Amsj Feb 2016

MIGHTY MITE ALEXIS WELCH Why Industry Big Guns Have Faith In This Tiny Shooter

HISTORY MONTH! Life Of Henry No.19 Nazi Battle Rifle K98k Hunting America’s Historical Places Guns Of Market Hunters

THE

HeLL THAT WAS

BENGHAZI TWO ‘SECRET SOLDIERS’ SPEAK

Gun Reviews Best Of The West’s Hunter Elite Aero Precision .308 M5E1 Magnum Research Baby Desert Eagles

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A MERIC A N

SHOOTING JOURNAL Volume 5 // ISSUE 6 // February 2016 PUBLISHER

James R. Baker ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Dick Openshaw GENERAL MANAGER

John Rusnak EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Andy Walgamott EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Danielle Breteau LEAD CONTRIBUTOR

Frank Jardim CONTRIBUTORS

Robert Campbell, Tom Claycomb III, Terry Dalton, James Davis, Scott Haugen, Steve Joseph, Kenneth Kieser, Alex Kincaid, Troy Rodakowski, Jim Sessions, Bob Shell, Troy Taysom, Oleg Volk, John Woods SALES MANAGER

Katie Higgins ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Donna Caskey, Mamie Griffin, Steve Joseph, Garn Kennedy, Mike Smith, Paul Yarnold PRODUCTION MANAGER

Sonjia Kells DESIGNERS

Ciara Pickering, Sam Rockwell, Liz Weickum PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Kelly Baker OFFICE MANAGER/ACCOUNTING

Audra Higgins ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Katie Sauro INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER

Lois Sanborn WEBMASTER / INBOUND MARKETING

Jon Hines EDITORIAL MINION

Erica Deshaies DIGITAL MINIONS

Victor Hernandez, Zak B. Mohamed, Sam Morstan CIRCULATION MANAGER

Heidi Belew DISTRIBUTION

Tony Sorrentino, Gary Bickford, Barry Johnston ADVERTISING INQUIRIES

ads@americanshootingjournal.com

ON THE COVER Eight-year-old competitive shooter Alexis Welch has won the hearts and minds of the gun industry, and is showing a new world just what skill, determination, some impressive innate talent and smarts can do.

(OLEG VOLK)

MEDIA INDEX PUBLISHING GROUP WASHINGTON OFFICE P.O. Box 24365 • Seattle, WA 98124-0365 14240 Interurban Ave. S. Ste. 190 • Tukwila, WA 98168 OREGON OFFICE 8116 SW Durham Rd • Tigard, OR 97224 (206) 382-9220 • (800) 332-1736 • Fax (206) 382-9437 media@media-inc.com • www.media-inc.com

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CONTENTS

VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 6 • FebrUARY 2016

MICRO CHAMPION features

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THE HELL THAT WAS BENGHAZI Two of the real-life security contractors played in this month’s movie 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers Of Benghazi talk about what happened the night Ambassador Stevens was killed and how well the film portrays the events.

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BEHIND THE BADGE: TRUE BROTHERS IN BLUE Law enforcement is known as a brotherhood, and nowhere is that more true than in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, where siblings Mike and Dan Coyle are on duty.

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HISTORY OF A HENRY The Civil War-era Prentis Henry Rifle No. 19 witnessed generational strife – and then disappeared into a basement for a century. Find out its unique story!

101 THE NAZI’S WAR RIFLE When the Wehrmacht went to war, they carried the Mauser Karabiner 98 kurz, the bolt design and principles of which are still around today.

Meet Alexis Welch, the 8-year-old Kentucky shooting phenom whom some big guns in the industry are backing.

(OLEG VOLK)

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COMPETITIONS: THE ARIZONA SPEEDSTER The speed at which Brian Schrock shoots and reloads his revolvers is amazing — find out why 2016 just might be “The year of the Schrock.”

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THE NINE LIVES OF TOM THREEPERSONS One of our country’s most unique lawmen lived an outlandishly rich life – learn about Tom Threepersons’ life and times, and his holster redesign!

137 ROADHUNTER: HISTORIC PLACES I’VE HUNTED From Native American buffalo jumps to the mountains “Wild Bill” Cody and Jack O’Conner hunted, Scott Haugen’s career behind the scope has taken him to legendary landscapes.

AMERICAN SHOOTING JOURNAL is published monthly by Media Index Publishing Group, 14240 Interurban Ave South Suite 190, Tukwila, WA 98168. Display Advertising. Call Media Index Publishing Group for a current rate card. Discounts for frequency advertising. All submitted materials become the property of Media Index Publishing Group and will not be returned. Copyright © 2016 Media Index Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be copied by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording by any information storage or retrieval system, without the express written permission of the publisher. Printed in U.S.A.

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CONTENTS PRECISION RIFLE WORLd q&A’s 37 45 49 53

Bartlein Barrels’ Frank Green Liberty Arms’ Bob Goettel Northwest Action Works’ Mason Watters CDiPrecision Gunworks’ Jeffrey Allen

95 BABY DESERT EAGLE GUN REVIEW:

also inside 25 33 83 129 143 151 159 165

GUN REVIEW: Aero Precision’s .308 M5E1 Product Review: Luth AR MBA-3 Buttstock Product Review: Must-have AR Accessories GUN REVIEW: Best Of The West’s Hunter Elite Rifle System Hone Your Knife-sharpening Skills Dillon Reloaders Factory Tour The Guns Of Market Hunters Product Review: Bullseye Camera Systems

DEPARTMENTS 17 19 21 22

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Editor’s Note Competition Calendar Gun Show Calendar Top Shooters

American Shooting Journal // February 2016

Their calibers are smaller than the original, but Magnum Research’s .40, 9mm and .45 S&W Baby Desert Eagles still pack quite a punch. (KAHR GROUP)

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EDITOR’S NOTE

R

ecap of the SHOT Show? My feet are still soaking, and our writers are diligently scribbling new and epic stories. Pain, so much good pain.

We’ve settled into 2016 and have a variety of great content planned. This month focuses on historical guns and the people behind them. Next month will feature law enforcement and spring hunting, just in time for turkeys. The women’s annual in April is always highly anticipated, and July’s features dogs with jobs. No matter your shooting passion, we try to cover it in detail at some point during the year.

This month, take a trip down memory lane and meet Tom Threepersons, one of the most famous lawmen of the previous century; learn the deep history of the famous German Karabiner 98 kurz, or K98k, rifle; and look back at the guns of the bygone era of market hunting, which decimated wildlife.

Also in this issue, we have packed interview after interview from precision rifle industry leaders who share their tips, tactics and – shhh! – trade secrets.

Now get ready to participate, because it’s time to start looking at targets, holsters and blades. Each year, we reach out to you readers and ask for your best of the best in each

of these categories. Our May issue will announce who you have chosen for the Top 10 targets of the year. We are looking for fun, diverse, challenging and original concepts. If you have a brand that you feel deserves this recognition, let us know who they are, which target deserves attention and why.

You determine who makes the Top 10, so get to work!

If you are new to the American Shooting Journal, thank you for joining our readership and family.

Our family is important to us: We Executive editor Danielle Breteau scour the nation for people who are amazing, make a difference in our industry, drive it, inspire others and who are excellent role models and stewards. Are you one of those people? Do you know one? Send me an email and tell me all about this mover and shaker so we can share them with the nation.

Email me at: Dani@AmericanShootingJournal.com.

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PRECISION RIFLE SERIES - A nationwide competitive points race featuring the best precision rifle matches and most competitive riflemen in the country.

• • • •

Points Series Race To The Championship Regional Qualifier Matches Earn Your PRS Shooting Classification Sign Up Today & Become A Member

For More Information Visit:

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American Shooting Journal // February 2016

Presented By:

COMPETITION C A L E N D A R

Trenton Mitsuoka placing third overall in the 2015 NSSF Rimfire Challenge World Championship at the Old Fort Gun Club in Fort Smith, Ark., with his Ruger 10/22 kitted out with a Tactical Solutions X-ring barrel, Hogue Tactical thumbhole stock, Kidd trigger and bolt, Power Custom bolt racker, Allchin Gun Parts scope mount and compensator and C-More Red-dot sight. (OLEG VOLK )

FEBRUARY 18-20

FEBRUARY 27-28

Season Opener Fort Worth, Texas Fort Worth Trap & Skeet Club

Bushnell Brawl Kingsville, Texas Rifles Only Range

FEBRUARY 6

FEBRUARY 12

FEBRUARY 13

FEBRUARY 13

FEBRUARY 14

FEBRUARY 18

FEBRUARY 20-21

FEBRUARY 20-21

FEBRUARY 27-28

FEBRUARY 12-14

FEBRUARY 20

FEBRUARY 19-21

FEBRUARY 4-6

FEBRUARY 18-20

FEBRUARY 14

MVSA Club Match Hot Springs, Ark. Mountain Valley Range

3-gun Match Frostproof, Fla. Universal Shooting Academy

West Coast Challenge I Azusa, Calif.

Calguns Shooting Sports

Southwest Regionals Queen Creek, Ariz.

Horseshoe Park

Chesapeake Cup - Tier 2 Lexington Park, Md. Sanner’s Lake Sportsman Club

Classifier Fairfield, Calif.

Twin Sisters Gun Club

USPSA Match Frostproof, Fla. Universal Shooting Academy

Sweet Home Alabama Challenge IV Montgomery, Ala. Central Alabama Gun Club

President’s Day Blowout I Urbana, Ind. Crazy Horse Arena

S&W National Championship Springfield, Mass.

S&W Shooting Sports Center

Shot Through The Heart Fairfield, Calif.

Twin Sisters Gun Club

FL Open Championship Frostproof, Fla. Universal Shooting Academy

N. Florida Regional Classic III Tallahassee, Fla. Talon Range

Freeze-out Shoot Out Bryan, Texas Brazos County Expo

Guns or Roses Sundridge, Ont., Canada Eagle Lake Gun Club

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BROUGHT TO YOU BY

PRIMER

GUNSHOW C A L E N D A R

Skinner Sights Express sight for Ruger 10/22. (SKINNER SIGHTS )

The Real Texas Gun Shows

February 6 - 7 February 27 - 28

Montgomery, Texas Port Arthur, Texas

Lake Conroe Event Center Robert Bowers Civic Center

Crossroads Of The West Gun Shows

February 6 - 7 February 13 - 14 February 20 - 21 February 27 - 28 February 27 - 28

Ventura, Calif.

Ontario, Calif.

Phoenix, Ariz.

Reno, Nev. St. George, Utah

Ventura County Fairgrounds Ontario Convention Center Arizona State Fairgrounds Reno Convention Center Dixie Center

Tanner Gun Shows

February 13 - 14 February 27 - 28

Loveland, Colo.

Denver, Colo.

The Ranch Denver Mart

C&E Gun Shows

February 6 - 7 February 6 - 7 February 6 - 7 February 12 - 14 February 13 - 14 February 20 - 21 February 20 - 21 February 20 - 21 February 27 - 28

Monroeville, Pa. Roanoke, Va. Fayetteville, N.C. Chantilly, Va. Springfield, Ohio Harrisonburg, Va. Columbus, Ohio Charlotte, N.C. Raleigh, N.C.

Monroeville Convention Center Berglund Center Crown Expo Center Dulles Expo Center Clark County Fairgrounds Rockingham County Fairgrounds Ohio Expo Center Metrolina Expo Center & Fairgrounds Graham Building

Wes Knodel Gun Shows

February 13 - 14 February 20 - 21 February 27 - 28

Centralia, Wash.

Redmond, Ore. Merlin, Ore.

SW Washington Fairgrounds Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center Merlin National Guard Armory

R&K Gun Shows

February 6 - 7 February 27 - 28 February 13 - 14

Tulsa, Okla.

Ashland, Ky. Jonesboro, Ark.

Center Park Hall El Hasa Temple Arkansas District Fair

Northeast Gun Shows

February 6 - 7 February 27 - 28

Foxboro, Mass.

Middleton, N.Y.

Demetri’s Function Facility Orange County Fairgrounds

To have your event highlighted here, send us an email at Dani@AmericanShootingJournal.com.

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PRIMER

TOP SHOOTERS 1.

Travis Haley and AJ Wynne in full demonstration during a Haley Strategic Partners real-world training seminar.

2.

Our own editor is not afraid to get muddy during Magpul’s multi-gun tactical four-day course in Portland, Ore. (ICHIRO NAGATA)

3.

Alexis Welch is an 8-year-old champion shooter, and she isn’t even out of the gate yet! (OLEG VOLK)

4.

Captain Steve is larger than life with his 1911 pistol. (ROBERT CAMPBELL)

5.

In your face, says Joyce Tucker with her 1899 .32-20 Colt. They just don’t make them like they used to. (ROBERT CAMPBELL)

To have your photograph(s) featured here, email Dani@AmericanShootingJournal.com with all the pertinent details!

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gun reviews

THE TRIPLE PLAY Aero Precision’s .308 M5E1

REVIEW AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY OLEG VOLK

Aero Precision’s M5E1 is an evolutionary improvement on the basic AR-10 theme.

T

he Aero Precision M5E1 is a logical development from their more basic M5 .308 autoloading rifle.

It is positioned as a firearm that’s practical in the field, yet more accurate and capable of sustained fire than typical hunting or defense rifles. The main upgrade is the strengthened receiver designed to give monolithicrail effects without its logistical disadvantage, namely the difficulty of changing the forend. The area where the freefloated handguard and the barrel attach to the receiver has been beefed up relative to the typical AR-10-style guns.

The mounting surface for the forend is machined into the upper receiver, so the free-floated rail attaches with just four pairs of screws and no need for additional rings or hardware.

The rifle I tested was a combination of all three variants offered by Aero Precision. It came with an adjustable Magpul CTR stock designed for the 16-inch carbine, a 15-inch forend for an 18-inch midlength rifle and a 20-inch barrel for a full-

length rifle. The goal was to have a relatively handy weapon yielding maximum muzzle velocity. A variable-length stock allowed adjustments for various shooting positions and for body armor. Of the two colors available, I chose the flat dark earth cerakote, mainly to reduce the gun’s visibility and its tendency to warm up in direct sunlight during hot Tennessee summers. The edges of the receiver and the forend have all been carefully chamfered and smoothed, making gloveless handling comfortable. Extensively ventilated KeyMod handguards with a full-length Picatinny top rail proved well suited for field use, requiring only a short rail segment up front for the bipod, or a direct KeyMod bipod stud. The stock offered a quick-detach socket on both sides, and the QD railmounted receptacle for the front of the sling completed this field-ready rifle.

In cold weather, the all-metal forend would be insulated with rail covers, while in warmer weather, free air flow around americanshootingjournal.com 25

gun reviews

The creation of this rifle was driven by the need for a relatively handy rifle that yields maximum muzzle velocity.

the barrel would take priority. Due to the long barrel, the rifle starts out front-heavy, but adding a scope and a full 20-round magazine brings the balance to the front of the magazine well.

In keeping with the intended use of this rifle, I put a 1-6x Vortex Razor HD scope on it. With the optic set to six power, the M5E1 can be used to engage goblin-sized targets out to 600 yards from a bipod or an improvised rest. At intermediate magnification, it’s excellent for unsupported shooting. And at true 1x with daylight-bright reticle illumination, it works as an expedient red-dot sight for tracking motion. A rifle-length barrel with a flash hider keeps muzzle flash from showing up in the field of view, even in low light. The same length and the attendant inertia keep the muzzle rise to a minimum, so shooters can spot their own targets through the scope at all magnifications. The recoil is negligible, allowing full concentration on marksmanship without concern for the kick.

THE FIT AND FINISH OF THE RIFLE ARE EXCELLENT. The rifle functioned reliably with over a dozen types of ammunition, from steel-cased ball to hunting soft points and match hollow points. The trigger is smooth during take-up, with a crisp breakpoint but still at military standard weight.

Running it in winter gloves, I came to appreciate it for the tactile feedback it provided. The enlarged integral trigger guard helped make gloved use safe.

My M5E1 was test fired from a rest at the factory on my request, grouping around 1 minute of angle with Federal

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168-grain Gold Match ammunition. All of my testing was conducted by a former Marine Corps rifleman under less formal conditions from sandbags or from a Lead Sled, usually with some crosswind. The results, averaged over multiple groups, are as follows: Prvi Partizan Pierce Munitions Federal Fusion Hornady

175-grain match 168-grain match 150-grain 168-grain match

0.75 1.5 2 2

MOA MOA MOA MOA

The shooters remarked that they considered the rifle capable of better precision than it demonstrated, though I am convinced that 0.75 MOA is quite respectable, especially when the limitation of the six-power scope is considered.

The barrel twist rate is 1 in 10, optimal for 175-grain bullets, while the older 1-in-12 standard works fine for the 168s.

For short-range plinking or CQB training, the difference in mechanical accuracy would be of negligible importance, but heavier bullets would work best for deliberate long-range precision work. With initial muzzle velocity around 2,500 feet per second, most 175-grain loads stay supersonic out past 1,000 yards – well outside of the optical range of our setup.

The fit and finish of the rifle are excellent. Internals showed almost no visible wear after the first 400 rounds.

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gun reviews slung, thanks to the absence of any protrusions.

The M5E1 is an evolutionary improvement on the basic AR10 theme, and is a very enjoyable to operate and unfailingly reliable. With the recent price drop bringing the complete gun to the $1,300 to $1,600 range, depending on the variant, it is quite competitive with other precision alternatives. And that has long been Aero’s chosen field, good performance at a reasonable price. ASJ Editor’s note: For more information on Aero Precision, you can visit them at aeroprecisionusa.com.

The edges of the receiver and the forend have all been carefully chamfered and smoothed, making gloveless handling comfortable.

While the lower has a threaded opening for a tension screw, I found it unnecessary because play between the lower and the upper was already negligible. I would have preferred an extended charging handle latch, but that’s an easy fix.

The rifle weighs 9.6 pounds empty, on par with an M1A match or FN FAL. Loaded and scoped, it tips in at 13.6 pounds.

