ADVANTAGES OF A CONVERTIBLE REVOLVER

FEBRUARY 2023

THE
JONES ON
THE 9MM’S
BIGGEST
CHALLENGER

PEARCE ON
HANDLOADING
THE .45 COLT

WIELAND ON
OLYMPIC GOLD

WE SHOOT
THE NEW 7MM PRC
WILSON
COMBAT’S
SFX9 IS
OFF THE
CHARTS!
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ROTATE THE GUN YOU WANT TO THE FRONT

 The .38 Short Colt
Makes a Comeback
The rebirth of the .38 Short Colt is

32
mostly due to competitors looking
for a way to speed up their reloads,
but non-competitors also can take
February 2023 VOLUME 64, ISSUE 1 advantage of its short length, for
ease of extraction and loading.
By Brad Miller PhD

Advantages of a
Convertible Single Action
The primary advantage of a

38 convertible single-action revolver

is its ability to fire more than one
chambering, and Ruger’s New
Model Blackhawk Convertible is a
prime example.
By Payton Miller

The Best PRC Yet

When it comes to extreme

44 performance, the new 7mm PRC is

the best PRC yet and could be the
most capable 7mm cartridge ever.
By Joseph von Benedikt

Smart Design Equals

Smooth Shooting
Savage’s new 12-gauge

50 Renegauge Security is designed for

defense, but it can handle any task
one might choose to take on with
this type of firearm.
By Layne Simpson

Going 6.8 Western

56 This two-year-old cartridge

brings capability to the table
that no other factory .270
round has ever had.
By Craig Boddington

Off the Charts

2 SHOOTING TIMES • FEBRUARY 2023 COVER PHOTO BY MICHAEL ANSCHUETZ

CONTENTS FEBRUARY 2023 VOLUME 64, ISSUE 1

An Outdoor Sportsman Group® Publication

VICE PRESIDENT,
SHOOTER’S UPDATE SHOOTING GROUP PUBLISHER
Chris Agnes
6 Readers Speak Out EDITORIAL
One of a Kind and More on S&W Trigger EDITOR IN CHIEF
Tune-Up Joel J. Hutchcroft

COPY EDITOR
8 New Guns & Gear Michael Brecklin
Davidson’s Girsan MC 1911 XLV Family,
CONTRIBUTORS
Viridian E-Series Green Laser for Taurus Craig Boddington
G-Series, RCBS Dies for .30 Super Carry Jake Edmondson
Steve Gash
and .44 Auto Mag, and Hornady Security Allan Jones
Ammo Cabinet Payton Miller
Lane Pearce
Layne Simpson
10 Ask the Experts Joseph von Benedikt
Terry Wieland
What Was the Saddle Ring Really For and
Can I Use Standard Primers Instead of ART
Magnum Primers? ART DIRECTOR
Mark Kee

SHOOTER’S GALLERY STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Michael Anschuetz

12 The Shootist PRODUCTION

A Siamese Mauser Converted to .45-70 PRODUCTION MANAGER
Terry Boyer
Joseph von Benedikt
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
16 The Ballistician Jenny Kaeb

.40 Smith & Wesson: The 9mm Luger’s ENDEMIC AD SALES

Biggest Challenger VP, ENDEMIC SALES
Michael Savino — [email protected]
Allan Jones
NATIONAL ENDEMIC SALES
20 The Reloader Jim McConville (440) 791-7017

.45 Colt: Precursor to the .45 ACP WESTERN REGION

Lane Pearce Hutch Looney — [email protected]

SHOOTER’S SHOWCASE MIDWEST REGION

Mark Thiffault (720) 630-9863

60 Gunsmoke EAST REGION

Pat Bentzel (717) 695-8095
Olympic Gold
Terry Wieland NATIONAL AD SALES
ACCOUNT DIRECTOR—DETROIT OFFICE
Kevin Donley (248) 798-4458
64 Hipshots
A Hall-of-Fame Handgunner NATIONAL ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE—CHICAGO OFFICE
Carl Benson (312) 955-0496
Joel J. Hutchcroft
DIRECT RESPONSE ADVERTISING/NON-ENDEMIC
Anthony Smyth (914) 409-4202

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FEBRUARY 2023 • SHOOTING TIMES 3

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 SHOOTER’S UPDATE
READERS SPEAK OUT NEW GUNS & GEAR ASK THE EXPERTS

SUPER VAQUERO
My “Old” Vaquero shoots nothing sporty,
Just the old cowboy, Forty-Four-Forty.
But, then, in a dream, ‘neath my sombrero,
I conjured up this “Super” Vaquero,
Framed as a Blackhawk, the New Model kind,
XR3-RED, but much more refined:
First, for the grip frame, EXTENDED new stocks.
A polished MESQUITE, not too orthodox;
Its EXTRA HALF INCH seems made for my hand,
A comfortable grasp, just as I’d planned;
Next, for its cartridge, to shoot with more flair,
The Forty-Four Magnum has umph to spare;
As cylinders go, the UNFLUTED kind
Is very unique, robustly designed;
From a Super Blackhawk, found it online,
In place of my “Old” part, it fits just fine;
Last, but not least, the ejector’s housing,
Switched out for STEEL, its weight I’m espousing.
And Forty-Four Special chambers as well,
An accurate round which helps me excel.
My single action is one of a kind,
A “Super” Vaquero, panache defined.
Harvey K. Maizels
08/24/2022

More on S&W Trigger Tune-Up

I read with interest Brad Miller’s article on
I ADMIRED THE PHOTO AND ARTICLE BY LAYNE SIMPSON ABOUT HIS COLT tuning up the Smith & Wesson J-Frame trig-
New Frontier revolver in .44-40 in the August 2022 issue. Here’s a photo of ger in the July 2022 issue. I would like to add
my customized “Super” Vaquero, which was chambered to shoot .44-40, a bit more that will smooth up and lighten
along with an attached poem that I wrote about the revolver. I customized an S&W revolver’s double-action trigger pull.
it in three ways: (1) It’s fitted with some beautifully crafted extended-sized If you are going to replace the rebound
mesquite stocks in place of the “old” regular-sized walnut stocks. Makes slide spring, you might as well do a little
gripping with my larger hands much easier. (2) It has a heavier steel ejec- extra (easy) work. First use a very fine
tor rod housing installed in place of the original aluminum one. Makes recoil stone to smooth the side and bottom of the
easier to absorb. (3) It’s been made more versatile with the purchase of a rebound slide. You are not trying to remove
perfectly fitting, unfluted, .44 Magnum cylinder cannibalized from a broken- any material, just polishing. Check to make
parts Super Blackhawk scrounged online. The best thing about it, besides its sure the receiver surface where the rebound
added heft and more comfortable grip, is that it now easily converts back and slide rides is free of any roughness. Clean
forth between the old Western .44-40 and the more modern .44 Magnum and then reassemble.
cartridges. Ruger’s barrel with 0.429-to-0.430-inch groove-to-groove diam- When I work on my S&Ws, I use some very
eter is factory-made for both cartridges. Heck, it shoots .44 Special, too. fine grit polishing media. This smooths up
While Ruger downsized its “Old” Vaquero to the svelte “New” Vaquero, I the rebound slide and receiver surface nicely.
went the other way and made myself this “Super” Vaquero. I wonder what Remember: You are not trying to remove
Layne would think about this customized, one-of-a-kind, convertible sixgun. any material, just smooth and polish.
Harvey K. Maizels Howard W. Evers
Via email Via email

6 SHOOTING TIMES • FEBRUARY 2023 EMAIL LETTERS TO [email protected]

 NEW

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PDP Compact

What does it mean to be ready?

SuperTerrain Modularity Performance waltherarms.com
Serrations Duty Trigger © 2020 Walther Arms Inc. | All Rights Reserved
 SHOOTER’S UPDATE
READERS SPEAK OUT NEW GUNS & GEAR ASK THE EXPERTS

RCBS Dies for .30 Super

Carry and .44 Auto Mag
Federal’s newly introduced .30 Super Carry
Davidson’s Girsan is this year’s hottest new handgun cartridge,
and the demand for .30 Super Carry reload-

MC 1911 XLV Family ing equipment is increasing. Working closely

with Federal to design and quickly bring to
market a die set for the new cartridge, RCBS
DAVIDSON’S HAS EXPANDED ITS EXCLUSIVE FAMILY OF .45 ACP GIRSAN developed the new .30 Super Carry die set.
MC 1911 pistols with the addition of the XLV family. Imported by European The company also has a new die set for the
American Armory, the XLV 1911s feature extended slide releases; ambidextrous, powerful .44 Auto Mag.
extended thumb safeties; extended beavertail grip safeties with memory The new RCBS .30 Super Carry and .44
bumps; combat-style skeletonized hammers; checkered mainspring hous- Auto Mag die sets come with three dies: car-
ings; checkered frontstraps; flared trigger guards; diamond-checkered black bide sizer, expander, and seater.
plastic grip panels; extended and flared ejection ports; dovetailed white-dot MSRP: $108.99
front sights; and Novak-style rear sights. Finishes include Davidson’s Dark rcbs.com
Earth Cerakote (DDE) and black Cerakote. Commander-style pistols with
4.25-inch barrels and full-size pistols with 5.0-inch barrels are available, and
each comes with one eight-round magazine.
MSRP: $579.99 (black), $629.99 (DDE)
galleryofguns.com

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Made in the United States, Hornady Secu-
rity’s new Ammo Cabinet safely stores and
organizes ammo cans, cartons, and boxes.
It features the Square-Lok wall system for
additional airflow, sturdy shelves that sup- Viridian E-Series Green
port up 100 pounds each, and a door Laser for Taurus G-Series
that can be repositioned for right-hand Viridian now offers E-Series green lasers for
opening or left-hand opening. A magnetic the new Taurus G-Series pistols. Mounting to
motion light, 10 magnetic rewritable shelf the pistol’s trigger guard, the green E-Series
labels, and other accessories make orga- lasers are simple to install, and their ambi-
nizing ammo easy. Two barrel lock keys, dextrous on/off switches provide versatile
two adjustable shelves, three shelf mats, operation. Other features include a range of
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MSRP: $629 MSRP: $149
hornady.com viridianweapontech.com

8 SHOOTING TIMES • FEBRUARY 2023

SERIES

STARTING AT
MADE 100% IN THE

FOUNDATION SERIES
 SHOOTER’S UPDATE
READERS SPEAK OUT NEW GUNS & GEAR ASK THE EXPERTS

primers used in place of magnum ones. Is

substituting standard primers for magnum
ones feasible?
I assume the powder being used would
make some difference. I have H4350, IMR
7828SSC, and Reloder 22. I managed to
score a quantity of Hornady 139-grain SST
InterLock bullets to use for practice. I have
not decided on a bullet for the elk hunt and
would appreciate some thoughts on a good
bullet for the task.
Any information the experts can provide
will be greatly appreciated.
David Tarleton
Via email

What Was the A: When I was at Speer, we had plenty

Saddle Ring
of data on why you should not sub-
stitute CCI magnum primers for standard,
but not the other way around. However, I

Really For? believe what we found can help provide a

workable solution to your situation.
First, a disclaimer: My experience is based

Q: I READ WITH INTEREST JOSEPH VON BENEDIKT’S RECENT THE

Shootist column on the vintage Winchester Model 1895 Saddle Ring
Carbine in .30-40 Krag. I’ve always liked that style of gun, and I’ve always
on CCI primers. Period. CCI magnum primers
produce both a higher ignition temperature
and a larger gas volume than CCI standard
wondered why such carbines had the saddle ring. What can he tell me primers. Other brands may not. If you are
about that? not using CCI primers, contact the company
Rob Sheridan that made yours. We were too busy creat-
Via email ing data for our components to shoot data

A: The saddle ring was originally designed to be clipped to a loop around

the soldier’s shoulder and head. When empty, or when the mêlée
became too close and fierce for using the carbine, the serviceman could
for other companies’ products!
Our first-order factor for recommending
CCI magnum primers was case volume, and
simply drop the carbine and go for his sidearm or saber. (The photograph the 7mm Rem. Mag. certainly qualified. A
shows a current-production Winchester Model 1886 Saddle Ring Carbine.) close second was propellant morphology—
Joseph von Benedikt spherical versus cylindrical granules.
At max and near-max charge levels, even
Can I Use Standard Primers Instead of Magnum Primers? standard CCI primers usually demonstrated

Q: I’ve been a subscriber for quite a few years and greatly enjoy Shoot-
ing Times magazine.
In recent months I have been trying to work up a load for a Thompson/
acceptable extreme variation (EV) in pres-
sure and velocity. That max-charge behavior
seemed consistent regardless of the gran-
Center Venture rifle chambered for 7mm Remington Magnum. I’ve been ule shape.
giving the local Midwestern deer a good laugh for many years and thought However, we found most slow-burn-
the Western elk would enjoy a chuckle as well. ing spherical powders usually needed CCI
In preparation for the trip, I want to do a lot of practicing with my rifle magnum primers to reduce shot-to-shot
to be ready for the hunt. With the price of factory ammo being what it is, variations in pressure and velocity at or
handloading is the most economical option. This is where the ammunition near start-charge pressure levels. Older-
component shortage comes into play. My local gun store has managed to style cylindrical propellants were generally
keep a fair selection of powder and bullets in stock, but it is short of magnum more uniform at start-load pressures.
rifle primers. I have read in the past of using magnum primers in place First, in most cases, excessive pressure
of standard ones in some loads, but I cannot remember seeing standard should not be a factor with the switch you

10 SHOOTING TIMES • FEBRUARY 2023 EMAIL QUESTIONS TO [email protected]

 I ‘BearlyÕ Made It Out Alive
A 12-inch stainless steel knife for only $79

propose. The only time I’ve seen a

milder priming charge create higher
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pressure was in one rimfire cartridge. ImpossibLY

However, maintaining low EV in ON
pressure and velocity is a factor in
creating good ammo. The propel- $79
lants you mention are cylindrical and
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h g
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the propellant closer to the primer hy h h
regardless of firearm position. h ky b b g G zz y H gK
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This always reduces shot-to-shot
g h g g
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The other recommendation is to h b k . .
load within a grain or two of the Th y h gh B
published max charge weight as ff .I g g . My h . Wh
recommended by the maker of the b g k b
bullet you ultimately choose. There is b k h m .S m m b FREE h y
h my yk I v . h h G zz y H gK .
far too much variation in bullet con-
struction today to use data for “just A q k y. Th G zz y H gK h
any old bullet.” This is especially crit- Join more than 322 000 b h h h hv g b
ical if you choose a lead-free bullet. sharp people who collect k g k. O m
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Remember that an elk is a big h y y b h
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 SHOOTER’S GALLERY
THE SHOOTIST THE BALLISTICIAN THE RELOADER

A Siamese Mauser
Converted to .45-70
Joseph says this unique vintage bolt-action rifle is arguably
the strongest type of .45-70 ever built. BY JOSEPH VON BENEDIKT

MANY STRANGE MODIFICATIONS HAVE BEEN The history of the Siamese Mauser is interesting.
applied to Mauser-type rifles over the past century. Around the turn of the 20th century, Siam’s Chakri
One of the more bizarre—and cool—is rebarreling Dynasty feared colonization by the British and the
and rechambering to .45-70 Gov’t. French and sought a quality military rifle. Having
Thanks to the strength of turnbolt Mauser actions, no significant manufacturing capability, the country
a conversion to .45-70 results in a very strong rifle. managed to obtain a license to manufacture Gewehr
Handloaders can safely load to pressures that would 98-type rifles and contracted with Japan to build them.
be extreme in any lever-action .45-70. Before beginning production, a cartridge had to
Many Mauser models can—with an extensive be adopted. Impressed with Austria’s 8x50mmR,
effort—be converted to .45-70. However, Siamese Siam chose a reduced-pressure variant and named it
Mausers require little effort, thanks to the fact that the Type 45 8x50mmR Siamese. It fired 239-grain,
their boltfaces were manufactured for the 8x50mmR 0.323-inch-diameter roundnose bullets at about 1,840
Because they Siamese, a cartridge with a rim nearly as large and fps. But that’s a story for another time.
were built robust as that of the .45-70. Even the feed rails and As the photograph shows, the converted Siamese
for the large-
based, rimmed
magazine box are nearly right for the .45-70 cartridge. Mauser rifle that is the star of this report has a reblued
8x50mmR car- Interestingly, Siamese Mausers were manufactured action that is drilled and tapped, and it also has a bolt
tridge, strong in Japan at the Koishikawa Arsenal for Siam. (Siam is handle that has been bent and modified to allow use
Siamese Mauser
actions like this
now Thailand.) Although fundamentally a Mauser, of a riflescope.
one are ide- parts are not interchangeable with any other Mauser Its robust 22.5-inch barrel has a stepped breech.
ally suited for model, and the Siamese version features some Jap- A folding rear sight is dovetailed into the top of the
conversion to
.45-70 Gov’t.
anese “improvements,” such as a sliding dustcover. second step. Up front, a ramp-type sight base is fitted
Some 400,000 were built between 1903 and 1950. with a fine bead-type insert.

