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KIDS TAKE AIM! Meet Shooting’s Next Generation

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BEGINNER’S

GUIDE AMM0 SIGHTS BLACK POWDER

GUN REVIEWS

ISSC’s SPA .22LR Pedersoli 1766 Charleville Musket

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Firearms of Frogmen Part II

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American Shooting Journal // July 2015

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American Shooting Journal // July 2015

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American Shooting Journal // July 2015

A MERIC A N

SHOOTING JOURNAL Volume 3 // ISSUE 11 // July 2015 PUBLISHER

James R. Baker ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Dick Openshaw EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Andy Walgamott EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Danielle Breteau LEAD CONTRIBUTOR

Troy Taysom

CONTRIBUTORS

Nathan Askew, Robert Campbell, Larry Case, Tom Claycomb III, Scott Haugen, Brian Hormberg, Frank Jardim, John Johnston, Mike Nesbitt, Eric Rice, Troy Rodakowski, Bob Shell, Robert Spunga, Oleg Volk, Andrew Young, Scott Young SALES MANAGER

Katie Higgins ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Becca Ellingsworth, Mamie Griffin, Steve Joseph, Garn Kennedy, Mike Smith, Paul Yarnold DESIGNERS

Lisa Ball, Sonjia Kells, Sam Rockwell, Liz Weickum PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Kelly Baker PRODUCTION MANAGER

John Rusnak OFFICE MANAGER/ACCOUNTING

Audra Higgins ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Katie Sauro INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER

Lois Sanborn INBOUND MARKETING

Jon Hines CIRCULATION MANAGER

Heidi Belew DISTRIBUTION

Tony Sorrentino, Gary Bickford, Barry Johnston ADVERTISING INQUIRIES

ads@americanshootingjournal.com INTERN AND EDITOR’S GOPHER

Erica Deshaies

ON THE COVER Besides being a musician, Shyanne Roberts is an avid 3-Gun, IDPA, USPSA, action rifle and steel silhouette competitor. (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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American Shooting Journal // July 2015

VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 11 • JUly 2015

CONTENTS WORLD RECORD FROM THE HIP CZ-USA pro-staffer Dave Miller took on one of the planet’s most sought-after goals: making it into the Guinness Book Of World Records. Our Larry Case attended the Missouri man’s attempt to bust at least 3,225 clay targets in an hour, and he tells us about what it took for him to prepare for the feat – and whether Miller made the book!

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features 50

The New Ambassadors The kids are coming! The kids are coming! One if by 3-Gun, two if by USPSA. These young shooters represent the next wave of American gun culture, and our generation is doing a great job cultivating them. We feature six kids who stand as excellent role models to the new wave of shooters growing up in the US.

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Firearms Of Frogmen, Part II The combat divers of Russia’s naval Spetnaz, our SEALs and Germany’s Kampfschwimmer have used a wide variety of flechette-firing underwater weapons through the ages. In this second part of a two-part series, we take a closer look at the rifles designed for warfare below the waves.

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ROADHUNTER: Upland Trails We may be in the throes of summer, but upland bird hunting is right around the corner. From the Deep South to the West Coast, Northern Plains to the to the Aleutian Islands, Scott Haugen points you towards the best locations to find quail, grouse, pheasants, ptarmigan and more this fall.

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BEHIND THE BADGE: Brevard County, Florida’s Bronze Hero Meet Nick Worthy, a Bronze Medal of Valor recipient keeping us safe abroad, and as a county deputy, in our own backyards as well.

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BLACK POWDER: Ready To Give It A Try? Black powder shooting may seem like folklore to many who have never tried their hand, but let it be known, there are clubs nationwide to help you with the next step in your firearm diversity.

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High-Threat Security Contracting Do you have what it takes? Robert Spunga takes us through the daily life, salaries and expectations for people who want a chance at adventure and rich rewards in countries with profoundly different rules.

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 © 2015 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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American Shooting Journal // July 2015

CONTENTS Also inside 23

The Haunting Sound Of Taps: The Legends Behind The Trumpet Solo 29 GUN REVIEW: ISSC’s SPA .22LR 36 What Freedom Means To You 39 GUN REVIEW: The Pedersoli 1766 Charleville Musket Kit 99 Ballistic Radio’s John Johnston On Why He Uses 9mm 105 A Beginner’s Guide To Ammo 127 Scooter’s Youth Hunting Camp, Where Education Is A Blast 131 RELOADING: Ready, Set, Load – Part 3: Testing Your Ammo 137 How to Choose Night Sights 143 PRODUCT REVIEW: Handi-Racker 159 Brothers In Arms: Two Hunters Take To The African Plains

DEPARTMENTS 17 19 21 25 27 81

Editor’s Note NEWS: Veterans Sportsman Alliance Forms Oregon Chapter Competition Calendar Gun Show Calendar Top Shots: Reader Photos Product Feature: MysticX Suppressors

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GAS BLOCK MANIA What is a gas block and why do you need one on your AR? Brian Hormberg pressures the point on the next must-have in the black gun industry.

MADE IN THE USA A FE EATURED COMPA ANY: FORT KNO OX VAULT TS

FORT KNOX VAULTS Fort Knox is a small U.S. company that builds safes, vaults and vault doors to protect your most prized possessions. With more steel, the best fire protection, and the widest range of options, Fort Knox offers security for all tastes and budgets. Key to purchasing a great safe or vault is that steel equals security and that safes “shrink.” Just like your 2 car garage that has nothing else in it, your vault will do the same. Buy bigger. As you look around the house, look at things from the perspective of if that was gone tomorrow, could I replace it? Most of the time the answer is yes, but it isn’t possible to replace grandpa’s antique gun. Buy once, buy right. Buy a Fort Knox Vault. Design and build your custom vault at www.ftknox.com.

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American Shooting Journal // July 2015

EDITOR’S NOTE

feel that we the people tend to be forgetful when it comes to history and often see it repeat itself. I see this within my own lifetime. As we celebrate the 4th of July, let us not forget why.

Before 1776, Americans were technically British with British rights, and answered to the British Crown. In 1763, the Seven Years’ War between Britain and France squabbling over land rights in the colonies (i.e., here) ended. Britain was the victor, but at the price of finding itself heavily in debt. It was decided that the colonies should start paying taxes in order to pay for the British soldiers stationed here. In 1765 Parliament imposed the first direct tax on the colonies.

Suffice it to say, the colonials were not amused and argued that the laws and their “rights as Englishmen” meant that taxes could not be imposed on the colonies because they lacked representation in Parliament.

I’m sure you have heard the term “taxation without representation.” This is a British concept. However, in true defiant fashion, the colonists also rejected the solution of being provided representation.

This ongoing battle over taxation and lack of compliance eventually led to the Boston Tea Party, where an evergrowing defiance against British rule caused the Crown to punish the colonials by closing the port of Boston, a major port for goods, and took away their rights to self govern.

The colonials or patriots, if you will, set up an underground government and called it the Continental Congress. This congress appointed General George Washington to take charge of a militia (yes, he was the head of a militia) that successfully pushed the British out of Boston, Massachusetts, in March 1776.

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Somehow I managed to squeeze the story of how we came to the most important day of our country’s history into 244 words, but hopefully this highly oversimplified version might be easier to remember.

Now that we have refreshed our memory with this basic outline, let’s reread the first paragraph of the Declaration Of Independence: When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume American Shooting Journal among the powers of the earth, editor Danielle Breteau (ICHIRO NAGATA) the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We are the children of those forefathers, and tomorrow our kids will live in the world that we create with the skills we teach them. This edition of the American Shooting Journal is not only dedicated to embracing our heritage, but celebrating our future. Take a minute to remember that it is the new shooters, in all facets of the industry, who will grow and keep these traditions alive. Take a look at what, I feel, is our country’s most important asset and the feats they are accomplishing: Welcome in the kids. americanshootingjournal.com 17

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American Shooting Journal // July 2015

PRIMER NEWS // CALENDARS // READER PHOTOS

NEWS

VETERANS SPORTSMAN ALLIANCE LANDS IN OREGON

STORY BY TROY RODAKOWSKI • PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF VSA

enefitting the most worthy among us” is the motto of the Veterans Sportsman Alliance, a small nonprofit organization which is a 100-percent volunteer program and operates primarily on donations and sponsorships. Their mission? Get injured and disabled veterans out of their houses and hospitals and into the therapeutic surroundings of the outdoors.

VSA was founded by a family in California, and has recently launched a chapter in Portland, Ore., with plans to expand into Idaho and Arizona in the near future.

“We are a little different than other similar organizations because we not only believe in creating memorable adventures, but we also focus on creating a support network for our veterans by making them a part of our VSA family,” explains Jacqueline Ess, vice president of the Oregon VSA chapter.

In May, they organized a fishing derby for 18 veterans, had a blood drive, held a raffle and put on a concert, all to help raise money for their cause. Many veterans find immense value through the therapy associated with spending time with other veterans on the water and in the field. It’s invaluable to their recovery and growth.

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VSA also recently facilitated two separate hunting trips this spring: a ram hunt for Jose Martinez, who is a triple amputee from combat in Afghanistan; and a hog hunt for a father and son who are both still active in the military.

“The VSA has several more hunts, fishing trips and other events planned for the year, and we look forward to making a difference in the lives of the Jose Martinez was successful on a recent Veterans men and women who have sacrificed Sportsman Alliance-sponsored ram hunt. so much for us,” says Ess. For more information on VSA, visit VeteransSportsmanAlliance.org. ASJ A fire department in California salutes the VSA to honor their efforts and the veterans they help.

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Bryan Morgan 2014 PRS Points Champ

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

Presented By:

Ryan Kerr 2014 Match Winner

For More Information Visit:

www.precisionrifleseries.com 20

American Shooting Journal // July 2015

Bradley Allen LRH Division Winner

COMPETITION C A L E N D A R

July 11 - 12 Heatstroke Open Clem Ranch Camargo, Okla.

July 18 - 19 Big Dog Steel Team Match KM Shooting Center Baker, Fla. Dave Miller (pro-staffer for CZ-USA) made the Guinness Book Of World Records in May 2015 by shooting 3,653 flying clay targets in one hour. (MIKE HYDE)

Email Dani@americanshootingjournal.com to have your event listed here.

July 3 - 5

July 4 - 5

July 24 - 25

North Mountain Regional Shoot Kootenai County Fairgrounds Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

Coughlin Shadow Midwest Championship Wayne County Fairgrounds Wooster, Ohio

Utah State Shoot South Jordan Equestrian Center South Jordan, Utah

July 17 – 19

July 20 – 26

July 13 - 18

Mega Blast FITASC Grand Prix Caribou Gun Club Le Sueur, Minn.

World FITASC Championship Caribou Gun Club Le Sueur, Minn.

Junior/Senior National Championships World Shooting & Recreational Complex Sparta, Ill.

July 18

July 25

July 25

2015 Iowa State IDPA Championship - Tier 2 Izaak Walton League of America Elkhart, Iowa

Snake River Regional IDPA Championship - Tier 2 Southeast Idaho Practical Shooters Idaho Falls, Idaho

1st Central New Mexico Scorcher - Tier 2 Del Norte Gun Club Rio Rancho, N.M.

July 10 - 12

July 17 - 19

July 18 – 25

NMLRA Youth Shoot Walter Cline Range Friendship, Ind.

Pistol Day Walter Cline Range Friendship, Ind.

Primitive Rendezvous French Azilum Towanda, Penn.

July 5

July 12

July 12

LBSC Club Match Linwood-Bay Sportsman’s Club Munger, Mich.

Five Stages Classifiers and Club Beckley Gun Club Cool Ridge, W. Va.

INAS Gun Match Spokane Valley Rifle Range Pistol Club Mica, Wash.

July 2 - 3

July 20 - 27

July 19

2015 US Junior Grand Prix Keystone Shooting Park Dalmatia, Pa.

Shotgun National Junior Olympic Championships Fort Carson Colorado Springs, Colo.

International Pistol Matches Oklahoma City Gun Club Oklahoma City, Okla.

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Day is done, gone the sun, From the hill s, from the lake, From the sk y.

All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.

Go to sleep, peaceful sl eep, May the sold ier or sailor , God keep.

On the land or the deep, Safe in slee p.

Twenty-four Notes That Trigger Your Soul STORY BY DANIELLE BRETEAU

he story and origin of the bugle call known as “Taps” can be found in many versions, including the legend of a son fighting on the opposing side of the Civil War from his father. This legend depicts a Northern boy who was killed fighting for the Confederates. His father, Robert Ellicombe, a captain in the Union Army, came upon his son’s body and found the notes to Taps in the pocket of the dead boy’s uniform. When Union General Daniel Sickles heard the story, he had the notes played at the boy’s funeral. While this very short version of the legend is deeply meaningful to anyone who reads it, historical documents show us another story.

According to tactics manuals of the time, as well as letters on record, Taps was a modified version of a previously known Scottish “tattoo.” The term tattoo was originally a form of military music. The tattoo titled “Extinguish Lights,” meaning lights out at the end of the day, was played each night for the troops even before the Civil War and was borrowed from the French. This is documented in Silas Casey’s (1801-82) tactics manual, among others of the time. The song was even referred to as the “go to sleep” song by the soldiers.

To look back even further into history you will find that the word tattoo was most likely derived from an early 17th century Dutch phrase “doe den tap toe,” meaning, “turn off the tap.” This signal, sounded by drummers or trumpeters, instructed innkeepers near military garrisons to stop serving beer and for soldiers to return to their barracks.

Union General Daniel Butterfield (Third Brigade, First Division, Fifth Army Corps, Army of the Potomac) is credited with writing Taps as we know it today, and according to a series of letters, Taps was a modified version of this previously known and used tattoo. One of the letters on records depicts how General Butterfield used his version in battle: “I had composed a call for my brigade, to precede any calls, indicating that such were calls, or orders, for my brigade alone. This was of very great use and effect on the march and in battle. It enabled me to cause my whole command, at times, in march, covering over a mile on the road, all to halt instantly, and lie down, and all arise and start at the same moment; to forward in line of battle, simultaneously, in action and charge etc. It saves fatigue.

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Love, good ni ght, Must th ou go, When the day, and the nigh t Need thee so ?

All is well.

Speedeth all To their rest .

The men rather Fades the ligh t; And afar Goeth day, an liked their call, d the stars Shineth brig ht, and began to singg Fare thee w ell; day has my name to it. It gone, Night is on. was three notes Thanks and and a catch. I praise, For ou r days, ‘Neath the su n, neath the cannot write a stars, ‘Neath the sk y, note of music, butt As we go, th is we know, God is nigh. have gotten my wife to write it from my whistlingg it to her, and enclose it. The men would sing, ‘Dan, Dan, Dan, Butterfield, Butterfield’ to the notes when a call came.

Later, in battle, or in some trying circumstances or an advance of difficulties, they sometimes sang, ‘Damn, Damn, Damn, Butterfield, Butterfield.’”

If you read further, General Butterfield mentions he solicited the help of someone who could actually write music, although he could also play the bugle, as that was an important duty of his position. Butterfield lengthened some notes and shortened others until he achieved the sound that he felt was appropriate. It is said that buglers from surrounding camps, after hearing Butterfield’s bugle calls, would come and ask for the tune, which he freely shared. ASJ Editor’s note: There are many thoughts on the origin of Taps. I would like to personally thank Jari A. Villanueva, who is a bugler and bugle historian. A graduate of the Peabody Conservatory and Kent State University, Villanueva was the curator for the Taps Bugle Exhibit at Arlington National Cemetery from 1999-2002. He has been a member of the United States Air Force Band since 1985 and is considered the country’s foremost authority on the bugle call of Taps. americanshootingjournal.com americanshootingjournal.com 23 23

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American Shooting Journal // July 2015

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

PRIMER

GUNSHOW C A L E N D A R

JulY 3 - 5 South County Gun Show Orlando Gardens Events Center St. Louis, Mo. Sportsman’s Gun Shows Virginia Lodge Convention Center Jackson Hole, Wyo.

JulY 4 - 5 Collectors and Shooters Club National Peanut Festival Facility Dothan, Ala. Hunting and Sportsman Gun Show Boulder County Fairgrounds Longmont, Colo.

G&S Gun Show Cherokee County Fairgrounds Tahlequah, Okla.

The Real Texas Gun Show Belton County Expo Center Belton, Texas

JulY 10 - 11 Wyoming Sportsman Gun Show Fremont County Fairgrounds Riverton, Wyo. Roadrunner Gun Show Sabbar Shrine Temple Tucson, Ariz.

JulY 11 - 12 Crossroads of the West Del Mar Fairgrounds Del Mar, Calif.

Prospectors Gun Show Colorado Springs Event Center Colorado Springs, Colo.

The new Tomahawk by HOGUE Knives that launched at the Atlanta Blade Show in June this year. (HOGUE)

MK Gun Show WNC Agricutlure Center Ashville, N.C.

RK Gun Show Kentucky Fairgrounds & Event Center Louisville, Ky.

Showmasters Gun and Knife Show Richmond Raceway Richmond, Va.

Wes Knodel Gun Show Southwest Washington Fairgrounds Centralia, Wash.

JulY 18 - 19

JulY 24 - 26

Weapon Collectors St. Charles Convention Center St. Charles, Mo.

Collectors and Shooters Club Baldwin County Fairgrounds Robertsdale, Ala.

Collectors West Portland Expo Center Portland, Ore.

Great Southern Gun Show MS Trade Mart Building Jackson, Miss.

Crossroads Of The West Arizona State Fairgrounds Phoenix, Ariz.

Email Dani@americanshootingjournal.com to have your show listed here.

Sun Coast Gun Show Miami/Dade Fairgrounds Miami, Fla. Slidell Gun and Knife Show Northshore Harbor Center Slidell, La.

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American Shooting Journal // July 2015

PRIMER

TOP SHOTS 1.

International high-power rifle champion shooter Gabrielle Pitre, who will be featured in our August issue, puts her sights on a target.

2-5.

The Big 3 Event, held each year just outside of Daytona, Fla., offers an opportunity for gun industry journalists and manufacturers to come together and handle the latest firearms and gear.

2.

The Fostech 12-gauge, gas-operated, magazine-fed Origin Tactical shotgun was demonstrated at this year’s event, held in March.

3.