Its realistic niche is for a designated marksman or a hunter working from a blind. Despite the weight, the gun travels well

The trigger is smooth during take-up, with a crisp breakpoint, but still at military standard weight.

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The area where the freefloated handguard and the barrel attach to the receiver has been beefed up relative to the typical AR-10-style guns.

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American A merican i S Shooting hooting Journal // Febr February ebr brruar b ruar ary 2016 ary 20 016 16 16

Product REVIEW

THE TRIPLE AXIS SCORES A 10 GGrading d the h LU LUTH-AR UTH ARR M MBA-3 BA 3 BButtstockk REVIEW AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY DANIELLE BRETEAU

I

am easily entertained, so when I received the new LUTH AR MBA-3, the latest AR-platform buttstock on the market, I spent the first 10 minutes just admiring the interior of the box.

Odd, I know, but they did a very good job of decorating it and printed the installation instructions right there. This way anyone can put this new stock on their rifle without ever appearing as though they are actually reading the instructions. You can just peek over at the box, and no one would be the wiser.

I was pretty stoked about the latest creation from Randy E. Luth, original founder of DPMS (Defense Procurement Manufacturing Services), known for creating modern sporting rifles, among other gun gadgets. Luth sold the business in 2007, but much to everyone’s relief he did not leave the industry. He simply hid away, developing new products like a mad scientist, and the MBA, MBA-2, -3 and -4 are among them. MBA stand for modular buttstock assembly, in case you were twisting your mind around yet another acronym.

For some background, if you are not familiar with the MBA and the MBA-2, then you should know that the original MBA weighs in at just 1.26 pounds, but is super strong. That’s a huge benefit to any AR-platform, particularly if you are wielding it as a bat when you are out of ammunition. All of their buttstocks are designed for the .223 and .308 AR rifles, and the MBA-3 and -4 offer expanded options to the line.

Some of the updates for the MBA-3 include:

(Above) The MBA-3 fully closed. (Right) The MBA-3 with a fully expanded cheek weld and buttplate.

The LUTH-AR MBA-3 buttstock is designed for the .223 and .308 AR-platform rifles, and it only weighs 18 ounces.

A triple-axis buttplate adjustment capability: horizontal for linear adjustment (length of pull); vertical for a perfect buttplate fit; and lateral for a ½-inch left or right cast.

A bottom-facing Picatinny rail, which allows the shooter to add any number of gadgets – the mind reels with options.

An extra inch of height adjustment to the cheek rest for folks with high scopes or long jaws, whichever seems to be your issue.

An additional 1 1/16 -inch length of pull.

It weighs just about 18 ounces.

I know you are going to weigh it, which is why I was vague.

It is made of a ridiculously strong glass-filled nylon polymer.

Hold your breath because this is a big one: It has a nylon-tipped set screw. I know, I know, no more rattling buttstocks for you, plus you can lock in your favorite position and never have to worry about it creeping off mark.

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PRODUCT REVIEW This buttstock really is an excellent solution to all sorts of needs, and may help solve any number of shooting issues you may have that are directly related to your gear, not you as a shooter, because everyone knows that couldn’t possibly be the problem.

I have to mention one thing. There seems to be a few charging handle problems associated with the MBA. The charging handle comes back and actually makes contact with the MBA buttstock. Disclaimer: This is only with certain charging handles and certain receivers. After careful

The MBA-3 offers a floor-facing Picatinny rail.

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Though research I can designed for say that all of the slightly more powerful MBA buttstocks firearms, the meets the M16 rifle Luth MBA-3 buttstock and A2 buttstock compliments specifications. the editor’s office nerf gun If you have an quite well. aftermarket lower or charging handle, you may want to double check your specs. For example, it is not uncommon for an aftermarket rifle to have highsitting buffer tube.

Something to think about, but Luth-AR has solutions for you if you have this issue. But of course they do.

The MBA-3 will retail for $159.94 and will come in black, flat dark earth and pink. The MBA-4 is a skeletonized version of all of the MBA stocks, and weighs only 10 ounces. Perfect for the minimalist, but that is a review for another time. ASJ

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THE INS AND OUTS OF PRECISION An Interview With Frank Green Of Bartlein Barrels

Meet the Bartlein team: (back row) Louie, Ray, Kyle, Jim, John, Todd and Donny; (center row) Joe, Andrew, Kim, Scotty, Ron, Brad, Jeff and Steve; (front row) Justin, Frank Green (founder), Bill, Tracy (founder) and Andy (founder). Other team members include Brian, DJ, Tony, Mike, Tom, Mark, Jesse and Dave, who were hiding around the bundles of steel in the background.

INTERVIEW BY STEVE JOSEPH • PHOTOGRAPHS BY FRANK GREEN

f you have ever thought of getting involved in precision shooting, or are already immersed in the Precision Rifle Series competition, Bartlein Barrels is an industry name to know. Frank Green, Tracy Bartlein and Andy Kihn, who all previously worked for Kreiger Barrels, founded Bartlein Barrels and built it into what many are familiar with today – and for good reason.

Green sat down and gave us the ins and outs (pun intended) of their process and concepts of what makes them one of the best in the industry.

I

American Shooting Journal Who are the people behind Bartlein Barrels?

Frank Green We are experienced shooters, reloaders and hunters who have been working in the firearms industry collectively for over 30 years.

ASJ What is your title and tell us more about your background?

FG My title depends on which hat I’m wearing at the time.

For the most part, I would say sales and technical service manager. I also do research and development for gun manufacturers, and rifle testing.

ASJ How did Bartlein get involved in the PRS? FG Well, GA Precision-built rifles are used in the PRS more than any other builder, and GAP is one of our top customers.

Also, other customers like Wade Stuteville at Stuteville Precision, who used to be one of the lead guys at Surgeon Rifles, Surgeon Rifles, Accuracy International, Dave Tooley, Marc Soulie at Spartan Rifles, Mark Gordon at Short Action Customs and several other makers use our barrels, and not just in PRS. You can find our barrels in short- and long-range benchrest, F-Class and Palma matches, high-power rifle matches and many others. A lot of people say that we are the go-to barrel maker. Becoming involved in the PRS just happened naturally.

ASJ Why would someone choose your barrels over another maker in the industry?

FG The uniformity in our barrels and bore finishes are second to none. Our rifling machines are so accurate that we can carry the twist rate to the fourth decimal point (example: 11.3642). The process of single-point cut rifling is the most stress-free way to rifle a barrel. The twist is exact. Other forms of rifling can have variances due to the process they use. Also, the bore and groove dimensions are more uniform.

We pre-lap (a smoothing process) our barrels before rifling and finish-lap the barrel after rifling. There is no need to fire-lap or conduct any other sort of bore polishing to the barrel. Contrary to what others say, a lapped barrel will not wear out earlier versus an unlapped one. In our experience, our barrels will typically last longer than a button barrel. Our desire is to make the best and be the best.

ASJ What types of barrels do you offer?

FG We offer chrome-moly steel (CM 4140) and stainless steel (SS 416R).

ASJ Which steel do you think is better?

FG Neither, from what we can see. If we had to pick one, we would lean towards the chrome-moly, possibly because it lasts longer, but how long a barrel lasts is subject to many variables: type of powder being used; how it is being shot and cleaned; types of bullets being shot, etc. americanshootingjournal.com 37

ASJ People often ask what “T-style” rifling is. Can you explain that?

FG We call it transitional rifling, but some refer to it as either gain twist, progressive twist or incremental twist.

We can cut virtually any twist into a barrel, subject to tooling, of course, and we can start the twist at 1 in 14 and end up at 1 in 7, and have it uniformly The process of single-point cut rifling increase from the is the most stress-free way to rifle a barrel. The twist is exact. breech to muzzle. We can also increase it very slowly, say, from 1 in 7.5 at the breech to a 1 in 7 at the muzzle.

that they can run a slightly heavier powder charge versus a shooter with a straight twist barrel.

ASJ There are a lot of different schools of thought on cleaners, and what types to use. What do you recommend?

FG We do not recommend things like Iosso bore paste.

The paste cleaners get imbedded into the bore, so the next rounds fired through the barrel will damage the bore. There is no way to be sure you have removed it completely from the barrel after cleaning, and some shooters have claimed that their barrel starts fouling right after use. We feel so strongly about this that we will not warranty any barrel cleaned with it. If you want to use a paste-type cleaner, we recommend Remington bore cleaner or JB. ASJ What about cleaning brushes, do you recommend using them?

FG We only recommend using cleaning patches and solvent.

If a shooter insists on using a brush, then we recommend one caliber smaller or an old worn-out one. Wrap a patch around the brush and push it breech to muzzle, unscrew the brush before pulling the cleaning rod back through the bore or over the crown. More damage is done from cleaning than physically shooting the gun.

ASJ What are the benefits of the transition-style rifling?

FG I’ll quote a great bygone-era barrel maker named Pope: “The advantages of the gain twist are three: A) A lower twist rate at the breech gives less friction to the bullet, causing it to start easier and quicker, giving the powder less time to ASJ Many shooters don’t even clean their rifles, and swear by burn in front of the chamber, therefore less fouling than in this. What do you think? a barrel with a uniform twist at the same muzzle pitch; B) FG I shoot them, I clean them, and the biggest reason is The slight change in rifling angle, in connection with choke carbon fouling. The carbon fouling will keep building up bore, effectively shuts off any gas escaping and prevents gas and can cause pressure issues. Also, as the barrel wears over cutting, which is another cause of imperfect delivery; C) It time, it won’t hold accuracy as long between strings of firing. holds a muzzle-loaded bullet in position much better than a So you have to clean the barrel. I do not recommend notuniform twist. cleaning at all.

I will add some more to this. First, I feel this applies more ASJ Frank, thank you for taking the time to talk to us today. to a lead-bullet shooter than a jacketed-bullet shooter, but Your knowledge and expertise are greatly appreciated. some of the why and why-nots do overlap. With a transitionFG My pleasure. Thank you. ASJ style barrel the bullet cannot go to sleep. The rifling is always putting a fresh bite on the bullet as it goes Wade Stuteville of Stuteville Precision down the bore of the barrel. This is why I competes in the Precision Rifle Series and only uses Bartlein barrels. always go back to a cut barrel being better than a button barrel.

A cut barrel, even with a straight twist, is more uniform and consistent than a button barrel. With button rifling, the button can hit a hard or soft spot in the steel, and it will slow the button down. The button could speed back up and complete its twist, but either way you end up with a non-uniform twist.

This and a twist that keeps getting slower towards the muzzle are accuracy killers and consistently lead to problems such as fliers.

Even a slight gain in twist will help accuracy and not hurt a jacketed bullet. What has been conveyed to us – and this goes back to Pope’s first point – is that shooters have noticed

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American Shooting Journal // February 2016

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BUSHNELL BRAWL FEBRUARY 18-20, 2016 KINGSVILLE, TEXAS March

5-6

2016 Accuracy International’s Hoedown Throwdown

Baker, Fla.

hosted by Core March 18-20

Shoot For The Green

Chester, Okla.

March 18-20

Long Range Shooters Experience

Park City, Ky.

April

2-3

2016 Lone Star Challenge

Frost, Texas

April

9-10

Woody’s Spring PRS Match

New Hill, N.C.

April

9-10

New Mexico Precision Rifle Championship

Albuquerque, N.M.

April

15-17

Battle Of Breakneck

Bridgeport, Neb.

April

22-24

2016 NorCal Tactical Bolt Rifle Challenge

Sloughhouse, Calif.

April 29-May 1

Rock Lake Rifle Range PRS

St. John, Wash.

May

7-8

Masterpiece Arms Precision Rifle Shootout

Baker, Fla.

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14-15

South Dakota Steel Classic presented by Precision Reloading

Orient, S.D.

June

10-12

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TBD, Wash.

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Heatstroke Open

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Dec.

9-11

Tactical Precision Rifle Challenge

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For the 2016 schedule visit www.precisionrifleseries.com 42

American Shooting Journal // February 2016

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GUNSMITH IN ‘RIGHT SPORT, RIGHT TIME’ FOR PRS GROWTH INTERVIEW WITH BOB GOETTEL OF LIBERTY ARMS

Liberty Arms is a strong supporter of the Precision Rifle Series, and is known for creating some of this competition’s best long-range systems. This custom .308 tactical rifle – built on a Stiller action with a Bartlein spiral-fluted barrel, McMillan A3 stock with Liberty Arms cheek rests, custom multicam cerakote finish, Magpul FDE barreled action, US Optics 3.2-17 scope and a Armament Systems arbiter suppressor – just might be your next favorite gun.

INTERVIEW BY STEVE JOSEPH • PHOTOGRAPHS BY BOB GOETTEL

he Precision Rifle Series is exploding, and along with it are the shooters and industry professionals who provide only the best in products and services. The PRS has extremely low tolerances for anything outside of perfect.

Meet Bob Goettel, owner and founder of Liberty Arms LLC, a full-service gunsmith capable of repairs on all makes and models of firearms. However, their specialty lies in custom-built precision rifles. Take a look at what inspired Goettel to get involved in the PRS, and what keeps his company growing.

T

American Shooting Journal How did Liberty Arms get its start?

Bob Goettel It started with a family friend who was a custom smith and machinist. The old story of sweeping the floors when I was 9 years old got me into their shop, and they helped me build my first .22 magnum. From that point on it was an addiction. I started building all of my own rifles for match shooting, and that started things in motion. Soon, friends would ask me to build rifles for them, and interest in my work kept building. Eventually the demand pushed me to start the business.

gunsmithing services. However, we focus mainly on customrifle builds. We are set up for gunsmithing, cerakote and blueing services,and offer a full line of custom 1911s. Due to the growing popularity of long-range shooting and the growth of the PRS competition, 85 percent of our work has been focused on that portion of the industry. We also do lot of work for the local police department.

ASJ You mentioned having a line of 1911s. What other firearms do you offer?

BG We also have our Trident AR-15 and -10, as well as bolt rifles, which are built using our lines and customer specs. The great thing for shooters today is the abundance of parts and accessories that are available. Just about anything is possible.

This .308 tactical/marksman rifle features a Remington 700 action, Kreiger fluted barrel, AICS AX chassis, S&B optics with a laser rangefinder and a Surefire suppressor.

ASJ What services do you offer?

BG We offer all of the common gun-related americanshootingjournal.com 45

ASJ How did you get involved with the PRS? BG The PRS and long-range shooting in general has exploded in the past few years. From that explosion most shooters have found me. Just being into the right sport at the right Bob Goettel’s personal competition rifle – 6.5x47L with Stiller TAC 30 short action, Bartlein 1-in-8 twist 26-inch barrel, McMillan A3 stock with Liberty Arms cheek rest, PTG bottom metal, US Optics 5.5-25 optic and a SAS TOMB brake suppressor.

time has helped set things in motion, and the PRS is a great event that keeps the rifle population alive. It’s great to be a small part of it.

ASJ Thank you for talking to us, Bob. BG Thank you. ASJ Editor’s note: For more information about Bob Goettel or Liberty Arms LLC, visit them at LibertyArmsGunsmith.com.

This Remington 700 chambered in .300 H&H Magnum with an engraved action, Douglas barrel, Libery Arms custom three-panel checked bolt knob, Bastogne walnut stock, Obendorf bottom metal and three-position safety with Swarovski optics is almost too sweet to shoot.

An executive cased 1911, completely hand fit with Caspian slide/frame, case color, and bluing by Doug Turnbull. The ostrich-clad case and African Burlwood grips were designed and created by Liberty Arms.

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American Shooting Journal // February 2016

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American Shooting Journal // February 2016

FROM HOBBY TO

HOTSEAT How Northwest Action Works Was Born

Northwest Action Works has just released their entry-level precision package, the PMR Tactical 6.5 Creedmoor. (NORTHWEST ACTION WORKS)

orthwest Action Works is a newcomer to the precision firearms custom rig creation world, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have their targets dotted and their hairs crossed. Their humble roots but high quality standards have given them the tools they need to create some truly impressive rifles for considerably less than most other custom shops. Why do they do this? We asked NAW founder Mason Watters how he got started, and what he is doing to shake up the industry as a newcomer.

N

capable of much better, and it is not uncommon to see ragged or even single-hole groups at 100 yards, or bullet impacts stacking on top of each other at longer range steel gongs. Many of our customers are outstanding shooters and report some incredible feats of marksmanship.

ASJ How are you involved with the nation’s fastest growing shooting sport, the Precision Rifle Series?

MW We are actually just getting our feet wet with PRS. We have put together several rigs for people getting into

American Shooting Journal How did Northwest Action Works LLC get started and what inspired you?

Mason Watters We started this company on accident. We weren’t able to afford the often high prices associated with custom rifles, so we started building our own. Over time and after several builds for friends and ourselves, we started to get pretty good. When we first became an official business, we thought it would only be a side job. We primarily just sold components. The next thing we knew we had custom-barreled actions and complete rifle orders coming in. We quickly had to adapt and it turned into a fulltime operation. We decided that in order to focus solely on the company, we had to maintained a goal of bringing only a line of high-quality products to the market at prices we felt were fair to us and our customers.

ASJ What would you say is your best product or strength?

MW All of our rifles and barreled actions come with a ½ minute of angle accuracy or better – guaranteed! With high-quality loads and steady hands, these actions are

NAW is just starting to get its feet wet with the Precision Rifle Series, and with three-shot groups like this from a .308 Win Rough Rider Custom Rifle Package at100 yards using 168-grain Federal Gold Medal Match, they will soon be swimming. americanshootingjournal.com 49

NORTHWEST ACTION WORKS PMR TACTICAL FEATURES: • Trued Remington 700 action • Precision-ground recoil lug • Shilen match-grade stainless barrel • Tuned Remington X-mark trigger • Magpul 700 stock with detachable box magazine system, complete with one five-round magazine • Badger Ordnance tactical knob installed • Barreled action • Complete cerakoting • Package starts at $1,695

practical competitions, and recently expanded our lineup to include a wider range of tactical-style, custom-rifle packages, each of which have a number of features and options that can be configured into an ideal competition rig.