12 SHOOTING TIMES • FEBRUARY 2023

 A Siamese Mauser Converted to .45-70 // Continued From Page 12

The floorplate appears to be the original. It’s sleek scope and bases, replaced the scope-compatible safety
and has a nicely profiled trigger bow. I assume the lever with a correct wing-type military safety, and
two-stage trigger is original as well. The checkered found the rifle shoots much better with iron sights
stock is a nice piece of walnut, and it is fitted with a than it ever did with the ill-fitting scope.
grip cap and a Hogue rubber recoil pad.
Rangetime
Mechanicals I made the mistake of installing a Harris bipod and
Operating a Siamese Mauser is much the same as most lying prone to accuracy-test the Siamese Mauser .45-70
Mauser 98s and their derivatives. Open the bolt, insert conversion. Being stubborn and perhaps more obtuse
cartridges into the box magazine, and close the bolt than usual that day, I persevered even after a rather
to chamber a fresh cartridge. Aim and squeeze the substantial introduction to the rifle’s recoil. Oddly,
trigger to fire. Open the bolt, then draw it rearward at least to me, it seems to recoil more than the .45-70
to extract and eject the fired case. lever guns I often shoot.
Unique to operating a .45-70 conversion is that the Although my eyes struggled to resolve the iron
cartridge is quite short in the magazine. While shoot- sights clearly against my 100-yard target, the rifle
ing this one, I encountered a few oddities. Cartridges shot quite well. Point of impact with the existing
seem to prefer being chambered with zest, and fired sights is a foot or more low with the various loads I
cases require brisk functioning to eject reliably. If the tested. Thankfully, I had a big backing on my target
action is worked tentatively, cartridges don’t feed well and was able to catch and measure groups.
and fired cases don’t eject fully. Cartridges loaded Hornady’s LEVERevolution ammo loaded with
with heavy projectiles seem less finicky, presumably 325-grain FTX bullets and Barnes’s VOR-TX ammo
because their weight lends them more stability up loaded with 300-grain TSX bullets grouped respect-
front as they feed up and out of the magazine and ably, averaging between 2.0- and 2.5-inch groups.
into the chamber. Cringing inwardly, I then filled the magazine with
Buffalo Bore’s heavy .45-70 Magnum ammo—a +P
Provenance load rated for strong lever guns and similar actions. Of
My friend and custom knifemaker Evan Siembida course, the Siamese Mauser is as strong as they come.
purchased this rifle from an acquaintance. Accord- Interestingly, the .45-70 Magnum ammo features a
ing to the seller, the rifle was originally a Siamese small primer pocket. As I understand it, this provides
Mauser imported years ago by Navy Arms and then a bit more strength to the .45-70’s case head, and since
converted to .45-70. No marks exist on the rifle to sub- the cartridge doesn’t burn vast quantities of propel-
stantiate this, but it’s a logical lant, the Small Rifle primer provides adequate ignition.
CONVERTED assumption. To my surprise, the 430-grain Hard Cast Penetra-
SIAMESE MAUSER When purchased, the tor bullets clustered into gratifying groups, averaging
Koishikawa rifle had a scope mounted just over an inch at 100 yards. Recoil was zesty.
MANUFACTURER
Arsenal of Japan on Weaver-type bases. Since Converted Siamese Mausers range in value some-
TYPE
Bolt-action the rear receiver bridge was where between $200 and $1,000 depending on
repeater never milled round and cor- condition and history. That said, this Siamese Mauser
CALIBER .45-70 Gov’t. rectly profiled for the bases, .45-70 conversion is without doubt one of the more
MAGAZINE CAPACITY 3 rounds the scope would never hold interesting sporterized military firearms I’ve had the
BARREL 22.5 in. zero. Siembida removed the pleasure of firing.
OVERALL LENGTH 43.25 in.
WEIGHT, EMPTY 9 lbs.
STOCK Walnut .45-70 SIAMESE MAUSER ACCURACY & VELOCITY
LENGTH OF PULL 14 in.
100-YD.
Blued barrel and VEL. E.S. S.D. ACC.
FINISH action, oil-fin- AMMUNITION (FPS) (FPS) (FPS) (IN.)
ished stock
22.5-in. Barrel
SIGHTS
Folding rear,
bead front Barnes VOR-TX 300-gr. TSX FN 2008 55 21 2.30
4.94-lb. pull (as Hornady LEVERevolution 325-gr. FTX 1997 88 30 2.10
TRIGGER
tested) Buffalo Bore 430-gr. Hard Cast 1990 26 14 1.03

SAFETY
Wing type on NOTES: Accuracy is the average of two, three-shot groups fired from a bipod. Velocity is the average of six
cocking piece rounds measured adjacent to the muzzle with a LabRadar. Ambient temperature: 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

14 SHOOTING TIMES • FEBRUARY 2023

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 SHOOTER’S GALLERY
THE SHOOTIST THE BALLISTICIAN THE RELOADER

.40 Smith & Wesson:

The 9mm Luger’s
Biggest Challenger
Allan had a ringside seat to the 9mm Luger “Revolution,” and
he also was a close-up witness to the appearance of its big-
Once showing
a lot of prom- gest challenger, the .40 S&W. BY ALLAN JONES
ise, to the point
of possibly
overtaking the
not-so-popu- THE .40 S&W STORY STARTED WHEN THE instructor in my head was saying “too much” for aver-
lar 9mm Luger 10mm Auto cartridge sought entry into the law age officers.
three decades
ago, the .40
enforcement market. I was able to range-test one of The 10mm Auto cartridge required a .45 ACP-class
S&W has been the first Colt Delta Elites with Norma 10mm ammo. pistol frame due to its length and, in some minds,
offered in a I’ve shot Colt Government Models extensively since pressure. S&W, SIG SAUER, and Glock had plat-
variety of fac-
tory loadings.
about 1970 and could handle the recoil of a 200-grain forms for .45 ACP that were suitable to the 10mm
bullet with a velocity of 1,200+ fps, but the firearms but with modifications for pressure and slide-velocity

16 SHOOTING TIMES • FEBRUARY 2023 PHOTO BY MICHAEL ANSCHUETZ

 ® ®

Y OUR N E X T H AN DGU N ™

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while still providing a capacity of up to 12+1 rounds of 9mm Luger ammunition.

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 .40 Smith & Wesson: The 9mm Luger’s Biggest Challenger // Continued From Page 16

concerns. The .45 ACP has a maximum average pres- about 28,000 and 32,000 psi. So what about hand-
sure (MAP) of 21,000 psi; the 10mm Auto’s MAP is loading? Today, I see no .40 S&W issues facing the
37,500 psi. This required big pistols with big frames, home handloader, but that was not the case immedi-
like the S&W 1076, a 10mm pistol derived from the ately after the cartridge’s introduction.
.45 ACP 645 model and adopted by the FBI. Empty cases were in short supply for roughly the
The FBI was keenly aware of the full-power 10mm’s first year after introduction. Some pundits cheerfully
recoil. It commissioned a lighter loading with excel- recommended shortening readily available 10mm
lent terminal characteristics, driving a 180-grain JHP Auto cases. Huge mistake. There are two safety-crit-
at 980 fps. This could be achieved at a very comfort- ical differences in the cases’ configurations.
able 24,000 to 26,000 psi in the 10mm case and with First, the 10mm was developed with Large Pistol
about half the recoil. primers and the .40 S&W with Small Pistol prim-
Recoil management had been nicely accomplished, ers. Second, the 10mm case is usually thicker than
yet the elephant in the room—pistol size—remained. I the .40’s just ahead of the case web. The extra primer
was waving the CCI-Speer flag at a police chief ’s con- power and reduced case capacity spiked pressures
vention, and our booth was next to one of the major when trimmed 10mm Auto cases were used, enough
makers displaying new 10mm pistols based on a .45 to cause damage.
ACP platform. Throughout the show I heard police Handloaders enjoyed a growing selection of bullet
administrators say, “I like it, but it’s far too big for weights as the cartridge matured. Today, mainstream
many of my officers’ hands!” bulletmakers offer 0.400-inch bullets as light as 135
Yes, a problem, but problems bring opportuni- grains that can reach 1,300 fps with safe loads. I still
ties. One option was creating a .40-caliber cartridge prefer the original 180-grain load for general use, but
that would safely work in existing 9mm-class pistol if loading for a compact pistol, I would certainly be
platforms with minimal redesign. Typically, those looking at the lighter options.
sported a smaller grip frame than .45-class pistols A friend who competed in Bullseye competition
and were already in use by many departments. Even was always keen to test new cartridges to see how they
those 9mms with high-cap magazines seemed to have stacked up against the old standard: the .45 ACP. He
an acceptable trigger reach for most average shoot- was skilled with both the Ransom Rest and sound sta-
ers. The other appeal was that a department already tistical practices. In accuracy testing the .40 S&W, he
issuing a given make of 9mm pistol could usually tried lighter handloads with the quick-burning pow-
switch to the same make in .40 without buying new ders commonly used in .45 ACP target loads.
holsters and mag pouches or sending their armorers Velocities were in the 800- to 850-fps range for
to another school. reduced recoil. He found that 180-grain target-veloc-
The .40 S&W was a joint development of two ity loads with quick propellants like Bullseye, W231,
giants of the industry: Smith & Wesson and Win- 700-X, Accurate No. 2, etc., were statistically not as
chester. Simply put, S&W modified its 9mm Model accurate as those loaded with the mid-rate propel-
5906 DA pistol to accommodate the new cartridge lants used in most factory loads.
and introduced it as the new Model 4006 concurrent Many departments still use the 9mm. If the pis-
with Winchester’s release of the new cartridge in 1990. tol’s grip is the same, the remaining first-order factor
Now to Winchester’s contributions. The modest is recoil. Using the simple form for recoil calculation
pressures of the FBI’s “10 Lite” suggested that at and setting a 9mm 124-grain as the baseline, scoring
9mm Luger pressures under 35,000 psi, a shorter 1.0, we can see that .40 S&W 180-grain recoil (score
case could safely deliver the same 180-grain bullet 1.5) is closer to .45 ACP Ball (score 1.8) than to the
at 980 fps from a 4.0-inch barrel with the right pro- 9mm. Recoil tolerance comes from continual training
pellants. The 10mm max case length is 0.992 inch; and practice, but too many departments have nei-
Winchester reduced this to 0.850 inch and set the ther the time nor the budget for that. The full-power
max cartridge overall length (COL) to 1.135 inches, 10mm Auto scored 3.1.
0.034 inch shorter than the 9mm Luger. The maxi- The .40 S&W is not likely to ever replace the 9mm
mum average pressure was reduced to 35,000 psi to Luger for LE work or with civilians. In fact, many
match the 9mm Luger. industry sources say it’s as good as dead. However, it
In data development at Speer, we found that most once showed a lot of promise, with a lot of different
mid-rate powders could easily make 980 fps in a pro- factory-load options being offered, and I still see it
duction pistol when comfortably loaded between as a very important and useful cartridge.

18 SHOOTING TIMES • FEBRUARY 2023

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 SHOOTER’S GALLERY
THE SHOOTIST THE BALLISTICIAN THE RELOADER

The Viable .45 Colt

Even though this revolver cartridge is turning 150 years old
this year, it is still worthwhile, especially when handloaded for
strong guns. BY LANE PEARCE

WHEN THE .45 COLT WAS INTRODUCED IN from then-new double-action revolvers, and smoke-
When reload-
1873, it propelled a 255-grain, conical lead bullet less powder was more commonly used. The standard
ing the .45 Colt, at a velocity of about 900 fps. The propellant was bullet weight was still 255 grains, but velocity was
cast or coated blackpowder, and the charge was 40 grains. That load about 150 fps less.
lead bullets
are the usual
produced a muzzle energy of approximately 450 ft-lbs, The SAAMI standard maximum average pressure
fare for most and the recoil was fierce. for the .45 Colt is 14,000 psi (roughly 16,000 CUP).
applications, The earliest .45 Colt cartridge featured a Benet- SAAMI has never established a standard pressure for
but jacketed
and mono-
type internal centerfire primer, but in 1882, the a “.45 Colt +P.” However, the “unofficial” max pres-
lithic bullets cartridge was designed to use an external centerfire sure limit for the strong Ruger Blackhawk and other
can significantly primer. The powder charge weight was reduced as similarly strong firearms is 25,000 CUP.
boost termi-
nal performance
the case design evolved from thin, formed copper When it comes to handloading the .45 Colt,
when fired to the much stronger drawn case. By 1909 the case’s you should always tumble clean your cases before
in the appro- original “tiny” rim diameter (it was originally only resizing them to avoid excess wear and tear on expen-
priate model
revolvers.
slightly larger in diameter than the straight-wall case’s sive carbide or nitride-coated sizer dies. Trimming
body diameter) was increased to improve extraction straight-wall revolver brass is recommended to

20 SHOOTING TIMES • FEBRUARY 2023

A C C U R AT E / driven / TRUSTED

AMERICAN STRONG S AVAG E AR MS . C OM

 The Viable .45 Colt // Continued From Page 20

ensure uniform bullet crimping. If you’re loading in order to obtain optimal accuracy. If you’re load-
target ammo with cast or swaged lead bullets, you ing for a revolver, you need to measure the cylinder’s
can sometimes skip trimming while prepping the throats and the barrel’s groove diameter and size your
brass after sizing, but handloads intended for serious bullets accordingly.
purposes (e.g., personal defense or hunting) warrant The chart clearly indicates the ballistic difference
rigid attention to every detail to ensure reliable and between the original Colt SAA and Ruger Blackhawk/
consistent ignition. Vaquero revolvers. The shooter’s undivided attention
Large Pistol primers are usually more than adequate is required if both types of ammo are to be fired at
to reliably ignite typical .45 Colt powder charges. the range in both types of revolvers. Depending on
Cast or coated lead bullets are the usual fare for most the bullet used, the low-pressure and high-pressure
applications; however, as the accompanying chart rounds may appear to be identical, so ammo boxes
indicates, jacketed and monolithic bullets can sig- must be clearly labeled to prevent inadvertently firing
nificantly boost terminal results when fired in the in the wrong firearm.
appropriate handguns. After 150 years, the .45 Colt is still alive and faring
One thing you must be aware of when it comes well. The larger diameter rim has allowed it to become
to handloading the .45 Colt is that over its 150-year a popular chambering in lever-action rifles. Its ver-
life, barrel groove diameters of handguns chambered satility and nostalgic connection to cowboys and
for it have changed; consequently, the bullet diam- American Western lore means it will likely be around
eter standards have also changed. The prewar bullet for many more years. And when you consider it is just
diameter standard was 0.454 inch, but sometime in as powerful as the very popular .45 ACP semiauto-
the mid-20th century, the standard was changed to matic pistol cartridge, it provides very good terminal
0.452 inch. You need to know your guns’ dimensions ballistics.