The featured SCCY pistol comes with or without a manual safety.

4.

The IWI Tavor is a fully ambidexterous, bull pupdesigned rifle.

5.

Dillar “Crazy Jay” Johnson with his PDQ-equipped AR. Johnson puts on the Big 3 event each year.

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American Shooting Journal // July 2015

gun reviews

THE PEDERSOLI 1766 CHARLEVILLE Building The French Musket That Helped America Win The Revolutionary War STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY FRANK JARDIM

or this July 4th I wanted to do the patriotic thing and celebrate by firing off a 1766 Charleville Musket, the type carried by the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War. Dixie Gun Works in Union City, Tenn., has been my go-to source for anything black powder for 30 years, and they not only had the Davide Pedersoli-made replica musket, but also the correct bayonet, scabbard and sling. In most states muzzleloading-replica black-powder arms require no special permitting and can be shipped right to your door. Dixie Gun Works got mine to me next door in Kentucky in two days.

The Italian Pedersoli replicas are among my favorite because they are exceptionally well made. Their pricing reflects that quality, but if you have a moderate amount of skill, you can save over 20 percent by buying their guns in kit form and building them yourself. The retail price on the factory-finished musket is $1,450 while the kit is only $1,140.

Like most Pedersoli kits, it only took a week of my spare time to complete, followed by another week of oiling the stock every day to build up the finish.

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WHY I CHOSE A 1766 CHARLEVILLE MUSKET Most people have heard of a Brown Bess, but not the Charleville. Without the Charleville there would be no United States. Every July 4th we celebrate the anniversary of the ideological boldness and personal courage of America’s founding fathers. On that day in 1776 the Declaration of Independence was signed and the former American colonies committed themselves to a fight for their freedom that wouldn’t formally end until 1783. Great Britain was a military superpower, so it comes as no surprise that the Americans lost most of the battles in the Revolutionary War. Two factors led to the final American victory: The Americans didn’t quit in over six and half years of fighting, and we had foreign support.

France, the traditional enemy of the English, tipped

The 1766 Charleville Musket kit arrives like this. Anxious beginners have nothing to fear with Pedersoli kits because they’re not going to get a box of unfinished parts. These actually arrive assembled with only some final metal polishing and stock sanding to do. The difficult work of inletting the stock and polishing the lock and trigger guard has already been done.

the scales of war by providing the Continental Army with troops, naval support and war material. In 1777, France began sending weapons. In all they provided, there were about 200,000 muskets, most of them French made and very good quality. The Americans called all the various French models Charleville muskets after one of the arsenals that made them.

France was a great military innovator and the .69-caliber Model 1766 musket was just short of state of the art. It was lighter, stronger and easier to disassemble and clean than the .75-caliber British Brown Bess. The smaller caliber was just as effective as the heavier English ball, but with less weight. The French muskets used easy-to-remove iron barrel bands instead of pins to hold the front of the barrel in the stock, which made for a stronger forend to mount the bayonet. They also used a cock that supported the lower flint jaw at two points (they formed a heart shape) and gave it greater strength than the “S” shaped cock used by the English.

When building the kit it makes sense to start with the wood because you can go back and work on the metal parts while the stock finish is drying. Begin by studying the assembled gun and make note of where wood needs to be removed. I mark high spots in the inletting with a super-sharp pencil point. For later reference, I mark the rear edge of the back barrel band too. The wood, from beneath the rear barrel band forward, needs only fine-finish sanding, so leave it alone!

The danger here is if you take off too much wood under the bands, they won’t fit tightly. By contrast, the kit’s stock is quite beefy in the butt and lock area. ASJ Author’s note: You can contact Dixie Gun Works at (800) 238-6785, and view more detailed information on Davide Pedersoli reproductions at davide-pedersoli.com americanshootingjournal.com 29

gun reviews 1

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1. One of the major stock-shaping operations is around the lock and sideplate. You will have to wrap your sandpaper around a wooden block and carefully hand sand away the extraneous ridge of wood around the flat sides, and be careful not to round over the sculpted edge of the flat. Then you blend in the wrist and forend.

2. The rest of the woodworking is in the shaping of the buttstock and wrist. All the edges are pretty hard and it’s slightly oversized.

3. You will have to sand down the wood on the bottom of the stock quite a bit. The French barely inletted their triggerguards. Remove the triggerguard and trigger, and sand in a gentle dome shape until the inletting is only 1/32 inch deep.

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4. Carefully remove all of the metal work from the stock, except for the buttplate, and put the parts in the original box so you don’t lose them. Leaving the buttplate on while sanding the stock to its final form allows you to use it as your guide to shape the butt, and mate the two pieces together in the process. Remove and finish the polishing of the buttplate later after fitting it to the stock. Don’t worry about sanding the screw; Pedersoli gives you extra ones in the kit. Set up where dust won’t be a problem and you have plenty of room. Without the metal attached, the stock is fragile and should be handled carefully.

5. The front and middle barrel bands are held on with a spring. You must polish the bands, but the springs and the wood in this area are already nearly perfect. Don’t remove wood here or you’ll end up having a very loose band. Your major work is from the rear band backward where you will thin out the wrist from the barrel tang down into the comb and sand. Dome the top of the comb to match the surface of the buttplate. Remove a bit of wood on the bottom of the buttstock until the inletting for the trigger guard is about 1/32 inch deep. Once you have achieved that, then you sand off a little wood just forward of the trigger guard until the line of the bottom of the forend runs smoothly up to the back of that rear barrel band.

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6. The bands and barrel are removed from the stock in preparation for sanding. The point on the tip of the spring engages the hole in the band and holds it in place. Depress the pin and tap the band forward gently with a block and mallet. The spring will have to be removed for you to do your finish sanding on the wood. It can be carefully tapped out of its channel from the other side with a long 3/32 punch, or a flooring nail. Getting the spring-retained bands off requires a little finesse if you don’t have three hands.

Friction holds this band in place, so do not remove any wood from the stock in this area.

7. Good fitting screwdrivers will save you a lot of woe and marred screw heads. Before you can sand the stock you need to remove the lock, barrel and trigger guard, in that order. The rear locking screw actually passes through the barrel tang. The barrel tang screw engages the plate, and the trigger passes through at the bottom of the stock.

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American Shooting Journal // July 2015

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gun reviews 9

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8. Removing the trigger guard requires taking out the two obvious wood screws and carefully tapping out the front pin that holds in the sling swivel. I used a 1/16 punch and drove it down into the inletted area for the lock. Doing it the other way risks splintering the wood on the outside where it will show. The trigger guard has some spring and will pop out when the pin releases the swivel mount. Remove the trigger by tapping out the other pin.

9. By tapping the pins into the inletted area, you can easily grab them with vise grips and turn them out. Put them in a Ziplock bag along with your screws and other small parts so you don’t lose them. Unlike the 18th century artisans, at least you can listen to the radio while you work.

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10. I handpolished the little curved steel trigger using inexpensive miniature Swiss files from the local hardware store and emery cloths of varying grits until I got a nice shine.

This technique also worked well for polishing the sling’s swivels. Pad the vise jaws when you grip the middle band so you don’t mar it up.

11. Working with power tools makes it easy to destroy something quickly, so I don’t usually advise it. However, the hardware for this musket is steel, and if you have a light hand, you can save yourself a lot of time by removing the remnants of the casting sprue on a disc sander with 80-grit paper.

12. You can get the casting marks off the flats on the disc sander too, but not the internal corners. You’ll need your mini files, sandpaper and elbow grease for that. A sanding drum on a dremel tool can do the course grit work; handle with care. Use progressively finer sand papers until you get to your final polish with 500-grit.

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13. To get the steel really bright, I put it on the high-speed buffer wheel with a little polishing rouge. If you do this, be very careful that the parts don’t get pulled out of your hand.

Hold them tightly and don’t press hard into the wheel. The more involved work is cleaning up and polishing the casting marks off the buttplate, trigger, trigger plate, sling swivel loops and the three barrel bands. The barrel only needed some work with 400- and 500-grit sandpaper before a final polish on the buffing wheel. The barrel-band springs, sideplate and trigger guard only needed buffing.

14. Your stock sanding is concentrated behind the rear barrel band. Hold it firmly to the table with padded clamps and don’t overtighten or you might crack the stock. To remove a lot of wood, like on the top of the comb, you can start with a 36- or 50-grit sandpaper. Don’t get carried away; those scratches are deep. Sand in the direction of the wood grain.

Leave a little more than you think you should and then switch to 80-grit to get it to a final form. I always do all my sanding by hand. Power tools are going to take off too much material too fast and you can’t put it back once it’s gone. Check your work periodically by test fitting the barrel and sideplate. When you have all the lines right, move on to 100-, 150-, 220- and finally 320-grit papers. Sand until the scratches for the previous grit are gone. When done, wipe the stock with water and let it dry to raise the grain. When dry, the surface will feel like fine sandpaper. Sand it smooth again with 320-grit paper.

15. Apply the boiled linseed oil by rubbing it into the stock with a saturated cloth, inside and out. Then, rub the smooth oily surface with your bare hand until it gets hot from friction. That’s the way to really get that oil absorbed. Let the stock dry for a day and then repeat the process every day for a week. An old adage says to rub some oil in every day for a week, then every week for a year, then once a year. Dispose of the oily rags with care because they can spontaneously combust, and that’s not fun.

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American Shooting Journal // July 2015

gun reviews 16

16. Before you reassemble your finished parts into a whole musket, you may want to apply a good paste wax to your metal parts since they are bare steel and subject to rust.

Since the lock already had the flint solidly installed with a piece of sheet lead, my musket was ready to shoot as soon as I slipped on the front band. I prepared an appropriate target for the occasion, donned my tricorn hat and took to the battlefield, or at least my backyard. The 1766 Charleville is more graceful and lighter than a Brown Bess, but it’s still a very big gun, weighing 9.5 pounds.

17. This British regular was easy enough to see in his bright regimental coat until I pulled the trigger. At that point I lost sight of him in the cloud of smoke. This photo was taken a moment or two after I fired as the smoke 17 18 was dissipating. You can see why the armies of the day wore such bright colors. They needed to so their commanders could find them on a battlefield blanketed in black powder smoke.

18. With the bayonet the musket was taller than me.

Compared to a rifle it takes a big primer charge, and that alone was sufficient to completely obscure my target, even with his red coat. To my delight, I hit the target, though not exactly where was aiming.

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For our July issue, American Shooting Journal reached out to readers nationwide and asked, “What does freedom mean to you?” Here are just some of the responses.

“Freedom means being a Seattle Mariners fan, but still getting to root for the Yankees in October.”

“Freedom is the ability to do anything as long as it doesn’t harm anyone else in any way. It covers all activities, from gun ownership to property freedoms. If it doesn’t harm anyone in any way, what is the problem?”

“The ability to live without having my space, life or property invaded for as long as I too do not invade others.”

“Freedom is self determination in all

“Freedom from government control, and just about everything else.”

“By signing the Constitution, the framers knew they would be penning their own death warrants, yet they didn’t hesitate to apply ink to paper for what would become the greatest document in history, second only to the Bible. They knew that freedom was so fragile and easily lost, therefore it must be preserved for future generations.”

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American Shooting Journal // July 2015

areas of life without persecution and without persecuting others. If free, no one has the authority to take away your self determination. Freedom only exists with self control, truth and justice that requires strict limits on the authority, of any institution, to prevent abuse.”

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“Freedom of choice. Real choice, not the illusion of choice.”

“Some of my own ancestors fought in the battle at King’s Mountain, S.C., and others served in the Irish regiment during the Civil War. Another led the first all-black regiment during the Civil War. Their sacrifice was driven home when, recently, an emissary of the Irish government told me that the British would arrest him for sedition if he spoke as freely as Americans do.

This meant the world to me, and made me appreciate even more the men who came before.”

“The great men and women who made this country were real, and if we take a closer look, we realize that even if not the best and brightest, they were certainly the bravest.”

“Freedom is being able to govern your own control: control to follow your own dreams, control of your own accounts, control of your own self-defense and being responsible for those controls. This is all opposed to being controlled.”

“The next time you judge another person for their differences, you erode the basis of the freedoms we fought so strongly to keep.”

“America is a rich text and each has a different perspective on the manuscript. Almost all were immigrants. My forefathers escaped the sanctioned sadism of British imperialism, served in the Revolution and helped defeat the Empire. These men reflected the noncompromising spirit of America.”

“I despise royalty of every stripe.

I regard ignorance as worse than poverty. As an American I have the right to state these opinions.” americanshootingjournal.com 37

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American Shooting Journal // July 2015

gun reviews

DER PLINKER

Austria’s SPA .22LR Merges Bolt-action With Semiauto For Fun At The Range

REVIEW AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY OLEG VOLK

he trouble with most conventional bolt-action rifles is the disruption of the cheek weld by the retracting bolt, and having to shift the strong-hand position to operate the bolt handle. Not surprisingly, an action with a side-folding “knee joint” that replaced the long one-piece bolt became popular in biathlons as it transitioned from military training into a sport during the 1970s.

The SPA (Straight Pull Action) .22LR carbine, made by Austria’s ISSC and imported by American Tactical (americantactical.us), is a successor to a long line of Finnish, Russian and American guns of that type. It’s intended to merge the reliability of a bolt-action with the convenience of a semiauto.

SPA comes in three calibers (.22LR,

T

The SPA .22LR carbine is intended to merge the reliability of a bolt-action with the convenience of a semiautomatic.

.22WRM, .17HRM) with two stock options (wood or synthetic), and those imported by ATI come with a 20-inch barrel. My sample was the .22LR Classic topped with a Primary Arms BDC scope especially designed for rimfire rifles. Its reticle uses the center dot for 25- to 50-yard pointblank range and a graduated ladder of crosshairs for ranges from 100 to 200 yards in 25-yard increments. The scope was mounted using medium-height Warne QD rimfire rings. Two 11mmto-Weaver adapters are included with the rifle, but I didn’t want to elevate the optic too much or mar the receiver top with set screws.

The lock can be operated with just the shooter’s index finger.

Running the SPA action is definitely quicker than operating a turn bolt

and doesn’t require releasing the firing grip. The action does require some effort to unlock, which helps to guard against accidental unlocking in the field. This can also tire the trigger finger after a while. These resistances will likely decrease after use due to surface wear, and may be further reduced with lubricants. The disturbance of the aim is minimal compared to the operation of either a conventional turn bolt or lever action. Relative to semiauto actions, the manual toggle is more accepting of different ammunition types.

SPA uses the same-sized, 10-shot magazines for all three calibers. Only their internal dimensions differ.

Loading the magazine was easy, and they are well sealed against dust with floor plates that are removable for americanshootingjournal.com 39

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gun reviews The SPA uses the same-sized, 10-shot magazines for all three calibers. Only their internal dimensions differ.

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The SPA offer a side-folding “knee joint” that replaces a long one-piece bolt. This became popular in biathlons when it transitioned from military training to a sport during the 1970s.

The safety latch located in front of the trigger should be operated with care if used in cold climates with gloves. In order to make the SPA safe, the shooter is required to place their finger inside the trigger guard and then move the latch backwards towards the rear.

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Disassembly for cleaning is comparable to a semiauto action. First, the two screws holding the barreled action to the stock are removed.

Then the two screws holding the bolt in place are removed, along with their bushings. No further disassembly is advised or required, judging by how little fouling the author’s first 200 rounds caused.

cleaning. I would have preferred a slightly stronger spring on the .22LR magazine because after every 50 to 60 rounds, a cartridge would not tilt up sufficiently for feeding. I also noticed that it was possible to push the toggle forward too quickly, causing the rifle to jam instead of feeding the next cartridge. When I quickly unlocked the round, it always extracted cleanly, and closing the bolt more slowly guaranteed reliable feeding. I suspect this technique isn’t required with the full-length .22WMR and .17HMR 40

American Shooting Journal // July 2015

cartridges, as they sit in the magazine at a shallower angle. The magazine release is a lever in front of the trigger guard, which is quite convenient.

Accuracy aided by a crisp trigger is quite good. Aguila and Ely Match loads offer a 1.2-minute of angle, as does the Aguila Subsonic Extra. High-velocity loads like CCI Mini-Mags are around 3-MOA, but win out at longer ranges due to less wind drift. There’s very little variation in the point of impact between different loads at 25 yards; at 100 yards it’s only in elevation. A subsonic bullet

would drop around 15 inches further at 200 yards than a high-velocity 40-grainer, so having a BDC reticle helps quite a bit for hitting small targets.

Compared to its direct competitors, Anschutz, Browning and Izmash straight-pull rifles, the ISSC model is considerably less expensive at $500 to $570 retail.

With a total weight of 5.5 pounds, it’s light enough to be used as a youth training rifle or as a serious field gun.

The SPA is fun to operate and has quickly become one of my favorite plinkers. ASJ

gun reviews

SHIFT YOUR SIGHTS TO TUOR Typical backup sights come in two types: folding dingg and di an nd d offset. offs ff ett. h red red d dots, dot ots, s but but ut Folding sights are great for cowitnessing with don’t work at all for magnified sights. Offset irons irons ronss work ro wo orrk well weell w ll around scopes, but have two drawbacks. Thee fi first rst iss tthat rs hat th ha hat tthey heeyy are fixed either on the left or on the right of the th hee gun, gun un, but bu b ut the the th weapon itself may be mounted on either shoulder. ou ulld deerr.. The Th hee second seccon ond sma malll optics opt ptic icss but ic but is their 45-degree tilt, which is sufficient for small of larger laarg rger er optics. op ptticcss.. insufficient for clearing adjustment turrets of The TUOR articulated sights, designed by WM M Robotics, Robo Ro boti tics c , address all of those shortcomings at once.

The sights can be set to three different positions osi siti tion ns and an nd ligght htlyy for fo orr each: eac ach: h: h: the zero differs slightly gh ht p po osi siti tio on o nb top and right position byy tion, io on n,, ttop o aand op nd n d elevation, ftt by by windage. wiin w nd dagge. e. left

For sighting on the weak side, the optics would be tilted 60 degrees to the left, and the shooter would hold their head straight and slightly lower than usual. That would put the right eye left of the weapon in the manner of a Bren light machine gun or a PTRD antitank rifle. This hold is most appropriate with heavy weapons on bipods because they cannot be easily turned if a close-in defensive use is suddenly needed.

