Gun Digest November 2022

If you drive a truck, odds are good you fall into one of three camps: Ford, Chevy or Dodge … er, Ram. Sure, there are others brands, such as Toyota, but these legacy corporations have woven brand loyalty into the bloodlines of so many red-blooded Americans that deviating from such a family tradition is grounds for excommunication. OK: So maybe it isn’t that bad, but there’s no denying that truck guys are passionate about their trucks … and the emblem that’s molded into the grille. But why are people not nearly as “brand passionate” about the tires they put on their beloved trucks? That is, after all, where the rubber meets the road. Without tires designed for your lifestyle and the way you drive, that truck is little more than eye candy—a…

HISTORICAL NOTES The Weatherby line of proprietary cartridges was somewhat incomplete for lack of an ultra-velocity .22. The previous .220 Weatherby Rocket was actually an Improved wildcat based on the .220 Swift case, and Weatherby never manufactured this cartridge. The .224 Varmintmaster was introduced in 1963, but, according to the late Roy Weatherby, development work went back 10 years prior to that. Introduction of the cartridge was delayed because of lack of a suitable action. The cartridge was offered in a reduced-size version of the Weatherby Mark V rifle, but the gun is no longer available. Weatherby continues to sell the ammunition. GENERAL COMMENTS The .224 Weatherby lies ballistically between the .223 Remington and the .220 Swift. It’s a belted case with the advantages and disadvantages inherent in this type of construction. For the handloader,…

It wasn’t all that long ago when a flashlight was just a flashlight. You picked one up at the Dollar Store, shoved some D-cells in it and went on your way. About 25 years ago, one of the best flashlights you could buy was the standard, old, Maglite. This was the heavy and long aluminum flashlight that was preferred by cops because it was moderately bright and, well, stick-like. Today, hundreds of bright, durable, compact flashlights are designed with personal protection in mind. When selecting one for use with your handgun, you can start by applying the rule of the four Ls. It should provide a minimum of 100 lumens, be powered by lithium batteries, have a LED bulb and come or be compatible with a lanyard. The light should also…

I am one of “those guys.” I’ve had corrective lenses perched on my face since my first-grade teacher determined I couldn’t see the board. Since then, I’ve had a personal affection for the wonders of optical engineering. Well, one of those just dropped onto my doorstep: the Bushnell Fusion X 10x42 binoculars. Ten power and 42mm objective lenses has been a popular combination for a long time. It combines usually enough magnification with plenty good light gathering and puts it all in a package compact enough to not be a burden. Going with less magnification—8x or 7x—doesn’t save much bulk or weight. And going up to larger objective lenses quickly turns your binos into an anvil. But with the Fusion X, Bushnell added to the 10x42 package buy adding lasers. Well, laser—to…

In 2016, EOTech diversified its product portfolio by launching a premium line of precision riflescopes. This Vudu lineup provides rugged and extremely accurate solutions for the most demanding shooters and hunters. The product line includes low- to high-magnification scopes in both first and second focal plane that include all the key features to get the job done. New for 2022, EOTech has added to this product line with what could be the most versatile scope yet: a 1-10 x 28mm first focal plane tack driver. The 1-10x delivers outstanding performance and durability in all environments while offering First Focal Plane (FFP) advantages and 1-10x power versatility. FFP scopes provide many benefits, and the Vudu 1-10x28 FFP reticles make full use of this advanced design. The Vudu’s wide magnification range and rapid…

I attended a cookout late last summer, spending a wonderful afternoon with some friends and acquaintances well versed in reloading. Over a couple of cold beers, the conversation turned to reloading gear and techniques. I’m always intrigued by how other people reload, the habits they form and how what can seem normal to one reloader can seem completely foreign to another. As an example, something as innocuous as charging your cases can become a source of controversy. I’m the guy who will pour the powder charge into the case and then immediately seat the bullet, while many of my colleagues will fill up all the cases in the loading block before seating a single bullet. To further complicate matters, a couple of guys weighed in that it depends on whether the…