ASJ Have you released anything new, or do you have anything in the works?

MW Yes! We have a new rifle package called the PMR Tactical, and we’re very excited about it. While this is our most entry-level package in price, it features performance traits that make it anything but entry level. It comes with our ½ MOA or better guarantee, as well as several upgrade options that make it a truly customized first rig without

NAW has a standing ½ minute of angle or better guarantee. Here is a 7mm Rem Mag Ramrod Hunter three-shot group from 100 yards with 180-grain Berger VLD.

breaking the bank.

ASJ It’s been great talking to you. We support your efforts and look forward to seeing what you come up with next.

MW Thank you. ASJ Editor’s note: For more information on Mason Watters or Northwest Action Works, visit nwactionworks.com.

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American Shooting Journal // February 2016

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American Shooting Journal // February 2016

The

Mad Machinist CDiPrecision Gunworks creates detachable box magazines for a wide range of rifles, including this Howa 1500 .223.

JEFFREY ALLEN OF CDIPRECISION WORKS INTERVIEW BY STEVE JOSEPH • PHOTOGRAPHS BY CDIPRECISION GUNWORKS

he American Shooting Journal reached out to Precision Rifle Series supporter Jeffrey Allen, founder and owner of CDiPrecision Gunworks, niche provider of detachable box magazines for numerous rifle brands. Based on the Gulf Coast of Florida in Sarasota, Allen focused his sights on filling a need in the gun industry back in 2008 when he started CDi. His lifelong work experience set him up to be exactly what the gun industry needed, and not a minute too soon. Find out what inspired him to start CDiPrecision Gunworks, how he developed his amazing and wide-ranging array of talents and where he is steering his machine shop for tomorrow.

T

JA I have 30 years of tool-and-die-making experience working for a machining company, and have created things for all sorts of industries, from medical implant work to space satellite and nuclear plant parts. There was a lot of military aircraft work as well, and I have even designed and built automated machinery for manufacturing music strings – violin, cello, guitar. This is amazingly more complicated than it sounds.

Just before I opened CDiPrecision Gunworks I was working with high-end injection molds, and that is very tedious with very tight tolerances. I still do some drag race motorcycle stuff, and our motorcycle has won a few championships and records.

ASJ What type of equipment do you use to make all of these pieces and parts?

JA We have two computer numerical control (CNC) milling machines in house, and I make all of our parts. We have an Okuma Genos M560V that is ultrafast, and makes very high quality parts. For inletting, I use a Milltronics RW-15.

CDiPrecision Gunworks is always adding new DBMs to their already extensive selection.

American Shooting Journal How did CDiPrecision Gunworks get started?

Jeffrey Allen I had an FN-SPR tactical precision rifle with a hinged floorplate and wanted a detachable box magazine (DBM) like the Remington shooters had. No one made them. So, I got busy. I designed one that would fit on the factory detachable-bottom metal rifles that FN was making with McMillan Stocks. After that, I had folks who wanted a DBM systems for their Howa and Savage 10-110 series rifles. We were well on our way then. After several designs, additions and refinements I now offer the best one on the market – bar none. I’m always adding new lines to meet the need for rifles with subpar magazine systems.

ASJ What is your background to have even attempted designing your own product?

ASJ Tell us more about what products you carry?

JA Right now, we do a full line of DBM setups that include: Remington 700 – SA and LA; Remington Model 7; Remington AAC; Kimber 8400 SA and LA; FN-SPR/Winchester Model 70 SA – post ’64 only; Winchester Model 70 long action, magnum and .223.308 box available – post ’64 only; Mauser 98 large ring in .223 and .308 box mags;

CDi offers a lifetime guarantee on all of their parts. americanshootingjournal.com 53

Howa 1500 SA and LA (includes Weatherby Vanguard); Tikka T3 SA and LA; Tikka 595 .223-.308 rifle; Ruger M77 – both newer Hawkeye/Mk-II and early tang-safety models; Savage 10 SA stagger and center feed (low-bolt release options); Savage 110 LA stagger and center (low-bolt release options); Savage Axis short action compatible with Boyd’s Stocks.

We will be adding Ruger American and M77 long actions in the first part of the year, and then looking at 1903 A3 Springfield rifles. We also have all of the options covered for odd rifle setups.

We are all about helping the customer make the right decision on what stocks to use and what mag setups are best for specific calibers. We guarantee our parts for life, and if you ever have a problem, we will make it right.

ASJ Does the DBM drop in or would a shooter need to hire a gunsmith?

JA They will drop in on a few rifles, but most take inletting and install work, which we provide. We have been running a special promotion for free stock inletting or full installs. The customer just pays for the return shipping, plus parts. The turnaround is around three weeks.

ASJ Are mags included with the bottom metal?

JA AICS mags are available separately, and are not included in the DBM price.

Many different calibers can be run in AICS mags. For example, .300 Win Mag mags can run anything from .270 to .30-06, all the way up to .338 WinMag. We have done 500 Whisper rounds in .338 AICS mags. So there’s a lot of flexibility in calibers.

The MDT .223 mags will run a .204 Ruger, .300 Blackout and all similar-sized rounds as well.

ASJ Thank you for talking to us today and sharing your story .

JA My pleasure. Thank you. ASJ

Even if you have an odd-sized rifle, CDi can offer several options.

RUGER M77

REM 700 SA

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About CDI: Our Passion for Precision

CDI Precision Gunworks is proud to offer custom DBM (Detachable Box Magazine) kits for your precision bolt action rifles. No one else offers such a wide variety of DBM for these popular rifles. All at the best prices and the best customer service anywhere.

American made and guaranteed forever.

Free Install or Inlets on our DBM.

Jeffrey A llen For complete listing of rifles we make DBM for, kindly visit our website or call us

1852 University Parkway Sarasota, Florida 34243 cdi@cdignition.com 54

American Shooting Journal // February 2016

Owner of CDI Precision Gunworks

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TINY PACKAGES PACK FIREPOWER Meet 8-year-old Shooting Phenom Alexis Welch STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY OLEG VOLK

S

Alexis Welch, seen here aiming a 7.62x54R Tiger rifle customized to SVD configuration and topped with a 6x PSOP scope, is only 8 years old, yet she competes in numerous shooting competitions, is sponsored by known industry names, plays soccer and softball, sings and is a straight-A student.

ome people are larger than life. They are rare. Even more rare are children whose accomplishments would make any adult proud. Alexis Welch of western Kentucky is one such kid. If a writer used Alexis as a book character, most of the readers would have accused them of being unrealistic – nobody is that multitalented, at least in the mundane world where most people live. And yet, Alexis is quite real and keeps getting more impressive by the day.

ALEXIS STARTED SHOOTING at age five. Her grandfather Tryce “PaPa” Welch had already raised one competitor, his daughter Stephanie who became a professional motorcycle racer.

Her career was cut short by an injury after a very promising start. Unlike her mother, Alexis had little interest in riding dirt bikes, but a keen desire to shoot guns. The competitive aspects of marksmanship were a mystery to Tryce, so he educated himself and started training Alexis.

Her first rifle was an S&W MP15-22, initially fired off the bench and later unsupported. Alexis is small for an 8-year-old, so gun weight has been a concern. Constant

physical exercise and good technique have allowed her to run adult-size firearms effectively. After she attended several rimfire matches, Tandemkross, a New Hampshire company specializing in parts for customizing competition guns, sponsored her. In the summer of 2015, I was introduced to the Welch family, who live in Owensboro, Ky., which is along the Ohio River across from Indiana, and have been following Alexis’ progress ever since.

THIS GIRL’S MAIN TALENT goes beyond pure shooting ability: she’s enthusiastic, effective and friendly. Articulate and

Alexis can handle full-sized firearms, but most of her arsenal is specially designed to be very lightweight, like this Volquartsen Ultralite .22 match rifle in Blackhawk Axxiom stock and with a CMore sight on a personalized custom mount by Bill Striplin.

unaffected, Alexis can work with adults, as well as play with kids. Picking up where Tryce started, firearm coaches Gary Welborn and Bob Sanders volunteered their time to train her, and during her first public shoot, Dani Bryan, a female firearms instructor and competitive shooter, took the time to coach her too. Alexis is very popular with teen marksmen as well, many of them treating her as an honorary little sister, and helping her learn more about the sport. She’s recently gained the affectionate nickname “Monkey,” and ran with it.

After Tandemkross, she was discovered by many sponsors to include Volquartsen Custom, Leupold Optics, Striplin Custom, Owensboro Rifle and Pistol Club, Sound Gear, Beck Defense, Gemtech, Weapon Shield and, unofficially, Trijicon. Besides institutional sponsors, Alexis has also been supported by the Bragg family, Richard and Carol Stokes and over 800 other fans who hail from as far away as Brazil and Russia. A custom rifle maker, Fighting Sheepdog, just joined in with a truly unique, pint-sized AR-15 that has a hydraulicrecoil compensator and other personalized features to make it just right for this diminutive shooter. Tryce supplies the chauffeuring and the ammunition.

Alexis has attracted the attention of shooting competitor superstar Dani Bryan, who has worked with Alexis to prep for matches. In this training moment, Alexis is focusing in on the CMore sight topping her Volquartsen Scorpion .22 match pistol, which features a personalized and custom mount by Bill Striplin.

My first photo shoot with Alexis was a pleasant surprise.

There aren’t too many adults, much less preteen kids, who can keep focused and enthusiastic about work for over 10 hours with only a few short breaks. Alexis could, and she did it with good cheer. Her images proved to be marketing gold, equally for promoting shooting sports, the right to bear arms and her increasingly numerous sponsors. Her eagerness to surmount every available challenge energizes her fans and supporters.

STARTING WITH STEEL CHALLENGE in May, Alexis has participated in NSSF Rimfire Challenge, USPSA and multigun competitions. She’s had a good start on her future titles by winning the Indiana State Steel Challenge Champion Ladies 12 and under open category. Most recently, she was a guest at an event organized by Hunter “Nubbs” Cayll, known for shooting competitively even though he does not have hands, and shot her first event with a full-sized AR-15. Just prior to that, she helped in the production of a video for a veteran fundraiser, competently running M249 and M60 machine guns, as well as firing a 7.62mm SVD sniper rifle that intimidated some of the adult participants. She’s a member of Having mentored his own daughter, Alexis’ mother, in dirt-bike motorcycle racing, Tryce Welch started over with Alexis and supported her passion for shooting sports.

Ozark Mountain Lead Slingers youth group, USPSA Juniors and a noncompeting member of 4-H Shooting Sports. Not limiting her interests to gunfire, Alexis plays soccer and softball, sings, plays music and practices gymnastics. Proving wrong many who perceive kids who shoot as hillbillies, she’s also a straight-A student. She’s already giving back by helping her 5-year-old brother learn gun safety and marksmanship, and often helps instruct adult novices as well.

Alexis makes a great student, according to her coaches, but she is always ready share what she has learned with others.

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American Shooting Journal // February 2016

ALEXIS’ PLAN for the future is to excel in shooting sports, get a college education and serve in the military. She will probably do well with it, given a history of challenges such as being born deaf and having to do speech therapy after successive surgeries. She’s already an effective ambassador for gun rights and shooting sports. To expand on the saying that the mind is the weapon and everything else is just a tool, I would estimate that the personality and mind of Alexis Welch will play a large role in the next generation’s work to retain our firearms freedoms. ASJ

americanshootingjournal.com 61

The American Shooting Journal and American Tactical salute all members of the Armed Forces who have served, fought and currently fight to protect our nation’s freedoms.

WE THANK YOU!

IMAGE BY

TERRY DALTON Terry Dalton has been taking photos since the age of eight, and started with landscapes. Once his daughter Cheyenne started competing in shooting sports, he began photographing her matches, and refocused his interest. Within Terry’s portfolio, you can find landscapes, product imagery – licensed by numerous industry companies – and action shots.

His latest series features the process American farmers endure bringing food to our nation’s table.

Terry lives on a 1,400-acre farm in Missouri with his wife, three children and Dachshund puppy.

You can find more of Terry’s work at FastFivePhotography.com or on Facebook at Fast Five Photography.

Brought To You By:

www.AmericanTactical.us

John Krasinski plays “Jack Silva.”

HELL BENGHAZI T THE

THAT WAS

TWO OF BENGHAZI’S ‘SECRET SOLDIERS’ SPEAK STORY BY FRANK JARDIM • IMAGES COURTESY OF PARAMOUNT PICTURES

There’s good reason to see the Paramount blockbuster film 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers ers of Beng Benghazi.

Benghazi. It’s the true story of a group of six former US military private security ity contra contractors who fight with awe-inspiring bravery and professionalism to save ve the live lives of ttheir fellow Americans during the September 11-12, 2012, terrorist rist attacks attack on th the American diplomatic compound and a CIA base (known as thee Annex) in Lib Libya’s second largest city. In a battle that eventually took on the feel el of a small-sc sm small-scale Alamo – odds against them may have been higher than 10 to 1 – they steadf ssteadfastly stuck to their guns, their duty as they saw it, and more iimportantly, l they h stuck together as team. They opened a can of all-American whoop-ass on the terrorists, won the firefights and made it possible to evacuate everyone to safety the next morning. A well-trained, highly disciplined and motivated American warrior is a force to be reckoned with, and this comes out in the film’s heart-pumping battle sequences.

Another good reason to see 13 Hours is that you probably don’t know what you think you know about how America really protects her interests abroad.

The State Department and CIA have their own private security organizations to identify, hire and manage security contactors. Tens of thousands of former American military and law enforcement personnel work for them in some very dangerous places; our own American Shooting Journal editor was one. You hear very little about these contractors because their work in the diplomatic and intelligence communities requires them to keep their mouths shut. After all, that is how you keep a secret.

IT MIGHT COME AS A SURPRISE, but the typical CIA agent isn’t very much like James Bond at all. The guys the CIA hires to protect their agents and staff abroad are the heroes of this story. Those private security contractors are called Global Response Staff (GRS), and they make around $150,000 a year. That may, or may not, be good money depending on your feelings about being killed on the job.

Dying is a very real possibility in this line of work. During the battle 13 Hours depicts, two GRS men were killed and another was gravely wounded, along with a private security contractor from the Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS).

One thought-provoking and disturbing aspect of the story is that the Benghazi attacks could likely have been prevented if the State Department had heeded warnings and beefed up security at the diplomatic compound. It was

americanshootingjournal.com 65

The real-life accounts of Kris “Tanto” Paronto (left) and Mark “Oz” Geist (right) are portrayed in the movie 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers Of Benghazi, based on the book with the same title by Mitchell Zuckoff.

amazing to me to learn that the security at the front gate and emergency alert responsibility was left in the hands of a few disgruntled Libyan militiamen and three unarmed, locally hired Libyan guards.

It’s more amazing that nobody there thought that was a problem. The attacking terrorists ran into the compound through the unlocked front gate, and caught the relaxing DS security operators completely by surprise.

Bear in mind, the attack happened on the anniversary of the most successful terrorist attack on US soil, and nobody bothered to check the gate before turning in for the evening. As a whole, the State Department comes away from this affair looking complacent and negligently indifferent at its higher levels.

AS BAD A DAY AS IT WAS for the State Department, the lack of a response from the CIA’s leading agent in Benghazi is comparably appalling. The man who was in charge of the six GRS operatives who tell their story in the film, actually held them back for nearly 20 minutes while terrorists swarmed and burned the diplomatic compound less than 2 miles away. While the CIA’s Benghazi chief tried by phone to get members of the local Libyan militia to rescue the Americans trapped at the diplomatic compound, two of them died. It should interest the reader to know that the militia he was calling for help was the same militia that had the responsibility of guarding the compound. The implication is that the CIA chief was deluded and/or misinformed and therefore incompetent.

Ultimately, rather than stand idly by while their fellow Americans were in danger, five GRS operatives at the Annex simply left on their own initiative, without orders or approval, and improvised a rescue at the diplomatic compound as best they could. Had they not done so, it is reasonable to assume American casualties would have been higher.

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American Shooting Journal // February 2016

THE GRS RESCUE MISSION to the diplomatic compound was only the beginning of a long night. They drove out the terrorists, and fought off a counterattack, while searching for Ambassador Chris Stevens in the burning ruins of his residence. Unfortunately, he could not be found. Having killed and wounded an unknown number of attackers, they withdrew to the Annex, where the sixth GRS operative had already organized as a defensive base.

Prudently, the GRS operators had long worked out plans for defending the Annex against siege. Though surrounded by a curtain wall and fortress-like in appearance, they deemed it inadequate for a defense against anything more than AK-47s and a few RPGs. The six operatives, joined by three of the rescued DS security men, took positions on the rooftops of the Annex’s four buildings and on guard towers they’d built against the curtain wall. Everyone else sheltered inside the command post.

They repulsed two terrorist ground attacks on the Annex and inflicted heavy casualties, but not without cost.

At the start of the final attack at dawn, the terrorists used a mortar to target the roof of the command post building where two GRS and a DS man were laying down a ferocious fire. The enemy attack was broken, but the mortar barrage left the four men on the rooftop dead or wounded.

I had the honor of interviewing two of the five surviving Benghazi GRS operatives about the film and the battle.

Mark “Oz” Geist organized the Annex for defense, while his teammate Kris “Tanto” Paronto was part of the fiveman group that retook the diplomatic compound. Both men fought off the attacks on the Annex that followed, and Oz was gravely wounded in the final mortar attack.

American Shooting Journal Was there anything that the film 13 Hours left out that you think should have been included in the story?

