Day 29: Fun Without Cartridges

Who says you need brass cartridges to have a great day at the local range?


Pictured above is the Benjamin Legacy 1000 0.17 caliber air rifle. It's a fun little tool useful for dispatching country pests, and it has helped me with a bit of a possum problem I recently encountered (with the proper license, of course). All you need to shoot is an arm to cock the break-barrel spring, and a small box of lead pellets. It's subsonic and there's no powder or primer explosion, so it's reasonably quiet. I picked this air gun up almost exactly five years ago and have only shot it a handful of times, so I brought it to the range with me today this afternoon.

Next up is the Connecticut Valley Arms (CVA) Bobcat, a bottom-of-the-line imported percussion cap muzzleloader with a synthetic straight English-style stock. The Bobcat has a reputation for durability at the expense of good looks or pleasant handling, but it gets the job done. I like to shoot .50 caliber lead round ball ammunition with 80-100 grains of Pyrodex powder, and it's perfectly accurate for deer at medium-close range. I was given this particular rifle used as a gift, and I'm grateful for the free opportunity to expand my hunting season into black powder territory.

For those of you that know anything about quality axes, you may share my humor in photographing one of the cheapest Brazilian-manufactured black powder rifles ever made with a handsome handmade splitting axe by the Swedish company, Gränsfors Bruks! But the artistic potential was too much to pass up.


Make sure to keep your black powder firearms clean! They foul up badly even after a single shot, so take care of them if you want them to last. Following disassembly, the rear plug on the barrel is not removable, so it can be a trick to clean. The usual treatment is to soak it in soapy water. If I've only taken a few shots, I find standard solvents do the job just fine.

The first part to block up is the nipple, so I replaced the stock part with the CVA Perfect Nipple with a wider bore for more shots between maintenance. Other than that, the standard CVA Bobcat is good to go right out of the box for less than $100. The following picture illustrates the sidelock action on the Bobcat, with the upgraded nipple. The Perfect Nipple ordinarily has a shiny steel finish, but that is quickly obscured after a shot or two (until you clean it again).



Below is a target from today, shot from 20 yards. I can't say I'm proud to show these groups, but it demonstrates reasonable expectations for a casual rifle shooter like me. I got a few comments at the range from guys who had heard great things about this rifle, but I can't say I'm completely impressed yet. I may need to do a little more maintenance and fiddle with different pellets to optimize accuracy. For small game hunting I'd much rather rely on my .22LR rifle instead of my .17 air rifle, unless the intended range is under 20 yards and I'm really concerned about the noise.


As far as the muzzleloader's group, I'm definitely impressed. I'll admit it takes some getting used to when you're new to a percussion cap rifle, since the delay between primer ignition and the actual powder firing provides ample time for flinching. However, I found the stock iron sights to be surprisingly accurate (more accurate than me), after reading about how most shooters have to grind down the front sight due to it shooting high. I haven't seen that problem, and I'm looking forward to next fall for my first black powder deer season!

That's all for now!

Day 26: Ruger Red Label

My Ruger Red Label is currently my favorite gun. I use it for hunting as well as semi-competitive trap, skeet, and sporting clays, and it has a certain charm that only a classic American-made shotgun has to offer. It may not be one of the true classic doubles, but as the last production double-barrel shotgun still designed and manufactured in the US, I think it occupies an important place in shotgun history.


This particular version is an old-model 20 gauge, with the blued receiver that was discontinued only a few years into production. It has 3" chambers, a 28" barrel, and fixed modified over improved cylinder chokes. The quality of the wood is excellent, and the red rubber stock pad made by Goodyear gives a distinctive look to the older models. While the newer Red Labels are also nice, I'm aesthetically displeased with the stainless receivers and black stock pad in comparison.

Ruger shotguns don't have the best reputation. This may come as a surprise, knowing the quality of their other firearms and their outstanding customer service. However, they're known for accumulating small problems with wear that cause the use to send it in for (free) service, which is a definite inconvenience. This is supposedly more of a problem with the newer models, versus the older ones.

