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AR-15 Review: YHM Specter Model 57 XL

YHM Specter XL 57 Review.

Yankee Hill Machine’s Specter Model 57 XL is a testament to quality American gun design. Doug Howlett reviews the feature-packed AR-15.

AR-15 Review: YHM Specter Model 57 XLFlorence, Massachusetts, gunmaker YHM has been around almost as long as the AR itself, having been founded in the 1960s. The company primarily originally just made parts and accessories before migrating to include suppressors and eventually fully manufactured rifles.

Most recently, in a late 2014 product roll-out, YHM announced the addition of a billet upper, billet lower and handguard all Cerakoted in an industry standard burnt bronze color that appears anything but standard.

YHM machines the lower and upper itself using 7075-T6 aluminum billet, which allows it to build the gun to exacting tolerances that allow for better fit when assembled and a seamless look once Cerakoted. Billet also tends to offer more durability than a cast lower and upper, though it also tends to cost a little more. It’s definitely considered the most aesthetic of the three manufacturing processes, the third one being forged.

Additional features of this rifle include a 16-inch 4140 steel barrel, heat treated to increase its hardness and improve durability, and then ball cut fluted for reduced weight, improved rigidity and improved cooling.

The end is threaded to accommodate muzzle accessories such as a suppressor if you so desire, but comes with YHM’s uniquely cool looking Slant compensator/muzzle brake. The front angle of the brake matches that of the front end of the Rifle Length SLR-Slant handguard.

A top integrated Picatinny rail runs the full length of the handguard and upper with partial rails mounted at the 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions on the front of the handguard. The rails allow for the attachment of a myriad of lights, lasers and sling attachments and at no more than 4 inches on the sides and 4.5 on the bottom, leave ample space for a comfortable grip.

The exterior of the magwell boasts finger flared grooves that add both visual appeal and to a lesser extent, another grip point, and is yet another feature made possible by the CNC-machined billet.

The slightly oversized opening to the magwell flares outward to aid rapid magazine changes. Also oversized are the extended take down pins for quick, easy and tool-free takedown, as well as the Tactical Charging Handle Latch.

A rubberized Magpul MOE grip rounds out the functionality of this rifle along with the adjustable Magpul CTR buttstock, which provides for 4 inches of adjustment. The rifle comes out of the box with a YHM Q.D.S. Hooded front sight and YHM Q.D.S. rear sight, both made from aircraft-grade aluminum. Both flip-up easily with the single touch of a side button. The XL model is slightly longer, about 2 inches overall than YHM’s standard length Model 57.

AR-15 Review: YHM Specter Model 57 XL

Competitive Performance

I put the Specter XL through the paces on multiple occasions with two serious testing sessions carried out at C2 Shooting Center in Virginia Beach, Va.

My first session involved shorter 25- and 50-yard shooting, at first with the flip-up sights, more to get the gun dirty and see how it cycled after becoming hot.

We pumped a couple hundred rounds of 5.56 from HPR Ammunition, Winchester and Federal and every round fed and fired without a hiccup.

The flip-up sights were on target out of the box, but this rifle was destined for a new Aimpoint Carbine Optic or ACO, along with an 3xMag magnifier and TwistMount for rapid attachment and detachment. With some help from a good friend, Chris Castle, we had the optics mounted in minutes and the rifle sighted and dialed in with less than seven shots.

With a solid rest we were quickly knocking out quarter-sized groups. Recoil was negligible courtesy of the light-kicking caliber and the compensator/muzzle brake.

At my second session, I tested four loads in the Specter XL: Winchester white box 5.56mm 55-grain FMJ, HPR .223 Rem. 55-grain FMJ, Remington UMC .223 Rem. 55-grain MC (metal case) and Federal Premium .223 Rem. 55-grain Nosler Ballistic Tips. Shooting five-shot groups, the HPR performed ridiculously well, giving me one ragged group of touching shots except for one that strayed less than a quarter inch to the left.

AR-15 Review: YHM Specter Model 57 XLThe Remington and Federals both delivered average groups of 1¼ inches, while the Specter XL didn’t gel with the white box Winchesters, the company’s bargain offering, with group averaging 1¾ inches.

I think had I remembered to grab the Win3Gun or one of the 5.56 Winchester varmint loads, things would’ve been quite different on the paper. And again, as the HPR suggested, this gun is more than capable of going up against any other production—and many custom—models offered accuracy-wise. What’s better, for the aesthetics among us, this gun actually looks as good as it shoots.

Yankee Hill Machine Model-57 Burnt Bronze Specter XL
Caliber:    5.56 tested (also available in 300 BLK & 6.8 SPC II)
Action Type:    Semi-auto
Receiver:    YHM Billet 7075-T6 Aluminum Lower and Flat Top Upper
with Cerakoted Burnt Bronze finish
Barrel:    16-in. 4140 steel barrel with exclusive ball cut fluting, threaded and outfitted with a YHM Slant compensator/muzzle brake 
v
Magazine:    2 30-round Magpul Gen 2 PMAGs
Trigger:    Drop-in 2-stage upgraded trigger
Sights:    YHM Q.D.S. hooded front sight and YHM Q.D.S. flip-up rear sight
Stock:    Adjustable Magpul CTR Buttstock, Magpul MOE Grip
and YHM rifle-length SLR-Slant forend in cerakoted burnt bronze
Weight:    7.76 lbs.
Overall Length:    33.5 in. (37.5 fully extended)
Accessories:    Hard plastic gun case, 2 30-round mags
SRP:    $2,395
Website:    yhm.net

This AR-15 review appeared in the May 2015 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine

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Terrorism: One More Reason to Carry

Journalists, policemen, and emergency services in the street of the shooting, a few hours after the January 2015 attack. Photo by Thierry Caro
Journalists, policemen, and emergency services in the street of the shooting, a few hours after the January 2015 attack. Photo by Thierry Caro

There is a lot to be concerned about when it comes to terrorism and the manner in which many recent terror acts have been carried out around the globe. Concealed carry is a practical solution.

Two misguided brothers stormed the publishing offices of magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris early this year, killing 11 people and injuring 11. Weeks earlier, a gunman took hostages in an Australian café. The standoff ended when police stormed the building, killing the assailant. Two hostages also died.

