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4 GUN WORLD | SEPT 2014 www.gunworld.com

CONTENTSSEPTEMBER 2014

GUN WORLD (ISSN 0017-5641) Volume 55,

Number 9, 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

FEATURE

S Agency AdoptionSIG Sauers long-awaited P227 offers

enhanced stopping power

and flexibility for law

enforcement applications.

By Leroy Thompson

14 Shape Shifter

Stag Arms understandsthe need for flexible and

modular mission capability,

and its 3GH upper is a

solution-in-a-box that

warrants a much closer look.

By Capt. John N. Raguso

Blackout Stakeout

A spot-and-stalk, bolt-action veteran jumps at

the chance to put CMMGs

new Mk4 T rifle to the test

against Texas hogs.

By Mike Dickerson

Red, White,Blue & BearRuger, Redfield, Crimson

Trace and Warne Scope

Mounts join forces on an

affordable, all-American

.30-06 hunting package.

By Brad Fitzpatrick

Impressive ViewThe Taurus View may not

be entirely original, but it is

unique in how it combines

the best in traditional

snubnose revolver design

with the latest technology.

By Dr. Martin D. Topper

34

MikeDickerson

24

5446

34

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CONTENTS

ON THE COVER:Photographs by Sig Sauer/Ron Eldridge & CMMG

Cover design by Johann

Frederick Mendoza

8 Up Front

Craig Hodgkins

10 New Products

Gun World

Contributors

12 Ask the Experts

Gun World

Contributors

64 Todays Hunter

Thomas C. Tabor

70 Reload James E. House

76 Concealed Carry

Dave Workman

82 Gunsmithing

Steve Sieberts

92 Questions &

Answers

The Editors

96 Back Pages

Craig Hodgkins

COL

UMNS 14

46

82

LeroyThompson

Dr.MartinD.Topper

SteveSieberts

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This week I received a notice

about an upcoming 3-Gun compe-

tition, and it got me thinking about

vaqueros and lumberjacks.

Rodeo evolved into a sport be-

cause one vaquero (or his friends)

wanted to see how he measured up

against someone from an adjoining

ranch in skills hed acquired or de-veloped on the job.

These talents often included

horsemanship, dexterity with a lariat,

and the ability and stamina to ride or

wrestle a steer. These skills lent

themselves to competition, but at

the end of a very long day, they were

also life-sustaining skills. Without

them, a vaquero was out of a job.

A few decades ago, I wrote fea-tures for the company newsletter at

a well-known Southern California

theme park. One weekend, an entire

course was constructed along the

riverfront for the various events of a

lumberjack competition.

I watched in awe as the com-

petitors played can you top this in

eye-popping exhibitions of axe

throwing, wood splitting, tree limb-ing, and logrolling. Again, with the

possible exception of axe throwing,

these were job skills on steroids.

Today, its no secret that 3-Gun

competitions are proliferating, and

for good reason. Human beings

tend to be a competitive lot, and if

someone has developed proficiency

with firearms, and theres an oppor-

tunity to prove he or she is faster or

more accurate (or both) than

someone else, it isnt hard to con-vince them to put their money

where their mouth is.

But as with vaqueros and lum-

berjacks, 3-Gun competitors (as

well as those in a myriad of older,

more established shooting con-

tests) have an opportunity to gain

much more than ribbons, trophies

and oversized checks.

Each practice round hones re-

action times under stress and

brings a greater working knowledgeof all the required equipment.

In these uncertain times, those

may just turn out to be life-sustain-

ing skills. GW


SEPT 2014 VOLUME 55 NUMBER 9

EDITORIALEditor In Chief: Craig HodgkinsManaging Editor: Kari WindesSenior Creative Director: Eric KnaggArt Director: Johann Frederick Mendoza

CONTRIBUTORS

Todd Burgreen, Jerry Catania, Mike Dickerson,Brad Fitzpatrick, Paul Hantke, James House, JamesonParker, Buck Pope, D.K. Pridgen, John Raguso, SteveSieberts, Dave Spaulding, Tom Tabor, Chuck Taylor, LeroyThompson, 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 Manager

Celia Merriday: Newsstand AnalystArmit Sharma: Newsstand & Production AnalystMohit 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 9, 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, ON

N6C 6B GST#855050365RT001 2014 by Beckett Media,LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material fromthis issue in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.

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

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Beckett Media, LLCNick Singh: Executive DirectorJennifer Degtjarewsky: Group Editorial& Business Unit 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

VAQUEROS& LUMBERJACKSBy Craig Hodgkins

UP FRONT

Human beings

tend to be a

competitive lot...

GUN WORLDIN SOCIAL MEDIA:

Website:www.GunWorld.comFacebook:www.facebook.com/GunWorldMagazine

Twitter:@gunworldmagPocketmags

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As more and more states pass

legislation allowing the use of si-

lencers and suppressors for hunt-

ing, a variety of manufacturers have

begun to discover that silence can

be golden. One company, West Val-ley, Utah-based SilencerCo, has fo-

cused its attentions solely on this

growing segment.

Founded in 2008 with the goal

of providing new, forward-thinking

ideas to forever change the land-

scape of the suppressor industry,

SilencerCo seeks to creates prod-

ucts that will improve sound reduc-

tion levels, durability and longevity,form and function, and ease of use

and maintenance.

SilencerCos Harvester & Har-

vester Big Bore sound suppressors

are designed specifically for hunt-

ing and long-range precision shoot-

ers handling larger calibers. The use

of modular thread adapters make

each of these an excellent choice

for a variety of shooting disciplines,and the fully welded hardened tool-

grade stainless steel baffle design

place them among the lightest cen-

terfire silencers available.

THE HARVESTER

This model was specifically de-signed for hunting and long-range

precision shooting applications.

Utilizing its lightweight design, the

Harvester is barely noticed on the

end of your barrel. Because it uti-

lizes modular thread adapters, the

Harvester can be used on a wide

range of threaded barrels, and the

anchor brake offers excellent recoil

reduction across a range of calibers.The Harvester is rated for mag-

num calibers up to and including

300 Winchester Magnum (mini-

mum of 24-inch barrel).

THE HARVESTER BIG BORE

This unit encapsulates all the

features of the Harvester, but adds

the capability to allow the use of a

modular adapter to utilize variousmounting options.

The Harvester Big Bore is rated

for magnum calibers up to and in-

cluding the .338 Lapua.GW


SILENCEIS GOLDENSilencerCos Harvester Family Of SoundSuppressors Are Designed For HuntersPhotos courtesy of SilencerCo/Dewey Keithly

SPECIFICATIONS

HARVESTER 30

Caliber: .300

Weight: 11.3 ounces

Diameter: 1.375 inches

Length: 8.80 inches

Sound Reduction:21-34 dB

Finish:Hardcoat Anodized

MSRP: $750(with thread mount)

NEWPRODUCTS

For more information onSilencerCo and its products, visitthe website at SilencerCo.com or

call (801) 417-5384.

The Harvester

adds less than 12

ounces to this

Remington 700

in .243 Win.

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www.silencerco.com

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Question: I read in an article

that the MK 23 Pistol is con-

sidered an offensive pistol.

What makes it different from

other military handguns?

Randy W., Lake Forest, California

Leroy Thompson Answers: Gen-erally, in the military, pistols are

viewed as defensive weapons when

used by troops who will not nor-

mally see frontline combat, or as a

secondary weapon should the pri-

mary weapon go down. The latter isespecially true for special opera-

tions personnel who may not be in

position to be readily supplied with

a replacement rifle or carbine.

However, the H&K MK 23, Mod

0 was specifically developed to give

special operations personnel a pis-tol to be employed during offensive

operations, especially clandestine

raids. Chambered for the .45 ACP

cartridge and with a magazine ca-

pacity of 12 rounds, the MK 23 can

hit hard but may still be used with

one hand or in confined spaces.

The offensive capability is

enhanced by the suppressor devel-

oped for the weapon by Knights Ar-mament Company and LAM (Laser

Aiming Module) developed by In-

sight Technology. These allow the

pistol to be used at close range to

take out enemy personnel during

direct action operations.

Though very effective for cer-

tain operations, the MK23 is a

good-sized pistol at 16.5 inches

overall with suppressor mounted, or9.65 inches without the suppressor

and a weight of 5 pounds loaded

with LAM and suppressor mounted.