Mark “Oz” Geist We sat down and discussed what should have

Some of the actors chosen to portray Benghazi’s “secret soldiers” include (left to right) Pablo Schreiber, who plays Paronto, John Krasinski, who plays Silva, David Denman, who plays Dave “Boon” Benton, and Dominic Fumusa, who plays John “Tig” Tiegen. Silva and Benton are aliases for contractors whose identities were withheld in the book and movie.

been in and what shouldn’t, as a group and individuals. I’ve thought about it a lot and there’s not a lot that they could have put in that would make it any better. I really can’t put my finger on any one thing. Of course, it would have been great to see more of Max Martini (actor who portrayed Mark Geist) in some of the set up scenes, but that’s more of just a personal thing. He’s playing me, and getting him more screen time would tell more of the lead up to the story. For example, what I was doing out that night [that kept me from participating in the rescue mission to the ambassador’s compound], but that would have slowed down the movie, and I don’t think it would work from a theatrical standpoint. As it is, I don’t think you could have gotten better than what it was.

ASJ Do you think the film captured the feel of that night?

Kris “Tanto” Paronto Wow. As far as getting emotions down, to me, it did get the emotional effect that we were looking for.

Speaking for myself, I was reliving a lot of those emotions that I had that night and in other crisis situations or operations I’ve conducted throughout the years. So that was important. It was basically a 13-hour event that the movie condenses into two. There is some melding of characters, and they had to skip some things, but the important [thing] that I was worried about was that it captured the feelings we had that night. The humor that goes into it – you see a bit of that, and when you read the book. It’s fun. There’s a lot of humor that comes into combat situations. That’s a coping mechanism. You get the great edge; you also get the horror of people dying and body parts hanging off and you also, you know, you get the satisfaction of working with the guys you love working with. All that came through. At least I thought it did. Last night was the first time I sat through the movie with an audience, and I’ll be honest, I didn’t look at their reactions. That wasn’t what I was there for. I don’t know how they reacted to it, but I do know that I react

very strongly and emotionally when I see it. If it wasn’t done right, then I would not feel like that. It hurts, but it’s necessary, and I’m glad I feel it. [In] the movie script, they got it right. They got the emotion down.

ASJ At the start of the attack on the compound, five of you were waiting in the car at the Annex for the CIA base chief to give the order to go. When you finally just left without orders, I thought to myself, “These guys are fired, they’ll never work again.” When you made the decision to go, did you realize it would end your careers as GRS contractors?

Tanto We really didn’t worry. Put it this way: It’s on your mind a little bit, but saving other people, saving human life, is way too important. Just doing the right thing – and that was the right thing – is more important than a paycheck. When you see the movie, John Krasinski [portraying the GRS operative pseudonymously named Jack Silva] says, “You can’t put a price on human life, you can’t put a price on how you’re gonna live the rest of your life when you could have had the chance to save somebody, and you didn’t because you were worried about your job.” There wasn’t anything that could have kept us from going.

For me, honestly, it was kind of a joke. I thought “Oh well, guess I’m gonna lose my job.” It wasn’t “Ahh shit,” it was more a “ha-ha” trying to be funny sort of thing. And we did lose our jobs, but we still did the right thing. Money comes and goes. Your friends, man, when they need you, you gotta go. When they need you in those situations where they are dying, money is nothing. I’ll get another job.

ASJ You’ve been pretty critical of your CIA team leader and Annex chief for lack of leadership. What was the crux of the problem?

Oz Our [CIA] team leader didn’t have a military background.

He was a full-time employee. He was not a contractor. That’s why he didn’t have the same military background that we americanshootingjournal.com 67

“Oz,” “Tanto” and John “Tig” Tiegen on opening night of the film.

do. He was the buffer between the knuckle-draggers and the intellects.

ASJ You being the knuckle-draggers, right?

Oz Yeah [laughs], us being the knuckledraggers.

Tanto [Laughs] Good-looking knuckledraggers, though [grin].

Oz He just didn’t have the fortitude to step up and do what we thought was

Max Martini (left) portrayed “Oz” in the film.

right at that time, and make that hard decision. Because being a full-time employee – I’m not making excuses – but a lot of times they just look at things different than we do. We do what we do because we’re out there wanting to make a difference in the world, and I can’t speak to why he does what he does. If we were careeroriented people, we would probably

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be in a different profession.

Tanto I had issues with the TL [CIA team leader] because I knew him when he first started as team leader, and he was not highly regarded by the operatives because he didn’t have military experience, let alone special operations experience. He came off like a new second lieutenant coming in who was trying to run the enlisted guys who have already been doing (the job) forever. The reason I got upset with him was because he was going to get beat down in a lot of the places where we were, and I stuck up for him. It kinda felt like a slap in the face, like, “Hey, brother, I went to bat for you, stuck out my neck for you, I’ve known you, I helped mentor you, I’ve worked at some sites before Benghazi and now you aren’t listening to me.” I took it a little personally because we had history before Benghazi.

ASJ At least he got in the car.

Tanto That’s it. He, yeah, at least he had the guts to get in the car.

Oz The thing is, it would have made him look even worse if he had not and we ended up leaving without him. He would have looked a whole lot worse being stuck there with one thumb in his mouth and the another thumb somewhere else.

ASJ Among your group of GRS operatives that night, was there a squad leader in the field? It seemed like the other team members entered the compound gate on Tanto’s word

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According to “Oz” and “Tanto,” nothing could have been added to the movie to make it better or more realistic. If anything, adding a bit more lead-in to the story might have been interesting, but the movie timeframe did not allow for additional footage.

that he thought it was clear.

Tanto In that part I said, “Hey, just shoot, move and communicate and you’ll be fine.” Which is lingo for “Hey, use your tactics, and we’ll meet somewhere in the middle.”

ASJ So, basically you did this old school.

Tanto Yeah. [Laughs] We’re old. We’re all old.

Oz Hey, I’m only 50. That doesn’t TE RA T !

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count. I’m not old, I’m 50 young.

Tanto That’s a tribute to the team’s maturity level. Tig [John Tiegen] was the youngest. He was 39. The rest of us were in our 40s, and had been serving for a while. Yeah, were able to do it up close and on the take without a lot of talk on the radio. Just do your tactics. So, as far as there being a team leader, Rone [Tyrone Woods] was the assistant team leader to our TL for a title. But honestly, we all were either

NCOs or officers. Myself, I was both. I was a mustang, enlisted and an officer.

We didn’t have one leader, per se, we all were leaders. So it wasn’t, “Hey this guy [go] do this and this.” It was if somebody needed to say something, they’d do it, and people would listen.

ASJ And you didn’t know what you were going to find. You didn’t have a plan other than to go in there and find out what was happening, and see what

americanshootingjournal.com 71

During the Benghazi crises, the GRS team left their base against the orders of the CIA chief, and thought nothing of losing their jobs to do the right thing.

you could do to save those Americans?

Tanto Yeah Oz You know, that’s what he was talking about when he says, “shoot, move and communicate.” You’re always looking for work when you’re doing that. You’re moving down there [but] you’re not just rushing in blind. You’re just moving as quickly and as tactically as you can, and each person is looking for the dead spot where somebody might be hiding

and covering that area. As you go in, second by second you’re just analyzing everything that’s going on before your eyes. If there’s something you see that needs attention, you just take care of it, and then everyone else on the team will react from your actions. This is how we work together. It’s just kind of a free-float teamwork concept.

Tanto We had a term for that in the military. It was called moving and working expeditiously. I had that

ingrained in me since basic training.

It means you’re moving as fast as the situation allows you to, and still maintain control. That’s what we were doing.

Oz It goes back to the training we have all had from SEALS, Marines, Rangers, etc. It all goes back to that.

ASJ Thank you, gentlemen, or should I say, knuckle-draggers?

Oz [Laughs] Tanto [Laughs]ASJ

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BEHIND THE BADGE

BROTHERS IN BLUE TIMES TWO Rocky Mountains Deputies Dan And Mike Coyle STORY BY TROY TAYSOM • PHOTOGRAPHS BY DAN AND MIKE COYLE

P

olice officers are commonly referred to as brothers in blue. This speaks to the close bond that officers develop with each other while enduring difficult situations, and at times requires life-and-death decisions. Sometimes officers are true biological brothers as well, which enhances this bond. Meet Mike and Dan Coyle.

Each has a unique outlook on police work, and different reasons for having chosen law enforcment as a career.

DEPUTY MIKE COYLE initially worked various jobs, none of which provided satisfaction. While mowing lawns for a municipality, Mike had an epiphany – he needed to do something with his life that had meaning, and that meant helping others. In the same thought, Mike realized that law enforcement always needs honest people. I have known Mike for 18 years – Mike is honest! The road to becoming a police officer for him was difficult, required dedication and major lifestyle change. It also meant extra time away from his family.

Mike struggled at times, but never gave up on his goal.

After completing the academy, he was hired by a sheriff’s department more than 60 miles from his home. His dedication to law enforcement was tested and solidified by the daily 120-plus-mile commute. After a few years of this arduous schedule, Mike was hired by the Utah County, Utah, Sheriff’s Office, reducing his drive from hours to minutes.

Mike has always worked as a corrections deputy, which is a perfect fit for him. He is a huge man, both in size – standing an intimidating 6 foot 4 inches – and heart. Mike is the type of person who would give his last dollar and ask nothing in return. His honest nature creates trust with inmates, and that manifests usable, dependable intelligence. Some of the information he has gleaned has led to major arrests in the gang and drug world. This is not to say that Mike is not genuine – in fact, just the opposite. He is always kind, and this translates into natural trust from people around him.

DEPUTY DAN COYLE, Mike’s younger brother, initially worked in the IT industry, but also had a desire to serve others, and wanted to be proactive in his community. Dan has now been a deputy sheriff with the Douglas County, Colo., Sheriff’s Office for eight and a half years.

It all started when Dan said to his wife, “I want to do what Mike does.” And that was that. His first four years were spent working in corrections, where he treated all of the inmates

Deputy Dan and Mike Coyle have 25 years of law enforcement experience between them.

with respect and dignity. Dan’s time there gave him what he called “a different view of the human experience.”

Four years ago, Dan was selected for road-patrol duty and started his field training. Within a short time, an opening for a school resource officer was announced, and Dan jumped at the chance. SROs are the front-line defense for our kids. I wish it were different, but psychopaths have chosen our schools as targets for their misplaced anger and evil intentions. Officers like Dan now stand ready to protect them, and give their own lives if necessary.

Two years ago, an 18-year-old kid arrived at Arapahoe, Colo., High School, a few short miles from Dan’s school, armed with a shotgun and four bombs. His intentions obvious, he killed a beautiful young lady before killing himself. Dan’s school was on immediate lock-down. He guarded the halls of his school with his patrol rifle, checking each student to make sure that no one with evil intentions made it in. His office changed the term for active shooter to active killer. This is more appropriate, and better defines the stark reality of these situations.

Dan, his fellow SROs, along with the military and other law enforcement agencies, train for these kinds of events – even the kids play a part. The drama classes do stage makeup to simulate wounds that first responders might encounter, as well as act as citizens during these mock events.

THE GOOD TIMES Mike has spent his entire 15-year career working in corrections. Jail deputies are not just guards, they are mentors, counselors and, at times, friends to people who have hit bottom.

When I asked Mike what his best day in law enforcement has been, he reached for his smartphone and didn’t say a americanshootingjournal.com 75

BEHIND THE BADGE word while he searched for something. I thought he had received a text and was ignoring my question. Instead, he set his phone on the table and hit play: “Hi, Mike, this is Dianne [her name has been changed].

I just wanted to call and tell you, ‘Thank you very much.’ I want you to know how much I appreciate you. Today is my sixth year clean and sober, and I’m going through my list of memorable people – people who helped me get here. I wanted to thank you for having faith in me, for listening to me and giving me advice. I’m so grateful that God placed you in my life.” Not much more needed to be said.

For Dan, he was once working crowd control at a suicideprevention event when a man and woman approached him. “This is the man who turned my life around,” said the approaching man to his wife. The man had been an inmate when Dan served as a corrections deputy. Dan didn’t remember saying anything special to him other than simply being kind and respectful. Actions have lasting consequences – Dan’s kind actions somehow helped this man change his life.

Recently, Dan helped save the life of a man who had reached his limit and sought to take his own life. Dan was finishing a patrol of a local park where students often congregate and cause trouble when the call came in: There was a suicidal man on a freeway overpass. Dan and another

deputy arrived on the scene at the same time. The man wouldn’t talk, and was getting closer to the edge. Just as the man was starting to lean over to jump, Dan and the other deputy grabbed him.

The man remained uncooperative but alive.

EVERY OFFICER WILL HAVE Law enforcement often sees the worst of society, but the Coyle brothers always at least one day that maintain kindness and respect for will be their worst day everyone they meet. in law enforcement.

For Mike, that was January 29th, 2014, a cold, snowy, miserable Utah County winter day. One afternoon, Sgt. Cory Wride of UCSO, stopped to help a stranded motorist in a remote area.

The vehicle wasn’t stranded. The driver was a parolee, and he had his 17-year-old girlfriend along with him. Long story short, the parolee shot and killed Sgt. Wride through the windshield of his patrol truck. The pair was found 70 miles away, and a

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BEHIND THE BADGE shootout with police ensued. Sgt. Wride left behind a wife, five kids and eight grandkids. Mike knew Sgt. Wride from his early days as a K9 handler, and Mike was one of the first deputies scheduled to watch the parolee when he arrived at the hospital.

In an act of kindness, the city police department took over watch duties to allow the sheriff’s office time to grieve. The parolee died the next day.

Dan’s worst day happened on November 15th, 2015. Dan often worked closely with state trooper Jaimie Jursevics because she patrolled the county where Dan worked.

Trooper Jursevics was assisting with an investigation on I-25 in Douglas County when she was hit by a man suspected of driving under the influence. The man drove another 15 miles before being apprehended, but the damage was done.

Trooper Jursevics died from her injuries, leaving behind a husband and 8-month-old baby girl. These men and women feel the pain when one of their own loses their life.

MIKE AND DAN’S DESIRE to serve and help the less fortunate comes from their upbringing. These two were raised by self-proclaimed hippies from a bygone era of free love and slogans like “never trust the man, man!” They were raised with the sounds of Pink Floyd, The Doors, The Beatles, Cream and The Guess Who. It’s no wonder that both Dan and Mike do a fair amount of DJing as a hobby when not

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on duty. When I told them that I was going to talk to their mother for this article, both seemed a little apprehensive.

Parents Robyn and Richard Coyle must have done something right to have raised these two fine men. I asked Robyn how she felt about her sons working in law enforcement, and she said, “My family history is full of people being on the other side of the law. Both of my boys have said that they’re in jail too; the difference is they have the keys!”

“It’s not what I thought they would choose, but I am so proud of the work they do. The hardest thing for me is trying to keep my worrying in check. I have to remember that my sons train for dangerous situations, and because they are both in law enforcement they have a special bond. They can unload (no pun intended) on each other when they’ve had a rough day. As a civilian I cannot understand all of their stressors. Naturally, they don’t want to worry me. Their dad [Richard] makes a habit of going up and thanking all law enforcement officers he encounters for their service.”

Even though their parents are proud to be called hippies and come from the counter-culture generation, they are both delighted with their sons.

The bond between Mike and Dan is one that most cannot appreciate – they stand as brothers in blood and brothers in blue. ASJ

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‘A’

IS FOR ‘ACCESSORIZE’ And ‘R’ Is For The Stuff You ‘Really’ Need On Your AR

BY DR. JOHN WOODS

R-style rifles are currently the top-selling firearm platform on the market today. One of the primary reasons for this is they are highly versatile, and can be customized for various needs that include close-quarter engagements, target shooting, shooting competitions and hunting.

The AR aftermarket is jammed with goodies that attach all over the platform, but the question is often, “Are all of these accessories really necessary?” Furthermore, do these gadgets really perform a useful function, or are they just window dressing? I would like to point out some of my favorite gadgets that I’ve felt are worth bolting onto my AR.

A

Essential Back-up Iron Sights If you have nothing else bolted to your AR, consider backup iron sights. Despite all the respectable hoopla over optics, good-quality open sights are a prudent addition to any rifle. As we all know, things can happen to optics, and usually at the worst of times. This is a good reason to always have a good set of flip-up/fold-down open sights as a backup or secondary.

There are many good back-up iron sights, or BUIS, out there, but some perform better than others. Ideally, they would attach securely, be easy to flip/down and have a hardened finish. The sight adjustment should also be

americanshootingjournal.com 83

considered. Some are more complex than others.

My preferences Midwest Industries, Yankee

Hill, Troy, Wilson Combat and Magpul

AR Scope Mounts We all know that scopes are essential, and you often get what you pay for. As such, high-dollar optics demand good, solid, precision mounting systems.

This is not the place to skimp on a gadget.

There are several types of optics-ready scope mounts, and they can come with one or two mounting points, often in either steel or aluminum. One-piece scope mounts are inherently stronger and align more precisely – in theory, anyway. Two-piece mounts can offer more flexibility, and good quality one will not cause scope-tube binding or misalignments.

Many mounts are standard bolt-through styles, but you can also get mounts with quick-release levers.

Nice option.

I am a steel man for the strength, but they can rust.

The finish on aluminum mounts can mar, scratch and wear.

My

preferences GG&G, Nikon, Leupold, Nightforce, and Brownell’s.

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American Shooting Journal // February 2016

Filling The Rails Hundreds if not thousands of accessories are available for the AR platform. This is what many would argue makes the AR such a popular style of rifle. However, each accessory adds to the overall weight, so you might want to clearly justisfy the need. They can heavy quickly.

One of the first goodies that shooters like to add is a foregrip. These come in all shapes and sizes, including long, short, angled, some that fold up and away when not in use, and even some with integrated pressure switches for yet other gadgets. The list is long. Overall, they do what they are originally designed to do – help stabilize and control the rifle.

There are numerous sling attachment options out there as well. This alone can leave even the most organized shooter a bit boggled. These can come in one-, two- and three-point options and offer different types of attachments, such as Clay, snap hooks – otherwise known as HKs – standard sling loops and even push buttons that insert into a swivel base. To go on, there are slide rail attachments for quick small adjustments as needed. If you can imagine it, it has been made.

