of a turnof-the-century Henry double-action and the bird’s head grip may never have been part of history, but it sure made me feel like pre-World War II-era Indiana Jones.
The beautiful, blued metal finish, brass accent pieces and high-quality wood grips would have looked amazing
alongside a kangaroo leather whip and brown felt fedora. Paired with the rich brown leather Falco holster and gun belt, you would look and feel like a true adventurer as you fought your way out of the Temple of Doom or roamed the ancient ruins of Tunisia. Regardless of what era you turned your Dial of Destiny, the Golden Boy would stand out with its top quality and class.
Retailing for around $928 MSRP, the Golden Boy isn’t meant to compete with the entry-level, mass-production-quality rimfire revolvers in the lower price ranges. Henry Repeating Arms has built an amazing reputation for top-quality American-produced firearms well worth their price tag. With the Golden Boy .22 rimfire, it has impressed me that Henry Repeating Arms came out the starting gate with a true performing revolver that rivals the biggest names in the 10-shot rimfire market such as S&W and Colt.
To be honest, on paper all three brands are relatively equal across the board in size, weight, capacity, price and accuracy. Having shot the latest versions from these companies over
the past year, I must give the nod 10 out of 10 times to Henry for not only accomplishing the same objectives as the other two but also doing so with their signature style flair that sets them apart with just one look from across the room. The added choice of gunfighter or bird’s head grip is just the icing on the cake for me.
If you’ve been searching for a topquality retro-style revolver that will last for generations to come, visit henryrepeatingarms.com and discover what just may be your holy grail. Till next time, my friends, may you stay safe on all your outdoor adventures! ★
Editor’s note: Retiring early from law enforcement, where he worked as a deputy sheriff, primarily serving as a SWAT sniper, Trampas Swanson now travels the US as an NRA and USCCA training counselor and instructor in his 23rd year as a professional firearms trainer. He has also worked for 24-plus US and international publications, ranging from recreational shooting to private military contracting.
It might not have been the right hat, but shooting the Henry Golden Boy had Swanson feeling like pre-World War II-era Indiana Jones.
LASER-FOCUSED ON REFINEMENT
Carl Collins puts pure craftsmanship into his Exodus Gunleather holsters, belts.
PHOTOS BY EXODUS GUNLEATHER
’ve loved guns for as long as I can remember,” says Carl Collins, a South Carolinabased firearms enthusiast and holstermaker. “I was probably 7 or 8 years old, out in the backyard with a BB gun trying to shoot birds. I got my first shotgun, a 12-gauge Remington Wingmaster, when I was 12 and grew up hunting.”
“
IWhile handguns weren’t a big part of his formative years – his father was a “shotgun and rifle guy” – once Collins discovered them, he was hooked. These days, he has a real
connection to handguns, especially the 1911 platform, and that passion fuels everything he does at Exodus Gunleather, his latest venture.
“Exodus Gunleather is actually my second holster business,” explains Collins. “I had made the decision to shut down my first one and was just about ready to call it quits. One of the last holsters I planned to make was for a friend, and when I delivered it, he introduced me to a gunsmith. That meeting ended up changing everything.”
“The gunsmith asked me a lot of questions, and through that
conversation, I realized something important: I still loved making holsters. I just didn’t love trying to be everything to everyone,” he continues. “On the drive home that night, I made a decision. I was going to build holsters the way I wanted to build them, using materials I enjoyed working with, focusing only on the designs I truly believed in. That’s when Exodus Gunleather was born.”
WITH EXODUS GUNLEATHER, Collins chose to serve a very specific niche: high-end holsters for 1911 pistols. He
The Exodus Gunleather Slide Pancake holster features rich burgundy horsehide with bold black shark trim. It’s handcrafted for a full-size 1911.
COMPANY SPOTLIGHT
“I’m
specializes in premium horsehide and exotic leather holsters designed to complement high-end firearms. No shortcuts, no mass production, just craftsmanship tailored for serious shooters and collectors.
“We don’t just build holsters for function, we build them to be personal and one of a kind,” says Collins. “Yes, they’re designed for concealment, everyday carry or even a good ol’ barbecue, but we go beyond utility. I treat each holster as a unique piece of craftsmanship.”
“Almost every holster I make ends up looking different from the last,” he adds. “We use horsehide, and I’m extremely selective, not just about the
Designed for a 1911, this Slide Pancake holster in full-coverage black and rust caiman blends rugged utility with highend exotic style.
hides themselves, but about which part of the hide I use. On top of that, I incorporate exotic leathers like elephant, shark, caiman, stingray, even rare cuts that might have been leftover from specialty custom runs or custom projects. I hunt hard for those unique hides and pieces, and that effort lets me offer holsters that truly stand out. For the customer who wants something special, something no one else has, that’s exactly what I aim to deliver.”
The hard work – in both the physical craftsmanship and the materials sourcing – that Collins puts into each piece truly shows in the final product.
“These aren’t just items made to fill a need,” he notes. “They’re built with
pride, precision and a respect for the craft. That’s something shooters can feel when they hold our gear in their hands.”
EXODUS GUNLEATHER OFFERS a wide range of holsters, belts and accessories for the shooter, but two products really stand out as the most popular, according to Collins.
“The first is the Exodus Slide Pancake. It’s a traditional belt slide pancake holster, but with my own spin on the design,” he explains. “It gives us a wide canvas to showcase beautiful materials, whether that’s exotic trim or high-grain horsehide. It’s timeless, functional and also gives customers a chance to express a bit of
Exodus’s Outside Scabbard is crafted in light brown high-grain horsehide with black shark trim. It’s built for a classic S&W revolver.
just like my clients,” states owner Carl Collins, here with his wife. “I have a passion for good gear and good craftsmanship, and I’ve built this business around that.”
COMPANY SPOTLIGHT
what makes it so appealing.”
The outside-the-waistband design uses two belt slots that pull the holster and gun secure to the body. The ESP has a molded sight channel and is formed with a slight curve to be more comfortable and to aid in the break-in. It also features mouth reinforcement, a sweat shield and 15-degree draw angle.
The second holster Collins namechecks is the Exodus Illusion. “I designed this one years ago as a way to offer something different,” he says.
“It looks similar to a pancake holster, but when worn, it appears to float on the belt. There are no visible straps, clips or slots – no hardware at all. Just a clean, seamless look that makes it the perfect barbecue holster. We often use exotic skins and top-tier horsehide to make each one a true statement piece.”
Other items in the Exodus Gunleather arsenal include several more OWB and IWB holster options, mag pouches and belts – all custommade using the same high-quality materials and craftsmanship.
Collins says he isn’t rolling out any
new products any time soon, but is instead remaining focused on refining what the company already offers. He puts his energy into improving the quality, dialing in the fit and finish, and making sure each holster is better than the last.
That said, he is in tune with how the industry is changing, and is committed to meeting the evolving needs of his customers.
“Optics and weapon lights have become increasingly popular, and I get it,” says Collins. “I’ve got optics on just about every handgun I own now. That’s one of the benefits of getting older –you realize your eyes need a little help. So while our designs remain rooted in tradition, I’ve been adapting them to fit the latest handguns, including models with optics and lights. That way we can keep offering our timeless holsters to a new generation of shooters, while still serving the folks who’ve been with us from the start.”
COLLINS UNDERSTANDS THE needs of his customers and wants each shooter to be satisfied with the end product. Thus he encourages folks to reach out and ask questions, “whether you’re a first-time buyer who’s not sure where to start, or this is your hundredth custom holster and you want to talk through how your optic setup will work. Call me, email me, text me ... heck, send smoke signals if that’s what it takes. I truly enjoy connecting with my customers.”
“When someone carries a holster or belt from Exodus, I want them to feel that connection, not just to a product built with pride, but to the craftsman behind it. That’s not just good business, that’s personal,” he says. “At the end of the day, Exodus Gunleather is just me. I’m Carl. I’m a guy who loves quality leatherwork, loves handguns, loves to shoot and hunt, but more importantly, I’m just like my clients. I have a passion for good gear and good craftsmanship, and I’ve built this business around that.” ★
Editor’s note: For more, visit exodusgunleather.com.