As a result, some special units carry

a companion defensive pistol

rather than the MK23. The SEALs

normally carry a SIG P226, and

Special Forces operators currently

carry Glocks.

I have actually seen the MK23used most often by US Navy SWCC

(Special Warfare Combat-Craft

Crewmen) who deliver the SEALs

on some missions. GW


OUR SEPTEMBER EXPERTS:Leroy Thompson is an internationally recognized authority on weapons and tactics, and is the author of more than

50 books. His current feature on SIG Sauers P227 may be found on page 14.

Thomas C. Tabor is Gun Worlds resident hunting columnist, and routinely goes afield in pursuit of small birds, large

game and good stories. His Todays Hunter column may be found on page 64.

ASK theEXPERTS We do the research so you dont have to.

The Heckler &

Koch MK23.

INTENTIONALLYOFFENSIVEThe MK 23 can hit

hard, but may still be used

with one hand or in

confined spaces.

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Question: I read your recent

column on shed antlers, but

would like a bit more informa-

tion. I frequently find sheds

bleached by the sun, particu-

larly on the upper surfaces. Isthere any way to restore the

color for a more natural look,

and if so, how?

Kent H., Kansas City, Missouri

Tom Tabor Answers: Loss of

color in an antler can be a big prob-

lem for shed hunters. When this

happens the antler loses much ofits visual appeal and in many cases

its monetary value takes a hit as

well. It only takes a few weeks lying

in the penetrating sun to bleach the

color out.

Taxidermists frequently use

antler wax or antler conditioner toartificially bring back the color, and

these products are available for

sale from many taxidermy supply

houses.

Another method I have occa-

sionally used is to apply a very thin

layer of walnut stain, but I would

certainly advise that you use a con-

siderable amount of caution using

stain, and to always test it out on anold set or in a place where it wont

be seen. It is all too easy to overdo

it, turning the entire horn into an

ugly, unnatural-looking disaster.

Once mounted, your sheds

should always be stored away from

the direct sun to maintain as much

of the natural beauty as possible. I

often cringe when I see people who

carelessly store their antlers out-

side, allowing them to slowly dete-riorate in the sun. GW

www.gunworld.com SEPT 2014 | GUN WORLD 13

SHEDDINGCOLOR

Shed hunters often find freshly shed antlers beside ones shed months earlier with the color bleached out. You can either leave them in

that condition, or try your hand at restoring the color.

Taxidermists

frequently use antler wax

or antler conditioner

8/21/2019 Gun World 201409


AGENCYADOPTIONSIG Sauers Long-Awaited P227 Offers

Enhanced Stopping Power And FlexibilityFor Law Enforcement Applications

Story & Photos by Leroy Thompson

My appreciation of the

SIG P226 dates to

when it was one of

the two finalists, along with

the Beretta 92, in the 1984 U.S.

service pistol trials. Much

drama surrounded the

selection of the Beretta M9

that year, with many feeling

the P226 was a better pistol.

Still, the SEALs wanted the

P226 and got it, and the P228

was adopted by the U.S.

Armed Forces as the M11 for

issuance to those needing a

more compact pistol.

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The P227 is similar in size to

the P226, but is chambered in

.45 ACP. This new SIG Sauer

has an accessory rail, making

it suitable for several acces-

sories, including this Stream-

light TLR-2s Tactical Light.

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I carried a Browning Hi-Power

for many years, but by the mid-

1980s I was ready for a high capac-ity, double action auto. Id used the

CZ75 on some overseas jobs and

liked its feel, which was similar to

the Hi-Powers, as well as the ability

to carry it ready for a first DA round

or cocked and locked.

But I was also a major fan of

SIG pistols. Id used a P210 as a

second gun to my Hi-Power when

working close protection jobs, as Ifelt the P210 gave me longer-range

capability.

I had also fired the Swiss

military issue P75, which was a 9 x

19mm single-stack version of the

P220. Because I had worked in

environments where the ability to

deliver sustained fire during an

evacuation under fire was

important, I had a preference forhigh capacity 9 x 19mm weapons.

Thus, when the P226 (with its 15+1

capacity) was introduced, I immedi-

ately ordered one, and I have re-mained a fan of the pistol.

My first contact with a SIG in

.45 ACP may have been with a

Browning BDA, as the earliest P220

imports, with bottom magazine

release, were designated. Im not

sure.

However, the first one I remem-

ber shooting belonged to an FBI

agent in the St. Louis office. I liked thepistol, which was utterly reliable and

very accurate. Its single-stack

magazine allowed the grip to remain

relatively small, though I never really

found the P226 grip too thick, but

many did.

Well, let me rephrase that: I

didnt find it too thick in the hand,

but I was carrying it in an inside-

the-waistband holster and some-times it was a little thick for

concealment, but just a little. The

latest P226 grips have helped slim

the pistol in the hand.

PERSONAL PREFERENCE

Some users prefer a manual

safety/hammer drop, as on S&W

pistols such as the Model 59 series

or the Beretta M9, but I like the

SIGs hammer drop, which drops

the hammer and returns to the fire

position. My hands are small

enough, though, that I cannot workthe hammer drop (de-cocker) with

the thumb of my right hand without

shifting my shooting grip; I have to

use my support side thumb. I can

work the slide release without shift-

ing my firing position.

I also find the P226 an easy pis-

tol to disassemble by just rotating

the disassembly lever downward

90 degrees and removing the slideassembly from the frame.


Despite being chambered for the .45 ACP round, the P227 shows only moderate recoil, and allows fast recovery after a shot.

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When SIG introduced the DAKsystem, I purchased a pistol with

that smooth DA-only feature and

have since purchased a couple

more, and would recommend the

DAK versions for law enforcement.

Some years ago, some friends and I

had Performance Center 4566 pis-

tols made, and I found that I liked

the pistol so much that I switched

to carrying it when I used a belt gun.

After a couple of years, though, Iwent to the lighter 4563, which was

the same gun, but with an alloy

frame. Both were in .45 ACP. I still

carried a 9 x 19mm pistol as a

pocket gun (Kahr PM9 or HK

P2000SK, depending on the

pocket), but for many years now,

the 4563 has stayed in my night-

stand along with its holster or on

my belt when applicable.

ENHANCEDSTOPPING POWER

When I saw the announcement

of the P227which is basically a

P226-sized gun chambered for the

.45 ACPI became very interested,

and I was not alone. Many law en-

forcement agencies that previously

used 9x19mm or .40 S&W handguns

have changed to .45 ACP weapons to

gain enhanced stopping power. For


The three primary controls for the P227, left to right: takedown lever, de-cocker, slide release.

Right side view of the P227.

Note the rail for mounting

various illuminators or pointers.

Many law

enforcement agencies

have changed to .45 ACP

weapons to gain enhanced

stopping power.

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such agencies, the P227 should be

very appealing due to SIG Sauers es-

tablished reputation in law enforce-

ment and the fact that SIG pistolsnormally do very well in law enforce-

ment testing.

Many agencies now adopt pis-

tols with an accessory rail to make a

weapon light, another advantageous

feature on the P227. And, for agen-

cies that already use a P226R (The

R indicates that the pistol has an

accessory rail), the same duty hol-

sters will normally fit the P227, and 11rounds of .45 ACP (with a round

chambered) give a substantial num-

ber of follow-up rounds, especially

with a pistol chambered for the .45

ACP cartridge.

I use a Blade-Tech holster de-

signed for a P226 with light

mounted, but for this test I wanted

to try SIGs own Level 2 duty hol-

ster for a P227 with the SIG SauerSTL-900 Tactical Light and Laser

mounted. The illuminator on this

unit is well designed and compact.

It offers the choice of constant

light, strobe, or laser, the latter of

which can operate with the light or

independently. It also has the type

of quick attach/detach system

that I like.

Turning a folding turnkey headallows the jaws of the illuminator to

open enough to slide onto the

P227s rails until the crosspiece is in

position. The turnkey is then tight-

ened to hold the illuminator in posi-tion. At 130 peak Lumens, it is bright

enough for all types of use. The

strobe feature can also be useful

for disorienting an opponent,

though some persons subject to

epileptic seizures reportedly can be

affected by strobes.

One note on the STL-900: the

instructions are not clear on how to

open the battery compartment.After staring at the side where the

compartment is located, I eventu-

ally figured out that it is necessary

to loosen the screw above it for ac-

cess. My own experience and that

of many law enforcement trainers

has also shown that if personnel

carry weapons with lights mounted

it has to be emphasized that they

carry a separate light for normal

lighting tasks (i.e. the light on thegun should not be used to check

identification, and so forth.)