In Denmark, a gunman shot and killed two people at a forum before shooting several more outside a nearby synagogue. Even our neighbors to the north in Canada witnessed a soldier killed by a crazed gunman who then stormed their nation’s Parliament building before being shot.

Could such an attack happen in America? Even notoriously anti-gun politician Sen. Dianne Feinstein thinks so.

“I think there are sleeper cells not only in France but certainly in other countries and, yes, in our own,” CNN and The Washington Times reported. “This calls for vigilance.” A January poll also showed that “65 percent of Americans believe it is at least somewhat likely that an attack” in the United States will occur.

So what can we do as citizens to be vigilant and ensure our families and ourselves are safe? Both Robert Sadowski’s “Survive a Terror Attack” and Dick Jones’ “Essential Training for Concealed Carry” offer great insights to help you be prepared for just such an event.

Most experienced trainers wisely warn against ever engaging an armed attacker during an active shooting if escape is an option. As private citizens, most of us lack the training, skills and resources to come out on top in such a situation.

But if you find yourself with no chance for escape, that gun you carry could mean the difference between survival and becoming a statistic. I personally don’t want to be a statistic.

This article appeared in the March 2015 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine. Click here to download the issue.


Also Check Out:

Defend Yourself by Rob PIncusDefend Yourself

Though there is a focus on armed defense, fundamentals of security, evasion, barricading, and non-lethal defensive actions are also covered. Pincus stresses the importance of being safe and secure inside your own home, regardless of whether or not you choose to utilize a firearm for protection. Because this book is concept and principle based, the information provided can be practically applied to any home, apartment, or workplace, and any family size or budget. Get it here

Concealed Carry: Remain Vigilant

self defense laws

Understanding Self-Defense Laws Collection

One of the most important components of an armed encounter is what happens after the actual event. Maintaining an awareness of self-defense laws – not just in your home state but others as well – is crucial in order to avoid possible arrest, trial, and even conviction or sentencing via the justice system. Ensure a well-rounded understanding of your right to self-defense with this exclusive collection, which includes: Deadly Force (Massad Ayoob), The Law of Self Defense (Andrew F. Branca), Self-Defense Laws of All 50 States and Citizen's Guide to Armed Defense. Get Educated Now


Handgun-Shooting-030515

Interest in concealed carry permits continues to be the number one driving force behind firearms sales in this country.

That fact was driven home at a recent joint press conference conducted by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) and industry-leading researcher Southwick Associates. There, speakers noted how concealed carry permits in the United States had grown by as much as 70 percent in the relatively short time frame between 2010, when there were an estimated 6.9 million CCW permit holders, and 2014, with an estimated 11.7 million permit holders—numbers that continue to climb.

Amidst the growth, there has also been a shift of public opinion with more households saying a gun in the home is apt to make it safer, not less so. More guns in citizens’ hands have not lead to more crime, either. Department of Justice statistics prove that citing how homicides with firearms have dropped 39 percent between 1993 and 2011 and other crimes committed with firearms have dropped a whopping 69 percent in that same time frame.

Still, being a victim of random crime, while statistically in most individual’s favor, does occur everyday as witnessed on the news. Terror attacks such as the one that recently rocked Paris and threats of more violence in Europe and the United States by groups such as ISIS are now a real concern. Even anti-gun Sen. Dianne Feinstein was quoted by CNN as saying, “I think there are sleeper cells not only in France but certainly in other countries and, yes, in our own. This calls for vigilance … ”

The vigilance she called for centered on obtaining intelligence and remaining watchful. But CCW holders take this vigilance to the next step as an effort to protect themselves.

While most self-defense experts will tell you the first and often wisest course of action in any violent encounter is to retreat from the situation, sometimes that’s simply not an option. Being armed and trained to use a gun can be the best insurance policy anyone can own. It may give you a fighting chance where none before existed. Such is the power and utility of firearms.

GDtM_Spring_2015bThis article appeared in the Spring 2015 Concealed Carry issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Click here to download the issue

Or

Subscribe to Gun Digest the Magazine

Modern Shooter – TV With a Bang!

It was nearly a year ago when the publishers of Gun Digest announced the creation of a whole new brand designed to serve today’s shooting enthusiast. At the heart of this new media effort is Modern Shooter television, a program designed to share the how-to skills and behind-the-scenes views of the firearms world like nothing seen anywhere else.

The quarterly Modern Shooter magazine, now in its fourth issue, serves as a print mirror of the TV show with deeper details and insight behind the great action captured by the program’s cameras.

Since that first announcement of the new television show, the Modern Shooter crew has been busy traveling the country meeting with and filming some of the top shooting experts and firearms manufacturers across the nation. Now, finally, with the start of 2015, Modern Shooter leads the way on Sportsman Channel’s Monday night primetime shooting block of television, airing at 8 p.m. (EST) January through June.

Modern Shooter television will be unlike any other shooting program on television as it seeks to gather some of the most knowledgeable personalities in the firearms world, such as famed instructor and gun writer Massad Ayoob, to teach you each week how to be become a better, more informed shooter.

Modern Shooter has also attracted some of the biggest manufacturers in the firearms industry including Colt, Glock, Ruger and Silencer Shop. Recent filming stops have included a week spent on the range with members of the Glock shooting team, and visits to Colt and Ruger, which provided unprecedented access to their facilities. As this goes to press, the crew is on a one-of-a-kind Texas adventure with the team from Silencer Shop, who displayed how suppressors enhance the total hunting experience.

We are thrilled for the premier of Modern Shooter and now that the line is hot, we are confident shooters everywhere will want to make the program must-see viewing each week.

New episodes of Modern Shooter TV airs on Sportsman Channel 8 p.m. ET Monday; replays of the week’s episodes are then broadcast 9 a.m. ET Thursday and 12 a.m. Sunday.

Follow us online at facebook.com/modernshootermagazine.

Subscribe to the Modern Shooter Youtube Channel

Check It Out:

Modern_Shooter_Winter_2015-T3208Get the Winter 2015 issue of Modern Shooter magazine, presented by Gun Digest. Click here to download this issue.

Gallery: 5 New Defensive Ammo Choices

Buy the best carry handgun you can afford and it’s still only as good as the ammo you load it with. When it comes to self defense, it’s important to trust that your ammunition will do the job. Here are five defensive ammo loads you can trust your life to.

