Gun World 201406

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406

1/100

GLOCK

0 6

0 74470 03105 5

JUNE2014 VOLUME 55, NO.6 $4.99 U.S.DISPLAY UNTIL: 6/3/14 www.gunworld.com

EngagedMedia

ByBeckett

THEM1 GARAND: FIREARM OF FREEDOM

7 TIPSFOR

LIMITEDQUOTAHUNTS

MIL-SPEC SHOOTOUT5 BRAND TORTURE-TEST

G42COOL &

CONCEALED

G30SHOT

HYBRID

DOITYOURSELF

CUSTOMTRIGGERFORARUGER10/22

TACTICAL

TRAINING,PLINKERPRICESANSCHUTZ

SCAR

ONTARGET

RUGER GP100MATCH

CHAMPION

SLEEK &SUPERPOSEDBROWNING CITORI 725

LASERFOCUSED

A LOOKINSIDE

CRIMSONTRACE

& LOAD

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406

2/100

The Mustanghas been a favorite of customers for years. Updated with

21st century technology, the Mustang XSP is sure to become a popularoption for concealed carry. But the most important stories belong to themen and women who have owned and relied on Colt through the decades.Make your story include a Colt.

BUILT ONE AT A TIME.PROVEN EVERY ROUND.

COLT.COM 800.962.COLT FACEBOOK.COM/COLTFIREARMS @COLTFIREARMS

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406

3/100

www.barnesbullets.com

1-800-574-9200

The TAC-XPD Defense Ammunitionthe

optimized solution for carry or home defense.

Available in 380 Auto, 9mm Luger, 40 S&W and 45 Auto.

New for 2014 - 357 Magnum

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406

4/1004 GUN WORLD | JUNE 2014 www.gunworld.com

CONTENTSJUNE 2014

FEATURES

SPECIAL GLOCK SECTION:

CompactCandidate

In the G42, Glock has created

a slim, compact polymerhandgun chambered in .380ACP, and it is ideal forconcealed carry.By Todd Burgreen

Hot HybridThe former LAPD SIS

special-order Glock 30S is afusion of the Glock 30 shortframe and the Slim-Line

Glock 36 slide, and you canfinally own one.By Jerry Catania

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Over-UnderOverhaul

With sleeker lines, Invector-DSchoke tubes and a FireLitetrigger, the new Browning Citori725 is their best version everfor hunting upland game birds.By Mike Dickerson

16

24

30

Near-PerfectMatch

Ruger's New GP100 MatchChampion offers on-targetperformance for competition,hiking, self-defense and more.By Dr. Martin D. Topper

AccurateUnderstudy

Understudy guns canapproximate centerfirepractice at rimfire prices,

and the Anschutz MSR RX22is an accurate and easy-handling SCAR look-alike.By Leroy Thompson

Mil-SpecShootout

Tag along as our East Coastrifleman runs five OTCbrands of M855 Mil-Specammo through the barrelsof two AR-15s and tabulatesthe results.By John N. Raguso

38

46

54

JerryCatania

24

30

MikeDickerson

GUN WORLD (ISSN 0017-5641) Volume 55,

Number 6, is published monthly, 12 times

a year by Beckett Media, LLC, 22840 Savi

Ranch Parkway, #200, Yorba Linda, CA 92887.

Periodical postage paid at Anaheim, CA, and

additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send

address changes to Gun World c/o Beckett

Media, 4635 McEwen Road, Dallas, TX 75244.

Return undelivered Canadian addresses to: Gun

World c/o Pitney Bowes, Inc. PO Box 25542,

London, ON N6C 6B GST#855050365RT001

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406

5/100

When you buy a Del-Ton AR-15 rifle, you are guaranteed:

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


ON THE COVER:

Photographs by Jerry Catania, ToddBurgreen and Jim Thompson

Cover design by Jesse Cao

COLUMNS

8 Up Front Craig Hodgkins

10 New Products Craig Hodgkins

12 Ask the Experts Gun WorldContributors

64 Todays Hunter Thomas C. Tabor

70 Reload James E. House

76 Concealed Carry Dave Workman

82 Gunsmithing Steve Sieberts

90 Questions &Answers: CrimsonTrace

Craig Hodgkins

96 Back Pages:The Great Garand Craig Hodgkins

46

54

LeroyThomp

son

JohnN.R

aguso

CONTENTS

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406

7/100

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


JUNE 2014 VOLUME 55 NUMBER 6

EDITORIALEditorial Director: Doug JeffreyEditor: Craig HodgkinsManaging Editor: Elise PortaleArt Director: Johann Frederick Mendoza

CONTRIBUTORSDave Emanuel, Lee Boyt, Todd Burgreen, Jerry Catania,Mike Dickerson, Tara Dixon Engel, Abe Elias, Brad Fitz-patrick, Richard Folsland, Paul Hantke, James House,Dave Norman, Jameson Parker, Buck Pope, D.K. Pridgen,

Denis Prisbrey, John Raguso, Dave Spaulding, TomTabor, Chuck Taylor, Leroy Thompson, Martin Topper,Dave Workman

ADVERTISINGGabe Frimmel: Ad Sales Director(714) 200-1930 [email protected] Clifford: Senior Account Executive(717) 896-8956Mark Pack: Senior Account Executive(714) 200-1939Gennifer Merriday: Ad Trafc Coordinator

DIRECT MARKETING GROUPJohn Bartulin (866) 866-5146 ext. 2746Paul Caca (866) 866-5146 ext. 4961Ryan Lauro (866) 866-5146 ext. 2756Mary Ann Jaca (866) 866-5146 ext 2716

OPERATIONSGus Alonzo: Newsstand Sales & Marketing ManagerCelia Merriday: Newsstand AnalystArmit Sharma: Newsstand & Production Analyst

Mohit Patel: Newsstand & Production AnalystAlberto Chavez: Senior Logistics & Facilities ManagerJohn Cabral: Creative Graphic Designer

EDITORIAL, PRODUCTION & SALES OFFICE22840 Savi Ranch Parkway, #200Yorba Linda, CA 92887(714) 939-9991www.gunworld.comwww.facebook.com/gunworldmagazinewww.facebook.com/eembybeckett

GUN WORLD (ISSN 0017-5641) Volume 55, Number 6, ispublished monthly, 12 times a year by Beckett Media, LLC,22840 Savi Ranch Parkway, #200, Yorba Linda, CA 92887.Periodical postage paid at Anaheim, CA, and additionalmailing ofces. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to GunWorld c/o Beckett Media, 4635 McEwen Road, Dallas, TX75244. Return undelivered Canadian addresses to: GunWorld c/o Pitney Bowes, Inc. PO Box 25542, London, ONN6C 6B GST#855050365RT001 2014 by Beckett Media,LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material from

this issue in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.

CUSTOMER SERVICEBeckett Media, LLC4635 Mc Ewen Road. Dallas, TX 75244

SUBSCRIPTIONS, ADDRESS CHANGES,RENEWALS, MISSING OR DAMAGED COPIES(800) 764-6278(239) 653-0225 Foreign [email protected]@beckett.com

BACK ISSUES: www.engagedmediamags.comBOOKS, MERCHANDISE, REPRINTS: (239) 280-2380DEALER SALES: (239) 280-2380NEW PRODUCTS OR TO CONTRIBUTE A STORY OR [email protected]

SUBSCRIPTION RATES$17.95/1 year, $27.95/2 years. Foreign $33.95/1 year,$59.95/2 years. Single copy price is $4.99. Please allow 6to 8 weeks for new subscriptions to begin.

Beckett Media, LLCNick Singh: Executive DirectorErin Masercola: Business Unit Editorial Director

This magazine is purchased by the buyer with the under-standing that information presented is from varioussources from which there can be no warranty or responsi-bility by Beckett Media, LLC as to the legality, complete-ness or technical accuracy.

GST #855050365RT001Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement #40612608Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:

PITNEY BOWES, INC.P.O. Box 25542London, ON N6C 6B2

GUN WORLDIN SOCIAL MEDIA:

Website:www.gunworld.comFacebook:www.facebook.com/

gunworldmagazineTwitter:@gunworldmag

UP FRONT

Fortunately, there is no photo-graphic evidence of me wearing thezip-up smock and booties I wasrequired to wear in the Leupoldoptics clean rooma very impres-sive, labor-intensive operation, tosay the leastbut Mike Faw ofCrimson Trace did snap a few of metesting out their new Rail MasterPro (see it on our Facebook page),mounted to a Springfield ArmoryXDM 9mm. Id never fired a round inthe dark before, but the Rail Masterkept me on target inside their cooltest range. Who knows? I may beinspired to enter CTs Third Annual

Midnight 3 Gun Invitational laterthis summer.

In addition to the team atCrimson Trace (see page 90 formore on CT), I owe a big thanks toDerrick Lau of Benchmade, DaveDomin and Pat Mundy of Leupold

& Stevens, and Randy Parks, DanGoetz and Rob Nees of WarneScope Mounts for the hospitality,the tours and the hats. I havealready added the latter to mygrowing collection!

As always, I look forward tohearing from you, reading yourposts on our social media sites (seeleft) andif one of your road tripshappens to intersect with any ofmineseeing you at some upcomingshows and events. GW

By Craig HodgkinsON THE

ROAD AGAIN

Id never fired

a round in the

dark before ...

I love road trips.I recently had the opportunity

to travel to the Portland, Ore., area,

a region of the country Ive enjoyedvisiting in the past. This time,however, in addition to my obliga-tory stops at Powells Books andVoodoo Doughnut, I had the addi-tional pleasure of touring the head-quarters and manufacturingfacilities of Crimson Trace, WarneScope Mounts, Leupold & Stevensand Benchmade.