The SIG Sauer duty holster is

very cleverly designed for retention,

but with quick access. When the pis-

tol is in the holster (with or without

light mounted), a hinged cap pivots

over the top of the slide and sights

and snaps in place. Along with fric-

tion, this retains the pistol. Pressingdown a button naturally with the

thumb during the draw releases the

retention cap and allows the pistol to

be drawn straight upward.

Although I term this a duty

holster, it came with a paddle de-


I like the P227 quite

a bit, and am thinking

about making it my

belt-carry .45 DA

A view of the P227s slim

grip (for a double stack .45);

note the texturing, which

allows a solid grip even in the

rain or with sweaty palms.

A good view of the P227s slide markings and rail.

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signed to allow it to be quickly at-

tached to the belt. It would serve

for concealed carry, but it does stick

out further than I like for concealedcarry. It should work well for law en-

forcement officers working in soft

clothes, however. Just as a quick

test, I tried Streamlights TLR 2s

Tactical Light and Laser since I had

it set up for mounting on SIG rails,

and it worked fine as well.

ROUND FIGURES

Ive taken the P227 to the rangethree times now and put 100

rounds through it each time. I took

some hand loads that I buy in bulk

for function and general handing

testing, while for accuracy testing I

took Cor-Bon 200-grain +P JHP

and Black Hills 185-grain JHP and

230-grain FMJ. Ive done the shoot-

ing tests over more than a month

and have not cleaned the pistol yetas I like to see how a new gun func-

tions if it gets a little dirty. I did

squirt a little oil on the rails before

each shooting session. To the best

of my recollection, I did not have

any malfunctions.

Before discussing accuracy, Ill

offer a couple of other comments

that may apply especially for law

enforcement adoption. Pulling backthe slide against the P227s recoil

spring requires some effort, cer-

tainly more than with a 9 x 19mm

P226. Although I find the grips com-

fortable, anyone with hands smaller

than mine will likely find it too thick.

I do not find recoil at all excessive,

but I shoot thousands of rounds of

.45 ACP per year. Finally, since the

P227s de-cocker must be manuallyoperated after a round is cham-

bered, muzzle awareness is para-

mount. I havent seen a DAK version

of the P227 yet, though Im sure one

will be available. For agency issue, I

would recommend that a DAK ver-

sion be purchased.

At 25 yards, the P227 was rela-

tively accurate. A friend shot a five-

shot group of about 3.75 incheswith the Federal 185-grain load, and

that was the best with that ammo.

The sights were off with groups a

couple of inches left, but I borrowed

a SIG-Sauer sight pusher and have

taken care of that.

Another test I like to do with

DA/SA autos is to fire a group of

double taps with the first round DA

and the second round SA to seehow much difference in impact


SPECIFICATIONS

SIG SAUER P227

Action: Double action/single action

Caliber: .45 ACP

Overall Length: 7.7 inches

Barrel Length: 4.4 inches

Weight: With empty magazine32 ounces

Magazine Capacity: 10 rounds

(14 round magazine to be available)

Sights: Front post, rear notch,with SIGLITE Night Sights on test gun

MSRP: $749 and up

P227 in SIG-Sauers Level 2 hol-

ster for the P226 or P227; note

that the hammer/slide is covered

and the holster is designed for

carry with the SIG STL900 affixed.

The P227 in one of

Thompsons favorite

belt holsters for

concealed carry: the

Kramer Belt Scabbard.

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point there is between the two. I

fired 10 rounds quickly, coming upfrom the low ready for each double

tap at 15 yards and found that all

except one were center of mass on

a killer clown target. The one that

was off to the left still impacted the

clown.

I also did a series of double

taps from the low-ready position

on pepper poppers and plates at

15-35 yards. Mostly, I wanted tosee how the P227 was for quick

handling, and it responded well.

The rear sight notch is open

enough that acquiring the front

sight quickly was easier than with

many pistols Ive tried.

SIG Sauer advertises the SA

pull as 4.4 pounds and the DA pull

as 10 pounds. That seems about

right to me. I wouldnt call eithertrigger pull great, but both DA and

SA were usable and did not

seem gritty or to stack unduly.

To be honest, I want to test a

P227 with DAK trigger for com-

parison, as Ive gotten used to the

steady pull of the DAK for all

shots.

I like the P227 quite a bit, and

am thinking about making it my

belt carry .45 DA, although I need toshoot it some more to decide if I

want the DA/SA model Ive tested

or the DAK model. Ive already or-

dered five extra ten-round maga-

zines and will order three more

14-round ones, as I like to have ten

mags for pistols I use a lot.

Ive also ordered a Kramer Belt

slide holster, which is one of my fa-

vorites for belt carry. Since its beena while since I carried a P226 regu-

larly, I do have to adjust to a

slightly fatter belt gun than Ive

been using. Still, I like the idea of

SIG Sauer accuracy and reliability

in a carry gun. I definitely see an LE

market for agencies that have been

using a P226 and want to go to a

larger caliber.

When I test SIG Sauer pistols, Ialways find them hard to send back

and rarely do. This one is no excep-

tion. The invoice for the P227 is on

my bills to pay stack. GW


CONTACTS

SIG Sauer, Inc.(603) 610-3000SigSauer.com

Streamlight(800) 523-7488Streamlight.com/en-us

Blade-Tech(877) 331-5793Shop.Blade-Tech.com

Kramer Leather(800) 510-2666KramerLeather.com

Black Hills Ammunition(605) 348-5150BlackHills.com

Cor-Bon Ammunition(800) 626-7266CorBon.com

A 25-yard five-shot offhand group usingBlack Hills 185-grain JHP ammunition.

To pop up the slide/rear

sight cover of the SIG Sauer

Level 2 holster, the lever at

left of the holster is naturally

pressed with the thumb.

8/21/2019 Gun World 201409

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GEAR AS PREPAREDAS YOU ARE.

In 1990 a Navy SEAL was navigating a minefield when his pack failed. As his gear tumbled to the ground,

he vowed that if he got out of there alive he would make gear the right way. Today this obsession with

quality applies to everything we do. Were constantly researching, refining and perfecting every detail

to provide gear that wont let you down. Because were not just making stuff. Were honoring a vow.

8/21/2019 Gun World 201409


The author tests the Stag 3G

upper, using Midwest Industriesflip-up, rail-mounted iron sights.

Test ammo included a wide range

of loads, including Winchester's

5.56 NATO M193 55-grain and

M855 62-grain FMJBT; Hornady's

.223 Rem 60-grain TAP and 75-

grain BTHP; and Federal's .223

Rem 55-grain FMJBT and 69-grain

Gold Match SMK.

8/21/2019 Gun World 201409


SHAPESHIFTERStags 3G Upper Will TransformYour AR-15 Into A Real CompetitorStory & Photos by Capt. John N. Raguso

T

wo seasons back, Stag Arms debuted its

popular 3G/3-Gun model mil-spec AR-15

clone with great success. Understandingthe desire of most AR-15 owners for flexible and

modular mission capability, this New Britain, CT

manufacturer now offers the upper-half-only

portion of this 3-Gun platform for those potential

customers who prefer to upgrade an existing

AR-15 platform for 3-Gun matches or other

run-and-gun events. The Stag 3GH (and 3GHL

for lefties) is a solution-in-a-box that warrants a

much closer look.

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3-GUN SPECIALIST PLUS

A call to Stag revealed the

mission statement of this relatively

new upper. According to sales man-

ager, Dave Larson, The Model 3GHwas manufactured specifically for

the speed, agility, and accuracy

needed for shooting 3-Gun compe-

titions, hunting and target shooting.

Working with our newly formed

3-Gun shooting team, Team Stag

Arms, we have determined the

features and configuration that will

have the broadest appeal and use

in competition.With the 3GH, Larson contin-

ued, competitors are able to

produce fast and accurate shots

from close to long range as is

needed in 3-Gun competitions.

Boasting an 18-inch stainless steel,

fluted, heavy barrel with a rifle

length gas system and the new Stag

Arms 3G compensator, recoil im-

pulse is greatly reduced allowing forfast follow-up shots. Aiding in accu-

racy is the Samson Evolution hand-

guard, which is free floating and

modular, allowing the attachment of

rail sections or sling mounts along

the handguard. This also grants the

shooter the ability to mount acces-

sories as needed but not be bur-dened with a full quad rail.

