Amsj july web

NOVESKE Aiming High With New N6

American WHAT P ride FREEDOM MEANS TO US

LEGEND

LARRY VICKERS Green Beret, Delta Force, Tac Guru

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GUN REVIEWS

SIG Sauer P226 Air Pistol Keystone Arms Model 722 FP-45 Liberator

Hunting With CZ-USA’s Dave Miller

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American Shooting Journal // July 2016

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American Shooting Journal // July 2016

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American Shooting Journal // July 2016

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A MERIC A N

SHOOTING JOURNAL Volume 5 // Issue 11 // July 2016 PUBLISHER

James R. Baker ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER

Dick Openshaw

GENERAL MANAGER

John Rusnak

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Andy Walgamott EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Danielle Breteau LEAD CONTRIBUTOR

Frank Jardim

CONTRIBUTORS

Larry Case, Tom Claycomb, Darrell Holland, Steve Joseph, Raylee Melton, Mike Nesbitt, Rob Reed, Rick Ross, Troy Taysom, Oleg Volk SALES MANAGER

Katie Higgins

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

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

Sonjia Kells DESIGNERS

Michelle Hatcher, Sam Rockwell, Liz Weickum PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Kelly Baker

OFFICE MANAGER/ ACCOUNTING

Audra Higgins

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Katie Sauro

INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER

Lois Sanborn

WEBMASTER / INBOUND MARKETING

Jon Hines

DIGITAL ASSISTANT

Samantha Morstan CIRCULATION MANAGER

Heidi Belew

DISTRIBUTION

Gary Bickford, Barry Johnston, Tony Sorrentino ADVERTISING INQUIRIES

ads@americanshootingjournal.com

ON THE COVER Noveske Rifleworks director of sales Scott Lookabaugh holds the southwest Oregon company’s N6 Leonidas, chambered in 7.62x51. (NOVESKE RIFLEWORKS) Inset: World-record shotgun holder and (who knew?!?) Missouri turkey “guide” Dave Miller of CZ-USA put our scattergun writer Larry Case into a Show Me State gobbler for a story this issue. (CZ-USA)

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 2016

americanshootingjournal.com 11

CONTENTS

VOLUME 5 • ISSUE 11 • JULY 2016

WHAT’S NEXT AT NOVESKE

49

Noveske Rifleworks is an industry leader for all things innovative and AR, but after the loss of their founder in early 2013, this Oregon outfit stepped behind the curtain. Till now. Check out their next trick – and prepare to give them a standing ovation.

(NOVESKE RIFLEWORKS)

FEATURES 35

GUN REVIEW: VINTAGE’S FP-45

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Myth swirls around the FP-45, half a million of which were made during World War II to drop behind enemy lines and sow confusion. Whether any were fired at Nazis is a mystery, but these historic single-shots now boast a reproduction.

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MULTIFACETED K9S Training elite working dogs to chase, bite and guard against perpetrators is nothing new. But how do you get these selectively bred canines to take on more roles and know when and how to switch? Meet the trainers and dogs at FTI K9 in Florida.

LEGENDARY LARRY VICKERS Larry Vickers is a renowned firearms expert, enthusiast and instructor – and that barely scratches the surface. Do you know where Vickers’ wealth of knowledge came from? We dive into his back story – days in the Green Berets and Delta Force!

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GETTING REAL IN TENNESSEE Brian Winchester brings the full theater of threat awareness and protection under one roof at Reality Based Tactical Training. From firearms to psychological effects and crisis management, this level of training is simply not found elsewhere.

105 THE SPARK OF LIFE Survival expert Darrell Holland takes us on a perilous hike, fraught with suspense. But he doesn’t leave us hanging; instead, he shows us how to never succumb to the elements with this unique firestarter.

147 HUNTING WITH CZ-USA’S CLAY-KILLER DAVE MILLER Larry Case took to the hills of Missouri with none other than Guinness Book of World Record-holder Dave Miller to see how this champion shotgunner takes on wily Show Me State turkeys.

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

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American Shooting Journal // July 2016

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CONTENTS ALSO INSIDE 19 27 88 115 123 129 139 155 161 169

Birth Of America: History Of Independence Day Gun Review: Keystone Arms Model 722 What Freedom & Made In America Mean To Me Interview: Volquartsen Firearm’s Tim Norris Perfection For Rent: The 4D Reamers Story Product Review: Shooting Chrony’s Beta Master Blackpowder: The .44 Russian Q&A: Legendary Arms Works’ Walter Hasser Gun Review: SIG Sauer P226 Air Pistol Product Review: Testing Leupold’s DeltaPoint Pro Sights on a Glock G19

68 PAWS FOR VETERANS (PATRIOT PAWS SERVICE DOGS)

DEPARTMENTS 17 21 23 25

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Editor’s Note Competition Calendar Gun Show Calendar Top Shooters

American Shooting Journal // July 2016

Veterans suffering all sorts of war trauma have found comfort, companionship and a helping paw, thanks to Patriot PAWS, a nonprofit that provides service dogs free to these heroes.

Learn how they make this happen!

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American Shooting Journal // July 2016

EDITOR’S NOTE

i

’d like to extend a sincere thank you to the men and women who labored for years to ultimately achieve our nation’s freedom in 1776. This year, celebrate July 4th with the understanding that the culmination of all it took to arrive at what we hold dear was not without immense loss. These men and women questioned an unfair system, stood up to what they knew was unjust and, most of all, they fought very long and hard without wavering on their goals. This day should be celebrated with very humble appreciation.

In this month’s self-defense and working K9 issue, we bring you the story of Patriot PAWS, an organization that breeds, trains and provides service dogs to veterans at no cost to them. We also introduce you to Brian Winchester of Reality Based Tactical Training, who is committed to bringing the full theater of self-defense training under one roof, and firearms legend Larry Vickers shares his formative years in the Green Berets and Delta Force.

I must also end this note with a goodbye.

This is my last issue with American Shooting Journal. You see, I am retiring and will pass the torch to Craig Hodgkins, a former editor for Gun World, among a plethora of other skills and talents.

I am excited to see what his touch brings – they are sure to be fantastic. Thank you for being amazing readers, playing my games on Facebook and being extremely supportive of my direction. Be nice to Craig. He is a good guy!

Executive editor Danielle Breteau

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American Shooting Journal // July 2016

PRIMER

THE BIRTH OF AMERICA

A

mericans tend to view July 4, 1776, on which the Declaration of Independence was adopted, as the singular day that represents the birth of the United States. But the long struggle by the men and women of that bygone era and how the document united a nation’s heart was much more involved. Sadly, most of these forward-thinking first American citizens would never live to see the timeless value of their efforts.

April 19, 1775: The American Revolution officially begins at the Battles of Lexington and Concord, Mass.

July 2, 1776: Congress adopts Lee Resolution.

July 4, 1776: Congress adopts Declaration of Independence; copies known as “Dunlap Broadsides” printed that evening.

August 2, 1776: Declaration of Independence is actually signed.

November 1776: Declaration of Independence is delivered to Great Britain.

June 14, 1777: The first American flag is adopted by Congress.

June 7, 1776: Virginia’s Richard Henry Lee introduces Resolution of Independence in Second Continental Congress.

July 4, 1826: Thomas Jefferson passes away.

June 11, 1776: Congress forms committees to flesh out the resolution; Thomas Jefferson begins writing first draft of the Declaration of Independence, submitting it on June 28.

Almost 100 years later, Congress declares the Fourth of July a national holiday, as well as Christmas and New Year’s Day.

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American Shooting Journal // July 2016

PRIMER

TOP SHOOTERS

Shooting the SIG P226 air pistol, Tom Claycomb zips a pellet past the scales at a whopping 350 feet per second in the cold. Sweet SIG! (TOM CLAYCOMB) Larry Case fought Missouri turkeys this spring – and won! (DAVE MILLER)

Professional photographer Oleg Volk steps out from behind the camera during a photo shoot of the Keystone Arms 722 featured in this issue.

(OLEG VOLK)

To have your photograph(s) featured here, email chodgkins@ media-inc.com with all the pertinent details! americanshootingjournal.com 25

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American Shooting Journal // July 2016

gun reviews

The Model 722 comes in three variants: the simple Sporter, the more refined Classic and the heavy-barreled Varmint.

KEYSTONE ADDS ROUNDS WITH 722 Seven-shot Rifle Comes In Sporter, Classic, Varmint Models

K

eystone Arms has long been known for single-shot .22-caliber bolt-actions for kids. Last year, they introduced a very unique repeater bolt action, which was released during the rimfire-ammunition shortage that happened not long ago. This gun came out with no fanfare and made very little impression in the gun industry.

The Model 722, named for its seven-shot capacity and caliber, comes in three variants: the simple $262 Sporter, the more refined $315 Classic and the $340 heavy-barreled Varmint. They share all parts except the barrel and stock.

THE SEVEN-SHOT MAGAZINE is genius. The thick stainless-steel lips are smooth to the touch, and all seven rounds can be loaded quickly and effortlessly. Since all of the external edges are smoothly radiused, a handful of these mags can be carried in a pocket with no worry of them scratching each other.

You won’t find a magazine catch on this gun. The magazine is retained on both sides by a springy mag well.

The magazine locks in solidly until the shooter pulls down on the magazine with moderate effort, and they cost around $22 each. Even though I have several, I found myself just reloading the same one in the field because the process was

REVIEW AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY OLEG VOLK

so quick and effortless.

The seven-shot capacity is dictated by the curve of the ammunition stack. If there were more than seven, the cartridge would have to curve forward even more, requiring a more complex magazine body shape.

ALL VARIANTS OF the Model 722 come with a crisp 2-pound trigger with an overtravel adjustment. The bolt has a locking lug opposite the handle, which acts as a second lug. The action is smooth and easy to run. The symmetrical design operates with only a 50-degree throw, easily clearing even the largest scopes.

The short 1.5-inch cycle distance makes for very quick loading.

The short length of the action permits a 20-inch barrel on a very light and compact gun. The 13.25-inch length of pull makes it feel even smaller. The safety is a lever – forward for fire, back for safe. It clicks very positively, but the angle of throw is fairly small, so it’s sometimes hard to tell at a glance if it’s on. On the left side of the receiver there is a spring-loaded bolt retainer. The bolt does have to be cycled briskly for reliable ejection.

KEYSTONE ARMS’ SISTER company is Revolution Stocks, a premier aftermarket manufacturer. It’s no surprise that americanshootingjournal.com 27

gun reviews action fit. Keystone didn’t skimp on the manufacturing process – even the trigger guard is a nicely machined part.

(Top left) The bolt has a locking lug opposite the handle, which acts as a second lug, and the short length of the action permits a 20-inch barrel. (Top right) The action is smooth and easy to run, and the symmetrical design operates with only a 50-degree throw, easily clearing even the largest scopes. (Bottom left) There isn’t a magazine release on this rifle. The magazine (Bottom right) is retained by a springy magwell. Just push in until it locks solidly into place and pull down with moderate effort to remove.

the stock quality for all three variants is superb, with a tight wood-to-metal finish. The decades of metalworking experience behind the Crickett brand also make for excellent

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American Shooting Journal // July 2016

THE CLASSIC IS lightweight at just 4.6 pounds, and feels even lighter, thanks to the good balance. The Varmint is a couple of pounds more, but the sculpted thumbhole stock makes steadying it off-hand quite easy. The Classic comes standard with Williams Firesights, fiber optic front post and semibuckhorn rear that adjusts for windage and elevation.

Picking up the front is very easy in any kind of light, but the bright fiber optic pipe on the front sight obscured at least 2.75 inches of the bull’s-eye, making precise alignment difficult. At best, my groups were 2 inches at 25 yards. After trying several kinds of ammunition, I gave up and scoped it with the dedicated Primary Arms 6x rimfire BDC scope in low rings and tried again. The results improved greatly: From prone at 80 yards, the CCI Green Tag ammo grouped at 1.25 inches, or about 1.5 minute of angle. Ammunition quality matters. Bulk .22 gave me 3MOA at best. Even with bulk Federal ammo, the BDC reticle made hits on pop cans placed 50 yards downrange routine. Shooting off of a lead sled indoors, without wind, produced 1.25MOA with Aguila Match, 1MOA with Aguila Super Extra subsonic and 2MOA with Federal 550-round bulk pack. I am guessing Green Tag would have come in at about 1.25MOA as well.

americanshootingjournal.com 29

gun reviews comes from its match chamber incompatibility with the CCI Stinger hypervelocity round often used by actual varmint shooters. The Aguila equivalent works fine, as does the Winchester, but neither hypervelocity load equals the standard velocity loads in outright accuracy under controlled range conditions. In the real world with wind drift and imperfect range estimation, the faster loads perform almost as well as the match bullets.

(Left) The Classic comes standard with Williams FireSights, fiber optic front post and Twin forend studs allow for simultaneous semibuckhorn rear that adjusts for windage and elevation. (Right) All variants of the Model 722 come with a crisp 2-pound trigger with an overtravel adjustment. installation of a bipod and a shooting sling.

Despite the greater weight, I consider the Varmint THE REAL ACCURACY testing was with the Varmint version. version the best of the three models not only for rested Prone at 25 yards produced a single seven-shot hole shooting but also for field hunting. The exception would scarcely larger than the bullet diameter. Topped with the be left-handed shooters, who would have to stick with the superb 6-24x Weaver with an adjustable objective, this rifle ambidextrous Classic stock design. made extreme accuracy the default result. The slim 1-inch tube with a 40mm objective permitted low rings and thus OTHER THAN THE QUICK but imprecise iron sights, Classic is a minimal sight height over bore. The mildot reticle provided strong competitor to CZ455 Military Trainer. With optics, for drop compensation, and the focusable objective made for the 722 Varmint gives up nothing at all to the competition. a crystal-clear view of the bull’s-eye obliterated by precision Overall, the rifle is just fun to use. Its operation is so fire. Both CCI Green Tag and Aguila Rifle Match grouped transparent that it feels like a natural extension of near 0.6MOA, and Eley Match was right at 0.5MOA at 50 the marksman. yards – a great performance for any rifle, and even more so for the budget-priced 722.

One exception to the versatility of the Varmint model Editor’s note: For more info, go to keystonesportingarmsllc.com.