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deadly-forceAlso Check Out:

Deadly Force: Understanding Your Right to Self Defense
By Massad Ayoob
This guide will help you understand legal and ethical issues concerning the use of lethal force by private citizens. You’ll also learn about the social and psychological issues surrounding the use of lethal force for self-defense or in defense of others. In addition, Ayoob discusses the steps a responsible armed citizen should take in order to properly prepare for or help mitigate a lethal force situation. Learn more

Responsibility: The Concealed Carry Permit

Concealed Carry Permit responsibility.

I still remember the tingly feeling that coursed through my body that day my concealed carry permit arrived in the mail. I held the small rectangle of paper in my hand with equal parts excitement and nervousness, much as I did with my first driver’s license when I was a teenager.

I was excited because now it meant I could travel wherever I wanted and feel that much safer. I could keep a gun tucked away in my vehicle legally when traveling and not worry about keeping it locked in a trunk or at home where it would do me no good should I ever need it. Quite simply, it gave me peace of mind.

It was those same reasons that made me nervous. Owning a gun and carrying it to the range or to hunt with is a huge responsibility. Strict safety protocols must be adhered to at all times.

2014_CCW_T3242
This article also appeared in the October 30, 2014 special concealed carry issue of Gun Digest the Magazine. Click here to download that issue.

Responsibility

Carrying a gun on your person in public brings with it an even higher threshold of responsibility—one that isn’t lost on those people who apply for their permits.

Perhaps that’s why there are so few instances of CCW permit holders ever getting in trouble because of their guns.

The people who are willing to accept responsibility for their safety and that of their families, are willing to perform the required training and practice to hone their skills, are, by their very nature, some of the more responsible people in our communities.

This country was founded by people with a strong sense of right and wrong along with a willingness to defend themselves and the good people around them, which is what today’s growing CCW movement is all about.

Related Video: Why I Carry a Gun

12 Steps to Long-Range Accuracy

Long-range accuracy tips.

Hit targets at 500, 800 and 1,000-plus yards like they’re a chip shot with these must-know long-range accuracy tips.

Understanding the focal plane, reticle, parallax and eyepiece is essential to maximizing the accuracy of your rifle. Make all needed adjustments until the sight picture is clear and crisp. Author Photo
Understanding the focal plane, reticle, parallax and eyepiece is essential to maximizing the accuracy of your rifle. Make all needed adjustments until the sight picture is clear and crisp. Author Photo

Perhaps no feat better epitomizes the marriage of precision firearms technology and marksmanship ability than long-range shooting. But it takes more than just a suitable caliber, a quality rifle, a top-shelf optic and a steady trigger finger. Every one of those components must work together like a finely tuned instrument in the hands of a skilled musician. Most importantly, for the long-distance shooter, consistently successful shots out to 500-plus yards can only be achieved through extensive practice in a variety of conditions and lots of homework.

“Long-range shooting is not just pulling the trigger, long-range shooting is about thinking,” says Tom Maciak, technology development engineering supervisor for Trijicon. Maciak recently showcased some of his company’s marquis products with dedicated long-range capability including the sniper-friendly 3-15×50 TARS (Tactical Advanced Riflescope) and the brand new 1-6×24 VCOG (Variable Combat Optical Gunsight). Before guiding our group in their practical application among the steep hillsides and open range of the Castle Valley Outdoors shooting and hunting resort in Emery, Utah, the longtime shooter and engineer summed up the 12 keys to successful long-range shooting.

1. Fit the Rifle to You

Ensuring the proper fit of a firearm to the shooter is more than just properly placing your head and eye behind the optic. More importantly, it’s about being able to control the rifle and establishing consistent attachment to the rifle every time the shooter brings it to his shoulder.

“The same thing has got to happen the same way every time you shoot the rifle,” says Maciak. For serious long-range shooting, you’ll want a rifle with a tactical stock that permits simple—and instant—adjustment to the length of pull and the cheek rest so the shooter can be completely comfortable. Take time to adjust the bipod or rest and any rear support of the buttstock before getting in position to shoot. Failing to do so will make it impossible to achieve a consistent weld to the gun and will increase the likelihood of scope shadowing, where the full visual diameter of the scope cannot be seen.

By getting your entire body behind the scope and not off to the side, you can better absorb recoil, which will help you stay on target, particularly when follow-up shots are needed. Author Photo
By getting your entire body behind the scope and not off to the side, you can better absorb recoil, which will help you stay on target, particularly when follow-up shots are needed. Author Photo

2. Adjust the Eyepiece/Ocular Diopter

A clear, focused reticle is critical for precise shot placement and is a very individual setting when viewed through different eyes. A good long distance scope will allow for this adjustment. Focus the reticle using the ocular adjustment while viewing it against a plain background such as a wall or the sky. Because the human eye will make adjustments to what it is focusing on itself, don’t look at the reticle while adjusting. Dial a quarter of a turn and look at and repeat the process until the reticle is clear and crisp.

3. Parallax

Parallax is the apparent movement of the reticle when viewing it at different, distance magnifications. At 9x and below, it’s not an issue. But for anything at 10x and above, if the reticle appears to wave inside the scope when viewed, parallax will need to be adjusted or it will affect your point of impact. To adjust, turn the parallax adjustment all the way out to infinity and bring it back in focus. The reticle should stop moving. Like focus, parallax may have to be adjusted at every distance.

Don’t hold your breath more than three or four seconds or you will get the shakes. Shoot at the bottom of your exhale. If you are not on target, take another breath and try again. Author Photo
Don’t hold your breath more than three or four seconds or you will get the shakes. Shoot at the bottom of your exhale. If you are not on target, take another breath and try again. Author Photo

4. Reticle Illumination

If your scope has an illuminated reticle, a popular option in many high-end scopes these days, you do not want it on when using a reticle for ranging. Blooming, the affect created when viewing a lit object with the human eye, will thicken the size of the reticle and disrupt focus for proper ranging.

5. First or Second Focal Plane

When ranging a target using a ranging reticle, understand that first focal plane ranging will work at all magnifications. Second focal plane ranging only works at the highest magnification. How do you know which one you have? When adjusting magnification, if the reticle size adjusts with it, yours is in the first focal plane. If it doesn’t change size, it’s a second focal plane reticle. The first focal plane offers more flexibility, though you might have to dial down the magnification to find the target because full magnification creates a narrow field of view; it’s ultimately a personal preference. Between 2.5x to 10x, it probably isn’t a big deal which one your scope is.