For long-range use, one of the three should be zeroed as primary, with the others being close enough for defensive use under about 50 yards.

When stowed, TUOR sights fold back flat against the Picatinny rail. The rear aperture paddle with large and small openings is adjustable for windage with a thumbwheel. The protected front post is adjustable with a standard AR-15 sight tool. The sights are print-detented against accidental nudging and, in my experience, do not come out of their position when slung rifles impact against other worn gear. For more information, you can visit wmtactical.com -OV

For sighting the rifle on the strong side (the right side for most shooters), the optics would be tilted 60 degrees to the right, with the rifle canted left. That allows a clear picture through the post and the flip-selectable peep sight or ghost ring, avoiding the windage turret of the scope.

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American Shooting Journal // July 2015

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The New Ambassadors Let These Kids Take The Lead!

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY OLEG VOLK

ost athletes start young to maximize their potential. Shooting sports are no exception, and an increasing number of competitive 3-gunners are starting out early. Learning to shoot used to be common for American kids, especially in rural areas, but actually training for performance with parents or professional coaches is a more recent phenomenon. As with musicians and gymnasts, starting marksmanship training early yields immeasurable benefits later on.

While attending the NRA Annual Meeting gathering in Nashville in April 2015, I was able to meet a group of such young shooters, along with their parents and supportive friends. We spent a day at a private range, shooting guns and photos. The six girls ranged in age from nine to 16, and every one of them demonstrated an unusual level of maturity.

This was less surprising once you considered the degree of parental involvement with their education and activities.

All of these young ladies impress the world with their breadth of interests and talents, which include everything from shooting sports and music to excellent academics and public speaking. They all have a degree of dedication and earnestness that they use to perfect their skills, and this drive, partly innate, partly imparted by closely involved family members, also caught the attention of industry sponsors who, in turn, have flocked to support these young shooters.

M

Watching them shoot reinforced the value of fitting guns to individual shooters. The adjustments to the length of pull, balance and grips to fit smaller hands and shorter limbs allow for the individual shooter to demonstrate their absolute best. Since most of these ladies are musicians, they also often use suppressors to safeguard their hearing.

For almost all of them, the parents were their first trainers. But most have gone beyond a single source of training. For example, Shyanne Roberts trained with Todd Jarrett, a world-renown competitive shooter and instructor.

Besides being an inspiration to other kids, these young ladies are a challenge to adult shooters. It’s one thing to be outshot by another experienced adult, but quite another to be shown up by a preteen. Watching their progress illustrates the value of quality training and also shows the rewards of dedication to learning and practicing new skills.

Having excellent people skills, these juniors are ambassadors to the shooting sports and gun owners all over America.

And last but far from the least, they prove that there’s much more to girls in shooting sports than pink pistol grips. ASJ Editor’s note: Oleg Volk is a professional photographer specializing in the shooting industry around the nation. Feel free to contact him at olegvolk.net.

Author’s note: A big thank you to Eric Saperstein for the introduction to this awesome crew. americanshootingjournal.com 51

Vanessa AGuilar Vanessa Aguilar, the youngest of this group that we interviewed, is also the youngest member of the San Antonio Sure Shots Pistol League. She shoots rimfire rifle and pistol, both customized for her. Despite a hearing impediment she’s been able to make TV and radio appearances, in addition to extensive training in preparation for IDPA and Steel Challenge competitions planned for next year.

Sydney Rockwell

Sydney Rockwell is a 14-year-old competitive shooter who began shooting rifles with her dad at age nine. Serving as the vice president of her school’s student council, Sydney is also an avid hunter, golfer and competitor in several action-shooting sports, including Steel Challenge, 3-Gun, IDPA and USPSA competitions. This past October she was selected for the prestigious US Army Marksmanship Unit’s Junior Shooters’ Clinic, and received training from some of the most elite competitive shooters in the world.

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American Shooting Journal // July 2015

Shyanne Roberts Shyanne Roberts has already participated in 3-Gun, IDPA, USPSA, action rifle and steel silhouette events. She also makes frequent TV appearances, making a strong and wellarticulated case for gun ownership as part of our individual freedoms. Shooting is just one of her many passions – academics, music and other sports round out her personal development. In addition to rifles, rimfire and centerfire pistols, Shyanne also runs a 12-gauge shotgun quite effectively – even though it’s taller than she is!

Moriah Combs Moriah Combs is the oldest of this group, and came to the shooting world through extensive involvement with her 4H club. Shooting since the age of six, she holds over 20 grand champion titles. She’s now a national 4-H Shooting Sports Teen Ambassador for Ohio, representing 3,000 youth shooters. Her other passions are photography, choir singing, hunting and running a cake-baking business.

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American Shooting Journal // July 2015

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Maddie Dalton At 11, Maddie Dalton sings and plays musical instruments when she isn’t winning the youth title in the Limited category of the 2014 NSSF Rimfire World Championship. That’s pretty amazing progress for someone who had only shot their first gun a year prior. She’s a twotime winner of the Oklahoma junior fiddle championship as well.

How is that for talent?

Cheyenne Dalton Cheyenne Dalton has been shooting since the age of five. She competes in the USPSA and NSSF Rimfire Challenge and holds a state championship title. She is planning on competing in 3-Gun competitions next.

Outside of the range, she fishes with line and bow, hunts and plays numerous musical instruments with her band.

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American Shooting Journal // July 2015

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Meet Nick Worthy (inset), a road patrol deputy for the Brevard County Sheriff’s Department in Florida and also an Army Ranger. Worthy is a Bronze Medal of Valor recipient for his bravery and actions while on patrol in Afghanistan (above) in 2010. The American Shooting Journal is honored to have this exclusive interview.

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American Shooting Journal // July 2015

BEHIND THE BADGE

A HEART OF BRONZE

Nick Worthy, A Hero Among Us

INTERVIEW BY TROY TAYSOM • PHOTOGRAPHS BY NICK WORTHY

ick Worthy grew up in a child’s paradise; his hometown of Satellite Beach is located on Florida’s eastern shore on a strip of land a mile wide, bordered by the Banana River to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Worthy’s high school is literally across the street from the beach, making attendance difficult, especially when the waves were big. I know from personal experience, as I too lived in Satellite Beach during my formative years. Satellite Beach has the feel of a very small town and is a peaceful and fun place to grow up. Watersports abound, from surfing to scuba diving, water skiing to sailing and, of course, excellent fishing. The beach is never more than a 10-minute walk or five-minute drive.

Worthy, now a deputy sheriff in Brevard County (where Satellite Beach is located), grew up doing what kids in small beach towns do – surf. When Worthy wasn’t surfing, he was wrestling for his high school.

Immediately after graduation, Worthy enlisted in the United States Army on a Ranger track and was assigned to Charlie Company 1/75th Rangers. He attended Ranger School a year later. Ranger School consists of 60 days of sleep deprivation and stress-induced missions. Each mission forces the Ranger candidate to think critically under less-than-ideal situations. The school has three phases, each more difficult than the last. The beginning phase takes place at Camp Darby, Fort Benning, Ga., followed by mountain training at Camp Merrill in Dahlonega, Ga., and culminates in the Florida Phase at Camp Rudder and Eglin Air Force Base. The graduation rate hovers around 50 percent or lower, and most have to start over at least once during the course. Worthy completed the course the first time through.

After earning his Ranger tab, Worthy went back to Charlie Company and began working his way through the ranks. He started out as a rifleman and advanced to grenadier, M249 Gunner, M240 Gunner and finished his enlistment as an E-5

N

americanshootingjournal.com 61

BEHIND THE BADGE After completing basic training, AIT and jump school, Worthy attended Ranger Indoctrination. This is a tough course designed to weed out soldiers from the ranks of potential Rangers. Worthy passed the course and was assigned to Charlie Company 1/75th Rangers. A year later Worthy attended Ranger School.

sergeant team leader. Worthy found that his favorite weapon system was the MK 48, a light belt-fed machine gun chambered in the hard hitting 7.62x51mm. Worthy told me, “[The MK 48] is an amazingly lethal weapon that saved the lives of many fellow Rangers and prevented the enemy from advancing on us almost instantly.”

During his 2010 deployment to Afghanistan Worthy was involved in an operation that placed he and 30 fellow Rangers in harm’s way. Although the details remain classified it’s easy to surmise that Worthy and his fellow Rangers were doing what they do best – looking for and eliminating bad guys.

As is usually the case with special ops

units, they were deep in Taliban territory and undoubtedly being watched by the enemy as they made their way through the rugged countryside. Soon they found themselves surrounded by 100plus Taliban fighters.

Their squad leader dead, Worthy and his fellow Rangers fought their way out. Worthy told me that he didn’t do anything differently than any of the other Rangers, but his superiors didn’t see it that way and rewarded him with the Bronze Star Medal with a V for valor in combat. It’s a classification for heroism.

As Worthy’s enlistment came to an end he followed his father’s example and also became a road patrol deputy for the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office where his dad has been a deputy for some 30-odd years. The transition from service to his country to service to his community was a natural one for him.

As I spoke with Worthy it was apparent to me that he is a humble, quiet man who didn’t want to talk

A BEAT STORY

BY SCOTT YOUNG - RET. DETECTIVE ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLA., SHERIFF’S OFFICE

about himself more than he had to.

When I asked him if there was a seminal moment when he knew he had made the correct choice in becoming an officer, he told me he couldn’t think of one, but promised to think on it and email me later. He did as he promised and emailed me a story. That he would rather email the story than say it out loud demonstrates his humility. Here’s the story in his own words: “I responded to a trespass call at a local gas station. The clerks advised that a homeless male was loitering on the property and they wanted him to leave. When I arrived the man began to pack his things and said ‘You must be here for me. I didn’t mean to bother anyone; I was just trying to stay warm.’ I decided to stay there and talk to him about his situation. It turns out the man wasn’t asking for money. He only wanted to get into one of the local shelters; however, his ID card was stolen and he stated that the shelter will not except anyone without an ID. As the male looked down and proceeded to walk towards his bicycle I told him I had to go back to the precinct right quick but wanted him to meet me at the Subway [sandwich shop]. When I met back up with him I gave him an unofficial record of his ID card that was on record from a

As any law enforcement officer knows enemies come in all shapes and sizes. To Florida law enforcement officers one such enemy is the fire ant. Small pesky critter whose bite stings ferociously.

While conducting a traffic stop on a busy two-lane road I had asked the driver for their license and registration and then returned to my vehicle to check their credentials. This is when I felt the sudden yet all-too-familiar stings on my ankle and leg. When I looked down I noticed that my foot was entirely engulfed in fire ants.

The roadway where I conducted this traffic stop is very narrow and I had to be

careful entering or exiting my vehicle to ensure not stepping into oncoming traffic.

Hastily, I kicked off my boot but continued to get stung inside my uniform pants. I pulled off my sock because it too was covered in fire ants. I carefully held my boot and sock out of the car window, and shook them violently to get rid of the ants. In doing so the sock flew out of my hand into the oncoming traffic which launched it about 50 feet passed the vehicle I had pulled over.

This was right about the time my 911 dispatch advised that the operator’s license was suspended and he had an active warrant for his arrest.

Wanting to retrieve my sock, but fearing to put my bare foot back inside my boots I exited my patrol car and limped along. The driver was laughing and said, “Hey, man, was that your sock that flew past me?”

I retrieved my socks, put my boots back on and then placed him under arrest and consequently in the back of my patrol car. He was a good old country boy who was laughing hysterically, and said, “Hey, bud, if you let me go, I promise not to tell anybody what happened.”

He went to jail and I went to the emergency room. Not a good day for either of us.

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BEHIND THE BADGE previous consensual encounter with another deputy. The man began to cry and told me that nobody has ever gone out of their way like that to help him, especially the police. Since he was too proud to accept any cash for a sandwich I gave the money to the cashier to make him one when he came inside. I wished him luck and told him the cashier wanted to ask him a question as I left in my patrol car.”

Singer Don Henley released a song in the 1980s entitled “Dirty Laundry.”

The song is about how much the news media loves tragedy, pain and suffering.

One line in the song says, “I make my living off the evening news, just give me something, something I can use. People love it when you lose ... ” The song’s lyrics are almost prophetic in describing today’s news reporting. Stories of murder and mayhem abound, and the volume is cranked to 11 if the story involves a cop.

There is no shortage of news stories

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casting cops in a bad light, but what you rarely see are stories like the one Worthy shared with me. My bet is that he hasn’t shared that story with anyone besides maybe his fiancee.

Worthy could have just as easily sent the homeless man on his way without trying to help him out. My experience has been that people who witness war and all its tragic occurrences like Worthy has usually end up one of two ways: 1) callous and uncaring about other people and their problems; or 2) they vow to alleviate as much suffering in the world as they can. It is obvious which path Worthy has taken.

Regrettably, not all calls end in a positive way. Monday, March 9, 2015, was a defining date in the young life of Deputy Worthy. At 9:08 p.m. a 911 call was fielded describing a man standing in the street firing a handgun at random cars and houses. The house from where the 911 call originated was occupied not only by adults but by

When Worthy isn’t on duty, he spends time with his stepson, newborn daughter and fiancée (left) Rachel Trexler. He takes his family camping and passes on some of his Ranger skills, such as knot tying, making a good shelter and finding food and water to his little buddy. He also likes to snowboarding in the mountains of North Carolina.

children as well. The City of Cocoa was the primary agency responding to the call, with Deputy Worthy responding as back-up. It turned out that he was the closest officer and arrived first.

When he got within two blocks of where the shooter had last been seen he stopped to retrieve his Colt AR-15

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patrol rifle and approached on foot. His time as a Ranger had taught him that the element of surprise was worth its weight in gold, but like all well thoughtout plans his was subjected to Murphy’s Law. The original plan went by the wayside within seconds of his arrival.

Worthy’s car was blacked out, meaning no lights of any kind were on, when he saw a man standing in the street. Worthy turned on his headlights to get a better look at the man. The man, who turned out to be the active shooter, acted as if he was going to run, so Worthy activated his blue lights announcing that he was a deputy sheriff.

As soon as the lights came on the suspect reached into his pocket, pulled out a handgun and began firing at him.

One of the first shots came through the patrol car’s windshield and embedded in the headrest, narrowly missing Worthy’s head. Worthy exited and sought better cover behind his car.

The shooter, in a highly agitated state, pursued Worthy to the rear of the car, shooting the entire time. At one point the suspect, later identified as 30-yearold Cedrick Bishop, was running towards Worthy and it was at this time that Worthy confronted the suspect and killed him. Worthy’s experiences in Southwest Asia saved his life that night.

Worthy was fighting for more than the lives of the residents in that small

Florida town; he was fighting for his future. His fiancée, who was nine months pregnant with their daughter, and her young son were at home. If it were not for his quick response you may very well have been reading his obituary and that of several citizens of Cocoa instead of this article.

As Worthy and I were talking about the shooting he told me that taking a life is never a good thing. I agree, but the decision to take a life that night had already been made and not by him. The active shooter had decided that someone was going to die and ultimately made the decision that it would be him.

It was a privilege for me to interview Worthy. Something that struck me while speaking with him was his desire to deflect credit away from himself and give it to others. He did this when I asked him about his heroic efforts in Afghanistan, and on March 9, 2015. But isn’t this what real heroes do? This modesty is what confirmed it for me. As a father of three boys I can imagine how proud Worthy’s parents are of him. As a citizen I know how proud we are of him. As a son I know how proud his kids will be of him when they are old enough to know what their dad has done in the name of service.

In this age of overpaid, overindulged athletes, entertainers, and other public figures, it is refreshing to know that people of character are out there. These quiet men and women go about their jobs every day never seeking the limelight or fame. They go to work with the singular goal of protecting the citizens in their jurisdiction no matter the cost.

These officers deserve our gratitude and support for their willingness to sacrifice all so that we can be safe.

Worthy said it best: “I did what any other law enforcement officer would have done; I just happened to get there first.” What Worthy doesn’t say is that when the shots first ring out, he and his fellow officers (and soldiers) run towards the danger, not away from it, all to protect their citizens. ASJ americanshootingjournal.com 67

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TUNE THAT GAS What An Adjustable Gas Block Can Do For You STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY BRIAN HORMBERG

JP Adjustable Gas Block (JPGS-5B) under an aluminum forearm. The forearm is a Rainier Arms Keymod Force rail. The muzzle device is a Primary Weapons Systems FSC-556 compensator.

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id you know that replacing the factory gas block on your AR-15 with an adjustable gas block can improve your rifle’s performance?

WHAT IS A GAS BLOCK? The typical factory gas block is pinned onto the barrel in front of the polymer handguard as part of the front sight assembly. If your rifle features a free-float aluminum handguard, then the gas block is typically a low-profile type that fits under that handguard. The job of the gas block is to take some of the hot gas from behind the bullet that comes through a gas port in the barrel, and direct it into the gas tube which drives the bolt carrier and cycles the action.

Most gas blocks on factory AR-15s are fixed, meaning they just provide a path for the gas from the barrel to the gas tube. With a fixed gas block, all the gas and pressure that comes out of the gas port in the barrel will be used to cycle the action. In most AR-type rifles there is intentionally more gas than needed, so that if the gun gets dirty, it will continue to cycle. But often this overgassed situation is more than is really needed, adding to the recoil and increasing wear on parts. That’s where adjustable gas blocks come in. They provide a way to cut off a portion of the gas flow so the action can be driven less forcefully.

THE GAS BLOCK HISTORY The concept of an adjustable-gas system has been around for quite a while. Competition shooters using M1 Garand rifles, a semiauto first used in the US military in 1936, found utility in adjustable gas plugs to regulate the cycling of the action by letting out a little extra gas. Perhaps the most prolific use was in the FN-FAL (Fabrique Nationale-Fusil Automatique Légerseries, a Belgium manufacturer) rifles developed after World War II. On the FNs, the amount of

gas released out of the gas cylinder as the piston was cycling could be adjusted by hand, which controlled how much gas pressure was applied to the piston. This is similar to what the M1 competition shooters were doing with their adjustable gas plugs. The normal procedure is to tune down the gas pressure until the gun doesn’t fully cycle, then tune it up one click at a time until it cycles reliably, then go a few clicks further for reliability and you’ll be in the optimal zone. This way the gun is reliable with the least amount of recoil and stress possible, and it can be tuned to a specific type of ammunition as well.