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American Shooting Journal // July 2016

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American Shooting Journal // June 2016

gun reviews

THE LOST PISTOL OF WORLD WAR II Building And Shooting The Vintage Ordnance Co.’s Reproduction Of The FP-45 Liberator STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY FRANK JARDIM

C

landestine weapons like the World War II FP-45 pistol, later dubbed the Liberator by the Office of Strategic Services in 1944, have always intrigued me. It remains the rarest of American martial handguns from the conflict, with original examples usually starting in the $1,500 range for rusty, damaged pieces and the best examples, with their impossibly rare waxed shipping boxes, bringing over $7,000. Myths and misinformation hide the pistol’s real story; they weren’t wildly inaccurate junk guns that exploded after a few shots, and they were never tossed out of airplanes over occupied Europe en masse.

THE FP-45 PISTOL was inexpensive by design. Constructed mostly of welded, stamped sheet metal parts with a die-cast zinc cocking piece, each gun cost the federal government a bit over $2, boxed for delivery with 10 rounds of .45 ACP ammunition. Only 5 inches long and weighing a pound, this single-shot pistol was conceived as an instrument of chaos in the darkest times of the war. The idea seems to have originated with a Polish military attaché in March of 1942. His request for assistance with arming resistance fighters in Nazi-occupied areas was important enough that it reached the attention of the American assistant chief of staff for intelligence (G-2) of the War Department General Staff. In a little over two weeks, the Joint Psychological Warfare Committee completed a detailed plan of action and recommended urgent implementation, which was supported

by Army Chief of Staff George C. Marshall.

They recommended a light, simple, inexpensive, powerful handgun that could be dropped from aircraft – or other distribution methods they might contrive to suit the circumstances – to litter the countryside of occupied nations.

Once delivered in theater, these little handguns would subject the enemy’s garrison troops to great mental anguish because even though they would find some of the weapons, they would never know how many they didn’t find. Hopefully, their anxiousness would be heightened by some fatal closerange headshot casualties too. The expectation was that at least some of the weapons would be found by those intrepid souls who dared to resist the yoke of totalitarian rule forced on them by Germany and Japan.

SIX MONTHS LATER on August 21, 1942, one million FP-45

The FP-45 Liberator is renowned as one of the rarest American martial handguns from WWII.

pistols had been completed. The FP designation stood for “flare projector,” and was part of a subterfuge to mislead enemy spies. Manufacturing was done in total secrecy at General Motor’s Guide Lamp factory in Anderson, Ind. The assembly work took an astonishing 11 weeks. Three hundred employees worked around the clock to put together the 23 individual parts that made up each pistol in an average of 6.6 seconds. It took them less time to assemble it than it took the average shooter to load and fire the weapon. It was a manufacturing tour de force, and Guide Lamp would later receive the contract to make the M3 submachine gun, which also utilized efficient welded sheet-metal stampings.

WITH 100 BOXCARS OF FP-45S at the Allies’ disposal, differences of agreement, some political and some practical, arose about how to best utilize them. In the end, the majority of the pistols were destroyed, but a significant number – perhaps 383,000 – were at least sent to active theaters of war with no record of their return.

General Dwight Eisenhower, Allied commander in the European theater, got 500,000 FP-45s. He felt that air dropping them wasn’t a practical use of his precious air resources that were better utilized dropping bombs on the enemy. Contrary to the tales of mass airdrops, usually involving second-hand oral history from some now-deceased relative who did it, there is no written evidence showing that the FP-45 was ever distributed in any significant quantity in France.

Ralph Hagen, in the research for his superb book americanshootingjournal.com 35

gun reviews

The Vintage Ordnance Co. creates a build-it-yourself kit of the FP-45 Liberator, which cosmetically matches an original Liberator (left) well.

Attempting to build this kit based on the original Liberator’s (right) plans might prove frustrating.

Many modifications were made without documentation.

The Liberator Pistol, collected and conducted many interviews with key people involved in American-, Britishand even German-military intelligence and clandestine operations from the time, as well as accounts from French resistance ďŹ ghters. None of them could support anything other than a token distribution in the theater, if that!

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American Shooting Journal // July 2016

When building the replica FP-45, author Frank Jardim focused on using tighter tolerances and materials than the original (top) to ensure it was safe to shoot.

Of the half-million weapons sent to England, less than 1,000 guns were sent to Sweden, and some small unknown quantity was issued for the D-Day operation. There is also one known veteran account of an FP-45 being used by a 101st Airborne paratrooper at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. He stated that he was given the pistol and an orange-

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gun reviews flare cartridge to signal his position to armored American units trying to relieve the surrounded soldiers.

More of Eisenhower’s Cosmetically, this replica has a rifled barrel and 500,000 FPdiscrete markings that comply with federal law.

45s went to the The original does not have either.

British War Office than anywhere else. The 30,000 they received went to the Suez, India and Gibraltar. What happened to them there is not known. This is the case with most of the pistols sent into the active theaters of the time. Once they arrived, any written record of how they were ultimately used has yet to be found and probably no longer exists.

IN THE PACIFIC THEATER, General Douglas MacArthur was much more interested in the FP-45 pistol than his European counterpart. MacArthur requested and received 50,000 guns in total, which he appears to have made use of. Unlike the other theaters of war, there is solid written evidence that

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American Shooting Journal // July 2016

the pistols were distributed in the field. MacArthur himself indicated in a report that he had used the first 8,000 guns to arm native villagers in the Solomon Islands of Tulagi and Guadalcanal. American veterans returned home from this area with souvenir FP-45s.

The pistols were clearly used by the Philippine guerillas, and I have personally found original guns there. Some were delivered by submarine. Others may have arrived by airdrop, though the complexity of finding anything airdropped into the jungle suggests that wasn’t likely. Airdrops on the coastline, however, were made.

The second largest shipment of guns from America numbered 200,000 and was delivered to Calcutta (now Kolkata), India, in July of 1944. Forty thousand went on to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and another 44,000 to Burma. The rest were destroyed after the war.

The third largest shipment was 100,000 guns destined for Jorhat, India, in August of 1943. Their ultimate destination was China. There is evidence that the pistols did make it into the hands of the locals, guerillas and bandits alike, but exactly how many will never be known. The only recorded image of an FP45 pistol in theater during World War II shows the pistol in the waistband of an Asian man in Kunming, China.

In July of 1944, another shipment of 40,000 was delivered in Algiers, Algeria, and some of these guns are known to

americanshootingjournal.com 39

Easily understandable drawings detailed how guerilla forces were to load and unload the original FP-45, along with where to find more bullets.

have made their way to guerilla operations in Greece.

THE NUMBER OF FP-45 pistols actually used to fire a shot in anger is a matter of speculation only. Guerillas can’t be faulted for poor record keeping. It’s probably pretty hard to write a report with a Nazi or Japanese patrol hot on your trail. But for most of my adult life I’ve wondered what it was like to shoot an FP-45. If I was a Greek partisan in Thrace, or a Philippine guerilla in Luzon in 1943, could I actually make a one-shot kill with this clumsy-looking gun? I decided to make a replica of the Liberator.

The motto of Vintage Ordnance Co. LLC is “Just like the originals, only better,” and if there was ever an antique gun that could stand to be better, it’s the FP-45. From an engineering and design standpoint, the FP-45 is brilliant.

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gun reviews Though distributed by Allied forces in the European and Pacific Theaters, the FP-45 saw rare use, if much at all during the war.

sloppy. Many are quick to call the original guns junk, but I disagree. The original guns were at least as good as they needed to be and probably a little better. By the spring of 1942, the Axis powers had already conquered most of Europe and Asia. There was certainly no time to waste making the FP-45 a masterpiece of fit and finish. It was actually the first mass-produced US military small arm made of spot-welded, sheet-metal stampings. They may not have looked all that great, but apparently they all fired. According to the project managers, every one of the million units built in the summer

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of 1942 was test fired for inspection.

In creating the Vintage Ordnance Co. replica, I worked from the original plans and corrected against the actual pistol. The existing plans alone were not enough to build an accurate replica. Inconsistencies between the finished product and the plans were often dissimilar, which was typical due to the urgency of production. Often, design adjustments were made on the factory floor and never recorded on the drawings.

Guide Lamp only expected their FP-45 to have a 50-round usable life, which was plenty for its intended purpose. Collectors today would find that unacceptable. The “Better than the originals” objectives of my project centered on using stronger, tighter tolerances, materials, precisely controlled welding and accurate headspace. All of those improvements ensured my reproduction FP-45 was strong and safe to shoot without the built-in expectation of failure that makes firing an original a fool’s errand.

I made the barrel, tube strap (breech ring) and cover slide (breech block) out of 1050 medium-carbon cold-rolled steel for greater strength. It’s the same steel Browning Automatic Rifle receivers were made of. I tightened the chamber tolerances to meet commercial standards and addressed the terrible headspace problems of the original that allowed them to batter themselves apart under repeated firing. Also,

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my reproduction zinc cocking piece is cast from a denser alloy for greater strength.

Cosmetically, the replicas differed from the originals in a few ways: the reproduction has a rifled barrel and discrete markings to comply with federal law, and hopefully prevent it from being unscrupulously sold as an original antique. I marked the serial number on the front of the grip frame and company information, model and caliber designation on the underside of the barrel behind the trigger guard.

All characters are the minimum 1/16 inch high.

In the course of prototype testing, I fired over 100 rounds over numerous sessions. It took a day to recover enough from the pounding this little pistol gave me to go at it again and finish the testing.

These marathon firing sessions with high-pressure .45 ACP 230-grain loads were the most unpleasant experience in my 30-plus years of shooting. The recoil is very stout for sure, but it is aggravated by the small grips and the grip angle. In my hand, I found that I had to angle my wrist upward to the limit of its range of motion to get proper sight alignment. I simply can’t hold the pistol tightly enough to prevent it from snapping my wrist back past that limit.

I didn’t feel it so much in the first 10 rounds, but it got progressively more painful to shoot the pistol.

Another recoil characteristic was the tendency for the Liberator’s zinc cocking piece to move backward against the spring pressure, causing the point of the guide pin to stick in either the right or left side of the tube strap. This expedites reloading, but I have no reason to believe that it was an intentional design feature. Some ultrafast video recording showed that the cocking piece’s rotation under recoil appeared to be caused by the back of it hitting the shooter’s hand.

keyholing, which he highlighted in his book The Liberator Pistol: Development, Production, Distribution.

I shot two groups at each distance.

Sight picture is somewhat obstructed by the guide-pin boss on the cocking piece. The cocking piece was originally designed without it. All bullets were clearly cut with rifling when recovered.

At 6 yards I found the pistol to shoot approximately 9½ to 10 inches above the point of aim and slightly to the right. Both groups were 3¼ minute of angle, which is certainly suitable for the pistol’s intended purpose. With a few practice shots, a partisan or guerilla fighter could easily get a feel for the Kentucky windage required to put the bullet on target. I found that I could consistently burst gallon jugs of water with a one-hand hold before the recoil got the better of me.

At 20 yards, the point of impact was about 30 inches high and groups tripled in size from 8½ to 14½ inches despite my best efforts. This was clearly beyond the useful range of the original weapon, so it comes as no surprise that the replica performed in a similar manner. A target pistol this is not. The FP-45s trigger pull is not conducive to good accuracy. They take a lot of squeeze to move the cocking piece back and get the connector cammed off the sear. I measured it between 10 and 11 pounds.

At a hair over 1 pound, this little pistol packed a powerfully lethal punch. It took two shots to get the hang of it. An inexperienced shooter could certainly master it for closerange work with the 10 bullets provided. I can’t help but imagine that any resistance fighter who may have fought with an FP-45 must have let out a great sigh of relief as he stooped over the motionless body of his adversary, picked up their Mauser or Arizaka rifle and disappeared into the night.

I SHOT THE PISTOL rested for accuracy at 6 yards and later 20 with results similar to Ralph Hagan’s tests of his original gun including some random

Editor’s note: Author Frank Jardim founded Vintage Ordnance in 2008.

For more on the company’s products, go to vintageordnance.com.

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BANG Noveske Rifleworks: Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow STORY BY TROY TAYSOM * PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF NOVESKE RIFLEWORKS

Noveske Rifleworks is known for being the Porsche of the AR-platform world, and continues to dominate the industry simply by being the best.

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he AR-15 is arguably the most popular rifle platform ever. It has been around since the late 1950s when it was created by Armalite. AR actually stands for Armalite rifle, and I can only imagine that their designers, back in 1959, had no idea they would create a platform that would transcend the civilian gun market place.

Johnny Noveske started out as a gunsmith who simply set out make a better chamber and barrel. Little did he know that he would be setting the standard for exacting standards.

When it first appeared it was chambered for .223/5.56, but today one can find calibers from .22LR all the way up to .50 Beowulf. With all of the options out there, building one’s own rifle has also become a popular pastime, because no matter how many

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cosmetic changes are made to an AR, the guts are often always the same (with the exception of piston-operated versions): all have the same boltcarrier group, firing pin, buffer tube, buffer and spring. But what if you simply wanted the best of the best?

Johnny Noveske started out as a gunsmith who tried to make a better chamber and barrel for the AR-15.

He wanted more exacting standards, better accuracy and reliability. He didn’t realize it at the time but he was creating the Porsche equivalent for

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the AR platform, and is now known for creating just that – Noveske created some of the finest ARs on the market.

IN THE LUSH, green woods of southwest Oregon, Noveske Rifleworks designs and builds a wide array of luxury AR-based rifles. Their rifles are masterpieces of design and craftsmanship, but they aren’t for everyone. The price alone, which ranges from $2,000 and up with their newest rifle starting at $3,400, will keep many shooters from owning one. You do get what you pay for, however. My Toyota gets me to work every day, but a Porsche would get me there in style, comfort and precision engineering. The same holds true for a Noveske rifle. It’s a piece of art that just happens to come in 5.56, .300 Blackout and .308. Once you shoot a Noveske, the realization sets in that you have just handled one of the finest ARs in the world today.

The company is staffed by what can only be described as an eclectic group. There are only 33 people members of the team, and in order to accomplish Noveske’s innovative approach, these people think outside of the box, and more likely don’t even know what the box is.

SADLY, IN JANUARY of 2013 Johnny Noveske was killed in a car accident at just 36 years old. The company forged ahead

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Noveske rifles currently come in 5.56, .300 Blackout, .308 and 7.62, but will soon also offer 6.5 Creedmor.

with his widow, Lorina, in an attempt to keep Noveske’s dream and the company alive. They have had more than one change at the president level since his passing, but have now landed Mike Alland. Alland has a long history in the outdoor, adventure-sports and firearms market. Alland is a high-energy guy who brings excitement, commitment to excellence and cutting-edge product ideas to the table. He isn’t your typical gun-company executive, either. Alland has a degree from San Diego State University in economics and statistical analysis.