Each visit was impressive in itsown way, but I was also encouragedby something I saw at all four stops.Each tour began beside a stack

of raw materials and, with very fewdetours, ended in the packagingand shipping room. In other words,these companies are designing,machining, tooling, building, testing,packaging and shipping thousandsupon thousands of quality prod-ucts created by employees wholive right down the street or innearby communities.

I was also pleasantly surprisedto see how often people wereintegrally involved in many processes.Sure, CNC and other productionmachines were in evidence every-where (we do want increasedcapacity, right?), but it was rarewhen any step requiring fine-tuning,finishing, quality control andassembly was not accomplishedby human hands.

Outside the

Beaverton, Ore.,headquartersof Leupold &Stevens.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406

9/100

CC

O-AH

ANDFU

LOFC

ONFIDE

NCE

Shown

Actual

Size

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


NEWPRODUCTS

Story & Photos by Craig Hodgkins

Excellent Choices Available from 5.11 Tactical,

Surefire, ExtremeBeam and Brite-Strike

Artificial Illumination

Product: ATAC PLxManufacturer: 5.11 Tacticalwww.511tactical.comMSRP: $27.99

The 5.11 ATAC PLx penlight provides full-sized tactical lighting in a palm-sized,nicely priced package. The PLx is water resistant and impact resistant to 3meters, and other features include a momentary-on switch and a regulated circuitfor maximum output. Powered by two readily available AAA batteries that inserteasily through the tail cap, the ATAC PLx casts a very bright 40-meter cone oflight and offers four hours of runtime on a single charge.

Contacts are gold-plated, and at 5 inches, the PLx tucks nicely into a pant orshirt pocket and will truly fit comfortably in your palm.

Make no mistake this is one bright light. With a dazzling 500-lumen maximum output(low-output level is a very functional and long-lasting 5 lumens), this flashlight is ideal foreveryday-carry, self-defense or outdoor applications and will also find a good deal of use as aprimary or backup light for patrol officers or a duty light for plainclothes officers. The EB2 comes intwo models, differing only in the type of tailcap switching: the traditional click-type switch (withmomentary- and constant-on) and a tactical switch, which offers pushbutton and tailcap twistcontrols for both low and high output.

A tough, lightweight Mil-Spec hard-anodized aluminum body protects the EB2's sophisticatedelectronics, and its smooth contours minimize clothing snag and pressure points. A two-way clip permits

secure head-up or head-down carry as well as field-expedient hands-free lighting if clipped to the bill orbrim of a hat. The EB2 measures 5.8 inches, has a virtually indestructible LED emitter regulated to maximizeoutput and runtime and comes with two high-energy 123A lithium batteries with a 10-year shelf life.

The ATAC PLx from5.11 Tactical provides

portability and a lot oflight for the price.

Surefires EB2

Backup with thetactical optionoffers both push-button and twist

activation.

Product: EB2 BackupManufacturer: Surefirewww.surefire.comMSRP: $235

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>

Its a basic desire to want to seethe world more clearly, butdarkness falls every 24 hours,

and tactical, recreational andpersonal needs often arise with-out regard to weather conditionsor time of day. Fortunately, agrowing variety of quality choicesare currently available, fromhandy penlights to the mostrugged, multi-functional side-carry and fully mountable tacticalillumination devices. Here a somegood choices.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406

11/100www.gunworld.com JUNE 2014 | GUN WORLD 11

Product: RHIGHT-MHLSManufacturer: Brite-Strikewww.brite-strike.comMSRP: $250

Bright-Strikes new RHIGHT Duty Light is AC/DCrechargeable, and it is one of the toughest, brightest, lightestmodels on the market today. Two things set it apart from

other duty lights: the Tactical Blue Dot switch system(recessed to prevent accidental activation) and therechargeable adapter port, accessed with a simple rotationof the light cone. When it is recharged, the compressionseal then rotates down over the charging port to make it100-percent waterproof, not just water resistant.

The light is 600 lumens of brilliant white light and isequipped with the patented world-class Tactical TouchHigh, Low, Strobe and Momentary Hi switch. Length is 6.25inches, and a heavy-duty clip will hold it snugly in any pocket.

The unit comes packaged with an AC/DC battery-charging system complete with two chargers: one for a wallsocket and one for a vehicle. The light also comes with oneBrite-Strike rechargeable lithium-ion battery.

The RHIGHT Duty Light fromBrite-Strike is AC/DC rechargeableand comes with one lithium-ionbattery and wall and car chargers.

Products: TAC24 SWAT/M4 Scirrako/OSR-800 HeadlampManufacturer: ExtremeBeamwww.extremebeam.comMSRP: $99.95 (TAC24 SWAT), $59.95(M4 Scirrako), $35.95 (Headlamp, not pictured)

ExtremeBeam makes things easy for people who have difficultychoosing among so many quality offerings. In addition to single-unit sales, they offer a variety of pre-packaged bundles. Our test

package included one each of the TAC24, the M4 Scirrako and theOSR-800 Headlamp and all batteries required. Each unit sports ahigh-output LED.

The TAC24 comes in two flavors, the SWAT version with a singleon mode and the SR3 with three modes (high, low and hyper-flash). Machined from solid bar-stock aircraft aluminum, it is.50-cal BMG weapon rated, and its 1-inch body makes weaponmounting easy.

The M4 Scirrako offers top performance for a lightpriced under $50 and provides three on modes (high, lowand strobe) with a high of 230 lumens. It is also .50-cal BMGweapon rated with an easily-mountable 1-inch body.

The OSR-800 Headlamp offers a focusable beam well beyond550 feet, has a S.O.S. Safety mode for rescue or emergency situations

and weighs in at a scant 3.5 ounces. This unit features several clickand lock positions, making it extremely flexible for camping, hunting,fishing and survival. GW

The TAC24 and the M4 Scirrako

offer a terrific one-two punchat the darkness.

One rotation of the RHIGHT Duty

Light reveals its charging port. Aftercharging, the compression seal tothe left of the plug will render the

unit watertight.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


We do the research so you dont have to.

ASK theEXPERTS

REDUCED-RECOIL KITQUESTION: First-time 12-gauge ownerneed shorterLOP and to reduce recoil sowife and kid can train withthis, too. Some questions toconfirm: No difference betweenthese accessories fitting the590 or the 590A1? I want the590A1 as it is a bit heavier andwill reduce the recoil evenmore. But going for six-shot or

18.5 barrel which of the590A1 (if they are compatiblewith your ultimate solution)

models is best in your opinion?The tri-rail? The blackwater?Something else? I am stilltrying to decide which oneto get. I plan to buy a goodquality forend light and amthinking ghost rings are fine.Which sling/fore-light alsowould you recommend?Thanks for any insight!

Brian, via gunworld.com, inresponse to an article on recoilreduction by John N. Raguso

A close-up of the MesaTactical HydraulicBuffer Stock in actionat the range.

The flipside of therecoil-reducing TAC stock.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


JOHN N. RAGUSO ANSWERS:

As you mentioned, there are minimaldifferences between Mossbergs590 and 590A1 series tactical shot-guns. Both series are offered ineither parkerized or Mossbergsproprietary Marinecote exteriorfinishes, in 5+1 (18.5-inch barrel)and 8+1 (20-inch barrel) magazinecapacities. Some of the subtledifferences of the Mil-Spec 590A1scompared to their lighter 590-series cousins are a thicker steelbarrel, metal tang safety and metaltrigger guard.

One of the best ways to reduceyour Mossbergs heavy 12-gaugerecoil (especially when using full-power buckshot and slugs) is toupgrade the standard factory stockto the Mesa Tactical LEO TelescopingHydraulic Recoil Stock Kit (part

#93220), which has an MSRP of$330. This might sound like a lot,but I can tell you from firsthandexperience its worth every penny.The science behind this paradigm-shifting, 12-gauge accessory is aMil-Spec hydraulic buffer thateffectively reduces the roar of the12-gauge tiger to the mew of a smallkitten. Independent tests havequalified this felt recoil reduction inthe neighborhood of 70 percent onspecial lab machinery, so it reallydoes work. Another attractive feature

of this LEO stock kit is that it isequipped with a six-point adjustableSOPMOD M-4 stock that tailors theweapons length of pull to theshooter with the convenience of aremovable single-point slingmount. So, if you have a slight buildor would like to introduce your wifeand kids to the 12-gauge withoutbruising their extremities, this is theright tool to accomplish this task.

But theres more Mesa alsooffers a four- or six-shell side-saddlecarrier that bolts on to the off-sideof the stock in addition to a Limb-Saver recoil pad to dampen the12-gauges bite even more. You canalso get a Mesa Picatinny rail thatscrews right into your Mossysdrilled and tapped receiver andadds another four, six or eight addi-tional shotshells on the port side. I

prefer the smaller profile four-shellholder as it is less likely to get in theway during normal weapon drillsand operation or get hung up onclothing. The good news with all ofthe Mesa Tactical accessories isthat they are extremely user-friendlyand you dont need a gunsmith toinstall them. All of the aforemen-tioned products come with extremelyclear assembly instructions (withpictures) and even the mechani-cally challenged can take heart thatthere are no installation traps. All

requisite hardware is included andeverything goes together in fiveminutes or less.

Regarding the forend question,the aftermarket FAB Defense PR-MOtri-rail forend (used as standardissue on a number of Mossberg12-gauges, including its ThunderRanch model) is an excellentupgrade ($55 to $60 at a variety ofinternet sites like Optics Planet,Midway USA and others) and allowsthe operator to quickly attach a shortvertical grip, a tactical light and alaser, all of which are critical for homedefense and CQB environments.

Which light and laser you mightprefer is a personal thing and isbased on your budget and missionobjectives. Ive had excellent resultswith the Mako 1-inch and CAA FAS-2TacLight Holders ($20 to $25 atMidway USA), the Walther 170-lumen tactical light ($20 at MidwayUSA) and the CAA Short VerticalGrip ($15 at Botach).