.45 COLT ACCURACY & VELOCITY

15-YD.
POWDER VEL. E.S. S.D. ACC.
BULLET (TYPE) (GRS.) CASE PRIMER (FPS) (FPS) (FPS) (IN.)
Colt SAA, 4.75-in. Barrel
Remington 250-gr. Lead RNFP TiteGroup 6.0 Fed. Rem. 2½ 772 55 16 1.83
Remington 250-gr. Lead RNFP Trail Boss 5.8 PMC Rem. 2½ 679 34 10 1.81
Remington 250-gr. Lead RNFP True Blue 8.0 Horn. Rem. 2½ 780 37 13 2.31
Remington 250-gr. Lead RNFP Universal 7.5 Starline Rem. 2½ 729 80 27 2.50
HG #501 260-gr. Lead SWC W231 7.2 Fed. WLP 800 86 26 2.12
Ruger Blackhawk, 4.63-in. Barrel
Cutting Edge 240-gr. Raptor JHP Enforcer 20.0 CorBon WLP 1167 36 11 1.64
Nosler 250-gr. JHP 300 MP 21.6 Horn. WLP 946 93 31 1.51
Remington 250-gr. Lead RNFP TiteGroup 6.0 Fed. Rem. 2½ 803 50 14 1.89
Remington 250-gr. Lead RNFP Trail Boss 5.8 PMC Rem. 2½ 692 64 18 1.86
Remington 250-gr. Lead RNFP Universal 7.5 Starline Rem. 2½ 763 75 24 2.45
HG #501 260-gr. Lead SWC W231 7.2 Fed. WLP 830 49 14 1.88
Ruger Vaquero, 4.63-in. Barrel
Cutting Edge 240-gr. Raptor JHP Enforcer 20.0 CorBon WLP 1177 38 13 1.92
Remington 250-gr. Lead RNFP Blackhorn 209 22.0 Rem. WLP 740 50 12 2.64
Remington 250-gr. Lead RNFP TiteGroup 6.0 Fed. Rem. 2½ 808 28 9 2.58
Remington 250-gr. Lead RNFP Trail Boss 5.8 PMC Rem. 2½ 708 35 15 2.85
Remington 250-gr. Lead RNFP Universal 7.5 Starline Rem. 2½ 771 80 25 2.40
HG #501 260-gr. Lead SWC W231 7.2 Fed. WLP 833 38 12 2.36
Speer 260-gr. JHP 300 MP 20.5 Horn. WLP 908 89 30 1.52
NOTES: Accuracy is the average of three, five-shot groups fired from a sandbag benchrest. Velocity is the average of 10 rounds measured six feet from the
guns’ muzzles.
All load data should be used with caution. Always start with reduced loads first and make sure they are safe in each of your guns before proceeding to the
high test loads listed. Since Shooting Times has no control over your choice of components, guns, or actual loadings, neither Shooting Times nor the vari-
ous firearms and components manufacturers assume any responsibility for the use of this data.

22 SHOOTING TIMES • FEBRUARY 2023

 OFF THE
LAYNE SAYS IF JOHN BROWNING, CREATOR OF
THE ORIGINAL MODEL 1911, WERE ALIVE TODAY,
HE’D CARRY A WILSON COMBAT SFX9.

BY LAYNE SIMPSON

HREE OF THE FINEST MODEL 1911 PISTOLS I HAVE

owned through the decades were built by Bill Wilson and
his talented gunsmiths. Two were on Colt frames and slides,
both in .38 Super and both given the name Super Grade.
One was a 5.0-inch-barreled carry gun, and since I was into
USPSA/IPSC action pistol competition at the time, a very
effective, dual-chamber muzzle jump compensator attached
to the barrel of the other gun made on-the-fly, snake-eye
double-taps quite easy.
Then, suddenly, and with very little warning, double-stack frames designed
to be fitted with 1911 uppers were introduced by several companies, and sin-
gle-stackers became non-competitive in Unlimited class competition. Wilson’s
entry into the high-capacity fray had a Colt slide and a McCormick-Tripp wide-
body, modular frame. Double-stack magazines held 20 .38 Super cartridges,
twice as many as the single-stacker I had been shooting in competition. Called
the Burner, it borrowed the name from Jerry Barnhart, who used the first one
built to win the 1992 USPSA National Championship. (A photo of Barnhart
shooting that gun is on page 267 of my book The Custom Government Model
Pistol. I used Burner No. 3 in the 1992 shootout, and it is shown on pages 617
and 618.) My first three Wilson guns had several desirable things in common.
Five-shot groups at 25 yards seldom exceeded 2.0 inches, and the guns were
totally reliable with a variety of ammunition. Attention to detail and overall
workmanship were flawless.

A Touch of Class
Wilson got back into the high-capacity 1911-style pistol business in 2017 with
the EDCX9, a gun he promoted as the perfect carry option. Unlike the Burner
of yesteryear, it has a one-piece frame—or “solid” frame, as Wilson prefers
to describe it. The SFX9 introduced about a year ago—and the star of this

24 SHOOTING TIMES • FEBRUARY 2023 PHOTOS BY MICHAEL ANSCHUETZ

FEBRUARY 2023 • SHOOTING TIMES 25
OFF THE CHARTS

The SFX9 features a one-piece frame—or “solid” frame, as Wilson refers to it—
an external extractor, and a fluted chamber. The review sample came with a
medium-length trigger, but long and short trigger lengths are also available.

report—differs from the earlier gun in a couple of ways. Most

important in ergonomics, the SFX9 does not have grip panels.
Rather, the sides, front, and rear of the bare grip are covered
with Wilson’s X-TAC texturing, which I find to be better than
checkering on a carry gun. And while the EDCX9 is available
with a bushing-style barrel of standard diameter or a heavier,
no-bushing barrel, the SFX9 is available only with the latter.
The X-frames of both guns are machined from T6-7075 alu-
minum bar stock and given a black anodized finish. Both are
available with or without an integral two-slot accessory rail.
Double-column magazines were developed jointly with
industry-leading Mec-Gar. The bump pad on the 15-round mag-
azine included with the SFX9 sent to me is just thick enough
to allow slamming a reload home without suffering a pinched
hand. The thicker pad on an 18-round magazine I also received
extends grip length by a half-inch, making it a bit more likely
to cause the gun to print through thin outer clothing during
concealed carry. I would holster the gun with the shorter mag-
azine and stow an 18-rounder on my belt for backup. Beveling
around the mouth of the magazine well makes reloads quick,
The beavertail-style backstrap of the grip is easily removed for internal smooth, and fumble-free. Due to a shallow thumb groove on the
cleaning and lubrication. From a practical point of view, the X-TAC sur-
face treatment on the backstrap and grip are superior to checkering. side of the grip, the slightly extended tab of the magazine catch
is easy to reach, without having to shift one’s grip on the gun.

26 SHOOTING TIMES • FEBRUARY 2023

 g
Matchin le t
™
Brac e
—Italy
SFX9
FREE
MANUFACTURER
Wilson Combat
wilsoncombat.com

TYPE
Recoil-operated
autoloader
CALIBER 9mm Luger
MAGAZINE “In recent
CAPACITY
15 and 18 rounds years, a group
of international
BARREL 4.0 in. designers and
OVERALL LENGTH 7.4 in. artists has
WIDTH 1.40 in. rediscovered the
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HEIGHT
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with Trijicon RMR) turning to Murano
$
WEIGHT, EMPTY

FINISH
29.3 oz.
DLC slide, anodized
as inspiration…”
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SIGHTS Battlesight rear, red
fiber-optic front

TRIGGER
4.25-lb. pull
(as tested)

SAFETY
Manual thumb
safety
MSRP $2,995 Send Her Over The Rainbow
700-year old legendary art form for
Most left-handed shooters should find the price of your dreams.
it easy to tap with the trigger finger.
Either way, an empty magazine liter-
ally leaps from the gun. N ow I know how that little farm girl
from Kansas felt when she went
over the rainbow and awoke in a land of
Satisfaction guaranteed or your money
back. Enjoy the Murano Rainbow
Necklace for 30 days. If it doesn’t pass
Wilson sends the stainless-steel
spectacular color. Look what I found in with flying colors, send it back for a full
slide to another company for physical
the land of ahhs! refund of the item price. You can even
vapor deposition of a matte black finish keep the bracelet for your trouble.
called DLC, which is short for Dia- Approaching Burano Island off of
mond-Like Carbon. Among its many northern Venice was like being swept Limited Reserves. You could easily
away in a dream. Known for its brightly- pay $300 or more for a Murano glass
favorable characteristics are extreme
painted fisherman houses that line the bead necklace, but at $39 PLUS
hardness, low coefficient of friction,
canals, I was greeted with every color a FREE bracelet, these authentic
and self-lubrication. Durability is so handcrafted pieces won’t last. For
of the rainbow. Inspiration struck. I
far off the chart it has to be demon- wanted to capture this historical beauty a remarkable deal, there’s no place
strated to be believed. In all my years in the centuries old art form of Murano. like Raffinato.
of shooting, I have never seen anything Still regarded as being the finest form Jewelry Specifications:
like it. A Web search reveals plenty of craftsmanship in the world, Murano • Made in Italy of genuine Murano
information on this remarkable finish. has evolved into modern day fashion • Necklace: 23"L; Bracelet: 7"L;
X-TAC diamonds machined at the statements. Lobster clasps
front and the rear offer a secure pur- We’ve captured the vibrant colors of the Murano Rainbow Necklace $199
chase during slide retraction while iconic fisherman houses in the perfect $39* + S&P
being easy on the hand. A flat with 39 hand-formed beads of The Rainbow Receive the FREE matching bracelet
lines-per-inch (LPI) serrations run- Murano Necklace. I want to make it easy with your purchase of the Necklace
ning the full length along the top of for you to send her over the rainbow. — a $99 value!
the slide prevents light reflection on a That’s why for a limited time you can *Special price only for customers using
sunny day, and it is bordered by wider, treat her to the The Murano Rainbow the offer code.
angled flats described as the Tri-Top Necklace for only $39. And, to help you
treatment. It could also be described double down on romance, I’ll throw in 1-888-444-5949
the matching bracelet absolutely FREE! Your Insider Offer Code: RFW220-01
as just another touch of class like we
have long been accustomed to seeing Raffinato, 14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. RFW220-01, Burnsville, MN 55337
on handguns built by Wilson Combat. www.raffinatoitaly.com
™
| I M P E C C A B L E I TA L I A N D E S I G N
AND CRAFTSMANSHIP
OFF THE CHARTS

went with medium, while the short trigger was

a better fit for her niece, who joined us for a day
at the range. They are easy to switch.
Trigger pull weight is specified at 3.5 to 4.5
pounds. Ten pulls with a Lyman digital gauge
averaged 4.25 pounds, and true to Model 1911
design, there was just the right amount of take-
up with no detectable overtravel.
Despite its 1911 heritage, the SFX9 does not
have a grip safety. Like the 1911, when its two-
position safety is engaged, sear movement is
blocked. The disconnector prevents full-auto
and out-of-battery firing. The tab of the safety
is extended just enough for fumble-free oper-
ation, yet it is nicely profiled for concealment.
If the pistol were mine, it would have an ambi-
dextrous thumb safety, which is an extra-cost
option. The hammer is Commander-style with
the usual halfcock notch to prevent hammer-
follow firing.
Wilson Combat did an impressive job of
making room for a high-capacity, double-stack
magazine without increasing grip size enough
to notice. Grip circumference of the SFX9 mea-
sures 5.5 inches compared to 5.38 inches for my
single-stacker. That’s not an apples-to-apples
Bump pad thickness on the 15-round magazine is perfect for slamming a reload home without
pinching the hand, and it does not increase grip length enough to be a concealment issue. comparison because the mainspring housing of
my 1911 pistol is flat, while the rear grip surface
of the SFX9 is arched. Grip thickness is impor-
The rear of the slide is serrated 40 LPI. An external extractor tant when determining how much or how little a handgun will
resting at the rear of the ejection port is durable and easy to print through clothing during concealed carry, and the SFX9
remove for occasional cleaning and lubrication. is a mere 1/16 inch thicker than my 1911. Trigger reach is 3.13
The type of sights worn by the SFX9 will depend on customer inches for the two guns, both with long triggers.
preference. The standard setup is Wilson’s rugged, drift-adjust- Those who are experienced with a 1911 pistol will have no
able Concealment 1911 Battlesight with a 0.145-inch-wide problem field stripping the SFX9 for cleaning. After removing
U-shaped notch at the rear combined with a red fiber-optic the magazine, retract the slide and make certain no cartridge is
rod up front. Switching front sights is as easy as removing the in the chamber. Align the takedown notch in the slide with the
slide and turning out a small hex-head cap screw. The second inner lug of the slide stop, then push and remove the slide stop.
option, and the one I requested, is the slide machined for a Tri- With fingers cupped around the bottom of the slide to cap-
jicon RMR red-dot sight. That option comes with or without ture the recoil spring and its full-length guide, push the upper
tall front and rear sights. assembly forward and off the lower. To swing the removable
Some parts, such as the ejector, magazine catch, hammer, backstrap up and out of the way for cleaning, insert the sup-
sear, thumb safety, and disconnector, appear to be inter- plied tool or a 1/8-inch punch into a hole in the bottom
changeable with those of the 1911 pistol, although of the grip to compress the hammerspring while
they might differ slightly dimensionally. Other pushing upward on the bottom of the backstrap.
parts differ but are of 1911 design. An owner’s manual included with the gun
The trigger assembly is the exact same recommends a thin application of oil,
design but with a larger bow to accom- such as Wilson’s own Ultima-Lube,
modate the wider magazine of the SFX9.
The gun comes with a trigger of medium Shown here are the removable fiber-optic
length, and it can be ordered with short front sight, target-style muzzle crowning,
or long versions. Upon my request, the test fluting on the heavy no-bushing barrel,
and the full-length stainless-steel recoil
gun came with triggers in all three lengths, spring guide rod.
and I settled on the long version. My wife

28 SHOOTING TIMES • FEBRUARY 2023

ALL TERRAIN HUNTER (ATH) SERIES
OFF THE CHARTS

Disassembly of the SFX9 is the

same as for typical Model 1911
pistols, and some parts are of the
exact same design.

Bet-Your-Life Reliability
Guaranteed accuracy of the SFX9 is 1.5 inches at 25 yards. A
three-shot, 15-yard test group included with the package mea-
sured 0.674 inch. Roughly converted, that would be around 1.12
inches at 25 yards. The load used consisted of the Hornady 125-
grain HAP bullet pushed along by 5.2 grains of Power Pistol
powder. One of several nice things about testing and writing up
on the slide rails, the chamber exterior, and the muzzle area a gun built by Wilson Combat is the company also has a line
of the barrel after cleaning. This should be done after each of top-quality factory-loaded ammunition. And unlike many
300-round shooting session. Every 6,000 rounds, the extractor sources, it actually is available. Included with the SFX9 was a
should be removed and cleaned and its spring replaced. After generous supply, loaded with various Hornady, Barnes, and
the inertia firing pin is removed, it and its tunnel in the slide Speer bullets. And since the good folks in Berryville, Arkansas,
should be cleaned and the spring replaced. The trigger group know I like to put a test gun through its paces on a few IDPA or
components should be removed, cleaned, and oiled sparingly. USPSA action pistol stages filled with paper and reactive steel

WILSON COMBAT SFX9 ACCURACY & VELOCITY

25-YD.
COL VEL. ENERGY ACC.
AMMUNITION (IN.) (FPS) (FT-LBS) (IN.)
9mm Luger, 4.0-in. Barrel
Wilson Combat 95-gr. TAC-XP FB* 1.124 1228 318 1.55
Wilson Combat 115-gr. TAC-XP FB* 1.143 1046 279 1.14
Wilson Combat 115-gr. XTP/HP +P 1.075 1138 331 1.21
Wilson Combat 124-gr. Gold Dot HP +P 1.120 1067 314 2.31
Wilson Combat 124-gr. XTP/HP +P 1.061 1159 370 1.52
Wilson Combat 125-gr. HAP 1.075 1110 342 1.40
Wilson Combat 147-gr. Gold Dot HP* 1.130 1051 361 1.31 Layne says those who enjoy shooting John
*Optimized for compact pistols Browning’s Model 1911 pistol will become
NOTES: Accuracy is the average of five, five-shot groups fired from an MTM K-Zone rest. Velocity is the equally fond of Wilson Combat’s SFX9.
average of five rounds measured 12 feet from the gun’s muzzle.