High-grain burgundy horsehide pops on this Under Cover holster. It’s almost too nice to hide inside the waistband.
Exodus Illusion Holsters in fullcoverage black and gray Cape buffalo (left) and full-coverage antique elephant. Tough enough for daily carry, refined enough for a night on the town.
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.
TOP WATERFOWL GEAR FOR THE WIN!
It's never too early to start thinking about shotguns, calls, waders and other duck hunting equipment.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY SCOTT HAUGEN
uly is one of the busier times for waterfowl hunters. We’re getting the itch to hit the marsh, meaning blind prep, trail cutting and gear organizing are underway. We’re also watching for summer sales to find the best deals out there.
JEvery time I suited up for a hunt last season, I thought, “What can I get out of this for the Road Hunter?” In fact, many hunts were designed to fit my needs and interests, and hopefully yours, too.
When testing guns, loads, decoy sets, calls, clothes and more, hunting solo or with a buddy is my preference. Hunting with precision that offers direction, insight and a conclusion –that’s what I like. I have no desire to sit in a blind with seven other hunters listening to uncertain claims of who shot what, or squawk over what calls and decoys succeeded or failed. I have no patience for speculation.
I HUNTED DUCKS a lot last season. A lot. In multiple states. Temperatures ranged from the low teens to the 60s. I spent time on big bays, rivers, sloughs,
creeks and fields. Some hunts were casual, requiring little gear. Other hunts were specialized, necessitating the tracking of storms and the choosing of proper gear.
In January, I traveled across the country, from my home in Oregon to hunt black ducks in North Carolina. I hunted three days and each morning the temperatures were 21, 18 and 15 degrees, respectively. It took me back to the days I lived in Arctic Alaska, where dealing with cold and ice was the norm.
In the chilly conditions of North Carolina, my base layers consisted of SportHill Titan Tights, Paka’s Thermal
Slayer Calls offers an extensive line of duck and goose calls that are easy to run for most hunters from the time they first pick them up. Even veteran callers like Austin Crowson, pictured here, rely on them all season long.
ROAD HUNTER
Base Layer, a thick hoodie and Sitka’s Duck Oven Jacket and Gradient Pant. I wear the Titan Tights and Paka Thermals on every hunt, with the outer layer ranging from sweat pants to Sitka’s warm and comfortable Gradient Pant. If temperatures are mild, I’ll drop the Duck Oven Jacket and go with Sitka’s Delta Wading Jacket; this is my go-to jacket in Oregon, where rain and heavy fog are almost always present in fall and winter.
I’m just about certain I was the last outdoor writer in the industry to try Sitka clothing. Once I finally did, I regretted that I hadn’t done so sooner, especially their waders. New to the Sitka line is their Delta Pro Zip
GTX Wader. I wasn’t sure they could improve on their Delta Zip Waders, which I wore on over 175 duck hunts the last two seasons; they were the most comfortable, functional wader I’d worn with zero mishaps.
Then I tried their new Pros. Oh my! The first time I slipped into the Delta Pro Zip GTX Wader, the upgraded boot immediately caught my attention. An athletic design means a comfortable fit, and they’re lightweight. The tread worked great, even in wet clay, and the new heel kicks make for simple removal. Touted as Sitka’s most durable wader without sacrificing mobility and fit, this is what I’ll be wearing in wooded bogs
The MOmarsh Element WaterBox is a great harshweather blind bag. The 25-liter bag is waterproof, even the zipper.
and breaking ice with all season.
ON BOAT HUNTS for divers in bays and big lakes, the Grundéns Neptune Thermo Bib instantly impressed me but didn’t surprise me, as I’ve fished in the Washington state-based company’s gear a lot. Their medium-weight, polyurethane-coated, fleece-lined fabric is comfortable and stretches well, which makes getting up and down and swinging on birds easy. The Grundéns Portal Gore-Tex Wading Jacket is my jacket of choice on these hunts. The protection and warmth this jacket provides against high winds, driving rains and boat spray is exceptional. It’s also a great fishing jacket and works well with rain pants, bibs and waders.
There are three blind bags I like. When hunting from a boat where room is plentiful and I know it’s going to be raining with lots of spray from plowing through waves and a wet dog is going to be shaking after every retrieve, Yeti’s LoadOut GoBox 30 is nice. It’s rugged and roomy enough for a lunch, drinks, extra shells, camera gear and other essentials. I like the smaller GoBox 15 when hunting from prams or Marsh Rats.
The new MOmarsh Element WaterBox is also a great harsh-weather blind bag. This 25-liter bag is waterproof,
Big Al’s new updated silhouette mallard decoys add lifelike realism to a spread that ducks notice.
including the zipper. The dividers can be customized to fit the needs of every hunt, wherever it may be. My hunting buddy first saw mine and immediately got one. It became his blind bag of choice for the rest of the season. It’s rugged enough to toss into a decoy cart, or can be packed on a shoulder. It’s easy to hang from trees when hunting flooded timber and put at your feet in a ground blind or boat. It kept my camera gear bone-dry, even in shallow standing water.
When hiking any distance to a blind, Sitka’s Full Choke Pack is what I grab. It’s hard to beat a pack with quality shoulder, chest and waist straps to compress and evenly distribute a load. Even in heavy rains and high winds, my gear has remained dry in this pack. The multiple pouches and internal pockets make organizing gear a cinch.
WHEN IT COMES to shotguns and loads,
I have three top picks. My trusted Browning Silver Field in a 20 gauge is what I shoot when heading out on a sub-gauge hunt. Hunting holes in the timber, creeks and flooded ditches – or alone where I’m in control of when and where shots come – is fun and efficient with this workhorse of a gun. It shoots a range of loads exceptionally well. Last season, I was impressed with its performance using a Müller Decoy Choke and shooting Kent’s new Tealsteel Precision Steel in size 6 shot. This 1-ounce load moves at 1,250 feet per second, perfect for dropping backpedaling ducks at close range. And meat damage is minimal. Late last season, this combination was money on wood ducks and fat mallards too.
When hunting in wide open places where shots might be long due to public pressure, high winds or targeting wary, late-season birds, Browning’s Maxus II
is what I shoot. Since this gun came out, I’ve killed more birds with it than all other shotguns combined. The Maxus II is tough in a range of conditions, perfectly balanced to my liking and is simple to swing and shoot on the fastest-moving birds. From steel to bismuth to tungsten and a range of stacked loads, it handles each extremely well. When fitted with a Müller Passing Choke, the setup is one I know will simply drop ducks.
I’ve tried several inertia guns over the years and struggled to like them. My experiences with them in tough conditions in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska left me more frustrated than pleased. The time I held one and it totally locked up with three common eiders swimming in the decoys, I vowed to not shoot another one of these guns. I’m glad I swallowed my words because Benelli’s Performance Shop Ethos Cordoba
When hunting divers and sea ducks from boats or layouts, author Scott Haugen is a fan of Grundéns’ Neptune Thermo Bib and Portal Gore-Tex Wading Jacket. He took this limit of canvasbacks with the new Benelli Performance Shop Ethos Cordoba A.I. BE.S.T. 12-gauge.
ROAD HUNTER
A.I. BE.S.T. 12-gauge shotgun greatly impressed me last season.
The A.I. stands for Advanced Impact. This could be interpreted two ways. First, as a reduced or advanced impact experience on your shoulder – each shot’s recoil is so slight and localized that maintaining proper shooting form, thus target acquisition, is simple. Second, the advanced impact is impressive in the downrange velocity of each payload.
I shot over a dozen loads of various brands through this gun, from steel to steel blends, bismuth to tungsten. The downrange speed and accuracy this shotgun delivers is magnificent. The Advanced Impact design features an internal barrel profile and proprietary chokes unique to Benelli’s A.I. system. This profile formula increases the velocity of whatever shell is being used compared to shooting with a standard barrel. The greater velocity results in more energy, which testing has shown can generate up to 50 percent greater penetration downrange. The maintained downrange energy was
clear to me with high-density tungsten and bismuth. I shot ducks with steel and steel-stacked loads, too, and I know my leads were minimized due to the speed of the payload. This gun is fast, precise and simple to clean.