My only direct experience with Ruger's customer service was for the replacement of the barrel rib. A previous owner incorrectly installed an aftermarket middle bead sight off-center from the sighting axis, and bored completely through the rib, scratching the top of the barrel. I received estimates from several private gunsmiths but Ruger beat all of them. (This kind of major user-caused repair isn't free, but most things are.) I sent the gun into their New Hampshire based factory, and spoke with gunsmiths on multiple occasions. I had the shotgun back in about 3 weeks, including shipping time. They completely reworked the aged internals, replaced the rib, and (unfortunately) re-blued the entire gun. I should have told them not to do the re-blue since it had developed a nice plum patina over the years, but I don't think much of it, since its a shooter, not an investment piece.


Over/under shotguns aren't just for recreational clay shooting. They share a distinct advantage with the side by side in that they allow quick selection of two different chokes (and potentially two different loads) in the field. In a hunting situation, a flick of a switch can change your payload from a 3" magnum round of #4 buckshot through a modified choke to a 2 3/4" standard #8 birdshot load through an improved cylinder choke. Try doing that with a pump or autoloader. Of course, your ability to react to a flushing bird, for example, may hinder this selection process, which is why some traditional hunters still favor double triggers. For me, the configuration of the Red Label is effective and ergonomic.

I've done a few small repairs on my Red Label that others may have sent theirs in for. I made a small adjustment to the sear levers to adjust the timing, as one of the shell ejectors would occasionally catch on the sear. I also did a full takedown and cleaning of the action to rectify a dirty firing pin that would occasionally cause light-strike failures, with the help of the Radocy manual, which I purchased online. Many people are afraid to get into those parts, but if you take your time and have any mechanical skills whatsoever, you can do it. It's also nice when you know 100% how your firearm functions. Not everyone can say that.


From my experience, Ruger shotguns hold their own in the high-throughput category of shotguns. While I can only speak from my own experiences, I've put 2,500 rounds through my Red Label in the past 4 months without a hitch, and I plan on continuing this rate for a long time. Admittedly this isn't a "high round count" for a clay target gun, which may see tens of thousands of rounds in a year in the hands of a highly competitive shooter. But for someone who shoots target games for fun 2-3 times per week like I do, it will last a long time.

Ruger conveniently offers information concerning serial number history as well as electronic copies of old user's manuals on their web site. The serial history is only approximate, but it's easy to send them an e-mail or give them a call for an exact answer. The serial chart places this particular shotgun in their 1983 production line, but contacting Ruger, I was told it was actually manufactured in October 1981, which predates the introduction of the 12 gauge model! Really cool information to know as someone who appreciates firearms history.


Happy shooting!

Day 17: Handgun Carry Options

For all the talk about handguns on this blog, we haven't talked much about methods of carrying them. I thought I would offer a quick review of some of the carry options that I routinely use for concealed carry, and discuss the pros and cons of these systems.


From left to right in the top image: Wilderness magazine pouch, Raven magazine pouch, Ravine G19 holster, MTAC G20 Holster. All on Wilderness Instructor belt.


Raven Concealment Holster & Magazine Pouches

I love the fact that Raven holster systems are modular. I can wear the same holster either inside or outside the waistband by simply swapping out the stock OWB for accessory IWB hooks. I was able to order 1.75” belt loops even though they don’t list them, simply by adding a comment to my online order. I can easily conceal my Glock 19 in this holster under a t-shirt whether it’s worn inside or outside my waistband, though the IWB configuration hugs noticeable tighter to my body. Overall, I prefer IWB carry for everyday concealment and OWB for range use and tactical shooting, but that’s mostly individual preference.

One thing I don’t like about the Raven holster system is the inability to adjust retention strength. Both the holster and magazine pouches are molded kydex and you’re stuck with the factory setting, which is quite strong. I found the gun retention to be nearly perfect, but the magazines are much too difficult to remove for my taste. I have to wear them farther back on my belt to maintain the leverage needed for crisp reloading drills, which complicates things if you find yourself on the ground, especially in the supine position.

Minotaur MTAC Holster

The Minotaur MTAC holster sold by Comp-Tac is a fantastic holster for concealing large handguns like the G20. This leather-kydex hybrid combines the comfort of leather with the rigidity of polymer, and is fully adjustable for retention and cant. In terms of IWB carry efficiency, it’s very close to the Raven holster. You can also purchase addition kydex halves to make the same primary body function with any model of pistol. In the future I’ll probably stick with Raven simply because it can be worn outside of the belt, but if you like the comfort of leather and only desire to carry inside your belt, the MTAC is one of the best options out there.