30 SHOOTING TIMES • FEBRUARY 2023

 Sacred Stone of the
targets, a supply of Wilson’s Signature
Southwest is on the
match ammo loaded with the Hornady
125-grain HAP arrived shortly before
Brink of Extinction
the pistol. As shown in the accompa-
nying accuracy-results chart, six of the
C enturies ago,
Persians, Tibetans
and Mayans considered
seven loads tested averaged consider- B.
turquoise a gemstone of
ably less than 2.0 inches at 25 yards. the heavens, believing
Groups were shot from an MTM the striking blue
K-Zone shooting rest with the butt stones were sacred
of the pistol resting on a flat sandbag. pieces of sky. Today,
The match-grade stainless-steel the rarest and most
barrel is sized for no bushing, and that valuable turquoise is
makes it considerably larger in diame- found in the American
ter at the muzzle than a bushing-style Southwest–– but the
barrel. In addition to protecting the future of the blue
rifling at the muzzle, the cone-shaped beauty is unclear. 26 carats
crown looks quite nice. Exterior fluting On a recent trip to of genuine
is equally eye-catching. The full-length Tucson, we spoke Arizona turquoise
recoil spring guide is also stainless steel. with fourth generation ONLY $99
Barrel length options for the standard- turquoise traders who
size gun are 4.0 and 5.0 inches, with explained that less than
C. five percent of turquoise
my gun having the shorter barrel. The
twist rate is 1:10. mined worldwide can be
A sub-compact version with a 3.25- set into jewelry and only
inch barrel and a shorter grip is also about twenty mines in
offered. Magazine capacity for it is 10 the Southwest supply
rounds, although the gun comes with gem-quality turquoise.
an extended magazine holding 15 Once a thriving industry, many Southwest mines
have run dry and are now closed. A.
rounds. It weighs 25.2 ounces and is
only 4.5 inches tall. Guaranteed accu- We found a limited supply of turquoise from
racy is the same as for the 4.0-inch and Arizona and purchased it for our Sedona
5.0-inch versions. So what we have here Turquoise Collection. Inspired by the work of
are top-quality, high-capacity versions those ancient craftsmen and designed to showcase
of the standard-size 1911 as well as the the exceptional blue stone, each stabilized vibrant
Commander and the Officers ACP. cabochon features a unique, one-of-a-kind matrix
Well, not exactly, but close enough. surrounded in Bali metalwork.
No break-in was required. I simply Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. If you
removed the SFX9 from its padded aren’t completely happy with your purchase,
case and began sending bullets down- send it back within 30 days for a complete
range. I shot offhand with a two-hand refund of the item price. Call today!
hold, right-hand only, and left-hand Jewelry Specifications: Stauer… Afford the Extraordinary.®
only. I shot while holding it right-side • Arizona turquoise • Silver-finished settings
up, upside down, right-side down, and Sedona Turquoise Collection
with a limp wrist. The fact that the A. Pendant (26 cts) * $99 +s&p Save $200
gun gobbled up just over 350 rounds B. 18" Bali Naga woven sterling silver chain $149 +s&p
of ammunition without misbehaving C. 1 1/2" Earrings (10 ctw) * $99 +s&p Save $200
a single time will come as no surprise Complete Set** * $249 +s&p Save $498
to the thousands of shooters who have
**Complete set includes pendant, chain and earrings.
bet-your-life-reliable handguns built by
Call now and mention the offer code to receive your collection.
Wilson Combat. It is yet another exam-
ple of making the 1911 pistol better 1-800-333-2045
than it has ever been. If John Browning Offer Code STC716-09
was with us today, he would be carry- You must use the offer code to get our special price.
ing an SFX9. *Special price only for customers using the offer code versus the price on Stauer.com
without your offer code.

Stauer ® 14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. STC716-09,

Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.stauer.com
Rating of A+
THE .38 SHORT COLT
THE REBIRTH OF THE .38 SHORT COLT IS
MOSTLY DUE TO COMPETITORS LOOKING FOR
A WAY TO SPEED UP THEIR RELOADS, BUT
NON-COMPETITORS CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THE SHORT LENGTH, TOO, FOR ITS EASE OF
EXTRACTION AND LOADING.
BY BRAD MILLER PHD

HE .38 SHORT COLT HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE THE

late 1800s. It was designed as a metallic cartridge conversion
for the cap-and-ball Colt 1851 Navy revolver from the Civil
War era. It is a short, low-powered round. Current ballistics
from Remington show a 125-grain bullet at a muzzle veloc-
ity of 730 fps out of a 5.0-inch barrel. This produces just 148
foot-pounds of muzzle energy.
This more-or-less obsolete cartridge has been revived,
though not quite in its original form. Modern revolver competition shooters
have adopted the .38 Short Colt for one of its characteristic features: It’s short.
And a short case is easier to eject and load.
You can think of the .38 Short Colt as simply a short version of the .38 Spe-
cial. It shares every dimension of the .38 Special except length. A .38 Special
case is 1.155 inches long, and the .38 Short Colt is 0.761 inch long. That its other
dimensions are the same as the .38 Special means it
fits in .38 Special and .357 Magnum revolvers.
Many revolvers don’t push .38 Special
cases all the way out, but .38 Short Colt
brass is fully ejected from most wheel-
guns, with room to spare. Their ease
of ejection ensures they clear the cyl-
inder, and their short length also
makes reloading with a speedloader
or moon clip easier and faster than
regular-length .38 Special brass.

The .38 Short Colt (left) is dimensionally

the same as the .38 Special (right) except
for the case length. It is just 0.761 inch.

FEBRUARY 2023 • SHOOTING TIMES 33

THE .38 SHORT COLT MAKES A COMEBACK

Competitors often have to meet a certain power factor. The

typical ballistics of a factory .38 Short Colt round (125-grain
bullet at 730 fps) produces a power factor of 91. That’s short
of what’s required for many competitions. ICORE requires a
minimum power factor of 120. You’d have to get a 125-grain
bullet up to at least 960 fps to qualify. USPSA’s minimum
minor power factor is 125. IDPA requires a power factor of
105 for stock revolver. Even with this low power factor value,
a 125-grain bullet needs to reach at least 840 fps. Steel Chal-
lenge has no minimum power factor.
Load data for the .38 Short Colt is hard to come by. Hodg-
don has some, but it is for nominal Short Colt ammo, so it’s
rather anemic. The most powerful load barely makes a 105
power factor, and it required a long 7.5-inch barrel to do it!
Clearly, handloading is required where a power factor is man-
dated. The question arises of how much pressure .38 Short
Colt brass will take.
Starline makes .38 Short Colt brass that is very popular
among competitive shooters. I asked the company about its
Short Colt brass, and a rep said, “The .38 Short Colt is only Competition shooters especially appreciate how fast the .38 Short Colt
rated for 12,000 CUP (Copper Units of Pressure) but is made can be ejected from a revolver with a full-length ejector rod. As shown
the same as our .38 Special +P, so in theory, you would be safe here, the .38 Special cartridge’s case (left) has not cleared the chamber,
but the .38 Short Colt’s case (right) has cleared it with room to spare.
running up to around 20,000 CUP, or 18.5kpsi. I would rec- (Loaded rounds were used for graphic clarification.)
ommend against loading up into .357 Magnum pressure levels,

THERE ARE AMMO PLANTS CAPABLE

OF PRODUCING NEARLY FOUR MILLION
ROUNDS A DAY. THAT’S NOT US.
WE ARE A CRAFT AMMUNITION MAKER,
and you can’t
automate craft.

34 SHOOTING TIMES • FEBRUARY 2023

though I know a lot of people load them similarly to 9mm, the chamber, and that’s a huge improvement over .38 Specials,
which is 35kpsi. It’s kind of one of those ‘at your own risk’ which have about a third of their case still in the chamber.
type of deals.” If you’re wondering how well these short rounds work in
I also asked the Starline rep what might be warning signs speedloaders, in many speedloader designs, .38 Special cases
that handloaders have gone too far in their loads with the .38 will slide into the chamber partway before they are released.
Short Colt brass, and the rep said that users should watch for Thus, they are aligned with the chambers. The .38 Short Colt
“primer flattening/flowing into the firing pin hole and sticky case comes short of this. The bullet nose is in the chamber—
extraction.” Keep these in mind if you’re working up higher- depending on the shape and length of the bullet, its overall
pressure loads in Starline’s Short Colt cases. cartridge length, and the speedloader—but the brass case is a
You don’t have to be a competitive shooter to take advantage slight distance from the chamber mouth. Having the bullet nose
of the benefits of this short cartridge. Ejection is more reliable in the chamber “aligns” the cartridge, albeit loosely.
in any .38 Special/.357 Magnum revolver and especially so in To determine if the .38 Short Colt rounds being loosely
snubnose guns. Short barrels also mean short ejector rods. aligned impairs their entry into the chambers, I tried loading
These guns need all the help they can get with ejection. As .38 Special and .38 Short Colt rounds from Safariland and
snubby owners know, short ejector rods won’t always push .38 HKS speedloaders. I even did it multiple times with my eyes
Special cases out of the cylinder by themselves even with grav- closed, and I didn’t find either length to have an advantage.
ity’s assistance. A vigorous whack on the ejector rod is often There is generally a little jostling around to get the cartridges
required, and even then some cases are reluctant to clear and aligned with the chambers with either chambering, but once
might need to be pulled out manually. they are aligned and released, they seem to find their way into
My .38 Special S&W Model 637 with its 1.88-inch barrel the chambers with equal success.
has a short ejector rod with a total push length of only 0.655 Remington’s factory-loaded 125-grain lead .38 Short Colt
inch. For comparison, my 4.0-inch-barreled S&W Model 686 chronographs at 787 fps from my 6.5-inch-barreled Ruger Black-
revolver’s full-length ejector rod has a total push length of 0.970 hawk, 699 fps from my 4.0-inch-barreled S&W Model 67,
inch. The Model 637 just starts to clear a Short Colt case from and 612 fps from my 1.88-inch-barreled S&W Model 340PD.
THE .38 SHORT COLT MAKES A COMEBACK

the same length as a 9mm Luger (0.754 inch). I use a .38 Spe-
cial sizing die for sizing, then switch to 9mm dies for belling,
seating, and crimping. My 9mm crimp die does a taper crimp,
where normally one would use a roll crimp for a revolver car-
tridge. A taper crimp is generally all you need for low-power
handloads, like those in this report, but you’ll want to check
your loads if you use a taper crimp to make sure there is no bullet
creep. That said, Lee sells its .38 Short Colt crimp die separately.
The handloads listed in the accompanying chart are based
on published .38 Short Colt and .38 S&W load data and do
not exceed 13,000 CUP, the maximum pressure limit of the .38
S&W (not to be confused with the .38 Special). I included .38
S&W data since it is essentially the same case length and COL
as the .38 Short Colt. This pressure is well below the pressure
limit of the .38 Special, which is 17,000 CUP. I intend for these
loads to be fired only in guns chambered in .38 Special or .357
Magnum, in which they will be super-safe.
Handloads can produce a wide range of speed and power even
when limited to 13,000 CUP pressure. A near-full charge of
Unique and a 110-grain JHP produced 1,077 fps and 283 ft-lbs
of muzzle energy from my 4.0-inch-barreled S&W Model 67.
It’s a good flat-shooting varmint round.
But to me, the real benefit of handloading this round is for low-
recoil practice ammo. Here are some numbers for comparison. A
Even in snubnose revolvers with short ejector rods, the .38 Short Colt case low-recoil target loading like Remington’s .38 Special 148-grain
(left) starts to clear the chamber of a 1.88-inch-barreled S&W Model 637 wadcutter runs 724 fps from my Model 67 and produces 1.93
cylinder when the ejector rod is fully depressed. The same position on a
.38 Special round is shown by the dotted line (right). ft-lbs of recoil. Remington’s 125-grain .38 Short Colt at 699 fps
produces 1.28 ft-lbs of recoil. A couple of handloads in the chart
produce even less recoil. The lightest load is with a 105-grain lead
Accuracy from the Blackhawk was excellent, with 24 shots mea- bullet at 698 fps, which produces 0.81 ft-lbs of recoil. It’s pleas-
suring 2.58 inches at 25 yards fired with the gun mounted in a ant to shoot in even the lightest revolver. And it was accurate,
Ransom Rest. That’s better than 80 percent of the .38 Special too, with 18 rounds grouping into 2.50 inches. That’s minute-
factory ammo I’ve tested in that gun. of-soda can at 25 yards, so it’s a great plinking round.
As I said at the beginning of this report, the rebirth of
Handloading the Short Colt the .38 Short Colt is mostly due to competitors looking for
Lee Precision makes loading dies for the .38 Short Colt, but a way to speed up their reloads, but non-competitors can
you can do without dedicated dies if you already load for .38 take advantage of its short length, too, for ease of extrac-
Special and 9mm Luger. Cases for the .38 Short Colt are almost tion and loading.

.38 SHORT COLT ACCURACY & VELOCITY

25-YD.
POWDER COL VEL. S.D. ENERGY RECOIL ACC.
BULLET (TYPE) (GRS.) CASE PRIMER (IN.) (FPS) (FPS) (FT-LBS) (FT-LBS) (IN.)
S&W Model 67, 4.0-in. Barrel
SNS 105-gr. Lead FP TiteGroup 2.4 Starline Fed. 100 1.055 698 25 114 0.81 2.50
Hornady 110-gr. Jacketed XTP Unique 5.0 Starline Fed. 100 1.050 1077 43 283 2.26 2.95
SNS 125-gr. Lead FP Bullseye 3.0 Starline Fiocchi Lead-Free 1.055 826 15 189 1.61 2.94
SNS 135-gr. Lead RN TiteGroup 2.7 Starline Fed. 100 1.135 742 13 165 1.50 3.05
Blue Bullets 147-gr. Lead RN W231 2.5 Starline Fed. 100 1.200 577 18 109 1.07 2.96
Speer 148-gr. Lead HBWC Bullseye 2.2 Starline Fed. 100 1.070 630 19 130 1.28 2.93
ACME 158-gr. Lead SWC Bullseye 2.2 Starline Fed. 100 1.100 638 19 143 1.49 2.34
NOTES: Accuracy is for a single 18-shot group fired with the gun mounted in a Ransom Rest except for the SNS 125-grain Lead FP load, which is for 17 shots.
Velocity is the average of 18 rounds measured eight feet from the gun’s muzzle.
All load data should be used with caution. Always start with reduced loads first and make sure they are safe in each of your guns before proceeding to
the high test loads listed. Since Shooting Times has no control over your choice of components, guns, or actual loadings, neither Shooting Times nor the
various firearms and components manufacturers assume any responsibility for the use of this data.