The layout of the 3GH is simple

and straightforward. Manufactured

from a forged block of T7075 mil-

spec aluminum, the machined

upper is protected with a type 3

hard coat anodizing, and fitted with

an E.R. Shaw fluted stainless steelbarrel sporting a 5.56 NATO cham-


The Stag's 3G upper mated perfectly with the authors mil-spec Rock River Arms National Match lower. Note the Stags optional

chrome-plated BCG that is visible through the open ejection port.

The Stag 3Gs Samson Evolution free-float hand guard allows each operator to add

modular rail sections whenever and wherever they are needed. Noted the fluted, heavy,

stainless steel barrel visible though the hand guard vents.

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platform to take on your next pig

hunt that can stabilize the heavier

75-grain and 77-grain ammo to drop

ol porky? Maybe a consistent bulls-

eye shooter at the range, or some-

thing to snipe a troublesome varmint

at the ranch? Check, check andcheck the Stag 3GH with its fluted

stainless heavy profile barrel, cou-

pled with a 1:8 twist rate, has each of

these mission requirements covered.

Like most mil-spec AR-15

clones, the Stag 3GH is a veritable

quick-change artist and can literally

mount to your favorite lower in 5

seconds or less. This is accom-

plished by lining up the upper re-ceivers fore-and-aft attachment

lugs with the lowers corresponding

openings on either end of the mag-

azine well and pistol grip. Snap the

pivot and takedown pins into place

and you are in business and ready

for action.

I attached the Stag 3GH to the

ber. This 18-inch tube offers a 1:8

twist rate, optimum for stabilizing

heavier 75-grain and 77-grain, open-

tip match projectiles. Stag tops off

the 410-stainless steel Shaw barrel

with a compensator thats an in-

house design.

MISSION FULFILLED

After field-testing the Stag

3GH upper, theres no doubt that

this bona fide shape shifter can

exhibit a number of different per-

sonalities, depending on the op-

erators mood.Need a tack-driving paper

puncher? No problemo. This one

delivers MOA accuracy or better

when fed the right ammo. How

about a rapid-fire steel plate

slayer? Check; definitely can do.

Or maybe you need to drop

steel poppers at 200 yards and

require a spot to add some mag-

nified optics, like an ACOG,VCOG or traditional variable

power scope? This one can defi-

nitely make it rain, with dedi-

cated T-marked Picatinny rail

positions both on the upper and

on the standard Samson Evolu-

tion free-float rail.

How about a quick-handling


RAPID TRANSITION SIGHTS

If the Trijicon or other ACOG isyour preferred primary optic and youneed a set of ready back up ironsights, installing a set of Dueck De-fense Rapid Transition Sights (RTS)on the Stags extending Picatinny railis definitely the way to go. Designedby 3-Gun shooter and IPSC Grand

Master Barry Dueck, they allow rapidtransition from optical to iron sightsthat are canted off at an angle fromthe top rails centerline, so both opti-cal and irons are always in place andready to go.

The RTS pair (front and rear) ismachined from 7075 aluminum alloybar stock, coated with a durable mil-spec hard anodized finish, offers -MOA elevation and windageadjustments on the rear sight, worksfor both right-handed and left-handedshooters and is made in the U.S.

The MSRP is $238 for the set.

The Stag 3G features a standard charging handle, but the author chose the optional chrome-plated bolt and bolt carrier group for

easy cleanups after extended shooting sessions.

8/21/2019 Gun World 201409

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lower receiver of my Rock River Na-

tional Match rifle, which is outfitted

with an A2 stock kit and an excel-

lent two-stage trigger.The marriage of upper to lower

was picture perfect, with nary a

trace of wobble or shake. You could

barely see sunlight pass through

the two receivers horizontal seam

and it was as rock solid a connec-

tion as you could expect from two

disparate (although mil-spec)

manufacturers; no aftermarket

Accu-Wedge is needed here!

The Rock Rivers two-stage

trigger with specialized hammerand disconnector worked seam-

lessly with the Stags chrome-

plated bolt and carrier (a $30

upgrade) and it was as if they were

meant for each other from the get-

go. Although I rarely use my Rock

River National Match rifle unless

shooting a competitive match,


SPECIFICATIONS

Action: Semi-auto, direct gasimpingement

Chamber: 5.56 NATO(this upper will also shoot .223 Rem)

Pivot/Takedown Pin Size: Small pin(0.250-inches)

Muzzle Device: Stag 3G compensator

Barrel: E.R. Shaw, 18-inch, 410 stain-less steel, fluted, heavy barrel profile

Barrel Twist Rate: 1:8, button rifled

Handguard: Samson Evolution 15-inchfree-floating, three accessory rails

Upper Receiver: Forged, mil-spec,type three hardcoat anodizing, withPicatinny rail

Bolt & Carrier: Enhanced semi-autowith a manganese phosphate coating(HP & MPI tested bolt, M16 bolt carrierand chrome-plated bolt and BCG also

available)

Charging Handle: Standard mil-spec

Front Sight: None

Rear Sight: None

MSRP: $775 (3GH)- $785 (3GHL)Warranty: One year

Midwest Industries flip-up front and rear rail sights (left and right) flank its offset rail

sight mount that allows the simultaneous use of a small rapid transition reflex sight, like

this Trijicon RMR.

The author attacks a target using the Stag 3G's M/I iron sights. Note the Trijicon RMR

reflex canted off on the right side of the Samson rail, ready for immediate transition

should the need arise.

This one deliversMOA accuracy or

better when fed theright ammo.

8/21/2019 Gun World 201409

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adding the Stag 3GH upper to

the mix offers me a lot more

mission flexibility with this setup

and thats the point.

LIKES AND DISLIKES

Although this Stag 3GH

worked great with all of the

name-brand, made-in-USA

M855 and .223 Match ammo

that I could feed it (a list which

included Federal/American

Eagle, Winchester and Hornady),

there were a few rounds that itjust didnt like. For reasons

known only to its creators, this

upper would not function reli-

ably with any of the Silver Bear

(Barnual) 62-grain HPBT or 55-

grain FMJBT ammo I attempted

to send down the tube. It would

short stroke on absolutely each

and every one.

Even if I attempted to fool itand sneak a stray Silver Bear car-


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Go to www.corbon .com for details!Call or email us and mention ad CBG-GW14 for a free gift from CORBON/Glaser Ammunition.

8/21/2019 Gun World 201409

30/100

cleaned up fairly easily with a mini-

mum of effort with just some

Break Free CLP, a clean cloth and a

standard AR-15 kit double-ended

nylon brush.

REAL WORLD RESULTS

Operating the 3GH in the field

and at the range confirmed that

when outfitted with the proper op-tics and fed top-shelf ammo, this

Stag can shoot with the best of

them. I was able to produce a num-

ber of five-shot groups that meas-

tridge into a magazine of Federals

American Eagle M855 or Winchester

Ranger green tip, it could pick it out

each and every time, like a drug-sniff-

ing canine and completely shut down

the operation. As an aside, most of

the Rock River, Colt, Bushmaster and

Frankenstein ARs I have tested his-

torically have had no trouble digest-

ing this zinc-plated steel case ammo,which has been some of the least

problematic Russian ammo I have

used in the past.

As most AR owners know, it

could be caused by many reasons,

from not having enough power to

cycle the action, to the steel case

not making a tight enough seal in

the chamber (compared to the

brass-cased ammo) to ensure maxgas pressure, to the inherently dirt-

ier ammo clogging up the direct-

gas impingement operation, etc.

Just be advised that this upper

didnt care for the Silver Bear

ammo.

In contrast, there were no such

problems with any of the brass-

cased USA ammo that were sent

downrange in the Stag. I had a few

hundred rounds of M855 left over

from the Mil-Spec Shootout I re-

cently conducted for this magazine,

and this was all totally good-to-go.

