American Shooting Journal - March 2019 PDF

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A MERIC A N
SHOOTING
JOURNAL
Volume 8 // Issue 6 // March 2019
PUBLISHER
James R. Baker
GENERAL MANAGER
John Rusnak
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Andy Walgamott
OFFICE MANAGER / COPY EDITOR

Katie Aumann
LEAD CONTRIBUTOR
Frank Jardim
CONTRIBUTORS
Brittany Boddington, Matt Collins,
Jim Dickson, Scott Haugen, Mike Nesbitt,
Jason Wilson
SALES MANAGER
Katie Higgins
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Mamie Griffin, Mike Smith, Paul Yarnold
DESIGNERS
Kayla Mehring, Jake Weipert
Gentry Custom, LLC

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Kelly Baker
WEBMASTER / INBOUND MARKETING

Jon Hines
CUSTOM GUN BUILDER
INFORMATION SERVICES MANAGER
Lois Sanborn
Custom, LLC ADVERTISING INQUIRIES
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MUZZLE BRAKES!
We offer 5/8x24 threads QUIET MUZZLE BRAKES Brad Jannenga bagged this big-tusked warthog
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10 American Shooting Journal // March 2019
CONTENTS VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 6
51
ROAD HUNTER:
DECODING
TURKEY
DECOYING
Scott Haugen has downed more
than a few spring toms in his day,
and with season dead ahead, he
details how faux gobblers, jakes
and hens “serve a specific purpose,
sending precise messages, and
the more you know what these
messages are, the better the odds
of filling a tag.”
(TROY RODAKOWSKI)
FEATURES
27 THE KING OF BIG GAME CARTRIDGES 77 BLACK POWDER: ‘UNCLE DAVE’ EARNS A BUTTON
It packs more than a little wallop, but when the critter you’re It wasn’t the game that Mike Nesbitt expected to take with his big
pursuing is really, really large, the .577 3-inch Nitro Express is your .58-caliber flintlock named for the man who made it, but when the
friend. Jim Dickson has an appreciation for this cartridge. smoke cleared, boy, had it performed against one of the craftiest –
not to mention swiftest – animals in the woods!
41 SHE HUNTS: PLAINS GAME PARADISE
Rough-around-the-edges Mozambique isn’t as tourist-friendly 107 GUNS FOR THE ALASKAN BUSH DWELLER
as nearby African nations like Namibia and South Africa, but for From plinking for the pot to tending the trapline to protecting
seasoned hunters seeking unique plains game like the warthog, against cabin raiders – four- and two-footed alike – here’s
it’s a prime safari destination. Join along as Brittany Boddington what former Last Frontier backcountry resident Jim Dickson
hunts this somewhat overlooked corner of the African continent. recommends.
65 COYOTE HUNTING OPTICS: WHAT SHOULD YOU TOP

THAT AR-15 WITH?
Coyotes roam every nook and cranny of the country, but what
scope is best for your neck of the woods may be different than
habitats elsewhere. Matt Collins shares his thoughts on getting the
most out of your optics everywhere Wile E. roams.
AMERICAN SHOOTING JOURNAL is published monthly by Media Index Publishing Group, 14240 Interurban Ave South Suite 190, Tukwila, WA 98168. Display Advertising. Call
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87
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KING
THE
OF THE
BIG GAME
CARTRIDGES
It packs more than a little wallop, but when the critter is on the really large size,
the .577 3-inch Nitro Express is your friend.
STORY BY JIM DICKSON • PHOTOS BY WESTLEY RICHARDS
T
he .577 3-inch Nitro two weigh considerably more than a about a pound apiece.
Express is one of three .577, and the 8-gauge has twice the At this point someone always says
cartridges that I have recoil of a .577, while the 4-gauge has that 100 grains in the brain will kill
never been able to find three times the recoil of a .577. The anything with one shot. Wrong. In
an instance where a properly placed enormous size and weight of 8-gauge 1938 near Mpika, South Africa, the
bullet failed to stop any charging and 4-gauge cartridges make it famous elephant hunter Sir Charles
animal with one shot. The other two difficult to carry many rounds on your Ross put three perfectly placed brain
are the 8-gauge and the 4-gauge rifles person and you really need an ammo shots with a .450 nitro double in
of the Victorian hunters. These last bearer. Loaded 4-gauge shells weigh an elephant, but the elephant still
A vintage Westley Richards .577 3-inch Nitro Express like