My favorite Mossberg 590A1is the parkerized compact model(#51520, $690 MSRP), which fea-tures a 5+1 configuration with ghostring sights. To this I added a Choateshorty Mark V pistol grip stock(12.5-inch LOP at $75), a Mesa Tac-tical shotshell holder ($60) on thestarboard/opposite side of the stock(I am right-handed, so my checkweld is on the port side), a Choate+2 parkerized magazine tube exten-

sion ($45) that expands it to a 7+1capacity and a Midwest Industriessingle-point sling mount ($29) thatslips in between the Mossys re-ceiver and the Choate P/G syntheticstock.

Be advised that all of theseaccessories are super sweet andwill do the job you seek but will alsoset you back a significant amountof your cash that will add up. Theleast expensive and simplest wayto reduce 12-gauge recoil is tochoose your ammo wisely and go

with some of the reduced-recoilloads like Hornadys eight-pelletTAP 00 buckshot (blue hull) withVersatite wad, Rios nine-pellet 00buck, Fiocchis nine-pellet 00buck, Remingtons eight-pellet 00buck, Winchesters PDX1-12 De-fender buck/slug combo and Fed-erals excellent PD 132 nine-pellet00 buck with FliteControl wad.Most of these aforementioned man-ufacturers also offer a reduced-re-coil rifled Foster slug. Combinethese reduced recoil loads with theMesa LEO hydraulic buffer stockand you are in 12-gauge heaven!

The same stock, separated to show detail.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


OUR JUNE EXPERTS:John N. Raguso is a licensed charter boat captain and nationally recognized outdoor writer. His favorite shootingpursuits include participating in service-rifle and three-gun matches, studying the science of ballistics and buildinghis own AR-15s. His article Mil-Spec Shootout appears on page 54 of this issue.

Leroy Thompsonis an internationally recognized authority on weapons and tactics and is the author of 50 books.

His article Accurate Understudy on the Anschutz SCAR appears on page 46 of this issue.

GW

LEROY THOMPSON ANSWERS:The Australian AUG is different.Designated the F88 Austeyr, it

incorporates a bayonet lug and has1:7 rifling, which works better with

M855 62-grain 5.56 ammo andalso with tracer rounds.

The F88 also has an automaticlockout on the selector so that thetriggerwhich, on the standard

AUG, can be fired full auto or semidepending on where the finger is

placed on the trigger and how hard

QUESTION: I read recentlythat the Australian Army usesa version of the AUG rifle. Is itdifferent from the standardAustrian AUG?

Vince C., Haverford, Miss.

the trigger is pulledcan be set foronly semi-auto fire. L88 rifles are

produced at the Thales LithgowSmall Arms Factory, which hasbeen producing Australian military

weapons for more than a century.There are an array of variations of

the F88 including the F88C carbine,the F88S-A1 with a Picatinny rail,

the F88S-A1C carbine version withPicatinny rail and the F88 GLA,

which has an M20R grenadelauncher.GW

AUSTRALIAN

AUG

ASK THE EXPERTS

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


A member of the 2nd RAR(Royal Australian Regiment)with an F88S-A1 mountingan ELCAN optical sight.(U.S. DOD)

A member of the 2nd RARwith an F88 rifle; note that thevertical foregrip is folded.(U.S. DOD)

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


COMPACTCANDIDATEStory & Photos by Todd Burgreen

The ber-Concealable Glock 42is the Latest Addition to the Family

After bursting on the scene in the 1980s,Glock pistols quickly evolved into thestandard for personal defense, law

enforcement and military handguns. Thesepolymer pieces are ultra reliable, accurate,tough and simple to operate and all at acompetitive market price. A review of thepersonal-defense handgun market makes itclear that Glock remains one of the designstandards that others are chasing.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


It is perhaps best to think of the

Glock line-up of handguns as asystem. The Glock secret to success

is minimal operating controls, relent-less reliability and, to paraphrase afamous political campaign slogan,

its the trigger, stupid. But simplicityshould not be confused with lack of

refinement. Although critics main-tain that the company has grown

complacent by not introducing anynew designs that depart significantlyfrom the template laid by G17s 1982

arrival, Glock handguns are now intotheir fourth generation of refinement.

At this years SHOT Show, thecompany made another noteworthy

introduction to their product line-upwith the G42 chambered in .380 ACP.

While a .380 ACP Glock has been

around for some time in the form ofthe G25, that particular model has

been unavailable to U.S. consumers

due to import regulations. The G25 isalso relatively large handgunforcomparison, think of the G19for the

.380 ACP chambering, but it was de-signed for consumer markets wherecivilians cannot own military calibers.

The new Glock 42, however, isideal for concealed carry.

COMPACT CARRY

Civilian practitioners of concealed

carry all desire a potent handgun theycan handle proficiently, but constraintscaused by weather, clothing, or social

environment often force a compro-mise in terms of size and caliber.

One of the reasons I am so fond ofthe cooler months, besides the

beginning of hunting season, is theability to layer clothes in a way toallow the return to shoulder holsters

and belt holsters containing full-sized handguns.

In the G42, Glock has created aslim, compactsome call it petite

polymer handgun chambered in .380ACP with dimensions that lend it topocket, ankle or other deep-cover

methods of concealed carry. It utilizesthe proven Glock Safe Action trigger

system in a package measuring 5.9inches in length, 0.94 inches in width,

4.1 inches in height and weighing 13.7ounces empty, 14.3 ounces loaded.The G42 magazine holds six .380 ACP

cartridges, giving it a total capacity ofseven with a round chambered and

the magazine topped off. Two maga-zines are supplied with the G42.

Glocks reputation for qualityhas already set it apart compared to

other compact .380 ACP handgunson the market. The handgun isblessed with a set of sights that

The petite G42 breaks downsimply into four major

pieces: frame, slide, barreland dual recoil-spring.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS

Training at shooting schoolssuch as Storm Mountain Training, TMACS,

Suarez International and Tactical Responsethe reading of expert opinions

and the study of after-action reports resulting from defensive engagements by

civilians has led me to believe certain fundamental truths:

1) A handgun must be lightweight and compact enough to be easily concealable,

or it will not be diligently carried.2) A likely encounter by a practitioner of concealed carry will be in low light and

come as a surprise, with the ammunition in the handgun deciding the outcome.

3) Size matters, with .38 Special/.380 ACP representing the minimum in terms

of effective fight-stopping ability.

4) There will be a need to fire multiple times when responding to an attack.

While these are my core beliefs, my thoughts on how best to satisfy the

truths have evolved throughout the years. Flexibility is the key to effective

defensive-carry practices. The Glock advantage of similar operating controls,

trigger and feel is a huge bonus for moving between firearms for practitioners

of concealed carry or transitioning between full-sized duty weapons to more

compact firearms when off duty.

instill confidence that it is capable

of accurate fire past bad-breathdistances combined with a trigger

and overall feel that also deliverperformance. As a result of itsdesign savvy, Glock was able to

duplicate the ergonomics and naturalpointability of their larger models in

the small G42 package.Another reason to consider the

G42 is this: When it comes to hand-gun types with levers and manualsafeties, shooters simply need more

training time to familiarize them-selves with those guns as compared

to what is required with the Glock.Ive personally experienced signifi-

cant issues with other non-Glocksafety and manual-release designswhen drawing from concealment or

under pressure. Its one thing whenthis happens under induced stress

at the range or during competition,

but under life-or-death circum-stances, it is a serious matter. Now,before you write to the editor claim-

ing I am slamming the venerable1911, let me clarify: Ive carried a1911-style pistol and it is a fine

Glock perfected the marriageof polymer and metal inhandgun design. Metal runnersinserted in the polymer lowerframe are guides for the metalslide to operate on.

The G42 features the Glock dualrecoil-spring system that wasinitially introduced in the G26/27Glock models. It is now standardon all fourth generation Glocks.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


SWINGING-LINK DESIGN

Many handguns with similar dimensions to the G42 are blowback operated.The G42, however, operates via Brownings swinging-link design (as found inthe 1911 and as further refined in his Hi-Power), so recoil is minimized andreliability is enhanced. The barrel on the G42 also has an integral feed ramp,which further increases reliability.

The G42 features a dual recoil-spring similar to what was originallyintroduced in the mini Glock 26/27 and later introduced across the board inall fourth-generation Glock handguns. This recoil spring is a dual-compression

type with the captured springs operating at different rates. Glock literature

points to the dual-recoil-spring assembly reducing recoil impulse and increasing

life cycle of the pistol by limiting wear due to firing cycle.Though no formal test reports have appeared, to my knowledge, non-

scientific estimates have placed reduced recoil between 10 and 30 percent via

the dual springs. My own unscientific assessment is that the snap of the slide

in its rearward travel is reduced in the G42 compared to other compact .380ACP handguns Ive tested and evaluated.

weapon with a distinguishedrecord of performance. But it is myopinion that, ideally, personal de-

fense handguns should not becomplicated by required manipula-

tions that take away from their pri-mary roleself-defense.

Also, manufacturer and MSRP

provide no guarantee that a handgunwill be able to perform immediately

after purchase, but in my experi-ence, Glock is one of the few hand-

guns you can count on being readyto go straight out of the box. I have

taken numerous Glock models tovarious shooting schools, whererounds fired measure in the thou-

sands. Throughout the years, Glockshave proven the most reliable

handguns I have come into contactwith through personal experience

or observing other peoples gear. Itseems, however, that Glocks solid

performance throughout the yearsis sometimes neglected or taken forgranted, particularly by gun publi-

cations. I believe this stems fromthe constant focus on the newest

product introductions. Perhaps theG42 will allow for renewed focus

on what the Glock offers in termsof performance.