Wilderness Tactical Belt & Magazine Pouches

I’m generally a fan of products by the Wilderness. They make a fantastic belt: I wear a 5-stitch instructor belt every day, and I couldn’t be happier with it. I also use their slings on two long guns. I hate to say it, but their magazine pouches are garbage. I bought the horizontal style because I thought it would ease concealment, but it’s bulky and wears awkwardly. Even though it was specifically sold to accommodate the 10mm double stack magazines of the Glock 20, the fit is far too tight, and the magazine catches on a seam in the nylon totally preventing smooth draws. So while I recommend most Wilderness products, I’d stay away from their mag pouches.


*The arrangement shown is clearly for illustrative purposes only, and is not intended to be an actual layout for practical carry.

Day 16: Ruger 10/22

The Ruger 10/22 is one of the most popular rimfire rifles ever manufactured. Originally released in 1964, the 10/22 is traditionally chambered in .22 Long Rifle, yet limited variants were produced in .22 WMR and .17 HMR. One advantage to the 10/22 over other popular .22LR rifles such as the Marlin Model 60 is it’s 10-round rotary magazine, which is much faster and more practical than a front-fed tubular magazine. I recently decided that I needed one for small game hunting and target shooting.


My Model

There are countless subtypes of the 10/22 available from the factory, but I opted for the Sporter (Deluxe Sporter according to Cabela’s) edition, primarily for the high-quality checkered American Walnut stock. When I picked it off the shelf, I was immediately impressed by the quality of the flip-up rear sight and the crisp trigger.

The first day at the range, I shot 675 rounds out of the stock rifle with bulk ammunition without a single hiccup. It was a dream to shoot, and extremely easy to disassemble and clean back at home. It’s no Glock, but cleaning and maintenance on this rifle is just about as simple as it gets. Just one screw to remove the stock, and 2 pins to remove the trigger assembly, and one pin to remove the bolt.


Customizations

One of the reasons for the huge popularity of the Ruger 10/22 is its customizability and the availability of aftermarket accessories. You turn any run-of-the-mill 10/22 into a specialized hunting rifle, a compact survival tool, a tactical military-style practice gun, or an expensive flashy competition rifle. Most of the 10/22’s out there probably remain in the category of your standard stock weekend plinker, but the potential is there if you want to take advantage of it.

I opted to spend a few bucks optimizing my rifle for hunting small game, since I tend to focus on hunting-style customizations on my long guns. My main addition was a Vortex Crossfire 4x32 scope with Leupold scope rings. The 4x fixed magnification 32mm scope is one of the most popular general-purpose hunting optics ever made, and on a rimfire allows generous accuracy from 25-100 yards and beyond. That’s more than enough for targeting treed squirrels, so I’m happy.

The 10/22 Deluxe Sporter comes with 1” sling swivels, but the availability of slings in this width is lacking. I replaced these swivels with 1.25” quick-detachable swivels and swivel bases from Uncle Mike’s, so I could pair it with a thicker Wilderness sling. If you’re trying to figure out what parts you need to make the same replacement, both swivel taps in the Sporter stock accept ½” wood screws.

All 10/22’s come with one 10-round rotary magazine. Before experiencing this style of magazine I’ll admit I was skeptical about it, but they are incredibly reliable and compact. I’ve shot over 700 rounds through one of my rotary magazines without a single failure whatsoever, without cleaning it at all. I’m impressed considering how dirty rimfire cartridges can get after high-volume shooting.

I purchased a 25-round steel extended magazine by TacticalInc.com, but I can’t comment on this yet. These magazines are adjustable by 4 different screws, and so far I haven’t found a configuration that feeds or ejects reliably. I hope I can tune this magazine properly, since a high-capacity .22 could prove quite useful during a zombie apocalypse. I'll update everyone later on whether this mag is functional or a piece of junk, I just haven't figured it out yet.