Noveske has a guerilla-marketing style that forgoes the normal channels used by their competitors. For example, at the gun industry’s biggest annual show, SHOT, you won’t find a Noveske booth. You may see one of their guns here

“Alaskan Packer” This beauty is our new ALASKAN PACKER. It is built on your Redhawk frame and features a 6½” vent rib underlug barrel with our normal .002 barrel/ cylinder gap. It is chambered in 475 Linebaugh with a beefy 5 shot cylinder. It is also available in several other calibers. It has the interchangeable blade front sight system with the gold bead. It has the full Gunfighter grip with aged ivory Corian grips, but grips of your choice are available. It has the satin Vapor Honed stainless steel finish with high polish small parts. It has a full action job, Deep Dish Crown, and Maxi Throat. The barrel length, caliber and grips are all up to you. Porting is also available as an option. The new ALASKAN PACKER is $1995 on your base Redhawk.

Custom Guns GARY REEDER CUSTOM GUNS is proud to announce the release of the second book on handgun hunting, HUNTING HANDGUNS AND THEIR CARTRIDGES. This book covers every aspect of handgun hunting in 25 chapters and with almost a thousand pictures.

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“There is a long list of men, Handgun Hunting Heroes I have been privileged to know and who have inspired me with their writing, their handguns, or both. Such men as Skeeter Skelton, Bob Milek,, Lee Jurras, Steve Herrett, John Lachuk, Larry Kelly, J.D. Jones, Hal Swiggett, Mark Hampton, John Linebaugh, Hamilton Bowen, and of course, Gary Reeder. All of these men are giants when it comes to handguns and no one has had more effect today than Gary Reeder.

Personally I know Gary to be a man of great talent, simple honesty, a big heart, and a humble spirit. I am proud to call him a friend.

This book is the closest thing to The Complete Book of Handgun Hunting available thus far. In the book you will find the history of hunting handguns, his work with developing both handguns and cartridges, hunting adventures and much more. Pay close attention to what he says for like the others on my list of Handgun Hunting Heroes, he has been there, done that, and speaks from experience.”

The new book HUNTING HANDGUNS AND THEIR CARTRIDGES is available from Reeder Custom Guns for $40 delivered, and having your book signed is available for the asking. To order your book, call 928-527-4100.

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Noveske’s 2016 release of the N6 has sparked the attention of small operational teams that are interested in a 7.62 version.

Johnny Noveske with his family before the January 2013 car crash near Grants Pass, Ore., that would take his life.

and there displayed at one of their distributors’ booths and the Noveske folks might be wandering the floor, but no booth. Their business comes from word of mouth and customer testimonials. This a live-on-theedge concept; if your customers are unhappy, you are going to have a difficult time selling your product. Up to this point, Noveske has kept their customers happy. The only complaint they seem to get is that they don’t introduce new products quickly and past products took a long time to get to market. These are issues that Alland has addressed and is correcting.

To Johnny Noveske’s credit, he passed much of his gunsmithing knowledge onto his employees, but just like when Apple lost Steve Jobs, Noveske too had lost their innovator.

A lack of ingenuity causes stagnation and this can ultimately kill a company.

When Alland stepped in, this was the concensus, but this is changing. The company is finally releasing their N6, which has been highly anticipated by their loyal followers, and will not disappoint the critics.

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released in 6.5 Creedmor and comes with some incredible features. The rifle is available in two barrel lengths: 16 and 12.5 inches. It has a switch block, which allows the shooter to control how much gas comes through the system, and there is a setting for suppressed, nonsuppressed and off. The suppressed setting allows the user to cut back on the gas that gets pushed back while shooting suppressed, saving wear and tear on the can and rifle. When turned off, the round will fire but the action will not cycle – perfect for maximizing sound reduction. According to the Noveske Rifleworks team, small operational units have shown interest in using the 12.5 version in full auto.

If you get the chance to shoot a Noveske rifle, take it. It may, however, create a dilemma for you. My dilemma was whether or not I needed to eat for the next six months. To each their own, and you will figure it out quickly.

After all, shooting is supposed to be fun, and Noveske makes it fun.

Very fun.

Editor’s note: For more information about Noveske, go to noveske.com.

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The result is a rock solid, ergonomic, cheek weld that provides stability for accurate, repeatable, shooting and a proper sight line for your favorite optics or sights. Our kits come pre-assembled in house with new, easy to follow, instructions on the inside flap of the new header card. Instructional videos are also available on our website.

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Picatinny Buffer Tube Adapter Our new Picatinny Buffer Tube Adapter is a great addition to your Sig MPX, Sig MCX, Sig P556XI, Rock River PDS, or any other pistol that utilizes a rear vertical picatinny rail. It gives a shooter the ability to add a cheek rest for greater stability or a stock for SBR conversions (federal tax stamp required).

The mounting method follows true STANAG (NATO Standardization Agreement) protocol using the two back angles and the top of the rail as the contact points. The result is perfect alignment with the centerline of the firearm. A feature that is not attainable with typical side clamping adapters. Another bonus is that there are no visible fasteners or holes on the top and sides of the adapter giving it a clean sleek look.

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Raul Hernandez, a former K9 sergeant with a major US law enforcement agency, is the lead trainer for FTI K9.

FTI only selects shepherds from the finest bloodlines and looks for qualities such as intelligence, courage and dependability.

Some dogs are inspired by food, others by a ball or toy. Working with a dog’s preference will make it a more eager participant.

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Some of the most elite K9’s graduate from the Force Training Institute in Florida.

NEW BREED OF PROTECTION

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FTI K9 Breeds And Trains Elite German Shepherds For Protection And Companionship STORY BY DANIELLE BRETEAU * PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF FTI K9

orking dogs come in all shapes and sizes, but it is often the image of a German shepherd or Belgium Malanois that comes to mind when we think of K9s in law enforcement or military applications. Many dogs benefit from having jobs, and certainly these breeds

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are at the top of the list, but they also readily bridge the gap between a home invasion and an invasion by a 3-year-old when properly trained and socialized.

FTI K9, a division of the Force Training Institute located in north-central Florida, is redefining personal-protection dogs by selecting European-born German shepherds – carefully americanshootingjournal.com 61

chosen from a network of the finest kennels in Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, the Netherlands and Austria – from elite bloodlines and tailoring their training. They use modern, reality-based methods backed by positive reinforcement, and specifically target shepherds with high intelligence and courage. What is also important to FTI is that the dogs must demonstrate an admirable temperament and dependability. These key traits can be the perfect base for a companion that is truly the family’s best friend and eager protector.

RAUL HERNANDEZ, a former K9 sergeant with a major US law enforcement agency, is the lead trainer for FTI K9. Hernandez is certified with Delta Society Pet Partners program and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. He is also an instructor in law enforcement high-liability training, including defensive tactics.

With over 30 years of experience working with canines, he has a worldwide reputation as one of the top importers, breeders and trainers of quality European German shepherds.

All of FTI’s dogs are hand-selected in Europe from Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, the Netherlands and Austria.

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THE 32-ACRE FACILITY runs these dogs through all sorts of scenario training that mimics real life events. They are put through rigorous exercises that include agility, family protection, law enforcement and military applications, sport and obedience. They also use bustling Florida cities like Ocala, Gainesville and Orlando, which are often filled with tourists and high-energy activity, to acclimate them even further. Hernandez says that the physical aspect of a working dog is very important, but equally important, if not more so, is that their dogs must be loyal and trustworthy to the core for the families they will join and protect.

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A properly trained guard dog readily bridges the gap between protector and family companion.

Hernandez says that positive reinforcement is key during training, and they ensure all of the dogs have fun and enjoy working with their handlers. They praise the dogs with food or a ball, depending on the dog’s motivational preference, and ensure they’re well socialized with people and taught manners so that they can seamlessly work in homes, offices, warehouses – even yachts.

Whether you are taking on a birthday party with a dozen and a half 6-year-olds or securing the perimeter of a nuclear power plant, the trainers and K9s at FTI have a lot to share.

Editor’s note: For more info on FTI K9, you can visit them at ftik9.com.

The 32-acre FTI training facility runs these dogs through scenarios that mimic real-life events.

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Patriot PAWS Service Dogs trains and provides companion dogs to American veterans suffering from any number of war-related trauma, at no charge.

HELP COMES ON FOUR PUWS Patriot PAWS Trains Canines For Veterans Who Need Help Coping After The Trauma Of War STORY BY DANIELLE BRETEAU • PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF PATRIOT PAWS SERVICE DOGS

hat happens to veterans who come back home from vigilantly standing sentry for our nation’s freedoms and ideals? Well, many step back into life with their families with no ill effects. However, there are thousands who have been traumatized, either by what they saw or experienced. There are not enough words to explain any number of things our heroes might have endured, and when they come home it is not uncommon for them to seek suicide as the only source of relief.

What if there was a way to help them, and to do it with man’s best friend? This idea is not new, but Lori Stevens,

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founder of Patriot PAWS, does this and uses a process that changes the lives of not only the veterans they support but

WHAT IF THERE WERE A WAY TO HELP THEM WITH DOGS? prison inmates and students who train the canines too.

Patriot PAWS Service Dogs is a 501(c)3 that acquires, trains and provides service dogs to veterans across the country. They

these pups to class.

Overall, the program is growing and that is because the cause is truly worthy. We wanted to know more about Patriot PAWS, so we sat down with Terri Stringer, the organization’s assistant executive director and a former 25-year retail operations training manager for PETCO, to find out how the program works and how it help vets around the country.

American Shooting Journal How did Patriot PAWS start and start to grow?

Terri Stringer In 2006 Lori, along with our now chairman of the board Dr. William Perkins set up their first fundraising event – a dog walk. It was not a grand success, but that did not deter Lori. In 2007, NBC Nightly News contacted Lori to appear on a Women Making A Difference feature. After that show aired, the phones started ringing with veterans needing service dogs and Patriot PAWS began to take off.

ASJ I understand that Lori has been recognized with numerous awards. Can you tell me some of the highlights?

TS The ASPCA named our very first placed service dog, Archie, as the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty To Animals So far, over 100 dogs have been placed with veterans. dog of the year. Lori, Dr. Perkins, Archie and his veteran Clay Rankin, have already placed over 106 dogs with vets who needed a veteran who had been badly injured in Iraq and suffered them, but what is fascinating is how Patriot PAWS does from both mobile disabilities and traumatic brain injury this. Not only do they work diligently to match vets with (TBI) made a trip to New York City to receive the award. their companion, but they work with prison inmates and Lori was also recognized by the American Legion Women’s teach them to work with and train the dogs. This experience Auxiliary as Woman of the Year. These are just a couple. for inmates changes their lives so much that most end up in the animal industry as groomers, handlers and trainers. The success of the program runs full circle for everyone involved.

Another aspect of the program includes puppy raisers who are dog lovers dedicated to having a puppy in their home where they train them to live in society and get acclimated to the world around them. There is even a university-sanctioned chapter of Patriot PAWS at Texas A&M, Veteran Toby and Kal. Veteran Edwin and Anne.

Veteran Aaron Mixell and Chief. where students – 150 strong – take americanshootingjournal.com 69

ASJ What is the mission of Patriot PAWS? TS Our goal is to train and provide service dogs of the highest quality at no cost to the veterans and others who have mobile disabilities and post-traumatic stress (PTSD) so they can restore their physical and emotional independence.

ASJ Tell us about how Patriot PAWS spends their time training these pups. What is the process?

TS We train and prepare puppies and adolescent dogs to be service dogs. Much of this process comes from the rotation they experience between puppy raisers, our facility Once a year, the graduation between veterans and their new dogs takes place in a Texas prison where the dogs are partially trained. This gives the inmates involved in the program the opportunity to see the value of their efforts.

and inmate trainers to ensure they are exposed to as many situations as possible.

When we have dogs that are ready, we check our waiting list to see which veterans are coming up and what their needs are. We notify the veterans who then come to us for a 10-day training program and graduation. We have a minimum of two graduations a year. One is held at our training facility in Rockwall, Texas, and the other is typically held at the prison where the inmate trainers can see what their hard work accomplishes.

We always have more dogs than veterans because we are watching to see who is forming bonds and working well together. For the first four days, we will work all of the dogs with all veterans while our trainers make observations 70

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VETERAN CASEY AND TYNDALL THE LAB’S STORY Casey was a sergeant in the US Army and served in combat in Iraq. He has a wife and two young children and a job. Like many veterans who return to civilian life after facing the horrors of war, Casey struggles to reconcile the way his life was then with the way his life is now. He goes to work every day and has his family waiting for him when he returns home, but instead of feeling safe and secure in the life he dreamed of coming home to, he became hyper-vigilant, always fearful of danger lurking just out of sight, afraid for himself and for his family.

In Iraq, Casey lived a soldier’s life – always on guard, very little sleep, never able to relax, always alert for any movement or sound that could indicate danger. He saw others die and knew that he could be next – that in the blink of an eye he could be gone. After returning home Casey discovered that he had received a traumatic brain injury, or TBI, while deployed. He was also diagnosed with severe PTSD. Casey began to withdraw from those around him. He went to work but had very little interaction with his family. He no longer wanted to play with his children, which prompted his 3-year-old daughter to ask if she could have another birthday because her dad had actually played with her that day. He never wanted to go anywhere or see anyone and friends stopped calling. He wasn’t sleeping, restlessly staying up at night and doing perimeter checks again and again, weapon in hand. Casey began to spend more and more time alone, locking himself in the bathroom with the lights off or sitting in a dark closet. His troubled mind was seeking solace in the darkness, and as he realized that he had begun to like that darkness, even prefer it, he knew that he needed help, both for his sake and that of his family.

When Patriot PAWS received Casey’s application, founder Lori Stevens saw nothing unusual about it. It had been her experience in the eight years that she had been training service dogs for disabled/PTS veterans that many, if not most, of those who applied for a service dog suffered from varying degrees of PTS; however, a phone call from Casey’s wife, Melanie, prompted Lori to ask to meet the family in person. As Melanie and Casey sat across from her at the training center, Lori had a bad feeling about what she was hearing. Casey was on a downhill slide, teetering on the edge of despair. He appeared nervous, with fear in his eyes as if he was perceiving danger even among the friendly staff and dogs. Numbers from the news flashed through Lori’s mind – “22 US veterans a day lost to suicide ...”