It was the same deal with the Hor-

nady 75-grain Match .223 Rem

ammo that I fed it; absolutely no

hiccups. Rapid fire, slow fire, maga-

zine dumps, whatever nothing

bothered it.When I performed some quick

field maintenance after an ex-

tended firing session, the Stags

chrome-plated bolt and carrier


STAG 3GH RANGE RESULTS WITH TRIJICON TA11E-A 3.5X35 ACOG

Manufacturer Best Five-shot Group Average Five-shot Group Muzzle Velocity& Load (Five groups)@ 100-yards (Manufacturers specs)

Federal/AmericanEagle M855 NATO 1.30 inches 1.50 inches 3,020 fps/20-inch barrel

62-gr FMJBTSPC

Winchester RangerM855 NATO 62-gr 1.37 inches 1.55 inches 3,095 fps/20-inch barrelFMJBTSPC

Hornady .223 Rem 0.75 inches 0.95 inches 2,790 fps/24-inch barrelMatch 75-gr HPBT

Test ammo included standard M855 62-grain FMJBT green tip from Federal and Win-

chester, in addition to Hornady's proven 75-grain BTHP .223 match load for precision work.

The 10-round magazines from AR-Stoner/ASC (left and right) and Magpul's Gen3 P-Mag

(center) fed flawlessly for hundreds of rounds fired through the Stag 3G upper.

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the Dueck RTS canted irons on theside, but its just another way to

play the game.

Of course, you can always go

with a traditional hunting scope

and rings on the topside P-rail and

this shooter performed totally

lights out armed with a Weaver

variable power 3-12 x 42mm Grand

Slam scope at 100 yards with con-

sistent sub-MOA groups and is justthe ticket for sniping or truly long

distance shots.

If you are looking to transform

one of your plain-Jane mil-spec AR-

15 platforms into a real competitor,

or simply need a quality upper to

complete an AR-15 lower build, you

should definitely give the Stag 3GH

a closer look.GW

ured just less than an inch at 100yards with Hornadys 75-grain .223

Match ammo using a Caldwell

Tack-Driver bean bag set on top of

a wooden range bench.

When migrating to my offhand

position or working a run-and-gun

target course, I could feel the Stags

proprietary comp design doing its

thing, pushing the muzzle down to

allow fast follow-up shots withoutlosing my sight picture.

If pinpoint accuracy is para-

mount in your 3GH operations, I had

the most consistent results feeding

this upper Hornadys proven 75-grain

BTHP .223 Match (load #8026). This

Hornady Match projectiles 0.395

ballistic coefficient is superior to

most other .223 Rem and .5.56 NATO

loads and will typically fly straighterthan the M193/55-grain (0.267 B/C)

or M855/62-grain NATO (0.304 B/C)

ammunition.

I didnt have any of Federals ex-

cellent 69-grain SMK Gold Match on

hand to challenge the Hornadys ac-

curacy dominance for this test, but

from many past experiences in 1:8

and 1:7 twist launching platforms, I

suspect the Federal product wouldhave printed sub-MOA for many of

its five-shot groups as well.To ensure this consistent accu-

racy downrange, I bolted a Trijicon

TA11E-A 3.5 x 35 ACOG (Advanced

Combat Optical Gunsight) onto the

Stags Picatinny rail and put the tip

of the amber chevron onto the cen-

ter of the target and squeezed the

Rock River lowers two-stage trig-

ger. Its extremely hard to miss the

bulls-eye with this ringer in thegame on your side.

MULTI-SIGHT

For yet another one of its per-

sonality changeovers, I adapted the

Stag 3GH to perform with a set of

Midwest Industries flip-up low pro-

file iron sights front and rear, while

also employing an MI 22.5-degree

offset rail, to which I mounted a Tri-jicon RMR (Ruggedized Miniature

Reflex) optic.

The Trijicon RMRs 7 MOA

amber dot never needs batteries,

courtesy of both its internal tritium

material and external fiber-optic

array, and is a proven fave of many

of our armed forces front-line oper-

ators. This is sort of a reverse take

on using an optic as the primarysighting system on the top rail with


CONTACTS

Stag Arms

(860) 229-9994

StagArms.com

Dueck Defense

DueckDefense.com

Dedicated 3-Gun fanswill probably outfit the Stag 3G witha set of offset Dueck Defense RTS rapid transition sights, which are ad-

justable for both windage (rear) and elevation (front andrear), in combination with its favoriteoptic on the top Picatinny rail.

8/21/2019 Gun World 201409

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8/21/2019 Gun World 201409


BLACKOUT

STAKEOUTThe Author Puts CMMGsNew Mk4 T Rifle To TheTest Against Texas HogsStory & Photos by Mike Dickerson

8/21/2019 Gun World 201409


Those who know me might be tempted tosuggest that Im addicted to hog hunting,

but it simply isnt true. Ive traced my family

surname, on my mothers side, to a small village

in Switzerland. Translated into English, the name

means, The place where men hunt wild boar.

Clearly, my fondness for hunting hogs is a simple

matter of genetic predisposition, and who am I to

fight some 200,000 years of natural selection?

Range testing of the

CMMG Mk4 rifle revealed

a strong preference for the

Barnes 110-grain TAC-TX

bullet.

8/21/2019 Gun World 201409

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Ive hunted hogs with every-

thing from rifles and handguns to

knives, but Ive never hunted themwith an AR platform rifle. Most of

my early experience was in Califor-

nia, where AR ownership was (and

is) legally challenging, and my fa-

vorite method was via the spot-

and-stalk approach, often requiring

long shots with accurate bolt-ac-

tion rifles.

Things are different in my

adopted state of Texas. Huntinghogs with AR rifles is immensely

popular, and much of it is done up-

close and personal, often in fairly

thick cover or at close range from

stands. Theres also a growing trend

to hunt them in the dark with night-

vision optics and suppressed rifles.

All of these factors led me to

jump at the chance to test CMMGs

new Mk4 T rifle, chambered in .300Blackout, on the local pig popula-

tion. Test rifle in hand, I teamed up

with my pal Mark Ballardwho

founded the non-profit organiza-

tion, Freedom Isnt Free Veteran

Hunts, to honor U.S. military veter-

ans for their serviceto hunt pigs

on a ranch in south-central Texas.

Being pressed for time, weopted to hunt from a stand over-

looking a feeder, and it didnt take

long for the action to start once the

feeder went off. In short order, we

had no less than 40 hogs milling

around in front of us, and since my

wife requested that I bring home

tasty versus trophy, I picked out a

100-pound sow and touched off aBarnes VOR-TX round, sending a


CMMGs Mk4 rifle

comes in a multitude of

configurations and

models.

With a 16.1-inch barrel and collapsible

stock, the Mk4 T is handy in tight places

and chambered for the 300 ACC

Blackout cartridge, which gives you a

.30-caliber punch in a necked-up .223

case that works in existing 5.56/.223

magazines.

Standard furniture on the

Mk4 T includes an A2 pistol

grip and an M4 buttstock

with a six-position, MIL-SPEC

receiver extension.

8/21/2019 Gun World 201409

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110-grain TAC-TX bullet into herboiler room. Twenty minutes later, I

shot a 130-pound boar with the

same heart/lung placement. It was

a short, but highly efficient stakeout.

I could easily have taken head

shots, but I was more interested in

learning how the .300 Blackoutperformed on game with tradi-

tional bullet placement. Well get

to that shortly, but first, here is a

rundown of the features that

make the new Mk4 T rifle bad

news for hogs.

TACTICAL ROOTSCMMGs Mk 4 rifle comes in a

multitude of configurations and

models chambered in 22 LR, 5.56,

and now, .300 Blackout. The choice

of .300 BLK is intriguing in as much

as the round is often characterized


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The basic components

of the bolt carrier group.

8/21/2019 Gun World 201409

38/100

as a niche cartridge for niche appli-

cations. That perception isnt likely

to change any time soon, outside of

the handloading community, due to

an ongoing scarcity of .300 BLK

ammo on store shelves.

Technically known as the .300

ACC Blackout, the cartridge has itsroots in the tactical world. The de-

sign goal was to create a .30-cal-

iber round for the AR platform that

used existing 5.56 magazines, pen-

etrated barriers with high-mass

bullets, and delivered energy and

ballistic performance equal to or

better than the 7.62 x 39 Soviet

cartridge. It was really intended toperform best at short range and,

most notably, perform well with

suppressors.

While those characteristics have

certain obvious tactical advantages,

they also match up nicely with a lotof hunting requirements, especially in

areas where shots are normally at

modest range. Since I didnt have a

selection of night-vision scopes and

suppressors on hand, I opted to test

the Mk 4 T rifle the way it arrived,

adding only a scope.