The breeze you feel uprange might be a gust downrange. Use a spotting scope to read mirages, wind flags, or the direction of blowing grass to get a feel for wind speed. Author Photo
The breeze you feel uprange might be a gust downrange. Use a spotting scope to read mirages, wind flags, or the direction of blowing grass to get a feel for wind speed. Author Photo

6. Place Your Body Behind the Scope

Watch most shooters and they will stand or position themselves behind the rifle at an angle. But all that recoil is transferred to your body, and if the mass of your body is largely to the side of that energy, it will jerk the body more. For long-range accuracy, square the body off behind the target to provide a more reliable base better able to accommodate recoil. It will help you stay on target throughout recoil for follow-up shots or to simply observe where your bullet strikes.

7. Ensure Reticle is Horizontal

Ballistics are made to operate with relation to a horizontal reticle, so if the scope is mounted improperly or not sitting on its rest so that the reticle is perfectly horizontal, make the necessary adjustments. An angled reticle can alter the relationship of your aim to the actual trajectory of the bullet and lead to missed shots at long distances.

8. Adjustment Dials and Come-Ups

This is where a shooter’s homework and knowledge of long-range ballistic performance is critical. First, you need to determine what increments or how much each click of adjustment of the scope will move your point of impact and whether that measurement is in MOA or mils. The farther you plan to shoot, the more adjustment will be needed in the elevation department so you need to ensure the scope has enough adjustment. (For a rough example, when shooting a .308 at a target 2,000 yards away, the bullet would have to be launched at an angle equivalent to a five-story building so that it would drop in and strike the target. That’s a lot of adjustment and for such shots, an angled base may be needed.)

You also need to understand dope sheets and come-ups or doping elevation, meaning you have to know how much your bullet will drop at the distances you will be shooting. Other aspects that must be factored in include the velocity of the load at various ranges, elevation where the shot will take place, the temperature, relative humidity, the difference between plain of the bore and the optic and then you need to be able to make accurate calculations for the particular bullet to be shot. “When you do your homework, it works well,” says Maciak. “Do your homework beforehand, and you don’t have to worry about that when it is time to make the shot.” He likes JBM Ballistics’ website at jbmballistics.com as a good resource for developing his data.

Dope cards for long-range shooting.
Dope cards for long-range shooting.

9. BDC Reticle

If the scope you are shooting has a BDC (Bullet Drop Compensating) reticle, the calculations are somewhat already done for you, but remember those reticles are made for a particular caliber or bullet at a specific elevation. They also tend to work on average loads rather than specific loads, so you will still need to shoot your specific load and determine the actual drop with relation to the reticle’s hash marks.

10. Wind

Entire books could be written on how to negotiate wind when shooting at distance so we’re not likely to nail it down in a paragraph or two. Suffice it to say, understanding a bullet’s performance in the wind is a true art form, and the only way to begin mastering it is to spend a lot of time shooting in the wind. Remember, wind where you are may be different than where the target is and can be influenced by the terrain the bullet must travel over. One trick is to use mirage, visible through a high-power optic to read the wind near the target and determine how far off to the side you must aim.

11. Shoot On the Bottom of Your Exhale

When you’re locked on a target and all dialed in, there is a rise and fall of your reticle from breathing and heartbeat. Remembering consistency is critical to shooting, if we shoot on the exhale, it gives us a consistent trigger time at a moment when the body is most relaxed. Hold that breath at the exhale for no more than three or four seconds and no longer. If you do, the body will start shaking because it’s technically becoming oxygen deprived. If you don’t make the shot, take another breath, and settle back in.

12. Trigger Follow-Through

Pull the trigger back and hold it. Don’t slap it; don’t lift your head off the stock. Keep it there long after the shot. You want to see the bullet impact the target through the scope, and holding the trigger prior to resetting it will help you retain sight of the target when you cycle the bolt for a second shot, which should be an automatic reflex when shooting a bolt-action rifle. You won’t have to reposition the scope and your body because they are pretty much the same. Keep in position until the shot strikes the target. “Remember, you’re not done shooting until the bullet hits target, which might be several seconds in long-range situations,” says Maciak.

Handgun Review: Diamondback FS Nine Full-Size

Diamondback FS Nine Full-Size.
Diamondback FS Nine Full-Size.

The Florida company goes big with its Diamondback FS Nine striker-fired semi-auto.

My first experience with Diamondback Firearms was when regular Gun Digest contributor Dick Jones reviewed the company’s diminutive DB9 pistol for the magazine. Diamondback had just been purchased by fellow Florida-based firearms manufacturer Taurus and, with the new ownership, was flush with bringing bold, new ideas to market.

We had a DB9 sent to the office for photos and additional range testing, which provided ample trigger time behind the lightweight gun. Being a minimalist when it comes to carry-intended firearms—I can barely stand the size and weight of today’s cell phones in my pocket—I loved the tiny dimensions of the DB9. But as anyone who has fired downsized firearms in heavy or standard-sized calibers, they know these smaller guns, as friendly as they are to carry, aren’t always so friendly to shoot.

I didn’t have any problems with the DB9, but admit it was a handful of recoil with each shot; recoil that could present some accuracy issues with smaller stature or weaker handed shooters. When the company entered the full-size handgun market with the introduction of their DB FS Nine semi-auto in 2014, they came in with an option that sacrificed the compactness, but with it, also made it much more enjoyable in the hand. While concealed carry is certainly a big driver when it comes to sales, virtually every firearm fan still loves to simply shoot and shoot a lot. It’s here that the FS Nine delivers.

The Gun

Diamondback FS Nine Full-Size.The 9mm semi-auto is a double-action-only, striker-fired pistol that combines a black polymer frame with a black stainless steel slide. While some may shake their head at the prospect of another full-size polymer striker gun on store shelves, the overall configuration of the gun is unique in appearance and feel. This is a firearm designed with shooter comfort and tactical ergonomics in mind.

The gun has an almost space-age appearance with a beefy, cant-forward grip set with the squared-off, narrow, notched slide. Rather than offer replaceable back straps, the FS Nine has a fixed blackstrap design with swells in the grip and tapers behind the trigger for a firm, comfortable hold.