AS FOR DUCK
calls, if I had one to take afield, it would be Slayer Calls’ Dubar in a double reed. It’s easy to imitate a range of sounds with this call, all the way down to throaty black ducks and raspy mallards. The open bore optimizes airflow without hitting high-pitched squeaks. The tone board’s tooth-like notches filter moisture, which greatly reduces, even eliminates, the sticking of reeds. The acrylic body allows for powerful calls when needed. To be honest, my entire duck lanyard is full of Slayers; I like them that much.
I’m also a fan of non-flocked silhouettes with a photo finish that has zero glare and holds its color season after season. Enter Big Al’s Silhouettes. Last year, I was elated with Big Al’s updated mallard silhouettes. Their lighter color is easy to see at a distance, and the natural body positions appeal to ducks. They’re
great for capturing the attention of ducks in low-light situations and when hunting dark holes. Not only do I like putting these silhouettes on shorelines and in shallow water, but also securing them to fallen trees, limbs or driftwood where ducks naturally perch. Here, the goal is to create a realistic look that ducks see from a distance and offer something different from fellow hunters. I tried several ways to secure the silhouettes to logs and limbs and found 10-inch-long circle-top landscape pins made of 8-gauge steel to be ideal. These are the perfect diameter to fit in Big Al’s Silhouette decoys, as they don’t slip when being carried. Spray paint the top portion of the pins black to hide the glare and you’re set. Six to 12 of these silhouettes will spice up a spread.
There you have it, my top waterfowl gear picks based on numerous hunts and personal experiences. Good luck this season. ★
Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen’s popular books, visit scotthaugen.com. Follow Scott on Instagram and Facebook.
Sitka’s new Delta Pro Zip GTX Wader features an upgraded boot that’s athletic, comfortable and lightweight. That’s just the start!
STANDARDS AND ODDBALLS ALIKE
Western New York's Northern Precision makes all kinds of bullets, one at a time.
STORY BY PHIL MASSARO • PHOTOS BY MASSARO MEDIA GROUP
t was through the pages of American Shooting Journal that I made the acquaintance of one William Noody, the proprietor of Northern Precision Custom Swaged Bullets in my home state of New York. Noody provides
iexcellent handmade projectiles not only in common calibers, but in some of my beloved oddballs as well. While his operation is small, his products are wonderful, and though they are made here in America, they fill a niche left by the discontinuance of several sources of bullets on the global market. Please allow me to introduce you to some of my favorite projectiles from Noody’s lineup.
As an aficionado of classic cartridges – especially those that saw significant duty in Africa – I am always looking for a means to keep the less-than-popular cartridges fed. This includes the .318 Westley Richards, 404 Jeffery, and this year’s birthday boy, the .300 Holland & Holland Magnum, which is celebrating 100 years. That .318 Westley, with its
Northern Precision offers custom projectiles, handmade one at a time.
BULLET BULLETIN
.330-inch-diameter bullets, can pose an issue at times, while the .300 Holland is the very common .30 caliber. The .404 Jeffery – perhaps my favorite dangerous game cartridge –has a decent selection of projectiles, but I’m always looking for more.
NOODY MAKES ALL sorts of projectiles for both pistol cartridges and rifle cartridges by hand, one at a time. His hand-swaged rifle bullets are available with varying jacket thicknesses, and in both bonded-core and nonbonded configurations with different meplats. He began making projectiles in 1989 using a kit from Corbin, which used spent .22 LR cases to form bullet jackets. Those .22-caliber projectiles sorted out a good number of woodchucks and other varmints.
Noody then increased the size of the operation, moving up to the Series 2 Corbin press to make lightweight projectiles for the then-new .416 Remington Magnum. Using drawndown .429-inch-diameter bullet jackets, he provided 200-grain bullets for plinking, as well as light-recoil practice for the safari cartridge. Of late, he’s moved up to the massive HydroPress – fully capable of making any cup-and-core bullet conceivable – but still makes his bullets one at a time.
Noody and I started chatting about that .318 Westley Richards that I have come to love so much, and he said it wouldn’t be a very difficult process to make a series of projectiles for the old workhorse. Bertram Brass from Australia can be a great source of properly headstamped brass, though the reloader can make their own from plentiful .30-06 Springfield cases, and Redding Reloading provides excellent full-length dies.
Until recently, the most popular choice of projectile for the nearly extinct cartridge was the Woodleigh Weldcore, a 250-grain bonded-core roundnose bullet. Sadly, the Woodleigh plant had a horrific fire a few years back, and while they are thankfully on their way back to full operation,
The 250-grain .330-inch-diameter roundnose bullet from Northern Precision, used in the .318 Westley Richards; this bullet was very popular a century ago in East Africa as an all-around big game choice.
William Noody, proprietor of Northern Precision Custom Swaged Bullets, at his Corbin Hydro bullet press. His company is based in Carthage, New York, north of Syracuse and the Tug Hill Plateau.
Though the .318 Westley Richards made its bones with the 250-grain softs and solids, a 180-grain offering was there from the beginning. Noody makes a flatbased roundnose in this weight, great for deer hunting.
there has been a bit of a drought in the market. Additionally, Hornady used to make a 205-grain Interlock spitzer bullet. While it was originally designed for the 8x56R, because it had that same 330-inch bore diameter, it worked wonderfully in the .318 WR. This bullet was discontinued, but Noody has come to the rescue.
In our conversations, he’d asked what I’d want to see, given my druthers. I have a healthy supply of those 205-grain Hornady Interlocks, so I asked Noody if we could do a 180-grain roundnose for deer and lighter game. Measuring just 0.938 inch long with a bit of exposed lead at the nose (and a small dish to help initiate expansion), the 180-grain Northern Precision has a sectional density of 0 236, comparable to a 155-grain .308-inch-diameter bullet. Yet the additional mass and frontal diameter of this bullet will make it a sound choice for black bear as well as deer, giving the owner of a .318 Westley Richards a good option for common East Coast hunting ranges.
The 250-grain roundnose bondedcore bullet from Northern Precision is very similar to the Woodleigh design – in turn inspired by the vintage Kynoch profile – but with the cannelure in a slightly different location. With a sectional density of
With plenty of sectional density and a bonded core for structural integrity, the .318 Westley Richards loaded with a 250-grain Northern Precision can surely take anything in North America.
BULLET BULLETIN
These 200-grain Northern Precision .30-caliber bullets feature the RBT, or rebated boattail. This is designed to even out burning gases behind the projectile.
0.328, the 250-grain bullet for the .318 Westley Richards has long had a reputation for excellent penetration, and Noody’s design is no exception. A healthy dose of Reloder 16 under this bullet gave me 2,475 feet per second from the 25-inch barrel of my custom Mauser rifle.
The 165-grain weight is very common among .30-caliber cartridges, and these Northern Precision spitzer boattails have their jackets bonded to the lead core to avoid bullet breakup.
The company’s .30-caliber 165-grain Open Tip spitzer is a perfect choice for smaller cartridges like the .300 Savage or .308 Winchester, as it won’t eat up a whole bunch of real estate inside the case.
WHILE NOODY CAN certainly make a quality roundnosed rifle bullet, his spitzer boattails are equally good. He employs the RBT (rebated boattail) design, which reduces drag and extends barrel life, while also acting as an excellent gas seal. The three projectiles I’ve loaded in .308 caliber – which have worked well, not only in my .300 Holland & Holland, but in my 308 Winchester and .300 Winchester Magnum as well – are the 165-grain bonded-core Open Tip spitzer RBT, the 180-grain non-bonded spitzer RBT, and the 200-grain bonded spitzer RBT. Noody generally prefers to keep the lead core pretty close to the nose of the bullet, even with the Open Tip design, in order to help
The “open tip” on Northern Precision’s designs measures 0.12 inch across, so expansion shouldn’t pose any issue at all.