The choice of components

that go into the Mk4 T rifle reflects

CMMGs desire to strike a balancebetween modularity, quality and

affordability. Starting at the busi-

ness end, the rifle, as tested, sports

a 16.1-inch medium-taper, 416

stainless barrel, which has a 1:7

twist and a matte, bead-blasted

finish. The muzzle wears an A2

compensator, threaded 5/8-24 for

.300 BLK barrels.

Surrounding the barrel isCMMGs RKM11 KeyMod free-


The Mk4 T rifle comes with CMMGs

RKM11 KeyMod free-floated handguard,

which provides a much more user-

friendly way to mount accessories than

the non-ergonomic Picatinny rail system.

The CMMG Mk4 T rifle wears an

A2 compensator on a 16.1-inch

medium taper, 416 stainless

barrel with a 1:7 twist and

matte, bead-blasted finish.

8/21/2019 Gun World 201409


CCMG MK4 T 300 BLACKOUT

LOAD AVG. MUZZLE AVG. 100-YARD BEST 100-YARDVELOCITY (FPS) GROUP (INCHES) GROUP (INCHES)

Barnes VOR-TX 300 BLK 2316 1.36 1.12

110-gr. TAC-TX

Black Hills 300 Whisper 2140 2.44 2.02

125-gr. OTM

Black Hills 300 Whisper 1042 2.37 1.55

220-gr. OTM

Double Tap 300 BLK 2310 1.19 1.05

110-gr TAC-TX

Southwest 300 BLK 2271 1.90 1.27

110-gr TAC-TX

Southwest 300 BLK 1912 2.28 1.22

147-gr. FMJ

Note: All test groups fired with wind varying 5 to 17 mph.

8/21/2019 Gun World 201409

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floated handguard. The KeyMod

system is fast becoming an indus-

try-standard rail-mounting system

because it provides a much more

user-friendly way to attach acces-

sories without having to deal with

the old cheese grater, non-er-gonomic Picatinny rail system for

all attachments. This rifle retains a

full-length Picatinny rail on top for

mounting optics, and I prefer that.

Where the KeyMod system re-

ally shines is in attaching things like

flashlight mounts, vertical grips,

laser modules, and bipods. The

handguard, made of extruded alu-

minum, weighs 8 ounces andmeasures 11.13 inches. It has attach-

ment points at the 3-, 6- and 9-o-

clock positions, with QD sling

positions at 3 and 9 oclock.

The rifle uses a standard AR 15-

type lower, with all controls in their

usual spots, while the M4-type

upper receiver is made of forged

7075-T6 aluminum. The T6 desig-

natorfor you metallurgical triviafansmeans that the aluminum

has been subjected to a heat-treat-

ing process to achieve a tensile

strength of 74,000 to 78,000 psi,

the maximum peak strength of the

7075 alloy.

The rifle comes with an A2 pis-

tol grip and an M4 buttstock with a

six-position, MIL-SPEC receiver ex-

tension. For those who just have to

have something differentor justthe latest and greatest components

from a favorite manufacturer

these are a couple of obvious

places where you may want to up-

grade. Be selective if you want to

keep the weight low. As configured,

the rifle weighs only 6.3 pounds un-

loaded, and its handy in tight spots,

measuring just 32 inches with the

stock collapsed.This brings us to the one thing I

found objectionable on this rifle:

the single-stage, MIL-SPECstyle

trigger. It had a bit of creep in it and

broke at an average pull weight of 6

pounds, 5 ounces. Thats simply too

heavy for precision work. In an ideal

world, all rifles would come with

great triggers. In reality, manyper-

haps even mostdo not. Of course,with rifles at this price, many buyers

purchase with the full intention of

swapping out the trigger. Being an

accuracy nut of the first order, I

change triggers on AR rifles more

often than not. Doing so almost al-

ways cuts target group sizes in half,

or better. Judge the following accu-

racy results accordingly, as the fac-

tory trigger made it difficult to judge

the rifles true accuracy potential.

RANGE AND FIELD

For accuracy testing, I mounted

Nikons P-300 BLK 2-7x32 BDC Su-

perSub scope in a rock-solid Burris

PEPR mount, which helps position

the scope more naturally in line

with your eye. The P-300 scope

was designed for the ballistic pro-

files of the .300 Blackout, in bothsupersonic and subsonic loads, via

use of Nikons Spot On Ballistic

Match Technology.

Used properly, this system

helps you know which aiming

points on the reticle to use in order

to be on target at various ranges. I

didnt have the time to fully test

that system, so I simply zeroed my

chosen hunting load an inch high at100 yards and called it good. I knew

shots were likely to be close.

Apart from its ballistic match

technology, the scope offers spring-


The author found the fit

of the 7075-T6 aluminum

upper to lower to be nice

and snug.

8/21/2019 Gun World 201409


For hunting, the author

mounted Nikons P-300

BLK 2-7 x 32 BDC SuperSub

scope in a rock-solid Burris

PEPR mount.

8/21/2019 Gun World 201409

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loaded, zero-reset turrets, multi-

coated optics and MOA adjust-

ments. It has a quick-focus

eyepiece, and is nitrogen-filled and

O-ring sealed for waterproof and

fog-proof performance.

The reticle of the scope pre-sented a bit of a challenge at the

range. The small circle that sur-

rounds the crosshairs proved to be

the perfect size for obscuring the

little diamond-shaped targets I use

for zeroing rifles at 100 yards. As a

result, this scope may not be a

great choice for squeezing maxi-

mum accuracy out of a rifle at the

target range. It is, as I would dis-

cover, an exceptionally good choice

to help you get on game fastas

in, right-now fast. In other words,

its a tradeoff, but one which works

out very well in the field, especiallyon quick-moving critters, like hogs.

It would work equally well on white-

tail deer. For an M4 platform, and

hunting deer-sized game at short to

medium range, its just the right

size, weight and power.

For velocity testing, I ran a half

dozen factory loads over my Com-

petitive Edge Dynamics M2 chrono-

graph and found velocities to bepretty much as expected. The one

subsonic load tested, a Black Hills

.300 Whisper round using a 220-gr.

open-tip match bullet, averaged

1,042 fps. A Southwest Ammunition

.300 BLK load with a 147-grain FMJ

bullet clocked in at 1,912 fps. The

three hottest loads, from Barnes,

Double Tap and Southwestall

using Barnes 110-grain TAC-TX bul-letcame in a bit below the com-

monly cited velocity for that load of

2,400 fps out of a 16-inch barrel,

but the difference wasnt enough to

worry about at the modest ranges

the cartridge is normally used at.

That 110-grain TAC-TX bullet

caught my eye, in part, because

Barnes claims full (50 cal.) expan-sion and 20-inch-plus penetration

at 300 yards. That sounded suspi-

ciously like a decent hunting bul-

leteven though I normally sling

heavier bullets at hogsand I in-

tended to test their terminal per-

formance on game once I found out

how accurately the stuff shot.

Results were mixed in that

area. Heavier, slower bullets did notfare as well as lighter, faster bullets.

All three of the heavier bullets

tested turned in average groups

measuring more than 2 inches. The

single best group, measuring 1.05

inches, was turned in by Double

Taps 300 BLK load using the 110-

grain Barnes TAC-TX bullet. That

load also turned in the best average

group size of 1.19 inches. The othertwo factory loads using that bullet,

from Barnes and Southwest, were


Some of the ammo tested in the Mk4 T in-cluded, left to right, Barnes 110-grain TAC-TX,Black Hills 300 Whisper 125-grain OTM, Black

Hills 300 Whisper 220-grain OTM, Double Tap110-grain TAC-TX and Southwest 147-grain FMJ.

SPECIFICATIONS

CMMG Mk4

T 300 BLK

Action: Gas-operated, semi-auto

Caliber: 300 Blackout, as tested

Mag. Capacity: Variable

Barrel Length: 416 stainless, 16.1-inchmedium taper profile

Muzzle: A2 comp., threaded

Receiver: M4-type upper,AR15 type lower

Overall Length: 32 inches(stock collapsed)

Weight (empty): 6.3 pounds

Sights: None, Picatinny rail for optics

Handguard: CMMG RKM11 free-floatedKeyMod

Furniture: A2 pistol grip, six-positionM4 buttstock

Finish: Black

MSRP: $1,049.95

8/21/2019 Gun World 201409


Discover the

world of firearms at

your fingertips.

www.facebook.com/gunworldmagazine

Find us on

Equipped with Nikons P-300 BLK

scope, which matches the ballistic

profile of .300 BLK ammo, the author

found the Mk4 T to be a deadly setup

for dispatching wild hogs.