AMMO AND ERGONOMICS

It has been some time since my

last T&E of a .380 ACP handgun,which means I had a decent stock of.380 ACP on hand. As most readers

The G42 shown stacked on top of the G26, the most compacthandgun in the Glock line-up until the G42 was introduced.

Holster-makers such as Galco and DeSantis were quick to embrace the G42 with numerous optionsoffered simultaneously with the Glocks introduction.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


will know, finding .380 ACP of anyflavor at your favorite gun shop isstill a tough task. Fortunately, .380ACP ammo has benefitted greatlyfrom recent advances in bullet andpropellant technology, especially inthe premium personal defense loadsfrom stalwarts such as Winchesterand Hornady. These loads featurepropellants that minimize muzzle

flash while maximizing velocity, andthe bullets loaded are the result ofmuch research into what a bulletdesigned for personal defenseshould consist of. Everything from aprofile that ensures reliable feedingto a jacket that guarantees properexpansion, no matter the mediumpassed through when striking itsintended target, has been researchedin detail.

For this test, I used Premiumdefensive loads from Winchester

PDX 1 95-grain, Hornady CriticalDefense 90-grain and Black Hills90-grain JHP. The G42 handled JHPprofile bullets with equal aplomb asFMJ. Testing consisted of normalprotocol, establishing reliability first,then getting into combat accuracyand handling. Several magazinesworth of ammunition was spentengaging plate racks and man-sizedsteel targets. No malfunctions wereencountered with nearly 300 roundsfired in total. As stated earlier, theG42s sights are a vast improvement

compared to other sub-compactson the market. Accurate fire waseasily achieved at distances normallyreserved for full-sized handguns.The G42s ergonomic design allowedfor minimal felt recoil and ease ofgetting multiple shots off quickly.

All of us have our own comfortlevel with how best to balance con-cealment with practical carry, so Iwont recommend the best wayfor you to carry the G42. Peace ofmind and confidence in this matteris based on individual preferences. I

will, however, suggest that no mat-ter the carry method employed, fa-miliarization and training is what ismost important.

Not surprisingly, holster compa-nies have been quick to providecarry options for the new GlockG42. My primary method of carryfor it is in either a pocket or inside-the-waistband (IWB) holster, andgood examples of these types ofholster are available from Galcoand DeSantis. The DeSantis

Pocket-Tuk pocket holster can alsobe used as an IWB holster bymounting a provided belt clip. A

Even with the G42s

sub-compact status, atwo-handed firing gripwas achievable.

Width is an importantconsideration for aconcealed-carry handgunbeing contemplated forIWB, pocket or otherforms of deep-covercarry. The G42 (left) issubstantially thinnerthan its G26 big brother.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


SPECIFICATIONS:

Caliber:

.380 auto (ACP)

Weight:

13.76 ounces

(unloaded), 14.36

ounces (loaded)

Magazine Capacity:

Six Rounds

Length: 5.94 inchesWidth: 0.94 inches

Height: 4.13 inches

Slide Width:

0.94 inches

Barrel Length:

3.25 inches

MSRP: $499

... The Glock G42 provides a good

balance of size to firepower forpractitioners of concealed carry.

A one-handed firing grip was also used duringT&E of the G42.

The Glock 42 handled differentbrands of ammunition and bulletconfiguration with no issues.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


Galco Pocket Protector holster is

another very viable candidate.The DeSantis Mini Scabbard belt

holster was also used, as was aGalco Stow-N-Go IWB. The impor-tant point is to practice with what-

ever method is to be used combinedwith good awareness of surround-

ings to prevent a total surprise attack.So, after verifying reliability, I

began manipulating the G42 from apocket holster or IWB during visits

to the range using a point-shootingor flash-sight picture with a one-handed firing grip. I found this to be

a more realistic way of analyzingwhat the G42 brings to the table for

shooters that are considering usingit in the role it was designed for

concealed-carry personal defense.The Glock Safe Action triggercombined with Glock ergonomics

produced superior accuracy in

terms of personal defense, espe-cially compared to what Id foundwith other polymer semis or

snubby revolvers, in less time andat ranges that were measured inyards versus feet.

A STRONG CANDIDATEThe Glock G42 has already

CONTACTS:

GLOCK, Inc.(770) 432-1202www.glock.com

Black Hills Ammunition(605) 348-5150

www.black-hills.com

DeSantis Gunhide(800) 424-1236www.desantisholster.com

Echo ValleyTraining Centerwww.echovalleytrainingcenter.com

Galco International(800) 874-2526www.usgalco.com

Hornady Manufacturing(800) 338-3220www.hornady.com

Winchester Ammunitionwww.winchester.com

begun to find its way into numerous

roles as a personal-defensehandgun. It will definitely find a

niche as a back-up gun, especiallywith the numerous other Glockhandguns afield. Many will find

that the handy nature of the G42will make it indispensable and

they wont be able to leave thehouse without it, even when a

larger weapon is also carried.Others will find it their primary

carry weapon by default, espe-cially in summer months or undersocial conditions.

Because of the reliabilityand accuracy revealed in the

above tests, the G42 is a strongcandidate for anyone considering

a concealed-carry handgun.Ultimately, having a weapon youcan always carry with you is

more important than that full-

sized 10mm you leave at homebecause you did not feel likedressing around it on any given

day. Simply put, the Glock G42provides a good balance of sizeto firepower for practitioners of

concealed carry.GW

YOU HEAR SHATTERED

GLASS ITS 3 A.M.WHISPERS BREAK

THE SILENCE.

YOUHEARSHATTERED

Take your familys security into your own hands. Learn more, or buy your SpeedVault today at GunVault.com.

SpeedVault, with

industry-leading biometrics.

With intelligent biometric technology and

a revolutionary drop-down design, SpeedVault

delivers a faster way to swipe your finger, grab

your gun and defe nd whats yours.

DONT SETTLE FOR AN IMITATION.LOOK FOR THE GUNVAULT LOGO.

GETTO THEPOINT.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


The SIS is a tactical surveil-lance unit falling under the umbrella

of the Robbery-Homicide Division,which was established in 1969 and

loosely portrayed in the 1995movie HEAT. The division dealswith some of the most dangerous

gang members and armed crimi-nals on the streets of Los Angeles,

with the SIS providing undercoversurveillancea most dangerous

job. The SIS performs stakeouts ondangerous suspects, often follow-ing them 24 hours a day, seven

days a week. The division needs aconcealable handgun that gives

up little to a full-sized serv-ice weapon: an easily

Story & Photos by Jerry Catania

HOTHYBRIDLAPDs Special Order Glock Goes Civilian

Glock is considered by many to be the nations No. 1 choice for law enforcement handgunsand enjoys a reputation of being especially receptive to departmental requirements.When the LAPDs Special Investigative Section (SIS) wanted a designer handgun specific

to its needs, they went to Glock, and Glock responded.

hidden, lightweight, relatively thinhandgun with a grip that facilitates

a fast draw and good control. TheSIS wanted adequate capacity in

the premier man-stopping caliber:the .45 ACP.

They also wanted a

Glock, and they got one:the G30S.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


Glocks are simple to operate:no manual safeties to consciouslyfumble with, no sharp edges toabrade skin or clothesjust draw,get on the front sight and squeezethe trigger. In my experience, Glocksare the most reliable of all hand-guns. I have fired and owned morethan two dozen of them, and with-out exception, they were all 100-

percent reliable right out of the box.

SHORT FRAME, SLIM LINEThe Glock 30S is a hybrid

design. It is basically a fusion of theGlock 30 Short Frame and theSlim-Line Glock 36 Slide. The SISwanted the capacity of the G30with the basic dimensions of theG36. Fully loaded, the G30S weighsa full pound less than the G30while having four more rounds thanthe G36. Its noteworthy that the

SIS could have had any existing pis-tol pre-approved by the LAPD andin any caliber. It is significant thatthe SIS chose its pistol to be cham-bered in .45 ACP. Based on LAPDstatistics, the SIS reportedly felt a10+1 capacity pistol was adequate

to finish a typical shootout(if there is such a thing)

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


CHRONOGRAPH DATA

LOAD MUZZLE VELOCITY MUZZLE ENERGY

CIVILIAN

DOUBLETAP 200-GRAIN BONDED 1,011 FPS 450 foot-pounds

HORNADY XTP +P 230-GRAIN 842 FPS 362 foot-pounds

COR-BON +P 185-GRAIN DPX 1,076 FPS 477 foot-pounds

DOUBLETAP 230-GRAIN FMJ 855 FPS 373 foot-pounds

LAW ENFORCEMENT

FEDERAL 230-GRAIN HST 830 FPS 367 foot-pounds

FEDERAL 230-GRAIN HYDRA-SHOK TACTICAL 821 FPS 345 foot-pounds

HORNADY +P 220-GRAIN CRITICAL DUTY 961 FPS 451 foot-pounds

without reloading. Another tacticaladvantage is that the G30S will

take the 13-round magazine of theGlock 21 as well.

The Glock 30S has a slide

width of 1.10 inches compared tothe 1.27 inches of the standard

Glock 30. The short frame enablesmany more shooters to use it effec-

tively. Utilizing the 10-round maga-zine as part of the grip makes the

G30S quite compact. Interestingly,the Glock 30S would fit in Glock

Combat holsters for the G19 andG17 as well as the one for the G20

and G21. Glock has also introduceda newly designed slide-stop lever

for the 30S. It protrudes a couple of

fractions of an inch more out fromthe slide than other Glocks. This

small increase, however, makes abig difference in how easily the lever

can be manipulated without theslightest increase in bulk.