GAS BLOCKS TODAY This same concept is now being applied to the AR-15 and AR-10 family of rifles with modern adjustable gas blocks.

The difference is on an AR-15 the gas adjustment cuts off some of the gas flow coming from the barrel instead of letting more of it out after it passes through the gas block, as on the FN-FAL and M1. Early adjustable gas blocks on AR-15s simply used a small metering screw on the side of the gas block that cut off gas flow as you screwed it in.

The further you screwed it in, the less gas flow there was.

Once adjusted, the screws were kept in place either by using Loctite or by just letting some carbon build up on the screw to hold it in place. This worked pretty well in practice and has been used by AR-15, 3-Gun shooters for years, but didn’t gain wide acceptance. In the past few years new designs have emerged that have taken the concept to the next level and improved shooter appeal. Brass locking screws have been added to ensure adjustments stay put without using Loctite, and low-profile versions have been made so they can fit under free-float forearms. Designing them to fit under most of the popular rail systems is a big plus for modern AR builders. Eventually, the desire for americanshootingjournal.com 69

lockable settings was solved with spring-loaded detents that were used to lock adjustments in place with audible clicks. This made it possible to adjust the gas block under the handguard in the field by a known amount and have it automatically lock in place. For those wanting a more milspec (military specification or standards) type solution, this was very appealing and has brought these adjustable gas blocks into a far wider acceptance.

The JP Adjustable Gas Block under a free-float aluminum forearm.

The JP Adjustable Gas Block (model JPGS-5B) on a barrel.

THE BENEFITS You’re probably wondering what difference would it really make in your gun’s performance if you used one of these.

Well, there are three: 1) You can tune your rifle to run just as hard as is really needed, and by doing so you will experience less recoil and less movement of your sights off target, so your followup shots can be faster. What’s happening is that your bolt carrier group will cycle hard enough to extract, eject and feed reliably, but it won’t slam to a stop as hard at the rear of its stroke.

2) There will be less stress on your operating parts because they are not running any harder than necessary. It’s like running your car engine at lower revolutions per minute.

Don’t worry, it will not feel slower while shooting.

3) Since you will be cutting off some of the gas going into the bolt carrier group, it’s common to get less carbon buildup in your bolt carrier and on your bolt. This will cause your gun to run cleaner, which can result in better reliability and easier cleaning.

Here are different views of a JP Adjustable Gas Block (JPGS-5B) mounted forward of a free-float JP VTAC Modular handguard, instead of underneath it, so the gas tube can be seen. The muzzle device is still a PWS FSC-556.

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americanshootingjournal.com westernshootingjournal.com 71

THE PIONEERS One of the pioneers in the adjustable gas block concept is JP Enterprises, a well-known manufacturer of top-of-the-line race guns for 3-Gun competition. They made an entire system of it by combining adjustable gas blocks with low-mass bolt carriers and low-mass buffers. This concept called for lower reciprocating mass in the moving parts which needed lower gas pressure to run at the right speed. Adjustable gas blocks made this concept possible.

The result is even less movement of the gun during firing and even faster recovery from the shot, which is a big advantage in competition. Low-mass systems are normally recommended for competition guns versus duty guns, since a full-mass system can run better when really dirty.

JP makes their adjustable gas blocks in several formats, including ones with rails on top of the gas block, fixed frontsight models, and low-profile units with lock screws that go under handguards. Syrac Ordnance and SLR Rifleworks are two companies that have recently introduced low-profile, clickadjustable models that can be easily adjusted from the front under the forearm. These are especially well suited to those who want a quick, predictable gas setting change when they switch from subsonic to supersonic or when going from suppressed to unsuppressed. The Syrac Ordnance model is completely self-

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contained, while the SLR Rifleworks model is designed for easy disassembly and cleaning. Both are small enough to fit under the thinnest aluminum forearm systems.

Another recent trend is to offer this same capability in a pistondriven format in addition to the more common direct gas design. If you like the idea of a piston-driven operating system and like the idea of adjustable gas settings, you can now have both together.

The adjustable piston systems can be retrofitted to existing AR-15s or included in new builds just like the other gas blocks and provide the same advantages. The adjustable piston systems include a gas block, gas piston and a complete bolt-carrier group, in addition to the gas block itself to ensure compatibility. Low-profile versions are now in production from Adams Arms and Syrac Ordnance, and which allow you to fit an adjustable gas piston system under a wider selection of rail forearms than ever before possible and with the adjustment capability.

As more shooters become aware of the advantages of adjustable gas systems, they will likely continue to increase in popularity. All of this is another example of the incredibly wide selection of parts, designs and options available to today’s AR shooter. The operation and performance of the rifle can be customized and tuned to an amazing level, and is only limited by your imagination. -BH

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All of these benefits are worthwhile for the shooter who wants to get all the performance possible from his or her rifle.

Three adjustable gas blocks: Syrac Ordnance, JP Enterprises and SLR Rifleworks.

The SLR Rifleworks adjustable gas block on a barrel. Notice the gas port in the barrel (center) and the gas block installed (bottom).

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INSTALLING So how easy are they to install? If you are familiar with AR builds and installing gas blocks, then installing one of these is the same thing.

For those unfamiliar, it will require removing your flash hider or muzzle brake, removing your handguard, unpinning and removing your factory gas block and installing the new one using set screws or clamping screws to lock it into place. Then you reinstall your handguard and muzzle device. These days, with all the AR-15 home builders out there, this is pretty common knowledge, and the skills required are basic-level gunsmithing.

If you aren’t comfortable with this, find a reputable gunsmith who is proficient in AR builds; this will be an inexpensive gunsmithing job. There is no fitting required; it just involves taking off some parts and then reinstalling some parts. Adjustable gas blocks can be installed on any AR-15 or AR-10 rifle of any caliber or barrel length, as long as it uses a standard gas tube system. ASJ Editor’s note: Brian Hormberg is the owner of Para Bellum Products, Inc. You can visit the company’s website at nokick.com or follow his blog at ontarget-blog.com.

americanshootingjournal.com 75

GEAR UP í˘˛

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Celebrate Your Freedoms It’s summer, hunting season is approaching, targets are ready and there is a lane at the range reserved just for you. Wherever you’re headed, American Shooting Journal has you covered. Check out the latest products from eyewear to ammo, slings to ear protection on this and the following pages. í˘˛ stedi-stock

í˘ą liberty suppressor Nicknamed the “Swiss Army Knife of cans,â€? Liberty Suppressors’ MysticX is rated for over 53 different calibers. Imagine a can that will ďŹ t your Glock 19, HK USP 9mm, AR-15 and more. Liberty Suppressors offers a full line of silencers from .22LR all the way up to .300 Remington Ultra Mag.

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The Stedi-Stock is the only device that provides stability for all of your optical equipment. Similar to a rie stock, y p Stedi-Stock provides incredible balance for your spotting scope, taking that once-in-a-lifetime photo, making professional videos without the bounce, or ranging animals accurately.

This is the perfect solution for both novice and professional shooters.

The Wiley X Arrow 2 features a patented removable facialcavity seal, and is designed for small to medium faces.

Available with an RX rim system, top-down ventilation for a fog-free environment and a seamless hinge for added g durability, features multi-layer urability, the Wiley X Arrow 2 also featu foam and oam for added comfort, high-velocity protection p exceeds xceeds ANSI Z87.1 standards. A temple strap is included.

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í˘´ the maKo Group The Pentagon 10-round Ultimag magazine coupler by Fab Defense allows shooters to attach ďŹ ve 10-round AR-15 nd carry 50 rounds in the Ultimag magazines together and rie. It is perfect for states thatt restrict standard-capacity magazines.

The Ultimag features a durable able polymer and steel construction, n, and even includes the coupler agazines. with ďŹ ve AR-15 Ultimag R10 magazines.

The A-Team AT Arms A AR-15 AR 15 rie i iis b built ilt around their uniquely designed and patented lowers that are milled from 7075 aluminum. Every A-Team rie features a stainless steel 1:7-twist barrel and is available in a variety of Cerakote colors. Call Doc Holiday's Guns at (541) 471-0040.

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This American American-made, made con convertible nvertible two-point to one-point bungee with transition-loc pull tabs, allows for quick adjustments. Along with its HK snap hook on 1Ÿ-inch webbing with Duraex side-release to release adapter buckles, this is the only sling you’ll need.

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í˘¸ scorpius tactical Tactical Assault Gears’ hard-plate carrier will accommodate three- to four-level trauma plates. The plate pockets accommodate small to large and long plates, and will maintain vital positioning. The shoulder pads are removable and curved to stay away from your neck for added comfort.

The LazerBrite is unlike any other light on the market, and is the ďŹ rst of its kind nd in a modular, multi-function light ght system.

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ě?… crew custom holsters Durability and accessibility are keys for our tactical holster and its sleek wrap-around style with top-grade Kydex that holds up to any use. The holster offers an adjustable retention that allows for a ďŹ t and draw that shooters p is also desire. The top-of-the-line molded belt clip adjustable from 15 to 45 degrees. With d our lifetime guarantee and this durable design, you will forever have your “shadowâ€? intact.

ě?ˆ BuyHolsters The new Lotus For Ladies concealed-carry harness is designed especially for women. men. The cut of the harness contours to a woman’s man’s shape, and is made with thinner than 1-inch webbing ng for seamless comfort. Thiss fully adjustable holster comes with a 3-inch elastic rear insert to create a comfortable ďŹ t.

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ě?‰ fmk firearms The 9C1 G2 by FMK Firearms is ergonomically built to rge comfortably ďŹ t both large and small hands. The barrel is engineered to sit low for superior uracy and reduced muzzle point-and-shoot accuracy ip. The 9C1 G2 has virtually no external protrusions making it ideal for concealed d carry.

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ě”ˆ rmj tactical The RMJ Tactical Goto knife has a die-forged 80CrV3steel blade and a Spartan helmet-embossed handle with the Greek words Molon labe, meaning, “Come and take them!â€? With a 6-inch overall length the Goto is the perfect companion knife for everyday carry as well as classy and discrete self-defense.

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씊 Bishop Ammunition Bishop Ammunition Manufacturing understands that your time behind a ďŹ rearm is a hard-earned reward to your dedication. Specializing in .41 Mag, .44 Mag and .45-caliber ammunition, we strive to make you a more effective hunter and shooter.

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씋 slip 2000 Designed for use with firearms that endure high round counts, EWL works like a liquid grease and has extremewear properties. EWL never gums up, it prevents carbon fouling buildup and lasts five times longer than any other lubricant. Shoot more rounds with fast, easy cleanup.

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American Shooting Journal // July 2015

Product FEATURE

LIBERTY SUPPRESSORS iberty Suppressors has been in the business of making loud things quiet for over a decade.

They make a full line of silencers for rifles and pistols in just about every caliber from .22 LR all the way up to .300 RUM (Remington Ultra Magnum). In the world of silencers, versatility and sound suppression are king, and Liberty Suppressors rule.

Nicknamed the Swiss Army knife of cans, the MysticX is one of Liberty’s most versatile suppressors because it’s rated for over 53 different calibers, thanks to all of the mounting options. There are mounts that will fit a threaded pistol in 1/2x28tpi or M13.5LH, mounts for your AR in 5.56 NATO or 300 BLK, and there is even a mount for an Uzi. Think about that for a second: This will fit your Glock 19, HK USP 9mm and your AR-15. With options this broad you can expect this silencer to work on more than a few of the guns in your safe.

As if that weren’t enough Liberty also offers the Victory Magnum, a titanium silencer rated for the .300 RUM, .308

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or any 6.5mm round you have in your bolt gun. The sound reduction comes in at over 34 decibels, and even though it is the largest can Liberty makes, it still only weighs about 18 ounces.

The specially designed Victory Magnum also reduces dust-cloud blow-out when you are shooting prone. Now, that is no small feat, and to top off the benefits, Liberty offers a lifetime warranty.

Liberty sells cans, but they know that they are in the customer service business. They will do just about anything to go the extra mile for you. If you are looking for a can that will make you smile, and a company that wants to give you what you want, it would be hard to beat our friends from Georgia at Liberty Suppressors.

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BLASTING HIS WAY INTO THE BOOK

David Miller Busts 3,653 Clays In An Hour To Set Guinness World Record! STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY LARRY CASE f Dave Miller was a hunting dog, I would want one of his pups. He is that good. Miller has what my hunting buddy, when he rates a pack of new bird dogs, would call “fire in the belly.” I think when Miller wakes up in the morning he leaps out of bed and is immediately turning and burning, whatever his mission. You may shoot a shotgun, I do shoot a shotgun, but nobody shoots shotguns like David Miller.

On May 16, 2015, the western Missouri man set the Guinness Book of World Records for the most clay targets shot in one hour. When the final horn blew and the smoke cleared Miller had done it: 3,653 clays broken while shooting a shotgun from the hip, and at night!

When the shooting had started an hour before, the actual world record attempt seemed almost surreal. I stood behind the platform and listened to his shotgun firing, but the rate at which the shots were going off seemed impossible. How could anyone hit anything firing this fast? The crowd watched as the targets streamed into the air and exploded with an almost machinelike consistency. That’s Miller, a shootin’ piece of machinery.

During that hour targets were thrown continuously with absolutely no pauses. In order to achieve this, Miller had to have 30 CZ-USA shotguns fitted with two Nordic Component magazine extensions that held 16 shells total. Each shotgun was set up exactly the same way, including Miller’s special leather strap to hold his hand in place. Several gun bearers and loaders stood by with ready-to-

I

On May 16, David Miller of Grain Valley, Mo., set the Guinness Book of World Records for the most clay targets shot in one hour. When the final horn blew and the smoke cleared, he had broken 3,653, or more than one every second for a full 60 minutes.

shoot shotguns so Miller could just grab and go as the clock ticked down.

Miller would blast through all the ammo in one gun, then he would throw it down and reach for the next one that was handed to him. He had to do this throughout the entire hour without ever slowing down, stopping or taking a break. Even with all of the gunchange interruptions, he still shot 83 percent of the total clays thrown. I was there. I saw it and let me tell you, boys

and girls, it was a sight to behold. I would be happy with that on any day at the neighborhood skeet range [grin].

HOW DID THIS ALL come to pass? Glad you asked. As it turns out, and somewhat oddly enough, one does not simply call up Guinness and say, “Hey guys, I shot a couple thousand clay targets the other day, put me down for that record, if you would!”

What had to happen was this: Miller americanshootingjournal.com 83

SCATTERGUN TRAIL

Miller had to engineer 16 Mayville Engineering Company target throwers to eject the clays at a precise rate to ensure that they weren’t being thrown so fast he couldn’t focus on them, but also that they didn’t operate too slowly and prevent making his goal.

and attorneys from CZ-USA (where Miller is the shotgun product manager and exhibition shooter) worked with representatives from Guinness and the National Sporting Clays Association.

During the event, Guinness had to have a representative there to confirm the count and actually present Miller with the official award.

But even before that, Miller got the idea by watching a TV show with his girlfriend Kelly Lindley and her two children, Will and Sydney. The program featured people attempting to break world records. Will told Miller

Larry Case (author and shotgun guru) and Miller on the day of the world record success.

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Thirty CZ shotguns were used to accomplish the world record. They were a mix of CZ 712s and 912s and fitted with two Nordic Component 16-round magazine extensions.

When Miller decided to attempt the world record, he took his idea to Pheasants Forever because he wanted the attempt to be connected to this conservation-based group to help them raise money for their youth shooting programs.

that he should attempt a world record with his shotgun. Miller says he didn’t think much about it at the time, but the idea stuck. This was the beginning of months of planning, testing and building to make the idea and the new dream come true.

It wasn’t easy: Miller soon became the lead engineer for what would become a completely new idea in clay throwers and synchronization.

The target throwers and the rate at which they launched the clays were a major concern. Too fast and Miller could not focus on the flying target;

The final numbers from the epic day showed that 5,265 clays were released, Miller fired 4,402 rounds of Federal 2¾-inch Gold Medal Handicap Trap Load with 11/8 ounces of shot – not a light load – and hit 3,653 targets to make the world record. (MIKE HYDE)

too slow and there would not be enough time to get all of them broken in an hour. It had to be just right. The rate of fire during the attempt was about four- to six-tenths of a second; about every half of a second a target was being thrown for Miller to shoot.

This sequence required 16 Mayville Engineering Company target-throwing machines to work in unison. That is putting some serious lead down range.

WHEN THE BIG DAY CAME, the atmosphere of the expectant crowd was similar to a state fair, except with lots of shotguns.

It was almost as if they were waiting for Evel Knievel to jump the Grand Canyon. I thought this was better. The amount of equipment and personnel needed to complete this monumental task included: • 30 CZ Model 712 or 912 shotguns; • 16 MEC target-throwing machines, designed to hold and systematically throw clay targets into the air; (All of them performed flawlessly during this event.)

• 6,400 clay targets; • 5,000 shotgun shells; • 25 to 30 gun bearers and loaders; • A plethora of volunteers, helpers, friends, family and supporters.

Miller, a more humble guy you may never meet, thanked supporters, friends and family continually during

When Miller decided to attempt the world record, he immediately took this idea to Pheasants Forever, because he wanted the attempt to be connected to this conservationbased group to help them raise money for their youth shooting programs. (MIKE HYDE)

americanshootingjournal.com 85

SCATTERGUN TRAIL

Thirty gun bearers and too many volunteers to count helped make this day flawless.

Miller with girlfriend Kelly Lindley, and her two children, Will and Sydney, ecstatic about the world record achievement.

this event.

If I know Miller, he is already working on a new project, and you can bet it involves a shotgun. When you have fire in the belly, you don’t stop when you set a little thing like a world record. ASJ Author’s note: The Heartland Trap

and Wobble Skeet Range near Harrisonville, Mo., hosted this epic event and you couldn’t have found a better or friendlier setting than this neighborhood gun-club atmosphere.

Owner Steve Sheerer personally made sure the event was a success for everyone. You can visit them at heartlandtrapandskeet.com.