Standards for service dogs are extremely high, and not every dog that enters the program succeeds. Their average two years of training involves many different people whom the dogs are rotated among, and although attachments form, the dogs must be able to move on and accept training from the next person they’re assigned to. Not every dog can do that though. They are lovingly referred to as Velcro dogs, because they attach and don’t want to let go.

Tyndall was a Velcro dog. This beautiful male yellow Labrador was smart and loving, but in danger of washing out

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and evaluations. On the fourth day, we announce who gets which dog. The following week is spent fine tuning that dog to fit the veteran’s needs. On the tenth day there is a graduation ceremony and the dogs get to go home with their veteran to begin the partnership.

After two or three weeks, our trainers will go out to the new veteran/dog team to ensure they are working well together and to correct any issues. They will also take the team out in public to help the veteran understand how to handle the dog in various situations. Once complete, the team takes their Public Access Test according to Assistance Dog International standards. If the team passes, they’ll receive their certification, vest and service-dog credentials.

Follow up between trainer and veteran/dog team continues throughout their lives. Then we begin the whole process over again working toward the next graduation.

ASJ What are the credentials a veteran has to meet to be considered for the program?

TS We specialize in dogs trained for veterans with mobile disabilities and PTSD, but we also place dogs as social companions for veterans who just need a dog to help them in the home and provide companionship but do not have public access. We have very exacting standards and will not place a dog until we feel absolutely sure it and the vet is ready.

ASJ So, tell us more about the training. I understand

of the program because the overwhelming need to bond was derailing his training. Tyndall appeared desperate to find his forever person, and Lori knew just who that should be.

When Casey met Tyndall the change was immediate.

Casey’s face relaxed a little, he seemed a little less nervous and able, at least for the moment, to focus on the big friendly dog that was licking his face. Casey and Tyndall received one-on-one training from Lori, and as Tyndall bonded with Casey, the service dog in him took over. Casey was his person now, and Tyndall would do everything he could to help him. And help him he did.

Casey is now calmer, more relaxed and able to interact with other people. He and Tyndall play a daily game of hideand-seek with the children. The family goes to church and out to eat, and Casey himself even suggested a trip to see his in-laws. Melanie says the difference in Casey is like night and day, and although he may never be the same man that he was before the Army, he is once again able to smile and laugh and be a husband to her and a father to their children.

Melanie is no longer afraid to leave Casey alone with the children.

As Casey leaves each morning to go to work, he kisses Melanie goodbye. One morning, after Casey had kissed Melanie, Tyndall jumped up on Melanie and “kissed” her, too. Tyndall now kisses Melanie every morning, just like Casey, as if wishing to follow in Casey’s footsteps. The bond is complete. Tyndall has found his forever person. And those terrible statistics from the news appear to have been altered … at least by one.

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Many of the inmates who start in the prison program enter into animal-industry jobs such as grooming and training when they leave.

that you use families, inmates and students? How does this work?

TS Our training is a threefold process. When we first get puppies they are eight to 10 weeks old. They begin their initial training at our training center in Rockwall and stay until they have had two to three sets of vaccinations. At that point the puppy’s future training initially goes in one of two directions: They’ll either go to a puppy raiser or our prison program.

Puppy raisers are volunteers who take the dogs into their homes. Their main purpose is to teach the dogs house manners and socialization. They’ll take the dogs to different places and help acclimate them to various situations

and stimulation. They might go to movies, shopping, restaurants, mass transit, sporting events, etc. Basically, they can go anywhere a fully certified service dog can go since they are service dogs in training.

The second part of the training I mentioned is our prison program. We work with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and have inmate trainers in three Texas prisons – two women’s and one men’s prison in central and south Texas. The inmates must apply and interview with a panel (the warden, Patriot PAWS and other TDJC officials) for the job.

Prison is where the dogs get their hardcore training – we call it boot camp. The puppies that go into the prison program first stay with their inmate trainer for three to four months. We don’t like to leave dogs in prison for longer than that because they tend to become institutionalized, just as people do. After that, the puppy comes back to our facility where they’ll stay for a couple of weeks to a month, so we evaluate them, chart their progress and work on any issues. Once cleared, we then send them in the other direction. For example, dogs that were previously with puppy raisers will then go to the prison and vice versa. This rotation continues throughout their entire two to two and half years of training. We are so convinced by the inmate program that we currently have two former inmate trainers on staff as dog trainers, a fact that we are very proud of!

The prison program began in 2008 and we have had over

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Lori Stevens founded Patriot PAWS and is just as passionate about the program today as she was when she pulled together her first fundraiser in 2006.

200 inmate trainers.

The third group of trainers are at Texas A&M University.

The dogs go to classes and other outings with the kids just like they do with puppy raisers. We are also about to open a puppy raiser program at the University of North Texas.

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American Shooting Journal // July 2016

Veteran Eddie served in the US Army for eight years and worked with explosives. He suffered a traumatic brain injury when caught in a blast. He is better now that Pilot is by his side.

Karen is an ambassador for Patriot PAWS and Hunter is a demo dog that helps Karen spread the word.

ASJ That sounds pretty diverse. So besides socialization and basic training, what else do you teach these dogs to do that can help veterans?

TS We use play, food or praise in our training, so our dogs never really know they are working. Even as puppies our

americanshootingjournal.com 77

dogs are not fed from bowls. Instead we use interactive puzzle toys and bowls that make them figure out how to release the food. This helps create thinking dogs that reason through to a solution.

We had a veteran who suffered a stroke and asked his dog to get the phone. The dog, Wendy, ran to get the phone, came back and put the phone in his right hand. However, the stroke had affected the right side of his body and he was unable to make the call. Wendy watched him for a couple of minutes and when he didn’t make the call, she took the phone out of his right hand and placed it is his unaffected left hand, so he could call 911.

Examples of what our dogs are trained to do include getting help in an emergency, opening and closing doors, bringing a wheelchair, prosthetic or other items, calming a veteran’s anxiety or help them stand up, picking up dropped items, conduct perimeter checks. The list is long and we exceed the training standards set by ADI. ASJ What are some of your challenges right now?

TS We must be able to get more dogs out to the veterans on our waiting list. We have had constraints that make it difficult to get dogs out to the ever-growing number of veterans who need them. We are about to break ground on state-of-the-art dog kennels, but space and necessary trainers have been a couple of our biggest challenges. We have broken ground and are currently under construction to build new kennels to house and train more dogs. Unfortunately,

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the heavy rains in Texas have delayed the construction, but we hope to have it complete in time for Veteran’s Day on November 11, when we will have a graduation and grand opening for our kennels at the same time.

ASJ What does Patriot PAWS need to continue growing and succeed?

TS Money is, of course, the obvious answer, because it costs an average of $34,000 to train one dog over their two and half years of training and provide them at no cost to the veterans. We also need good qualified trainers.

Having ambassadors around the country spread the word is very helpful, and we even have a Wishlist Wednesday on Facebook, where we let the public know what types of items we need. For example, martingale collars, 4-inch leashes, crate mats, food, shampoo, etc. People don’t always realize we have to purchase cleaning supplies, paper products, bleach and many non-dog related items that can add up to be quite expensive.

ASJ Terri, thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us, and we hope you continue to help veterans who need Lori, you, the inmates, students and folks who are working to make all of this possible.

TS Thank you. It was a pleasure.

Editor’s note; If you would like to know more about Patriot Paws, you can visit them at patriotpaws.org.

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Larry Vickers serving in Delta Force sporting a CAR-15 with a flashlight attached to the bottom. The size of the flashlight should give some insight into the age of this photo.

THE

MAKING OF A LEGEND

The Life And Times Of Larry Vickers

STORY BY TROY TAYSOM * PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF LARRY VICKERS

I

nternet videos have launched numerous people into stardom, many for doing silly and stupid tricks while inebriated. When I need a good laugh at someone else’s expense, I go to the internet and look for the latest rube who has skirted death and videoed it. But the internet has also introduced some interesting people who we would have otherwise never known about. Larry Vickers is one of these people.

By now, most people in the shooting world have an idea who he is, or have watched one of his videos. After seeing a few, I decided that there was so much more to this guy, so I set out to speak with him. Vickers did not disappoint.

From his roots in the Green Berets, Larry Vickers has spent a lifetime training civilians and law enforcement alike for the rigors of real-world threats. (ALIAS TRAINING) americanshootingjournal.com 83

Vickers receiving the Bronze Star with V for Valor for his part in Operation Acid Gambit in Panama, where American citizen Kurt Muse was rescued from the Modelo Prison.

IN THE BEGINNING Vickers was born the son of a World War II veteran and had military service in his DNA. Hailing from a small town in Ohio, he enlisted in the US Army’s delayed-entry program before graduating from high school in the early 1980s.

His enlistment gave him the opportunity to go through Infantry School, followed by Airborne School and then the Special Forces qualification course. Following his successful graduation from all of these schools, Vickers was awarded the coveted Green Beret and began his career in the Army.

During his enlistment, however, Vickers decided that being in the Green Berets wasn’t really what he wanted to do, so when his stint was up, he left active duty. Vickers expressed interest in Delta Force, but was advised that he had to be on active duty to even attempt qualification, so he reenlisted.

DELTA FORCE The 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (SFOD-D) is the brainchild of Colonel Charles Beckwith, who served with the British Special Air Service (SAS) as an exchange officer in the early 1960s. After a decade of pitching the idea for a similar group to the US Army, 84

American Shooting Journal // July 2016

Vickers on assignment with Delta Force in Bosnia

Beckwith was eventually tasked with forming a counterterrorism and hostage-rescue team of highly trained soldiers capable of operating in small teams. Today, we more commonly refer to this as Delta Force.

Before Vickers was allowed to begin training for a Delta operator position, he had to pass an entrance exercise. The

americanshootingjournal.com 85

Blackhawk crash that Larry Vickers survived in an undisclosed location.

premise was simple: complete a land-navigation course in the mountains of West Virginia. Alone, with a 40-pound rucksack over an 18-mile course. And the time limit to complete this task was only known by test administrators.

The students are simply told at the end of the course whether they are good to go or not.

After the full Delta-course training is complete and the enlisted service member is ready to graduate, there is one final test – another land-navigation course, again in the mountains of West Virginia. But this time it’s 40 miles with a 45-pound pack and the time is, again, unknown to the candidate. Go or no-go is all you get at the end. The failure rate during the course is high; estimates are as high as 95 percent, but official numbers are never given. Vickers made the cut and became a Delta Force operator.

OPERATION ACID GAMBIT The overwhelming majority of Delta’s missions are classified top secret and never made public. Of the few that have come to light, Acid Gambit represents one of Delta’s victories and Vickers was there.

Kurt Muse, an American civilian living in Panama, was accused by President Manuel Noriega’s regime of being a CIA asset. Delta was tasked with rescuing him. The mission involved flying by helicopter to the Modelo Prison in Panama, 86

American Shooting Journal // July 2016

then landing on and entering via the roof. The prison was heavily guarded and resistance was expected to be heavy.

Delta blew open the top entrance and stormed down a few flights of stairs to where Muse was being held. Any guards who were foolish enough to tempt fate were quickly dispatched. The operators retrieved Muse and headed back to up to the roof. While leaving the prison the MH-6 Little Bird that carried Muse went down, but in the end no American lives were lost and multiple operators received commendations, including a Bronze Star of Valor for Vickers.

RETIREMENT AND TRAINING THE CIVILIAN WORLD After 20 years, three helicopter crashes, numerous missions and several broken bones and a numb left leg, Vickers

OUTDOOR EXPO COMING TO MONT. The Veterans Family of Brands is hosting a public Outdoor Expo on Saturday, July 23, in northwest Montana, and the event will feature rifles, bows and more outdoor equipment from Proof Research, Montana Rifle Company and others. Also scheduled are competitions at nearby ranges. Held at 425 Quarter Circle Way south of Bigfork on the northeast side of Flathead Lake, tickets are $3.50 if purchased online, or $5 the day of the expo. Proceeds go to the Lone Survivor Foundation and Special Operations Wounded Warrior. For more info, see veteransfob.com. –ASJ

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decided it was time to retire.

“The guys who stay longer than 20 years usually end up dead or even more crippled than I am,” Vickers told me.

Let’s face it, we live in a world where information is easily accessible and there is no limit to the number of people who claim to be experts in a variety of endeavors – particularly firearms training. I’m not saying that they are all frauds, but there are many who are not all they claim to be. Vickers is not one of them.

His interest in training civilians and law enforcement started years ago, before being an instructor was hip. His expert advice has been sought by large federal to small police departments.

Vickers’ rise to popularity came from his internet videos.

This is where I first saw him. He was in one explaining why he, as a former Delta operator, was fat. I laughed when I first saw the title of the vid, and was thoroughly entertained by his answer to this question. The question was raised by viewers, and Vickers’ answer was simple: He was fat because he didn’t want to end up dead, so he got out of Delta.

“The alternative, because of my lifestyle in Delta, was permanently crippled, paralyzed or dead,” said Vickers in his video. He continued, “I gave this country the best part of my life. I have no regrets and I’d do it again, but the facts are the facts. Frankly, I’m lucky to be alive.”

His videos cover a huge range of topics, from how to reload in a firefight to how much lube is too much and his crazy Russian friends running their outrageously dangerous shooting drills. One of those drills involves an operator being shot in the chest with a real round, and then returning fire at a cardboard target right next to the guy who just shot him. It’s insanely dangerous!

Videos aren’t the only thing that Vickers does or has done. He was also brought on as a consultant by Heckler & Koch during development of the company’s HK416 – the carbine purportedly used to kill Osama Bin Laden – the HK417 (the 7.62mm version) and the HK45 handgun.

Vickers has also helped Daniel Defense get their Daniel Defense M4 to market and pushed Surefire to develop smaller tactical flashlights. Most recently he coauthored a book, Vickers Guide: 1911, which was just released. I’m assured it will be a must-have for any serious handgun lover.

Vickers was also one of the founding members of the very popular International Defensive Pistol Association.

According to the IDPA website, the organization has a current membership of 22,000 shooters, and IDPA matches represent some of the most practical stages of any major shooting organization.

VICKERS AND THE RUSSIAN Larry Vickers makes no bones about his favorite rifle of all time – the venerable AK-47. His love of everything AK stems from all of the variations that can be found in the world. Once the Eastern European countries disavowed communism, the different versions of the AK became widely available in the United States. The rifle’s simplistic design is its real selling point and another reason that Vickers loves it.