Although the SIS has had theGlock 30S for a few years, it took a

while before word finally got

around among other law enforce-ment agencies. They knew a good

thing when they saw one, too. As aresult of law enforcementdemand, the G30S was not offi-

cially unveiled to the public until the2013 SHOT Show. Even now, it is

just starting to trickle into the civil-ian retail market. However, it has

been worth the wait.

SHOOTING THE GLOCK 30S

Functionally, the G30S is pureGlock. It fed, fired and ejected

everything I put in it with 100-per-cent reliability, even CCI aluminum-

cased shotshells. It shot topoint-of-aim and to the sights,putting all loads I tested into virtu-

ally the same place. There was nothrowing of the first hand-cycled

round out of the group either.Cycling of the lighter slide was

extremely fastI was unable to get

a photograph of the gun going inor out of batterybut happily,

follow-up shots were very rapidindeed.

While the recoil springassembly is the same as the

Glock Gen4 models, the frame is

not available with the Glock Multi-ple Backstrap System. Slight inter-

nal modifications provide a nicer5.5-pound trigger than on older

models with a very clean break fol-lowing a definitive take-up. Glocklike Lexusis always improving

the system, seeking perfection.There was nothing surprising

about handling and shooting theGlock 30S except for the maga-

zines. I could not get 10 rounds intothe magazine at first. In fact, I couldbarely get nine rounds in. Although

The hybrid Glock 30S,

chambered in .45 ACP.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406

27/100

Glock magazines are designed tobe loaded to full capacity andcarried that way forever, its justa bit hard at first. The springs fi-nally set a bit and I was able toload them all the way up after acouple of days. In the meantime,

firing the G30S with DoubleTaps200-grain Bonded (a Speer GoldDot bullet) revealed that the lit-tle gun kicks pretty good, beatingthe heck out of my secondknuckle. Other shooters with mewere stung by it in other areas;however, no one was injured andas the shooting went on for afew days, the G30S stoppedkicking so bad. Its amazing howa little training and practice canmake a gun better! When fired

The G30S utilizes anewly designedslide-stop lever. It

sticks out from theside more than mostGlocks, providing abetter platform forfaster tacticalreloads.

www.gunworld.com JUNE 2014 | GUN WORLD 27

SPECIFICATIONS

Manufacturer:Glock

Designation:G30S

Caliber: .45 ACP

Capacity: 10+1 rounds

Overall Length: 6.96 inchesWidth: 1.10 inches (slide);

1.27 inches (grip)

Barrel Length: 3.77 inches

Weight: 22.95 ounces

(unloaded); 30.36 ounces

(loaded)

MSRP: $650

alongside several Glock 19s in 9mm(a model that weighs virtually thesame, empty and loaded), onecould see and feel how much moreimpact a 200- to 230-grain .45 hason the target. The 230-grain loadsdid not seem to recoil as hard.

I shot the G30S with three dif-ferent Law Enforcement loads andthree of the best (in my opinion)

civilian loads. For an interestingcomparison of loads, go to the Fed-eral, Cor-Bon, and Hornady web-sites for the FBI ballistic gelatindata. They have data for the 200-

REAXIS GAS PISTON TECHNOLOGY

SILENCAIR ACTIVATED

PRODUCTION COMPLETE

HIGH VELOCITY, SMOOTH SHOT

MAXIMUM POWER!

The new Umarex Octane, powered by the ReAxis Gas

Piston, gives the Octane more punch, more power, and

more speed. Its SilencAir five-chamber noise dampening

system audibly reduces muzzle noise. These twotechnologies combined deliver a smooth, accurate shot

with maximum power, less vibration, and reduced noise.

Zero In on the Octane at: UmarexUSA.com/Octane

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406

28/100

CONTACTS:

GLOCK, Inc.

www.glock.com(770) 432-1202

grain Gold Dot at the same muzzlevelocity as DoubleTaps load. Allthese loadscivilian and dutyexceed the FBI protocol.

Federal Premium Law Enforce-ment loads included the HST andthe Tactical Hydra-Shok, both in230-grain weights. With the Glocksoctagonal rifling, muzzle velocitiesapproached those obtained in reg-ular 5-inch barrels. Incredibly, bothof these bullets expand up to an

inch in diameter, even after passingthrough various barriers like heavyclothing or plywood. This is one ofthe big advantages of the .45 ACP;more lead equals more expansion.Neither one is loaded to +P pres-sure levels, although both are avail-able in that form.

Hornadys Law Enforcementloadcalled Critical Dutyis a +Pload utilizing their new Flexlockdesign. The Flexlock bullet incorpo-rates two revolutionary Hornadyfeatures: the patented Flex Tip,

a hollow point with a soft plug thatinitiates consistent expansion everysingle time while preventing any

material from clogging the hollowpoint, and a heavy-duty Interlockband that locks the jacket and coretogether. Its a heavyweight as wellat 220-grains. Hornadys +P XTP(for EXtreme Terminal Perform-

ance) load has been tested andperfected throughout the years tobe a reliable performer for self-defense. It, too, is a 230-grain hol-low-point load.

DoubleTap offers several loadsfor civilians that achieve +P muzzlevelocities at standard pressurelevels. My favorite is the 200-grainBonded Core, which utilizes thesuperb Speer Gold Dot bullet, sonamed from the small gold dotthat appears when the bullet isfully expanded. The Gold Dot was

the first of the true bonded bulletsand one of the best, especiallywhen it comes to defeating super-

WHATS A SHORT FRAME?

The G30S frame is smaller than the G30 or G21. This Short Frame was originally developed in 2007 for the Glock 21 (.45

ACP) to compete in the now-canceled Joint Combat Pistol trials of the U.S. Army when it was considering a .45 ACP replacement

for the Beretta M9. In 2009, the G20 (10mm) was offered in the SF version, and subsequently, other models have followed as

well. The Short Frame (or SF) incorporates a 0.098-inch reduction in trigger reach and a 0.16-inch reduction in heel depth.

While these reductions are mathematically small, they add up to a huge difference in the way the gun feels in many peoples

hands, mine included.

The G30S a Glockfactory tacticallight attached.

28 GUN WORLD | JUNE 2014 www.gunworld.com

tough windshield glass. With450 foot-pounds of energy, theDoubleTap load is definitely ahard-hitting choice for such ashort- barreled weapon. Dou-bleTaps 230 Full Metal Jacketload offers high energy for

those who prefer ball ammo.Cor-Bons +P 185-grain DPX

load utilizes a Barnes solid copperhollow-point bullet. The DPX fea-tures aggressive expansion and100-percent retained weight. A rel-atively light bullet (compared to theothers), the DPX provides a smallbut noticeable difference in the fullyloaded weight of the Glock 30S. At451 foot-pounds, its high energyand low blast makes it one of myfavorite loads to use in any light-

weight .45 ACP pistol.I really like the Glock 30S. Itprovides a simple and lightweight10+1 capacity in a hard-hitting .45caliber pistol, small enough to eas-ily conceal for law enforcement andcivilian use alike.GW

The G30S (right) is actually a bit tallerthan the G20/G21 at the muzzle, which iswhy it wont fit some holsters.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406

29/100

400

300

200

100

0

50 100 150 200

RANGE (YD)

EFFECTIVE

ENERGY

(FT-LBS)

ENERGY VS. RANGE

0

-5

-10

-15

-20

50 100 150 200

RANGE (YD)

INCHES

TRAJECTORY VS. RANGE

SAVAGEARMS.COM

Features

B.MAG ROTARY MAGAZINE

flatoutfast

Worlds fastest rimfire

THE SAVAGE

17 HMR

(20 gr.)

17 WIN. SUPER

MAGNUM

(20 gr.)22 WMR

(30 gr.)

17 WIN. SUPER MAGNUM

17 HMR

22 WMR

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


OVER-UNDER

OVERHAUL

Browning Citori shotguns have been a fixture in the American shotgun-ning scene ever since the company asked Japanese gun manufac-turer Miroku to make a less expensive and less complicated version of

the legendary Browning Superposed over-and-under. That was more than40 years ago, and there have been numerous Citori variants since then, withtotal sales reaching the one million mark in 2008.

Story & Photos by Mike Dickerson

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


With sleeker lines, Invector-DS choke tubes and aFireLite trigger, the new Browning Citori 725 is itsbest version ever for hunting upland game birds

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


... The newCitori 725 ... is

nothing lessthan a complete

makeover ofthe old

classic.

All of these Citori variants had

a high-profile receiver of excep-tional strength with an underlocking

bolt and receiver-width hinge pin.This hefty action was a directdescendant of the Superposed

design dating to 1925, and it gaveall 12-gauge Citoris sufficient

weight to make them a bit of achore to carry afield.

Thats all changed with thenew Citori 725, which is nothingless than a complete makeover of

the old classic. That quickly becameapparent when I had the opportu-

nity to put a 725 Field model 12-gauge through its paces during three

days of action-filled pheasantshooting at R&R Pheasant Huntingin South Dakota.

The first thing I noticed wasthat this Citori was unlike any Id

ever handled. It had sleek, elon-

gated lines, thanks mainly to itsnew, slimmed-down, low-profilereceiver. Its only about 5/32-inches

lower than predecessors, but thatmakes a real difference in weightand handling, especially when

paired with the 725s slim-profilebarrels. The shotgun I tested weighed

around 7 pounds, 8 ounces, which isanywhere from - to a full pound-

lighter than predecessor models.My test gun, which was cham-

bered for 3-inch shells, sported 28-

inch barrels and had an overall

length of 45 inches. With a lengthof pull of 14 inches, drop at combof 1 5/8 inches and drop at heel of

2 inches, the gun felt as thoughit had been built just for me. Itmounted smoothly, quickly and

naturally. It was well balancedbetween the hands and pointed

where it should with little consciousinput from me.