Overall Impressions

The Ruger 10/22 has quickly become one of my favorite guns that I’ve ever shot. It’s accurate at close to medium ranges, useful for hunting and survival applications, and is American-made. It’s light weight in relation to other hunting rifles helps in making it highly portable, but its low mass makes off-hand shooting a bit of a challenge, so a shooting rest or proper shooting position is preferable for ethical kills. The price of .22LR ammunition easily allows high-volume shooting on any budget, and this is the kind of gun you can shoot all day for the price of going out to a movie. A .22 will eventually pay for itself in ammo savings along, but it’s also a blast to shoot.

Day 15: Vive Fusils Français

Just recently I had the opportunity to purchase a MAS 36/51, the infamous French rifle of the early to mid 20th century. At first, like so many others, I was a little ignorant and clueless about the MAS 36/51 but after a couple solid days of research I ended up bringing home a neat piece of history.

History of the MAS 36 series

The MAS Modèle 36 like many of France’s firearms previously adopted was created at Manufacture d'armes de Saint-Étienne, hence the prefix on its designation – MAS.

The MAS 36 was most well known for being the main battle rifle of the French during World War Two however this is only partially true. Many people do not know that originally the MAS 36 could not be outfitted to all troops during the early part of the war, and were reserved for only frontline troops that would bare the majority of the German onslaught. Soldiers that found themselves in the rear, fighting in French colonies, or with a more logistical role were often using Lebel or Berthier rifles when MAS 36 rifles could not be supplied. Later in the war the more outdated rifles were phased out and French soldiers began to use the MAS 36 and the British Lee Enfield (to an extent).

After World War Two the French continued to use the MAS 36 extensively as it began to consolidate colonial territories. In 1949 the French adopted the semi automatic MAS 49 and began to issue it to the frontline troops of the time. While the MAS 36 was still being used it was no longer the “new kid on the block” and in 1951 the French military began retrofitting MAS36 with the ability to launch the standard 22mm NATO rifle grenade.

The new designation for the rifle was MAS 36/51 and had found a home back on the frontline allowing extra firepower on the squad level.

This new variant of the rifle saw much turbulence as France defended itself from insurgent forces in The First Indo-China war (1946-54) and the Algerian War (1954-62). The MAS 36 even found its way into the Suez Crisis (1956). The MAS 36/51 served its user well up until the time it was pulled from service well into the 1960s, a truly amazing run of over 30 years of combat action.

Mechanics of the MAS 36/51

At the end of the Great War the French took ideas implemented by rifles of the major participating countries, both allied and enemy. Some of these include the bent curve found on the American P1917 Enfield, the 5 round box magazine of the German Gewehr, and the design of the locking lugs on the bolt from the British Lee Enfield. They took these concepts and designs and formulated an extremely robust rifle that would last many years even in the toughest combat environments.

The MAS 36 series has a cool feature that can’t be found on many other rifles. Beneath the barrel a chamber holds the bayonet until needed, and then at that point it can just be flipped around and locked into that very same chamber to secure it for use. A cool feature for sure!

Unlike the early MAS 36s the MAS 36/51 is equipped with items to allow it to fire a wide assortment of rifle grenades. The upgrades in 1951 installed a very intricate grenade launching sight and spigot to affix the projectile too. With these installed the user can fire high explosive, anti-tank, and general purpose grenades up to 400m, a tremendous addition to the standard rifleman’s arsenal.

The MAS 50 years later…

I had a great opportunity when buying this rifle. The gentlemen whom I bought it from originally purchased it in 1999 and had never shot it. When I picked it up it was still covered in packing grease I can only imagine was from the 1960s when it was taken out of service.

Overall thoughts on the rifle are pretty high. The rifle is built like a tank and the weight for such a relatively short rifle shows it. The sights are crude but allows for a soldier or even untrained peasant to be considerably accurate. The action of the bolt is not smooth or crisp but gives the feeling of robustness. Overall the MAS 36 feels like the AK47 of its day, it’s just unfortunate that it never got the repertoire to go along with it.

That’s it for now, stayed tuned more to come.