My favorite Vickers’ story is of his quest to get the autograph of none other than Mikhail Kalashnikov, inventor of the AK-47. In 2003, the SHOT Show was held in Orlando, Fla., and it happened to coincide with Knight’s Armament Company’s open house of their new facility in the Space Coast City of Titusville. Kalashnikov was expected

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American Shooting Journal // July 2016

to attend. Vickers knew this was his chance, so he secured tickets to the catered dinner event and went with several friends. As the night drew on he knew that his opportunity was slipping away. He saw Kalashnikov sitting in a private dining room and approached him. According to Vickers, “As soon as we walked in there I knew it wasn’t going to go well.

He doesn’t speak English, but his daughter who was with him did. She asked me what I wanted, and I said that I was wondering if I could get Mr. Kalashnikov’s signature. She basically told us to get lost.”

All was not lost, however, because in 2009 Arsenal USA released the 35th Anniversary Gold Edition AK-74.

Part of the astronomical price tag included a certificate of authenticity with an original Mikhail Kalashnikov signature. Mission accomplished.

The bottom line for me is this: When I need legal advice, I get an attorney; if I’m sick, I go to a doctor; and if my car is acting crazy, I go see a mechanic. If you have questions or need training, you seek an expert. Larry Vickers is just such an expert when it comes to surviving and winning a gun fight. His style of teaching is straightforward, and his personality is easy going and fun. If you are looking to improve your shooting skills and knowledge, give Vickers a shot – you won’t be disappointed.

Editor’s note: For more information on Larry Vickers and training opportunities, you can visit his website at vickerstactical.com.

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GET REAL Facility Teaches Full-spectrum Defensive, Protective Training INTERVIEW BY DANIELLE BRETEAU * PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF RBTT

When training for the real world, shouldn’t you train in the real world?

Ground control is among the many self-defense disciplines that Reality Based Tactical Training offers at their 80,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility near Knoxville, in eastern Tennessee.

W

hen training for self defense, it is not uncommon to find yourself in a karate or jujitsu class, or at a gun range shooting paper targets. If you are lucky at the range, you will have reactionary or moving targets to make your supposed threat a bit more realistic.

The value of training cannot be understated; however, if you are looking to train at truly top levels, where the full theater of the environment, critical thinking, weapons and hand-to-hand combat comes together – just like they will in a real emergency – you might just want to shake hands with Brian Winchester of Reality Based Tactical Training in Tennessee.

Winchester is practically a living legend, although his humble demeanor would never give that away. In short, not only is he a passionate instructor who covers everything from hand-to-hand martial arts to firearms and edgedweapons handling, subjects such as critical management, threat assessment and ground control are among the plethora of other subjects he and his team cover.

Among many of Winchester’s talents and achievements, he was inducted into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame

for outstanding contributions to the martial arts – now, how is that for an impressive background? – but he is the first to say that Reality Based Training wouldn’t be as diverse and impressive without the team of instructors who are equally as passionate about self-defense and bring a wealth of knowledge from all facets of the industry.

Winchester sat down with American Shooting Journal and gave us some insight into what it takes to be the best in the industry, and why defense professionals from as far away as Europe and Israel reach out to him.

American Shooting Journal Hello, Brian, and thank you so much for your time. Can you tell us a little bit about Reality Based Training and what you offer?

Brian Winchester We are a one-stop shop. This means that if you want to learn how to use a firearm, we can do that. If you want to learn hand-to-hand defensive tactics and martial arts, we can do that. We also cover threat assessment and intervention, medical and crisis management. What I feel sets us apart is that we can conduct the totality of training by pulling together mental

Many of the instructors at RBTT are highly accomplished martial arts experts who are capable of applying and teaching techniques anyone can use. americanshootingjournal.com 95

One of the many things that sets RBTT apart from other operations is their ability to cover the entire spectrum of training, from firearms to hand-to-hand combat and crisis management to intervention. A company spokesman maintains it is a “one-stop shop” for all things self-defense.

and physical threats. We can do it all right here.

ASJ Why do you feel it is important to offer so many options?

BW True self-preservation has much more to do with mental conditioning than what the general population understands.

The physical aspect of training is great, but because reaction is slower than action, without training the mind to have a battle mindset, you will most likely be trying to play catchup with an adversary. It’s important to expose the clients to the different aspects of personal protection, not just punching, kicking and rolling on the ground. Every action should be launched from a foundation of intelligence and knowledge, with meaning behind every movement.

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American Shooting Journal // July 2016

ASJ What about your background. How long have you been training?

BW I’ve been training since the age of five. I started with self-defense and then moved my way through multiple disciplines, including mixed martial arts, private security, firearm and carry-permit instructor, range-safety officer, executive protection, medical training such as medic first aid, CPR, AED, etc. In total, I have about 25 years of training and experience and have trained with military, law enforcement and private security operators.

ASJ We noticed that you have an impressive team of instructors who work with you. Can you share a little bit about their background and why they are so valuable to

The training regime is customized for all levels of students, from the complete novice to the seasoned.warrior.

your regime?

BW Absolutely! Samson Ferrell comes from a military and private-security background. He is a combat medic and is adept at close-quarter combat, as well as thermal and mechanical breaching. Joe Reese is also former military, second-degree black belt in hapkido and is a kali instructor.

Stephen Nuchols (pronounced knuckles) has over 24 years of martial arts experience and is a fourth-degree black belt (yondan) in isshin-ryu karate, second-degree black belt (nidan) in daito-ryu aiki-jujutsu and instructs Deprisa kali. Bobby Parker is our expert in all things Marine Corps weapons systems. He was an instructor at the military operations in urban terrain (MOUT) facility, overseeing thousands of Marines, and has an extensive background with firearms and military applications.

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American Shooting Journal // July 2016

ASJ What skill level would someone need to have to train with you?

BW We teach everyone from age 14 to 90. It doesn’t matter if you have no experience at all or are a well-seasoned veteran.

We have programs just for you.

ASJ So, you teach civilians?

BW Oh, yes! We teach the science of being a warrior. That’s what it is, after all, a science. Each individual has their own capabilities and limitations, and as educators, it is our job to help each person find their perfect equation for survival and to help them combat the universal human phobia: another human being trying to harm or kill them. It’s our mission to help the community be a safer place by educating people to be ready to protect themselves and help their fellow

RBTT’s goal is teach from a scientific approach what they call “warrior science” and help people combat the universal human phobia of someone trying to kill them.

neighbor when the opportunity arises.

ASJ What about the facility where you train?

BW Our 80,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art training facility is filled with buildings, obstacles and vehicles to give the student a realistic setting. As students make their way through dynamic scenarios, we add sound effects so more of their senses are engaged. We have classrooms, a lounge and a state-certified shooting range where we conduct move-and-shoot drills with all sorts of awkward obstacles to navigate.

ASJ What are some examples of courses you offer?

BW Well, a few basic examples would be elite fighting arts, firearm and edged weapon handling, medic first

aid training, risk and crisis management, bomb incident management, ground control, the psychological aspects of combat, victimology – the list goes on.

ASJ What is your motto or mission statement?

BW Our mission is to provide some of the best and realistic personal protection training out there. When seconds count and help is minutes away, rely on your reality-based tactical training and always look left, look right and stay tight!

ASJ From what we understand, Brian, you do just that.

Thank you for taking the time to talk to us today.

BW My pleasure. Thank you.

Editor’s note: For more on RBTT, see realitybasedtactical.com.

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NEW TWIST ON FIRE STARTERS Unit Combines Tinder Storage, Directed Spark Output In Compact Design STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY DARRELL HOLLAND

n our modern age we seldom think of fire as life-saving.

Modern technology has sheltered us from the elements, and with the flick of a switch or the turn of a dial we can be instantly hot or cold. This convenience has dulled our senses, and many outdoorsmen and -women no longer appreciate the importance of fire in our lives. The only time we hear about fire is when a subdivision or an exclusive neighborhood is in jeopardy.

If you spend time in the great outdoors, perhaps a wake-up call is in order. Take a minute, close your eyes and visualize the following scenario:

I

isn’t the first time you’ve sprained an ankle; you’re confident you can tough it out. The sprinkle turns to a steady rain and the wind increases as the temperature begins to plummet.

Your shirt and shorts are now soaked, and water gushes from your new running shoes with every step. Your ankle has swollen to twice its size.

You’ve been hobbling along for over an hour and maybe covered a mile and a half. At this rate you’ll be back to the cabin in four or five hours – well after dark. Goose bumps cover your legs and the intermittent chattering of your teeth reminds you of the cold. Your ankle is throbbing, so you stop to give it a rest; your core temperature continues to drop from inactivity. You press on, only to stumble and fall over a slight rise in the trail. Numb hands break your fall and you struggle to get back on your feet. Despite the fact that the wind and rain haven’t let up, you are feeling warmer now. Inexplicably, you remove your shirt and tie it around your waist. Little do you know that Mother Nature is calling you home.

The next morning the storm had passed and a rescue crew finds your stiff body in the trail. You are the first victim of hypothermia this fall. The rescue team searches high and low for your daypack and any other belongings you might have had with you, but discovers nothing – not even a wallet to identify who you are.

The team leader utters, “What a shame; if he had only been prepared!”

IT’S EARLY OCTOBER in the high country and the leaves are shimmering in the morning sun. A stunning canvas of reds, yellows and oranges dilate your eyes to the beauty of nature. Standing inside your rental cabin with a cup of joe in hand, it looks like a perfect day to take a hike, get some exercise and inhale plenty of life-giving oxygen. Yesterday’s temperatures were in the high 60s and there is no reason to think today will be any different. You don your shorts, a lightweight cotton jersey and lace up those new Nikes. On the way out you grab your water bottle and a protein bar and hit the trail.

Before long, it’s noon and you decide to take a break. You finish off the last of your water and eat that new Razzle-Dazzle protein bar from REI and continue your hike. If your memory is right, it’s only another couple WHEN IT COMES to outdoor of hours to the summit and survival, I feel that fire then you can turn around building is the single most and head back. The wind important survival skill you has started to pick up and can possess. Our unlucky the sun is often blocked by hiker could have survived for intermittent clouds, causing The effort it takes to make a roaring fire like this in the great outdoors days without food and water. may look easy, and while there are many gadgets designed to help, the the temperature to drop – However, in this all-tootruth is they often fall short when you need them most. But outdoor yet, you push on. realistic example, hypothermia survival expert Darrell Holland has a few tricks up his sleeve – and inside Reaching the summit, you his Lightning Strike Fire Starter. (ANDY WALGAMOTT) killed him in a few hours. If he raise your arms overhead had had the ability to make a fire, he would be alive today and telling the story of how he as if in victory – and fail to see the sharp rock in your path. twisted that ankle.

You twist your ankle and feel the gut-wrenching pain extend There are a multitude of fire starters out there and many up to your knee. The sun has now disappeared from the folks still carry a lighter and possibly a few matches with sky and it is starting to sprinkle. Your ankle is swollen and them in the outdoors. People are confident these items walking is very difficult. The pain is considerable, but this americanshootingjournal.com 105

The Lightning Strike Fire Starter has an ingenious design and can be used with a single hand. Among many of the features, it comes with storage space for dry tinder – not always readily available in the outdoors.

will ward off disaster, but will they? Try starting a fire with a wet book of matches, or try lighting those strike-on-box wooden matches against a rock or rough surface. Good luck! At high elevation a lighter often doesn’t work either; get it wet and see how the flint works then. With cold hands and numb fingers, try making that lighter work now.

What about a magnesium fire starter, or a flint and steel?

In reality you need to be pretty skilled to get a fire going with

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American Shooting Journal // July 2016

these items in tough conditions, as they lack tinder. “But wait,” you say, “our TV survival expert always finds a bird’s or rat’s nest to make a fire with.” Really? How many times do you find or see a usable nest in the woods? Are you going to risk climbing a tree when you are cold in order to retrieve a bird’s nest? Sparks alone from a ferro-rod will not ignite wet twigs or larger fuel sources. Magnesium burns hot but only for a few seconds, and it takes a large amount of shavings

americanshootingjournal.com 107

When Holland plans on spending several days in the bush, he carries a lumbar pack that weighs less than 15 pounds, is very comfortable and carries everything he needs.

Darrell Holland is a lifelong outdoorsman and survival expert. He created the Lightning Strike Fire Starter to make it easy for anyone to start a fire under the harshest conditions.

Holland has regularly ventured into the wilderness for 40 years, and has taught outdoor survival across the country for over 18 years. He knew there was a serious need for a quality fire starter that worked consistently under any conditions. More importantly, it needed to be so easy to use that even a child could start a fire with minimal training.

“The weather can change drastically, and a fire is one of the first things taught in survival training. Commercial fire starters were nothing more than charm bracelets. In a life-or-death situation, you need something that will function,” says Holland.

Holland personally tested at least 15 different types of fire starters in actual field conditions.

He found they were either too small or the spark output was weak, and they never included tinder.

Under perfect conditions they might work, but when the chips were down they did not perform.

“Cold, numb hands in subzero temperatures with a blowing wind and lack of dry tinder is a recipe for disaster. I wanted a product that would work anytime and anywhere,” says Holland. “The reason for the one-hand use is because people are often injured in the field. One-hand operation is more of a necessity than a convenience. A fire’s the difference between life and death in a survival situation.”

For more on Holland, visit his website at hollandguns.com.

to do any good. Beware of fire starters that also serve as a flashlight, knife, beer opener and a compass.

I worked with the Boy Scouts for decades and taught hunter survival courses around the country. I’ve tried almost every fire starter out there and found them lacking for one reason or another. It was time to bring a little common sense and some thoughtful design features into the goal of constructing a real fire starter.

My main desire was a fully functioning, self-contained unit that worked under inclement conditions and allowed

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American Shooting Journal // July 2016

the user to build a fire with just one hand, in the event of being injured in the field. Most fire starters lack a tinder storage compartment, produce limited spark output and make it very difficult if not impossible to build a fire with one hand and do so in a few seconds.

ENTER, THE Lightning Strike Fire Starter. This. ingenious design incorporates all of the aforementioned features and is American-made. The large tinder storage compartment allows you to always have a supply of long-burning tinder

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with you; no more groveling around in the snow and rain trying to ďŹ nd something that will burn. The striker is large enough to function well, even with cold hands, and the striker stop and guide make it simple to generate a spark. The spark output is tremendous and unequaled by any ferro-rod on the market. By surrounding the ferrorod with a tube, the entire spark is concentrated directly onto the tinder.