When a gun fits as well as the

One of the big differences in the newest incarnation ofthe Citori is a slimmed-down, low-profile receiver.

It may wear the familiar gold plating, but the Citoris new trigger ismechanical rather than inertia actuated. Even if the first barrelfails to fire, the second is always ready to go.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


Citori 725 did for me, the proof is inthe shooting, and I quickly beganto put a dent in the local pheasantpopulation. The first bird thatflushed in my shooting lane diedwith my first shot, and so did thenext one, and the next one, and theone after that, at ranges from 20to 50 yards.

While it can be truthfully said

that the over-under shotgun designwas optimized a very long time ago,and true improvements come insmall doses, I quickly realized thatthis was one stack-barrel thatmerited closer examination.

MORE THAN SKIN DEEP

In appearance, the 725 has apleasing sleekness to it that youwont see in its predecessors. Theguns elongated appearance isaccentuated by the slimmed-down

stock, which has nicely figuredwood and just a suggestion of aSchnabel-type flare on the forend.It has sharp, laser-cut, 20-LPI

checkering and a glossy oil finishthat, to my eye, is a big improve-ment over urethane finishes of thepast. The receiver has a silver nitridefinish and sports engravings of apair of pheasants on the left sideand a pair of mallards on the rightside, bordered with scroll engraving.The head of a hunting dog isengraved on the bottom of the

receiver. The engraving is rathersimple. You wont get overly excitedabout it, but neither is it objection-able, and thats just fine. This is,after all, a field gun thats meant tobe carried and shot a lot.

The butt pad isnt the mostaesthetically pleasing item on thisgun, but in this case, beauty ismore than skin deep. The 725 usesBrownings Inflex recoil technology,where the pad is built around aninternal skeleton designed to pro-

duce directional deflection. Whenthe gun is fired, the pad collapses,but it doesnt simply push a massof pad material to the rear. Direc-tional ribs pull the comb down andaway from your face, resulting in aclaimed 25-percent reduction infelt recoil. By my subjective judg-ment, recoil was, indeed, notice-ably mild for a shotgun of thisweight. Happily, the design of thepad, with its rounded edges, alsoallowed for snag-free gun mount-ing. The net result of all this is a

light, lively 12 bore that, at times,seemed to handle with the speedand finesse of some of my 20-gauge guns.

Take a close look at the 725sbarrels and youll notice a differ-ence there, too. For starters, twowhite beads sit atop the vent rib,which has six rather than eightvents with correspondingly fewerattachment points. Its a smallchange but one that contributes tothe pleasing aesthetics of the gun.Its inside the barrels, however,

where youll find real beauty.The 725s barrels are back-

bored, which means the insidebore diameter has been increasedto an ideal, maximum allowablespecification (0.742 inch for 12gauge). This theoretically reducesrecoil as well as friction betweenshot cup and barrel, resulting inhigher pellet velocity and fewerdeformed pellets for more uniformpatterns. Browning was one of thefirst manufacturers to offer factory

back-boring in shotguns and, in the725, theyve paired it with Browningslatest Vector Pro forcing cones.

The Citori 725s low-profile receiver and

slimmer lines make it

appear more sleekand elongated than

predecessor models.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


These are longer forcing cones thanthose found on many shotguns.Their long, gradual taper minimizes

shot deformation and works in con-cert with back-boring to produce

shot patterns of consistent unifor-mity and density.

A NEW TRIGGER

All of this assumes, of course,that the little scattergun ballistics

computer in your head knowsexactly when to make your trigger

finger slap the familiar Browninggold-plated trigger. This gun wont

help you do that, but it will make

sure that trigger works each andevery time you want it to. With the

725, Browning has abandoned iner-tia-actuated triggers for an all-new

FireLite mechanical trigger.With inertia-operated triggers,

sears are temporarily disengagedwhen the first barrel fires and thebarrel selector moves to an unfired

sear. These inertia-set triggers weredesigned to reduce the possibility

of doubling, or having both bar-rels fire simultaneously, but there

were always a couple of problems

with this arrangement. If the firstbarrel failed to fire, for whateverreason, you were out of luck getting

The test gun supplied to the author had richly figuredwood for a field gun in its price range and a glossy oilfinish superior to the urethane finishes of the past.

The forend of the Citori 725 has nicely executed20-LPI checkering and shows just a hint of aSchnabel-style flare.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


SPECIFICATIONS

Browning

Citori 725 Field

Action: Break-action,

over and under

Gauge: 12, 3-inch; also

available in 20 gauge

Trigger: Single

selectable, mechanical

Stock: Richly figured

walnut, glossy oil finish

Barrels: 28 inches, as

tested; also available in

26 inches and 30 inches

Overall length:

45 inches

Length of Pull:

14 inches

Drop at Comb:

1 5/8 inches

Drop at Heel:

2 inches

MSRP: $2,469.99

the second barrel to go. It was alsopossible, with some guns, for ahastily and poorly mounted shot-gun to fire the first barrel but fail tofire the second. I knowIve done it.(Although, in my defense, high-vol-ume dove shooting can do that to afellow.) Whether these expletive-producing moments happen whileswinging on a live bird or a clay

target, they can be more than alittle annoying.

Mechanical triggers do not relyupon recoil to reset for the nextshot. As soon as you pull the triggerfor the first barrel, you get immedi-ate second-shot capability by sim-ply pulling the trigger again, even iftheres no recoil from the first shot.The new FireLite trigger offers otherbenefits, too. Theres less take upand less overtravel. Overall less-perceptible trigger motion con-

tributes to that one with the gunfeeling you want from a shotgun tohelp you get on target quickly.

The trigger on the field gun Itested broke crisply and with whatfelt to me to be equal amounts oftrigger pull per barrel. Although Ididnt have a trigger gauge with mein the pheasant fields, Id guess trig-ger pull to be a bit more than 3pounds but less than 5. Browning,in my view, got it exactly right withthis trigger.

INNOVATIVE

CHOKE TUBES

Browning has described thenew Invector-DS choke system

used on the 725 as the biggestleap forward in design sinceinterchangeable choke tubeswere introduced. Thats a mightybig claim, but the Invector-DSsystem is, in fact, differentandthat requires a bit of explanation.

Some confusion arose whenpeople started measuring theexit diameters and amount of

constriction of individual choketubes, which led some reviewersto conclude that the chokes wereflawed or mislabeled or that thechokes would shoot more openpatterns than they should. Onthis point, Browning is very clear:the Invector-DS choke tube des-ignations are not based on theinside diameter as measured bya micrometer but by the actualpatterns created by each choke,verified through extensive test-

ing. The goal was to get a consis-tent percentage of pellets inthe pattern from full choke tocylinder choke.

Traditional specificationscall for a full choke to place 65 to75 percent of pellets in a 30-inchcircle at 40 yards, an improvedcylinder to put 55 to 65 percentof pellets in the same circle atthe same distance, a modified toput 45 to 55 percent of pellets inthe circle, and so on. Invector-DStakes a different approach, and

requires a different understand-ing on the part of the shooter.

Heres how Browning explainsit: The opposite way to look at itis to move the 30-inch circle closer

The author reports that new Citori 725 is well

balanced between the hands and anywhere from to a full pound lighter than prede cessormodels, making it a delight to take afield.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


to the shooter approximately 15 to16 feet between each choke setting.

This is what we try to doand do itvery consistently from choke tubeto choke tube down the scale. Many

competitors tubes bunch up thescale at the tight end, creating little

change between a full, an improvedmodified and a modifiedyet with

a huge gap between the more openchokes. For this reason, you maynot be able to use your experience

with those kinds of chokes with themore precisely scaled Browning

Invector-DS choke tubes.

As I didnt have ready access toa patterning board in the pheasantfields, I wasnt able to do any pat-tern testing to duplicate Brownings

results. What I can report is that thegun I tested came with two modi-

fied chokes installed. Whether thatwas a happy accident or someone

deliberately set the gun up thatway, I dont know, but it was a

deadly combination. I pushed a lotof Winchesters new Blind SidePheasant loads through the twin

modified chokes over three days

and killed birds up to and a bit past50 yards. So did every other memberof our band of five outdoor writers

and editors. That, I would submit, is

nothing less than phenomenal per-formance from a modified choke and

steel shot, no matter how you meas-ure it.

The DS designation, by the way,stands for double seal. The namederives from the fact that the choke

tubes use a brass alloy band at thebase of each tube to better seal out

gas and grit and make the tube easy toremove even after extensive shooting. I

found it to work as advertised.Since the 725s introduction, the

line has quickly expanded to

include a number of specialized mod-els, such as the 725 Feather, which

employs an alloy receiver with a steelbreach and Grade II/III walnut. The

725 Sporting has ported barrels anda fiber-optic bead and is available inleft-hand, adjustable-comb and High-

Rib versions. The 725 Skeet has asemi-beavertail forearm with finger

grooves, gold-accented receiver, portedbarrels and HiViz Pro-Comp sight and

ivory mid-bead and is also availablewith an adjustable comb. Trap mod-els, with and without adjustable

combs or stocks, are available in right-and left-hand versions.

The newest offerings are a 725field and 725 Sporting in 20 gauge,

weighing just 6 pounds, 4 ounces,with 26-inch barrels and 6 pounds, 6ounces, with 28-inch barrels. As much

fun as I found the 12 gauge 725 to beon pheasant, I suspect

the 20 gauge 725 will quickly gainfavor with dedicated quail-hunting

addicts, like yours truly, who alwayshave an eye out for light, fast, well

balanced guns.I really dont need another shot-

gun, but as Im convinced that the 725

is the finest Citori yet produced for

hunting upland game birds, I wouldntbe surprised if a new addition man-ages to find its way into my safe.GW

Browning, inmy view, got

it exactly

right withthis trigger.