BULLET BULLETIN
support the jacket walls and maintain the conformation of the meplat. I measured the hollowpoint in the 165-grain Open Tip at 0 12 inch, so it will deliver rapid expansion, while the heat-bonding process helps hold the jacket and core together. This is a perfect choice for the .308 Winchester when larger species are on the menu, as the lighter bullet can be driven to higher velocities and case capacity can be maximized. In the .300 Magnums, the bonded core of this bullet can handle the higher impact velocities. With a proper charge of IMR 4831, my .300 Holland & Holland gave 1-MOA groups with this bullet.
The 180-grain spitzer has the RBT, but a bit of exposed lead at the nose. The standard cup-and-core design has long stood up to the sectional density of a 180-grain .30-caliber, and my .300 H&H clocked in at 2,875 fps with this bullet seated over a charge of Reloder 22. I wouldn’t hesitate to use this combination for any North American game species, shy of the great bears and maybe bison. My .300 H&H printed three-shot groups with this bullet averaging 0 80 inch at 100 yards, giving more than acceptable hunting accuracy.
Now, I'll be the first to admit that my Winchester Model 70 shows a strong preference for heavy-for-caliber bullets; it seems this barrel likes bullets with plenty of bearing surface. The 200-grain Nosler AccuBonds and Federal Terminal Ascents have long been the go-to bullets for this rifle, but Northern Precision’s 200-grain bonded spitzer shows accuracy very close to that pair.
The nose of the bullet is nearly identical to the 165-grain Open Tip, but with the lead core just slightly recessed from the jacket mouth. I like this bullet for its ogive, which is more severe than many of today’s sleek designs, striving for the highest ballistic coefficient values. This allows the projectile to be safely seated on the shank, while still adhering to the 3 600inch overall cartridge length. IMR 7828 and a Federal Gold Medal 215M large
Celebrating its 100th birthday this year, the .300 Holland & Holland is well served through handloading, and Northern Precision’s 200-grain bonded spitzers make this cartridge very happy.
Northern Precision’s 180-grain non-bonded spitzer boattail is a great bullet for the magnum cartridges, like the .300 H&H Magnum.
BULLET BULLETIN
magnum rifle primer in a Nosler case has proven to be the winning formula, with this load giving sub ¾-MOA groups at an average of 2,790 fps. For a hunting load, this is more than adequate accuracy, and I feel that a bondedcore 200-grain spitzer is all the bullet needed for anything I’d ask a .30-caliber cartridge to do.
While the BC values of the roundnosed projectiles really don’t mean all that much to me, as those will assuredly be used inside of 250 yards, the BC values of the spitzer bullets are respectable, while being easy to load, easy to feed and operating well in hunting conditions. This upcoming hunting season will be spent with Northern Precision projectiles, and I’m looking forward to the experience. ★
Editor’s note: For more information, see npcustombullets.com.
This 100-yard three-shot group measures just under ¾ inch. Author Phil Massaro will use this 200-grain load for .300 H&H Magnum for the fall bear season.
and meals, to trained dogs, ammunition and cleaning and packaging of all game.
South Dakota is the premier destination for pheasant hunting in the country.
Outfitters such as Thunderstik Lodge offer packages that include everything from accommodations
PHEASANT HUNTING 101
A dedicated wingshooter and a world-class shotgunner team up to talk Great Plains ringnecks.
Few outdoor pursuits equal a cackling ringneck pheasant surging out of the cover in front of you. Pheasants are gaudy and noisy, fast and wily, and really everything you would want in a game bird.
The first Chinese ringneck pheasants were brought to America in 1881 and released in Oregon, and within a few years subsequent shipments and stockings established the birds in several Western states. Fast forward to today, and North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa reportedly hold the highest numbers of wild pheasants for hunters, with South Dakota being the pheasant hunting capital. (Well over 1 million birds are taken by hunters during that state’s 100-day season.)
STORY AND PHOTOS BY LARRY CASE
To tell you about pheasant hunting, I decided to go to someone who is considered a pheasant hunting expert. David Miller runs his own shotgun shooting instruction school, Miller Shooting Sports (millershootingsports .com), and he is the CEO of the firearms company Akkar USA (akkarusa.com). He is also the cohost of the American Bird Hunter TV series on the Outdoor Channel.
Miller has hunted pheasants (and other upland birds) all over the country and is a world-class shotgunner. He routinely spends dozens of days every fall and winter in pursuit of ringnecks. I have hunted with Miller and believe me when I tell you that you don’t want to be the pheasant that flushes in front of him.
“If you want to test your wingshooting skills on the ultimate upland game bird, then you need to try pheasant hunting, and I recommend South Dakota followed by North Dakota for this,” Miller said. “Both states are renowned for their abundant pheasant populations, making them prime destinations for hunters of all skill levels.”
If you’re interested in getting started with pheasant hunting in
these states when season opens this fall, Miller provided the following comprehensive guide to help you.
UNDERSTANDING PHEASANT HUNTING REGULATIONS
Before you embark on your pheasant hunting adventure, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with the regulations in the Dakotas. Both states have specific hunting seasons, bag limits and licensing requirements, and other rules. Details can be found at: gfp.sd.gov/hunt and gf.nd.gov/hunting. Hunters must purchase the necessary licenses, which can usually be obtained online or at local sporting goods stores. Additionally, hunters should be aware of public and private land access regulations and the importance of obtaining permission if hunting on private land. I highly recommend a subscription to onxmaps.com/hunt/ app to find good access and, more importantly, to avoid setting foot in a place you shouldn’t be.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT
Selecting the right gear is essential for a successful pheasant hunt. Here are the key items you’ll need:
Clothing and footwear: Wear
weather-appropriate clothing, including breathable layers, and invest in durable, waterproof boots for traversing fields and wetland areas. One helpful hint: If you purchase new hunting boots, wear them around awhile to get them broken in; there is nothing worse than trying to walk 5-plus miles in stiff new boots, as they can cause blisters and sore ankles.
Hunting vest: A vest with ample pockets for shells, water and first aid supplies can enhance your efficiency in the field.
Safety: Tell others where you are going. With today’s technology, it’s easy to send your location to Google Maps or via onX Maps. Wear a hunter/blaze orange hat and shirt/jacket. You need to be visible; unlike ducks, you’re not trying to hide from these birds.
Shotgun: Considering the correct shotgun is also very important. A lightweight, easy-to-carry shotgun has always been my preference. I am very partial to the 28-gauge with a modified choke; however, I am a good judge of distance, and I keep my shots inside 30 yards. If you think you might be shooting farther, then maybe a 20-gauge or 12-gauge is for you. My favorite brand is Akkar USA; they offer many reliable shotguns suited for upland bird hunting.
Ammunition: Steel or lead shotgun shells designed specifically for upland bird hunting are preferred. A popular choice is to use No. 4, 5 or 6 shot. Please know that certain areas in both Dakotas require nontoxic shot, especially areas marked as waterfowl production areas. When hunting with my 28-gauge, I typically use a ⅞-ounce load of Bismuth No. 6 shot; it’s magic on 25-yard rooster pheasants.
TRAINING AND PREPARING YOUR DOG
Many pheasant hunters choose to hunt with a trained dog because they can significantly enhance the hunting experience. Breeds like English springer spaniels, Labrador retrievers and German shorthairs are popular choices due to their strong retrieving instincts and ability to navigate through fields. Investing time in training your dog can
Trained hunting dog Remi retrieves a pheasant for a hunter.
GEAR RECOMMENDATIONS FROM LARRY CASE
While Dave Miller is your go-to for Plains pheasant advice, I know a thing or two about hunting gear.