Some AR shooters enjoy and simply need a bipod – a very handy accessory for added stability. These

americanshootingjournal.com 85

bolt on securely under the barrel at the forward end of the lower rail and most fold forward in line with the barrel for transport.

My preferences GG&G and Harris Bipods.

Let There Be Light Many AR users add a flashlight or laser to their rails.

Key word here, again, is options: white light for law enforcement or security work; green, often used at night while hunting hogs; red for saving your night vision and other benefits, not to mention strobe lights, infra-red, etc. The list here is also endless.

My preferences Surefire and Streamlight brands

come to mind.

Other Options To Consider These additional accessories may not be classified as a must-have, but some of them make shooting much more enjoyable. As I said, the industry has thought of almost everything.

Changing out the plastic grips for rubber ones is a very comfy option. Hogue offers some great options, and so does Stark, but they took it one step further by

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American Shooting Journal // February 2016

incorporating an enlarged trigger guard. Speaking of which, if you wear gloves to shoot or use your AR to hunt during the winter, you will want to replace the trigger guard for a larger one.

A charging handle that offers a larger finger latch, or dual latches might be a great option for you if you have a traditional riflescope that overhangs the rear.

Some shooters prefer an oversized magazine-release button and elongated bolt-release levers. All of these options allow for much easier weapons handling and quicker access for operations such as magazine changes.

I’m sure you guessed that there are several buttstock configurations and options available too. They include fixed, fixed but adjustable, fully modular and even telescoping. You can get some with rails for yet another accessory point, extra ammunition storage, hidden storage for batteries or all sorts of extra bits.

My preferences Luth-AR, VLTOR and Magpul are my top picks for different reasons.

I could go on about bolt-actions, triggers, secondary short range sights, levers that allow you release the magazine from odd locations – the list really is endless. This may explain why you simply cannot have just one AR. There simply are too many accessories in the must-have list. ASJ

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HISTORY OF A HENRY THE PRENTIS HENRY RIFLE NO. 19 WITNESSED GENERATIONAL STRIFE STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY FRANK JARDIMM

O

ne tangible connection to the human cost of the Civil War can be found in the Frazier History Museum in Louisville, Ky., in the form of a beautifully engraved Henry repeating rifle, serial number 19. The original owner was Connecticut native George Dennison Prentis, who was the editor of the Louisville Journal from 1830 to 1860 and a staunch abolitionist. After succession, he was an outspoken advocate of the Union even though his newspaper was absorbed by the pro-Confederate Louisville Morning Courier. On July 14, 1862, he wrote a report for the newspaper that praised the Henry. “It behooves every loyal citizen to prepare himself upon his own responsibility with the best weapon of defense that can be obtained. And certainly the simplest, surest and most effective weapon that we know of, the weapon that can be used with the most tremendous results in case of an outbreak or invasion, is one that we have mentioned recently upon two or three occasions, the newly invented rifle of Henry.�

(Above) Over a century after being hidden by Confederates at the end of the Civil War, this rifle was found in a Memphis, Tenn., basement.

(Right) The Henry repeating rifle holds a longstanding legacy for its accuracy and being a technological marvel in its time. americanshootingjournal.com 89

This particular Henry rifle, with the serial number 19, originally belonged to George Dennison Prentis, then given to his son Clarence. It can now be found at the Frazier History museum in Louisville, Ky.

It is very likely that his Henry was a gift from the manufacturer.

The Connecticut-based New Haven Arms Company hoped to make the Henry the standard-issue rifle of the Union Army and sought favorable endorsements in hopes of securing government contracts. As a matter of fact, a similar engraved rifle was presented to President Abraham Lincoln.

Ultimately, 1,731 Henry rifles were sold to the US Government for a $63,943 (about $50 each). Far more (approximately 10,000) were bought by individuals and state regiments like the 66th and 7th Illinois and the 97th Indiana. The rifles were highly prized on the battlefield.

Confederates described the Henry as “that darn Yankee rifle that they load on Sunday and shoot all week.�

THE PROGENITOR of the Winchester repeaters, the Henry was a technological marvel in its time. It fired a .44-caliber, self-contained, metallic, rim-fire primed cartridge.

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The magazine held 15 shots, and one more could be loaded in the chamber, giving it more firepower than any other rifle on the battlefield. It was accurate by the standards of the day too, equipped as it was with a graduated ladder rear sight. Army tests showed it could keep 100 percent of its shots inside a 25-inch circle at 500 yards and a 48-inch circle at 1,000. Bullet weights were either 200 or 216 grains over 26 to 28 grains of black powder, giving it a muzzle velocity of 1,125 feet per second and a muzzle energy of 568 foot pounds.

Ballistically it was between today’s .44 Special and .44-40 WCF of the same bullet weight, which leads me to wonder how much energy it had left at 200 yards, much less either of the Army test ranges. Compared to the standard rifled musket of the era, the .44 Henry was a pipsqueak, and that insured it would never be selected for general issue to troops.

However, at ranges of less than 100 yards the Henry’s accuracy and power were perfectly adequate, and its speed and firepower proved devastating to the enemy in close combat.

THE HISTORY OF GEORGE PRENTIS’S Henry rifle is not a happy one.

Though he supported the Union, his two sons, William Courtland and Clarence J., believed in the merits of the Confederate cause and actually fought for the South.

William took his father’s rifle to war and died leading his troops in the Battle of Augusta, Ky., on September 18, 1862. The rifle and the sad news made their way back home to George. The Henry left his home again, for the last time, when his remaining son joined the Confederate cause. Reaching the rank of colonel, Clarence survived the war and his father pleaded that he be shown clemency. The rifle never came home. Hidden

by Confederate soldiers, it was rediscovered a century later in a Memphis, Tenn. basement. ASJ 92

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gun reviews

IT DOESN’T KNOW IT’S SMALL The Baby Desert Eagle By Magnum Research REVIEW BY BOB SHELL • PHOTOGRAPHS BY KAHR GROUP

Magnum Research offers a full line of Baby Desert Eagle pistols, which offers all of the same features as their bigger brothers, but in 9mm, .40 and .45&W.

M

agnum Research makes a variety of handguns including the renowned Desert Eagle, which is chambered for the .44 Mag and .50A&E. An obvious expansion of the line includes scaleddown versions chambered for 9mm, .40 and .45S&W. These little guys are known as Baby Desert Eagles.

There are subcompact models as well, which hold fewer rounds. I am testing the .40-caliber Baby Desert Eagle model number BE94133RSL. This BDE offers many of the Desert Eagle standard features, including their white-dot sights, which picks up targets really well, especially in less-than-ideal light, and is adjustable for windage too. Other features include an ambidextrous safety, which is also a decocker, and an accessory rail. It offers a loaded-round indicator, which is a small hole just to the rear of the bolt, and the grip has some checkering, making it very comfortable to me. Someone with smaller hands may have difficulty with it, however. The trigger is a common double then single-action pull, but it’s a bit heavy for someone who might have weaker hands. A prospective buyer may want to personally check that out.

BABY DESERT EAGLE SPECS Model Caliber Barrel Length Weight Overall Length Construction Trigger Safety Sights Magazine

BE94133RSL Semicompact .40S&W 3.85 inches 25 ounces 7.825 inches Polymer frame Double action/single action Ambidextrous safety and decocker Combat three white dot fixed 13 rounds

In my opinion, this gun isn’t pretty, but it does perform like all of the other Magnum Research products I have tested – stellar! Reliability is much more important than looks.

These guns come with a one-year warranty that does not cover reloaded ammo. However, that is common with most gun manufacturers.

OUR AMMUNITION TESTS I often use multiple shooters when I evaluate a product to americanshootingjournal.com 95

gun reviews obtain a well-rounded review. While at the range, the grip was too large for one of the more novice shooters who had smaller hands, but due to the handgun’s size, recoil isn’t an issue, and the sights were very easy for them to pick up.

The .40-caliber is a flexible round, and factory ammo as well as components are readily available. I’m using a 190-grain cast, generally meant for the .38 to .40 calibers, to offers a good indication of what this gun will digest.

The 190-grain fed OK, and with a little case prep it should feed perfectly at least in my gun. This gives someone an opportunity to make economical loads for target practice.

A 60-grain Liberty round, from Liberty Ammunition, has very little recoil in spite of its high velocity, and can be a good option for someone looking for a good self-defense load. This gun is made for home or self-defense, but it would be accurate enough for small game.

An up-and-coming ammunition maker is Double Tap. They make a lot of high-performance ammunition in many calibers. I tried a couple of different loads from them, and they both did very well in this .40-caliber model.

BOB SHELL’S SUGGESTED BABY DESERT EAGLE AMMO AMMUNITION Liberty 60-grain HP 2110 Green Dot 135-grain plated 1154 Double Tap 135-grain Nosler JHP 1448 Double Tap 125-grain HP 1308 Winchester 180-grain FMJ 1023 HS-6 200-grain HP 880.6 Double Tap 200-grain Nosler JHP 1018 HS-6 155-grain HP 1194

RATING Awesome Very high Nice Consistent Consistent Consistent Consistent OK

The BDE comes standard with three-dot sights that are adjustable for windage, as well as an accessory rail and ambidextrous safety and decocker.

Overall, most shooters who tried this handgun really enjoyed it and found it very comfortable to use. I agree. ASJ Editor’s note: For more information about the Baby Desert Eagle, visit magnumresearch.com. For more information on the 60-grain Liberty round, visit libertyammunition.com, and if you are interested in trying the latest in the ammunition market, visit doubletapammo.net.

The author in desert terrain where this little gun feels right at home. (BOB SHELL)

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The T he Outlaw Out Staarrttiing Starting St g with with itth a Ruger Vaquero platform, this is one of the finest and classiest revolvers we have ever built, while maintaining all of the ccl laasssi sie esst rre evvo o original bells or o rig igin gin inal al b ellllss and whistles. The frame and hammer are color cased, e wh w hille the th he rest res of the gun is coated in black Chromex. The frame and re res while cy ylliind nde err aare re engraved, and it comes chambered in .44 Special re pe p pec ecciia ial o cylinder orr w wh hat atev eve err ccaliber a err yyou ou u llike. ikke. e. TThe he O he uttlaaw fe ffeatures eat atu urre ess a B isle is ley Gu G unfi nfig figh ghte er whatever Outlaw Bisley Gunfighter grip with Sorrel grips, barrel g gr riip pw itth co ccontrasting on nttrraastin sttin ing SSo orrel rre rr ell g rriips ip pss, our ou ur st sstandard aan nd daard d ..002 00 0 02 barr b ba arr rrel ccylinder ylin yl lin in nde de d er gap and complete with our deep dish maxi g ga ap aan nd a co omple mplle mp ette ete e aaction ccttio ctio ion job ion job w jo wi ith t o u d ur ee ep di d ish sh ccrown row ro wn n aand nd dm aaxxi tthroat. th hrro hro oaatt. It IIt’s t’s ’s a sstunning ttu unn n in ing rre revolver! evo vo olv lver lv er! r!

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THE RIFLE THAT DID NOT LOSE THE WAR The German Mauser Karabiner 98 Kurz

The Karabiner 98 kurz, or K98k, is a bolt-action rifle chambered for the 7.92×57mm Mauser cartridge that was adopted on June 21, 1935, as the standard service rifle by the German Wehrmacht.

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALEX KINCAID

“I

’ll take a semiautomatic rifle any day of the week over a boltaction, and twice on Sunday.” That’s what my husband told me when I confessed my love of the Mauser M98 bolt-action.

A discussion ensued, and we were not talking hunting – we were discussing war. Our passion for rifles and history often leads to a great deal of research and conversation. Neither of us has served in the military, but the conversation thankfully extends beyond the theoretics of our living room to those who have first-hand experience to tell it how it is, or was. Speaking with veterans is an opportunity neither of us will ever turn down. Our veterans, after all, are our heroes.

The K98k was one of the final developments of the Mauser line.

IT HAS BEEN MY HONOR to personally listen to tales of heroism and horror from World War II vets who have experiences ranging from retrieving the bodies of their fallen comrades on Utah Beach to fighting in the Battle of the Bulge, the final Nazi Germany offensive.

I have watched one of the Chosin Few, a US Marine Corps division who fought in the Chosin Reservoir, wipe tears from his face as he divulged only a small part of his experience in Korea; a friend and firearms instructor who is a Vietnam Marine shared with me the day he almost died, and now celebrates annually; Purple Heart recipients from our recent wars in the Middle East have revealed acts of horror impossible to comprehend without experiencing them firsthand; and in addition to America’s heroes, I have also heard firsthand from those who served in the Axis militaries. americanshootingjournal.com 101

In all these conversations, I have never heard how any particular rifle was more responsible than another for saving or taking human life, or for winning or losing a battle. These surviving storytellers instead focus their successes on much more important phenomena: battle strategy, bravery and luck. Statistical history suggests that many soldiers never even fired their rifles in combat during WWII. Some data suggests as few as 12 percent, with arguments to the contrary, and at least one expert suggests Kincaid settles in on a target with her soldiers purposefully missed their human Alex 1939 German Mauser Karabiner 98 kurz, targets. Similar studies suggest that small arms manufactured by Sauer & Sohn. (OLEG VOLK) were only responsible for an estimated 10 to 20 percent of the total WWII casualties. repeating rifles, and concluded there was a need to develop Statistics, however, do not stop the debates. Historians a semiautomatic infantry rifle. The Germans, on the other and gun enthusiasts continue to credit or blame particular hand, were saddled with the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. rifles with winning or losing battles. Competitors challenge The signing of the treaty on June 28, 1919, not only officially one another to long-distance matches with antiques, and ended World War I, but restricted the German army to well-known shooters film their time on the range, allegedly 100,000 men and forbade the country from producing staging a direct comparison of era rifles to prove one is military weaponry. Those determined to re-arm a German better than the other. infantry would have to do so secretly while outsmarting the While these feats are interesting, and provide direct Inter-Allied Military Control Commission inspectors tasked comparisons of a specific rifle feature, a complete with ensuring the treaty’s terms were followed. analysis of any war rifle must take into account much The Germans worked to improve upon their WWI more than test fires of speed and accuracy on a range.

Mauser Gewehr für Deutsche Reichspost, or Gew 98, boltBattle rifles deserve a comparison that includes details action rifles by creating the K98k in secret manufacturing of their intended purpose and the battle strategy for plants. The resulting surreptitious rifles were fully

Weimar Eagle proofing stamp (Beschußstempel) on the author’s K98k rifle.

This combination of stamps and a few other features on this rifle provide some evidence of where and when it was originally manufactured. She determined that this one is a 1939 Sauer & Sohn-manufactured rifle.

The famous Mauser claw extractor firmly holding the 8mm (7.92 x 57mm) round in place. This demonstrates a control-feed bolt-action versus an open-feed bolt action with three Nazi proofing stamps (Waffenamt stamps).

implementing that purpose. After all, isn’t a perfect rifle one that reliably performs as it was intended in an effective and efficient manner?

assembled under two floors of underwear manufacturing in Switzerland.

THE GERMAN MAUSER KARABINER 98 KURZ, or K98k, is a true phoenix from the ashes of WWI, and despite the challenges faced by its creators, it fulfilled its purpose during WWII, is respected by gun enthusiasts around the world and has served as a stable platform for the development of modern rifles for almost 100 years.

After the Great War, nations around the world realized the need to improve standard military rifles. American military planners studied the effectiveness of bolt-action 102

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BY JUNE 21, 1935, the K98k was officially adopted as the German service rifle. Its 24-inch barrel and overall 43-inch length is much shorter than the Gew 98. Without a bayonet, ammunition or a sling the K98k weighs 8.38 pounds. With iron sights it has a 550-yard effective firing range, which is increased to over 1,000 yards when fitted with a telescopic sight. The rifle holds five 7.92x57mm Mauser cartridges (originally 197.5 grain), which can be loaded from a stripper clip or one by one.

Like a Porsche, the K98k is German perfection in design

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and engineering, and carries this ideal through multiple features, but its heart and soul is its Mauser M98 action. Why is the Mauser action so much better than other bolt-action systems? It exemplifies two words: strength and reliability.

One reason for the Mauser’s strength is that the bolt’s two main locking lugs were moved to the front just behind the bolt head, unlike early repeaters with only one lug or their lugs positioned at the back of the bolt. These lugs allow for higher-pressure cartridges to be fired safely, and are the reason that the Mauser system is stronger than that of the Lee-Enfield and Mosin-Nagant actions, which require some strengthening to handle the same pressure. Backing up the two front lugs, the Mauser action also includes a third safety lug at the rear of the bolt.

Not only does the Mauser action deliver the power to handle the higher caliber rounds, it also has the strength via its extractor to eject fully loaded, heavy-dud rounds everytime. Not all bolt-actions are capable of this feat, and can leave duds dancing around in the ejection port, causing jams.

Alex Kincaid (OLEG VOLK)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Alexandria Kincaid is a nationally renowned firearms law attorney and author. Her expertise of gun laws and the 2nd Amendment is relied on by gun owners and businesses as well as gun-rights organizations across America.

Kincaid’s history with firearms started when she was young. Her lawenforcement father taught her to shoot at the age of five. During her career, she’s relied on firearms for self protection amidst threats from the criminals she prosecuted while serving as an elected District Attorney. Her favorite firearms are WWII collectibles, and her favorite shooting activity involves long-distance challenges from her deck at home in Emmett, Idaho.

To order a copy of her latest book, Infringed or for more information visit alexkincaid.com.

AS FOR RELIABILITY, the Mauser action eliminates operator-caused malfunctions that other bolt-actions cannot, including jams due to double loading, failures to load – due to short-stroking or otherwise – and failure to eject duds and casings. It is the Mauser’s large and nearly indestructible claw extractor, which gives the action its control-feed operation, keeping the round under the control of the bolt from the moment it is stripped from the magazine. The control feed, as opposed to push-open-feed bolt-actions, ensures that each cartridge is held to the bolt face until achieving a positive insertion into the chamber, regardless of rifle position. The Mauser action also prevents double feeds, because it is impossible to have a round in the chamber and grab a second round.