Textured surfaces along the sides and rear of the grip enhance a solid grip, while a beavertail extension aids proper hand placement and protects the hand from the rearward action of the slide. A flared magwell, as well as indents at the base of the grip and just above the extended baseplate of the 15-round magazine (when inserted), promote rapid mag swaps when shooting for time or necessity.

The slide itself boasts bold serrations toward the front and rear sides for a better handhold when racking a load into the chamber. It’s topped with highly visible, Glock-style fixed, white three-dot sights that aid with rapid target acquisition and provide a huge visual boost when aiming in bright, as well as low-light situations, or for some of us, with weaker, aging eyes.

The FS Nine positions itself as a solid home defense gun by allowing the easy mounting of laser sights or a tactical mounted light with a five-groove, 2.75-inch lower Picatinny rail  integrated in the dust cover of the slide below the barrel. The flat-fronted trigger guard is smooth with a slight inward curvature to allow for a reliable finger rest depending on your shooting style and preferred grip.

Diamondback also included a trigger safety and firing pin block safety, as well as a visible cocking indicator in the rear of the slide for added safety when carrying or on the range.

At the Range

diamond-back-sights-1I first broke the FS Nine out during a range session with a mix of new and experienced shooters. I wanted to get other’s impressions of the gun, which based on visual appearance alone, some liked, some didn’t. The swelled palm combined with the narrow slide threw some folks off when they talked about its looks, but when they held it in their hand, their tones changed a good bit. Everyone agreed it was one of the more comfortable guns to hold that we had available to shoot that day during our informal shoot.

We ran a wide mix of cartridges through the 15-round mag that day, including FMJ loads from American Eagle (approximately 200 rounds of that ammo) both FMJ and hollow-point loads from Winchester’s white box line and high-end hollow-point rounds from HPR Ammunition. The FS Nine loved them all.

Probably running between 400 to 500 rounds through the gun in a single afternoon, we experienced not a single jam. The gun tends to eject spent cases more up over the shooter’s right shoulder than outward like some other semi-auto models we had on hand, which is meant merely as an observation. Whether that is good or bad, I don’t think it makes a difference. The gun fired and fired and fired. The accuracy was decent, delivering just over fist-sized center-of-mass groups at 15 to 20 yards from shooters not using rests.

The FS Nine is an easy-to-shoot, reliable full-size gun. At under $500, it is worthy of consideration for someone  looking for a budget-friendly firearm they can take to the range for lengthy target sessions or even keep close at hand in a lockbox at home should a defensive need arise.

Diamondback DB FS Nine
CALIBER:    9mm
Capacity:    15+1
Magazines:    One 15-round magazine
Barrel:    4.75-in. chromemoly
Sights:    Fixed, three-dot
Frame:    Black polymer
Slide:    Matte Melonite-coated stainless steel
Trigger:    5.5 lb., double-action only
Length:    7.8 in.
Height:    5.6 in.
Weight:    21.5 oz.
Options:    Hard plastic carry case and lock
SRP:    $485
Website:    diamondbackfirearms.com

This article also appeared in the January 1, 2015 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Eight Ammo-Worthy Targets

Caldwell Shootin’ Gallery Motorized Rimfire Metal TargetThere's nothing like a little trigger time to put a smile on your face. Here are some sweet targets to make shooting more fun and improve your skills.

Caldwell Shootin’ Gallery Motorized Rimfire Metal Target
Moving targets can be a shooter’s biggest challenge and Caldwell’s Shootin’ Gallery Motorized Rimfire Metal Target delivers more fun than a carnival midway. The motor-driven, interactive system allows you to shoot a steady stream of moving targets without pause. Hit 2-inch targets fold over and resent as they re-emerge from the other side of the rotation. Includes a rechargeable battery and charger. Runs 4 to 6 hours on a single charge. ($300; www.btibrands.com)

Champion DuraSeal Spinner Targets
Champion DuraSeal Spinner Targets
Movement, color and inexpensive, but durable targets are what Champion’s DuraSeal Spinners deliver. DuraSeal is a self-healing material capable of handling nearly any caliber bullet. The target’s unique design allows for rapid target acquisition thanks to its bold colors, yet still requires precise aim. Good for handgun as well as most rifle calibers all the way up to .50 caliber. Available in both a round and diamond design. ($35; www.championtarget.com)

 

 

Birchwood Casey Pregame Splattering Targets
Birchwood Casey Pregame Splattering Targets
Add a little hunting reality as you prepare for the coming fall seasons with these splattering targets from Birchwood Casey. With three new designs added to the line, the company now offers a squirrel, mule deer and elk target that displays the game in full color along with clearly marked vital zones. Bullet holes make a visible splattering shaped fluorescent circle upon impact for easy identification of bullet strikes. Great for rifles, handguns and muzzleloaders. ($13/pack; www.birchwoodcasey.com)

 

 

Lyman’s Original TargetMan Multi-Target Stand
Lyman’s Original TargetMan Multi-Target Stand
This stand may well be the ultimate plinking stand, designed to accommodate nearly every conceivable target conceivable, whether you’ll be shooting .22s, air guns, centerfire rifles, even slingshots and bows. The stand comes with a variety of paper targets, fluorescent target pasters and balloons. There are also mounting clips capable of holding clay birds and empty cans. Assembles in minutes. ($21; www.lymanproducts.com)

 

Impact-22 Rolling Steel Targets
Impact-22 Rolling Steel Targets
For a fun reactive target that moves to a new position with every bullet strike, check out the Impact-22. The unique design utilizes three-fin heads to allow the target to be shot from any angle and from virtually any distance. For use with .22 LR caliber only. ($30; www.rollingsteeltargets.com)\

 

style13Gun Digest EZ2C High-Visibility Targets
Here's an idea: See where your shots are landing with high-visibility fluorescent red and white paper targets from EZ2C and Gun Digest. They really work! Targets available in 5 different styles. ($7.29/40-Target Pack; GunDigestStore.com)

 

 

 

 

 

Do-All .22 Cowbell
Do-All .22 Cowbell
Christopher Walken isn’t the only one who “needs more cowbell.” Now shooters can have it too with Do-All Outdoors .22 Cowbell. Yeah, it seems like rimfire shooters have all the fun, but with this swinging cowbell, you can lay down a .22 track better than Blue Oyster Cult. The tone rings true, even if the paint quickly flakes off the cowbell with each bullet impact. ($40; www.doalloutdoors.com)

 

Caldwell Magnum Resetting Popper
Caldwell Magnum Resetting Popper
A high-impact resetting magnum popper is the go-to target for many action shooting series and Caldwell’s is rugged, functional and reasonably affordable. Made of premium AR-550 steel, the 14-inch by 4-inch popper sets upon a freestanding frame that puts the target 7 inches off the ground. Stakes hold it the stand firmly in place. An integrated reset spring puts the target back in place after being knocked down. Designed for a minimum distance of 100 yards when shooting centerfire loads of 3,000 fps or below. ($170; www.btibrands.com)

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the Aug. 28, 2014 edition of Gun Digest the Magazine.