36 SHOOTING TIMES • FEBRUARY 2023

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SINGLE ACTION
THE PRIMARY ADVANTAGE OF A ’VE ALWAYS FLATTERED MYSELF BY THINKING
I’d been in on the ground floor of the single-action,
CONVERTIBLE SINGLE-ACTION dual-cylinder convertible concept, especially regarding
REVOLVER IS ITS ABILITY TO FIRE those made by Ruger. While Ruger isn’t the only com-
MORE THAN ONE CHAMBERING, AND pany building these convertibles today (Uberti recently
announced a new version with .38 Special/.357 Magnum
RUGER’S NEW MODEL BLACKHAWK and 9mm Luger cylinders), my hands-on experiences
CONVERTIBLE IS A PRIME EXAMPLE. have been with Rugers.
My first handgun, in the very early 1960s, was a Ruger Sin-
BY PAYTON MILLER gle-Six Convertible—a first year model (circa 1961) no less!

38 SHOOTING TIMES • FEBRUARY 2023

Granted, the practical difference between .22 Magnum and Special, and 9mm Luger comprise—arguably—the three most
.22 Long Rifle from a 6.5-inch handgun barrel was debatable, popular “medium” handgun calibers in existence. The bullet
but I was thrilled nonetheless (to my youthful ears, the noise diameters of all three span a relatively paltry 0.355 inch to
factor may have had something to do with it). 0.357 inch.
In the years that followed, I used an Old Model Blackhawk When you’re dealing with a handgun capable of handling
in .41 Magnum a lot. But it wasn’t until fairly recently that I .357 Mag., .38 Spl., and 9mm, adjustable sights aren’t just a
got my hands on the New Model Blackhawk Convertible. Only nice bonus; they’re pretty much mandatory if you expect to
this time the dual-cylinder concept was a centerfire one: .357 take full advantage of the gun’s ammo versatility.
Magnum/9mm Luger, which, of course, also adds .38 Special to After all, between those three chamberings, you’re dealing
the mix. (I recognize I was a bit late to the party, as this model with potential bullet weights, in a plethora of shapes and styles,
was introduced in 1973!) ranging (roughly) from 110 to 200 grains and velocities from
around 700 fps on up past 1,600 fps.
Game-Winning Triple Play This translates to a veritable variety pack of points of impact.
It would be difficult to find a more useful trio of cartridges I happen to love the “fixed sight, one load” ideal, but a convert-
to hang the dual-cylinder concept on. The .357 Magnum, .38 ible single-action revolver isn’t the tool for it.

FEBRUARY 2023 • SHOOTING TIMES 39

ADVANTAGES OF A CONVERTIBLE SINGLE ACTION

Ruger’s original dual-cylinder concept was featured in the .22 LR/.22 WMR Old Model Single-Six Convertible in 1961 (bottom). The New Model Black-
hawk Convertible .357 Mag./9mm (top) represents a powered-up centerfire take on the concept.

With the Blackhawk Convertible, the dual cylinders are pretty Comfort and Ergonomics
tough to tell apart if you don’t actually check to find out what car- Okay, the traditional “plowshare” grips of the single-action
tridges fit. The 9mm cylinder has a shelf down the charge holes Blackhawk either get rave reviews from fans or complaints
to prevent the rimless cartridges from going in too far, but there from the rest of us. But even with the heavier .357 Mag.
are no ID markings on the individual cylinders. I think mark- loads, the “roll-up” characteristics are manageable, and the
ings would be nice—if reasonably unobtrusive—or perhaps a .38 Special and 9mm loads aren’t really worth crabbing about.
non-fluted cylinder for one of the chamberings.

Pluses and Minuses

My only real gripe with my sample Blackhawk
Convertible is that I ran out of elevation reduc-
tion via the rear sight screw, necessitating a 6
o’clock hold on the target in order to center
the bullseye. This could have just been me, and
a different shooter might not experience the
same thing, but I’d want a taller front sight.
I did experience two or three light strike mis-
fires with 115-grain Black Hills 9mm ammo as
well as a couple of instances where ejection of
9mm empties took a couple of tries. But other
than that, there were no function problems,
and I pretty much “shot the gun hot.”
The strong point of the convertible con-
cept gets even stronger when you take periodic
ammo/caliber “non-availability” into the ques-
tion. Sure, shoot ’em if you got ’em—just make The 9mm auxiliary cylinder (left) features a “step” down in each charge hole to deal with
the rimless configuration of the cartridge. The .38 Spl./.357 Mag. cartridges (right) won’t
sure you can get ’em! You may end up with fit the 9mm cylinder.
whatever you can find.

40 SHOOTING TIMES • FEBRUARY 2023

The Blackhawk Convertible’s checkered hard-rubber grips provide enough
traction to cut down on the “roll” characteristic of plowshare grips.

Most of my single-action work prior has been with .41 and

.44 Magnum ammo, and the roll-up there has done some
banging on the fat part of my right thumb against the edge
of the hammer.
The Blackhawk Convertible, incidentally, features checkered
hard-rubber grip panels. Most of the Old Model Rugers I’ve
shot had smooth walnut panels. They were
pretty, but I have to say the ones on my test
gun definitely cut down on the roll-up with the RUGER BLACKHAWK CONVERTIBLE ACCURACY & VELOCITY
heavier .357 Mag. loads. But for the array of .38 25-YD.
Special and 9mm loads, it proved fairly incon- VEL. E.S. ACC.
sequential, and even the stouter .357 Magnums AMMUNITION (FPS) (FPS) (IN.)

weren’t all that bad. .38 Special, 6.5-in. Barrel

The trigger pull broke at a clean 3 pounds, Super Vel 90-gr. JHP +P 1607 18 3.25
nice enough, but good “follow-through” is Federal Punch 120-gr. JHP +P 1097 49 2.25
essential with the long hammer fall of a single Remington UMC 130-gr. FMJ 877 69 2.75
action. You want to keep your eyes on those Remington 158-gr. SWCHP +P 919 112 3.00
sights as long as you can. .357 Magnum, 6.5-in. Barrel
Hornady 125-gr. JHP 1507 61 3.00
Performance by the Inch Hornady LEVERevolution 140-gr. FTX 1437 25 1.75
Ruger offers the Blackhawk Convertible in sev- American Eagle 158-gr. JSP 1229 62 2.25
eral barrel lengths, specifically in 4.63 and 5.5 9mm Luger, 6.5-in. Barrel
inches, as well as the 6.5-inch length our test Black Hills 115-gr. JHP +P 1284 31 2.75
gun had. (And there are several stainless-steel Federal 115-gr. JHP +P+ 1406 71 2.50
models if you’re so inclined). But the 6.5-inch Federal Syntech 138-gr. SJHP 1120 22 3.00
barrel will milk the most from the velocity pos- American Eagle 147-gr. FMJ FP 1025 15 2.00
sibilities of the three chamberings yet still be NOTES: Accuracy is for one five-shot group fired from a sandbag benchrest. Velocity is the
average of five rounds measured eight feet from the gun’s muzzle.
reasonably “carryable.”

FEBRUARY 2023 • SHOOTING TIMES 41

ADVANTAGES OF A CONVERTIBLE SINGLE ACTION

Hornady’s 140-grain, polymer-tipped FTX LEVERevolution .357 Magnum loading took

accuracy honors at a velocity of 1,400+ fps.

These three high-performance try some “bargain” .38 Special and

loads should give you an idea of 9mm loads—specifically, Rem-
what you’ll get from the .38/.357 ington UMC 130-grain FMJ and
side of the ledger compared to vari- Federal American Eagle 147-grain
ous shorter-barreled revolvers: Super FMJ FP.
Vel 90-grain .38 Special—1,320 fps After all, high-volume “bulk pack”
from a 2.0-inch-barreled Smith & blasting seems to me to be one of the
Wesson Model 36, l,607 fps from real selling points of a convertible
the 6.5-inch-barreled Blackhawk revolver that’s capable of handling a
Convertible; Remington 158-grain 9mm and .38 menu. See the accompa-
SWCHP +P .38 Special—897 nying chart for results with all ammo
fps from a 4.0-inch-barreled Colt varieties fired.
Trooper, 919 fps from the 6.5-inch- What sets the conver tible
barreled Blackhawk Convertible; single-action revolver apart is—obvi-
Hornady .357 Mag. 140-grain FTX ously—its ability to handle a serious
LEVERevolution—1,385 fps from a variety of loads and chamberings. But
4.0-inch-barreled Colt Border Patrol, the really important part, as far as the
1,437 fps from the 6.5-inch-barreled sample revolver is concerned, is that
Blackhawk Convertible. it handles them extremely well. And
Most of the loads I fired through it does so while milking peak ballis-
the convertible single action were tic performance from every load you
high performance, although I did shoot in it.

42 SHOOTING TIMES • FEBRUARY 2023

 .300 PRC
6.5 PR

7mm

THE BEST

WHEN IT COMES TO EXTREME ORNADY’S NEW 7mm PRC IS ENGINEERED TO

be an ideally balanced, ultimately capable, long-range
PERFORMANCE, THE NEW 7mm 7mm magnum—the be-all and end-all of the 7mm
PRC IS THE BEST PRC YET AND realm, if you will. It was designed by the same ballistic
COULD BE THE MOST CAPABLE wizards at Hornady who conjured up the 6.5 PRC and
.300 PRC, which gives it an impeccable origin story.
7mm CARTRIDGE EVER. Honestly, when I heard the announcement of a new
7mm magnum, my eyeballs sort of glazed over and
rolled back in their sockets. (I suspect like many of yours are right now.)
BY JOSEPH VON BENEDIKT “That’s all we need,” I thought. “Another 7mm.”

44 SHOOTING TIMES • FEBRUARY 2023

 What with the classic 7mm Remington Magnum; the super- The 7mm PRC has a water capacity of 82 grains when filled
consistent 7mm SAUM; the fire-breathing 28 Nosler; and my to the case mouth; the 7mm Rem. Mag. holds 85 grains. How-
favorite, the .280 Ackley Improved, the bases were full. Or so ever, it’s interesting to note that when long, heavy-for-caliber
I figured. bullets are seated in each, the effective capacity of the 7mm
Readers who got wind of a possible 7mm PRC launch wrote PRC is equivalent or greater because so much less of the bul-
in and asked me what I thought it would be. I confess I was so let’s base intrudes into the propellant chamber.
skeptical I replied that I doubted Hor- Next most vital, in my opinion, is the
nady would bother with a 7mm version 7mm PRC standard use of what used to be consid-
of the PRC (Precision Rifle Cartridge) ered a fast rifling twist rate. SAMMI
family. There just wasn’t a useful niche PARENT CARTRIDGE .375 Ruger spec for the 7mm PRC is one turn every
for it. Or so I figured. WATER CAPACITY
82.0 grs. (filled eight inches of bore length (1:8). Even
Boy, was I wrong! to case mouth) just 10 years ago, that was considered
Some months before the official OVERALL CASE LENGTH 2.280 in. extreme for a 7mm magnum. Today,
announcement, Hornady’s marketing TRIM-TO CASE LENGTH 2.260 in. savvy long-range shooters recognize it’s
department introduced me to the car- MAX OVERALL LENGTH 3.340 in. just forward-looking.
tridge. Politely, I listened. Candidly, I RIFLING 1:8 twist rate Why is a fast rifling twist rate impor-
wasn’t expecting to be impressed. Wrong. PRIMER
Large Rifle tant? It’s needed to stabilize the long,
Magnum
Again. stretched-out projectiles that excel at
PRESSURE LIMIT 65,000 psi
Because, generally, I like new cartridges, long range. Bullets like Hornady’s 180-
I gave my full attention. To my surprise, grain ELD-Match and 190-grain A-Tip,
Hornady’s points were compelling. Allow me to share with you Berger’s 195-grain EOL, and, well, anything else you may want
the design features that are the backbone of the 7mm PRC’s to shoot in a 7mm magnum optimized for long-range work.
reason for existing. The 7mm PRC utilizes the .375 Ruger’s cavernous, full-diam-
eter, non-belted case for its parent case, so the 7mm PRC holds
7mm PRC Design plenty of gunpowder. It drives heavy-for-caliber, highly aero-
In brief, the 7mm PRC is designed to provide ideal perfor- dynamic bullets fast. As in, 180-grain low-drag ELD-Match
mance with long-range projectiles. bullets at around 2,950 fps from factory-loaded ammo.
Its case is significantly shorter than the 7mm Rem. Mag.’s case Crunch the numbers. With a G1 BC of .796 and a muzzle
(2.28 inches long for the 7mm PRC versus 2.50 inches for the velocity of 2,950 fps, the 7mm PRC handily trumps the 6.5
7mm Rem. Mag.), and as a result, high-BC bullets with long, PRC’s 147-grain ELD-Match’s BC of .697 and 2,910 fps. It even
fine-entry noses can be seated well out of the case yet still fit significantly bests the .300 PRC’s 225-grain ELD-Match’s BC
into standard .30-06-length, 3.40-inch magazines. of .777 and muzzle velocity of 2,810 fps.

FEBRUARY 2023 • SHOOTING TIMES 45

THE BEST PRC YET

In case you’re wondering how many rifle manufacturers will

get on board the 7mm PRC train and provide you with rifle
options, rest easy. Early intel suggests that nearly all the big
names and many of the smaller manufacturers will chamber it.
Savvy marketing managers have seen the meteoric rise of the 6.5
PRC and .300 PRC and recognize that betting on a new PRC
cartridge from Hornady isn’t a high-risk gamble.
As I write this, I’ve worked extensively with 7mm PRC
rifles by Gunwerks and Remington, and fellow writers Colton
Heward and Layne Simpson have worked with Mossberg and
H-S Precision rifles chambered in 7mm PRC. My guess is
Browning and Springfield and Seekins and Savage and Ruger
and a ton of other great rifle companies will likely roll out 7mm
PRC rifles at the 2023 SHOT show, if not before.
Initial ammunition offerings are all from Hornady, of course.
Hornady’s engineers used the .375 Ruger as the parent case for the 7mm There are three of them, and I like them all.
PRC. Original ancestry is the .404 Jeffery, which gives the 7mm PRC a
proper pedigree from cartridge royalty. Starting at the bottom, weight-wise, is a brand-new 160-grain
CX (Copper-alloy eXpanding ) bullet optimized for long-
range performance and loaded in Hornady’s excellent sealed,
Yes, it’s the best of the PRCs, when it comes to extreme-range nickel-cased Outfitter line. This is a very aerodynamic bullet
performance. And that’s saying something. for a monometal; it sports a G1 BC of .596 and a G7 BC of
However, high-octane performance notwithstanding, the .300. Muzzle velocity in the 7mm PRC runs around 3,000 fps
7mm PRC is quite efficient. It’s not a barrel-burner, and it’s from a 24-inch barrel. It’s an outstanding bullet for work on
not overbored. As a result of not being overbored, it’s partic- anything from deer up to moose and bison, and it is my pick
ularly easy to tune for accuracy. for use on across-the-spectrum western big game.
In configuring the 7mm PRC for ultimate, easy accuracy Next on the heavy-weight spectrum is the 175-grain ELD-X
with factory loads and handloads alike, Hornady’s engineers (Extremely Low Drag, eXpanding) hunting bullet in Hornady’s
gave it the same treatment as the 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, and Precision Hunter line. It’s a superbly accurate bullet with excel-
.300 PRC. As shooters who have worked with those cartridges lent aerodynamics, featuring a G1 BC of .689 and a G7 BC of
can attest, the formula works. Those three are hands-down the .347. Muzzle velocity runs 2,975 fps. Designed to expand reli-
most consistently accurate new competition and hunting car- ably at long range, it’s a bit soft for work on big-bodied game
tridges on the market. up close—for example, on elk in heavy timber. I like it best
Chambers are cut to match specifications, meaning no excess for deer or for cross-canyon work on game bigger than deer.
play. This positions every cartridge the same for ignition and Finally, in the match-bullet world, Hornady is loading the
bullet-to-bore alignment—both vital to accuracy. Chamber 180-grain ELD-Match bullet in the Match ammo line. And it
throats have minimum tolerances, and rifling leade geomet- is amazing stuff ! Aerodynamics are off the chart. It has a G1
rics are optimized to help bullets take the rifling consistently. BC of .796 and a G7 BC of .401, and muzzle velocity with fac-
tory ammo runs about 2,950 fps in 26-inch barrels.
A Turnkey Performer I had the opportunity to use this load in a newly made Rem-
The custom-rifle enthusiasts among you are likely rolling your ington 700 hunting rifle (sort of a precision hunting setup with
eyes and saying, “Yes, but I can do all that with my custom rifle an H-S Precision stock and moderately heavy 26-inch barrel)
with the custom fast-twist barrel and match-grade chamber at the SAAM shooting facility in Texas. We shot targets from
and lengthened magazine fit with the Wyatt’s 100 to 1,800 yards. And out to 1,200 yards or so it behaved like
mag box and special handloads tuned to any other good long-range load. Beyond that, its above-
the rifle.” par long-range qualities began to shine. To my great
Sound exhausting? For many folks surprise, after two sighters to get on steel, I hit a
it is—or would be if they were willing 24-by-48-inch steel plate at 1,800 yards (more
to attempt it. The 7mm PRC accom- than a mile) five times in a row. That’s the most
plishes all that in factory-produced consistent mile-plus shooting I’ve ever done.
rifles, fed factory-loaded ammo. As
Hornady Marketing and Communica- Even though the 7mm PRC’s case is nearly a quar-
tions Manager Seth Swerczek says, “The 7mm ter-inch shorter than that of the classic 7mm Rem.
PRC is a turnkey solution. It’s the ultimate Mag., max overall cartridge is a healthy .30-06 length,
enabling long, high-BC bullets to be seated well out
long-range cartridge, without all the hassle.” so they don’t intrude into the powder space.