The author displays severalpheasants harvested whilefield-testing the new Citori725 in South Dakota.

The Citori 725 employs

Brownings new flush-fit, screw-in Invector-

DS choke tubes.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


CONTACTS:

Browning

www.browning.com

R&R Pheasant Huntingwww.r-rpheasanthunting.com

South DakotaDepartment of Tourism

www.travelsd.com

Winchester Ammunition

www.winchester.com

The left side of the silver nitride,low-profile receiver is engraved witha pair of flying pheasants.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


NEAR-PERFECT

MATCHRuger's New GP100 Match Champion OffersOn-Target Performance for Competition,Hiking, Self-Defense and MoreStory & Photos by Dr. Martin D. Topper

TheauthorusesanIso

scelesstancetodryfir

etheGP100priortoaB

ullseye

match.Witharevolver

,dryfiringhelpsthesh

ooteracclimatetothet

riggerpull

andresetbeforecomp

etitionbegins.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


The new GP100 Match Championrevolver is much more than a cumber-some race gun suited only for compe-

tition. This latest version of Ruger's popularMagnum six-shooter is also an excellentselection for concealed carry, backpackingand home defense.

The Match Champion features the samerugged solid frame construction that has distin-

guished Ruger double-action revolvers ever sincethe Security Six was introduced in 1970. This lat-

est GP100 has a very strong three-point lock-up.The center pin firmly locks the rear of the cylinder,

the cylinder latch locks the cylinder in batterywhen the gun is fired and the front latch firmlyattaches the cylinder crane to the front of the

frame. This highly durable design easily handlesthe pressures of SAAMI-spec .357 Magnum loads.

The GP100 Match Champion has a numberof new features. These include a wooden Hogue

Monogrip, a half-lug slab-sided 4.2-inch barreland an 11-degree recessed target crown. TheMatch Champion also has an enhanced trigger

system. Contact points are polished and the trig-ger and hammer are centered to reduce drag. In

addition, chamfered chamber and extractorThe Hogue wood grips, stainless steel finish and black Novak sightsgive the GP100 Match Champion a strikingly attractive look.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


mouths promote fast reloads, andthe cylinder's tapered profile pro-

motes easy reholstering.The Match Champion features

matte black Novak sights that arefast and snag-free. The front sightis slightly ramped and houses a

bright-green fiber-optic elementthat is made of a very tough poly-

mer. The rear sight has Novak'sclassic wedge shape and rounded

edges. Its wide notch quickly cen-ters the fiber-optic front sight. Thesights are fixed, and the Match

Champion is designed to shoot topoint of aim with 158-grain bullets.

Bullets of this weight are very popu-lar with competitors because they

can be easily loaded to "makeMajor." The 158-grain bullets alsopenetrate well and are useful for

self-defense and hunting.

FIT AND FUNCTION

I thoroughly examined its fit,

finish and function when the MatchChampion arrived at the Florida

Gun Exchange. Fit was very good.The cylinder crane aligned well withthe frame, and there were no gaps

between the frame and the trigger

group housing. The cylinder fitsnugly in the frame window andthere was just enough fore-aft

and rotational play in the cylinder

when the revolver was cocked toprevent binding from the buildup offiring residue.

The exterior of the gun had aneven matte stainless finish that was

without blemish. All edges weresquare and properly conformed. Ex-

terior edges were well rounded andsmooth. The hammer was evenly

checkered and provided a good pur-chase when cocking the action. Thetrigger was smooth and nicely ra-

diused for comfort and control. TheMatch Champion's wood Hogue

grips were evenly conformed with aslight palm swell. Their matte oil

finish brought out their grain andcolor. Everything considered, this isa very good-looking revolver.

Functioning was excellent. Thecylinder rotated smoothly and

locked in place long before the

hammer was at full-cock. Triggerpull was very smooth and consis-tent with a long reset. The action ofthe cylinder release was smooth

and positive. Last, the extractor roddid not bind when moved back and

forth, and it sprang smartly to theforward position when released.

The Match Champion hasRuger's transfer bar ignitionsystem safety, which preventsthe hammer from striking

the firing pin unless theaction is fully cocked.

The six chambers in the GP100 cylinder use thick walls and

offset bolt notches to contain the 35,000-psi maximumaverage pressure of .357 Magnum cartridges.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


An examination of a firearm isnever finished until it has been

field-stripped at the workbench.

Sometimes, a gun will look nice onthe outside and have many unfin-

ished interior surfaces. That wasn'tthe case with the Match Champion.

Interior parts were properly config-ured and moving parts were well

polished on surfaces that mated to-gether. There were a couple ofsmall exceptions. I noticed that the

left side of the hammer rubbedlightly against the frame when cy-

cling. There was also one sharpedge on the cylinder crane, but nei-

ther of these issues significantly af-

fected the gun's performance. Theedge on the crane can be remedied

with a few strokes of a file and the

areas where thehammer rubbed

lightly on the frame will polish awayas the gun breaks in.

I cleaned and lubricated it be-

fore reassembly and then measuredthe trigger pulls and barrel-cylinder

gap. The DA trigger pull averaged 10pounds and stacked toward the

end of the pull. The SA pull was justunder 4 pounds and very crisp.Cylinder gap on all chambers was

0.007 inches, which is wide enoughto prevent residue build-up from

jamming the action but not so widethat it would vent enough powder

gas to significantly reduce velocity.Although the two slight issues keptthis particular gun from being con-

sidered perfect, the GP100 MatchChampion is very well made, inside

and out.

SPECIFICATIONS

Model: Ruger GP100 Match ChampionMaterial: Stainless steelFinish: Satin stainlessBarrel Length: 4.2 inchesWeight: 38 ounces

Caliber: .38 Spl. and .357 Mag.Capacity: 6 roundsSights: Fixed with green fiber-optictube in front sightGrips:Hogue stippled hardwood

MSRP: $899 SHOTS FIREDThe Match Champion was

tested with one .38 Spl. and four

.357 Mag. loads. All ammunitionwas graciously provided by the

manufactures. The Magnum loadsincluded Black Hills 158-grain XTP

HP, Remington's 158-grain SJHP,Federal's American Eagle 158-grainJSP and Winchester's 125-grain

.357 Mag. JHP. The .38 Spl. loadwas HPR's 158-grain XTP HP. IDPA

competition was shot using Rem-ington's 130-grain JRN ammunition.

Accuracy and velocity testswere performed at Floridas Volu-sia County Gun and Hunt Club, and

the full results are contained in theaccompanying table. As the Match

Champion's fixed sights are regu-lated for 158-grain bullets, most of

the ammunition chosen for the

The wood in the HogueMonogrip has nice grain andit is stippled to provide goodpurchase for the shootinghand when Magnum loads

are used.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


Crimson Trace's LG-344 laser grip

provided a sure and comfortable grip.It absorbed Magnum recoil well andits laser put the author on targetquickly when the light was too low forthe fiber-optic front sight.

The Crimson Trace LG-344 laser griphas a front activation button thatautomatically turns the laser on when

the shooter takes a firm grip. Frontactivation is fast and it is excellentfor maintaining light discipline.

The GP100 Match Champion's 4.2-inch,

slab-sided half-lug barrel gives it a solid,muzzle-heavy feel. The green fiber-opticinsert in its ramped front sight shows upwell in sunshine or shade.

test used that bullet weight. Thegreen fiber-optic front sight was

very easy to pick up during thebench tests, but it was a littlelarge for precise placement from

the bench. Even so, the gun shotgood groups from my MTM Front

Rifle Rest.The most accurate load was

Winchester's 125-grain JHP. Its

best group placed five shots into1.64 inches at 15 yards. Given thatthe Match Champion's sights areregulated for a heavier bullet, the

group for this 125-grain load wasabout 3 inches low. The most ac-

curate 158-grain load was Reming-ton's 158-grain SJHP. Its 1.66-inch

best group was about an inch lowat seven o'clock. Both of theseloads were introduced about 40

years ago, so they don't havebonded bullets. However, they

have proven to be very effective in

self-defense shootings.Velocity readings from the

Match Champion's 4.2-inch barrelwere very good. The fastest load

was Federal's American Eagle 158-grain JSP. For this load, my PACT

chronograph recorded an averagevelocity of 1,351 fps at a distance of

15 feet from the muzzle. The muz-zle energy level of this load was

640 foot-pounds. This is an out-standing performance for a 4-inch-class .357 Magnum firing a

158-grain bullet. The Remington158-grain SJHP was the second

fastest 158-grain load. It producedan average of 1,296 fps and 589

foot-pounds of muzzle energy.This high-energy, 158-grain SJHPshoots close to the point of aim

and would be a good choice forself-defense. Given this, I tested

this Remington load for expan-sion by shooting it into large plas-

tic water jugs that were coveredby six layers of light cloth. Thebullet expanded to 0.535 inches

and penetrated about 18 inches.The recovered bullet weighed

128 grains.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


TEST PERFORMANCE

LOAD NAME VELOCITY MUZZLE ENERGY BEST GROUP AT 15 YARDS

Federal 1,351 fps 640 foot-pounds 2.14 inchesAmerican Eagle

.357 Mag.158-grain SP.

Black Hills 1,103 fps 427 foot-pounds 2.82 inches.357 Mag.158-grain XTP HP

HPR .38 Spl. 742 fps 193 foot-pounds 2.81 inches158-grain XTP HP

Remington 158-grain 1,296 fps 589 foot-pounds 1.66 inches.357 Mag. SJHP

Winchester 125-grain 1,470 fps 600 foot-pounds 1.64 inches

Groups were fired at 15 yards from an MTM Front Sight Rifle Rest. Velocity was the average of five shotsmeasured 15 feet from the muzzle with a PACT 1 XP chronograph.