Gun Digest 2015

Gun Digest 2015, 69th Annual Edition

You’ll enjoy this gun book if:

  • You want updated information and gun reviews on both recently released firearms & older guns
  • You’re looking for an accurate firearms catalog
  • You want to read about all things guns, from handloading, to ammunition & more

Browning AB3 Stalker Review

Browning AB3 Stalker Review.

Built somewhat on the company’s famed A-Bolt rifle design, first introduced in 1985, the new AB3 seeks to incorporate that same precision and quality that A-Bolt fans celebrate, while eliminating some of the more costly bells and whistles.

There’s nothing fancy about this rifle, but then, for a price-conscious hunter looking for a gun that can put a shot where aimed there doesn’t need to be anything fancy about it. The metal finish is matte blue paired with a matte black synthetic stock that conceals well and can take a beating with little consequence.

The AB3 boasts a new bolt design with a mere 60-degree lift for fast, easy shot cycling that doesn’t force the shooter to lift his cheek from the stock. The bolt is plated with matte electroless nickel for smoother operation and added resistance to corrosion.

The AB3 also copies some features from Browning’s popular X-Bolt line, chiefly, the way the barrel is made. The rifle’s free-floating barrel, like the X-Bolt, is made from cold-rolled steel that is then button-rifled, a process that greatly aids accuracy in modern rifle design.

A target-type crown allows for the uniform release of gasses as the bullet exits the muzzle to prevent potential shift in trajectory.

The receiver is drilled and tapped for scope mounts, and Browning even makes mounts for the rifle. The standard length steel action is also designed to allow for close mounting of the scope to the receiver for a better sight line when aiming.

Other features include a top-tang safety, a bolt unlock button that allows the chamber to be unloaded with the safety in the on-safe position, a detachable 4- or 3-round box magazine depending on caliber, an Inflex Technology recoil pad designed to direct recoil away from the face and shoulder, textured gripping surfaces and steel swing swivels for ready attachment of a sling and/or bipod.

The AB3 Composite Stalker is available in four chamberings—.300 Win. Mag., .270 Win., .30-06 and 7mm Rem. Mag. The rifle retails for just under $600.

Field Performance

It doesn’t take an expensive rifle to tag a prized whitetail buck, but it does take one that shoots accurately.
It doesn’t take an expensive rifle to tag a prized whitetail buck, but it does take one that shoots accurately.

As for the performance in testing of the .300 Win. Mag. AB3 model, it shot precisely as I expected a rifle of this blend of value and features would.

If you’re looking to shoot competitively, you may have to settle for second or third place. If you’re looking to punch a hole into the vitals of a heavy-racked buck without draining your bank account on a firearm, game on.

I tested three different loads in the AB3 including a 180-grain Winchester Accubond CT, a 150-grain PHP Winchester Power Max Bonded load and a specially handloaded round from Massaro Ballistic Laboratories pushing a 180-grain Scirocco.

The rifle was settled in on a Champion Premium Shooting Rest and tested on Birchwood Casey Shoot-N-C targets set at 100 yards. The the initial groups with each load were decent, the Power Max Bonded and Massaro loads both producing groups inside 1.5 and 2 inches, while the Accubond CT strayed a bit more with groups at 2.5 inches.

But then, between the 91-degree day (and I was shooting in direct sunlight) and the scorching heat generated by the magnum cartridges, the barrel turned sizzling hot and the accuracy eroded, placing flyers sometimes an inch or two outside the rest of the  group.

Heat can have that impact on any barrel, and when allowed to cool before shooting, the groups tightened right back up. Fortunately, when taking that all-important shot at a trophy animal, one shot is all you will typically need. For that, the Browning AB3 Composite Stalker is certainly up to the task.

Browning AB3 Composite Stalker

Caliber:    .300 Win. Mag. (tested), .270 Win. Mag., .30-06, 7mm Rem. Mag.
Action Type:    Bolt-action
Receiver:    Matte blued steel
Barrel:    22-inch button-rifled matte blue steel with 1:10-inch rifling
Magazine:    3-round detachable box (magnums), 4-round detachable box (standard calibers)
Trigger:    3.5-lb. pull integrated trigger with oversized guard
Sights:    None, receiver drilled and tapped for scope mounts
Stock:    Matte black synthetic
Weight:    6 lbs., 13 oz.
Overall Length:    42 ¾ in.
Accessories:    Inflex Recoil Pad, swing swivels
SRP:    $599
Website:    browning.com

This article is excerpted from the October 9, 2014 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Why Gun Suppressors Are Good

DoD Photo.
DoD Photo.

Suppressed can be a tricky word by its definition and in most uses connotates something that is a negative, such as “the team of lawyers suppressed the evidence” or “the government suppressed the people’s rights.” But I am here to tell you that suppression, provided by gun suppressors, is a very good thing.

I recently enjoyed the opportunity to host a group of friends, mostly women, all of whom either had little experience with firearms or were all-out first time shooters. To help with the instruction and join in on the fun was Oceana Pawn & Gun gunsmith, Kurt Derwort, a former Naval armorer who worked out of Dam Neck in Virginia Beach, Va.

To get the new shooters more comfortable with guns in general and ease them into the experience, after a safety briefing, Kurt pulled out a Ruger .22 with an integrally suppressed barrel. He then guided the newest shooter in the group in how to shoot a gun that reduced the already fairly quiet rimfire to all of the noise of a pellet gun. Not distracted by a loud bang or any type of recoil, she chewed the target up.