Anytime we leave the security of our vehicle or home, we should always have a means of building a ďŹ re at our disposal. You never know when Mother Nature is conspiring against you, and it takes just one little goof-up to become a victim. Use a daypack, a fanny pack or belt pouch to carry some simple survival tools with you.

In the northern states, savvy residents have a sleeping bag, water, ďŹ re starter and other tools in their vehicles. Do you? Having an accident, running o the road or running out of gas can all be life-threatening situations under the right circumstances. Dialing 911 does not always bring about a timely rescue in dire situations. Mother Nature shows no favoritism in the wild; you are the responsible party for yourself and family.

NO MATTER WHAT ďŹ re starter you purchase, take the time to make sure you can get a ďŹ re going with it. Don’t put yourself or your family at risk by opening the package of your new whiz-bang gizmo when an emergency arises, only to discover it doesn’t work! Practice under tough realistic conditions, making sure you can generate a roaring ďŹ re in the rain, snow or other inclement conditions. In a survival situation, don’t take risks that may result in you being injured, thus complicating your survival situation.

A little common sense goes a long way. Why compete with the rest of the civilized world for the coveted Darwin Award; life is tough enough as it is.

Be safe and enjoy the great outdoors responsibly! Â?

Editor’s note: For more information on the Lightning Strike Fire Starter, visit lightningstrikeďŹ restarter.com.

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SHOOTER READY …

STANDBY!

An Interview with Tim Norris, Volquartsen Firearms Pro Shooter INTERVIEW BY RAYLEE MELTON PHOTOGRAPHS BY TERRY DALTON, FAST FIVE PHOTOGRAPHY

he popularity of shooting competitions can be dated back hundreds of years. There is just something about the thrill of competition and improving your shot under pressure. With the 2016 season well underway we wanted to catch up with pro shooter Tim Norris to find out how to get started, found a sponsor and ideas on what equipment to use.

T

American Shooting Journal Tell us about some of your competition success.

Tim Norris I was in the top five for the Ruger and NSSF Rimfire Challenge World Championships from 2008 to 2014. I was also the 2013 Briley West Coast Steel Championship rifle champion.

ASJ How did you get started in shooting?

TN I was 8 years old the first time I pulled a trigger. I was on a family camping trip in the mountains just outside of Phoenix, Ariz. My father put a 1911 in my hands, helped me support it and bang! It was the greatest thrill of my life up to that point, and I was forever hooked.

ASJ So, your parents clearly encouraged you?

TN Yes. My parents saw how much I enjoyed it and knew how important it was for me to learn firearm safety and discipline. They enrolled me in a hunter-safety course. Then it got good. My Christmas gifts between the ages of 9 and 10 were firearms: a .410 shotgun, .22 rifle and .22 pistol. I still have those guns today, and every time I handle them they bring back fond memories.

ASJ What made you want to continue?

TN When I was 18, I joined the US Navy and spent six years on active duty. The Navy is where I was introduced to a new world of really fun firearms, from the M14 to the M2 Browning and everything in between.

ASJ Thank you for your service, Tim! When did you decide you wanted to compete?

TN In 1988 I joined a local club that ran a combat-pistol match every month. Combat shooting, as it was referred

Tim Norris is a professional competition shooter for Volquartsen Firearms, and is adept in numerous shooting disciplines. Here he takes aim with a Volquartsen Ultralight rifle and 4½-inch Scorpion pistol.

to in less politically correct times, was still a fairly new sport and as such was still evolving rapidly. Back then there were few veteran shooters, let alone pros around to draw experience from, so I just had to jump in with both feet and hope for the best.

ASJ What was your first competition like for you?

TN My first tournament-level competition was the 1991 World Speed Shooting Championships, and it was intimidating. Back then you would pick up the leading shooting magazines and read about the pros and world championship events, and it looked like a lot of fun. The problem was that I didn’t have a clue what it took to compete, so again as before, I jumped in head first and americanshootingjournal.com 115

hoped that the water was deep enough, but not too deep.

ASJ What did you learn from your first event?

TN At the first Steel Challenge, there were 30 pros and the other 250 competitors were just like me. Most of us who shoot competitively started just like this, and we continue to compete for the love of the sport. It has become less daunting after a few trips to the shooter’s box. Even though we were novices we had a reliable support network.

ASJ What type of events have you competed in over the years?

TN Over the years, I have shot many different kinds of competition, but I am most active in NSSF Rimfire Challenge, United States Practical Shooting Association – pistol and rifle – and 3-Gun. I love to compete because it pushes me to improve, and I get to hang out with some of the greatest people around.

ASJ When did you get sponsored?

TN In 2009 I realized a lifelong goal of becoming a sponsored shooter and have been on the Volquartsen Firearms team ever since. One of the best side effects of being sponsored is the ability to teach clinics for novice shooters to help them enter the world of competitive shooting.

ASJ It’s great that you take the time to help others. I know

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American Shooting Journal // July 2016

you said you are very involved with the NSSF Rimfire Challenge. I have heard wonderful things about those events. It is a .22 rifle and pistol program created to introduce new people to the shooting sports and provide a pathway to competition. Everyone will want to know what types of firearms you shoot with and why.

TN I use a 4½-inch Volquartsen Scorpion pistol with a custom Volquartsen compensator, a C-MORE Systems railway dot sight with an 8-minute dot. The sight is attached to a Bearcave Manufacturing 90-degree mount.

The pistol has Hogue 1911 stocks that are modified to fit, and the magazines have a VC spring-loaded magazine ejector.

My rifle is a Volquartsen Ultralight with a Boyd SS Evolution stock, C-MORE Systems RTS red-dot sight with a 3-minute dot. The sight is mounted scout-rifle style on the front end of a VC Picatinny scope mount and has an Alchin Gun Parts rimfire rifle compensator. I shoot Fiocchi 22FHVCRN high-velocity ammo.

ASJ Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us today, Tim. Keep us in the loop on your progress – we will be watching.

TN Will do. Thank you.

Editor’s note: If you have questions for Tim Norris, please send them directly to raylee@volquartsen.com.

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American Shooting Journal // July 2016

PERFECTION FOR RENT

4D Reamers offers the widest selection of reamers – over 1,000 options – for rent, giving professional gunsmiths and hobbyists the ability to create almost any caliber they want without the huge investment of owning the necessary tools to create them.

Interview with Fred Zeglin of 4D Reamers INTERVIEW BY STEVE JOSEPH PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF 4D REAMERS

ow did 4D Reamers become the leading name in custom reamers, barrels and tools in the gun industry? We spoke with owner Fred Zeglin, who comes from years of gunsmithing in the industry and is sought after nationwide for his expertise on precision and gunsmithing.

H

American Shooting Journal What makes you the expert?

Fred Zeglin Most importantly, we are staffed by highly gun-literate people, but personally, I graduated from the Lassen College Gunsmithing program back in 1984. I have made a living in gunsmithing and custom guns for over 30 years now, and I’ve published two books, Wildcat Cartridges and the Hawk Manual. My next project is to put together several instructional booklets about gunsmithing.

Not too long ago, I was approached by the American Gunsmithing Institute to make instructional video courses, and I created two videos: Taming Wildcats: Custom Cartridge Design and Fabrication and Reloading A to Z. I have both taught and run NRA Short-term Gunsmithing programs, and coordinate and teach the Firearms Technology program at Flathead Valley Community College.

ASJ It sounds like your scope and depth of knowledge is profound!

FZ In a nutshell, I have chambered and headspaced so many barrels that I lost track of the count long ago.

Because of my work developing cartridges for clients and

for my own interest, I was forced to learn about headspace at a level that most gunsmiths never feel the need to understand. If you’re going to design new cartridges, understanding headspace is essential.

ASJ It sounds like you enjoy teaching. What is your philosophy when working with students?

FZ When you teach classes it’s necessary to carefully break down the processes you’re discussing to make sure you impart the information the students need. This close evaluation of processes will increase your understanding of the subject in a unique way. If you are teaching others how to headspace a barrel, you better know exactly what you’re talking about.

ASJ Your company name is 4D Reamers. Is that all you offer?

FZ We are constantly adding new tools. Right now we have almost a thousand reamers. In addition to that, we have headspace gauges that work with the reamers and a lot of other gunsmithing tools.

ASJ What other tools do you rent?

FZ We have some AR-15 specialty tools, sight installation pusher tools for several popular pistols, shotgun choke tools in several patterns and gauges, hydraulic dentraising tools for shotgun barrels, specialty taps and dies, crowning tools, forcing cone tools and lots more.

Essentially, if it’s small enough to ship in the mail, we might well have it.

ASJ Tell us about the quality of your tools.

FZ We’re often asked if the reamers are sharp. I really have to laugh when I hear that question. I understand the reason that people feel the need to ask, but the answer is right in americanshootingjournal.com 123

The team of professionals at 4D Reamers are highly gun literate, according to owner Fred Zeglin.

front of them. We have been in business a long time and repeat customers are our life blood. So, we make every effort to keep all the tools in the best possible condition. We want our clients to come back over and over. If we did not provide good tools, this would not happen.

ASJ Who is your typical client?

FZ That’s an interesting question. We have a lot of hobby gunsmiths and guys who just want to fix up one gun.

We also serve the professional gunsmith community; professionals rent more tools simply because they have

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the volume of work.

A few of our professional clients are benchrest gunsmith Gordy Gritters, Pac-Nor Barrels, Jack First Distributors, Brockman’s Rifles. You know these folks have great reputations with their clients and they would not do business with us if we did not take good care of their needs for sharp, quality tools.

ASJ How does 4D assure the quality of its tools?

FZ When tools return they are inspected under magnification. Most clients are very careful with the tools.

They understand that the next time they need a reamer they will want a sharp tool, so being responsible with them is just natural for most clients.

Once in a blue moon a tool will be damaged. What I like about the gun business is that it’s populated with people who are all about personal responsibility. Most are nice enough to call up and tell us there is a problem; some write a note and send it with the tool. In nearly all cases they simply abide by the rental agreement and take care of the damage.

When a tool shows wear and needs to be sharpened, we ship them off to professionals who specialize in this.

We endeavor to make sure every tool is sharp and in good condition. We encourage clients to call right away if they are unhappy for any reason. Happy clients come back, that’s what we want.

americanshootingjournal.com 125

ASJ Why do people rent tools when they can buy them?

FZ If we are talking about a hobbyist gunsmith, tools can be rented for a tiny percentage of what they cost to purchase.

Save money on tools and you get to do more projects – it’s simple math.

Professionals use us because they often need tools that they will only use once or twice during their whole career.

We often hear, “I have a tool box full of reamers that I never use.” Obviously that’s a huge investment in tools that just lay around.

Shops will purchase reamers for calibers that are popular in their area. But the one-off chambers are better handled by ordering a rental. The overhead cost is so much lower and most shops just charge the rental to the client, so there is no investment at all for the shop. Plus, they can offer every chamber we have tools for without buying a single one. If we have 1,000 reamers, they have 1,000 reamers.

ASJ Do you ever sell reamers?

FZ On a custom order basis we do sell reamers and gauges.

Most of these orders are for non-standard reamers. Some folks want special dimensions, so custom orders are the best solution to that requirement. We are not a reamer maker, so we buy all of our reamers from the various reamer makers across the country.

We also sell Dakota bolt knobs in five styles, Dakota grip caps and inserts, Cerosafe chamber casting metal, instructional videos and many other gunsmithing-related products.

ASJ You also sell barrels. Tell me more about that.

FZ We offer custom Savage drop-in barrels. These barrels are for the popular Savage 110 family of bolt actions.

There are many places you can order pre-fit Savage barrels, but what we offer is access to our library of reamers. If we have the reamer, you can have a barrel chambered for the caliber. Nobody has as many calibers to choose from as we do.

We will only stock barrels that we know we can count on to be accurate. Blanks are CNC turned to the taper of the client’s preference, and we handle all the chamber and crown work in our shop, so that we can assure a proper set up for accuracy.

Stainless steel and chromoly (blue) steel barrels are both available. We have a small stock of blanks that we list on the web site. Custom orders can be finished in as little as four to five weeks, depending on the specifics of the order, and we are competitive on price.

Our accuracy speaks for itself. We have yet to have a client complaint. I love that ability to provide a high-quality product that surpasses the client’s expectations.

Editor’s note: For more, see 4-dproducts.com.

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American Shooting Journal // July 2016

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American Shooting Journal // July 2016

Product FEATURE

BETA TESTING

Shooting Chrony Model ‘Well Built, Easy To Use,’ Author Finds

BY ROB REED • PHOTOGRAPHS BY MARIE VERHEYEN

O

ne of the wonders of the modern age of shooting is the variety of inexpensive accessories we have that earlier shooters would envy. Among serious shooters, one of those staples is a chronograph to measure projectile velocity.

For reloaders, a chronograph is practically mandatory so they can track exactly how their loads perform. This allows them to gauge the consistency from lot to lot, and also warns them of potentially dangerous problems when a load exceeds expected velocities. This can be dangerous because a higher velocity is a sign of higher pressure.

That said, since I don’t personally reload my own ammo I’ve held off on purchasing a chronograph until recently.

What finally changed my mind was that I needed to record velocity data of commercial ammunition and different firearms. Based on the advice of several more knowledgeable friends, I selected the Shooting Chrony Beta Master model.

This is a midrange product by the Ontario, Canada-based Shooting Chrony Company.

The Shooting Chrony Beta Master is a compact chronograph perfectly suited for any shooter or reloader who needs much more than just velocity data in a compact, easy-to-store unit.

A MODERN BALLISTIC chronograph is built around two light sensors that detect the shadow of a bullet passing overhead.

The travel time between the sensors is measured, calculated and then typically expressed as a feet-per-second velocity.

Different chronographs from various companies are all variations on this concept and only differ slightly in construction, software or user features.

Shooting Chrony color codes their product line. Their entry level “F-series” is green, the “Alpha” is red, “Beta” is blue and the high-end “Gamma” is silver-green. Among these options, you can opt for the master upgrade, which offers the ability to move the readout closer to the shooter via an 18-foot cable, making the display much easier to see and read. This also keeps it from accidently getting shot. It does happen.