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American Shooting Journal // July 2015

LONG GUNS OF THE FROGMEN Part II Of II, The Spetnaz’s Underwater Rifles Through The Years STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANDREW YOUNG The APS Underwater Rifle was the first long gun designed to be used in the depths by the Soviet Union in an effort to provide greater firepower to their combat divers.

nternational warfare has created some of the most profound advances in technology and concepts, and the underwater arena is no exception. Following up on last issue’s look at the pistols of combat divers in Russia’s, Germany’s and America’s navies, we dive here into long guns of frogmen.

I

APS UNDERWATER RIFLE The APS or Avtomat Podvodnyj Spetsialnyj Underwater Rifle was developed during the early 1970s by the Soviet Central Institute for Precision Machine Building (TsNIITochMash plant). The

inspiration for this was that Russian combat divers only had knives and the SPP-1 underwater pistol (see American Shooting Journal, June 2015 issue) as their sole means of weaponry. The APS was meant to provide considerably more firepower to their combat divers.

The APS, initially only used by the Russian armed forces, has been available on the international market since the fall of the Soviet Union.

It’s based on the AK-74, a refined version of the AK-47 chambered in 5.45×39mm rather than the more commonly known 7.62×39mm of other earlier Kalashnikov rifles, but with several significant changes.

The APS underwater rifle was based on a Kalashnikov design and fires a long dart from a waterproofed cartridge.

It fires a 120mm-long, 5.6mm dart, or flechette, which is relatively stable travelling underwater.

269th Combat Diver Battalion, Russian The weapon Navy Spetnaz has a Divers insignia smoothbore barrel, and relies on the shape of the flechette for stability and accuracy.

The flechette is fired using a standard 5.45×39mm cartridge that has been waterproofed.

The polymer magazine holds 26 rounds, and is unusually deep from front to back because the long projectiles dictate its shape.

Like the AK, the APS uses a gas piston to operate; however, this system features a self-adjusting gas valve that allows the weapon to be fired efficiently at varying depths as well as on the surface. Unlike the AK-74 it fires from an open bolt, which ensures that the barrel remains filled with water to properly stabilize the projectiles. americanshootingjournal.com 89

The ASM-DT underwater rifle was designed to fire two different types of projectiles.

Underwater, it fired a flechette dart, and on the surface, a 5.45x39mm round.

The APS rifle performs differently at different depths because of the increase in water pressure. At greater depths the cyclic rate of the weapon slows down and the muzzle velocity and effective range decreases. At a depth of 16.4 feet, the APS is considered to have an effective range of 98.4 feet, which decreases to 36 feet at a depth of 131 feet.

ASM-DT RIFLE The APS rifle solved the problem of arming Russian divers while they were stationed at a naval base,

but the problem still remained on how to arm them when they were deployed on surface missions where the APS was of little or no use.

The ADS Dual-Medium underwater rifle is a bull-pup-design rifle modified from the Soviet A-91M Bullpup rifle.

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These combat divers ideally required a weapon capable of providing them with the same level of reliability on the surface or underwater.

The divers were faced with the unsatisfactory solution of having to carry separate weapons for each possibility. What they needed was a single hybrid weapon.

In 1991 the Artillery Engineering Institute in Tula, Russia, solved the problem by creating the ASM-DT rifle. This rifle was designed to fire two different types of projectiles.

Underwater it fired the same flechette dart as the APS, and when

americanshootingjournal.com 91

on the surface it fired the standard 5.45x39mm round. The weapon was able to accept both the APS and an AK-74 magazine.

To achieve this duality, the weapon was fitted with a long magazine port and a sliding magazine catch.

When the catch was positioned towards the rear of the German Navy magazine Kampfschwimmer insignia port, the rifle could accept the APS underwater magazine. When the magazine catch was moved to the middle of the magazine port, the rifle could accept an AK-74 magazine. In this position the rear unused portion of the port was covered with a spring-loaded dust cover. When the magazine release was shifted to the forward position the gas system automatically adjusted for firing underwater.

One of the ingenious alterations

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was a shallow-groove rifled barrel.

This allowed the 5.45x39mm round to be more accurate above water, and also purposely allowed the gases to push ahead of the round in order to blow any remaining water out of the barrel. This prevented the barrel from bursting if the rifle was quickly transitioned from under to above the water without having to drain it first.

Additional accessories included various types of optical and night sights, as well as tactical lights.

The rifle has a folding stock, which along with the pistol grip and handguard are made from impact-resistant plastic. This weapon could also be equipped with a GP-25 grenade launcher, a bayonet or a sound and flash suppressor.

The ASM-DT was not a perfect solution because the diver still had to carry two different types

of ammunition and magazines; however, its performance underwater was equal to the APS, and on the surface it performed almost as well as the AK-74. This weapon came into limited service with Naval Spetnaz teams in the Russian Federation Navy in 1980.

ADS DUAL-MEDIUM RIFLE The main problem with ASM-DT was that it had to use extremely long, specially designed underwater ammunition when submerged.

The rifle needed an overly long receiver, a complicated adjustable

Insignia of the United States Navy’s Sea, Air and Land Teams (SEALs)

americanshootingjournal.com 93

Like most underwater firearms, the APS can be dry-fired above water, but is inherently inaccurate and has an effective range of just about 65 feet. Firing above water also causes significant wear to the rifle.

magazine well and two types of magazines. The first thing that had to be done was the complete redesign of the ammuntion.

The design bureau in Tula went back to the drawing board. This time they developed a more effective underwater round that retained the compact size of the standard issue

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Underwater rounds perform differently at varying depths. In general, the deeper the diver, the shorter the range of their projectile. For example, if the projectile range is 100 feet at a depth of 16 feet, when the diver descends another 15 feet, the projectile range will reduce to just 36 feet.

5.45×39mm round, and it could be loaded and fired from a standard AK74-type magazine. This round would also have the ability to be fired through the same chambers and barrels that would accept the abovewater ammunition. They called it the 5.45mm PSP round and it was designed with a specific shape that

produced a cavitation bubble, which stabilized the round underwater for greater accuracy.

There are two types of PSP ammunition, the 5.45 PSP (combat ammunition) with a hardened-steel projectile weighing 16 grams and an air muzzle velocity around 330 meters per second, and the 5.45 PSP-U

americanshootingjournal.com 95

(practice and training ammunition) with a bronze projectile weighing 8 grams, and an air muzzle velocity of about 430 m/s. The effective range with PSP ammunition varies from 82 Insignia for Buzos Tacticos, Chile’s frogmen feet at a 16-foot unit. depth to 59 feet at a 65-foot depth. The effective range of the PSP-U training ammunition when below water is about half of the combat round.

When designing the ADS DualMedium rifle, the engineers at Tula moved away from the basic AK-74 rifle platform, which had been the base concept for the APS and ASM-

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DT underwater rifles. The new design was derived from the A-91M Bullpup rifle which had previously been designed at Tula earlier in 1990s. The new weapon retained the bullpup layout, gas-operated action with a rotary bolt action.

The gas system was modified with the addition of a manual air/water environment selector. Some parts of the A-91M had to be redesigned and materials were revised to work reliably when submerged in saltwater.

An integral 40mm grenade launcher that fires a VOG-25 caseless grenade can be fitted to this rifle and is fired by using a secondary trigger located inside the trigger guard. The grenade launcher barrel is detachable and can be removed if not required.

The muzzle of the barrel is threaded to accept a muzzle brake or a sound suppressor and is fitted with adjustable iron sights.

An integral carrying handle is provided with a Picatinny-type

rail on the top to accept various day and night optics. The ADS can fire any standard issue 5.45x39mm ammunition above water with the same accuracy and effectiveness as that from an AK-74 general-issue rifle. When submerged and loaded with 5.45mm PSP ammunition the ADS outperforms both the APS and ASM-DT underwater rifles for accuracy. The ADS came into service with the Russian Navy special forces in 2013.

Currently, there is nothing on record to show that NATO or the United States has developed similar underwater rifles. ASJ Italy’s insignia for its ComSubIn

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LUCKY NUMBER 9

How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The 9mm STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOHN JOHNSTON

hen I used to work at a gun store I was frequently asked what caliber was best for any given situation. It would have been nice if there had been some sort of magic death ray that I could have suggested, but there isn’t, and most people have a pretty flawed understanding of what actually happens when a bullet interacts with a human target. Here’s my take on it and personal reasoning ng behind selecting a 9mm round.

For starters let’s examine a couple of concepts that don’t actually exist in the scientific world but everyone talks about anyway. I’m going to regurgitate the work from those better than myself, and the information is worth paying attention to.

W

KNOCKDOWN POWER This doesn’t actually exist. If a bullet had enough force to knock down an ind individual, it would also knock down the individual firing fir the gun. People do not go flying through the air when hit by a bullet, contrary to what the movies and television would have us believe. Newton’s Third Law and all.

An H&K P7M13 with 9mm 147-grain Federal HST expanded ammunition.

ENERGY DUMP On the back of a box of ammo, manufacturers list the foot-pounds of energy (ft-lbf, or foot-pounds of force/energy) that their rounds have. Well, that doesn’t actually matter. The terminal performance of a projectile is determined solely by how much tissu tissue it cuts, crushes or tears.

While it has been advocated by many a misinformed guncounter commando gu that some sort of energy transfer occurs between a projectile and its target, this is has been rejected by everyone I respect who studies terminal ballistics for a living.

9MM IS FOR GIRLS AND SISSIES How often have you heard, “If you’re not carrying a caliber that begins with the number four and ends with the number five, you’re doing it wrong”?

This almost makes sense if we were limited to nonexpanding ammunition, but most of us aren’t. When we compare modern hollowpoint rounds in popular service calibers, there is, on average, one-tenth of an inch of difference in expanded diameter between a 9mm and a .45ACP. Grab a ruler and look at a tenth of an inch. It doesn’t seem like much, does it? That’s because it’s not.

Fun fact: In autopsies of gunshotwound victims, the wound track created by a 9mm is indistinguishable from that created by a .45ACP. The only advantage that a larger caliber is going to offer you, in my mind, is slightly better performance through intermediate barriers.

Probably one of the more commonly encountered intermediate barriers is the front or rear windshield of a

car. That’s nott tto say th thatt th the smaller caliber doesn’t perform well through those same barriers; it’s just that the larger ones perform only slightly better. Tempered auto glass has a nasty tendency to deflect bullets from their original course, as well as separate metal jackets from their leadcore bullets. It’s for this reason that .40S&W gained so much popularity in law-enforcement circles during the early 1990s.

The nice thing is, with modern designs, most service ammunition is going to perform pretty well through barriers, and it is for this reason that a lot of larger law enforcement departments are switching back to or have been using 9mm all along.

Some notable examples are the NYPD and my very own Cincinnati Police Department, which is using the 9mm 147-grain Ranger T series fired from their Smith and Wesson M&P9s.

The PDX1 Bonded ammo line is the civilian version of this round with the only difference being price.

So, since I’m happy with the 9mm’s performance through barriers, and all handgun calibers suck anyway (editor’s disclaimer: the views of the author are not necessarily the views of the world at large but his determination, confidence and delivery is inspiring), here is why I like 9mm: CAPACITY “Damn, I wish I hadn’t had so much ammo” is not something I’ve ever known anyone in a gunfight to say after the fact. The phrase “If you can’t get it done in six, then it ain’t gettin’ done” is asinine, and something that I hear so often it makes me want to rip out what remaining hair I have. None of us are mind readers, and if we could predict beforehand how many rounds we americanshootingjournal.com 99

would need to stop a threat, then why the hell wouldn’t we just avoid the threat entirely in the first place? More rounds are a good thing; if you think differently, I’m going to have to politely disagree with you, and think nasty thoughts quietly to myself.

RECOIL Can I shoot a .40 or .45 as quickly as I can a 9mm? Sure I can. Can I shoot a .40 or .45 as quickly and accurately as I can a 9mm?

I wish I could. There are some people who can, but I’m not one of them.

Whether I’m shooting strong or weak hand, my accuracy only gets worse.

In every force-on-force exercise that I have ever participated in, someone always seems to get shot in the hand.

So with that in mind, being able to put rounds on a target quickly with one hand seems important to me.

IT’S CHEAP! (RELATIVELY) Nine millimeter ammunition is cheaper than any of the other service calibers. Cheaper equals more ammo. More ammo equals more practice, and obviously more practice equals awesome. Since I’m a fan of awesome, it all works out pretty well for me.

So there you go, the logic behind why I’ve chosen 9mm as m preferred handgun my cal caliber. Obviously the cchoices you make are going to be determined by your circumstances and personal preferences, but hey, at least you know why 9mm gives me the warm and fuzzies that is does. For a more detailed and intelligent take on this subject, check out Service Caliber Handgun Duty and Self-Defense Ammo by Dr. Gary Roberts. ASJ Editor’s note: John Johnston is the owner and host of Ballistic Radio, a weekly show and podcast dedicated to topics about selfdefense, firearms and training with a touch of humor thrown in for good measure. See the cover story of American Shooting Journal’s June 2015 issue. John Johnston is on the cover.

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BACK BASICS Part I - Get To Know Your Ammo STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY ROBERT CAMPBELL

T

wo of the most critical choices you will make in personal defense are choosing personal-defense ammunition and the load-bearing device for the handgun. This month, we will cover ammo basics and testing.

Ammunition

When selecting ammunition for critical use, nothing can be left to chance. Terminal performance, effects on the target and tactical penetration are important, but not as important as reliability. The ammunition must feed, chamber, fire and eject properly.

Most of the ammuntion you find in stores has come from batches that have been part of manufacturer testing involving thousands of rounds.

With reliability, in my opinion, being of the utmost importance, it may be redundant to retest the FBI’s choice of ammuntion, but I do anyway. Here are some of the best ways to test the quality of your ammuntion, handloaded or manufactured.

PLASTIC OR POLYMER TIP

JACKET

CANNELURE OR TAPER CRIMP

BULLET

Testing Ammuntion SOAK Soak a round in water, oil and solvent, respectively, overnight. Next, retrieve the round, wipe it off and then fire it. It must fire normally. This indicates a good case-mouth and primer seal.

CHAMBERING The case-mouth seal (where the mouth of the case opening meets the exposed portion of the projectile) and the taper crimp, or cannelure (the notch, crimped or etched into the side of the projectile), are proofed in this test. The cartridge is chambered eight to ten times.

Each time the bolt or slide is racked and the cartridge is chambered, you should check for bullet setback (the projectile has slipped deeper into the casing). If the projectile has suffered setback, then the cartridge integrity isn’t what it should be and has the potential to be very dangerous.

CASING

GRAIN OR POWDER

PRIMER

A “round” consists of several different components that include a bullet or projectile, gun powder/grain, a primer and a casing, to name a few. Some rounds are more elaborate, but these are the basics. The term “to send rounds downrange” is incorrect as a round ceases to be a round once it is fired.

The projectile or bullet is what is sent downrange. americanshootingjournal.com 105

Deciphering Ammunition labels BULLET SHAPE AND/OR CONSTRUCTION BBWC BT CB DEWC FMJ FP HBWC HP JHP JSP PB* LHP LRN LSWC

BEVEL-BASE WADCUTTER BOAT-TAILED CAST BULLET DOUBLE-ENDED WADCUTTER FULL METAL JACKET FLAT POINT HOLLOW-BASE WADCUTTER HOLLOW POINT JACKETED HOLLOW POINT JACKETED SOFT POINT LEAD BULLET LEAD HOLLOW POINT LEAD ROUND NOSE LEAD SEMIWADCUTTER

MC MRWC PSP RNL SJHP SJSP SWC SP SPTZ TMJ TC VLD WC

AUTOMATIC COLT PISTOL ACTION EXPRESS BENCHREST REMINGTON BAIN AND DAVIS GUNS & AMMO MAGAZINE HOLLAND & HOLLAND HARRINGTON & RICHARDSON NT. HANDGUN METALLIC SILHOUETTE ASSOC. J.D. JONES JOHN R. SUNDRA LONG COLT LONG RIFLE MAGNUM MILLIMETER NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION PARABELLUM

PPC REM REN RF SPL. SPRG. S&H S&W STA STE STW TCU TSW WCF WIN WMR

METAL CASED MIDRANGE WADCUTTER POINTED SOFT POINT OR PLATED SOFT POINT ROUND NOSED LEAD SEMIJACKETED HOLLOW POINT SEMIJACKETED SOFT POINT SEMIWADCUTTER SOFT POINT OR SPIRE POINT SPITZER TOTALLY METAL JACKETED TRUNCATED CONE VERY LOW DRAG WADCUTTER

* Pb is from the Latin word plumbum, meaning lead. Pb might also be used on cartridge cases as an abbreviation for Parabellum.

CARTRIDGES ACP AE BR B&D G&A H&H H&R IHMSA JDJ JRS LC LR MAG mm NATO PARA. OR PB

PINDELL-PALMISANO CARTRIDGE REMINGTON CHARLES RENSING & JIM ROCK RIMFIRE SPECIAL SPRINGFIELD ARMORY SHARPE & HART SMITH & WESSON SHOOTING TIMES ALASKAN SHOOTING TIMES EASTERNER SHOOTING TIMES WESTERNER THOMPSON/CENTER AND UGALDE TEAM SMITH & WESSON WINCHESTER CENTER FIRE WINCHESTER WINCHESTER MAGNUM RIMFIRE

Extra Tidbits

J is usually jacketed.

P is usually point.

S might be soft, semi, spire or spitzer.

7.62NATO and .308Win are equivalent.

5.56NATO and .223 Remington are equivalent.

9mm Para., 9mm Luger, 9mm NATO and 9x19mm all use the same casings, but the 9mm NATO military ammunition is loaded with higher pressures. +P added to a cartridge title indicates that the loaded cartridge will generate pressures higher than the industry standard for that cartridge.

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+P+ added to a cartridge title indicates pressures even higher than those generated by the +P ammunition. .22RF usually refers to either .22Short, .22Long or .22LR. +P and +P+ loads for .38 Special produce pressures that fall between those of standard .38Spl. and .357 Magnum, therefore, .38Spl. ammunition designated +P and +P+ can be fired in .357 Magnum revolvers.

Be aware! Ammunition designated as +P or +P+ should not be fired in a gun unless that gun is rated for such high pressures.