Boots: Pheasant hunting involves walking – a lot of walking. All of your plans are for nothing if you don’t have good, comfortable boots. Irish Setter’s popular VaprTrek hunting boots were reimagined to enhance long-lasting comfort, reduce weight and add sustainable materials. Now Irish Setter has added five new options: two all-leather upper boots; an all-black boot; and insulated boots in both men’s and women’s sizes. Irish Setter has made durable, reliable and comfortable boots for those who get after it all day, every day, for over 70 years. I have worn the VaprTrek boot for years; they are lightweight, durable and come in insulated and uninsulated models. Info: irishsetterboots.com.
Game vest: Like your boots, a good, sturdy and dependable game vest is important for pheasant hunting. You need lots of pockets, a comfortable fit to carry everything including your birds, and the blaze orange color is a must for safety. The Alps Outdoorz Upland Game Vest has all of this and more. Whether you’re chasing pheasants in early September or late January, the lightweight,
rugged Upland Game Vest with the new adjustable closure is the go-to hunting vest for wingshooters and small-game hunters alike. The wrap-around game pocket will easily hold your limit, can be accessed from the front or back and will unzip to clean up nicely after your successful hunt. Two zippered chest pockets will secure your valuables and hold those extra meals for
you and your dogs on long hikes through the brush. Two oversized shell pockets on the front of the vest feature 14 individual shell and choke tube loops. Dual water bottle pockets flank the vest to allow for plenty of hydration. Info: alpsoutdoorz.com.
Shotgun: It should be obvious that a good, dependable, lightweight shotgun is needed for pheasant hunting. The new Akkar USA High Noon shotgun will fit the bill. All Akkar High Noon shotguns feature 28-inch glossy blue barrels with raised vent ribs designed for precision and performance. Akkar USA tastefully integrated a 9mm raised vent rib in the High Noon’s side-by-side design – a balanced appearance without the view of an ultrawide barrel profile. All gauges include 3-inch chambers, allowing a versatile array of ammo options from target to field shotshells. Discerning shooters will appreciate the balance and handling of gauge-specific frame sizes, including 12 gauge, 20 gauge, 28 gauge and .410 bore. Each shotgun ensures an exceptional fit and feel, with Elite models showcasing elegantly engraved receivers and premium high-select wood for a refined finish. Info: akkarusa.com.
Shotgun ammo: Federal Ammunition is bringing back the classic feel of upland hunting with the launch of its new Upland Paper shotshells. These shells offer the nostalgic look, feel and even smell of traditional paper hulls while delivering modern performance for upland and small game hunters. Each Upland Paper shell features a Federal-exclusive waxed-paper hull, maintaining the vintage aesthetic while providing reliable performance in the field. Inside, a wad column optimized for paper hulls enhances pattern consistency, while extra-hard, copper-plated shot ensures deep penetration and uniform patterns for maximum effectiveness. Select high-quality propellant and primers to ensure efficient ignition and cleanburning reliability. The new Upland Paper shotshells are available in three 12-gauge and three 20-gauge options, with shot sizes of 4, 5 and 6, giving hunters the perfect choice for various upland game scenarios. Info: federalpremium.com.
(ALPS OUTDOORZ)
(AKKAR USA)
(FEDERAL)
lead to a more efficient and enjoyable hunt. Basic obedience training, along with exposure to hunting scenarios, helps dogs learn to find and retrieve birds effectively. Remember to carry plenty of water for your dog; they are hunting for you, so take care of them.
FINDING GOOD HUNTING LOCATIONS
Both South Dakota and North Dakota offer diverse hunting landscapes, including public lands, state lands and private properties. In South Dakota, locations such as Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge provide abundant opportunities to hunt pheasants. North Dakota offers areas like the Sheyenne National Grassland and the Coteau Region, which are known for their excellent pheasant populations. Again, onX Maps makes this very easy.
PREPARING FOR THE HUNT
Participating in a few rounds of sporting clays and taking some wingshooting lessons can certainly help you with your gun mounts and shot timing. I personally offer clinics nearly every month somewhere in the Midwest.
Preparing for pheasant hunting doesn’t start two weeks before the hunt; to be an efficient shotgunner, you need to put some rounds down well before season if you want to be able to capitalize on the situation when that rooster presents itself. Missing the easy quartering-away pheasant at 20 yards could cause friction between you and your bird dog – you don’t want that!
ENJOYING THE EXPERIENCE
Pheasant hunting is not just about the harvest; it’s also about embracing the outdoors, spending time with friends and family and enjoying the thrill of the chase. Take the time to appreciate the landscapes, the camaraderie of fellow hunters and the satisfaction of a well-executed hunt – and let’s not forget the dog work! ★
Hunters flush a pheasant out of a field. It’s all the aglands and nearby cover that make this countryside so productive for ringnecks.
Central Great Plains states such as Nebraska and Kansas also offer great ops for wild pheasants.
THE DOUBLE GUN RISES AGAIN
Heritage of the side-by-side seen in Badlander series.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY LARRY CASE
Shotgunners, like many in the hunting and shooting world, can be an odd lot. Sometimes we just don’t want what is new and fancy and has a lot of bells and whistles and sparkle on it. We want to carry a shotgun that reminds us of back in the day. We want to, at least in our minds, rub shoulders with and join the ranks of those hunters and shooters who went before us. We want to, at least in spirit, carry a trusted side-by-side, to jump in the jeep with Dad, Grandad and a raw-boned pointer and head to old familiar coverts that hold grouse – lots of grouse.
SO WHAT MAKES double-barrels – sorry, side-by-sides – so special? Again, hard to explain but we will give it a try.
While we may not be able to do all of this, we can carry that side-by-side shotgun – this part is attainable. There is just something about it. It is very hard to explain, but I will try. If you are not a gun guy or girl, and especially if you are not partial to shotguns, you will not understand. What I am going on about here is the allure, the mystique, of a double-barreled shotgun.
To do this right, I should refer to this type of shotgun as a “side-by-side.” That is, the barrels are situated on the shotgun side by side, horizontally. One could say that an over-and-under shotgun, which is one barrel on top of the other, is a double-barrel shotgun, but in truth the whole world knows that a “double-barrel” is a side-by-side. OK, got all that? Then let’s continue.
The “chunk chunk” sound of dropping a pair of shotgun shells into the chambers of a fine side-by-side is somehow very satisfying. Closing the action of the gun and hearing the reassuring sound of the gun locking into place tells you all is ready with the shotgun; you just have to do your part. There is no doubt that some of us put ourselves in the ranks of the hunters we see in old pictures carrying a timeworn double-barrel. We like to think that carrying this shotgun as they did will somehow transport us to a golden age of hunting when there were grouse in most every thicket, the sky was often black with ducks, and things were a whole lot simpler. I know, I don’t really understand it either, but it is true.
For many years (prior to World War II), the side-by-side shotgun was really the only choice for shooters and sportsmen. If you like to look at vintage hunting pictures (as I do), in this time in history you will see hunters going for ducks, turkeys, grouse, quail and rabbits toting the double-barrel shotgun almost exclusively. It was the gun that was available and hunters probably never gave it a second thought.
Well, as always, things began to change. Thanks to guys like John Moses Browning (he had his hands on almost every new firearm creation), C.C. Loomis and T.C. Johnson, the
Heritage Manufacturing’s introduction of the Badlander line of double-barrel shotguns just might soothe author Larry Case’s ache for an old-fashioned side-by-side to hunt birds with.
SCATTERGUN ALLEY
age of the autoloader and slide-action (pump gun) shotgun blew everything else out of the water. John Browning gave us the Browning Auto-5, and the predecessors to the Winchester Model 12 (T.C. Johnson) and the Remington Model 31 (C.C. Loomis). These repeaters gave the shooter the option of sometimes five rounds available and they were instant hits with hunters and trap and skeet shooters.
The double-barrel began to be seen as old and outdated; they were still carried by some stalwarts, you understand, but the age of the repeater was definitely at hand. One factor was that during this transition time, probably in the late 1940s going into the ’50s, the side-by-side shotgun may have priced itself out of popularity. In the late ’40s you could buy a new L.C. Smith side-byside shotgun for less than a hundred bucks. (Oh, if that were only true today.) At this same time you could get a Winchester Model 12 pump gun for a good bit less than the hundred greenbacks, as well as the Browning Auto-5 (humpback). So the shooter and hunter at the time no doubt saw this as a way to get more gun for less or the same money. The elegant, standard, tried-and-true side-by-side began to slip into shadow. More is the pity, but there is hope.