Keeping the cartridge on the bolt face until ejected also allows the shooter to reliably extract a round even if the bolt is never fully closed. If you fail to lock the bolt with a push-

“ISN’T A PERFECT RIFLE ONE THAT RELIABLY PERFORMS AS IT WAS INTENDED?” feed action, you can leave the round seated in the chamber, and you will have to get it to fall out or even pick it out with your fingers – not a good situation for a soldier or hunter.

This task may not even be possible, depending on what is causing the malfunction in the first place.

As a primary goal for improvement to their battle rifle, the Germans sought to ensure that soldiers always loaded a new round. To enhance this feature, they developed the 104

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follower at the magazine into a bolt catch. The bolt on a Mauser action cannot be pushed forward while unloaded because the follower in the magazine pops up and blocks the bolt from going forward until it is actually reloaded (pushed down by another round). Also, due to the ejector’s location, it is impossible to short-stroke a Mauser action and close the bolt without ejecting the casing and without loading another round. By the time the bolt is far enough back to eject the empty shell, it is far enough back to grab another round while cycling it forward.

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL German production criteria, it was impossible to cheaply mass-produce K98ks. Each K98k went through an elaborate 25-hour process before it was considered perfect. The barrel was entrusted only to graduates from a special barrel-straightener’s school.

It’s no wonder Germany’s unemployment rates dropped substantially after Hitler withdrew from the League of Nations (now known as the United Nations) in 1933.

The painstaking measures required to ensure that every part of each rifle was manufactured to perfection also required a special army of inspectors. Each had their own stamp of approval, called an Absnahmestempel (acceptance stamps), aka Waffenamt stamp. These stamps appear on multiple K98k parts as either Weimar or Nazi eagles, depending on the manufacturer and year of manufacture.

Visit Us Online AmericanShootingJournal.com americanshootingjournal.com 105

Each rifle was test fired, as opposed to just spot checking and testing a single rifle per batch. A test round was even pushed backwards through the barrel and then forensically examined for any imperfections. Only after passing this arduous testing did the rifle receive the Beschußstempel, and rifles that were deemed highly accurate were fitted with telescopic sights and became sniper rifles. Despite The StG 44, or the Sturmgewehr 44, introduced in 1943, was the first modern assault rifle.

the elaborate manufacturing and inspection process, over 2 million German soldiers were armed with K98ks by the time German forces invaded Poland on September 1, 1939.

The cost of this rearmament was not cheap – over 90 billion Reichsmarks were spent between 1933 and 1937 alone.

Of course, times change, and towards the end of 1943 the German standards gave way to the greater need for mass production. Production time per rifle was reduced to as

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little as 14 hours. If you compare only the bolt of an early production K98k with one from a 1944 rifle, you will see that the Porsche is now compromised for production purposes and offered as a Volkswagen. The earlier bolt is beautiful and polished; the latter, simple but functional.

THE GERMANS TURNED TO alternative manufacturers later in the war – namely, their prisoners. Albert Speer implemented the supposed plenipotentiary Heinrich Himmler’s earlier request to produce arms in concentration camps. It is estimated that the camp at Buchenwald produced over 340,000 K98ks on behalf of the manufacturer Gustloff Werke. Old photographs depict prisoners at the original

THE SIGNING OF THE TREATY FORBADE GERMANY FROM PRODUCING MILITARY WEAPONRY. concentration camp of Dachau, repairing and assembling K98k rifles from components. During my visit to Dachau, there were no obvious signs of the manufacture of K98ks that once took place there. In fact, it wasn’t until after our visit that I learned Dachau prisoners had produced the

americanshootingjournal.com 107

means to empower their enslavers.

Due to the Germans attempting to outsmart the Treaty of Versailles’ Control Commission, deciphering the origins of a K98k can be a puzzle-solving process. Special K98ks, such as those issued to the Waen-SS, bear unique markings. Among the 14 million K98ks produced, over 100 combinations of manufacturer code and date markings are known to exist, with new variations still being discovered.

To me and many other collectors, this is all part of the challenge of collecting historic ries. I have been able to determine that my ďŹ rst K98k has a combination of Weimar BeschuĂ&#x;stempel and Nazi eagles. The number coding, the date and the combination of eagle styles tell the rie’s tale, and clearly identiďŹ es it as one manufactured by Sauer & Sohn in 1939. Also, part of the fun is telling a rie’s tale post-war. K98ks were reconditioned and put to use all

over the world.

The Norwegian armed forces continued to use recycled K98k actions in military and civilian sniper and target ries into the 2000s.

US soldiers even Eight millimeter (7.92 x 57mm) rounds in the quick-loading stripper clip. encountered K98ks in Iraq. Some of them, ironically, were employed by the Israeli army, but only after stamping Israeli markings on top of the Nazi symbols.

BY FAR THE greatest critique of the K98k is its rate of ďŹ re.

As with any other bolt-action, soldiers could only ďŹ re as quickly as they could operate the bolt. Critics of the German’s bolt-action-armed infantry blame Hitler for losing WWII because he refused to arm his infantry with faster, semiautomatic ries.

When WWII began, the German infantry was not unlike other armies – armed with a mix of boltaction ries and some form of machine gun. Germany’s strategy for implementing these weapons diered. They The Maschinengewehr 34, or MG 34, is a German recoil-operated airemphasized the machine gun, usually an MG-34 or an cooled machine gun, first tested in 1929, and introduced in 1934.

MG-42 (Maschinengewehr 34/42) as their primary infantry weapon.

A German squad early in the war would have four machine guns, and after 1944 six. The K98k was only intended as the backup support to Since 1998 • All Products Made In The USA the more ominous weapon and for Ž sniping. German battle strategy did EEZOX not intend for individual soldiers to engage the enemy.

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advantages and disadvantages. If you arm one squad with K98ks and the other with M1s or submachine guns at less than 500 yards, the soldiers with the M1s or submachine guns have the advantage.

But when you add the use of a machine gun to the mix, per the German strategy, that system takes the advantage. Even in urban combat the K98k still had benefits including its powerful ammunition that was better able to penetrate walls and other cover. The Germans recognized the importance of a submachine gun and married its advantages with a highercaliber round towards the end of the war – creating the Sturmgewehr 44 – but mass production of these new rifles was not fully accomplished before the end of the war.

TODAY, THE MAUSER M98 action remains the precision instrument in the world of bolt-actions. Almost every centerfire bolt gun today uses a Mauser M98 action and operating principles with minor differences. Quite an astounding fact, given that Peter Paul Mauser patented the M98 bolt-action design in 1895. Not only does the action live on as the old faithful and reliable of boltactions, it carries on as a top-of-theline luxury action as well. For a mere $12,495, the new Mauser M98 Magnum combines the strength of the ’98 action with modernized features. The Mauser action is also appreciated by elite snipers who value the first shot, guaranteed hit over faster repeat fire.

Although German WWII K98ks are highly sought after by collectors, they can still be found as foreign capture rifles imported to the US. I found mine a couple of years ago on the shelf at a Big Five Sporting Goods store for a few hundred dollars. These war relics live on as inspiration, history and as platforms for the next leap forward.

And yes, dear husband, I see your points about the semiautomatics. They certainly hold their place in both war and hunting. Finding one that provides the powerful, first-shot, reliable tack of a Mauser action is indeed possible. For three to four times the price, I might find a one to match the power and precision of a M98. ASJ 110

American Shooting Journal // February 2016

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COMPETITIONS

ZERO TO GRAND MASTER IN A SHOT Meet Revolver Speed-shooter Brian Schrock

I

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY JAMES DAVIS

recently had the pleasure of watching competitive shooter Brian Schrock in action. I’ve known Schrock for years, but had never actually watched him shoot.

Schrock is an unassuming-looking guy from Arizona, but he is a dynamo on the range. His shooting and reloading speed is a sight to behold, and he shoots exclusively with revolvers.

Everyone who know Schrock likes him, and this is because he always has the positive mental attitude, pure

talent and sheer determination to make it to the top. We conducted his first-ever interview on his road to glory in the competitive shooting world.

American Shooting Journal Brian, how long have you been shooting?

Brian Schrock When I was about 7 or 8 years old I started shooting a .22. I came from a family of hunters, so that was my first introduction to firearms. I started squirrel hunting

Brian Schrock didn’t set his sights on competitive shooting until later in life.

But once the timer went off, he and his revolver trio have been unstoppable.

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COMPETITIONS and then graduated to deer and elk. I’ve taken a javelina with my S&W 500, as well as an elk at 103 yards. I started competing in August 2011 east of Phoenix in Mesa, Ariz., at the Rio Salado Sportsman’s Club during their Tuesday night steel shoots, and in March 2012 I started shooting in the United States Practical Shooting Association.

ASJ What sparked your interest to start competing?

BS I was working at Sportsman’s Warehouse, and one of the associates who worked there competed. I had a S&W 627 and a Glock 21 at the time, so I figured I would just try it out.

Before I actually started competing, I attended a couple of matches and just learned by watching what and how people shot. I noticed that there were very few people shooting revolvers, so I decided to use the 627. I fell in love with competing by the second match, and that’s when I started looking for a broader outlet, like the USPSA. I love it, and there is nothing I would rather be doing.

ASJ Is USPSA the only type of competition you shoot?

Schrock demonstrates a winning combination of natural skill, hard work and determination. Needless to say, it’s working.

BRIAN SCHROCK’S FAVORITE GEAR Here is a list of the equipment Brian Schrock uses: Revolver: S&W 929 6½-inch eight-shot 9mm Bullets: Extreme plated bullets .357-diameter 147-grain Brass: Winchester Powder: Winchester 231 Primers: Federal (lighter trigger pull requires softer primer cup) Holster: CR Speed WSM-2 Belt: CR speed belt Moon clips: TK Custom stainless cut for Winchester 9mm brass Moon clip Holder: North Mountain moon clip holder Bag: Dillon Precision Ears: Howard Leight Sport Electronic Grips: Hogue Big Butt exclusively on all of his revolvers Front Sight: Dawson Precision fiber-optic front 114

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(Top to bottom) Schrock’s current Jerry Miculek Signature series S&W 929 eight-shot 9mm, six-shot S&W Model 625 and the eight-shot Model 627 he started competing with.

BS I also shoot International Confederation of Revolver Enthusiasts, or ICORE, and am rated as an A-Class shooter (75 to 84.999 percentile).

ASJ What is your current class in USPSA? BS I made Master class on March 14, 2015, and Grand Master in the USPSA revolver division on October 16 (top 95 to 100 percentile).

ASJ A congratulations is in order. The USPSA has over 25,000 members, so being in the top ranking is not an easy feat.

BS Thank you. I appreciate it.

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COMPETITIONS not legal for their sport at the time, so I bought the model 625, which is a six-shot .45 ACP. I shot that for about a year and then the USPSA made eightshot revolvers legal, so I switched back to my 627. As of October 2014 I’ve been shooting the new Jerry Miculek Signature series S&W 929 eight-shot 9mm.

ASJ Do you do work on your own revolvers, or do you send them off to have work done?

BS My first two competition revolvers, the 627 and 625, I sent to Apex Tactical Specialties, Inc., in California. They do excellent work, but on my 929 I did my own work except for chamfering the titanium cylinder.

Although Schrock used to send his guns out to be honed and gunsmithed, he now does all of the work himself, with the exception of chamfering.

ASJ What are some of your best accomplishments and accolades in competitive shooting so far?

BS Well, I came in first place of C-Class at Revolver Nationals in 2013. After that I took first place in revolver in the 2013 Area 2 Desert Classic, and then I went on to win first place in the A-Class for the Midwestern regional ICORE shoot in Nevada that same year.

I didn’t do much shooting in 2014 because of school, but so far in 2015 I came in fourth overall in the Area 2 Desert Classic for USPSA. ASJ Obviously you are a dedicated revolver shooter. What are you shooting in competition?

BS For competition I use only Smith & Wesson. I started out with the Model 627, which is an eight-shot .357 Magnum, but when I switched to USPSA, an eight-shot revolver was

ASJ How often do you shoot?

BS For practice, about once a week, and I shoot about 200 rounds. I usually compete twice a month, and shoot about 150 rounds in each competition.

ASJ Did you follow competitive shooting at all before you got into it?

BS No, I honestly didn’t know about the world of competitive shooting until I started working at the sporting goods store.

ASJ So you never had any heroes or people to look up to who were in the shooting world?

BS Not particularly. I remember seeing videos of Jerry Miculek shooting revolvers. He was my inspiration to pick the S&W 627 over the Glock when I started. I was watching videos of guys shooting semiauto pistols who were basically pretty slow. They couldn’t shoot that well either. When I first saw Jerry shooting, I thought, “Man that guy can shoot fast!”

The only thing that sidetracks Schrock from shooting and competing is the manufacturing and engineering degree that he is currently working towards at Arizona State University.

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COMPETITIONS Schrock competes in United States Practical Shooting Association, as well as International Confederation of Revolver Enthusiasts.

Schrock’s reloads during competition are lightning fast.

the match together, and I thought it was really cool that a 20-something-time national champion and umpteen-time world champion would switch out his gear and shoot with a C-class revolver shooter.

It wasn’t until I started shooting revolvers that I realized how much talent, blood, sweat and tears you had to put into it to become halfway decent. Jerry was my first inspiration, but if I had to pick my shooting hero, it would be Rob Leatham. I had an opportunity to shoot with him in a couple matches, and have even taken a class with him. He is a good guy. One day before a revolver nationals match, Rob and I showed up at registration at the same time. He changed out of his single-stack rig and into his revolver rig. We shot

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ASJ Brian, thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us.

BS You’re very welcome. I’ll see you at the range.

Brian is currently attending school for manufacturing and engineering technology at Arizona State University. He wants to be on the top of the mountain, and he will get there.

I’m calling it right now, people: 2016 is going to be the year of the Schrock. ASJ

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A True

Lawman Tom Threepersons was a legend in his own time, and remains one of the last true cowboys of the 20th century. (COURTESY OF THE BRITISH LIBRARY)

The Nine Lives Of Tom Threepersons 1889-1969 STORY BY ROBERT CAMPBELL

A

mong the most famous of lawmen in the previous century was Tom Threepersons. Threepersons was the son of a Cherokee Indian chief, and by all accounts not only a formidable lawman but a great cowboy who competed in rodeos prior to World War I. His mettle was first tested when he joined the US Army and became a scout to serve in the Punitive Expedition in Mexico (19161917), which coincided with the Mexican Revolution.

Threepersons, originally stationed in Fort Bliss, Texas, served under General Jack Pershing and distinguished

himself by scouting for American troops in Mexico. The object of the hunt was Francisco “Pancho” Villa, a Mexican Revolutionary general, and even though Villa was not found, the US Cavalry gave the bandits a bloody nose on several occasions.

Later in life, Threepersons joined the El Paso, Texas, police department and worked in some of the roughest sections of the city, according to his service records.

He was shot five times, saved from assassination on one occasion by his partner, and was even run over by a americanshootingjournal.com 121

Tom Threepersons radically changed the standard holster design and stripped away much of the excess leather. What he created was a high-riding open-top holster with a forward cant. This holster remains very functional today and can be readily found like these from Lobo Gunleather. (LOBO GUNLEATHER)

bootlegger’s vehicle.

As far as research indicates, Threepersons left law enforcement at the age of 43, and went to work as a foreman on numerous ranches, which seemed to be his preferred trade. Threepersons passed away on April 3, 1969.

THE THREEPERSONS COLT AND HOLSTER In Threepersons’ day, purpose-designed police holsters were few. The Mexican Loop holster was a fine holster for mounted use, but it was less than ideal for use in a vehicle when seated or conducting a foot patrol.

In an effort to make a more useful holster, Threepersons cut all of the unnecessary leather away from the standard holster and designed one with a high-ride open top with a forward cant worn just behind the hip. This design

HE WAS SHOT FIVE TIMES, SAVED FROM ASSASSINATION AND RUNOVER BY A BOOTLEGGER was adopted by SD Myres, a respected and even legendary holster maker. Soon, variations of the holster were offered with a strong safety strap that added to its utility.

Variations of this holster were

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Tom Threepersons’ prohibition officer’s badge is made from a 1879 silver dollar. Gold finished, it has an eagle top and a portrait of Lady Liberty on the back. This badge is currently on display at the Autry Museum in Los Angeles. (COURTESY OF THE AUTRY NATIONAL CENTER, Los Angeles: 85.1.41)

americanshootingjournal.com 123

adopted by leathersmiths like Graveyard Jack and Lobo Gun Leather, known for being the best in the industry. These holsters are far from outdated and perfect for general carry of heavy handguns.

Threepersons’ primary firearm was a nickel-plated Colt single-action revolver chambered in .45 with 4¾inch barrel. At some point after 1921, Threepersons had a custom square frontsight post fitted to his Colt.

This gun now resides at the Gene Autry National Center in Los Angeles, which boasts the finest collection of Colt revolvers in the world. ASJ Editors note: The Autry National Center of the American West is a museum dedicated to exploring and sharing the stories, experiences and perceptions of the diverse peoples of the American West. The Autry’s collection of more than 500,000 pieces of art and artifacts includes one of the finest collections

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American Shooting Journal // February 2016

Threepersons carried this nickel-plated Colt single-action revolver chambered in .45 with 4¾-inch barrel. At some point after 1921, Threepersons had a custom square front-sight post fitted to his Colt. This Colt is currently on display at the the Autry Museum in Los Angeles. (COURTESY OF THE AUTRY NATIONAL CENTER, Los Angeles)

of Colt revolvers in the world.

Author’s note: If you would like to know more about Graveyard Jack, you can visit them at sixgunleather.com.