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SPECIALTY ACRONYMS HPJ ACC CL OR PL XTP L-C/T SX GDHP STHP FST SXT

test statistics as a true representation of damage to a living thing. Ballistic gelatin, which is used as a standardized medium for testing the terminal performance of firearms ammunition, isn’t flesh and blood so it might be safer to say that these tests are more of a side-by-side comparison of loads. With that thought, personal testing can be accomplished with wet newsprint or simply water.

The bullet should penetrate 12 inches or more and at that point have expanded to about 1.5 inches from its original diameter.

I might have said this already, reliability cannot be compromised. Ballistic performance isn’t based on the average-case scenario; rather, the worst-case scenario. I favor a balance of expansion and penetration that favors penetration.

I tend to focus on personal defense. The minimum calibers that should be considered for this are the .38 Special and 9mm Luger. The 9mm 124-grain +P is a realistic baseline. It takes a lot of practice and dedication to be better armed than with this combination. In the .45ACP I favor the 230-grain JHP. I arrived at this choice using all of these basic testing procedures.

Using these criterias to choose your loads, particularly the reliability tests, you will not go wrong. Caveat? Shot placement is more important than anything else in defense ammunition. ASJ

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Some bullet and cartridge companies have created their own names/acronyms for bullets to distinguish themselves from the mass market.

CYCLE, FUNCTION AND ACCURACY The load must feed, chamber, fire and eject normally. It must not be difficult to clear the chamber when a round is chambered, and remember that personal-defense loads are not always match-grade accurate, but some are. With these baselines covered and how to establish reliability, let’s move to expansion and penetration testing.

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BLACK POWDER

IGNITE YOUR POWDER DREAMS Good Muzzleloading Starts Here

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY MIKE NESBITT

Mike Moran went from the world of cowboy-action shooting to becoming the new president of the Washington State Muzzleloading Association in short order.

etting started in muzzleloading can be a little tricky because we can only be as good as our instructors.

Finding proper help sometimes can leave a new shooter on the short end of the stick. The big problem is that new shooters probably won’t know if they are being taught or shown the right stuff or not.

The very best way to get started down the right trail with muzzleloading is to find a good club and look into their activities. If those activities interest you, that’s a great start because you’ll be surrounded by a gang of

G

shooters who share your interest. Black powder clubs are easier to find than you think. Ranges or sportsmen’s clubs in your area should steer you in the right direction.

I met an experienced cowboy-action shooter named Mike Moran who suddenly got very interested in the primitive side of muzzleloading. It’s considered primitive because we use traditionally styled muzzleloaders and not the more modern styled guns, and we still like camping in lean-tos and tepees, as well as wearing buckskins at our events. These folks are referred to as “buckskinners.”

Moran thought such doin’s were worth a try, so he bought a rifle kit, put it together and then signed up as a shooter for the rendezvous of the Paul Bunyan Plainsmen americanshootingjournal.com 111

BLACK POWDER

LYMAN GREAT PLAINS RIFLE

If there are any anyy readers reade ders outt there who want wan nt to try ry muzzleloading, muzzzl zlel eloa oadi ding ng, let let me recommend rec ecom omme mend nd a good goo ood d rifle: rifle ri fle: the the Lyman Ly Great Great Plains.

Theree are less expensive Th expen ensivee rifles, but myy suggestion sugggestion is i to to start star st a t with w th a good wi goo ood d one. one. e I know kno now w a lot lot of black-powder black ck-p -pow wde der shooters who have these rifles and stay with them. They and h are re available avail bl in i .5050 0 and d .54-caliber 54 calib 54 ber and and d rightriight ht or left-handed lefftt ha hand ded d models, models d and they are veryy dependable.

For new shooters I also recommend starting with a percussion version simply because the flintlocks take more training and they are, let’s say, harder to get used to.

me the day before a shoot, I was ready for him when we got to the firing line the next morning. Moran didn’t score very highly at that event; one of the reasons was that he had not sighted-in his brand new rifle.

Moran did afterwards, and his scores have made a steady rise since that day. In fact, he recently outshot me. He has now graduated so far that he uses a flintlock rifle (a bit more difficult to use over a percussion), teaches other beginners how to shoot muzzleloaders and is now the new president of the Washington State Muzzleloading Association, which is an organization dedicated to providing shooting experience and prizes to young shooters.

The Boy Scouts of America is another group that promotes muzzleloading for young shooters, and a couple of our local groups here in western Washington are Troop 310 from Rochester and Troop 141 from Craig Brown (second from the right) with his Tenino. Craig Brown, a range“gang” of Boy Scouts on the trail. safety officer and instructor, personally guides these groups of youngsters, along with some volunteer assistance, through wooded trails where the scouts get a chance to shoot muzzleloading rifles at hanging steel targets. Among the activities these scouts enjoy include attending the annual Rain-de-voo (Western Shooting Journal, April 2014) of the Puget Sound Free Trappers, a subgroup The instructor loads a percussion cap into the rifle once the student is in position and on target. of the Capital City Rifle and Pistol

near Puyallup, Wash. (In the 1800s, American fur traders periodically met at designated places to be reunited with friends and family during weeklong gatherings called rendezvous, during which the traders would camp out, practice their shooting and throwing skills and enjoy one another’s company.)

Once registered, Moran asked if someone could give him some help or guidance and he was directed to join a group of shooters that I was guiding and scoring.

Since Moran introduced himself to

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American Shooting Journal // July 2015

Club in Littlerock, Wash., each year.

While out on these trail hikes, Brown makes sure that the muzzleloaders are never primed (or capped) until the boys are on the firing line and in a firing position. He is the only one in the group who actually has percussion caps, which, of course, are necessary for firing. When a scout is in position, Brown caps the rifle, which allows the already-loaded gun to be primed for firing. This process allows him to work with just one shooter at a time, making the activity very safe.

The scouts shoot on the Puget Sound Free Trappers’ range and the club is in favor of the training and experience the scouts receive, so the boys are allowed to camp and shoot there for free. If the scouts pay anything at all, I would guess it is just enough to cover the costs of the powder, ball and percussion caps.

My own start into muzzleloading might be worth telling about. I was in my midteens and working part-time in Ed Hilton’s gun shop. Ed had an original “Kentucky rifle” in .40 caliber, a flintlock that had been converted to percussion long before I ever saw it. This was in the late 1950s, and at certain times when there were no customers in the shop, one of us would ask, “Who is buying the Cokes?” With that as a cue, Ed would get the old rifle and the horn and bag, plus a paper target, and step outside where the target was posted on a large stump. Ed did all of the loading and we’d each take just one shot. The shooter with the hit farthest from center had to buy.

BLACK POWDER BOOK REVIEW: WEAPONS IN EARLY AMERICAN HISTORY

By James D. Gordon and James B. Taylor REVIEWED BY MIKE NESBITT

James D. Gordon recently teamed up with James B. Taylor to bring out another factand photo-filled volume on guns, knives and at least one cannon from the early history of our great nation.

Their 370-page book has 11 sections which address particular time frames, such as: The Age of Discovery and Conquest (1492-1692), where the featured weapons are matchlocks, wheel locks and crossbows; The French and Indian War (1755-63), which has a large collection of original F&I War-era powder horns; The American Revolution; and The Lewis & Clark Expedition. I won’t mention each section, but suffice it say that other subjects like the Pike Expedition, the Fremont Expeditions and the Mexican War are also covered.

My favorite chapter is The American Fur Company (1815-40), which is broken down into subsections for the Hudson’s

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With 11 sections – including one on weapons of the fur trade (above) – the book is filled with highly detailed photographs of over 300 weapons and some personal equipment, such as compasses and rum horns.

B Company Bay C and d the th h American A i Fur F Company, and covers an array of general firearms and accoutrements. This chapter alone is 45 pages long. The largest section is called The Alamo and Texas Independence (1835-45), with 60 pages dedicated to that era.

You can order this book directly from Gordon by contacting him at (505) 9829667. If you’d like to have your book personally autographed, just ask.

The dust jacket of the authors’ book. James D. Gordon has also published historical volumes titled Great Gunmakers of the Early West and Great Knife Makers of the Early West.

Published privately and limited to only 1,000 copies, Weapons has 370 pages, measures 11 by 14 inches and weighs just over 8 pounds.

americanshootingjournal.com 115

BLACK POWDER

The flintlock can be described as a system of firearm ignition generally used between 1660 and 1825. The rifle seen here is a Leman, and it was considered a trade gun. These were often swapped with Native Americans for goods.

At that time a bottle of pop from a machine that kept the bottles hanging by their necks while cooled in cold water was just 10 cents. The Cokes, and yes, Nesbitt’s Orange, were all very chilling and quite refreshing. Those dimes were more treasured than dollars are today, and

buying the pops, which I usually did, took all of the money I had, but I never missed the opportunity to shoot that old rifle.

If you would like to know more about the Washington State Muzzleloading Association, you can visit them at wamuzzleloaders.com. ASJ

This custom-built lightweight Hawken has a sidelock percussion with a copper cap on the nipple. The Hawken brothers of St. Louis were famous in the early to mid-1800s for building guns tailored to the mountain men of the time.

These were generally heavier guns that were reinforced through the wrist with longer tangs and trigger guards, which kept the gun from breaking through hard use.

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Eligible land owners reportedly have sold their available tags for $4,000 each for elk and $2,500 each for mule deer.

If HUNTERS were going to purchase available tags, which are often difficult to find, the cost savings, although it varies, could be around $26,000 per year. That equates to a 6.5% savings annually at a sales price of $395,000. This is an exceptional location for hunting.

The property taxes are $98.46 per year. This property is located about 40 miles east of Paulina, about four miles from pavement, on private roads and behind a gate for complete seclusion and privacy.

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UPLAND BIRD JOURNEYS Get A Jump On Fall’s Best Hunting Locations

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opping a pair of empties from my double-barrel shotgun, I took a knee, eager for the German shorthair to retrieve the bird. Cradling the bobwhite quail I admired its perfect plumage before slipping it into my vest and continuing on; the dog was already back at work.

That was my first quail hunt east of the Mississippi, near Birmingham, Ala. I often reflect on my 40 years of bird hunting adventures, the places I’ve been, the birds I’ve hunted, the people I’ve met along the way and the beautiful, diverse settings I’ve seen.

I’ve been to north Texas where scaled quail were No. 1 on the hit list.

I had a great hunt and came away with more scalies than anticipated.

In the deserts of Mexico, I got to hunt Gambel’s quail. These little bombers were a challenge, but the January heat was a welcome break from the rainy place I called home. A buddy has invited me to hunt these same quail near Nogales in Arizona, along with scaled and Mearns’ quail, but I’ve yet to make it.

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY SCOTT HAUGEN

VALLEY AND MOUNTAIN QUAIL can be found in the Cascade foothills of western Oregon. You can pursue them along with ruffed and blue grouse throughout the western slopes of the Cascades, as well as the Coast Range, which runs along the northwestern coast of the United States and up through British Columbia, Canada. All four species of these birds thrive in this habitat and can often be taken in a single day’s hunt.

Doves are thriving throughout the country and bandtail pigeons are making a strong comeback in the corner of the nation they call home. Earlier in the fall, before most grouse and quail seasons commence, mourning doves and bandtails can be hunted in western Washington, Oregon and California.

If you’re looking to experience some of the nation’s most thrilling upland bird hunting, head north to Alaska where three subspecies of ptarmigan thrive: rock, whitetail and willow. The Brooks Range area in northern Alaska offers the best opportunity for willows, whose winter flocks number in the hundreds. If you can’t make it to the Last Frontier whitetails can also be hunted in Colorado, Utah and California.

SPRUCE GROUSE AND SHARPTAILS are doing well in parts of the Lower 48, and can also be hunted in Alaska. My best sharptail hunting

IF YOU WANT THE MOST THRILLING UPLAND BIRD HUNTING, HEAD TO ALASKA.

Last fall, author Scott Haugen traveled to Adak Island in the Aleutians to film a ptarmigan hunting episode for Alaska Outdoors TV on the Outdoor Channel. He and the crew were more than impressed with the number of birds on the island, as well as the epic scenery and WWII structures that still dot the coastline. americanshootingjournal.com 119

ROAD HUNTER memories were made in Montana and South Dakota.

During one sharpie hunt near Buffalo, S.D., I happened upon multiple covies of Hungarian partridge, which held well, erupted on the flush and were excellent to eat.

One of my favorite upland birds to eat and the most physically demanding to hunt is the chukar. When planning this adventure, make sure you are in shape and your shooting skills are honed, invest in the best hiking boots you can afford, and if bringing a dog, make certain it’s in also shape and their feet are as tough as leather. Water is going to be crucial for you and your dog.

NORTH AMERICA’S BIGGEST GROUSE, the sage grouse, is coming back in some areas. My first sage grouse hunt took place in eastern Oregon, over 30 years ago, when tags had to be drawn.

Recently I’ve hunted these birds with dogs in Montana, which was great fun on the open sage flats.

There’s still a list of upland birds I yearn to pursue, including Mearns’

Ringneck pheasants, what many consider the pinnacle of America’s upland birds, can be hunted in many states. Here, the author’s 12-year-old son, Kazden is pleased with his two-bird limit.

UPLAND BIRD DESTINATIONS Oregon Mountain Quail & Grouse Southwest Oregon is home to the country’s highest concentration of mountain quail, one of the most prized upland birds there is. Blue and ruffed grouse can also be found here, along with valley quail. All four species can also be hunted in the western Cascades, east of Sweet Home, Eugene and Oakridge.

South Dakota Pheasants The country’s best pheasant hunting can be found throughout most of South Dakota.

Start your search around the towns of Aberdeen, Mitchell and Armour, where bird densities are high. Public and private land hunting is available there, and throughout much of the state.

Alaska Ptarmigan Adak Island isn’t cheap to reach, but it offers some of the best willow ptarmigan hunting on the planet. Locations north of Anchorage also offer good options, and are easier to access.

Missouri Bobwhites Missouri has long been regarded as the go-to place for bobwhites. You should concentrate your efforts along the northern parts of the lower Missouri River basin. This subspecies of quail can also be hunted throughout most of Oklahoma and Texas, as well as pine-forest habitats throughout Florida.

The author’s wife, noted cookbook author, Tiffany Haugen with a morning’s bag of valley quail. Also known as California quail, this species of topknots can be hunted in a variety of habitats up and down the West Coast.

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Montana Sharptails & Ringnecks The extreme northeast portion of Montana is coming back as a stronghold for both ringneck pheasants and sharptail grouse. Many hunters base out of a little town called Plentywood, located in the northeastern tip of Montana, but the hunting can be good throughout most of the eastern edge of the state. -SH

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Growing up, there weren’t many choices when it came to bird hunting vests. Today, specialized upland vests and jackets fill the racks in sporting goods stores.

Upland bird vests are specifically designed to accommodate many needs.

For example, if you hunt pheasants during the early season, you will find yourself in much warmer conditions than hunting in December, so for example, I wouldn’t use my pheasant vest while scaling cliffs for chukars.

If I’m out for the day with my dog, I want a vest that holds enough food and water for both of us. This is not the same vest I would use to hunt doves or pigeons, which do not require a lengthy trek or supplies. Hiking the hills or tundra for ptarmigan most certainly requires specialized clothing and vests.

When it comes to selecting a hunting vest or jacket that’s right for you, you’ll discover a need for multiple vests to accommodate the array of hunting terrain’s and tactics, just like I have. -SH

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ROAD HUNTER quail, greater and lesser prairie chickens, white-winged doves and woodcocks. I grew up pheasant hunting, and can never get enough of these birds. My wife and our sons all love hunting pheasants, together.

Interestingly, the very ďŹ rst pheasants introduced to North America were planted less than an hour from my home.

THAT’S THE JOY of upland bird hunting: No matter where you go, you can count on having a good time with hunting partners and dogs. The older I get, I ďŹ nd that ďŹ lling bag limits is not what decides a good day from a bad one. Rather, it’s the time spent with hunting companions and seeing places I otherwise wouldn’t see. ASJ Editor’s note: For signed copies of Scott Haugen’s popular big game hunting adventure book Life In The Scope: The West, send $15 (free S&H), to Haugen Enterprises, P.O. Box 275, Walterville, OR 97489 or order online at scotthaugen.com.

Focusing on sharptails, the author happened upon some bonus Hungarian partridge while hunting the northwest corner of South Dakota.

There are many places where multiple species can be taken in the same place.

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A FESTIVAL FOR KIDS Idaho’s Youth Hunting Camp

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY TOM CLAYCOMB III

hate to say it but I guess that I’m pretty selfcentered. I work a lot of hours and the few free minutes I get I like to be up in the mountains, hitting it hard. In 2004 my wife had a couple of kids in her school whose father had been put in prison. She wanted me to take them deer hunting, and the youngest one to something called the Scooter’s Youth Hunting Camp. I begrudgingly agreed to do so. This once-a-year camp is held on the first Saturday of May at a little gun range north of Boise, Idaho, near the western base of the Sawtooth Range. Wow, what a camp. I loved it!

Oh yeah, and the kid did too.

The idea of the camp is to give kids the opportunity to try their hand at a variety of different weapons, such as black powder, trap guns, .22-caliber handguns, archery, etc. Among many of the acitvities you’ll find seminars and stations that teach knife sharpening, gun cleaning and all sorts of other outdoor activities.

The camp is supported by all of the local sporting goods stores, businesses and hundreds of outdoors companies that donate items for the event, and the generosity is overwhelming. The kids are able to attend the camp for free, are provided lunch and snacks as well as water throughout the day and even given prizes for a job well done.

Every kid gets a prize.

Volunteers handle the grunt work to make the camp flow smoothly.

Th The day starts off with re registration, b but the kids h have to p preregister o online so iit’s more of a check-in

]Scott “Scooter” McGann’s youth camp north of Boise, Idaho, includes learning stations and separates the kids into six groups. Group one starts at the trap-shooting station, group two at the .22 range and subsequent groups at the archery, black powder, knife sharpening/gun cleaning and, lastly, the survival station.

I

In between shooting stations there are seminars conducted by pro-staffers who talk about and demonstrate a plethora of outdoorsman and -woman topics.

_

and they have to be between nine and 16 years old. You have to be quick because all of the 245 spots can be taken within the first two minutes of open registration.