Day 13: Picture of the Day

Today's picture of the day: the worst centerfire ammunition I've ever shot. This 9mm ammo is manufactured by MFS 2000 in Hungary, I bought it at Cabela's because it was on sale for $12 a box (now $10), making it the cheapest brass-cased 9mm that I could find. Today I had a 9% (!!!) failure to fire rate out of my Glock 19, which has NEVER had another malfunction. 2 of the 9 failed rounds didn't fire on their second strike, either. The primers are pure trash.


My Glock has worked flawlessly with Speer, Fiocchi, Winchester, Federal, and Sellier & Bellot, but this stuff is pure garbage.
Do not buy it.

On the other hand, I got the opportunity to practice FTF drills...

Day 12: Mossberg 500 Turkey Shotgun & Optics

If you didn't know, this Monday kicks off Michigan's spring wild turkey season! So I figured I would make a post introducing you to my turkey shotgun and the rationale for selecting good turkey hunting gear. My focus will be on shotgun optics, because this topic isn't often discussed but it can provide a distinct advantage out in the field.

The platform I selected was the Mossberg 500, because it's and can be configured for any possible purpose. It is pump-action, which brings down the cost, and is easier to field strip. I can use this gun for hunting deer, small game, turkey, and as a home defense weapon simply by dropping in the appropriate load. The 500 is durable and relatively inexpensive. The base model I purchased included a thumbhole Monte Carlo stock and fiber optic sights, with a 20" barrel and a threaded choke.


HUNTING OPTICS

Like I said, I use my shotgun for turkey, deer, and small game, and I decided to mount a 1.5-4.5 x 20 scope to assist in hunting. If you don't already know, the first set of numbers is the magnification, which is adjustable in this case, and the second number is the aperture size. The larger the aperture, the more light gets transmitted through the glass, assisting in low light conditions.

If you get a Mossberg is like mine, it should be "drilled and tapped," and have 4 screws on the top of the receiver that can be removed to mount a rail. I bought a two-piece Weaver rail, which is just screwed in to allow attachment of scope rings. I got a nice set of rings that I trust to withstand the recoil of my 12 gauge without loosening up over time. Then there's the scope itself. So total, it's three pieces you'll need to get to mount a scope.

My scope setup consists of the following parts:
- Weaver 48473 Matte Top Base Pair For Mossberg 500
- Leupold Quick Release Weaver Style Rings 49853, 1", Low, Matte
- Nikon Monarch Turkey Shotgun Scope 6590, Turkey Pro Reticle

Scopes made specifically for shotguns usually have longer eye relief, which is helpful if you use magnum hunting loads. Also, keep in mind that the eye relief is shortened with a variable power scope at higher magnifications.

Any rail will do, as long as it's drilled for your specific shotgun. The cheaper ones are made of aluminum and the more expensive ones are steel. I just went with aluminum to save a few bucks, and I prefer the two-piece rails for aesthetic reasons. As for the rings, just make sure they match the diameter of your scope. Most scopes are 1" in diameter, but there are other configurations out there so just be sure you match them. I went with this Leupold model because I liked the quick-release style where you don't need a torx wrench to remove the scope, because I remove it for shooting clays. They come in several heights, and "low" should be sufficient for scopes with an aperture less than 25mm.

With the Turkey Pro reticle of this particular model scope, the center crosshairs are very faint, while the circle around the center is heavy. I think this is perfect for switching between shot and slugs, but a different reticle might be ideal for a dedicated slug gun. Nikon's Monarch African Rifle scope looks almost identical, but the parallax is set for 100 yards (vs. 50 with the turkey) and the reticle is a German variant.

There is slight chromatic aberration evident when the sun is positioned just right, but not noticeable unless you're looking for it. It works great with both eyes open and allows fast target acquisition. The optical quality seems pretty consistent at all zooms, and it works well in low light, considering the small aperture.

I don't have a ton of experience with scopes, but I do have experience with camera optics, and you get what you pay for. Nikon is a great trade-off of cost and quality in my opinion, and I have been very happy with this model.

OTHER DETAILS

One of the most important aspects of preparing a shotgun for hunting season is a task called patterning. Every shotgun, barrel, and choke will behave differently when fired, so it's important to try a large variety of different shotshells to see what performs best in your setup. After trying half a dozen different kinds, I settled with 3" Winchester Extreme Elite magnum turkey loads in #4 shot because they pattern most consistently in my particular gun.