46 SHOOTING TIMES • FEBRUARY 2023

Joseph’s friend, Rob Gearing of Spartan Precision Equipment, borrowed the author’s 7mm PRC Gunwerks Nexus rifle and dropped this very nice oryx
while hunting in Namibia. The cartridge’s performance was truly impressive.

In the Field to sledgehammer-like impacts. The CX bullets expanded dra-

My first practical experience with the 7mm PRC was in a Gun- matically without losing much if any weight and created huge
werks rifle. Aaron Davidson was kind enough to have a special wound channels.
20-inch barrel spun up for the new Nexus rifle, which I was test- The following month I took the 7mm PRC to Africa. I was
ing for my recent Shooting Times article. Factory ammo wasn’t mostly accompanying friends there, but I did shoot an ostrich
yet available, but Hornady’s Seth Swerczek sent me brass, dies, for population management. It was running hard at 475 yards,
bullets, and preliminary load data. and I smoked it with my first shot. The bullet impacted the left
First-try handloads with the 175-grain ELD-X were decent. rear side, shattering the massive femur (drumstick) and pass-
Handloaded 180-grain ELD-Match bullets were really accu- ing through the body before coming to rest against the hide
rate, averaging well under one-half MOA. The results are listed on the front right side.
in the accompanying chart. My friend Rob Gearing of Spartan Precision Equipment
At that point, the 160-grain CX bullet had yet to be final- borrowed the 7mm PRC rifle and took a very nice oryx with
ized, so I worked up a load using Hornady’s 150-grain CX bullet it. Performance was likewise impressive.
for my family spring bear hunt. In the 20-inch barrel, it gen- A few months later, I was able to get my hands on factory-
erated 3,054 fps and averaged less than an inch at 100 yards. loaded ammunition with the 175-grain ELD-X and 180-grain
My daughter Audrey (age 14) became the first person to take ELD-Match bullets for testing and evaluating, as well as a
a bear with the Gunwerks Nexus rifle—and the first with the double handful of 160-grain CX component bullets to hand-
7mm PRC cartridge. Lying prone, she put a perfect shot on a load. Accuracy was stellar. The 175-grain ELD-X averaged
bear standing 301 yards away, dropping it in its tracks. Run- 0.62 inch, and the 180-grain ELD-Match averaged 0.55 inch,
ning the bolt fast, she hit it again as it rolled down the hill—a both at 100 yards.
testament to both the easy function of the Nexus rifle and the Velocity in the 20-inch barrel averaged about 150 fps slower
mild recoil of a well-built, suppressed 7mm PRC rifle than factory-advertised numbers for a 26-inch barrel. That’s
My wife, Jenna, and my 10-year-old daughter Sophia also an average loss of only 25 fps per inch, indicating the excellent
took bears with the 7mm PRC that week. Performance was pre- efficiency of the 7mm PRC’s case design. Most magnum-level
dictably stellar. Lots of retained velocity downrange translated cartridges lose 40 to 50 fps per inch of barrel.

FEBRUARY 2023 • SHOOTING TIMES 47

THE BEST PRC YET

As detailed in this report, all three of these ladies took black bears with a Gunwerks Nexus chambered in 7mm PRC during the 2022 spring season.

Published data for the 160-grain CX bullet (a brand-new long, streamlined CX bullets 0.050 inch off the rifling leade.
projectile) wasn’t available, but Hornady was able to provide Muzzle velocity was mild, averaging 2,776 fps.
some info: 64.5 grains of Reloder 26 produces 60,000 psi Accuracy, on the other hand, was anything but mild. Multi-
in Hornady’s test barrel. Just another half-grain of powder ple consecutive groups averaged an eyebrow-raising 0.42 inch.
(to 65.0 grains) jumped pressure to 63,000 psi, indicating That’s wonderful with a match-type bullet (and equaled my
imminent max pressure. Max pressure on SAAMI’s site is 180-grain ELD-Match handload), let alone a hunting bullet.
65,000 psi. It speaks volumes about how well Hornady is building mono-
I loaded 10 rounds with 64.5 grains of Reloder 26, seating the metal bullets.

7mm PRC ACCURACY & VELOCITY

100-YD.
POWDER VEL. E.S. S.D. ACC.
BULLET (TYPE) (GRS.) CASE PRIMER (FPS) (FPS) (FPS) (IN.)
Gunwerks Nexus, 20-in. Barrel
Hornady 150-gr. CX H1000 72.0 Horn. Fed. GM215 3054 9 4 0.67
Hornady 160-gr. CX Reloder 26 64.5 Horn. Fed. GM215 2776 23 7 0.42
Hornady 175-gr. ELD-X H1000 67.5 Horn. Fed. GM215 2794 38 14 0.74
Hornady 180-gr. ELD-Match H1000 70.0 Horn. Fed. GM215 2895 11 6 0.42
Hornady 175-gr. ELD-X Factory Load 2800 39 14 0.62
Hornady 180-gr. ELD-Match Factory Load 2805 45 17 0.55
NOTES: Accuracy is the average of three, three-shot groups fired from a bipod. Velocity is the average of 10 rounds measured 12 feet from the muzzle using
a LabRadar. Ambient temperature: 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Elevation: 5,100 feet.
All load data should be used with caution. Always start with reduced loads first and make sure they are safe in each of your guns before proceeding to
the high test loads listed. Since Shooting Times has no control over your choice of components, guns, or actual loadings, neither Shooting Times nor the
various firearms and components manufacturers assume any responsibility for the use of this data.

48 SHOOTING TIMES • FEBRUARY 2023

 Early indications are that
Handloading Hints the 7mm PRC is very easy
to handload for excellent
Early on, your only option for properly headstamped brass will accuracy.
be from Hornady. That’s fine. As you can see from the accuracy
levels I’m getting using new, virgin Hornady brass without any
prep work, it’s good stuff.
Prime with Large Rifle Magnum primers. These days, you
may have to use whatever brand you can find. I’ve been using
Federal 215 Gold Medal primers with excellent results.
Hornady’s engineers tell me Reloder 26 is pure magic in the
7mm PRC, and the accuracy I got with the one load I tested it in
tells me they’re right. However, the hand-
loads I assembled using H1000 powder
were excellent as well, and I suspect that
for whatever reason, it may provide a veloc-
ity edge in shorter barrels like the 20-inch
STILL THE
GOLD
version on my Gunwerks Nexus. I dare say,
those two propellants are so good there’s
really no reason to bother with any others.

STANDARD
When it comes time to seating bullets,
you’ll find delightful flexibility with the
7mm PRC. The generous head height will
allow you to seat just as close to or as far from
the rifling leade as you desire. Tuning seating OF HUNTING
depth for maximum accuracy has never been
easier. For a quick-and-dirty reference, start
CARTRIDGES
dense bonded and monometal bullets, such
as the CX, seated 0.050 off the rifling leade
and softer, thin-jacketed cup-and-core type
bullets seated anywhere from lightly kiss-
ing the rifling to 0.020 thousandths off it.
Diametrically differing from my initial
reaction when hearing about the 7mm
PRC, I now not only believe it’s a worth-
while addition to the .28-caliber magnum A perennial Best Seller, HSM’s Trophy Gold indeed
cartridge realm, but also I consider it—and sets the Gold Standard for serious, when-only-the-
I’m gonna stick my neck out here—supe- best-will-do, hunting cartridges on 6 continents.
rior to all others.
Its real strength is in extended-range shoot- Start with 50+ years’ experience meticulously formulating incredibly accurate and
always-reliable metallic ammunition. Feature Berger Bullet’s vaunted and world-
ing. But isn’t that the point of a magnum?
renowned VLD bullet. Select powders maintain maximum velocity over extended
This middle-size PRC gives hunters a lot distances. Exceptional accuracy that rivals even the best handloads. For that critical shot
more downrange authority than the 6.5 PRC, that makes all the difference, choose and depend on HSM Trophy Gold, the Gold Standard
with a lot less recoil than the .300 PRC. It’s for hunting ammunition.
a beautifully balanced round that effectively
launches bullets in what many ballisticians 6mm BR 6.5 Creedmoor .280 Remington .300 WSM .338 Lapua Mag
consider the ideal long-range diameter. .243 Winchester 6.5x55 Swedish 7mm SAUM .300 H&H Mag .340 Weatherby
Unlike the 6.5 PRC, it’s not marginal for 6mm Remington 6.5-284 Norma 7mm WSM .308 Norma Mag .338 RUM
elk, and unlike the .300 PRC, it’s not more .240 Weatherby 6.5 Rem. Mag. 7mm Rem. Mag .300 Winchester Mag .338 Norma
than you need for deer. And you can step .257 Roberts .270 Winchester 7mm RUM .300 Weatherby
up—way up. With a heavy, controlled-expan- .25-06 Remington .270 WSM .308 Winchester .300 RUM
sion bullet, it’s capable for moose and bison. .257 Weatherby .270 Weatherby .30-06 Springfield .30-378 Weatherby
Do you need a 7mm PRC? Of course .260 Remington 7mm-08 Rem. .300 SAUM .338 Winchester Mag
not. Unless you want the best-engineered
and most efficient extreme-range 7mm car-
Look for the orange logo!
tridge ever designed.
www.HSMAmmunition.com
 EQUALS SMOOTH SHOOTING
SAVAGE’S NEW 12-GAUGE HE SAVAGE NAME, LONG FAMILIAR TO GEN-
erations of firearms enthusiasts, comes from Arthur W.
RENEGAUGE SECURITY IS Savage, who, in 1890, submitted two .30-caliber lever-
DESIGNED FOR DEFENSE, BUT action rifles with rotary magazines for testing at the U.S.
IT CAN HANDLE ANY TASK ONE Army military base on Governor’s Island, New York.
While his design was rejected in favor of the bolt-action
MIGHT CHOOSE TO TAKE ON Model 1892 Krag-Jorgensen, Savage went on to great
WITH THIS TYPE OF FIREARM. success among American hunters, first with his Model
1895 lever action and later when it evolved into the famous Model 1899.
While Savage Arms is best known for producing rifles, shotguns of vari-
BY LAYNE SIMPSON ous types have also been offered, with the 12-gauge Renegauge autoloader,

50 SHOOTING TIMES • FEBRUARY 2023

With interchangeable, semi-soft combs of various heights, recoil pad/shim combinations of different thicknesses, and pitch and cast-off shims that
go between the stock and the receiver, the fit of the Renegauge Security can be adjusted to suit the shooter.

introduced in 2020 in Field, Waterfowl, and Turkey con- by a light, 2.75-inch target load are much lower than that pro-
figurations, the latest and perhaps the company’s crowning duced by a 3.0-inch waterfowl or turkey load, but regardless of
achievement in smoothbore firearms. The Competition with which is fired in the Renegauge, the valves limit gas flow to just
an eye-catching fire engine red metal coloration followed in enough to cycle the bolt. Unneeded gas entering the system is
2021. In 2022 the Security variation arrived, and it’s the sub- channeled through two large exhaust ports at the front of the
ject of this report. forearm, and while fouling accumulates on the outside of the
magazine tube and the rear of the magazine clamp, it is easily
Smart Design removed with bore solvent.
Before I give you a detailed look, a general overview of the Roughened panels on both sides of the wrist and forearm of
Renegauge shotgun is in order. Unlike some Savage shotguns the synthetic stock assure no-slip grasping while being com-
of the past, it was designed to rank among the best of its kind fortable in the hands. Three semi-soft interchangeable combs
rather than a gun built for high-volume sales at low cost. Recoil in three heights and three recoil pad/shim combinations for
management, reliability under extreme weather conditions, pull lengths of 14.25, 14.5, and 15.0 inches are included. Varying
shooter-friendly ergonomics, low maintenance, dynamic han- slightly in height, the recoil pads receive my highest rating for
dling qualities, and extreme durability were top design priorities, absorbing a great deal of the punishment generated by slug loads.
and they were reflected in an introductory price of $1,500. The Five small shims shaped for installation between stock and
result is a no-frills, no-nonsense gun built to function when receiver can be used to adjust cast-off and pitch. Personal fit
subjected to the hardest of hard knocks, and I wouldn’t be sur- is important in any shotgun, and nowhere is it more impor-
prised to see it sell quite well in Alaska and other places known tant than in one built for quick yet precise aiming when that
for extreme weather conditions. The bolt and other reciprocat- ticked-off cougar or grizzly is already too close and getting even
ing parts are coated with industrial-grade hard chrome, while closer fast. The stock has a post for quick-detach sling attach-
the exterior has a weather-resistant, black matte finish. ment at the rear but no provision for front attachment. Slots
The patented Dual Regulating Inline Valve system utilizes on both sides of the magazine clamp accept a Magpul M-LOK
propellant gas under pressure to operate the action. Simply sling-swivel post, and considering the price of the gun, I was
described, as a shell fires and gas flows through small ports in surprised by its absence. The slots can also be used for attach-
the bottom of the barrel, spring-loaded “smart” valves allow ment of a light or other accessory.
just enough gas to impinge on a short-stroke piston to cycle The 18.5-inch barrel is partially fluted and threaded for
the bolt. The volume of propellant gas and pressure produced three flush-fit, screw-in chokes of the Beretta/Benelli pattern.
FEBRUARY 2023 • SHOOTING TIMES 51
SMART DESIGN EQUALS SMOOTH SHOOTING