If you would like to know more about Lobo Gun Leather, you can visit lobogunleather.com.

americanshootingjournal.com 125

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Deer, elk, antelope .308 16 inches with Surefiree muzzle brake 37 inches 8.3 pounds 10 rounds 1 in 12 Cold-hammer-forged steel ck Kevlar and aluminum bedded block Weaver slides $2,398

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Deer, elk, moose 7mm Rem Mag 26 inches 13.5 inches 9.8 pounds 3 1 in 9 Custom stainless barrel, #6 contour, fluted Greybull Precision composite Greybull Precision hunting optic by Leupold with a matched drop-compensating dial $6,300

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Birds, squirrels, s, rabbits .177 18 inches Adjustable 8 pounds Break barrel 1 in 18 Steel Polymer Dovetail $139.99

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Deer, elk 6.5mm Creedmoor 18 inches 13.25 inches 7.75 pounds 5 1 in 8 416R SS stainless steel Composite - Manners MCS-T Picatinny $3,875

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Deer, elk .26 Nosler 26 inches 13.5 inches 9.6 pounds (with a 5-20X50 Huskemaw scope) 3 plus 1 1 in 8 Wilson #4 contour stainless steel Kevlar-reinforced composite Rifle only: $5,995; complete system: $7,995

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gun reviews

TRADE SECRETS REVEALED Building The Elite Hunter Rifle System

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY JIM SESSIONS

The complete Hunter Elite rifle system includes a Best of the West barreled action, a Wilson barrel, a hybridstyle stock, Timney trigger, Huskemaw Blue Diamond optic and Hornady’s ELD-X ammunition.

W

e had been scouring the high desert of southwestern Wyoming for the past five days looking for trophy-class Wyoming pronghorns on public land. This hunt was a unique opportunity for my wife Lynn and me because we had both drawn a coveted tag, and we were charged with field testing the new Hunter Elite shooting system built by The Best of the West in Cody, Wyo. This is the fun part of being part owner and manager of an outdoor production and optics company, as well as a rifle manufacturer.

The Best of the West is a well-known authority on longrange hunting, and we were on location filming an episode for The Best of the West TV series. Before we left on this hunt we had validated rifle accuracy and collected actual

field data so we could have a turret that matched the actual trajectory of this rifle and load. This process is both time consuming and expensive from a manufacturer’s standpoint; however, with this process there are no shortcuts.

After five days in the field, we had glassed well over 1,000

YOUR RIFLE ARRIVES AS A 1,000-YARD PERFORMER RIGHT OUT OF THE BOX. pronghorn bucks. We were hunting the Sublette herd, which is the largest herd of migratory big game in the Lower 48 americanshootingjournal.com 129

gun reviews numbering 25,000-plus, and they were in migration mode.

New bucks were moving onto public land every day, and we were able to compare the sizes of multiple bucks within different subherds. The difficulty was sorting through them as they continually moved by instinct in a southeasterly direction.

WE HEADED OUT IN THE PREDAWN DARKNESS to the far south end of the hunting unit. The southern portion of this massive tract of land typically has less hunting pressure, and the migration corridors follow broad drainage basins flowing out of the mountain foothills. Access is provided by many roads that were built for oil and gas wells operating in the area. I knew of a dam that had been built to catch water in the lower

Lynn and Jim Sessions took these two pronghorn from the same shooting platform - one at 554- and the other at 650-yard range - in the Pinedale region of southwestern Wyoming.

tripod and a body bag built by Flatline Ops. The dam surface provided a number of advantages in this scenario. Lynn had a flat, unobstructed shooting platform and an elevated position. I confirmed the distance with a wind hold of one minute coming from the right. She broke the shot, sending a 140-grain VLD bullet into the buck’s rib cage. He staggered a couple of steps, and dropped onto the desert floor.

“[WE] COMPLETED A DOUBLE FROM THE SAME SHOOTING POSITION.” To my surprise, most of the pronghorn continued grazing or remained in their beds. Lynn and I changed positions, and I immediately had the other buck in my sight picture.

She confirmed a range of 650 yards with 1½ minute of wind from the right. I squeezed the trigger and watched the buck drop from sight through the 4-16X42 Huskemaw Blue Diamond rifle scope. We had hunted for five days, and in the end completed a double from the same shooting position.

Both bucks carried their mass well and measured right at 15 inches. I would highly recommend this hunt to avid hunters across the country. It is physically easy and game is abundant.

ABOUT THE HUNTER ELITE SYSTEM The Best of the West and Huskemaw Optics started the mainstream interest in long range/precision hunting several end of a remote drainage. These dams provide water for the years ago. Although most other optics companies have come cattle and an assortment of wildlife, including pronghorn out with long-range solutions, the Huskemaw Advantage is and sage grouse. both a tool and a system that thousands of hunters across As we travelled up the drainage in a westerly direction, the country and beyond have experienced on their hunts. pronghorn numbers began to increase. This was the indicator Our philosophy is one of simplicity and in-field I needed. Lynn, videographer Terence Knudsen and I left functionality for that moment of truth. Whether it be a the truck using the dam face as cover for our approach. We dream whitetail buck crawled to the top edge slinking out of heavy of the dam and began RIFLE SPECIFICATIONS AND OPTIONS cover at last shooting glassing pronghorns that Calibers: 6.5 X.284, 7mm Remington Magnum, .300 Winchester Magnum light or a giant bull were spread out in all Stocks: Laminate wood, synthetic composite elk across the canyon directions. Well over 200 Action: Best of the West Custom at 600 yards with of them were bedded and Barrel: Wilson #4 contour stainless-steel fluted a 10 mile-per-hour grazing within range of Trigger: Timney model 510 crosswind, Huskemaw our Hunter Elite Weight: Approximately 9½ pounds, depending on scope selection provides a quick threerifle system.

Optics: Choice of Huskemaw Blue Diamond 3-12X42, 4-16X42 or 5-20X50 step process: get a Two bucks caught solid range to target; my eye after setting up dial the yardage; and hold for wind if applicable. I mention the spotting scope. Lynn was first on the trigger. My role Huskemaw Optics at this point of the article for one reason – as the spotter was to confirm a solid range and call wind if this scope is the brain of the Hunter Elite shooting system. applicable. The target buck was ranged at 554 yards as he Eighteen months ago, we started to work on building a grazed undisturbed west of our location. I confirmed the complete rifle system that was also affordable. This concept distance by ranging just in front and beyond the buck. This was born based on market analysis and an opportunity is a technique which brackets and verifies distance to target. to fill a niche not available at the time. We all agreed that Lynn was in a prone position using the Huskemaw prone

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americanshootingjournal.com 131

gun reviews

accuracy and functionality would not be sacrificed. We were tasked with cutting costs while still holding up our reputation for consistency, repeatability and extreme accuracy.

In order to build this system we had to think outside the box, and broke the project into five major categories: barreled action, stock, trigger, ammunition and optic.

BARRELED ACTION We contracted with a company to design and build an action using our specifications. It is based on the Remington Model 700 action with

that this step is not the norm in the industry. If it is not a true minute-of-angle system, it will not be shipped.

Every single rifle system is shot tested Unfortunately for before it leaves the manufacturer. the consumer, the MOA guarantee is upgrades only seen in fully custom overused and under delivered on many models. We specified extremely fronts. We must validate accuracy in rigid tolerances, and machined the the field for the system to perform as components using the latest computer advertised. These components are the numerical control (CNC) technology. heart of the system.

BARREL THE STOCK We only use Wilson barrels for all of our Hunter Elite rifle systems.

The stock is the foundation. We will These barrels are lead lapped at the offer the Hunter Elite with either wood manufacturer, and once completed laminate or a composite integrating a are validated for accuracy at our full-length aluminum bedding block. own range. Yes, you read that right.

Our stock offers a unique design that Each rifle is shot-tested as part of the is conducive to precision accuracy. I process, validating both accuracy and call it a hybrid between a sporter and a functionality. Believe me when I say tactical style. Attributes include a flat forend, raised cheek piece and pistol grip design.

TRIGGER Having worked with a number of trigger manufacturers, we chose Timney triggers as our trigger of choice for this system. This trigger offers high quality at a reasonable price point. Each trigger is functiontested both in the shop and at the range. A trigger weight of 2½ pounds is automatically set for each package.

AMMUNITION The Best of the West and Hornady are teaming up to bring the Precision Hunter ammunition line as part of the basic Hunter Elite shooting system package. This ammunition features the new ELD-X bullet (Extremely Low Drag – Expanding). As Hornady states, “Propellents used in the Precision Hunter ammunition line are clean burning and loaded to uniform capacity for consistent shot-to-shot results regardless of temperature.” We feel this ammunition line will provide the performance to fully realize the

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americanshootingjournal.com 133

The Best of the West spent over 18 months working on creating an elite shooting system that was also very affordable without sacrificing quality.

potential of the Hunter Elite system.

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OPTIC The Hunter Elite package is complemented with a Huskemaw Blue Diamond rifle scope. These packages are offered with three scope options, including the 3-12X42, 4-16X42 and the venerable 5-20X50. A standardized turret comes with each package. By standardized I am referring to a turret that is based on a specific elevation and temperature. This turret is laserengraved specific to the ammunition provided with each package. Each customer can have customized turrets built for varying elevations and temperatures and/or different ammunition. Unique features include the Hunt Smart Reticle, proprietary high-definition lens coatings and the only patented windage-enabled turret in the industry.

The shooting system described above is just that – a system. It is a 1,000-yard performer right out of the box! The equipment is capable of performing at extreme range; the question is, are you? ASJ Editor’s note: For more information on Best of the West, the new Hunter Elite shooting system or their Best of the West TV series, visit them at thebestofthewest.net.

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ROAD HUNTER

HISTORIC HUNTED PLACES I’VE

The Legends And Lore Of My Hunting Grounds STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY SCOTT HAUGEN

A

Hunting can take you to places you might not otherwise dare to tread, and is often rich with history.

s the jet descended toward the Portland, Ore., airport, towering Mount Hood glowed a brilliant orange amidst the setting sun. I stared at the mountain, reflecting on the successful mule deer hunt I had just experienced in Montana. “Have you ever climbed it?” the lady next to me asked. “Nope,” I replied. “You?” I asked. “Four times,” she smiled. She asked if I lived in Oregon, which I do, and she couldn’t believe I’d never climbed the chiseled 11,250-foot volcano.

ROAD HUNTER

At nearly 10,000 feet, Scott Haugen watches bighorn sheep in Wyoming. This is the same place where the great Jack O’Connor once took a nice ram.

“Why haven’t you climbed it?â€? she quizzed. Without thinking, I said, “Because there’s nothing to shoot when I get to the top!â€? She was quiet for the remainder of the ight.

The conversation made me think how hunting has taken me to some incredible places around the world, places I would have otherwise never gone to. Making my living through hunting and ďŹ shing, I’ve been to over 30 countries and many states. One thing traveling has made me aware of is how much hunting centers around historically rich places.

ONE OF MY MOST MEMORABLE HUNTS took place on a 10,000-acre ranch. It was on horseback for bison in the northwest corner of South Dakota. The hunt began on a cold, crisp morning, and ended moments before darkness fell. I took a nice bull in temperatures that never rose above 20 degrees.

It was cold, but the country I saw and the stories I heard from the landowner took me back to the days of old and what it must have been like for the Native Americans who lived there. In places, scattered remnants of teepee rings could still be seen, and we found arrowheads throughout the day – they seemed so lacking in killing power compared to the high-tech broadheads on my carbon-shaft arrows.

When we rode the horses to the edge of a cliff, my heart leaped into my throat. One more step and we’d have plunged 300 feet. I was overlooking my ďŹ rst buffalo jumpoff point, or pishkun, the place Native American hunters drove herds of bison. At the bottom, others armed with knives, spears and bows would ďŹ nish off any crippled animals. Envisioning such a hunt taking place for the sole purpose of survival was humbling.

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In Montana I’ve taken whitetails, mule deer, waterfowl and upland birds along the trails Lewis and Clark traveled.

Camping where they camped and hunting where they hunted left me dreaming of what it must have been like. Having read their journals, the game-rich land now somewhat paled in comparison to what they described.

No elk, bighorn sheep or grizzly bears occupied the sage country I hunted, but I bet I saw more whitetails and Merriam’s turkey than Lewis and Clark did. To imagine them paddling the Yellowstone in a dugout canoe in the very places I stood made me proud to be a traveling hunter.

I’ve been fortunate to chase elk in many places, but some of my best hunts took place in northwest Wyoming, in the Absaroka Range where “Buffalo Bill� Cody hunted. I even passed through places he and his friends camped while chasing wapiti.

SOUTH OF THE ABSAROKA RANGE, I’ve hunted elk in the same drainage where the great Jack O’Connor, famed author and outdoor writer, hunted bighorn sheep. Ironically, I once took a big bull very near where O’Connor took a ram, and saw way more sheep than elk; that would have made him smile.

The biggest difference on this hunt í˘ą was that I rode in on horseback, and O’Connor got there on foot. í˘ľ The area surrounding Yellowstone Park is one I always look forward to seeing. Visiting the historical museums makes every hunt feel truly special, for they accurately put into perspective what a major roll hunting played in the discovery and settling of our nation.

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Not only did the author and his family have a great hog hunt in Florida, they learned much about the local history of the region.

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the Alamo. For the boys, hunting was fun, but they also loved touring the old mission turned fort. Reading and experiencing stories of war heroes, legends and villains was something they couldn’t get enough of. We also traveled to Osceola territory in Florida. Here, the family hunted hogs from a swamp buggy, and called in highly prized Osceola turkeys. All this in a land once the home of a hearty population of Native Americans.

Our family has been to Africa, too, where we touched grinding bowls shaped from giant rocks by indigenous people thousands of years prior. We admired incredibly detailed rock art, and found recently occupied poachers’ camps – a reminder of how so many people in the African bush still hunt to survive.

Hawaii is a place we never tire of hunting. To hunt feral goats, sheep and more that were introduced by explorers hundreds of years ago is an awesome feeling. To stand on lava-covered mountains, envisioning Captain Cook and his crew dropping anchor in the bay leaves questions as to how they would perceive the land today.

My wife and I used to live in the Alaskan Arctic, where we both learned so much from the Inupiat Eskimo people. Not only did we learn about their modern-day approach to hunting Dall sheep, caribou, whales, polar bear, birds and more, but we also learned

how to safely navigate and camp comfortably in temperatures exceeding minus 50 degrees below zero.

OF ALL THE HISTORICALLY RICH PLACES I’ve hunted, one stands out above the rest. Growing up, I loved Western documentaries and adventure stories.

I dreamed of living a life like Grizzly Adams, a famous outdoorsman and grizzly bear trainer. I yearned to travel where mountain men went. I was also deeply touched by the story of the Nez Perce Tribe and Chief Joseph’s legendary fight that was captured in the movie, I Will Fight No More Forever.

The first time I stood on the edge of Idaho’s White Bird battlefield, I was speechless. To hunt where this infamous battle began was an indescribable feeling, one that’s different than what a tourist experiences just driving by.

Having taken whitetail, mule deer, elk, bear and turkey from this very location, most of which the Nez Perce also likely did, is a feeling that bonds hunters with historical legends in a way that can’t be captured in words.

Both of my boys have since hunted the area, both have watched the movie multiple times, and both came away feeling sickened for what happened in these battlefields, but honored to have learned more about it. For our family, history has a much deeper meaning, thanks to hunting, which has taken us places we may have never ventured. ASJ

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SHARPEN YOUR SKILLS How To Get A Better Edge On Your Blades

While there are many methods to sharpen a blade of any kind, most people simply do not know the true basics to maintaining a perfect edge.

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY TOM CLAYCOMB III

ll outdoorsmen use a knife, and yet I bet less than 5 percent can sharpen one. I’ve probably written over 100 articles on knives and have conducted knifesharpening seminars from Alaska to Texas, and I still learn something new every week.

I remember the first sharpening seminar I ever conducted, over 14 years ago. An attendee had a brown paper bag and every couple of minutes he would pull out a knife-sharpening gizmo and ask, “Have you ever seen one of these?” Eventually I stopped the seminar and asked him how many doodads

A

THIS IS HOW YOU GET A CONSISTENT EDGE he had in his sack. He must have dumped out over 20. I am pretty sure he purchased every knife-sharpening tool ever sold on television.

We may laugh at the poor old gentleman, but unfortunately this depicts the plight of most of us. It does take some skill to sharpen a knife or arrow properly, but don’t panic. You don’t need a PhD.

My grandfather used a smooth Arkansas stone to sharpen his knives, but these days blades are so hard it would take forever to sharpen this way, so ideally you should use a finediamond stone, and you’ll get an edge within two to three minutes.

In the old days, most knife blades were angled at 30 degrees. Now, you can find edges as flat as 16 degrees. Why the change? This is a sure sign that the blade was made out of hard metal. In the old days you couldn’t get an angle much past 30 degrees or else the edge would roll or chip, but now, thanks to harder metals, blades can be honed to smaller angles. Most knives today are between 20 and 25 degrees, but if your knife is ground at a 16-degree edge, stick with that. No use in regrinding the edge. If you watch people A large 6- or 8-inch stone is easier to use, but they’re too heavy to carry into the backcountry. A lot of people throw a small diamond stone into their pack, so if you need to skin multiple animals you can touch up your blade.

TO START OFF, make sure you have a good knife. Cheap knives will never give you the sharp blade you are looking for. americanshootingjournal.com 143

Notice how my elbow is level while I’m honing the flat edge of the blade, and how my elbow is elevated when I move into the curvature of the blade? This forces me to obtain the correct angle.

sharpening their blade, you might see them cutting into the stone or maybe sliding the knife backwards or even rubbing the blade in a circular motion. Which is the correct method?

All of these techniques can work if you learn to master them, but I usually teach everyone to cut into the stone three times on each side.

SOFT OR HARD METAL, what is the best blade? It’s a matter of preference. A soft knife is easier to sharpen, but it gets dull faster. A hard knife is harder to sharpen, but it stays sharp longer, which helps if you’re out in the field so you don’t have to carry a stone. It’s probably best to initially work with softer metal so you can build up your confidence. When sharpening, if you get your knife to a point where you’re 85 percent there, stop! There’s a good chance that you’ll go south if you keep messing with it.