SEVERAL YEARS AGO a new spring began to bloom for the old double-barrel. Younger and new shooters, as well as veterans, began to turn their thoughts back to the side-by-side. Shotgun forums and gun store counters began to hear questions about finding a nice side-by-side shotgun. They were still being made, of course, but maybe not in great numbers. Also, the price of some English- and Italian-made doubles no doubt turned off the new shooter with a checkbook that could not go that route. Affordable double guns began to appear as a few gunmakers took notice of the trend. Recently, I have become acquainted with a pretty side-by-side that I would
The Badlander series is available in 12, 20, 28 and .410 gauges, in nickel and black oxide finishes.
SCATTERGUN ALLEY
like to tell you about.
Heritage Manufacturing is offering the Badlander side-by-side shotgun in several different models. My favorite and the one I am talking about at this time is the 12-gauge model with 28inch barrels.
The metal finish is black oxide, reminiscent of deep bluing, and the stock and forearm are dark walnut. This gun is pretty and everyone I have shown it to thus far has expressed an interest in it. While the metal finish and wood are lovely, I will say that it is
plenty subdued enough to be carried in the turkey woods, which I am doing now. This gun takes me back to the age of brown duck canvas hunting vests, block-headed pointers and farmers who welcomed the hunter.
The Badlander double gun from Heritage is offered in 12, 20, 28 and 410 gauges. There is a nickel-plated version, as well as one with 18½-inch barrels for home defense and other concerns. You can check them out at heritagemfg.com.
The age of the side-by-side shotgun
With their 18.5-inch barrels, some of the Badlander side-by-sides harken back to the stagecoach era, but bird hunters will flock to the four models sporting 28-inch barrels. MSRP on the latter shotguns is $946.99. (HERITAGE MANUFACTURING)
isn’t over yet, thank goodness.
Editor’s note: Larry Case has been a devoted outdoorsman since he was a child. He will admit to an addiction to turkey hunting (spring and fall), but refuses any treatment. He enjoys the company of gobblers and cur dogs that are loud and people who speak the truth softly. Case served 36 years as a game warden in West Virginia and retired with the rank of district captain. You can check out his podcast and other stories at gunsandcornbread.com.
PREPPING FOR A TWO-WAY BATTLE (PART TWO)
More lessons from the Tactical Anatomy Summit.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY PAUL PAWELA
It has been said that “carrying a firearm is an act of love.” The meaning is, “I love my life, my family and my friends, and I will do whatever it takes to protect them!”
However, is that statement true?
Sadly, despite the many training opportunities available for shooters to improve their skills, data shows that the average hit potential in a gunfight is 20 percent, and this potential decreases with increased distance and lower ambient light. Why is this important? Because if you’re in a gunfight, the quicker you end the fight, the less likely you are to get shot or cause harm to any innocent people.
Self-Defense TRAINING
The truth of the matter is that if your hit potential is in the average 20-percent range, then you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.
IN THE JUNE issue of American Shooting Journal, I mentioned that I had recently attended what I consider the best tactical firearms training to date, the Tactical Anatomy Summit, held in Nashville, Tennessee.
Part one of this article discussed the Gunfight at the OK Corral – a battle in which no person died immediately from gunshot wounds – and the importance of shot placement. In part two here, we’ll cover the 1986 FBI Miami Shootout, and how it relates to tactical anatomy.
While the presenters at the Tactical Anatomy Summit provided detailed accounts of what happened that day,
Author Paul Pawela highly recommends this book by very good friend Ed Mireles Jr. and his wife Elizabeth Mireles.
Mireles Jr., the hero of the 1986 FBI gunfight in Miami, points to the name of a fellow agent killed in the shootout at a police memorial wall.
A student fires during a training exercise at the Tactical Anatomy Summit, held this spring in Nashville, Tennessee.
SELF-DEFENSE TRAINING
since I covered the incident in the February 2023 issue, I won’t go into depth here except to say that the shootout involved one perpetrator being shot 12 times before dying and the other being shot six times before expiring. It is crucial to remember that during this gunfight, before dying of multiple severe gunshot wounds, one of the criminals killed two good FBI agents, seriously wounded four other agents and lightly injured a fifth. (For more information, I recommend the book FBI Miami Firefight: Five Minutes that Changed the Bureau by Edmundo and Elizabeth Mireles, available at edmireles.com.)
This is the main point the Tactical Anatomy Summit instructors were
The queen of diamonds card marks the location of the aortic arch. Hits in this area will drop an assailant’s blood pressure rather sharply – but if the arch is concealed by a shirt, could you still hit the target? Could you do so under stress? That was a critical point of the summit. Other key targets participants were taught to focus on include brainstem, spine and the atriums, or chambers, of the heart.
emphasizing: It’s not just about shooting your enemy, but knowing exactly where to shoot them so they no longer pose a threat to anyone. Tactical anatomy is a concept that involves understanding the location of the vital structures in the human body and how these locations change based on the angle of engagement.
The purpose of knowing how to use lethal force quickly and effectively is to neutralize the threat. We know that the probability of incapacitation in gunshot wounds varies with the following: energy of penetrating projectiles; path of projectiles through the body; which structures/organs are penetrated; and the degree of anatomic and psychological
disruption of vital structures. Shot placement is more important than caliber or gun selection. All instructors unanimously agreed that there are three areas that will end the fight against an adversary in a deadlyforce confrontation:
• The head and, more accurately, the brainstem. To get the best shot, if the opponent is facing us, aim between the eyes. From the side, the aim point is the center of the head, slightly above the ear. From the back, target the center of the head near the top of the ears.
• The spine. A well-placed shot to the aggressor’s spine will usually drop the individual instantly.
• The chest, specifically the aortic
Instructor Andy Anderson not only made targets difficult to hit, but added extra pressure in the form of a man-on-man competition held in front of the entire class.
Steve Moses sacrificed his own body to ensure a student knew where key anatomical points to shoot at were located. Students used a green laser pointer to demonstrate the target areas.
Tactical instructor Chuck Haggard demonstrates hitting primary targets on the body with a snubnose revolver. He teaches from experience, having been in several gunfights.
SELF-DEFENSE TRAINING
arch and/or the atriums of the heart. Hits in this area will drop one’s blood pressure from 120/80 (normal) down to 0/0.
For the record, I have been stating the same thing for years in my Assault Counter Tactics classes. These were lessons learned from Delta Force and SEAL Team 6, which I had the privilege of training with early in my military career.
Haggard explains ballistic performance using ballistic gelatin. The 9mm is the most common defense round and summit instructors all agreed the Federal HST in 124 grains was hands down the best round to use for personal carry.
An expanded 9mm Federal HST.
Highly trained students who participated in the Tactical Anatomy Summit with the author (far left).
Instructor Shane Kerwin explains the proper use of a tourniquet. Pawela believes that carrying one and knowing how to properly use it on others and yourself is as important as self-defense training.
WHICH BRINGS US back to modern times and the high value of the Tactical Anatomy Summit. The instructors, including Steve Moses, Andy Anderson, Chuck Haggard, Troy Miller and Shane Kerwin, are all well-known and experienced subject matter experts. Their two-day class had equally impressive classroom demonstrations and presentations, as well as effective firearms training.
One slide presentation had a powerful and lasting statement. The subject was shooting the brainstem, which is acknowledged as a type of training reserved for SWAT/sniper teams. Well-known national firearms instructor Jeff Hall stated, “Training priorities are backwards; patrol officers are first on the scene and have the greatest need for this type of training.”
