Field and Stream - Rifles RSS

Why Shorter Rifle Barrels May Be Better

Dave_Maccar — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:27:18 -0500

by David E. Petzal

A couple of generations ago, before there was a chronograph lurking under every loading bench, gun makers used barrels of sensible lengths. If you got a .30/06 or a .270, most likely you got a 22-inch barrel. If you bought a magnum, it was probably 24 inches. Over the years, however, barrels have been getting longer, possibly because manufacturers are afraid their guns/ammo won’t deliver advertised velocities.

I’ve never feared shorter barrels. They are handier to use, weigh less, and often are more accurate than the longer ones. And as a rule, you lose very little velocity when you lop off some steel.

As proof of this, ace Texas rifle maker Charley Sisk recently published an experiment where he barreled six rifles with 27-inch tubes and chronographed them, cutting each one back an inch at a time. Space doesn’t allow me to list all the figures, but I can give you the totals.

Jack O'Connor's Legendary No.2 Rifle

Online Editors — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:08:59 -0500

by David E. Petzal

In 1959, Jack O’Connor bought a Winchester Model 70 .270 Featherweight in a hardware store in Lewiston, Idaho. He had bought his first Winchester .270, a Model 54, in 1925, and in the ensuing years had made the cartridge synonymous with his name. He already had several .270s, but as we all understand, one or two of anything is never enough.

The new gun—O’Connor called this the No. 2 rifle--turned out to be very accurate (MOA or just under, which in 1959 was sensational), and so O’Connor took it to his favorite custom gunsmith, Al Biesen, of Spokane, to give it a level of elegance befitting its performance. Biesen completed the work in 1960. Biesen was not only a first-rate craftsman, but had a very good feel for ergonomics. All his stocks had a very slim pistol grip that belled toward the bottom, and they have a very distinctive feel. You can mount a Biesen rifle blindfolded and pick it out of a bunch of rifles.

The .50 Cal AR-15 Muzzleloader From CMMG

Dave_Maccar — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:02:44 -0500

by Phil Bourjaily

The AR 15 continues to prove its versatility in all kinds of ways – even ways that leave you scratching your head and asking “why?” For instance, I heard about the AR 15 muzzleloader upper at SHOT and looked in vain for it, finally concluding that it was a Mythical Creature and not a real AR accessory. Since then, I have found these two videos that prove its existence.

And, to give the people at CMMG Inc. credit, the .50 upper is cleverly designed. As you see in the video, the magazine holds extra pellets and bullets for handy reloading, and the gun will handle a three-pellet (150 gr.) load of pyrodex.

Korean War M1 Rifles Might be Sold as Souvenirs

Online Editors — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:00:41 -0500

by Phil Bourjaily

According to this story, a large number of Korean War surplus M1s may be on their way to the U.S. to be sold to Korean War veterans and their families as souvenirs this summer -- in time for the 62nd anniversary of the Korean War.

This immediately reminded me of my late father-in-law who fought in Korea. He spent eight years in the Marine Corps and to hear him tell it, he spent most of his hours in those eight years cleaning his rifle. He used to say that when he was in the Marines, he dreamed of the day he got out so he could buy an M1, leave it in the backyard, pee on it every day and watch it rust. I don’t think he was serious. He was very fond of the M1 (the M14, not so much) and proud of Marine Corps marksmanship in general.

At any rate, if this deal goes through, the rifles will be for sale this summer.

Randolph Engineering: How to Choose the Right Tint for Shooting Glasses

Online Editors — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:47:59 -0500

Randolph Engineering has a variety of tints for its shooting glasses. Learn how to choose the right lenses for your next hunt or shooting competition and check out the company's new HD lenses.

Trijicon TARS: A Powerful Scope for Long-Range Shooters

Online Editors — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:07:31 -0500

Trijicon's Tactical Advanced RifleScope is a power optic that can be used for a variety of applications, especially big game hunting and long-range target shooting.

Dimensions by Jeromy Holmes: One of a Kind Rifle Paint Jobs

Online Editors — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:45:04 -0500

So you have your rifle. There are many like it but this is your own. Now add a paint job by artist Jeromy Holmes and you can ensure no rifle will ever look the same as yours. And his work is not just for looks, it's functional beauty.

Do-All Outdoors: Have Fun Shooting These Targets

Online Editors — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:30:35 -0500

Bored shooting the same targets over and over? Try blasting an orange prairie dog or any of these reusable targets from Do-All Outdoors.

The Best New Rifles of 2012

Dave_Maccar — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:41:18 -0500

The Best New Rifles of 2012.

Accuracy International AX: A Major Upgrade for Your Remington 700

Online Editors — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:09:01 -0500

The Accuracy International AX offers Remington 700 owners a stability boost with this chassis. There is nothing flimsy about the AX, and it has a lot of room for you to add on your favorite gear.

First Look: US Palm Takedown AK47

Online Editors — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:40:05 -0500

Here's a first look at a prototype of US Palm's Takedown AK47, a compact rifle that snaps together with a twist. AK fans, look for it to hit the market later this year.

Stag Arms 3G AR Rifle: Built for 3-Gun Competitions

Online Editors — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:24:46 -0500

The Stag Arms 3G was designed with 3-Gun competitors in mind. Stag Arms offers both right and left handed versions so everyone can join in this growing sport.