USE THE SAME ANGLE all the way down the length of the blade.

Most people tend to flatten out the angle when they get into the curvature of the blade. This produces multiple angles instead of a consistent edge. To prevent this, lift your elbow as you enter the curve when sharpening. You can use a felttip pen and run a line along the edge of the blade before you start. This will help you to see if you are maintaining an even 144

American Shooting Journal // February 2016

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If you’re angle challenged, try marking the edge with a felt-tip pen. Then after stoning your knife once, look at the edge. If the mark has only been half removed, this means you need to drop it down a little more to obtain the correct angle.

For bowhunters, yes you can sharpen your broadheads, but it is easier if you buy the type that you can lay flat on the stone, and are already at the correct angle. You can use an old arrow shaft and screw it into the broadhead. This makes it much easier to sharpen, and you’ll use fewer Band-aids.

angle. It is also common to have a partner watch from the front to ensure you maintain the same angle all the way down the blade.

extremely bad, lay it down at 10 to 15 degrees for the first few swipes, then go to your blade angle. After this you can switch to a fine-diamond stone.

WHAT IS THE BEST STONE TO BUY? I would use two. A Smith’s fine-diamond stone and a smooth Arkansas stone with honing oil for the fine-edge finish. I only use a coarse-diamond stone in my seminars when someone brings in an abused knife. If it has knicks or if the edge is mushroomed, you’ll have to do some aggressive sharpening. Hold the knife with the edge up. If any light glistens off the edge, that’s a flat or dull spot. If it’s sharp, there won’t be any light bouncing off.

If you feel a lip, that means the edge is rolled, or if it’s really bad, it may be mushroomed. To rectify this problem I use a coarse diamond stone. If you cut into the stone, you’re just going to exerbate the problem, so lay the blade on the stone at your angle, but pull it backwards. This straightens out all of the metallic molecules. If it is

WHAT ABOUT GRINDERS? If you know what you’re doing, they’re fine, but if you don’t, you can grind down the life of a blade, pronto. If you break off a tip, you’ll have to use a grinder to reshape the blade. But a knife only lasts for a certain amount of sharpenings and most people don’t know what they’re doing, so my advice? Don’t use a grinder.

There are a million sharpening systems on the market, and I’m halfway convinced that if you learn to master them, many are functional, but I still say learn to sharpen the old way, with a stone, and then you‘ll have a sense of pride. ASJ

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Editor’s note: For a detailed look at how the author gets to the point, you can read Knife Sharpening by Tom Claycomb III for only .99 cents on Amazon Kindle.

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PRESS CHECK Take A Tour Of Dillon Precision Products STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY BOB SHELL

Dillon Precision Products is one of today’s top names in reloading presses, but that is not all they do: they even manufacture a 7.62 NATO Mini-gun.

he reloading business is growing by leaps and bounds, and for those who may not know, Dillon Precision Products offers one of the best machines out there.

Specializing in high-volume production, the Southwestbased company makes a variety of progressive reloaders that can load a couple of hundred rounds all the way up to a thousand rounds per hour. For the competition shooter or reloading business, these machines are ideal.

T

THE BUSINESS STARTED out in an odd way. Owner Mike Dillon loaned his airplane to a friend who crashed the plane and died that day. After that tragic event, Dillon sold any salvagable plane parts to help his friend’s widow with expenses. Grateful for his support and help, she offered him a Star reloader, among other gifts that belonged to her husband. This started Dillon down the path to reloading his own ammunition.

Dillon eventually wanted to reload .223 ammo on his Star, but the tooling was not available for that caliber, so, with his ingenuity, he modified a .380 shell plate and the dies, and created a workable set-up. To understand this feat, you need to understand that the Star press only accepted an odd-sized die, which was a challenge to work around, to say the least.

Dillon ended up creating and selling those conversion kits to

All Dillon presses are manufactured in California and later assembled at headquarters in Scottsdale, Ariz.

people who wanted to load the same ammo. Then someone requested a modification kit to load .30-06. Dillon not only took on the challenge, he designed and made his own press americanshootingjournal.com 151

The public is welcome to visit the company’s showroom and can actually use the presses to see which one would be best for them.

back to the drawing board. The next model was the RL-450, which was less costly to produce, and that was followed by what has become the company’s most popular model – the 550.

The 550 is capable of loading all pistol and most rifle rounds, and I have personally loaded everything from .380 autos to .30-06, and have even made blanks on this machine.

If you are not familiar with loading, you need dies and a shell plate for each caliber you want to load. This is known as a loose set-up, or you can use a tool head and set-up already created for your desired round. This system allows you to change caliber loads quickly. It costs a bit more, but it is a lot more convenient. All Dillon presses are rugged, but as is expected, the small parts wear down after time, especially the priming assembly. Dillon offers kits to cover all of these situations. Depending on what you are loading and how fast you work, 300 rounds per hour is entirely possible, and even more in some instances.

to do just that.

LIKE MANY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS OWNERS, Dillon started out of his garage, leveraging his home for a loan. He named his first press the RL-1000, which was followed by the RL-300.

These were designed for the hobbyist reloader. It was a bit of a learning experience, because he was taking a loss on every machine he made to the tune of $100 per press, so he went

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WE VISITED THE DILLON warehouse and shop in Scottsdale, Ariz., and met with the company’s publications editor Mark Pixler, who was kind enough to give us a tour of the facility.

The presses are made in California and shipped to Scottsdale for assembly, and all of the dies are made by various precision

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Dillon Reloading deftly caters to the European market, and manufactures presses already wired for European voltage.

machine shops designed to Dillon’s specifications. The spacious and meticulously kept shop where the assembly magic happens is filled with modern equipment, but they also have a repair shop and shipping department that ships worldwide. Dillon even caters to the European market with presses that are already manufactured for European voltage. The repair shop has a turn-around time of about a week, and on the second floor Dillon has every model press they have ever made. If someone has a problem or question about a specific model, the technician can see exactly what the customer sees to help them resolve the issue. That is dedication to customer service.

THEIR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT area is dedicated to very tight specifications.

When Dillon is developing a new round, this is where they establish the dimensions for the dies and tools necessary for that caliber. They spend a lot of time testing products before 154

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When Dillon creates a new product, it takes some time before it is released to the public. They are serious about quality.

releasing new items to the market.

Dillon maintains a very high standard of quality, and it all starts here.

Their warranty is second to none.

Actually, there is only one warranty – every press is covered. They don’t even bother with serial numbers or certificates, because if you have a Dillon press, whether you are the first owner or 25th, it is under warranty.

They are that dedicated.

THE PUBLIC IS WELCOME to stop by the shop. They have a very nice showroom where you can see and touch all of the presses, and they will walk you through each model so you can find what works best for your needs. They also have all of their accessories and powders right there as well, and if you can’t stop by, just ask them for a catalog. It is the next best thing to being there.

When we asked what Dillon had in their sights for the future, they said they have many projects under wraps, but they did share that they are now manufacturing an improved 7.62 NATO mini gun. This is available to US State Department-approved sectors only, but it’s interesting that a company that traditionally provides progressive loading equipment is now involved with improving progressive unloading equipment. ASJ Editor’s note: If you are interested in Dillon reloading presses, you can visit them at dillonprecision.com.

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American Shooting Journal // February 2016

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WHEN WATERFOWL HAD

NO CHANCE Massive Shotguns Mounted To Boats Drove The Market Hunting Era STORY BY KENNETH L. KIESER

arket hunters were a tough group of men, many former Navy, who braved icy cold waters to kill the most ducks or geese possible to satisfy restaurants and meat markets.

I once handled a 4-gauge shotgun. This vintage firearm was like holding a wooden fence post – heavy and bulky – and it was designed to throw huge amounts of lead. This was a requirement for market hunters whose goal was to kill the largest number of duck and geese as possible. Their era lasted from the early 1800s to 1918, when bulk hunting was made illegal through the Migratory Bird Act, although that law never stopped the trade.

They packed their fowl in iced-down barrels – feathers and all – to be shipped by rail. Canvasbacks were preferred, but other fowl were sold and shipped as well. Restaurant customers in New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and other cities enjoyed fresh duck nightly, and farmers markets also sold from outside stands.

The methods and weaponry used to destroy such large numbers of birds are extensive.

M

SHOTGUNS “By 1855 the double-barreled hammer breechloader began to be used; within a few years (1871) hammerless varieties began to appear,” an old market hunter said. –The Outlaw Gunner, by Harry M. Walsh The first market hunters used big-bore shotguns from 0 to 10 gauges, and later graduated to “punt guns” to kill more ducks with one shot. The 4-, 6- and 8-gauge shotguns were big, heavy and awkward to swing and shoot. Shooting them was not advisable for the weak.

“I refer to my 0 gauge shotgun as my headache gun,” said Sam Armstrong. “I take two aspirins before and after firing.”

–The Outlaw Gunner, by Harry M. Walsh Market hunters took a hit when a Maryland law in 1832 eliminated the use of large-bore shotguns larger than 10-gauge, notably 4, 6 or 8 gauges. Later it was decreed that this only applied to guns that could be fired from the shoulder, making punt guns legal.

A punt gun used by market hunters. (PHOTO COMPLIMENTS OF THE

UPPER BAY MUSEUM)

PUNT GUNS Punt guns, built over 9 feet long with 2-inch bores and weighing approximately 90 to 140 pounds, were the equivalent to small bow-mounted cannons. Most were laid on sandbags and then laced down tightly by stout ropes to keep the expensive guns from flipping back on the hunter when discharged or rolling overboard in rough water.

A pound of shot was loaded with a pound of coarsegrain black powder, creating quite an explosion over the water’s surface, mostly dropping canvasbacks, redheads and scaup. The most effective shots were taken at 30 to 35 yards.

Loads may have been larger or smaller, depending on the punt gun’s capabilities. People in areas like the Chesapeake Bay region must have heard large firearm charges echoing across the water’s surface from miles away.

According to C. John Sullivan, director of operations for the Havre De Grace (Md.) Decoy Museum, “Punt guns were fine killing machines and either homemade or built by gun and blacksmiths. A number of gun shops in Baltimore specialized in importing guns from Belgium and Great Britain for these hunters, but most were muzzleloaders.”

Homemade versions were not always dependable.

Two-inch lead pipe was often used for barrels, and old muzzleloader actions were fitted to the lead pipes.

Occasionally the barrel exploded when the powder was touched off.

“I heard about guys blowing the front end off their boat,” said Paul W. Shertz of the Upper Bay Museum in North americanshootingjournal.com 159

Along Maryland’s Eastern Shore, a battery of black powder shotgun barrels await a flock.

(PHOTO COMPLIMENTS OF THE UPPER BAY MUSEUM)

East, Md. “Another fellow had a misfire, then relocked to replace the cap and the powder, and parts of the gun blew up in his face. He died instantly.”

There were other dangers too. Wadding between the shot and powder was generally oakum or old rope teased apart over thin cork or paper. This type of wadding was often the cause of marsh fires when it continued burning after leaving the gun.

Punt guns eventually became illegal in 1918, and many were confiscated. Some hunters buried their punt

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American Shooting Journal // February 2016

guns in sand or drilled a hole in the stock and hung them from ropes down well shafts so they could continue this type of hunting.

BATTERIES “It was in the year of 1926 that everything went to pieces in my life. The only money available was in ducks, and I became a pirate duck hunter. I collected four of the largest muzzleloader guns and made a nice battery,” said John Elliot of Fishing Bay, Md. –The Outlaw Gunner, by Harry M. Walsh A battery, in these terms, was several blackpowder barrels welded together, which formed a group of guns that fired together. A trough of blackpowder was lit to set off all of the barrels at once. The average battery would shoot a 10-foot-wide pattern at 30 yards.

“Batteries held three to eight blackpowder barrels a quarter inch apart and spread a wide pattern,” said Pete Lesher, chief curator for the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, Md. “The powder was lit when the percussion lock caused a spark, and each gun would shoot almost simultaneously.”

I witnessed a battery firing and it sounded like a brief machine gun volley.

TRUE OR FALSE – MARKET HUNTING’S BIGGEST MYTHS Statement: Market hunters shot bolts, nails, rocks, glass,

americanshootingjournal.com 161

About The Author Kenneth L. Kieser is an award-winning author with several thousand bylines to his credit. He was inducted into the National Fresh Water Fishing and the Waterfowler’s Hall of Fame for his writing.

His A Return to Hunting North American Waterfowl is a unique 280-page book, which features most of North America’s hunted bird species, such as Sandhill cranes, tundra swans, eider ducks, sea ducks, Atlantic brant, Oregon’s nine species of Canada geese and others. Watefowling destinations like Mississippi’s Beaver Dam Lake, a Native American reservation in South Dakota, brackish waters in Louisiana, a swampy lake where the late Nash Buckingham, famed outdoor communicator, wrote about his beloved “Bo Whoop” shotgun, and the Chesapeake regions are discussed. There are even articles about the East Coast market hunters from 1860 through 1920, and hunting scaup on a lake where Lewis and Clark once camped.

“This book is an accumulation of my 50 years of waterfowl hunting and adventures,” says Kieser.

For an autographed copy, send a $25 money order (no checks) to: Kenneth L. Kieser, P.O. Box 29126, Kansas City, MO. 64152.

screws or anything else that would fit down a barrel.

False: Most historians agree that this would tear up an expensive barrel and waterfowl that were meant to be sold.

Statement: Market hunters shot ducks on the water.

False: Have you ever shot at a crippled duck on the water’s surface? They are even harder to kill, and sometimes more than one shot is required. Market hunters tried to flush the ducks or geese off of the water’s surface before firing punt guns or batteries. This point is argued by some historians.

Statement: Hundreds of ducks were killed by a single blast from a punt gun or batteries.

False: Historians will never agree on this number, but most say the highest kills from a shot were 15 to 50 ducks – others say 100. ASJ Editor’s note: There are a lot of mixed emotions regarding market hunters, their tactics and the part they played in decimating populations of birds and other animals throughout North America. However, their legacy is still a part of our history, and many of their weapons were mechanically quite ingenenius.

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American Shooting Journal // February 2016

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Product FEATURE

HUMAN SPOTTERS WILL GO OUT OF BUSINESS Well, Maybe, But the Bullseye Camera System Is Smart And Fast STORY BY TROY RODAKOWSKI • PHOTOGRAPHS BY NICK SKREPETOS

The Bullseye Camera System watches your target from downrange and transmits data from each shot, and can even handle multiple shooters on the same screen.

regon businessman and entrepreneur Nick Skrepetos has taken his fair share of rides and a few setbacks on the business rollercoaster.

After some failed ventures it would have been easy for him to give up, find a job working for someone else and let go of his dreams. However, Skrepetos didn’t give up. His passion for shooting, hunting and being in the outdoors is something he wants to pass on to his children, and this desire led him to design a product that made shooting on the range – any range – faster, safer and even more fun.

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Skrepetos founded Bullseye Camera Systems LLC, and with over 50,000 “likes” on Facebook, business is booming for Bullseye!

In short, his device is a shot tracker that links with your smart device, such as your cell phone, tablet or laptop. It can be used with any target you use, and works great for rifles, handguns, shotguns – even archery. Just place the device near your target downrange and position it so it views the face of the target. Then, link their free app with your smart device and start shooting. You can track your shots without ever going downrange. Forget spotting scopes, binoculars or americanshootingjournal.com 165

PRODUCT FEATURE relying on a vapor trail or dust from behind the target to tell you what is happening. Just look at your screen. It’s a simple concept, but offers so many features.

The Bullseye not only tracks your shots in numerical sequence, so you always know which shot is which, it also blinks the last shot fired. This device even color codes the shots so you can switch between shooters, and always know whose shots are whose. You may never go down range to change a target again.

Law enforcement, private investigators and military/ tactical industries have been using this for range qualifications, shooter certifications and surveillance for some time now, and when I first saw how simple the system was, I could see why. The really great thing is you can set it up just about anywhere, and it takes up very little space.

There are several places where I like to shoot, and even though it was raining when I tried mine, it performed beautifully. The directions are very simple for anyone to follow, and I was able to spend more time shooting and less time taping bullet holes or walking down range to replace my target. It made patterning my shotgun for the upcoming spring turkey season easier because I could see the pellet clusters and areas of concentration magnified on my screen.

The greatest thing has to be the safety factor. Not that walking down range to check your target is bad, as I’m sure we could all use the exercise, but multiple shooters can identify their shots and track groups of shots or individual ones.

There are currently three different models: the AmmoCam Sight In edition, which offers a maximum transmission distance of 300 yards with a clear line of sight, and without the need for Internet or WiFi access; the AmmoCam Long Range edition, which offers a maximum transmission distance of more than a mile, also with clear line of sight and no Internet or WiFi required; and they even offer a multiple camera system for ranges that can be customized to meet the need. How handy would this thing be when shooting long range?

To top it all off, these are now coming in high definition.

“We are really excited about the new HD models that we launched in December 2015, and what they will add,” says Skrepetos. So are we!

Both systems are affordable, with prices from $349 to $649, depending on the model. Each model is equipped with a 12-hour rechargeable battery, are waterproof and come with a one-year warranty. For just a little bit more – $29.95 – customers can get the bullet-proof warranty in case of any mishaps.

This product will not only make the shooting experience more enjoyable, but can make all of us better shooters with more time on the trigger. It is an efficient way to challenge oneself to become a better marksman.

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Set up in front of the target, The Bullseye can transmit data from 300 yards to over a mile, depending on which model you choose.

The Bullseye screen differentiates and numbers each shot sequentially, allowing you to watch your progress. The last shot taken even blinks so you know exactly where you are.

The system is designed to work on multiple smart platforms such as laptops, phones to tablets using their App.

We will certainly be seeing more of these around. I know that I will be using mine a lot this coming year in preparation for shooting events and hunting season. ASJ Author’s note: For more information about Bullseye Camera Systems, visit their webstie at bullseyecamera.com.

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