The question is, how good is your shooting proficiency? Ultimately, that is the key factor in keeping you and your loved ones safe – that is the true “act of love.” Proficiency requires constant practice and attending excellent training like the Tactical Anatomy Summit.★
Editor’s note: Author Paul Pawela is a nationally recognized firearms and self-defense expert. For his realistic self-defense training, see assaultcountertactics.com.
s the rise of violent threats continues to increase domestically and abroad, and continues to become more sophisticated and calculated, the need for highly trained security professionals is not just important, it is imperative.
ARecently, I had the privilege of teaching the final two days of a Private Security Detail course at Executive Security International, located in Colorado. ESI is known for its rigorous and elite-level training programs in protective services, and the students enrolled in this cohort reflected that caliber; most were military veterans. Their discipline was evident and their motivation, even more so.
TRAINING ENVIRONMENT AT ESI
Students enrolled in ESI’s PSD Protective Operations Course are challenged physically, mentally and emotionally. The course is modeled after the school’s world-renowned Executive Protection Program, but with an emphasis on high-threat operational environments. This training is not for those looking for a certificate to hang on a wall, but for serious operators who may find themselves in hostile regions where the threat is dynamic, the attacker is determined and seconds make the difference between life and death. The PSD program is designed
as a 21-day residency, although it is often extended to include additional specialized modules. The curriculum focuses on the real-world demands of protective operations, particularly those faced in combat zones or when dealing with organized criminal elements targeting high-value individuals.
Participants are taught to think critically under stress, adapt quickly and execute missions with precision.
They learn protective driving, firearms proficiency, route planning, surveillance detection, motorcade operations, intelligence gathering and threat analysis.
Prerequisites for entry into the program may include recent combat zone experience in the military, current or former law enforcement, or completion of ESI’s Executive Protection Program with a Level 1 shooting qualification. In short, ESI isn’t
Author Graciela Casillas demonstrates a defensive tactic that tears the right elbow and shoulder joint on US Army veteran Logan Bellard.
TACTICAL TRAINING
a school that teaches beginners how to shoot. It’s a place where experienced protectors refine their edge.
DEFENSIVE TACTICS AND COMBATIVES TRAINING
During the final two days of the course, I had the honor of leading these veterans through an intensive combatives module. My focus was on empty-hand defensive tactics and edge weapon techniques – both of which are critical skills when a firearm is not immediately accessible, or when lethal force is not legally or morally justified. These students, who will soon be responsible for safeguarding clients in high-threat environments, understood the seriousness of this training. The room was laser focused. They knew that in many real-world scenarios, especially in close quarters, the fight will not start with a rifle or even a pistol. It may start with a shove, a grab, a concealed blade or a sucker punch. And if they’re not prepared to manage that immediate threat with skill and decisiveness, they won’t be able to keep themselves or their principal safe.
We drilled on limb control, joint manipulation, rapid incapacitation techniques and methods for deescalation when appropriate. But we also addressed the psychological side of close combat. In an ambush or a chaotic attack, fine motor skills often degrade due to the body’s acute stress response. That’s why the techniques I teach are based on gross motor principles – movements that can be reliably executed under stress, even when adrenaline causes tunnel vision or tactile distortion.
We also covered edge weapons, both offensive and defensive use, including disarming techniques. These were not presented in an abstract way. Every drill was rooted in the realities these men may face: a crowded market in a conflict zone, an assassination attempt, a domestic principal suddenly confronted by an unstable relative.
Bellard trains with fellow vet Daniel Romero on edge weapon tactics.
Casillas demonstrates a control tactic on another student.
STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND WARRIOR ATTITUDE
I have taught many groups over the years – civilians, law enforcement, martial artists and military personnel – and I can tell you with confidence that the men in this program were among the most engaged I’ve worked with. Veterans bring a different kind of commitment to training. It’s not academic to them. It’s not about belts or badges. It’s about making it home alive and making sure the person under their protection does too. What I appreciated most was their sincere humility. These were not men who came in thinking they knew everything. They came in hungry to learn, knowing that every new skill acquired was another tool in their mission to protect life. That is what defines a true professional. Not bravado. Not aggression. But a clear sense of responsibility and a drive to be competent in every area of the job. They asked intelligent questions. They practiced with intensity. They understood that fighting is not the same as self-defense, and that protecting another human being under threat demands a level of readiness far beyond sport or theory.
BEYOND THE MINIMUM STANDARD
What sets ESI apart is its refusal to settle for the “industry minimum.” This program doesn’t just teach check-the-box procedures. It trains for the evolving nature of threats and violence. The instructors were men and women who have operated in some of the world’s most hostile regions, who understand that terrorists and criminals do not follow a playbook. Their methods evolve, and so must ours.
ESI’s Private Security Detail course incorporates not only tactics, but also the mindset and ethics of protection. This is especially critical in today’s environment, where operators may find themselves in legally ambiguous or politically sensitive situations. The curriculum emphasizes both operational efficiency and legal
accountability. Students leave knowing how to neutralize a threat – but also when not to engage, how to avoid liability and how to protect life without violating rights.
This is where my philosophy as a martial artist aligns so closely with ESI’s mission. We train not just for skill, but for assessment and judgment. We teach not just how to fight, but how to recognize a threat and how to survive, defend and prevail with integrity.
If you are considering a career in high-threat protective services, whether domestic executive protection or international contract work, then ESI’s Private Security Detail course will not just prepare you, but it will challenge you to rise to a level of performance you may not have thought possible.
You will leave with a deeper
understanding of protective tactics, threat management and mission planning. You will train with experts who have walked the ground you aspire to walk. And if you commit fully, you will develop the mindset, skill set and warrior spirit necessary to protect life under the most demanding conditions.
For those I had the privilege of training during those last two days – you have my respect. You arrived with purpose and determination and departed with newfound wisdom and insight. Stay safe, stay humble and never stop training. The lives you protect may one day depend on what you practiced in that room.
WHEN THE THREAT ESCALATES
The combatives training I conducted during the final 48 hours of the PSD course focused on surviving the fight
Army vet Cody Drake works on wrist break and control tactics.
TACTICAL TRAINING
before a firearm is even drawn – when the threat is immediate, up close and brutally physical. That phase emphasized control, precision and readiness under extreme stress. But the reality of high-threat protective work demands more. When the threat escalates – when distance, firepower or multiple attackers come into play –your skill with a firearm may determine whether you or your client survive.
That is why part two of this article will focus on the firearms and rifle training component of the PSD course at Executive Security International. I will focus on the critical rifle skills taught in this program – skills tailored for protective operations in both domestic and international theaters. This includes tactical rifle deployment, weapons transitions, stress shooting, team coordination, and legal parameters surrounding justifiable use of deadly force.
Just as with the combatives portion, students in this next phase will be trained by highly experienced instructors with real-world operational experience in combat zones, dignitary protection and law enforcement. These are not range officers teaching theory. They are seasoned protectors teaching survival.
Stay tuned for part two next month, where I will share a behind-the-scenes look at the firearms training that sharpens the edge of every protector walking out of ESI’s doors. ★
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.
Drake takes down a course participant using leverage, attacking the base and upsetting shoulder alignment.
US Marine Corps veteran Randy Cardona practices a chokehold on fellow former marine Alexander Escajeda.
Participants in Casillas’s Private Security Detail course at Executive Security International in Colorado.
TACTICAL TRAINING
A TRAINING RIFLE, AND DRILLS TO GO WITH IT
ew, if any, in the training world would realistically argue against downrange feedback. This is where we are launching a projectile at a target and grading the performance of the entire system.
However, the problem is that training with live firearms can be cost-prohibitive. Ballistic-rated shoot houses are expensive to build and maintain. That cost is passed on to those who train
there. Safety rules, rightly so, can make the training feel canned and repetitive and most trainers are not going to put new or poorly trained students into a position where they are moving and shooting with a team with live rounds. The question becomes how to get your skills up to that level without needing the budget of a small country. Part of that answer comes from using other tools known as man marking rounds. While in the Army, I had access to high volumes of man marking rounds and used them extensively. It allowed me to train students in any
environment without the liability of live rounds. In all honesty, these kits allowed us to train better than live rounds ever would have.