8/21/2019 Gun World 201409


CONTACTS

Barnes BulletsBarnesBullets.com

Black Hills AmmunitionBlack-Hills.com

Burris OpticsBurrisOptics.com

CMMG FirearmsCMMGInc.com

Competitive Edge DynamicsCEDhk.com

Double Tap AmmunitionDoubleTapAmmo.net

Freedom Isnt Free Veteran HuntsFreedomIsntFreeVeteranHunt.com

Nikon Sport OpticsNikonSportOptics.com

Southwest Ammunition

SouthwestAmmunition.com

very close behind. In fact, the aver-age overall group size from all three

loads using this bullet was right

around an inch and a half.

That will definitively get the job

done in most hunting and self-de-

fense scenarios, but I still came

away less than totally happy with

the rifles accuracy. Part of that

comes from being one of those

guys who sells every rifle he cantmake shoot sub-MOA groups. Yes,

thats me, guilty as charged, and

proud of it.

On the other hand, Im pretty

confident that groups would shrink

some with additional rifle break-in,

and Im positive it would shoot

tighter groups with an upgraded

trigger installed. Ive always found it

exceedingly tough to shoot tightgroups with any gun that has a trig-

ger pull in excess of 6 pounds.As for how the .300 BLK car-

tridge performed on game, a data

sampling of two animals is far from

definitive, but heres how it played

out. The first shot on the 100-

pound sow, using the Barnes VOR-

TX load with the 110-grain TAC-TX

bullet, took out both the top of the

heart and a portion of lungs. The

sow ran 20 yards and dropped. Westayed put, until about 20 minutes

later, when another group of hogs

moved in. I made the same shot

placement on a 130-pound boar,

and was initially concerned when

he showed little reaction to the shot

other than to run like he just lit an

afterburner. We found him, after a

bit of searching, about 100 yards

away. That bullet took out the arter-ies above the heart and both lungs.

I was a little surprised that the pig

made it as far as he did, but I

learned long ago that some hogs

take a bit of time to realize theyre

supposed to be dead.

Both bullets resulted in

through-and-through wounds, withno bullets recovered for examina-

tion. That was mildly disappointing,

but not unexpected. With a tally of

two rounds fired, two good meat

hogs down and an appointment

with some Texas-style ribs on the

BBQ, the only thing I could legiti-

mately complain about was the

Texas heat.GW

The author dropped these two meat hogs with one shot each using the 110-grain

TAC-TX bullet in Barnes factory ammunition.

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With two sighting systems in one compact package, the CounterStrike

gets you on target fasterno ifs, ands, or buts.

+ Combines 1x30mm red dot sight with visible laser aiming device

+ User-selectable red/green 4-MOA dot reticle with 11 intensity

settings (including night vision)

+ Integrated Picatinny rail mount is fast and repeatable

+ Flip-back lens covers included

+ 100% waterproof, fog proof, and shockproof

+ Redfield No Excuses Warranty

2014 Redfield, A Brand of Leupold & Stevens, Inc.

REDFIELD.COMCOUNTERSTRIKE RED DOT RETICLE

+ Integrated visible laser aiming device allows engagement from almost any position.

Features separate on/off controls.

GREEN DOT RETICLE

8/21/2019 Gun World 201409


IMPRESSIVE

VIEWTaurus Reinvents The Belly

Gun With A .38 Special

See-Through Snubbie

Story & Photos by Dr. Martin D. Topper

The clear polymer side

plate on the Taurus View

allows the owner to see if

the lockworks are clean

and functioning properly.

8/21/2019 Gun World 201409


The View may not be entirely original, but it

is unique in how it combines the best in

traditional snubnose revolver design with

the latest technology. Like many small-frame

.38 Special snubbies, the View is a short-bar-

reled, aluminum-framed, DAO, five-shot revolverwith a small grip. However, the View differs from

other .38 snubs in a number of important ways.

First, it has a very short barrel. Most

snubnose .38s have a 1.875- to 2.5-inch barrel.

The View's barrel is an ultra-short 1.41 inches.

Carried in a pocket or an inside-the-waistband

holster, the view's short barrel is less likely to

print through your clothes or poke you.

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Second, the grip is much

smaller than the boot grips found

on other snubbies. Like the barrel,

it's designed to be comfortable to

carry and to resist the tendency of

most grips to print.

A third important feature is the

View's extremely low weight. Like

other lightweight handguns, the

View has an aircraft-quality alu-minum frame and a titanium alloy

cylinder. But the View takes tita-

nium usage a step further by having

a titanium barrel shroud.

The final weight-saving feature

is the frame's clear polymer side-

plate. In addition to reducing

weight, this clear plate also allows

the owner to see when it's time to

clean the lockworks and watch the

action cycle when the trigger ispulled. Watching the lockworks can

be fun, but check twice that the gun

is empty and pointed in a safe di-

rection before pulling the trigger.

Because of these weight-sav-

ing features, the View weighs just 9

ounces unloaded, making it the

lightest medium-bore concealed-

carry handgun currently available

from a major manufacturer. Itseven lighter than a couple of popu-

lar polymer-framed .380s, and this

makes it very easy to carry in a hol-

ster or a pocket.

EVALUATION

When I picked the revolver up

at the Florida Gun Exchange, I was

immediately impressed by its short

grip and barrel. The next thing I no-ticed was the Views color scheme,

which combines a matte silver alu-

minum frame, silver-polished trig-

ger, gold-polished hammer and

matte black stocks, matte gray tita-

nium cylinder and barrel shroud. All

parts were well finished, and the

overall effect was striking.

A mechanical check at the

workbench indicated that the Viewwas well made. This revolver has a

three-point lock-up that employs a

detent in the top of the crane to


The View's five-shot

cylinder, frame and grips

leave ample room for the

use of speedloaders.

Making quick reloads is

no problem, despite the

Views small size.

The detent on the cylinder crane provides a tight lock-up for the front of the Views cylinder.

SPECIFICATIONS

TAURUS VIEW

Model: 85 VTA

Barrel: l.41 inches

Frame: Aluminum small frame

Stock: Polymer

Finish: Silver and gray

Length: 5.67 inches

Weight: 9 ounces

Caliber: .38 Special

Capacity: Five

Sights: Fixed

MSRP: $599

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lock the front of the cylinder in

place, a spring-loaded center pin in

the extractor to lock the rear and a

cylinder stop to prevent rotation

during ignition.

This system worked well be-cause the cylinder locked up in the

frame without significant backward

and forward or side-to-side play.

Crane to frame fit was very good,

with no gap between the crane and

the frame.

Functioning was also very

good. Double-checking to ensure

the View was unloaded, I pointed it

in a safe direction and checked thetiming. Each chamber locked in

place before the hammer fell. Trig-

ger pull was consistent at 10.5

pounds for all five chambers. The

pull was long and smooth and the

trigger did not reset until the trigger

was fully forward. Therefore, when

firing the View, one must allow the

trigger to come fully forward before

attempting to pull the trigger again.When attempting to check the

cylinder-to-barrel gap, I could not

fit a standard thickness gauge be-

tween the cylinder and barrel. There

was just not enough room between

the top of the gas seal on the crane

and the bottom of the frames top-strap. A comparison to other snub-

nose revolvers revealed that the

cylinder of the View is set just a bit

higher in the frame than on some

others. During live fire tests, this dif-

ference in dimensions had no effect

on the functioning of the gun.

SHOTS FIREDThe View was live-fire tested

for velocity, bullet energy, reliability

and tactical accuracy at the Volusia


The final weight-

saving feature is the

frames clear polymer

sideplate.

Taurus View is an innovative,

five-shot .38 cal. snubnose that only

weighs 9 ounces. Its construction

cuts weight by combining space-age

materials like titanium, aircraft-grade

aluminum and polymers.

The functional polymer boot

grips on the View are checkered

to promote a sure grip and are

decorated with the Taurus logo.

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County Gun and Hunt Club. Be-

cause it weighs only 9 oz. and has a

very small grip, no +P ammunition

was used. Recoil would simply have

been too punishing. Four .38 Spl.

loads, graciously supplied by their

manufacturers, were used for the

test. They were: Black Hill's 148-

grain WC, Hornady's 90-grain Liteload with the FTX bullet, HPR's

158-grain HP with Hornady's XTP

bullet, and Winchester's new 130-

grain Defend ammunition, which

features a bonded bullet.