Troy Industries T22: An AR-Style Chassis For Your Ruger 10/22

Online Editors — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:07:24 -0500

Looking for a quick upgrade for your Ruger 10/22 that will add versatility and accessory options? This simple, railed, snap-on chassis set comes in two models.

Polymer Casings: The Future of Ammo?

Online Editors — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:52:23 -0500

These rounds might mark the end of the metal casing. The polymer casing significantly reduces ammunition weight while retaining its accuracy--meaning you can carry more ammo during your next hunt.

Forbes Model 24B: An Excellent Rifle That Doesn't Break the Bank

Online Editors — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:36:35 -0500

Looking for a great rifle that won't leave your wallet empty? Then consider this light, accurate rifle that was built to last. And with such an attractive price tag, you can splurge and get two.

Montana Rifle Company's New Dangerous Game Rifle

Online Editors — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:03:15 -0500

This rifle looks plain, is built to last, and hits hard. How hard? Well, it's chambered for the horrifying 505 Gibbs, the appalling .406 Weatherby and the serious 416 Rigby. What more could you ask for from a dangerous game rifle? Get all the details here.

Rocky L3 Gloves Let You Use a Touchscreen

Dave_Maccar — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:37:32 -0500

Those long waits in the stand or the blind can be a little easier with these gloves that let you access your spartphones' features, like the Rut Reporter app...or, you know, Fruit Ninja.

SHOT Has Gone To The Zombies, and That May Not Be All Bad

Dave_Maccar — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:42:51 -0500

by Phil Bourjaily

After two-and-a-half days of trudging the aisles of the Sands Convention and Visitor Center I’m still not sure what I have seen, other than lots and lots of people. Against all reasonable expectation, the show continues to be very well-attended. People are in a gun-buying mood and one vendor looked at the crowds in disbelief and said to me “I just wonder when it’s all going to end. I think people must give up their indulgences last.”

Whatever the case, I have seen some interesting shotguns, although not much new in shotgun ammunition. Hunting clothes keep getting better, lighter, thinner and warmer, which is a good thing. On the other hand, manufacturers are piling on the zombie bandwagon with zombie guns (Mossberg’s tactical Model 94, called the 464 SPX is the most egregious example); zombie ammunition and zombie targets.

Quality and Value: Weatherby’s 2nd Generation Vanguard Rifle

Online Editors — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:30:30 -0500

This 2nd generation Vanguard rifle is a great bargain. For $500 you get a quality rifle that has a double-stage trigger with a terrific pull. Enhancing its affordability, the metalwork is Japanese, but the stock and gun assembly is American. Even Dave Petzal says: this gun is perfect.

The Savage Lady Hunter Rifle: Made Just for Women

Online Editors — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:14:29 -0500

If you’re looking for a rifle for the female shooter in your life, or even for yourself, look no further. Savage has just released the Lady Hunter. This rifle is tested by and made specifically for women. Rather than just taking ½ an inch off the stock like most companies, Savage gave the Lady Hunter a higher comb to accommodate women’s neck length, and took weight out of the forend so it has a lighter, shorter barrel.

SHOT Show 2012 From The Floor: Day 3

Online Editors — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:48:52 -0500

Photos from the floor of SHOT Show 2012, Day 2.

Dave Petzal on SHOT Show 2012

Dave_Maccar — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:27:48 -0500

by David E. Petzal

In a wretched economic year, the pants-wetters, doomsayers, and purveyors of pessimism would be confounded by the life and vitality in the shooting industry. This year in Las Vegas, an estimated 60,000 people (all in the gun biz), many of whom look like Larry the Cable Guy, crowded into a maze of under-ventilated halls to ogle, grope and buy. Guns. What did you think I was talking about?

The most densely crowded venues were dedicated to the wonderful worlds of the paramilitary and law enforcement. Apparently there is an insatiable need for the equipment used in shooting, clubbing, and gassing people. There are suits of full body armor the like of which has not been seen since the Battle of Agincourt. There are all-black deathmobiles, equipped with lethal gear of all sorts. I’m told that Cop World constitutes fully one-third of the SHOT Show. How shooting and suppressing the citizenry ties into Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade is more than I can comprehend, but there it is.

There is also a very notable shortage of Booth Babes. In past years, you could hardly turn a corner without seeing some inadequately clothed young mammal who would cause you to stop dead in your tracks and give thanks to the forces of evolution. Damned if I know what happened to them.

Pro Ears ReVO: Hearing Protection Designed For Young Shooters

Dave_Maccar — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:11:49 -0500

This set of ears was designed for youth shooters from the ground up, rather than modifying an existing design. The ear pads are specially shaped to eliminate gaps in the seal around the ear near the jawline on smaller heads.

Thompson Center’s New Multi-Caliber Rifle Platform: The Dimension

Dave_Maccar — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:03:38 -0500

This isn’t a standard bolt action rifle, it’s a whole new concept in terms of how to have a multi-caliber platform in one system.

SHOT Show 2012 From The Floor: Day 2

Dave_Maccar — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:34:22 -0500

Photos from the floor of SHOT Show 2012, Day 2.