The problem with these kits for use outside the military is twofold. First, the kits and ammunition, due to federal guidelines, are not authorized for sale to civilians in most cases. Secondly, the ammunition, if available, costs as much as matching ammunition. This also does not consider the repercussions of running around your backyard with what would look like live weapons. This is not advised.
The Unit4 Training Rifle from Unit Solutions has been purpose-built from the ground up to maximize realism and safety during non-lethal training.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY ASH HESS
TACTICAL TRAINING
THAT BRINGS ME to a solution to these training issues. Unit4, from Unit Solutions, is a dedicated training platform focused on individual users and smaller budget agencies. Being purpose-built, it mimics live firearms in most every way. It is made using many of the same parts as live rifles minus those needed for the system and to keep it from being designated as a firearm. My Unit4 has a Midwest Industries rail and furniture from B5 Systems. While not “receivers,” what you would identify as the upper and lower are made from the same forgings and completed by known firearms manufacturers for Unit Solutions.
The company put a lot of effort into this system, and I have been running mine for a few years now. The manual of arms is exact, as is the weight. The only true difference you will feel is a long and mushy trigger. This is a result of the system and has a minimal effect on 99 percent of the cases of it. They offer different barrel lengths and many features to allow you to match your actual rifle, including the use of M-Lok negative mounting.
I have mine set up identical to my general-purpose rifle with a Swampfox 1-6x optic. This allows me to practice all my movements and shots prior to matches or training events. I can get downrange feedback on steel or paper. All those reps directly translate to the live rifle and the only difference is slightly more recoil and noise. This follows most every other training progression in any other sport or activity.
While the entry price to get into the system ($1,400) is at the level of a live firearm, training with the system pays for itself very quickly. Currently, 300 non-marking rounds are $35. These are preloaded into 30-round Tpaks that are refillable with repack kits. There is a short learning curve to reloading the magazines and some care must be taken during that process, or the CO2 will launch the Tpak high into the air … allegedly. Once you learn the technique, they reload very quickly with minimal downtime.
WHAT I DISLIKE about articles like this is that the author lays out a bunch of stuff about a tool and does not give any best practices to go along with it. Luckily, I have the freedom to lay out some best uses for a system like Unit4.
Whether you are fighting with a rifle or using it in competition, getting fast, accurate hits is a main component. This requires you to move into a shooting position, mount the rifle, acquire the sights and press the shot as fast as you can. Most of this comes from dry fire work and you do not have to fire a round to practice. The downsides to that are that you get no downrange feedback, you must reset the trigger and there
is no movement from recoil. While it’s highly, highly recommended that most of your work is done this way, Unit4 comes in as the next stepping stone on your path to greatness.
It allows you to run those same drills at speed, with followup shots, and it gives recoil and downrange feedback. My top drills to use for individual speed work are focused on different things but teach some good lessons to start.
The first is the modified Viking Tactics half and half drill. This original drill is a three-part, 30-round drill. Part one is 20 yards in 10 seconds, part two is 10 yards in five seconds and part three is 5 yards in
The Unit4’s interior parts, including the trigger group, charging handle and bolt carrier, are made from durable materials that have the same fit and function as a real weapon.
TACTICAL TRAINING
2.5 seconds. All parts are 10 rounds, but the distance and time is cut by half. When using Unit4, the 20-yard string is a bit outside the effective range, so I modify by doing parts two and three. The purpose of this drill is to drive the rifle hard onto a single target and to shoot fast while still getting hits.
The second drill is the Viking Tactics 1-5 drill. This drill works speed and target transitions. Using three targets, you hit target one with one shot, target two with two shots, target three with three shots, back to target two for four shots, and target one with five shots. This 15-shot drill should be done in less than 4 seconds with 3 seconds being the goal. This drill forces you to transition targets and shoot fast. Plus, it is a lot of fun.
Once you have those two drills tuned in, you can move on to other things. Literally. Both competition and gunfighting require movement. Maybe not shooting on the move, but changing from position to position. Using Unit4, we can duplicate stages that work those skills using simple items like cardboard or, my favorite, old motorcycle license plates.
By setting up stages that require you to move, set and get your hits quickly with the downrange feedback from the targets, you can spend all the time you need to get fast. You can introduce various positions and work on all the skills to improve. The value comes from being able to do it most anywhere at any time.
If you are taking gunfighting or competition seriously, quality practice
should be part of your routine. These skills atrophy very quickly and, in either case, high performance on demand is part of winning. Tools such as the Unit4 from Unit Solutions bring a lot of value to that practice with realism and quality. Visit unitsolutions .com for more information.
Editor’s note: Ash Hess is a highly seasoned combat veteran of 22 years with four combat deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, totaling 52 months. His military training includes the US Army Master Marksman Trainer course, as well as rifle marksman instructor, urban combat leaders’, senior leaders’, army basic instructor, high-angle marksman and unit armor courses. He also wrote TC3-22 9, the Army’s marksmanship manual.
REMEMBERING SERGEANT GARRETT
Officer’s death during bank robbery recalled annually, led to procedure changes.
or this month’s installment, I’d like to highlight the actions of one of my department’s heroes. Unfortunately, like many featured in this column, he was murdered while in the line of duty, the only Redwood City, California, officer to suffer such a fate.
Below is the citation of his actions, provided courtesy of the Redwood City Police Department. It is read annually at the patrol briefing on May 8, including this year.
“ON FRIDAY, MAY 8, 1981, at 12:04 p.m., Redwood City Dispatch received a phone call advising of a possible bomb threat inside a Bank of America, located at 110 California Street. The call was followed by a silent alarm activation two minutes later. Four plain clothes officers from the Vice/Intelligence/Narcotics unit responded to the bank from the police department, which was located at 1020 Middlefield Road.”
“Sergeant George Garrett arrived first and entered the bank through the Winklebleck Street doors. Business appeared to be normal. Detective Dale Switzer arrived in another car with Detective Ron Brooks and the driver, Detective Robert Peele. Detective Switzer went in the El Camino doors followed seconds later by Detective Brooks. Detective Peele parked the car and notified dispatch of their arrival.”
“The bank was crowded with customers. Sergeant Garrett walked
to the desk of the branch manager, Sylvia Harris, where another man was sitting. Garrett put his hand on the man’s shoulder, asked him how he was doing, and the man immediately pulled a gun from his waistband. As he did so, Garrett reached across the desk and pushed Miss Harris out of the line of fire as he was reaching for his own gun. The man jumped up and shot Garrett once in the head and once in the chest. The suspect started to walk away as Switzer ran toward him. Switzer and Brooks opened fire on the suspect, with Switzer killing him.”
“Sergeant Garrett is the only officer murdered in the line of duty in the department’s history. At 39 years old, Garrett was survived by his wife, who was eight months pregnant with their first child. Nineteen days after his murder, his daughter Nicole was born. In July 1981, city officials dedicated George L. Garrett Junior Memorial Park in his honor. On this date, May 8th, the 44th anniversary of his death, we remember and honor our brother officer, George Garrett.”
I OFTEN THOUGHT of Sergeant Garrett throughout my career, especially when responding to alarm calls. Bank alarms are a pretty common occurrence in law enforcement. Fortunately, the vast majority of them are false alarms, but we still take every one of them very seriously. We now use a different procedure when dealing with possible bank robberies, basically surrounding the location and deciding what is the best course of action from there. This is
in no way being critical of the actions that led to Sergeant Garrett’s death; rather, it is a testament to the lessons we learn from others.★
Editor’s note: Author Nick Perna served for more than 24 years with the Redwood City Police Department in Northern California before his recent retirement. He previously served as a paratrooper in the US Army and is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also has a master’s degree from the University of San Francisco. He is a frequent contributor to multiple print and online forums on topics related to law enforcement, firearms, tactics and veterans issues.
STORY BY NICK PERNA • PHOTO COURTESY REDWOOD CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT
Redwood City, California, Police Department
Sergeant George Garrett was killed on May 8, 1981, while responding to a bank robbery. Garrett is the only officer to have been killed in the line of duty in the department’s history.