the famed ivory hunter Jimmy Sutherland used.
managed to reach him and kill him Keith Haynes hand-
making a double’s fore
before it died. This was his 350th end at Westley Richards
elephant killed. The elephant’s skull in Birmingham, England.
lay on his grave for many years and
every passing professional hunter had
to examine it for himself and probe
the bullet channels. They all agreed
the shots were perfectly placed. It’s
these weird exceptions to the rules
and conventional wisdom that dictate
that bigger is better. The larger and
heavier .577 slug would have done
more damage plowing through the
brain and saved the hunter. The .577
has even been known to drive brain
matter out an elephant’s ear holes
with a brain shot. If Ross had only
used a .577 instead of a .450, he would
not have been killed.
OF COURSE THERE IS the

more common problem of tough
animals like the Cape buffalo. I
knew one white hunter who was a
successful elephant hunter in the old
ivory hunting days, yet he never shot
a Cape buffalo because he was afraid
of them. Does that tell you anything?

shot taken at an unsuspecting buffalo
will terminate it with predictable
efficiency, there is always that rare
case where the buffalo got his
adrenaline up and proceeded to take
15 or more assorted .458 and .500
shots before stopping.
One .577 will stop it instantly in this
situation. You have crossed a threshold
in power with the .577 and are in a
whole new world of stopping power.
A good parallel is the experience
of the Japanese navy when they
moved up from the 16-inch guns of
the Nagato-class battleships to the
18-inch guns of the Yamato-class
battleships. To their shock and horror,
A Best Quality .577 sidelock made by J. they found that the muzzle blast from
Roberts and Son for W.J. Jeffrey Co. Ltd. an 18-inch gun would tear the flesh
to be sold under the Jeffrey name. All
the pre-war Jeffreys were jobbed out to off a seaman’s exposed arm. They
the gun trade in this manner also. had crossed a threshold in power and
could not believe the difference.
The Cape buffalo is overbuilt with after the heart stops pumping. Most On a shoulder shot on an elephant,
extra-heavy bones, overlapping charging animals can often be turned the .577 visibly delivers a much more
ribs, a physiology that doesn’t react by a shot hitting them. The Cape crushing blow than a .470 or .500.
to hydrostatic shock, and a brain buffalo is like a kamikaze plane boring Some of the things .577 users witness
that can store oxygen under stress, in on a ship. Only death will stop defy belief and are guaranteed to get
enabling it to keep going for a while him once he attacks. While a careful you called a liar or crazy by those who