THE BETA MASTER chronograph unfolds to reveal lightdetecting sensors at the front and rear. This base unit can be mounted on a tripod or placed on a table, and is powered by a single 9-volt battery. There is also a separate battery The components of the Beta Master include the base unit, the display with cable, wire rods and plastic sunscreens. The unit runs on a 9-volt battery, which must be purchased separately. americanshootingjournal.com 129

PRODUCT FEATURE

A tripod is recommended as a base, but any surface will work as long as it is flat.

attachment that can be plugged into the remote display when not connected to the base. Four sets of wire rods are attached to the base to support the plastic diffuser that shields the sensors from stray light. A stereo jack on the unit allows for an optional printer, and when not in use, the accessories and unit are easily stored in the base – of course, the cord is never as neat and tight again as it is delivered from the factory.

The basic features of the Beta Master are: • Shot velocity displayed as a numerical value in feet or meters per second; • Velocity readout display remains until next shot is fired; • Measures high, low and average velocities, extreme spread and standard deviations; • Each shot velocity can be individually retrieved; • Individual shots can be deleted from memory while retaining string information; • Up to 60 shots can be recorded in up to six strings of two to 10 shots each; • Automatically moves to next empty string when tenth shot is fired.

WHEN I FIRST OPENED my chronograph I was initially daunted by the instructions. However, after reading through them carefully, the unit proved easier to set up and use than expected. Although the company recommends using a tripod, I wasn’t going to risk my $200 camera tripod, and so instead I placed the unit on a barrel. I was careful to make sure the base was flat and that the unit did not fold in at all. This can change the distance between the sensors and distort the readings. I attached the wire rods and installed the sunscreen, plugged in the battery (not included) and the display cable, then ran the display unit back to the shooting bench.

There are a few important tips when using a chronograph. First, set up a target down range. Focusing on and shooting at a specific target reduces the chance that you’ll hit the base unit, wire rods or sunscreen.

You should also always fire from a bench-rest position. Before you fire the first shot, get into position to make sure everything is lined up to ensure you have a clear shot between the wire rods and below the sunscreen while aiming at the target.

Reposition yourself, the chronograph or the target as needed.

Shooting Chrony includes a record sheet with all of their chronies, which I scanned and printed to create extra

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American Shooting Journal // July 2016

americanshootingjournal.com westernshootingjournal.com 131

PRODUCT FEATURE copies. It includes information panels for recording the shooter, date, firearm, load and weather, as well as shot velocity, high- and low-velocity averages, extreme spread and standard deviation. Once set up, it was very easy to use. Because the display remained on after every shot, that made it easy for me to record info as I progressed. After each

The display maintains the last shot fired on the screen, allowing the shooter plenty of time to record the data. This was the last shot fired from the author’s Glock 40 10mm pistol.

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American Shooting Journal // July 2016

string of 10 shots, I was able to use the controls to display the automatically calculated high, low and average velocities, as well as the extreme spread and standard deviation. I did have to refer to the instructions a few times, but by the end of the day I readily understood the controls. The instructions do include the formulas for how to calculate these manually; however, having the machine do it was much nicer.

For my test I tried out two different 10mm loads from a Glock 40 and three different .38 Special loads from a Ruger LCRx by firing a string of 10 for each caliber. The velocities I recorded were very close to the published data from the manufacturers’ specs, which confirms the basic accuracy of my readings. On two occasions the shot did not register correctly, and the display showed an error message. Each time, however, the following shot recorded properly, and the unit automatically dropped the error message without affecting the overall data. I also deliberately explored the functions that allow the user to selectively erase shots from the string or change how

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PRODUCT FEATURE Double checking the chrony data, the results showed that 10mm load shot data was right in line with factory-load expectations.

that is a more professional requirement. However, if I decide that I actually need those capabilities later, Shooting Chrony offers upgrades and trade-in programs. I recommend this model to anyone who needs a well-built and easy-to-use, portable chronograph with considerably more than basic functionality. And at just $149.95, this is a great deal.

Editor’s note: If you would like more information on the Shooting Chrony Beta Master or any of their other products, you can visit them at shootingchrony.com.

The unit’s display is attached via an 18-foot cable. This allows the shooter to readily view the readout without having to walk up to the actual unit after each shot.

the strings are recorded. This may require referencing the instructions as this function was not the most intuitive.

THE SHOOTING CHRONY Beta Master hits the sweet spot for price and performance. The master upgrade with the separate display is a must-have, in my opinion. I didn’t miss the ability to use a printer or download the information into my computer that is available on the Gamma unit, but then

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American Shooting Journal // July 2016

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American Shooting Journal // July 2016

BLACK POWDER

WHEN WEST MEETS EAST .44 Russian A Stubby, But Accurate Load STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY MIKE NESBITT

T

he .44 Smith & Wesson Russian is a rather stubby little cartridge. It has an overall cartridge length that is just a bit shorter than a Sharps .45-caliber paper-patched 550-grain bullet, but its performance outshines its size. In recent years cowboy-action shooters have brought new life to this fine old load.

One attraction for me is shooting blackpowder revolvers and lever-action rifles from the 1870s. Of course for me, shooting those guns is rather restricted to using the newly

The nostalgia of shooting blackpowder – pistol or rifle – is a lot of fun, and the .44 Smith & Wesson Russian blackpowder load is known for its accuracy. That’s demonstrated (inset) by Mike Nesbitt’s (left) and Lynn Willecke’s (right) offhand 12-yard shots on target.

made copies. Regarding revolvers – which we’ll concentrate on for the rest of this short tale – my guns are mostly second- and third-generation Colt Single Actions in .45 Colt and .44-40, and the Uberti versions of the S&W Russian Model 3. For me, the .44 Russian has a particular appeal because it actually predated the Colt Single Action and, well, the S&W revolvers did make their mark on the Western frontier, didn’t they? There is evidence of the slightly older S&W .44 American revolvers being present at The Battle of Adobe Walls in 1874. Maybe I’m just trying to justify my preferences, but even so, the Uberti copies of the S&W New Model Russian 3 are very good and certainly worthy of consideration as a nice shooting handgun. americanshootingjournal.com 139

BLACK POWDER HISTORICALLY, THE .44 RUSSIAN goes back to 1871, 71, and it was a ed bullet with the trendsetter because inside it used a lubricated lube grooves seated down inside the cartridgee case. It was also a trendsetter because of its accuracy; it has an accuracy that plicate. other cartridges often strive for but seldom duplicate. er was Lynn Joining me with his own .44 Russian revolver he 1950s. We Willecke, whom I’ve been shooting with since the 83, which shot using bullets from Lyman’s mold No. 429383, is still being made for the .44 Russian or Special. We often remarked that the bullet shot out of a .44 Russian seemed to kpowder be made for it. It turns out that it was. We shot blackpowder ne cases. loads, using Olde Eynsford 2F powder in new Starline IN MIKE VENTURINO’S book Shooting Sixguns Of The Old d West, he gives the .44 Russian quite a bit of attention. He n used comments on the accuracy of the cartridge and he even an original S&W Russian 2nd Model with a 7-inch barrel to ked test it. Venturino also used Lyman’s No. 429383 and checked load speeds using 19.0 grains of GOEX FFg at 690 feet perr second. He also checked speeds using the same weight of FFFg at 740 fps.

Willecki and I chronographed the load we were using. You can consider our findings to be an extension of Venturino’s published data. Our results were not quite the same since our Uberti revolvers have 6½-inch barrels, and we shot

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American Shooting Journal // July 2016

The famous S&W New Model Russian revolver is made as a replica by Uberti, a company known for replicating guns of the Old West.

with 20 grains of Olde Eynsford 2F powder under Lyman bullets.

Olde Eynsford was not available when Venturino tested his round, or I’m sure he would have included it. The average velocity from the five shots we checked was 705.3 fps, and the extreme spread of those velocities was only 10.7 fps fps. T The tightest extreme spread of velocities Venturino Venturin recorded was 19 fps and that was with GOEX FFF FFFg powder. In my opinion, the data from Venturino’s Venturino’ book (written about 20 years ago) and what we recorded supports one another very well.

THERE WERE A FEW differences between Venturino’s test and ours. Venturino shot at a distance of 50 feet with the gun firmly rested over sand bags. That’s the proper way to check accuracy. Willecke and I wanted to test ourselves just as

americanshootingjournal.com 141

BLACK POWDER much as our guns, so we shot offhand with a two-hand hold, and our targets were only 12 yards out. The results were very pleasing.

I complained because Willecke outshot me – again – by getting a higher score (50-3X), but he too complained because my five shots fell into a slightly tighter group. Actually, we were both very satisfied.

WE MOVED ON to plinking and our hits were more frequent than our close misses.

Neither one of us kept track of our hits, but the blackpowder loads were just as accurate as those loaded with smokeless powder, which were mainly loaded with Unique. All our bullets were lubed with a blackpowder lubricant because with good lube, blackpowder loads don’t seem to get the gun dirty.

The .44 Russian certainly lives up to its reputation for accuracy – if you accept our judgement, rough testing and all. We enjoyed our time so much that you can count on seeing us with one of these .44 Russian revolvers again.

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American Shooting Journal // July 2016

Above is Lyman’s mold No. 429383, used to make the .44 Russian, while at right a loaded .44 Russian cartridge (right) is compared to a paperpatched .45 bullet weighing 550 grains (left).

americanshootingjournal.com 143

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CZ’ING THE CHANCE

Hunting Missouri Turkeys With Shotgun World-Record Holder Dave Miller And CZ-USA’s 612 Magnum

The CZ 612 Magnum Turkey Shotgun is an excellent all-around fowl-hunting shotgun.

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY LARRY CASE

O

K, I confess: I may not be the best traveler in the world. To be honest, I’ve never traveled much until recently when I started down the outdoorwriting trail. What I find now is that while I may enjoy the destination once I get there, usually for hunting or a gun-related activity, getting there is not my cup of tea.

Airports and flying don’t seem to be on my list of favorite things, but it is all part of traveling and what we have to endure. Sometimes I just want to stay home, work at being my usual grouchy self and hunt on my home turf in West Virginia. When I get home from a trip, I usually vow that it will be a long time before I leave again. But before I know it, I am looking at the horizon and dreaming.

This is what happened a few months ago when I ventured west to the Show Me State for some turkey hunting. I had been discussing this for a while with Dave Miller, the shotgun product manager at CZ-USA, a firearm manufacturer headquartered next door to Missouri in Kansas City, Kan. CZ-USA is the US-based subsidiary of the

A chance to hunt with worldrecord holder and CZ USA product manager Dave Miller was too much to say no to for author Larry Case, here inspecting their decoy set in Missouri’s spring woods.

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The combination of a CZ USA 612 shotgun, a Trijicon MRO optic and Winchester Longbeard XR loads set up Larry Case and Dave Miller for a successful hunt.

Czech Republic company that makes a long list of firearms, including rifles, pistols, submachine guns and some very fine shotguns. Many of their scatterguns are made in Turkey, which, if you didn’t know, has a long history of making firearms. CZ-USA also owns Dan Wesson Firearms, which has produced excellent revolvers and pistols for years, including some very nice 1911s.

I have talked to you about Miller in these pages before.

Last year I reported on a feat he accomplished that I do not expect to be equaled anytime soon. Miller broke no less than 3,653 clay targets in one hour, squarely putting him in the Guinness Book of World Records. I was there, I saw it and, to say the least, it was impressive.

Miller is what I would call a rabid shotgun shooter. He lives and breathes it. Besides handling the shotgun product line for CZ-USA, he is also their demonstration and exhibition shooter.

I don’t know how many days a year he spends on the road shooting shotguns, but it is way more than I want to be away from home. Saying that Dave Miller shoots a shotgun is like saying Michelangelo painted a few pictures.

So, when Miller called me last spring and invited me to go hunt some Missouri turkeys, I was all for it. But secretly I was a little nervous. If this guy went after turkeys the way he does clay targets, I wasn’t sure I could keep up with him, but there was only one way to find out.

When it comes to hospitality, Miller takes the cake, or in this case, the turkey. He secured an absolutely beautiful piece of property for us to hunt – many thanks to J.W. Page,

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the owner – not far from Kansas City. And, as if that wasn’t enough, Miller found a stunning bed and breakfast a mile from there: the Laurel Brooke Farm B&B. We were set!

THE DAY I ARRIVED Miller drove me out to the hunting area to check it out and unlimber the shotguns we would be using. We elected to use the CZ 612 Magnum Turkey Shotgun, and by the end of our shooting session I was glad we did. Any shotgunner needs at least one good pump gun and the CZ 612 may be perfect. This shotgun only weighs an amazing 6.8 pounds – that’s light. It has a 3½-inch chamber for those who want to shoot the big shells, and it also takes 3- and 2¾-inch shells. What I appreciated was an action that is not equaled by any shotgun in the same price range.

“This is the smoothest, most reliable action on a pump shotgun since the Model 12,” Miller told me. “It is very durable and easy to operate.”

After carrying and hunting with it for five days, I had to agree. The shotgun is hydro-dipped in Realtree Xtra Green camo and comes with an extra-full choke just for turkey hunting. I would have no problem taking this shotgun upland-bird hunting or waterfowl hunting, for that matter.

When you take all of this into consideration, as well as the retail price of $429, this shotgun is hard to beat. If you can find a better made pump shotgun at this price – you won’t – you should buy it!

I DECIDED TO PUT AN OPTIC on one of the shotguns we carried and chose the Trijicon MRO red-dot sight. You have heard me talk about the MRO before, and I believe this is an excellent optic for a turkey gun. This sight allows for lightning-fast target acquisition, has a five-year battery life and is extremely rugged, as Trijicon optics are built to military specs. Miller

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OUR GEAR LIST The Gun: CZ-USA 612 Magnum Turkey Shotgun Report: Rock solid, lightweight, Realtree Xtra Green camo with a very reliable and smooth action. This gun has a 3½-inch chamber if you want to shoot the bigboy shells. I know some will claim heresy, but like Dave Miller I too could not help but compare it to a Winchester Model 12.

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and I did not baby the shotguns or the optic on this trip, and they came through it just fine.

While the hospitality of all the people in Missouri I met was wonderful, the Missouri turkeys I came across were not as friendly. They were acting a bit snobbish and did not want to just walk in and be shot like a respectable bird. On the first morning, after a very long ordeal with a particularly uppity gobbler, Miller pulled a rabbit out of his hat. We spent over an hour crawling on our bellies like reptiles, watching a typical field turkey march around out of range. With a strategic decoy placement Miller coaxed the old reprobate gobbler to come right in.