I used a wrench made for

Remington chokes, and it
worked perfectly. As mea-
sured with my digital bore
gauge, respective interior
diameters of the chokes are
0.717, 0.705, and 0.695 inch.
Bore diameter of the barrel
is 0.726 inch, which puts
choke constrictions at 0.009,
0.021, and 0.031 inch for
Improved Cylinder, Modi-
fied, and Light Full on the
Briley scale. That combina-
tion should handle any task
one might choose to take
on with this type of fire-
arm, including the repelling
of violent castle invaders.
The rear pair of four
holes drilled and tapped
into the roof of the alumi-
num receiver is utilized for
attaching a rugged, combat-
style rear sight with high
The gun comes with flush-fitting, screw-in chokes that are marked IC, Modified, and Full. Layne found the Full
protective steel wings. Its
choke to deliver the best accuracy with rifled slugs. 0.195-inch aperture is large
enough for quick acquisition
and is adjustable for windage
and elevation. A green fiber-optic rod up front is positioned
about a half-inch above the top of the barrel, and it also has
sturdy side guards. Accidentally drop the gun in rocky coun-
try and both sights will likely survive intact. Sight radius is
22.75 inches.
An extended bolt handle with checkered surface treatment
makes bolt retraction quick and fumble-free, even when wearing
gloves. As should be on a shotgun built for personal defense, the
bolt release at the front of the receiver, the shell release lever at
the front of the trigger guard, and the transverse safety behind
the trigger guard are a bit oversized.
The safety is extended just enough to allow disengagement
with the middle of the trigger finger as it remains alongside the
trigger guard. Strong, spring-loaded detents keep the safety in
the desired position. With a bit of practice, the safety is dis-
engaged quietly by grasping with the thumb and finger and
easing it forward.
The trigger on my sample breaks at 5.5 pounds with no over-
travel, and while there is a great deal of initial creep, it went
virtually unnoticed while I was shooting the gun. The trigger
guard is roomy enough for a glove-clad finger.
Exact magazine capacity depends on the chosen load. As most
experienced shotgunners know, specified lengths for shotshells
The durable aperture-style rear sight is protected by thick steel wings
and is click-adjustable for windage and elevation. indicate the approximate length of the hull after it has been
fired and not the length of a loaded round. For many decades,

52 SHOOTING TIMES • FEBRUARY 2023

A roomy trigger guard and slightly oversized controls make the Renegauge Security ideal for cold-weather use when gloves are required.

the standard 12-gauge, 2.75-inch 00 buckshot load contained the receiver.) Then when the time comes to fully load, retract-
eight pellets. Then various manufacturers decided to shoehorn ing the bolt fully to the rear and then releasing it will feed that
in an extra pellet, but in order to do so, the loaded shell had to be round into the chamber.
lengthened by about 0.100 inch. This is why the extended mag- The gun should also have its safety engaged and pointed in a
azine of the Savage shotgun holds seven Hornady shells loaded safe direction during unloading. There is more than one way to
with eight 00 pellets but only six Federal shells loaded with nine do it, but the method I very much prefer is to first remove the
pellets of the same size. Magazine capacity is six rounds for 3.0- shell from the chamber by manually cycling the bolt. Then use
inch shells. So if you buy a Renegauge Security and prefer to the trigger finger to hold the shell elevator in its depressed posi-
have as many rounds in the magazine as tion while the tip of that finger slides a bit
possible, shop for loaded shells that mea- RENEGAUGE SECURITY to the left and pushes on a spring-loaded
sure no longer than 2.50 inches. cartridge stop in the side of the receiver.
Savage Arms Doing so releases that shell from the mag-
MANUFACTURER
savagearms.com
Smooth Shooting Gas-operated
azine and into the hand. Repeat until the
As with any firearm, when the Secu- TYPE red shell follower indicating an unloaded
autoloader
rity is loaded it should be pointed in a 12, 3.0-in. magazine is in view. To make certain, cycle
GAUGE
safe direction with the safety engaged. If chamber the bolt several times with the shell release
the gun has been stored with its internal MAGAZINE CAPACITY
Six or seven lever pulled between each cycle. Hold the
hammer uncocked, loading can begin by rounds bolt back while looking into the chamber
BARREL 18.5 in.
fully retracting the bolt, and it will remain and then check to make sure the red mag-
OVERALL LENGTH 40 in.
in that position. After a shell is placed azine follower is staring at you.
WEIGHT, EMPTY 7.5 lbs.
into the chamber, pressing on the release If you think hen’s teeth are scarce, try
button frees the bolt to speed forward to STOCK Synthetic rounding up 12-gauge buckshot and rifled
its breech-locked position. Shells are then 14.25, 14.5, and slug loads. A friend at Hornady located
LENGTH OF PULL 15.0 in. depend-
inserted into the magazine. ing on shims used 20 rounds of American Whitetail loaded
Another option is to leave the bolt for- FINISH Matte black with a one-ounce rifled slug at 1,600
ward and the chamber empty, feed the Fully adjustable fps—that was it. Rummaging through
desired number of shells into the maga- SIGHTS rear, fiber-optic my ammo cabinet turned up 17 rounds of
zine, and then pull the shell release lever front Hornady TAP Personal Defense loaded
at the front of the trigger guard to move TRIGGER
5.5-lb. pull with eight 00 pellets, also at 1,600 fps.
(as tested)
a shell from the magazine to a position While no longer available under that
SAFETY Two position
beneath the cartridge elevator. (That shell label, it is Hornady’s Critical Defense
MSRP $1,499
can be seen by looking into the bottom of ammo with an old name. Also in storage

FEBRUARY 2023 • SHOOTING TIMES 53

SMART DESIGN EQUALS SMOOTH SHOOTING

As shown here, at 20 yards the Modified choke placed

all nine 00 Buck pellets from Federal’s 2.75-inch Per-
sonal Defense load into this 4.5-inch-diameter pattern.
Pattern diameters fired with the Improved Cylinder
choke averaged about 60 percent larger, while those
from the Full choke averaged about half this size.

As the name says, the Savage shotgun is

built for defensive purposes, so I shot it at 20
yards. If it were hanging from my shoulder
while fishing in bear country, its magazine
would be filled with a mix of buckshot and
slug loads, and the Full choke would be
The magazine holds seven Hornady 2.75-inch shells loaded with eight 00 Buck pellets, but installed. For final resort, extremely close,
since the Federal 2.75-inch shell is made a bit longer to hold nine 00 Buck pellets, it reduces
magazine capacity to six rounds. rapid-fire shooting, I would want to con-
centrate the maximum amount of lead into
a vital area with each squeeze of the trigger.
from a previous project were 20 rounds of Federal Personal Decades ago, I discovered that Full choke often delivers the
Defense loaded with nine 00 pellets at 1,245 fps and 15 rounds best accuracy with rifled slugs of pure lead, and the Savage
of Remington Managed-Recoil Slugger with a one-ounce slug was no exception. But using such a tight choke is for modern
at 1,200 fps. Due to the limited amount of ammo on hand, I guns only and is not recommended for some of the older guns
first checked the factory zero of the gun with Kent skeet loads, with barrels quite thin at the muzzle.
and while windage was dead-on, elevation was high enough to Like other members of the Renegauge family, the Security
completely miss the target. Zeroing with that ammo put it close comes in a TSA-compliant hard case built to survive commer-
to dead center with those precious buckshot and slug loads. cial air travel. At 7.5 pounds, the gun is no lightweight, and a
As mentioned earlier, the Renegauge was designed to magazine filled to capacity takes it to just over eight pounds.
function reliably with all 2.75-inch and 3.0-inch field loads. On more than one occasion during my life, I have been in places
Designing a shotgun that does not miss a lick when fed the and situations where its weight would not have been noticed.
most powerful loads available is easy, but designing one that Like I said, the Renegauge Security is capable of handling any
will handle those without choking on powder-puff ammuni- task one might choose to take on with this type of gun.
tion is a more difficult task.
And one of the most com-
fortable 12-gauge loads to SAVAGE RENEGAUGE SECURITY ACCURACY
shoot in any shotgun is Kent’s 20-YD.
2.75-inch Elite Low Recoil PATTERN DIA./GROUP SIZE (IN.)
Training ammunition with AMMUNITION IC CHOKE MOD CHOKE FULL CHOKE

7/8 ounce of shot at 1,200 12 Gauge, 18.5-in. Barrel

fps. Think 20-gauge recoil Federal Personal Defense 00 Buck 7.25 4.70 2.25
from a heavier 12-gauge gun Hornady American Whitetail 1-oz. Rifled Slug 8.50 5.75 2.50
and you’ve got it. The Secu- Hornady TAP 00 Buck 8.10 4.30 2.00
rity cycled smoothly when 25 Remington Managed Recoil Slugger 1-oz. Rifled Slug 9.25 6.10 3.00
rounds were fired as quickly NOTES: Averages are for three pattern diameters with each buckshot load and three, five-shot groups with each
rifled slug load fired from a Caldwell DFT Lead Sled. All shells were 2.75 inches in length.
as I could squeeze the trigger.

54 SHOOTING TIMES • FEBRUARY 2023

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 GOING 6.8 WESTERN
THIS TWO-YEAR-OLD CARTRIDGE BRINGS CAPABILITY TO THE TABLE
THAT NO OTHER FACTORY .270 ROUND HAS EVER HAD.
BY CRAIG BODDINGTON

IMING IS EVERYTHING. WINCHESTER rifling twist and shooting heavier bullets, it brings capability
introduced the 6.8 Western in January 2021, to the table that no other factory .270 has ever had. I wish I’d
at the height of the pandemic, when all trade tried it when it was new, but I was in my cave.
shows were cancelled. Many of us retreated Better late than never, in the spring of 2022, I put it through
into our caves, counted the bullets we had, its paces. I’m impressed.
and started scrounging. Although heav-
ily field-tested the preceding autumn (and The Foundation
widely reported), the release of a new car- Fast, flat-shooting, and powerful—yet with much less recoil
tridge couldn’t have been timed much worse, especially with the than the .30-06—the .270 Winchester quickly found favor
attendant supply chain issues that are even now still catching up. with American hunters. In fact, it has been such a success that
As many of you know, 6.8 is metric for 0.277 inch (.270 cal- few other cartridges have used its bullet diameter.
iber), so the 6.8 Western is a .270-caliber sporting cartridge, Before 1900, Mauser experimented with a 6.8x57mm car-
developed by Winchester, with a proprietary claim to the cal- tridge for China. It’s so obscure that its details are unknown,
iber since the introduction of the .270 Winchester in 1925. but it’s not impossible that’s where Winchester got the idea.
(That claim was strengthened by the .270 WSM in 2002.) That Remington’s 6.8 SPC was also a military development, designed
said, the 6.8 Western is not “just another” .270. With a faster for the AR platform. With light-for-caliber bullets at moderate

56 SHOOTING TIMES • FEBRUARY 2023

velocity, it beats the .223 Remington for deer and
hogs but is not a general-purpose hunting car-
tridge like the other .270s.
Which, though limited in number, are all good
and versatile. Developed in 1944, Roy Weath-
erby’s .270 Weatherby Magnum, though never
wildly popular, remains one of the flattest shoot-
ing of all sporting cartridges. The .270 WSM was
introduced along with a spate of other short, fat
cartridges, and it is faster than the .270 Win. but

.270 Winchester
not as fast as the .270 Wby. Mag. Still, I rate it the

.270 Wby. Mag.

most useful of its original short, fat class.

6.8 Western
.270 WSM

27 Nosler
All .270 cartridges (except the 6.8 SPC) have
been considered hunting cartridges and never
target rounds. This suggests the .270 has accu-
racy issues, which have been stated in print by
respected writers. I disagree. I’ve rarely seen a rifle The 6.8 Western is not just any old .270-caliber cartridge. It was designed to use a
non-traditional, faster twist rate, enabling it to shoot heavier bullets than ever before.
with a 0.277-inch barrel that wasn’t accurate, and
sometimes the accuracy is spectacular. However,
since 1925, most 0.277-inch-diameter bullets have
been developed for performance on game. Match-
grade bullets have been almost nonexistent, so the Nosler 150-Gr. Partition

accuracy playing field has not been level.

Copper Extreme Point

Swift 130-Gr. Scirocco

Until now, all .270s were barreled with a 1:10

Winchester 162-Gr.

Tipped GameKing
twist. Original 0.277-inch bullet weights were 130

Berger 170-Gr.

Sierra 175-Gr.
and 150 grains, with other weights added later.

Elite Hunter
In a 0.277-inch bore, a 1:10 twist pretty much
maxes out at 150 grains. There are tolerances, and
it depends on bullet length. Some .270s group
well with 150-grain bullets, others are just so-so.
Typical “traditional” .270-caliber bullets weigh from 130 to 150 grains, but the 6.8
Nosler has long offered a 160-grain Partition, Western fires heavier and longer bullets weighing from 162 to 175 grains.
which is viable in most 1:10 twists because it’s
roundnosed and thus short.
162 to 175 grains, bullets that no 1:10 twist can stabilize. Sure,
A Tale of Twists you can always rebarrel and handload those bullets, but I sus-
There’s some horse-pucky in the “superiority” of the 6.5mm to pect most .270 owners are like me, and my .270s are old friends,
the .270. Ballistic coefficient (BC) matters downrange, but on not to be messed with.
game, bullet weight, velocity, and construction matter more. A So the 6.8 Western isn’t a matter of reinventing the wheel
140-grain bullet is just that, whether launched from a 6.5mm, but starting over. It has a traditional bullet diameter, in a new
.270, or 7mm cartridge. I believe frontal area also matters, but cartridge, designed for the long, aerodynamic bullets an increas-
between the three bullet diameters, there’s just 0.020 differ- ing number of shooters prefer.
ence, and only 0.007 (seven thousandths) separates 0.277 from As a heavy-bullet .270, the 6.8 Western also is not a first;
0.284 (7mm). That said, in ability to penetrate on game and the proprietary 27 Nosler preceded it in 2020. The 27 Nosler
deliver energy, if velocity and bullet construction are similar, was the fifth Nosler cartridge based on the fat .404 Jeffery
there is no way a 150-grain .270 bullet competes with a 175- case (RUM, if you prefer), shortened and necked to 6.5mm,
grain 7mm bullet. 7mm, .30, .33, and .270. All these are standard-length-action
So, in a nutshell, the 6.8 Western is about a faster rifling twist cartridges, while the 6.8 Western is a short-action cartridge.
that enables the use of heavier bullets than have previously A slight twist to the tale is that the 27 Nosler calls for a 1:8.5
existed in 0.277-inch diameter. But the concept isn’t altogether twist, enabling it to effectively utilize existing 150-grain .270
new. Berger, a favorite with the long-range folks, has long made bullets without over-stabilizing, as well as the new heavy-
a 170-grain Elite Hunter bullet, with an off-the-chart G1 BC weight bullets.
of .662. The box states the optimal twist is 1:8, meaning that When designing the 6.8 Western, the Winchester engineers
99.9 percent of .270 rifles, with 1:10 twists, won’t stabilize it. reached out to both Nosler and Sierra. The initial offerings
The 6.8 Western is specified with a 1:8 twist and was intro- were to be a 165-grain Nosler AccuBond LR at 2,970 fps and
duced with factory loads using long, aerodynamic bullets from a 175-grain Sierra Long Range Pro at 2,835 fps. Soon following

FEBRUARY 2023 • SHOOTING TIMES 57

GOING 6.8 WESTERN

Craig’s custom 6.8 Western rifle is built on an LAW M704 action and features a 24-inch McGowan barrel, a Woox Furiosa aluminum chassis, and a
walnut buttstock and forearm. The scope he installed on it is a Swarovski Z81 1-8X 24mm.