Shooting trap is a lot of fun. All you need to guarantee several hours of fun at the range is a cheap plastic clay thrower, a box of sporting clays, and a friend. Shooting trap with a scope mounted is cumbersome, so it's best to either take it off or use a dedicated shotgun for this purpose. You usually use a wide choke while shooting clays due to the small shot size and close range.

Speaking of chokes, selecting one will be the topic of a future post. You can use whatever choke comes with the gun, but many choose to upgrade to attain more consistent patterns. I use a Briley Ported Super Turkey in this gun, and it was worth every penny.

I tried to cover a lot of ground in just one post. This was essentially an overview of my gear, why I chose it, and what you need if you're looking to build a similar shotgun. If you have any questions feel free to comment.

Good luck this season, everyone!

Day 8: Art of the Dynamic Handgun

I wanted to post a brief review on the best training video series I have viewed to date, Magpul Dynamics: The Art of the Dynamic Handgun. This is a 4-disc DVD set recently released by Magpul, containing over 7 hours of footage from their handgun instructional classes plus bonus material.


I had been watching bits and pieces of the series between my academic obligations over the past few weeks and finally found time to finish it this afternoon. The first two DVDs focus on fundamentals, shooting positions, and combat scenarios. The third disc emphasizes aspects of concealed carry, and the third disc covers handgun accessories, drills, and outtakes.

One of my favorite aspects of the set was a bonus feature titled “Combat Mindset – Reality Check” by instructor Travis Haley on the second disc. Without giving anything away, he discloses one of his own personal experiences as a 14-year veteran as a Force Reconnaissance Marine and US military contractor overseas. His story is shocking, but really demonstrates the importance of training and the “why” as well as the “how”.

I highly recommend this series. I’m not usually one to spend money on DVD’s, but I’m really glad I went for this one. I will continue to watch the series many more times and utilize it to help make me a better shooter. I truly hope to be able to afford attending one of their actual training courses in the future, but with my student budget it might be a while.

Magpul has uploaded a preview on YouTube if you are interested.

Day 7: Our Newest Glock [G19]

One of the purposes of this blog is to chronicle important events including field tests and new acquisitions. Since we haven't updated in a while, I figured I would share the newest member of our family, the Glock 19.


In case you didn't know, the Glock 19 is the compact version of the 9x19 semi-automatic handgun. It is extremely popular for its balance of firepower, durability, and concealability. While some of us may be comfortable toting around a full-size 10mm, this 9mm will suit just about any frame for concealed carry.

There are probably more reviews of this gun on the internet than any other modern pistol, so I'll keep this brief. We ran about 250 rounds through it during its first day at the range, without a single malfunction. This of course doesn't surprise me, but I do want to emphasize its reliability and lack of a required "break in time" like many more expensive guns. Being chambered in 9mm, you feel a little less guilty firing hundreds of rounds in a day since it is one of the more affordable calibers. It was very enjoyable to shoot and has minimal recoil, allowing for immediate accurate followup shots.

Just when I thought the Glock 19 couldn't get any better as a rugged combat-oriented firearm, I pulled out the 33-round magazine. I can't really explain it, but that thing just makes me extremely happy. Not to mention it's great for rapid-fire and trigger-reset drills, allowing for more trigger time and less reloading. If you're diligent and know where to look, you can occasionally find them on sale for the price of a standard capacity magazine.
[Just don't settle for the cheap Korean copies!]

Here is the model 19 next to the 20, representing consecutive patents by Gaston Glock. I can do better size comparisons if you are interested, this is just one I happened to take at the range yesterday.
(And yes, they do have serial numbers, they were just blurred out.)


Overall, I couldn't be happier with the G19. It's an ideal all-around pistol.

Some of you may be growing weary of our Glock bias, but I assure you we have several posts on interesting historic firearms as well as accessories coming down the pipe. See you soon.

Day 3: 10mm Ammunition

At the range this past weekend, we decided to run a brief test of a few of our favorite factory loads for the 10mm auto cartridge. Although reloading ammunition is a much more cost-effective method of practice, most people would agree that factory loads are necessary for self-defense ammunition for a carry or nightstand piece.