I also patterned a CCI snake load

at 10 feet, since the ultra-light View is

easy-carrying in snake country.

Muzzle velocity and muzzle en-

ergy levels produced from theView's short 1.41-inch barrel were

comparable to those of standard

pressure .38 Special ammo fired in

snubnose revolvers that have 2- to

2.5-inch barrels. The fastest load

was Hornady's 90 gr. FTX Lite load.

It's average velocity of 839 fps pro-

duced 140 ft-lbs of muzzle energy.

Fired into a 3-gallon water jug, this

bullet expanded to .44 inches. Win-chester's 130-grain Defend ammu-

nition produced the highest energy,

generating 157 ft-lbs. As you can

see from the attached chart, the

performance level of .38 Special

ammunition fired in the View was

very similar to the performance of

the old .38 S&W/.38 Colt New Po-

lice cartridges fired from a 4-inch

revolver. Recoil was also similar tomy old Colt Police Positive revolver

chambered for .38 Colt New Police.

Complete velocity and energy

figures are included in the attached

table.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

The View is designed for per-

sonal defense at close quarters;

therefore, it was evaluated for tac-tical accuracy by shooting two dif-

ferent close-range drills. Its small

grips and DAO trigger pull would

not have produced meaningful re-

sults from bench testing. With a

belly gun, it's how you shoot it

under stress at close range that's

important.

The first drill involved engaging

three hostiles depicted on two tar-gets at five yards. One target de-

picted a single individual with a gun

and the other target was a compos-

ite of two armed assailants, one

standing behind the other. The tar-

get with the single assailant was

engaged with a center chest shot.

The target depicting two assailants


The View placed quick, accurate shots on target at CQB distances.

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required a body shot on the ex-

posed assailant and a head shot on

the second armed assailant who

was standing behind him.

At this distance, body shots

were no problem, but head shots

were more difficult. The small grips

and DAO action made it difficult to

make a quick 5-yard head shot

every time. Thats because the size

and shape of the grip made this re-

volver point high. I compensated by


TEST PERFORMANCE

LOAD NAME VELOCITY MUZZLE ENERGY

Black Hills 148-gr. WC 603 fps. 120 ft-lbs.

Hornady 90-gr. FTX 839 fps. 140 ft-lbs.

HPR 158-gr. XTP 627 fps. 138 ft-lbs.

Winchester 130-gr.Defend HP 737 fps. 157 ft-lbs.

Velocity was the average of five shots measured 15 feet from the

muzzle with a PACT 1XP chronograph.

Recoil of the View is pronounced,

but tolerable, when standard-pressure

.38 Spl. loads are used. The author didnot use +P loads because of the View's

reduced weight and small grips.

BROWNING.COM

BLAC

KLAB

EL

TACTIC

ALGE

AR

JUST

GOT

BRIGH

TER.

INTRO

DUCIN

G

TACTIC

AL

LIGHT

S.

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52/100

holding low and using a very firm

two-hand grip. I would like to see

the View offered with a set of

slightly oversize soft polymer laser

grips. Such a grip would help bring

out this revolvers full potential.

The second drill also involvedengaging three targets. The drill

simulated a hostage rescue situa-

tion in which three men were hold-

ing a family member in a house. The

task was to take down the three

targets who were positioned to pre-

vent me from entering the house.

The first target simulated a lookout

in a window. It had to be engaged

before a entering a narrow walkway

leading to the house. Distance to

the target was about 3 yards. This

target was quickly dealt with by a

shot to the center of the chest.

The second target depicted

two hostiles who were blocking the

walkway leading to the front door.

One of these men was standing be-

hind the other and both werearmed. The distance was 5 yards.

Both targets were successfully en-

gaged, but given the distance to the

targets, my strategy involved taking

one shot at the fully exposed as-

sailant and saving the rest of my

shots to make sure I hit the head

shot on target two. As with all

small-capacity handguns, one has

to carefully manage ammunitionwhen using this five-shot revolver.

Fortunately, the View can be re-

loaded using a speedloader. How-

ever, like most snubnose revolvers,

this new gun from Taurus has a

short ejector rod that does not push

the cartridges completely clear of

the cylinder. Therefore, the rod

needs to be firmly depressed to

help ensure all of the brass is

ejected. In addition, using standard

pressure ammunition helps reduce

the chance of a casing over-ex-

panding and sticking in its chamber.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The View proved to be reliableand handled quite well for a .38

that only weighs 9 oz. Like other

snubnose revolvers, it is designed

for close-range encounters, and it

performed well in drills at distances

of up to 5 yards. Overall, the View

would be a good choice for deep

concealment in urban areas, and for

carry while hiking in areas where

poisonous snakes are common.GW


CONTACT

Black Hills Ammunition(605) 348-5150

CCI Ammunition

(800) 379-1732

Florida Gun Exchange(386) 304-9499FloridaGunExchange.com

Hornady Ammunition(800) 338-3220Hornady.com

HPR Ammunition(928) 468-0223HPRAmmo.com

Volusia County Gun and Hunt Club(386) 717-1394VolusiaCountyGunAndHuntClub.com

Winchester Ammunition(800) 356-2666

Winchester.com

Author used a firm, two-hand

grip when shooting the View.

Hornadys .38 caliber, 90-grain FTX bullet

expanded to .44 inches. Thats excellent

performance from a 1.41-inch barrel.

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8/21/2019 Gun World 201409


At the range, the author

sighted the rifle in using both

the scope and the laser. At the

modest ranges required for

hunting black bear over bait, it

was easy to switch between

the two sighting systems, and

having two optics on the same

rifle inspired confidence.

8/21/2019 Gun World 201409


RED, WHITE,

BLUE & BEARRuger, Redfield, Crimson Trace AndWarne Combine On An All-AmericanHunting PackageStory & Photos by Brad Fitzpatrick

The current trend toward building affordable, accurate,

feature-loaded bolt action rifles has produced some

outstanding products over the last decade, and at the

top of that list is Rugers budget-priced American Rifle. Gone

are the days when shooters will accept creepy triggers and

so-so accuracy, even in rifles costing under $500.

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Throughout the year, Ruger

has released variants of its Ameri-

can rifle lineup, including an All-

Weather version in regular and

compact lengths as well as a Pred-

ator model with a heavy barrel anda combo package that comes with

a mounted and bore-sighted Red-

field Revolution riflescope. For the

hunter or shooter who wants an

affordable rifle capable of sub-

MOA groups, this lineup has plenty

to offer.

Each American rifle shares the

same receiver, a one-piece unit with

a small ejection port machined outof a single piece of steel. The design

is sturdy and robust, which helps

improve accuracy, and the over-

sized bolt (same diameter as the

lugs) runs smoothly through the ac-

tion with very little slop and play

compared to other bolt designs.

The bolt features three locking

lugs, which provide a secure lockup

and allow the American to have ashort (70 degree) bolt lift for faster


Rugers lightweight, inexpensive American Rifle with a Redfield scope and Crimson Trace Laser mounted on a custom Warne bracket

is a fantastic hunting rig that is built completely in the United States. Add to that a few boxes of Federal Premium Fusion ammunition

and youre ready to hunt black bears in dense cover.

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traveling to and from the range orstand. Ruger provides bases with

the rifle, which work well and are

easy to secure to the receiver.

The stainless, All-Weather

model adds a level of resistance to

the elements not found on other

versions of the American. That was

the market, its also light enough for

all-day carry.

MOVING PARTS

The last decade has seen a

push toward lighter, crisper, ad-

justable triggers, and the AmericanRifles Marksman trigger is out-

standing. It incorporates a center

blade design, and when the blade

is pulled back, the trigger break is

light and clean. Its factory-ad-

justable, between 3 and 5 pounds,

and the rifle I tested broke at 3.5

pounds from the factory. Its a

great aid in accuracy and makes it

easy to wring tight groups out ofthe American.

The plastic magazine is rotary

and flush-fit, light and easy to pop

in and out of the rifle. Initially, I

had some feeding issues, but

when I swapped in a different

mag, the feeding problems ceased

altogether.

The American Rifles tang-

mounted two-position safety iseasy to find and manipulate with-

out looking down at the gun. A

large, cocking indicator on the tang

allows for instant feedback regard-

Gun World 201409

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