Once check-in is complete, the local pastor says a prayer, and young Marines present the flag and everyone recites the Pledge Of Allegiance. Last year we had a volunteer named Nick Muche who lead the group and was deployed to Afghanistan just afterwards.

The different learning stations are possible due to the donations. For instance at the gun-cleaning station, supplies are donated by companies such as Otis and the Knife Sharpening Smiths. There’s a raffle table, which

]Throughout the day the kids are constantly rotating between

stations and seminars, and eventually go through each one having tried their hand at the full variety of options.

helps support the camp and keeps it running, and everyone’s overall favorite event comes at the end of the day when they conduct the grand finale kids drawing. Did I mention that every kid gets a prize?

Companies such as Knives of Alaska, ThermaCELL (makers of the ThermaCELL mosquito units, lanterns and heated insoles), GAMO, American Shooting Journal, 2nd Amendment Media, Spyderco, Birchwood Casey, Smith Abrasives, Blue Lizard sunscreen, Cabela’s, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Sierra Trading Post and hundreds of others to include local businesses donate for all of these raffles and drawings. This simply would not be possible at this scale without them, and they are all exceptionally generous.

Since the first time I attended 10 years ago I have been a volunteer. americanshootingjournal.com 127

I think it is the coolest camp in the world and I wouldn’t miss it to save my life. The reason that I’m writing this article is because I think it would be great to get these camps started in other areas. Is it a lot of work? Yes. You have to start planning in January, but is it worth it? Heck, yeah. Don’t panic. You don’t have to start out on a huge scale or make a big production.

We hold ours at a small gun range in the little old town of Emmett. Start out small and go from there. A buddy of mine over in Burns, Ore., texted me as I wrote this column to say, “It’s finalized. We’re going to do one there.”

That is fantastic.

The kids really take more away than just a great day of shooting.

They learn. One day a friend of mine, Mario Avila, who is from Costa Rica, brought his daughter Madelyn. She had never held a gun and learned a lot that day. I heard that after the camp when she was in school another student said, “Hunters slaughter all the animals.” Madelyn

aAt the end of the camp, everyone’s favorite event is the finale where all the kids attend a

drawing. Every kid gets a prize. After seeing one big smile on a little kid, it will be worthwhile for you. Imagine when you see 245.

corrected him and said, “No, they don’t! I learned at SYHC that hunters follow seasonal restrictions, and thanks to them there are more deer now than there’s ever been.”

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your own youth hunting camp, you can talk to Scott “Scooter” McGann, who runs the camp. He may be a big gruff guy, but he has a soft spot in his heart for kids. Contact him at scooterscamp@hotmail.com. ASJ

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RE loading

READY, SET, LOAD Part III - Testing Your Reloads

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY BOB SHELL

o, if you have been paying attention to Ready, Set, Load parts I and II (found in the American Shooting Journal, May and June 2015), then you have some good-looking rounds assembled. Make sure they feed and chamber cleanly before you leave the shop. Remember, it is easier to fix a problem in your shop than out in the field. Once you have established this basic test, it’s time to shoot, and we will talk about what a well-loaded shot looks like on a target.

First comes safety. If the load is too hot or too light, the signs will be readily apparent. If the rounds are overloaded, it will show most of the time. One mild sign might be a shiny ejector mark on the case head. As a rule they are not dangerous, but it will wear out the brass quicker.

chamber is clean and not bulged in any way, you have excessive pressure that is approaching the danger zone, especially in older guns. This is a good time to stop, pull the bullets, check and probably reduce the load.

When you get to the point of blowing primers and excessively hard extractions, then you are courting disaster if you continue to shoot them.

The cause could be too much or the wrong type of powder, or even the wrong type of bullets. If you think you put in too much powder, check to make sure you didn’t set your scales wrong when you measured back at the shop.

It’s a simple mistake but it happens, which is why it is so important to focus totally on the job at hand. Some of the powder labels look very similar; this is why you should only keep one powder on hand at a time during reloading.

HOT LOADS wear out a gun more quickly, and except in narrow circumstances, are not necessary. A good example is the 220 Swift. I load mine to about 100 feet per second below the absolute max. The accuracy is great and the groundhogs never notice the difference, but the rifle and brass does. Hot loads will enlarge the primer pocket, which will render it useless; this is not always a reliable indication of excessive pressure, though it should be considered.

Other causes may be a soft primer, sharp firing pin or sticky extraction. If you have a sticky extraction and your

LOADS THAT ARE TOO LIGHT are inconsistent and probably won’t shoot accurately. A really eally light load may leav leave sure a bullet in the barrel. If you are not sure ft the barrel, safely check if the bullet left hooting again. If there is it out before shooting d in the barrel, do not try a bullet lodged to shoot it outt by pulling the trigger again. This is very dangerous, and at the very least will ruin the barrel.

If the ammo has a different

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sound every time you shoot, you might have a hangfire, which can also be caused by a load that is too light. What happens is the powder isn’t evenly distributed within the case and does not burn at an instantaneous rate. It will burn slowly or irregularly, hence the hangfire. Old ammo can also cause a hangfire and should be discarded, but you can save the bullet. If you think you have a hangfire, keep the action closed for at least 30 seconds.

The powder could also be unstable due to poor storage conditions.

AMMO ACCURACY Naturally, you want to see how accurate your ammo is. Since there are a lot of things that affect accuracy, don’t panic if your ammo is all over the target. Causes may range from loose scope mounts to poor bedding.

If you have an accuracy issue, check out everything else first, including the shooter. If the ammo was loaded correctly, then it should be at least fairly accurate. Keep in mind different guns

Using the proper weight bullet will give you the best result. If your bullet does not match the rifling in your gun, you may find that it never properly stabilizes. Check the appropriate loads for your barrel’s twist rate.

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RELOADING like different loads, so you may have to try a few different combinations to get the accuracy you want.

Using a bullet that isn’t designed for a gun’s rifling is a common mistake. An example would be using a heavy 80to 100-grain bullet in a .223 rifle with a slow-rifling twist. The bullet won’t stabilize no matter what you do.

If you are able to achieve a 1- to 2-inch minute of angle at 100 yards with a bolt-action rifle, you are right where you need to be. Handguns will vary, but a decent gun and ammo combination should be able to achieve a 3- to 5-inch group at 25 yards, provided the shooter does their part.

So, if you have the desired accuracy and velocity without loads that are too hot, you have arrived.

You should keep records of all of your loads, both good and bad. Keeping notes on bad loads should prevent you from repeating them somewhere

If you suspect your ammo is running hot, you should check your scale to make sure it is measuring correctly; a hot load can be very dangerous. These .444 cases are most likely bulged from excessive pressure, which can be caused by a hot load.

down the road.

Another good way to test your ammo is to chronograph it. That

way you can see and not guess at the velocity, plus you can test it against manufactured ammo of the

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RELOADING same bullet weight to see how your ammo stacks up against the factory fodder. Caution!

You might get your feelings hurt. Modern factory loads have improved a lot over the last 20 years or so. They are very accurate and consistent and will be as good as customloaded ammo; this is especially true with some custom hunting loads.

During the course of my work, I shoot a decent amount of factory ammo and very seldom does it not perform as advertised. The downside to factory-made ammo is the cost, and there may be a problem getting it on a timely basis.

You will get a really great feeling when you have crafted your own product that performs well, rather than having to buy it from a store. Another one of the many advantages to rolling your own is the ability to make ammo for obsolete guns. Shotguns, as well, can benefit from reloaded ammo. I took down a bear with a Lightfield slug that I handloaded.

If you take an animal with your loads, this is a special type of satisfaction and there are very few things that will match it. ASJ

Using a Weatherby Vanguard with .30-06 reloads I was able to achieve this respectable minute of angle at 100 yards.

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SHEDDING LIGHT ON NIGHT SIGHTS An Intro For Novices uying your first handgun or even your fifth can be an intimidating experience. There are hundreds to choose from, and even more opinions to sort through, some of which are educated and others less so. The truth is that most of today’s handguns are high-quality firearms.

Once you have decided on a gun and purchased it, then it’s time to start practicing. In my experience as a firearms instructor the biggest issue new shooters have is the sight picture.

Sight picture, if not understood or if the wrong sight picture is used, can ruin an otherwise perfect shot. A bullet goes where you tell it to go, and one of the ways that you do this is through your sight picture.

A proper sight picture will depend on a few factors, such as the type of sights your new gun has. There are three-dot sights, white outline rear, dot on dot, dot on bar or the plain v-notch and front post sights, to name a few. One of the more popular handguns, Glock, uses the white outline rear sight with a dot front sight. Beretta, S&W, Sig Sauer and Springfield Armory all come with three-dot sights and most revolvers come with either the three-dot or the V-notch and a front post.

An issue that many of my new students have is visually picking up

training STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY TROY TAYSOM

The Meprolight Tru-Dot sights are adjustable for elevation.

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Trijicon HD-G26 (left) and Ameriglo Pro I Dot-G19 (right) both use tritium to illuminate their sights. Tritium is a radioative isotope that remains illuminated for up to 12 years.

Speed Sights (nontritium version) offer an exceptional visual because the sights are large and brightly colored.

(seeing) the sights when they are on the range, especially in daylight.

The first shot isn’t usually the problem; it is the subsequent shots where a new shooter has difficulty in reacquiring a proper sight picture.

The recommended fix is to replace the factory sights with aftermarket ones because they often offer a better visual to pick up.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS ARTICLE is to talk about several different aftermarket sights, how to use them, and review and rate them from a beginner’s standpoint. I brought several novice shooters together to try out some of these sights. All of the beginners had Glock Gen 4 Model 19s, so the testing was even across the board.

I had four sets of aftermarket sights and left the factory standard sights on one of the guns. These are the sights we used: • Trijicon HD • Ameriglo Pro I Dot • Meprolight Tru-Dot Night Sight Adjustable • Speed Sights nontritium • Glock OEM Sights Three of the five are night sights

^ that use tritium, which makes them glow. Tritium is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen and the sights generally glow for about 12 years. When you look closely at tritium sights, you will notice that they are made up of tiny vials that actually contains the tritium.

Even though the tritium is radioactive, there is nothing to worry about. Heard of Luminox watches? They use these same tritium vials to illuminate their timepieces. The Speed Sights are nontritium so they don’t glow in the dark. For the test and this article this isn’t really important.

Many of my students ask me what I think about night sights and replacing the factory sights on their new handguns. My first reaction is to ask some questions. “Can you see the sights that you have on your gun? Can you see them in bright light? Can you see them in low light? How is your overall vision? Did you buy a Glock?”

These questions serve a purpose.

Some shooters have poor vision and some simply have “old” eyes, like I do. For shooters suffering from either of these problems, having brightly colored sights helps to pick them up when shooting. Glock uses plastic americanshootingjournal.com 137

Training

All the novice shooters found the Meprolight Tru-Dot sights easy to pick up quickly and continue shooting accurately. These sights are a tad bulkier than the others tested here, but not so much that they would interfere with holstering.

sights on all of their guns, and in my opinion, plastic sights should be replaced as soon as feasible. They aren’t as durable as steel sights, nor are they as versatile.

What if you have good eyesight and you don’t have a Glock? Do you need night sights (or any aftermarket sights for that matter)? Well, no. Need is a strong word, but should you replace your sights? Yes, you should. Reasons for replacing the originals are: • Ease of picking up the sight in all lighting conditions; • Better quality than production sights; • Allows for unconventional slide racking (more later); • Greater durability.

Being able to see the sights is paramount to being a good shooter, but some people don’t use sights when shooting handguns. Those people are usually demonstrating tactical or self-defense drills. I am focusing on the basics of handgun shooting here.

I’ve been shooting for almost 40 years now. I was in the military and used to compete in pistol competitions as a civilian; I still work on the basics every time I go to the range. You can never practice the basics too much, and I always use my sights unless the target is within 3 feet.

I took my shooters out to the west desert in Utah and put them through some drills. I had each shooter shoot 138

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each drill with all of the different sights.

Since all of the guns were the same I didn’t have to worry about the shooters having to get used to a new gun each time. Here are the results from them shooting the aforementioned night/ aftermarket sights.

THE TRIJICON HD offers a brightly colored dot which made it easy for the shooters to pick up the front sights, get on target and subsequently stay on target. The rear HD sights are where the students had a bit of a problem. They have almost a blackout feel because the dots are faint and small in daylight.

AMERIGLO PRO I DOT also offered a brightly colored front sight, which everyone agreed helped them pick up the front sight quickly. But the Ameriglo has a slightly different sight picture. The rear sight is a single dot, so the picture requires the shooter to superimpose the dots instead of centering the front sight, as is more common in the three-dot system.

Once they had had some practice with the Pro I Dots, they became very proficient with them. Only one novice didn’t care for them.

The Ameriglo Pro I Dot sight requires the shooter to superimpose two dots. This is a slightly different sight picture than the traditional three-dot system.

The Trijicon HD sights offer a very bright front sight and subdued rear sights, which works well for focusing on the front sight.

THE MEPROLIGHT TRU-DOTS were loved equally by all the shooters. These sights have a more traditional look to them and can be adjusted for elevation. Everyone had an easy time picking up both the front and rear sights, and the Tru Dot made it fairly easy for them to consistently hit the target. These sights are bulkier than the others, but not enough to interfere with holster options.

THE SPEED SIGHTS (nontritium) were by far the most unique of the group.

They were very easy to pick up because they are huge and very brightly colored. The only problem we had – and this can be easily fixed with practice – is that the sight picture is so dramatically different than all of the others sights. The beauty of Speed Sights is that they have removed the need to try to eyeball the equidistance requirement

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Training will undoubtedly improve accuracy.

The Speed Sight design is nontraditional, so shooters will have to train to get used to this sight picture.

between the single front sight and the dual rear dot sight. You simply place the sight directly over where you want to shoot. This means that it is easier to keep your shots on target.

The problem the novices were having was remembering the new sight picture, but with practice these sights

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AS FOR ME, I prefer the Trijicon HDs. The selling point is the bright front sight and the more subdued rear sight.

That being said, I wouldn’t hesitate to put any of these sights on my Glock.

All are well made and will last for years to come.

Earlier, I mentioned unconventional slide racking, and here’s what I’m talking about. You may be forced at some point to rack the slide of your handgun without using both hands. You might fall and break your hand during a fight, or it may get cut or shot. Whatever the case, if you try to rack production sights against a solid surface, you may break the sights. All of the sights I used for this test will withstand unconventional racking. This is a more advanced technique, but one you should be aware of and practice when you feel comfortable doing so.

THE BOTTOM LINE is that I highly recommend replacing the factory sights on your handgun. The sights listed here are just a few of the options out there, but in my opinion represent the best options. Only one of the novices preferred the factory Glock sights, mostly because of the white-outlined rear sight that Glock uses. With practice, my feeling is that they would become proficient with any of the sights tested.

I also strongly suggest that you pay a gunsmith to install the sights for you. Installing sights isn’t difficult if you have the right tools, and unless you have these specialty tools, just let an expert do it.

I’m also happy to report that all of the companies that sent sights for me to try out (Trijicon, Meprolight, Ameriglo and Speed Sight) had great customer service, and I wouldn’t hesitate to put any of these sights on my handguns. ASJ

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KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELF With Handi-Racker, You’ve Got This! STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY DANIELLE BRETEAU y favorite things are gadgets, but not just because they are something new and interesting or ridiculously fun at times. Rather, because there is a story behind them, a reason someone came up with an idea or professed a need for such a device. I’m always interested in that story.

Enter Chris McAninch, owner and founder of Handi-Racker, and here is the story. The Handi-Racker was designed initially out of need. Someone came to McAninch and wanted to know if he could devise a tool to help them rack their semiauto pistol. They had a problem with their hand that kept them from being able to grip the slide with enough force to actually rack it.

McAninch thought about it and after a few trials, came up with something that looked like a plastic bar of soap, but considerably more interesting.

Since his first successful creation and subsequent request from folks all over the nation, McAninch says he gets weekly calls from people (veterans mostly) for no other reason than to thank him for his invention. That, he says, is what makes him passionate about this product.

If you think your store is short on great gadgets and want to distribute for them, McAninch would love to hear from you. For more, visit handi-racker.com. ASJ

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The Handi-Racker was invented to assist people with racking their semiauto pistols. There are many reasons folks would need assistance with this task, including arthritis, disability, low hand strength, missing fingers or hands, or possibly just a temporary cut that keeps you off your game. Many of our veterans, for example, suffer from some of these symptoms.

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In this effective design there is a perfect notch that accommodates the front sight and can be a great tool for gunsmiths or anyone with a semiauto. It’s small enough to keep in your pocket or range bag and can be used anywhere.

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What this is not – the Handi-Racker isn’t meant to function as a wider slide. This device is meant to work in conjunction with a solid surface such as a shooting bench, workbench, solid wall or the ground.

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To use the Handi-Racker, place the racker onto your slide. Once placed, put gentle pressure on top – just enough to hold it in place. Place the front end of the racker against a solid surface and then use your firing hand to grip the gun as you would anytime you are not on target (trigger finger straight), and just push against the surface. This pushes the slide back, racking a round into the chamber or possibly clearing a jam. The leverage makes the movement very easy.

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Handi-Rackers are made in America – Grimes, Iowa, to be exact. They come color coded depending on the size of your slide, and can also be used as a nice brace to securely hold your gun upside down on a workbench or in a gun store. americanshootingjournal.com 143

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The life of a contractor can sometimes revolve around airports, and the one in Kabul, Afghanistan is one of the most frequently used by those who take the high-paying, yet sometimes risky jobs.

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oday, there are hundreds of thousands of men and women working overseas on various contracts and making good money, probably two to three times what they can make in the United States. On top of that, they may even be eligible for the foreign earned income exclusion, which in 2014 meant that the first $99,200 of their total income earned overseas was excluded from being taxed at the Federal level (it’s higher for 2015).

However – and I can’t emphasize this enough – they are earning it!

Naturally, the best-paying jobs are in high-threat environments such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, etc. Yes, these places can be dangerous. Since 2001 over 3,300 civilian contractors have been killed, and almost 95,000 were injured in Iraq and Afghanistan alone.