would be a 170-grain Ballistic Silvertip at 2,920 fps and, for A Legendary Western
those who prefer (or must-use) copper-alloy bullets, a 162- Although I missed its introduction, I’ve been fascinated by
grain Copper Extreme Point at 2,875 fps. The G1 BCs of these the 6.8 Western. I’m a longtime .270 fan and have used vari-
bullets are .564 (162-grain Copper Extreme Point), .629 (165- ous .270s for a lot of hunting. Multiple .270 Winchesters are
grain ABLR), .573 (170-grain BST), .617 (175-grain Tipped among my favorite rifles, used on all the continents. I’ve also
GameKing). No bullets with these weights and flight charac- hunted with the .270 WSM a lot and have some experience
teristics have been possible to use in the legions of .270-caliber with the .270 Wby. The .270 Win. is plenty of gun for game
rifles with 1:10 twists. up to and including elk, but the increased energy yield of the
Stated velocities are excellent from the 6.8 Western’s stubby faster WSM and Wby. is apparent.
2.020-inch case. About the best you can do with the .270 Win. Even so, I believe in bullet weight, especially on larger game.
loaded with a 150-grain bullet is 2,900 fps, so the 6.8 Western The 150-grain limit on traditional .270s isn’t a disaster, but I’ve
exceeds the .270 Win. with heavier bullets. The 27 Nosler is always believed that heavier bullets, regardless of diameter, are
considerably faster, but its longer case requires a .30-06-length better on elk, moose, and larger African antelopes. Other hunt-
rifle action, as do the .270 Win. and .270 Wby. Mag. ers may be more interested in higher BCs and better long-range
Honestly, I’m not “et up” with short actions, but aside from performance, but I’m not an extreme-range shooter on game.
shorter bolt throw, they are lighter and more rigid. Short actions The .270 Win., .270 WSM, and .270 Wby. shoot flat enough
also are in style, a style set by Winchester with the WSMs and and hit hard enough for any shots I’m likely to take. Still, bullet
echoed by currently popular cartridges, such as the 6.5 Creed- weight matters. A .270 with heavier bullets is more versatile
moor and 6.5 PRC. and more reliable on larger game. And with modern bullets,
The 6.8 Western was created by shortening the .270 WSM’s it’s better at distance. As for recoil, let’s not call the 6.8 West-
2.1-inch case. Initially, I shook my head at this, but remem- ern mild, but it won’t kick you into next week.
ber, the 6.8 Western is all about the bullets. Shortening the I figured I had to try one, but with backorders and shortages,
case removes powder capacity, thus reducing potential veloc- it took time. After serious begging, the gunsmiths at Trop Gun
ity. However, it allows the use of longer, heavier bullets than is in Pennsylvania built a 6.8 Western rifle for me based on the
possible in the .270 WSM (even if rebarreled to a faster twist). Legendary Arms Works M704 action. They used a McGowan
Specified maximum cartridge overall length (COL) is a gener- barrel with a fast 1:7 twist. For sure, I won’t be using traditional
ous 2.955 inches, as opposed to 2.860 inches for the .270 WSM. .270 bullets, but it will easily stabilize the longest existing bul-
The two cartridges are not interchangeable. A .270 WSM car- lets and any heavier bullets likely to come down the pike.
tridge should not chamber in a 6.8 Western rifle; however, the Designed by Ed Brown, the M704 action is slick and smooth,
reverse may be possible—with excessive headspace. with an M70-style three-position safety. It’s an action I have

58 SHOOTING TIMES • FEBRUARY 2023

 Previously, I had not hunted with Winchester’s Copper
Extreme Point. This bullet uses a large-diameter polymer tip,
meaning a larger-diameter cavity and meplat underneath the
tip. With all tipped bullets, upon impact the tip is driven into
the bullet, initiating expansion. With all copper-alloy bullets,
expansion is limited by depth and circumference of the cavity.
Depending on resistance and angle, some of the thinner nose
metal surrounding the cavity may shear off, but there’s no core
to wipe away or separate. So all copper-alloy bullets have high
weight retention. And with expansion generally less than with
lead-core bullets, penetration is excellent. Folks who like exit
wounds (through-and-through penetration) love the all-cop-
per bullets. Folks who like to study recovered bullets will have
challenges.
Hunting with Fred Burchell at Frontier Safaris in South Afri-
ca’s Eastern Cape, I shot eight animals with the 6.8 Western
Craig’s initial groups with Browning and Winchester factory-loaded 6.8 and 162-grain Copper Extreme Point bullet. Size ranged from
Western ammunition were good, with the 162-grain loading being slightly
more accurate from his custom rifle. whitetail-sized impala up to almost elk-size waterbuck and wil-
debeest. No bullets were recovered—even though I angled a
couple of shots, thinking “this one, surely, will stay in the off
much experience with, but this rifle is a departure. It uses a quarter.” No dice, straight-line penetration, exit wounds show-
Woox Furiosa aluminum chassis with a walnut butt and fore- ing expansion.
end. The 24-inch medium-contour barrel is free-floated ahead The waterbuck, pictured in the introductory photo at the
of the chassis. Weighing 8.5 pounds, the rifle is not light, but beginning of this article, was one of these. It was on the far side
it’s capable and comfortable to shoot. of a deep valley, pushing 300 yards, at a steep quartering angle,
After long anticipation, the rifle arrived in spring 2022, just well behind the on-shoulder into (and out of ) the off-shoulder.
in time to set it up for a June hunt in South Africa. Not expect- Most animals showed significant reaction to impact, suggest-
ing distance shooting, I put a Swarovski Z81 1-8X 24mm scope ing rapid immediate expansion. Not the waterbuck. He took
on it. it as if nothing happened! He went maybe 40 yards downhill,
Scrounging ammo wasn’t easy, but I was able to find some and I was almost back on him when he rolled. A beautiful nyala
on dealers’ shelves. I still haven’t obtained the 165-grain ABLR was another exception, the only animal that needed a second
load or the 170-grain BST load, but I scored a good supply shot. That was totally my fault. I misjudged the drop, and my
of the 162-grain Copper Extreme Point load from Browning first shot hit too low in the shoulder.
and Winchester, plus some Browning 175-grain Long Range Obviously, eight animals are not enough to form a valid opin-
Pro that’s loaded with Sierra’s 175-grain Tipped GameKing. ion of a cartridge or a bullet’s capability. The late Australian
A pleasant surprise was that in my rifle’s 24-inch barrel the writer Bob Penfold used to chide me: “You American writers
three factory loads produced higher velocities than their fac- take a new rifle or cartridge out, shoot a deer, and call it ‘test-
tory ratings. Rated at 2,875 fps, the 162-grain loads delivered ing.’ We go out and shoot 50 feral goats or hogs. That’s testing!”
2,980 fps, and the 175-grain loading (rated at 2,835 fps) clocked In mitigation, I’ve taken a lot of game with .270s—using
2,882 fps. 130-, 140-, and 150-grain bullets—and a lot of game with var-
I expected the 175-grain load to shoot the best, but it was ious 7mm cartridges. I shot mostly 160-, 162-, and 165-grain
just okay, producing five-shot groups between 1.25 and 1.50 bullets in the 7mms. So no definitive statement, but with the
inches. As we know, some rifles “like” the harder homogeneous 6.8 Western and its heavier bullet, here’s what I think. It pro-
alloy bullets. Some don’t, but my rifle showed a distinct pref- duces deeper penetration and more immediate results than I’m
erence right out of the box, producing five-shot MOA clusters used to seeing with my beloved .270s. And compared to the fast
with the 162-grain copper-bullet load. 7mms, I saw identical performance, which makes sense. They
Heavy bullets being the real point to the 6.8 Western, I share similar bullet weights and velocities, and the diameters
wanted to hunt with the 175-grain load. Perhaps I should have, are too close to argue about. This is not damning with faint
as accuracy was plenty adequate for the field shooting antic- praise. Some of us like .270, others prefer 7mm, but it’s diffi-
ipated. But I dithered, and at the last minute, I just couldn’t. cult to like both equally. For .270 fans like me, the 6.8 Western
Faced with two unquestionably adequate and capable bullets, takes us to a new level of high-velocity, heavy-bullet perfor-
I defaulted to the American fetishes for accuracy and velocity. mance that the 7mm crowd has long held over our heads. They
I packed the 162-grain Copper Extreme Point for my hunt- can stick with their 7mms if they wish but no longer with the
ing trip. same smugness.

FEBRUARY 2023 • SHOOTING TIMES 59

 SHOOTER’S SHOWCASE
GUNSMOKE HIPSHOTS

Olympic Gold
Among the lesser-known Olympic shooting disciplines, at least
with the general public, is rapid-fire handgun, using semiauto-
matic pistols and .22 Short ammunition. BY TERRY WIELAND

THE MATCH GOES LIKE THIS: IN FRONT OF The breakthrough model was the Supermatic,
each competitor on the line are five targets, turned which established a new standard in several ways.
edge-on, 25 meters away. At the signal, the targets One was its readily interchangeable barrels. At the
rotate to face the shooter, who has eight seconds for pull of a small locking lever at the front of the frame,
five shots, putting one bullet in each target. When for example, a 6.75-inch barrel could slide off and
the time’s up, the targets rotate back. A second round be replaced by one 4.5 inches long. It was that easy.
allows six seconds for five shots, and the third round And since High Standard combined innovation with
allows only four seconds. This sequence is repeated gilt-edged accuracy, it soon owned the target ranges.
A High Standard
Supermatic
four times, for a total of 60 shots. Surveys at national championships through that era
Olympic, dating Sound challenging? I’ll say. Those were the rules often found more than 90 percent of the competi-
from the early as they were in the 1950s when the game was foreign tors shooting High Standard pistols.
1950s, is some-
times called the
to Americans, who had never won it. The Olympics presented a particular challenge,
“Second Model” At that time, the country’s foremost maker of .22 and around 1950, High Standard began a program to
Olympic. The target pistols was High Standard of Connecticut. Nei- design a pistol purely for the rapid-fire event.
company later
sold conversion
ther Colt nor Smith & Wesson put much effort into In his book on High Standard target pistols, collec-
kits in distinc- match .22s, while Ruger was in its infancy. High Stan- tor Tom Dance differentiated the company’s model
tive maroon dard was founded in the 1930s, prospered through lines by number—101, 102—as well as using the
boxes, like the
one shown.
the war years, and emerged ready to become a major names: Supermatic, Citation, Trophy, and, of course,
player in high-end semiauto pistols. Olympic. There is considerable overlap among these,

60 SHOOTING TIMES • FEBRUARY 2023

to say nothing of variations occurring within one converted. Sometimes, you’ll find a kit sold separately.
model line, so we have to be very general. Not being an Olympic competitor or a serious collec-
The lever-outfitted Supermatic (sometimes tor, none of this bothers me. I bought a kit to convert
referred to as 100) series was introduced in 1950 a 101 Field King and have had a lot of fun shooting
but replaced in 1954 by the 101 (which had a push- it. Later, I acquired a 100 (lever model) that was an
button in place of the lever) and in 1957 by the original Olympic.
102 (with a larger push-button and barrels locked The higher-grade early High Standards are all
in place by a pillar and stud rather than a sliding lovely pistols—beautifully made with great attention
dovetail). to detail. Many you see have obviously been around
The Olympic effort began with a model called the and shot a lot, but the Olympics, being specialty guns
GO, replaced in 1950 by the Supermatic Olympic, and and not suitable for keeping in your tacklebox, are
there began a concerted drive to refine a rapid-fire usually in better shape.
pistol to international standards. The main features In 1960 the company’s efforts paid off when U.S.
were a long barrel with a .22 Short chamber, a slide Marine Bill McMillan won Olympic gold in the
made of lighter alloy that could be operated by the rapid-fire competition. Whether this spurred Colt
.22 Short’s modest recoil, and a special magazine to and Smith & Wesson to take rimfire competition
accommodate the stubby cartridges. more seriously is hard to say, but they put more effort
Early on, the company hit on the idea of selling a into the Match Woodsman and the Model 41, respec-
barrel-slide-magazine conversion kit that allowed any tively, in the years that followed, as did Ruger and,
Supermatic to become an Olympic. This was a bril- later, Browning.
liant idea and continued through the 101 series. It Altogether, 1950 to 1975 was a great period for
complicates things for collectors, who now have dif- .22 semiautomatics and much of the credit is due to
ficulty telling an original Olympic from one that was High Standard. It lived up to its name.

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FEBRUARY 2023 • SHOOTING TIMES 61

 A Hall-of-Fame Handgunner // Continued From Page 64

report in the Pittsburgh Press, at that time, no other McMillan was also an accomplished rifleman.
American shooter came even close to participating in He shot with the Marine rifle team in the National
that number of Olympic competitions. Matches at Camp Perry in 1971, and he won the
Included in his many pistol-shooting accomplish- Marine Corps rifle crown two times. He also won
ments are one world, five Pan American, and four the combined rifle-pistol title five times. McMillan
national titles in the rapid-fire pistol and free pistol may have been a natural pistol shooter, but he prac-
events. He also won several silver medals in those ticed—a lot. According to one interview, he stated
competitions, the last two at the age of 50. During that for many years he fired at least 60 pistol shots
his shooting career, he set two world records, and every day.
in 1978 the Marine Corps established the McMil- After retiring from the U.S. Marines, McMillan
lan Shooting Trophy in his honor. It is still being worked as Weapons Training Coordinator at the San
awarded annually to this day. His military shooting Diego County, California, Sheriff ’s Department from
awards include the Distinguished Pistol Shot ( June 1974 until 1981 when, according to the Los Angeles
16, 1950), Distinguished Marksman ( June 3, 1954), Times, he was seriously injured by two errant shots
and Distinguished International Shooter (May 23, from an inexperienced trainee. He passed away on
1963). In 1994 he was inducted into the USA Shoot- June 6, 2000.
ing Hall of Fame.
What I find to be even more interesting is that
McMillan became a pistol shooter by chance. Report-

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another pistol entrant, he urged McMillan to try. to hunting, tactical to trap
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said, “You have a choice. You can start pistol shooting, SCATTERGUN is a must-have
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GUNSMOKE HIPSHOTS

A Hall-of-Fame Handgunner
Olympic gold medalist, Pan American games champion, and
U.S. Shooting Hall of Famer, William W. “Bill” McMillan was
also a career military man. BY JOEL J. HUTCHCROFT

AS MY COLLEAGUE TERRY WIELAND MEN- shooting team, and put on trick shooting exhibitions
tioned in his Gunsmoke column this month, a United for young recruits. One of his more famous trick shots
States Marine by the name of Bill McMillan won the was breaking clay pigeons by shooting over his shoul-
gold medal in the 25-meter .22 rapid-fire pistol com- der, while he faced away from the target, and aiming
petition at the 1960 Olympics. Those games were by the reflection of the target in his diamond ring.
held in Rome, Italy, and Terry gives a good descrip- He also became a champion pistol shooter. Interest-
Career U.S. tion of how difficult firing the .22 rapid-fire match ingly, according to one source, he wasn’t even qualified
Marine William
W. McMillan
is. Here’s a quick look at McMillan’s many shooting with a pistol until 1949, yet just three years after that
was a six-time accomplishments. (1952), he was part of the winning American team at
Olympic shoot- William Willard McMillan was born on January the World Championships. He later won several gold
ing competitor.
He won the gold
29, 1929, in Frostburg, Maryland. He attended Turtle medals at the Pan American Games between 1955 and
medal in the Creek High School in Pennsylvania and enlisted in 1979 and won gold in centerfire pistol at the World
.22 rapid-fire the U.S. Marine Corps in 1946. He went on to have Shooting Championships in Moscow in 1958.
event in 1960
and won numer-
a 28-year-long career in the Marines, serving in the McMillan was a six-time Olympic .22 rapid-fire
ous other pistol Korean War and the Vietnam War, and eventually competitor between 1952 and 1976. He missed the
championships retiring with the rank of lieutenant colonel in 1974. 1956 games due to his pistol malfunctioning during
throughout
his life.
Along the way, he headed the weapons training battal- the U.S. trials. And as mentioned, he won the gold
ion at Quantico, was the captain for the Marine Corps medal at the 1960 Olympics. According to a 1972

64 SHOOTING TIMES • FEBRUARY 2023 CONTINUED ON PAGE 62

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