Before the afternoon was over, Kurt pulled out a suppressed .223, which tricked out with a bipod, suppressor and variable magnification optic, looks like a pit bull, but as the group of shooters quickly realized, shoots with the gentleness of a golden retriever. Without a doubt, the suppressed guns were the highlight of the day, and for good reason.

Not only did they make the guns less intimidating to the less experienced shooters, but they made shooting in a group much more enjoyable. Hearing protection wasn’t as critical, people could stand in the background and still carry on conversations, Kurt could deliver instruction much more easily, and the neighbors down the street probably appreciated the reduced sound as well.

In Europe, it’s considered impolite to shoot a gun without a suppressor. America would do well to follow their example.

What are your thoughts? Log in and leave a comment below.

Are ARs So 2013?

Will the AR remain a popular firearms option or was it a flash in the pan?
Will the AR remain a popular firearms option or was it a flash in the pan?

One of the hottest trends in recent years has obviously been the dramatic uptick in the sale of AR rifles. A lot of reasons have been cited for this, chief among them the election of Barack Obama in 2008 (“We had people flooding the store to buy even as election results were still coming in,” said one Norfolk, Va. shop owner.) and of course his re-election in 2012. Both of these electoral victories put fear into gun owners that new restrictions similar to the so-called Clinton Assault Weapons Ban of 1994 would re-emerge and many sought to secure another gun or two as much for investment potential as they simply wanted to own one. Indeed a lot of first-time tactical rifle buyers rushed into the market at this time as did even a good number of first-time gun owners period.

Other reasons cited for the increased sales were that after a decade of war where many of our citizen soldiers have returned home, the platform is one they are simply more comfortable with. At the same time, seeing them on the news (and in television shows) has made them more recognizable and quite simply, “cool.” With the expiration of the Clinton ban in 2004, the guns have also become more familiar to sportsmen—a number of whom initially resisted the AR in deference to their beloved bolt-action and other traditionally styled long guns—while the technology and performance of the tactical rifles have become more refined. As a result, many are making their way into more hunting camps. The guns are also easily customizable, which is another phenomenal attraction for many buyers.

Despite all of this seemingly good news for gun owners and those who deal in modern sporting rifles, talk to some shop owners and manufacturers now, and you would think the bottom has fallen out of the market.

“The firearms market seems to really be grinding to a halt all of the sudden,” said one California gun shop manager. Owners are starting to slash their prices in order to even move the guns suggested another in Oklahoma. If you read the news it has sounded as if nobody is buying guns—any guns for that matter. “Gun Sales Are Plunging” echoed one CNNMoney headline earlier this year. But are they really?

Numbers released by the National Shooting Sports Foundation based on adjusted FBI’ NICS (National Instant Criminal Background Check System) numbers, which provide the best basis for how many firearms transfers have taken place over a given period, show that in the first seven months of 2014, firearms sales were still the highest they had ever been at 6.95 million transfers over any other year on record except for last year. Last year, was indeed remarkable with an astounding 8.81 million transfers over the same time period. The year before that, even at a time when things were seen as “hot,” there were 6.85 million transfers. Surely nobody expected things to stay that superheated forever. No industry or economy does. It all moves in cycles.

What has really happened is that we are returning to a “new normal” according to NSSF president and CEO Steve Sanetti. Companies and retailers ramped up operations and supply to meet the surging demand and when demand became more normal, it created a surplus supply. This is definitely a challenge for any business that suddenly finds itself with more supply than there is demand, but it can be GREAT for consumers. Product availability returns, choices increase and prices generally drop.

Trending among today’s tactical-style or modern sporting rifles is that higher-end models are still selling quite well and with more hunters coming into the fold, there is an effort by many companies to develop a wider variety of big-game friendly chamberings to make the guns more commonplace in hunting camps where whitetail deer are the most hunted species in North America. Now is an awesome time to be in the market for a tactical rifle.

So the question to gun owners now is “Are ARs so 2013? Or do you see them becoming even more commonplace than they already are? Will these guns eventually replace bolt-action and traditional rifles on the range and in hunting camps just as smokeless powder replaced blackpowder and lever-actions replaced the single shot back in the 1800s?

Take Aim at these Seven Shooting Destinations

There are plenty of shooting destinations around the country that have the goods to satisfy shooters with wanderlust.
There are plenty of shooting destinations around the country that have the goods to satisfy shooters with wanderlust.

There are jaw-dropping sporting clay courses across the country, well worth the price of entry. Here are some of the top shooting destinations for those shotgunners with wanderlust.

Elk Creek Hunt Club

Owenton, Kentucky
Home of the 2009 U.S. Open (of sporting clays) and spread across 2,500 wooded acres, the sporting clays course at Elk Creek has become a must-shoot for serious enthusiasts. Forty-five updated and paved stations spread over 35 shooting fields actually create three separate courses. Each can be shot as 50- or 100-target rounds. A fleet of like-new carts are charged and ready to transport you to each station and a well-outfitted pro shop is there for anybody looking to buy or rent a shotgun or any other essential item. Accredited instructors are on hand to offer lessons to anybody in need of a few pointers.

The Fork Farm and Stables

Norwood, N.C.
At the heart of scenic Fork Farm and Stables, is a center called The Ordinary, which is anything but ordinary. Named after John Colson’s Ordinary, believed to be the first licensed tavern in North Carolina history (around 1701) and that once sat on this very site, the facility is at the heart of the Fork Farm and Stable’s outdoor and shooting programs. Home to the International Wing Shooting School, there is a 12-field, 24-station sporting clays course; a seven-field, seven-station sub-gauge course; covered five-stand to keep shooting when the elements turn nasty; and a six-trap, 60-foot tower and flurry, which can be set to throw an endless variety of presentations. The course, designed by British designer and IWSS director John Higgins, is set upon 1,600 wooded acres wedged between the Pee Dee and Rocky Rivers.