Ammunition Tested (pictured above):

1. Double Tap 180 grain FMJ Match [1250 fps / 625 ft-lbs]
2. Double Tap 200 grain FMJ Full Power [1275 fps / 722 ft-lbs]
3. Double Tap 200 grain WFNGC Hardcast [1300 fps / 750 ft-lbs]
4. Winchester 175 grain Super-X Silvertip JHP [1290 fps / 649 ft-lbs]
5. Double Tap 200 grain Controlled Expansion JHP [1250 fps / 694 ft-lbs]
6. Double Tap 230 grain Equalizer [1040 fps / 553 ft-lbs]
7. Buffalo Bore 180 grain Heavy JHP [1350 fps / 782 ft-lbs]

Full Metal Jacket / Solid Rounds:

Double Tap Full Power FMJs are great for any application where you need intense firepower in a solid projectile. If you feel like you're bound by the Geneva Conventions (or more correctly, the Hague Convention) and NATO guidelines, these would be the rounds for you. They're also great if you're looking for rounds with penetration rather than for normal defensive carry. The FMJ Match ammo from Double Tap comes with a $1 price break per box. At that rate, why not get the heavier full power loads?

The WFNGC Hardcast loads from Double Tap are what I use for carry in the woods. The flat tip is designed for cutting bone rather than deflecting off, and is advertised by the manufacturer specifically for hunting to create "create a large deep wound channel". These are fun rounds, and I highly recommend them. Many people warn about firing lead rounds through Glock factory polygonal rifled barrels due to excessive fouling and subsequent pressure issues, so if you plan to shoot a large number of lead rounds you might want to invest in an aftermarket barrel. As for me, I just make sure I keep my barrel clean.

Like I said, we reload our ammo for practice bullets, which has the potential to save a lot of money. There's really no place to find economical 10mm ammunition for practice nowadays, and most manufacturers sell watered down crap that's basically .40 S&W. We avoid those manufacturers like the plague, and stick the with the good guys like Double Tap when buying factory ammo.

Jacketed Hollow Points:

And now for the fun part, field tests of JHP expansion!


We recovered fragmented jacketed hollow point bullets from a 2500 page hardcover catalog at 10 yards. This test was certainly less than scientific, but can provide useful field experience in the absence of better ballistic media. I will review the rounds in the following picture from left to right.

The first bullet in the series is an expanded Double Tap JHP, which I rely on for my carry pistol. In this and in previous tests, the brass jacket completely separated from the lead core, but did not otherwise fragment. I find this round to be the ideal combination of power and expansion, and is one of the few 10mm hollow points to come in a heavy 200 grain configuration.

The Buffalo Bore JHP penetrated farther than Double Tap, but had the harshest recoil characteristics of all the rounds tested and completely fragmented in the catalog. The published ballistic data on this round resulted from tests with a Colt Delta Elite, which has a barrel .5" longer than the Glock 20, that Double Tap uses for their tests. This may exaggerate the reported muzzle velocity and force, but I think it is fair to say that Buffalo Bore matches or slightly exceeds the Double Tap JHPs in terms of energy. The recoil increase is noticeable.

I do want to mention that this was the first time I've fired this particular round, and my gun happened to lock up after the very first bullet, which I shot from an otherwise empty magazine. The brass ejected (farther than usual), I dry-fired to de-cock the hammer, and after loading a fresh magazine was unable to cock the firearm. This very well may have been a fluke, or it may have been due to the excessive recoil jarring the recoil spring or kicking loose debris somewhere in the slide. I keep my guns meticulously clean - and it is a Glock - but it was snowing, cold, and could have been anything. I will also mention that my G20 has an aftermarket 22 lb. recoil spring and steel guide rod, so it is tuned to handle hot rounds. Needless to say I would be reluctant to use Buffalo Bore as primary self-defense ammunition after this experience, but I'll need a lot more trigger time with this round before I can come to a good conclusion. Also, at over $1 per round, they are significantly more expensive than even Double Tap.

There is really nothing like the Double Tap Equalizers. This round is made up of a 135 grain JHP on top of a 95 grain lead ball, so it is essentially two distinct bullets in one case. These are a blast to shoot, and they're surprisingly accurate. We were able to recover both the ball and the hollow point from the target, right next to each other. I would personally never use such a nontraditional round for anything but range fun, but you never know when double the firepower could be useful during a zombie apocalypse!