The vast majority were third-country nationals, or TCNs, from places like Peru, Colombia, Philippines, Fiji, Uganda, Kenya, Egypt, Pakistan and so on. There were thousands of casualties from the US as well. In reality, the odds are that you will not be injured,

but you need to be aware that the possibility certainly does exist.

On the other hand, there are thousands of jobs in less risky places such as Kuwait, Qatar, India, Saudi Arabia, Africa, Antarctica (no kidding!

– there are actually waiting lists) and South America. It all depends on your skills, your sense of adventure and what you are willing to put up with.

As an overseas contractor you are often working in “austere environments.” This can range from living in a large tent with 15 other people and eating MREs (meal ready to eat) all the way up to enjoying individual rooms with a private bathroom, Internet, satellite television and access to gymnasiums, movie theaters, tennis courts and well-run dining facilities. It all depends on the company you are working for and where the contract is being performed.

LET’S TALK ABOUT THE PAY. Again, this is all dependent upon where

you are working, what you are doing, how long you are expected to be away from home and the living conditions. Generally, as a contractor you can expect that your living accommodations and food will be included as part of the deal. Pay can be as low as $15 per hour for unskilled labor or simple administrative functions. But remember, this is usually based on a 12-hour day and six days per week. That works out to

On-the-job dangers of being a contractor? Dead donkeys.

One was used to disguise an IED and destroyed this vehicle, driven by the editor, along a road in Afghanistan.

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$1,080 per week, $5,400 per month.

Not bad for those who have very few skills, plus there isn’t much in the way of expenses to pay either. At the other end of the spectrum, there are contracts currently paying more than $1,800 per day! Do the math and you can see that that is a butt-load of cash.

However, you need very special skills and experience, plus there is probably a very high risk of being seriously injured, captured by bad guys and having to wear those unflattering orange jumpsuits, and/or killed. Is the risk worth it to you and your family?

Getting a job and how much you can earn comes down to several things: • What documented skills you have; • Whether or not you have or can obtain a security clearance; • And what you are willing to put up with.

Were you in the military? If so, what was your MOS or occupation specialty? If you were in combat arms, were you in special operations, a grunt infantryman, military police, sniper, artillery? What about military aviation – pilot, jet engine mechanic, helicopter crewman? How about a background in intelligence – analyst, collection specialist, interrogator, translator? There is also combat engineer – plumbers, machinists, surveyors, draftsman, masons, and carpenters. Similarly, logisticians are highly desired – warehouseman, inventory specialist, shipping, motor pool, etc. You get the picture. Almost anything you did while in the military is desired by contractors.

But what if you were never in the military? Not to worry. If you were in law enforcement (preferably some form of SWAT) and there is a verifiable record of that, there are many options, especially if you are looking for security positions.

Almost any job you can think of can be found overseas, but companies are going to need proof that you can do what you say you can. This is mostly due to liability potentials, not to mention the 146

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WHAT SHOULD YOU KNOW AHEAD OF TIME? Do your research about any company you apply to very carefully. You can go on the various websites to see if they are offering the same or similar jobs. Be aware that many job listings are contingent upon the award of a contract, so many companies put out a listing for the same job and contract.

Ask questions about the pay scale. Be wary when talking with recruiters. They often have a quota to fill and will tell you what they think you want to hear.

Don’t be afraid to ask the following: • Who pays for travel?

• What is the luggage allowance?

• Are uniforms required and who supplies them?

• Are meals and housing provided, or is it on a per diem basis?

• Are there any special tools or equipment needed, and if so, who provides them?

• Are visas required and who arranges that?

• Are physicals, shots or other medical screenings required and who pays for that?

• Does the company provide training prior to departure?

• How many breaks are provided annually and who pays for that?

• When is payday – weekly, biweekly or monthly?

• Is there a completion or sign-on bonus?

These are just a few things to ask before signing on. Any legitimate company should provide all of the above.

In return, and especially if some type of specialized training is provided, you may be financially obligated to reimburse the company if you do not fulfill the terms of your contract, such as quitting prior to your scheduled return date.

Below are a few websites to start your hunt. (There are also paid subscription sites. They pretty much offer the same information as the free sites, so don’t waste your money.)

• overseasjobs.com • dangerzonejobs.com • clearancejobs.com • civiliancontractorjobs.com

company does not want to hire someone and pay for their travel, only to find out after a few weeks that they are not what they originally claimed to be. There are enough posers out there – don’t be one because you will be exposed eventually!

SECURITY CLEARANCES are huge, especially with government contracts. At a minimum you will have to be able to pass a basic background check. One of the biggest disqualifiers is heavy debt.

Why? The thinking goes, if you owe a great deal of money, you will be more likely to be tempted by bribes. Yes, it doesn’t make sense because you want to get the money to pay off those debts but then they won’t hire you. It has never been said that government logic makes any sense.

Now, pay attention because this one is important: Do not lie on the forms. Let me say it again: do not lie on the forms. Tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. The investigators will find out. Don’t be embarrassed. The investigators have seen everything before. They also know that no one is perfect and that we humans all make bad decisions at some point in our lives. If you have a reasonable explanation of why you were arrested 15 years ago for indecent exposure/ urinating in public, just tell them what happened. (“I was drunk, came out of a bar at 2 in the morning, and peed against the door of another car thinking it would be funny.

Unfortunately, the officers sitting in that unmarked car failed to see the humor of the situation!”) We’ve all done stupid stuff.

Of course, there is no guarantee that you will receive the clearance, but if they find out something that you didn’t disclose, that is an almost automatic disqualification. Even if the job doesn’t require a security clearance, any legitimate company is going to run a background check prior to employment.

It is also highly advisable to clean up your Facebook account and any

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Contract work might take you to the Middle East, where you’ll encounter novelties like the often highly decorative roundabouts (top) of Baghdad, Iraq; souks, or markets, specializing in gold, silver, herbs and silks (top right) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and the arms dealers (left) of Chicken Street in Kabul, Afghanistan, who have everything from AK-47s to black powder relics and land mines for sale.

other social media sites where you have posted pictures and information.

Those hilarious photos of you passed out at a party next to the toilet in a pool of vomit may invoke wonderful warm memories for you, but your future employer isn’t going to look

at them in exactly the same light.

Or you could just put some strict privacy settings in place. However, in the long run, it is probably better to do a good scrub of your life on the Internet. You’d be amazed at how easy it is to dig up information about someone online.

Danielle Breteau is an example of the variety of people in high-threat security positions. She was the first female to ever hold the title of high-threat security contractor for the U.S. State Department in Afghanistan in 2005, and the first female to become a team shift leader on the Worldwide Protective Services contract in Iraq in 2011.

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WHAT ARE YOU WILLING to put up with?

Can you live in a tent with a bunch of other guys in a remote, hot, dusty location for weeks on end, peeing in bottles or sharing a drafty wooden outhouse, enduring occasional rocket and mortar attacks and eating only military rations or local food?

Can you work with people from foreign cultures who are very strange to you? How about personal space?

Again, the idea of personal space is different in every culture. Some of these folks will stand right up next to you while they talk. If you keep backing away they are going to think something is wrong and be offended.

Personal hygiene is also different.

Many people around the world don’t bath nearly as often as Americans and have some pretty strong body odors. And even if they are clean, they may smell different due to the foods they eat. You also may or may not be allowed to talk to the local women.

What is a common occurrence in

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Living conditions vary from contract to contract. If you are lucky enough to have a solid structure to sleep in, it will most likely be similar to a shipping container that is shared with one or more people. The food services are often provided by local nationals with local food products, which can be very limited.

Some locations, usually those shared with the US military, offer food shipped in from America, but this too can be difficult as deliveries are often thwarted by insurgents. Problems like these cause the food to spoil before it ever arrives.

America may be highly insulting to other cultures, such as exposing the bottom of your shoe when crossing your legs.

Do your homework about where you want to work and decide what you can and cannot tolerate.

Remember, you are in other people’s country, and as the old saying goes, “when in Rome, do as the Romans do.”

How about the hours? Many overseas contracts expect a 72-hour work week. Yes, you read correctly: a

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72-hour work week, usually 12 hours per day, six days per week. Some might have you work every day of the week for 30 or more days before you are given a few days break. Contracts pay well, but they expect you to work hard. You will be away from home, meaning away from family and friends for months on end. Can your marriage survive that?

What about your kids? Then again, some couples without children or who have an empty nest can double their income with both husbands and wives

earning money by working on the same contract. This is an excellent way to quickly build a retirement nest egg.

You have to have thick skin and a high tolerance for huge egos, and general stupidity because you will run into a lot of that. You may have supervisors who you think are complete morons, and they may very well be. They may only be a supervisor because they have been there longer than you. However, they may also have some reason to enforce a policy,

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which, while not making any sense to anyone on the ground, makes perfect sense back at corporate headquarters, so the supervisor has no choice but to push it down.

Hopefully, they argued the point, but most likely they just rolled over and implemented the new guidance from HQ without so much as a whimper because they want to keep their job.

If you really don’t like working for a company, and especially if you think they are asking you to do something illegal or unsafe, start looking for another company to work for. Be fair warned, though: The grass may look greener on the other side, but when you jump that fence, you may find that’s only due to an overwhelming amount of BS. OVERSEAS CONTRACTING IS NOT for everyone. However, it will give you the chance to make pretty good money, you will see and experience things and places you probably never would otherwise, make some great friends,

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Traveling in and around high-threat locations, security contractors often drive in armored vehicles whether during their missions or while being transported from one location to another throughout the country.

probably meet some people who you will hate for the rest of your life, and give you some bragging rights with the folks back home. Like many things in our lives, it is all up to you and how you make the best of it.

Take advantage of the opportunities,

get some experience to put on your resume, and have a good time. Always keep a sense of humor. It will be an adventure. But remember the old saying: “Adventure is never fun while it is happening!”

Good luck! ASJ

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‘MIXING IT UP WITH BUFFALO, FACING DOWN LIONS’ A Professional Hunter From Missouri Takes His Doctor Brother On An African Hunt To Remember STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY NATHAN ASKEW

y brother Wells hadn’t really seemed very interested in hunting for a long time; I would say about 17 years. We were kids the last time we did a lot of hunting together, mainly for whitetail deer in the hills of southern Missouri. At the time we were both passionate about hunting, and had learned how to hunt together. We even killed our first big game animals together.

Things had changed quite a bit since then.

Wells and I went on very different paths, but ones that would eventually meet up in the Zambezi Valley. After university I followed my dream of becoming a professional hunter and took off to start my career in Africa. My brother had always known he would be a doctor, and he went to medical school. He then completed two separate residencies, one in internal medicine, and the other in cardiology. Wells eventually ended up as a cardiologist for the Mayo Clinic.

Life had been seriously busy for him and understandably he just didn’t have the time to be interested in many extracurricular activities.

My life, on the other hand, is seen by many to be one big extracurricular activity! Our father, who was also a doctor, would tell his patients that he had three sons: a doctor, a lawyer and an Indian chief – there was some truth to that.

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African crocodile taken by my brother Wells Askew (left). This was the fourth animal we shot in just as many days of a 10-day safari.

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A very old and massive “bossed” Cape buffalo shot by Wells (right) after a long stalk in the foothills adjacent to the Zambezi River. Bossed refers to horns that have grown together, denoting a particularly large buffalo.

When Wells and I first started talking about going on a dangerousgame safari I didn’t think he was serious enough to actually follow through. But the closer I came to leaving for my ninth season, the closer Wells got to his first African hunt. I knew he was hooked when I picked up his newly purchased .416 from a gun shop in South Carolina. That type of rifle is only good for one thing, and that’s big animals in Africa! He was really getting excited about this safari and I was thrilled that we were going to be able to hunt together again. The dates were set and the plane tickets were bought – he was on his way.

The safari got off to a crippling start. When he arrived in Zimbabwe, I was incapacitated in a hotel room with malaria. I was extremely sick and it looked like Wells’ official return to hunting was going to be indefinitely postponed. My brother was adamant that we fly back to South Africa or 160

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even America to get treatment. As you can imagine the hospitals around Harare, Zimbabwe, didn’t meet his approval. There wasn’t time for a transatlantic flight, so a friend put us in touch with a local physician named Dr. Gunning. He also thought that

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go back to the hunting camp. This was a step in the right direction and eventually we were on the road. I knew we didn’t have any more days to waste as Wells had come for a buffalo, crocodile and other various plains game. We needed all the time and luck

We both aimed for the neck and the shots went off as one.

I should be immediately admitted to a hospital where more aggressive treatment could be provided. I was outnumbered and too sick to object, so off we went. I was put on a quinine drip and all sorts of test were done.

Wells spent the first part of his safari in the hospital with me, refused to obey the visiting hours and kept a close watch over what was happening.

On the fifth day I was cleared to

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we could get. He had booked for 14 days; we were down to just about half of our hunting days and hadn’t even made it to camp.

The first hunting day was pretty rough. We decided to take it easy and only drive around the area to check things out. A fresh set of buffalo tracks changed that reasonable plan and we did exactly what we had decided not to do: we got off the truck with loaded

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backpacks and tracked the herd. It was a great hunt; we bumped into some elephant bulls fighting in the bush, got close to the buffalo several times and almost got a shot off, but the herd outpaced us. I eventually called it off as I was overheating and getting dizzy.

The first day didn’t yield any animals, but we were happy to be out of the hospital and finally hunting.

The next morning we were up early to check the hyena bait my apprentice had set up the day before. We closed in on the bait as daylight was breaking and were greeted by the fattest hyena

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was wrong. Once we set up on him he started to walk away. I quickly moved Wells to another shooting lane and our bloated target made the mistake of stopping one last time to stare at us. The .416 Barnes bullet did its job and the hyena dropped to the shot.

It was still early so we got some photos and quickly loaded the animal.

We kept on towards the flood plain with the hopes of catching an animal or two out in the early morning sun.

By the third day of hunting I began to feel much better. We departed camp at daylight and traveled light,

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Wells stood down the charge with me and the lion eventually backed off ...

I have ever seen. Apparently, he was the only one that had found the meat and decided to eat it alone. After his large meal he was too lazy to run even though I think he sensed something

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just the game scout and the two of us. This was actually a blessing as this scout could track well; he moved slowly and was always looking ahead. Many trackers get so focused on the track that

they go too fast with their focus on the ground. Along the track we found an unlucky buffalo bull, probably a friend of the herd that had been consumed by lions a week earlier. Just the skeleton, and massive horns remained.

About two hours into the track the scout spotted one of the bulls laying down about 70 meters away. I inspected the buffalo, and the one horn that I could see through the thick brush confirmed that he was a shooter. We got into position and I told Wells to fire when the bull stood up. Within seconds the buffalo was on his feet and the shot immediately went off. Dust flew up – nobody said a word. No blood, no reaction from the animal, and no idea what happened to that bullet.

We continued on the track and within 15 minutes I spotted that same bull and his traveling companions.

They were on the other side of a gully relaxed and feeding at ease. This shot was much further than the first one.

Just the same, Wells got his rifle on the shooting sticks and we waited for an

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The Askew boys after successfully hunting a massive hyena, which had just finished gorging itself on a baited carcass.

opening. The bull turned broadside and I told him to “aim half way up the front leg and squeeze the trigger.” The bullet hit the buffalo through the heart and the animal literally went hoofs up.

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First time I had seen that with a buffalo.

I think the shock of the bullet and his relaxed state caused him to drop. He fell and immediately rolled a couple feet down a steep slope becoming wedged

upside down between a rock and a tree where he stayed. From our perspective it looked as if he just flipped over.

I had located a few nice 13- to 14foot crocs about two weeks earlier in an offshoot of the main river. There was enough water to hold them there, and they seemed content staying in this area. The wind forced us to hunt from the other side of the water than I had previously scouted, and there were a lot more reeds on this side; it was difficult to navigate.

On the way in we scared off a decent croc that we didn’t see. About the time we were going to give up I spotted the black back of an old croc facing away from us in a small depression close to the bank. We made our approach and got into position; only the angle was wrong and it didn’t offer enough of a vital target. We had to back out, and walk around another arm of water in order to get a better angle on this lizard. After 15 minutes of crawling through mud and thick reeds we found ourselves in a better position.

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We decided to shoot at this animal together to ensure that we anchored it on the bank. Wounded crocodiles are difficult to track. We both aimed for the neck and the shots went off as one.

I can’t say that either of us hit exactly where we were aiming, but the results were quite effective!

Over the next two days we collected a beautiful zebra, a not-so-beautiful baboon, a male impala, and were charged at by an angry lioness. Wells stood down the charge with me and the lion eventually backed off after a lot of bitching. I could tell that he was excited, and even pleased about the lion charge. When I asked him what he thought about the lion, he said “That was scary, but I’m glad it happened – I learned something about myself today.”

I smiled and agreed.

On the last day of the hunt the afternoon found us in a boat on the way back to camp as the sun was going down. There had been no sign of a decent waterbuck, but no one was complaining. We had beaten the

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odds and pulled together a successful hunt. As unlucky as we had been in the beginning we had been just as lucky once we actually started – everything considered, the hunt couldn’t have worked out better.

A kilometer from camp I spotted a waterbuck bull with a female on the bank. I turned the boat away and made a big circle as to not alert them. Once we were out of their sight I headed straight towards an island that was between us and the waterbuck. I beached the boat on the opposite side of the island and we hit the ground running to get to the other side before we ran out of daylight. I moved around, peering through the reeds, searching for the animal I knew had to be there. The female spotted me and jumped out of sight. The big male didn’t manage to make us out before the shot was on the way. The animal jumped and disappeared. By the time we got to the shore it was dark. We recovered the waterbuck with flashlights and loaded him on the

boat for the short trip to camp.

Early the next morning Wells started the long journey back to America. I stayed behind to finish the season. The longer he had been in the bush, the less he had acted like a responsible doctor; he was beginning to agree with many of my ideas that he would have found absurd a few weeks earlier. I had my older and more rational brother mixing it up with buffalo and facing down lions.

This was great; I could see that he finally understood why I return to Africa every year to struggle through season after season of what most would consider a high-risk, low-reward type of activity.

The reward is in the experience. A sense of adventure and an occasional brush with danger puts life into perspective.

Africa is one of the few places on earth where a person can be put to the test, and prove things to themselves that most people will never realize. ASJ Editor’s note: Nathan Askew is the owner of Bullet Safaris. You can visit them at bulletsafaris.com