Dover Furnace is a picture-perfect shooting destination. At the heart of the facility is a giant 35-foot stone iron ore furnace built in 1881
Dover Furnace is a picture-perfect shooting destination. At the heart of the facility is a giant 35-foot stone iron ore furnace built in 1881

Dover Furnace Shooting Grounds

Dover Plains, NY
When Beretta wanted to introduce the media to their new high-dollar competition over-under, the DT-11, just a couple of years ago, one of the venues they chose to showcase their new model was at Dover Furnace Shooting Grounds. Located in the southeastern corner of Dutchess County, a short 90-minute drive north from Midtown Manhattan, the unique grounds are billed as the largest public shooting facility of its kind in the Northeast with 2,000 acres inside its property lines. At the center of the facility is a giant 35-foot stone iron ore furnace built in 1881 and which lends its name to the facility. Dover Furnace boasts 22 sporting clays stations, 4 FITASC fields, trap, skeet and 5-stand stations, and for those shooters not satisfied with clay targets, real upland bird hunting as well. Featuring the latest in technology, shooters can use a long-range wireless key system that allows for prepaird or pay-as-you-shoot options.

Quail Creek Plantation

Okeechobee, FL
Quail Creek began as the private destination of Ft. Lauderdale developer Whit Hudson, who sought a place for him and his friends to gather and hunt quail. A 2,500-acre tract in Okeechobee fit the bill so Hudson bought it, hired Fred Fanizzi and his wife, Maria, to run the place, and in 2001, seeking to help the land pay for itself, started selling quail hunts. Within the year, the team realized they needed a sporting clays course where hunters could warm up before a hunt and the legendary plantation was on its way. Quail Creek offers shooters two Marty Fischer-designed 14-station courses that can be shot in either 50- or 100-shot rounds. The Red Course is a little more forgiving, while the Blue Course delivers longer shots and faster targets.

Wynfield Plantation

Albany, GA
Earning Orvis’ coveted Shooting Lodge of the Year in 2005 and living up to it every year since, Wynfield Plantation is one of only a small number of lodges in North America that the sporting company endorses. The easy going atmosphere and relatively flat, pine forests will appeal to the genteel sportsman looking for a kind, but true Georgia quail hunting environment. With an emphasis on hunting, Wynfield kennels approximately 85 dogs and also helps sportsmen train their own. Whether combining it with a quail hunt or one of the sumptuous country cooked meals served in the main lodge, the plantation offers a beautifully designed 10-stand sporting clays course that will get you in top shooting form for a real hunt. Shot as a 50- or 100-target round, the course offers plenty of passing and crossing shots as well as ones representing fleeting rabbits and incoming teal.

Not only a shooting destination for national-level 3-Gun and pistol competitions in 2014, Rockcastle also boasts a scenic and challenging clays course.
Not only a shooting destination for national-level 3-Gun and pistol competitions in 2014, Rockcastle also boasts a scenic and challenging clays course.

Rough Creek Lodge and Ranch

Glen Rose, TX
Like the Lone Star state where it is set, the list of offerings at Rough Creek Lodge and Ranch are big. Boasting on its website as many as 79 activities to enjoy while there, at the top of that list has to be their 10-station sporting clays course that can shoot like an 11-, 12- or 13-station course. Shot presentations are routinely changed up to keep the course challenging for repeat visitors with shots over open plains, creeks and woodlands. There are also 5-stand, wobble/trap and a rifle range, as well as hunting opportunities for upland birds, whitetail deer, wild turkeys, elk, predators and exotic game.

Rockcastle Shooting Center

Park City, KY
With so many shooting activities going on at Rockcastle—in 2014 it will serve as home to the NRA World Action Pistol Championships the annual Brownells Rockcastle Pro-Am 3-Gun Championship—its easy to forget the facility is also a dynamite destination for sporting clays enthusiasts. The 15-station course, designed by renowned designer Bill McGuire, has targets that are reset every two weeks to keep the action exciting and new. The facility also offers 5-Stand that overlooks the property’s scenic Cattail pond to warm up before hitting the clays course. A fully equipped pro shop provides everything you would need for a day of shooting. Rockcastle is part of the 2,000-acre Park Mammoth Resort in Park City, Ken.

Photo Gallery: 8 New Handguns for 2014

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By Dick Jones, David Hart and Doug Howlett

This photo gallery of new handguns is an excerpt from the May 15, 2014 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.


Recommended:
Gun Digest Book of SIG Sauer, 2nd Edition

Gun Digest Book of Sig Sauer, 2nd Edition.

 

Breakdown: AR-15 Disassembly Slideshow

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Follow this AR-15 disassembly slideshow to learn how to perform this essential skill the right way.

This article is an excerpt from Modern Shooter Spring 2014 presented by Gun Digest.

Time to Rename the AR?

Is it time to rename the AR?

From black guns, tactical rifles or Modern Sporting Rifles (MSR) to the inaccurate and slanderous “assault rifle,” the AR has been called more names than Slick Willie. Editor Doug Howlett thinks it should have one more—the UFF.

I was recently asked by a contributor whether I preferred he use the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF)-endorsed MSR (Modern Sporting Rifle) when referring to an AR-style rifle, the term tactical or the trademarked, but generically used, AR itself.

Throughout its 50-year history these firearms have also been called assault rifles and black guns, and I’m sure a few other terms that escape me at the moment, both from within the shooting community and outside of it.

I had to ponder my answer before responding, and I have to admit, the more I thought about it, the more uncertain I was of the correct one. As a writer myself, I like the luxury of having as many words as possible at my disposal to describe an object or action. Few things are more tedious to read than a story where the same words are used over and over again.

I’ve always had issues with the term assault rifle since it describes an action the gun can be used for, not the gun itself. It seems if someone is “assaulting” me with a weapon, and I have an AR, then it is technically a defensive rifle in my hands—and a damn good one at that.

I don’t have an issue with the MSR designation, and I certainly get the motivation behind the NSSF’s move to clarify the term for the media, most of whom often know little to nothing about guns. But it can be cumbersome. And while I’m nearly as old as the AR design itself, I, too, like to think of myself not so much old as “modern.” But my 14-year-old daughter and her friends would probably disagree.

I suppose my go-to designation would be “tactical rifle,” since it covers ARs and other military-inspired designs, is true to the gun’s utility and, to be totally honest, is just much cooler sounding.

Regardless of what you call it, it’s a great design, boasts versatility for nearly every shooting purpose, delivers minimal recoil, is accurate and with a six-position stock, can fit most every shooter with on-the-spot adjustments.

Maybe it should just be called a UFF—for Ultimate Freakin’ Firearm. That’s certainly what it is. Yeah, lets call it that.

This article appeared in the July 17, 2014 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.


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Gun Digest Shooter's Guide to the AR-15

Gun Digest Shooter's Guide to the AR-15.

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