Winchester Silvertips are Mini4me's current choice for 10mm self-defense loads. In this experiment, the hollow point failed to expand within the target, and penetrated deep into the catalog without mushrooming. After recovering the bullet, we noticed a chunk of paper in the center of the lead, clogging the opening and thereby preventing efficient expansion. The jacket remained intact with the bullet core, which did not happen with the other rounds. I want to again emphasize that this does not directly extrapolate to fleshy targets or layers of clothing, so just take it for what it's worth.

The problem with this result is that it has implications to self-defense. There are alleged reports of hollow points becoming clogged with heavy fabrics in human targets, preventing adequate expansion and effectively becoming a full metal jacket round. The end result is decreased energy transfer, weaker knock-down power, and more limited tissue damage. If my life were on the line, I'd want to be able to depend on my bullet's expansion.


The round of the day award would have to go to the Double Tap Equalizer. You just can't beat two bullets in one cartridge!

I hope you all had as much fun reading about these rounds as we did shooting them… Of course that's impossible, but if you have any personal experience with these or other 10mm cartridges, let us know!

Day 2: Glock 20 [10mm] Review

I'm sure there are some of you out there that can't wait for our first post on an antique firearm. But before we get to that, I wanted to interrupt with a brief review of my favorite modern handgun, the 10mm Glock 20.

The reason I became interested in guns in the first place is because I've always enjoyed backpacking and camping. In the summer of 2007, I was hiking a portion of the Appalachian Trail with a buddy of mine, traveling through bear country on a rainy summer night. We couldn't ignore the sounds of sticks breaking and brush moving, and armed with a hunting knife and a can of bear spray, we somehow avoided confrontation with the beast that we were sure was tracking us. We spoke with another backpacker the next morning who mentioned spooking a bear off the trail earlier that day. I noticed his holstered revolver and took the hint.

When searching for the perfect trail companion for an outdoorsman, many default on a revolver due to its simplicity and perceived ruggedness. They assume that modern autoloaders are too prone to failure, and settle for a pretty 6-shot wheelgun. But wouldn't you feel a little more secure taking on the vast wilderness with 16 shots of one of the most powerful handgun rounds ever chambered?


The Glock 20 is a full-size polymer-framed semi-automatic pistol designed for the outdoorsman and hunter. With a magazine capacity of 15+1 and a reputation of indestructibility, a Glock is the only legitimate alternative to the revolver for prolonged outdoor use. Glocks will run forever without maintenance, but with practice can be field striped with one hand if necessary. They'll go bang every time you pull the trigger, and that is the most important feature for me. Whether it's for defense against four-legged creatures, or for everyday carry against two-legged predators, a Glock will always be your best bet for when shit hits the fan.

The GLOCK 20 in 10 mm provides massive
firepower. The use of the recoil-damping
GLOCK hi-tech polymer considerably reduces
recoil. With muzzle energy of 750 Joule and a
magazine capacity of 15 rounds, it is the reliable
companion on every hunt. It allows a safe and accurate
finishing shot even when hunting big game.
-GLOCK

Glock manufactures 10mm pistols in two sizes: full-sized (G20) and subcompact (G29). I went for the full-sized version because it facilitates added control, has a higher magazine capacity, and I still have no difficulty concealing it with a proper IWB holster (with a CPL of course*). They also make a G20SF, or "short frame", which is actually the model I purchased, shown in the included pictures. The only difference is a slightly reduced backstrap.

The number one reason to buy a G20: firepower. If you need another reason: durability. If you're looking for a perfect no-frills hunting or self-defense combat sidearm, look no further.

I'll leave you all with this action shot. I'm looking forward to starting up this blog, and you'll be seeing a lot more of my photography in the future. I'll be reviewing a few aftermarket accessories for this gun, and we'll be sure to include some ammunition reviews and field results. If there's anything you want to know about Glocks, leave us a comment. I could talk about my G20 all day.


* Anyone interested in learning how to obtain a concealed pistol license (CPL) in Michigan can contact us directly, but we will definitely make a post about this in the future. Remember, "a right not exercised is a right lost"!