The Match Champion features matte black Novaksights that are fast and snag-free.

OUR SCCYWILL BACK YOU UP.And well back up your SCCY.

MSRP

$314

SCCY CPX-2

STARTING AT:

The NEW American

gun company founded

on theradicalidea that

In fact, we actually back up our new 9mm

SCCY CPX-2 with a lifetime no-questions-asked warranty that stays with the gun.So

you can get the confidence of knowing that your

SCCY will be ready to back you upfor life.

FEATURES

from 416 stainless steel

second-strike capability

10-round magazines

Get the security of our CPX-2...and our warranty.

1800 CONCEPT COURTDAYTONA BEACH, FL 32114

866.729.7599 | WWW.SCCY.COM

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


CONTACTS:

BLACKHAWK!(800) 379-1732www.blackhawk.com

Black Hills Ammunition(605) 348-5150

Federal PremiumAmmunition(800) 322-2342www.federalpremium.com

Flagler Gun & Archery Clubwww.flaglergunclub.com

Florida Gun Exchange(386) 304-9499www.floridagunexchange.com

HPR Ammunitionwww.hprammo.com

MTM Case-Gard Products(937) 890-7461www.mtmcase-gard.com

PACT Chronographs(800) 722-8462www.pact.com

Remington Arms Company(800) 243-9700www.remington.com

Safariland(800) 347-1200

Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.

(603) 865-2442www.ruger.com

Volusia County Gun& Hunt Club(386) 717-1394www.volusiacountygunandhuntclub.com

Winchester Ammunition(800) 356-2666www.winchester.com

IN COMPETITION

When shooting the MatchChampion at the Flagler Gun &

Archery Club's informal Bullseyematch, it quickly became apparentthat the Hogue grips were too

small for my hands to get the mostfrom this fine revolver. Therefore, I

installed a set of Crimson Trace LG-344 laser grips. These comfortable,

soft polymer grips are quite largeand provided the additional girth Ineeded for solid control with Mag-

num loads. The Crimson Trace gripsalso absorbed recoil very well.

The last step in evaluating theMatch Champion was to take it to a

two-gun rifle and pistol IDPA matchat the Titusville Rifle and PistolClub. I used Safariland speedload-

ers to reload the revolver and car-ried it in a BLACKHAWK! holster

that I shortened for a 4-inch barrel.The Match Champion presented

quickly from the holster, even whendrawn from a seated position insidea pickup truck. Its smooth and con-

sistent trigger pull delivered goodhits on target in double-action

rapid fire, regardless if I was shoot-ing with one hand or two. In addi-

tion, the green fiber-optic frontsight stood out extremely well

whether I was standing in full sun-light or shade. The result was ascore with relatively few points

down and no hits on non-threats.There were no failures to fire or

function in any of the live-fire tests.For this competition, the Match

Champion clearly lived up to itsname.

FINAL NOTES

Ruger's GP100 Match Cham-pion is a well made .357 Magnum

revolver that shoots as good as it

looks. It is a great firearm for com-peting in IDPA, IPSC, ICORE and

Steel Challenge matches and alsoa good choice for home defense,

concealed carry and hiking in theoutdoors. With that much going forit, it should be very popular among

fans of the tried-and-true .357Magnum cartridge.GW

Dr. Topper fires as he spiesaround a window in a TitusvilleRifle and Pistol Club IDPA match.

The green GP100 Match Cham-pion's fiber-optic sight put himon target quickly and made goodhits possible.

Remington's .357Magnum 158-grainSJHP load performed

very well from the

GP100 Match Cham-pion. It has a reputa-tion for goodexpansion, reliable

stopping power anddeep penetration inshootings.

Five loads were bench tested in the MatchChampion. They all functioned perfectly and ex-hibited good to very good performance.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406

45/100

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


ACCURATE

UNDERSTUDYThe Anschutz MSR RX22: Good for TargetShooting, Plinking and SCAR Training

Ive been a fan of the FNH SCAR (Special Operations ForcesCombat Assault Rifle) ever since I first had a chance to shootit. Versatile and ergonomic, it was designed to offer USSOCOM

a next-generation weapon system. And even though SOCOM didnot acquire the large number of MK-16 or MK-17 SCARs initiallyintended, a substantial number of 7.62x51mm MK-17 SCARs were

acquired and have proven very popular, especially with theSEALs. Semi-auto FNH SCAR-16 and SCAR-17 rifles have alsoproven popular on the civilian market.

Story & Photos by Leroy Thompson

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


I tested andshortly after mytests concludedpurchased bothSCAR semi models, but I have onlybeen shooting them occasionallylately due to the cost of ammo. Iwas very happy, therefore, to learnof the Anschutz MSR RX22, a preci-sion SCAR lookalike in .22 long rifle.Not only does it provide accuracy in.22 long rifleit is an Anschutz,after allbut it also allows me totrain less expensively for my SCARcenterfires. Although it has beenfrustrating, the rise in ammo costs

has had at least one unintendedconsequence: It has helped merediscover .22 rifle shooting.

Perhaps youve had a similarexperience.

For at least the first 20 years Ishot regularly, I would often shoot100 or 200 rounds of .22 through arifle or handgun, then maybe 100rounds of centerfire ammunition.Often, the handgun cartridges werereloads. Then, the relatively inex-pensive influx of surplus .30 Carbine,.223, .308, .30-06, 9x19mm and .45

ACP spoiled me. I started shootingcenterfire weapons most of thetime, maybe taking one of my .22

handguns or rifles along for an

occasional lark. These days, Imback to doing quite a bit of shootingwith my .22 revolvers or autos aswell as .22 rifles. One thing that isdifferent, however, is that now Ihave .22 rifles that are good under-studies to my centerfire rifles. Ishoot a SIG522 and a S&W M&P15.22, both of which are similar tosome of my favorite centerfire rifles.My SIG SCARs are also among myfavorites; hence, the MSR RX22immediately caught my attention.

ANSCHUTZ IS ACCURACY

As this rifle is an Anschutz(actually, it is a joint developmentof Anschutz, German Sport Gunsand ESC Ulm) it is virtually a giventhat it will be accurate. GermanSport Guns (GSG) is well known forits .22 caliber lookalikes. If I under-stand the division of labor correctly,GSG made the self-loading .22 actionwhile Anschutz was responsible forthe barrel and adjustable trigger.Anschutz is also responsible for

quality control of the finished rifle.Anschutz is renowned for its targetbarrels, and the RX22 barrel is

The RX22barrel is

manufacturedusing the

Anschutzbutton-rifling

process.

manufactured using the Anschutzbutton-rifling process. The targetbarrel also has the same type ofrecessed muzzle as used onAnschutz competition rifles. The

trigger is Anschutzs single-stagetarget type with adjustable pullbetween 1,500 grams and 2,500grams, or roughly 3.25 pounds to5.5 pounds. It is factory set atabout 1,800 grams (around 4pounds).

Anschutz offers various ver-sions of the RX22. For target shoot-ing, there are three versions of the

The RX22s stock extends to fit theshooter, though it only has three posi-tions. Note that the half-moon buttonat the front of the stock releases it forfolding while the rectangular button

at the rear releases it for folding. The

square checkered button at the topfront of the stock releases the cheekrest so that it may be raised.

Thompson did all of the shootingfor this test using the flip-up

sights, which are standard onthe RX22. However, the Picatinnyrail does allow mounting ofoptical sights.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


SPECIFICATIONS

Model: MSR RX22

Action: Semi-auto

Caliber: .22 Long Rifle

Overall Length:

43.1 inches

(stock extended),

32.4 inches

(stock folded)

Barrel Length:16.5 inches

Weight: 6.9 pounds

Magazine Capacity:

10 rounds or 22 rounds

Sights: Flip-up rear

peep; Flip-up front post;

Picatinny rail for mounting

optical sights

MSRP: $895 to $995

Precision as well as the Competition.

Precision stocks are fitted to thetarget versions. The Black Hawk

model offers a SCAR-type blackfolding stock, while the Desertmodel offers a folding stock in

tan/FDE. Each of these models isalso offered with the stock fixed.

Both models are also offered in theG model, which has a folding

stock and a threaded barrel.As I wanted an RX22 that would

match my SCARs as closely as

possible, I ordered the Desert versionwith folding stock. Ergonomics are

very similar to the SCAR, and the

stock collapses and folds using thesame release buttons. The stockalso incorporates the pop-up cheekrest. I find it valuable on the SCAR

because it allows the cheek weld tobe adjusted to fit the optic or flip-

up sight being used. The cockinghandle may be installed for either

right- or left-handed use and in anyone of three positions on either side

to fit the arm length of the shooter.The magazine release and safety areambidextrous. There is also a drop

safety that acts on the firing pin.

The RX22s flip-up sights arequite serviceable and offer windageand elevation adjustment. A plastic

The view of the rightside of the RX22sreceiver shows theambidextrous safetyand magazine release.

8/9/2019 Gun World 201406


The RX22s quad Picatinnyrails offer the ability to mount

optical sights, as well aspointers and illuminators, or avertical foregrip to simulate

the setup of a SCAR.

A good view of the

RX22s flip-up rear sight.

tool for adjustment of the front sightcame with the rifle, but it broke thefirst time I tried to use it. Adjustmentis similar to that of an M-16/M-4front sight, so Id recommend usinga .223 cartridge case or, if you haveone, an M-16 front-sight adjust-ment tool. I normally carry both an

AK-47 and an M-16 sight tool withmy shooting stuff, so I did not needto use a cartridge case.

TARGETING TESTING

I initially zeroed the RX22 at 25meters. I feel that most people willshoot the rifle at that distance asthat is what most indoor rangesprovide. A friend who was shootingwith me brought some of

Documents

Gun World 201406