I would be lying if I said that I was not afraid I might miss in front of a shotgunner like Miller, but the Trijicon MRO really helped on a shot that was closer to 50 than 40 yards. I was also glad to have a Winchester Longbeard XR load in the chamber, as I have seen these shells excel when a hunter stretches the yardage. The CZ 612 spoke and the turkey went down as if struck by lightning (whew!). I think Miller was as happy as I was.

Good friends, beautiful country, a good shotgun and some turkeys to talk to – it doesn’t get much better. Think about Missouri if you are considering a road trip for turkeys. I think the annual harvest is something like 45,000 per year.

Me? I’m glad to be home, but you know, I have been thinking about a little trip somewhere.

Editor’s note: For more on the products mentioned in this story, see cz-usa.com, trijicon.com and winchester.com.

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The Optic: Trijicon MRO Report: I really like this optic, and the reasons are simple: quick target acquisition; it can be mounted well forward on the gun and used with both eyes open; built to military specs; and it’s extremely rugged – it will take whatever you and the conditions can dish out.

The Ammo: Winchester Long Beard XR Report: This ammunition has been all the rage for the past few years. Winchester hit a grand slam in the turkey shot-shell world when they developed their Shot-Lok technology. This has an epoxy-like resin that is poured into the shot charge, binding it together. The instant the shell is ignited, the resin shatters. This allows the lead pellets to fly true and achieve tight patterns at ranges that were previously unheard of.

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Q&A WITH LEGENDARY ARMS WORKS

Legendary Arms Works is proud of their line of hunting rifles, and the company will soon move into the tactical and long-range fields too.

INTERVIEW BY AMERICAN SHOOTING JOURNAL PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF LEGENDARY ARMS WORKS

His second was to form a partnership with the best custom gun builder and share his vision with the country.

ecently, we had a conversation with Legendary Arms Works’ sales and marketing executive Walter Hasser, who filled us in on the Reinholds, Pa.-based (717335-8555; legendaryarmsworks.com) company’s back story and its exciting future plans.

ASJ How much did Mark’s passion for hunting inspire him to have his own firearms company?

WH Mark is an extremely passionate hunter and the type of guy you want in your camp. His ideals and character set him apart, both afield and in the shop. He likes getting his hands dirty, solving problems, working with people, growing and affecting those around him. And he holds a deep respect for the sport and the industry as a whole. Mark understands the emotional and spiritual experience of hunting big game. As an artisan he holds a heightened sense of how that experience is amplified when undertaken with a fine instrument. I believe he takes great pride in contributing to that experience for our customers.

R

American Shooting Journal How did cofounders Mark Bansner and David Dunn team up to get LAW started?

Walter Hasser David and Mark go back a few years, as Mark worked on a few of David’s guns when he was operating Bansner’s Ultimate Rifles. After David had been operating a firearms retail store and indoor range in Pennsylvania for a couple of years, he began noticing the trend of Americanmanufactured firearms decreasing in quality and sending products offshore to be produced. He wanted very badly to do something about it and believed, as we all believe today, that a firearm is something greater than the sum of its parts and deserving of the attention of craftsmen.

Furthermore, a larger portion of the American shooting population should have access to a higher level of quality versus just a handful who can afford a full custom rifle.

David’s first step in realizing his dream was purchasing the M704 design and rights to manufacture from Ed Brown.

ASJ In terms of hunting rifles, can you describe some features of your guns and how they can be effective?

WH Our M704 Action design is completely unique. A true controlled round-feed system that also has the luxury of single feeding without first depressing a round on the magazine follower is a great advantage in many scenarios.

The fixed ejector blade is ruggedly simple and eliminates the common user error of “short stroking” during the cycle of operation, as the spent case will not eject until the bolt americanshootingjournal.com 155

is fully cycled. The action is the perfect foundation for the perfect hunting rifle – not to mention the precision CNC machining quality and one-piece bolt.

ASJ What is your favorite LAW model and why?

WH “The Professional” is our flagship rifle and best seller, and it’s easy to see why once you have it in your hands. The balance is perfect and craftsmanship is unlike any other product in its price bracket. You have the luxury of a fully custom mountain rifle in a package for one-third of the price.

system to market that I think you’ll love!

ASJ Is there anything else you want to say about the LAW brand?

WH We’re very grateful for our customers and the opportunity to manufacture and sell these products into this market and this industry that we all care so deeply for.

ASJ How has LAW evolved over the years and what plans do Editor’s note: For more on you have for the future?

Legendary Arms Works, WH A very significant development you’ll see from us like them at facebook.com/ this year is stepping into the realm of tactical and longLegendaryArmsWorks. range precision rifles. To date our product Part and parcel to LAW rifles is the company’s unique line has been based around hunting rifles, controlled round-feed system. but we are not just a hunting rifle company.

We are a manufacturing company – a small, veteran-owned business with a large veteran workforce committed to bringing great rifles and great customer service to a bigger portion of the market than before. We have some very talented folks on our product development team, with backgrounds in law enforcement and the military, along with competitive shooting. This year we’ll be bringing a chassis

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HOLSTERS

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gun reviews

THE LIGHTER SIDE OF SIG Testing SIG Sauer’s New P226 Air Pistol

A

REVIEW AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY TOM CLAYCOMB

t first glance the SIG P226 air pistol could be mixed up with the SIG P226, which comes in 9mm and .40 caliber, which is a pistol preferred by elite military forces around the world. I can see how their airgun could be used for training purposes and you could do a lot of inexpensive training with a pistol that so closely resembles your real one.

The P226 air pistol uses a conventional size 12-gram Co2 canister, which slips into the back of the grip. The magazine pops out of the bottom the same way it would on any modern semiauto handgun. Each end of the magazine has a rotary clip that holds eight pellets, so when you empty one end you

simply eject the magazine, flip it over, reinsert and shoot again. To load the chamber, rack the slide, just like any semiauto.

It’s a blast to shoot. My daughter has several pesky deer that invade her garden. I think this will be a good airgun for chasing them off. The P226 is billed as spitting out pellets at up to 510 feet per second, but we were only able to get 308 fps. However, the feet-per-second measurement is directly related to the charge pressure in your cartridge, outside temperatures – because cooler or very cold temperatures drastically reduce the Co2 capability – and which pellets you use. Even at 308 fps, it would still be perfect for running deer

The SIG Sauer P226 air pistol is properly weighted, has slide blowback and the magazine functions just like a real semiauto pistol.

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gun reviews Among SIG’s air target selection is a trap box target, which is perfect for shooting indoors.

out of your yard without damaging or penetrating the hide, like many high-powered pellet guns might do.

SHOOTING FROM ABOUT 20 feet, we were getting 1¾-inch groups with the JSB Match Diabolo pellets and 1½ with the SIG Match Ballistic pellets. OK, I’ll be honest: When I say “we,” I mean Ron Spomer, an outdoor hunting professional and television host. I used his groups, since I am not a world-renowned pistol shot.

The P226 can shoot pellets between 308 and 510 feet per second, depending on air temperature and pellets chosen.

Using official SIG pellets ensures better accuracy.

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UNIQUE FEATURES OF THE P226 AIR PISTOL • Picatinny rail on the bottom, which is great for mounting a light; • Realistic blow-back slide; • Each magazine holds a total of 16 pellets.

The P226 air pistol comes in black or flatdark earth, which is similar to a light tan. I think the moment you pick it up you’re going to be impressed with the authentic feel of this pistol, and it is fun to shoot. I also think this pistol would be the perfect gun for shooting grouse or varmints.

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SIG offers a full line of dynamic air-pistol and air-rifle targets.

Now, let’s get into SIG’s line of airgun targets. I don’t know about the kids you take shooting, but mine like dynamic targets, and this line offers all the flippers and spinners for just such stimulation.

While testing these guns, we set up four SIG targets to work with, but they offer as many as 10 different styles. Shooting these targets definitely encouraged my kids to shoot more. SIG recommends setting the targets at least 25 yards away because pellets and fragments might ricochet off the spinners. Also, if you have a clear stretch in your garage or basement, you could even set up SIG’s box target to plink. These targets are specifically designed to trap the pellet, which makes it perfect for shooting inside.

Ah! Yet another gun and line of accessories one cannot live without.

Editor’s note: If you would like to know more about SIG Sauer’s P226 air pistol, you can visit them at sigsauer.com 164

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Product review

TOPPING GLOCK’S G19 Testing Leupold DeltaPoint Pro Sights REVIEW AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY RICK ROSS

I

started shooting around age 13, back in 1978, after I saved up three months of lawn-mowing money to purchase my first gun from Sears. It was a Crossman 760 Power Master pellet rifle and it cost $30. I did add the socially acceptable and required Tasco 4x scope a bit later. I have taken many turns in life, but I still have that gun. These days, thankfully, it doesn’t take me as long to save that much money.

During the 2016 SHOT Show, Glock announced two new models, the G17 and G19 Gen 4 MOS. Most people are familiar with the Glock 19, as it has been a favorite of police, military and sport shooters around the world since 1988.

Since I already owned a Gen 4 Glock 17 and 26, I felt strongly compelled to complete the family set. I just knew I had to have the G19. Yes, there is a Glock 34 in my future, too.

(Editor, please delete that last comment from my personal copy of American Shooting Journal, so my wife doesn’t read it– thanks!) I called around to a few local and not-so-local dealers and found a 19 MOS in stock. It took almost a month, but I did find one.

Leupold’s DeltaPoint Pro is perfectly suited for Glock shooters and comes with a power-saving mode and a 60MOA elevation and windage adjustment.

GLOCK 19 GEN 4 MODULAR OPTIC SIGHT (MOS) When I unpacked the gun, I was, as expected, impressed.

All the normal Glock accoutrements were of course present, but so much has been written about this gun that I don’t think I can tell you anything you don’t already know. So I will summarize. During field stripping, the recoil-absorbing Gen 4, dual spring was obvious, and I was very happy to see that the pistol came with Glock’s 4.5-pound connector, found in all of the new MOS and a few models with longer slides, instead of the typical 5.5, which results in a lighter trigger pull. Since I have replaced all my Glock connecters with the 4.5 model, this saved me a step. I had also ordered the Brownells extended release slide pack, which includes Glock’s extended slide release and three Magpul PMAG 17 GL9 magazines. The slide release went right into the gun, while the PMAGs are a topic for a future article. After applying a bit of lube, everything went back together perfectly, as expected.

MY NEXT STEP was to replace the white-dot and field-goal sights with a pair of factory Glock night sights scavenged from my Glock 17, which now runs suppressor-height sights.

Using the Maryland Gun Works sight-pusher tool, it was quite the easy process.

The MOS model has the slide cut to hold a variety of americanshootingjournal.com 169

PRODUCT review

Groups produced by the Glock using the DeltaPoint Pro and Hornady’s 135 Critical Defense ammo produced a 1.26 minute of angle at 15 yards.

lightweight reflex sights via a small adaptor plate. The slide cut is done very well and the plate all but disappears into the slide. This is where I introduce the next goodie – a pair of Leupold DeltaPoint Pro sights. “A pair?” you ask. “But why would you need two?” The answer is because the DeltaPoint comes in two models, each with a different reticle, one with a 2.5 minute of angle dot and the other with a slightly larger 7.5 MOA triangle. I initially thought I would like the 2.5MOA red-dot better. I would prove myself wrong.

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LEUPOLD DELTAPOINT PRO As I unpacked the box and lovingly fondled – I mean, closely examined – the two DeltaPoint sights, I had but one thought: How can I manage to keep both of these sights and not let my wife find out? Nothing? Silence? … Rats! Each 1.9-ounce (with battery) unit is powered by a single three-volt CR2032 lithium battery – available everywhere – which is enclosed behind a small door on top of the unit that is accessible without tools.

Other models on the market require removal of the optic to change the battery, thus potentially requiring a rezero.

Speaking of power, these units have another cool feature; a power-saving mode called motion-sensor technology places the unit into sleep mode after five minutes of inactivity and immediately powers up again if it senses motion. They also offer a 60MOA elevation and windage adjustment. The reticle has a varying brightness level that allows you to tune the dot or triangle to your preference. The unit can also be switched off manually for longer-term storage.

I MOUNTED the 2.5MOA dot first, and after zeroing the sight I was able to make some really small groups at the backyard range. I used a handful of different ammo, including 115-grain Hornady Critical Defense, 135-grain Hornady Critical Duty, 124-grain Federal Hydro shock and 115-grain Magtech Sport/Hunting, plus a handful of my own 147-grain

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PRODUCT review

Weighing in at only 1.9 ounces with batteries, these sights offer motion-sensor technology that places the unit into sleep mode after five minutes of inactivity and immediately powers up again if it senses motion.

IDPA loads. I experienced no failures to feed or misďŹ res. The best groups were from the Hornady 135 Critical Defense at 15 yards with a 1.26MOA, with the Hydro shocks coming in a close second. I then mounted the 7.5 triangle with similar

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results. These are some seriously nice sights.

I tried my best to get a good photo of the red dot and triangle sight from a shooterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prospective but, alas, a better camera is needed. (Editor, please forward the cash

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There are two available models: the angle dot with a 2.5 MOA and the larger 7.5 MOA triangle.

for a new digital SLR camera.) Once I adjusted the reticle brightness to my preference, both the red dot and the triangle were readily visible in bright sunlight and in darkness. I traveled from inside to outside through various lighting conditions with varying color backgrounds and never had a sightpicture problem. Also, the Glock fit cleanly into several different holster models, including my favorite, the Kingtuk, with these sights.

So, now I’m saving up my available cash, cereal-box tops and SkyMiles to buy both Leupold DeltaPoint Pros.

Maybe I can start mowing lawns again.

(Note to editor: On second thought, please do not send this issue to me at all. If my wife sees it, I’m toast.)

Editor’s notes: For more on the DeltaPoint Pro, see leupold.com.

Author Rick Ross is an NRA pistol instructor, IDPA and GSSF competitor, AR enthusiast and NRA life member.

JOIN GSSF If you are interested in testing your skills with or without these sights and you haven’t heard of the Glock Shooting Sport Foundation, or GSSF, listen up. They promote friendly competitions between Glock shooters of any and all proficiency levels, and the competitions not only help you improve your shooting techniques, but you get to meet a lot of great people who are doing the same. These events draw huge crowds – keep your eyes peeled for “The Gunny,” who often attends – and they are loads of fun.

Another reason I love these events is because those who participate in GSSF shoots are eligible to win Glocks, and not just for top scores but randomly just for participating!

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