Gun Digest June 2022

When I first started attending SHOT Show (as a reminder, that’s the shooting industry’s annual trade show—and no, I’m not going to age myself by doing the math and admitting how many years ago this actually was), the manufacturers within the walls of that exhibit hall were largely segregated. The hunting-focused companies were all clumped together, as were the big bolt-action rifle manufacturers and ammo producers. The handgun-focused booths had their section, too, and so did all the glass specialists … from riflescopes to binoculars and everything in between. And then there was the “black and blue section,” which consisted mainly of blue law enforcement officers who carried the guns that were all black. They were stuck in the way back corner. Keep in mind that all this was in one enormous exhibit…

HISTORICAL NOTES Anecdotal reports from U.S. forces involved in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan in recent years indicate the six-decade-old 7.62x39mm cartridge and AK-47 rifle may be more effective in combat than the U.S. M4 carbines firing the 5.56x45 cartridge. In 2003, Steve Holland and Cris Murray, individuals associated with special forces and marksmanship units, developed a special-purpose cartridge to improve combat effectiveness in short-barreled (16.5-inch) M4 carbines used for special operations. The resulting 6.8 SPC (Special Purpose Cartridge) achieved favorable results in actual usage, but hasn’t been officially adopted by the U.S. Army. GENERAL COMMENTS Intended to launch heavier bullets than the standard U.S. 5.56 round, the 6.8 SPC uses the 1906-vintage .30 Remington cartridge shortened and necked down to accept a .270-caliber (6.8mm) bullet. Holland and Murray selected the .30 Remington as…

There are a lot of brands in the firearms industry that sell their products on the idea that they’ll be what you need when your life depends on them. Then, there’s Meprolight, a company that developed its brand because so many lives already have. The Israelis don’t fight wars out of boredom, to save face or advance political agendas. They fight for survival every single day, and their equipment can’t be average. When your enemy surrounds you and always has, average equals extinction. Today, Israel is alive and well, and one of the reasons for that is Meprolight, a company driven by much more than profit. Why? Because while most any optic can help you better hit your target, IDF optics help Israelis see something even more challenging these days: another tomorrow. Think…

I believe most gun writers take for granted how fortunate we are. We’re for damn sure not special, but many of us do have access to special people, experts the average shooter would love to be able to talk to for just a few moments. Some of these experts are just doing their job to help gun writers educate the shooting public, and some of these experts are friends. For example, if I need some specifics on ammunition, I have contacts at all the major manufacturers who will take my call. And if I want to discuss defensive handgun application, I can reach out several Gunsite Academy instructors. My job then becomes to pass that information on to you. Bill Wilson, founder of Wilson Combat, is a friend. He’s someone I can…

Most people remember the old childhood game called “Rock Paper Scissors.” To play this game, two or more people get together and, on the count of three, either show a fist (rock), a flat hand (paper) or a fist with two fingers extended (scissors). The rules of the game are simple: A rock can smash scissors, scissors can cut paper, and paper can cover rock. If you display one of the three and aren’t smashed, cut or covered by any others, you win. Well, just a short 60 miles from my house, a real-life game of rock paper scissors took place—this time with a verbal threat, a can of pepper spray, a flair gun and a handgun. It went like this. First, a man in a Fred Meyer store saw another man…

At the time of this writing, silencers are currently legal to own in 42 states and can be used for hunting in 39 of them. With a suppressor, not only are you far less likely to have ringing ears post-shot on game, but nearby animals are less likely to have a reaction to the blast. Your hunting mates (both two-and four-legged) will also appreciate it. But as many have found, the kind of suppressor ideally suited for a CQB carbine is different than one tailor-made for the bush. For hunting, we don’t need a silencer that withstands automatic high-pressure shots with steadfast durability; we need a silencer with less weight, decreased size and good-enough capability. The Harvester series from SilencerCo was originally released in 2014 and, as the name implies, was envisioned…