Westley Richards shop foreman Ken Halbert at the bench making a Best Quality double. Ken is one of the most skilled workmen in the gun trade.
have not seen it themselves. Longtime how important it is to get your gun because of its greater penetration,
users of the .577 often speak of these stocked to fit you. A proper gun it also kicks more than the .600.
things only amongst each other for fitting can be had at the West London This is because of the lower velocity
this reason. Shooting Grounds, The Easley and heavier gun weight of the .600.
Estates Shooting School outside of Underweight guns with the resultant
SUCH POWER BRINGS Birmingham, and the John Dickson vicious kick have kept the .577 from
visions of terrifying recoil to the and Son Shooting School outside of being as popular as it should be. It’s
uninitiated, but that is not true. Edinburgh, Scotland. In addition, not just the momentum of the recoil
While the 100 foot-pounds of recoil any of the Scottish and British Best but also the velocity of the recoil that
of a 15-pound .577 double is capable Quality Gunmakers can give a you must deal with. The higher the
of injuring you if you brace against gun fitting. This is done with a try muzzle velocity and the lighter the
it and fight it, this recoil is a heavy gun, which has a stock that can be gun, the faster the gun comes back at
shove that requires you to roll with adjusted to 1/16 inch in all directions. you. A sharp blow hurts worse and is
the punch. Just lean into the gun with It is an exact science requiring this more damaging than a shove. Recoil
a good grip on the barrels and pistol precision tool. I am unaware of velocity over 15 foot-seconds ensures
grip. Pull the gun firmly against the anyone with the proper training or gun headache, which is nothing but
shoulder but not so tight that the tools to do this correctly in the U.S. injury to the brain. A heavier gun
tissue has no more room to compress and your life may well depend on its slows this blow down to a more
when recoil starts. Now relax and let being perfectly correct. tolerable speed.
the gun push you up straight when It is important to note that gun
it fires. If your gun has been stocked weight has a lot to do with recoil. SOME MEN WILL SAY that
to fit you, as all double rifles and Every time you double the weight, you a 15-pound rifle is too heavy to carry.
shotguns should be, you will feel even cut the recoil in half. A 15-pound .577 Obviously they never lugged a loaded
less recoil. A double that has a fitted is not too bad to shoot. At 14 pounds, 20-pound Browning Automatic
stock can also be fired quite accurately it is noticeably worse. A 13-pound Rifle around like one man in every
like a shotgun without taking time to is very unpleasant and an 11-pound squad did for decades in the Army.
use the sights. That means you live in .577 will really show you what recoil Victorian hunters sometimes lugged
those life and death situations where pain and gun headache is all about. It 20-pound 4-bore doubles, which
time and light for sighting is absent. should be noted that just as the .577 is gained an extra 2 pounds when their
I cannot emphasize enough more effective on big game than a .600 cartridges were loaded in them. Since

the proper weight of a .450-400 is
10 pounds, a .470 is 11 pounds, and
a .500 is 12 to 14 pounds, with 14
being ideal, you really aren’t carrying
that much more weight, but you
are gaining so much more effective
power for when things go wrong.
When hunting in Africa where you
may have to run after the game in
African heat, a heavy gun can be held
steady when the lighter guns cannot
because you are hot and tired. That’s
why even the little .450-400 has been
made in 13- and 14-pound guns.
If you like to shoot a lot in practice
like I do, then I strongly recommend a
17-pound .577 with a wide buttplate,
two mercury recoil reducers in the
stock, and a Sorbuthane recoil pad
with rounded edges. Otherwise you
may end up shooting just one or two
rounds at a time, which is bad, as you
really need to practice with the gun
that you are staking your hunt and
your life on.
Some will say, what can go wrong
on a modern safari where you are
protected by your guide? I have seen
too many instances of both guide
and hunter being killed by big game
The finished masterpiece. A Westley Richards .577 double with hand detachable locks, handmade
exactly the same way they were when they made Sutherland’s pair more than 100 years ago. Westley
Richards made more guns in this caliber than most.
when their .375 magnums didn’t stop to be a really good shot. The standards
a charge in time. If you are depending of an exhibition shooter are thus
on your guide to protect you, perhaps beyond their means to attain, yet
you shouldn’t be there. After all, he is the customer wants to think that
generally a stranger to you. You don’t their guide can shoot like the great
know how he reacts when he feels exhibition shooters Doc Carver and
that he himself is endangered. You Ad Topperwein. It ain’t gonna happen,
don’t trust the new man in a combat son. If you want to be able to stand
outfit until you have seen him under on your own two legs and take care of
fire, so why is this different? No yourself like a man in all situations, I
modern professional hunter has the strongly recommend that you carry
time or ammo to practice sufficiently enough gun to do it with.

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SOME PEOPLE REGARD custom-fitted to act as a part of your uses the superb Woodleigh solids
the .577 as just a stopping rifle for own body, but still a gun that requires from Australia, which do not deform.
use in heavy cover. They subscribe practice to use effectively. If it is to be The result is that none of Wolfgang’s
to the “the more guns the better on used extensively you also have to get .577 bullets has ever been recovered
safari” tradition, which advocates a used to the recoil when shooting it from an elephant. There is always
7mm Mauser, a .375 H&H magnum, multiple times a day. an entrance hole and an exit hole,
a .470, and a .577 as the ideal hunter’s The old-time white hunters regardless of the angle the elephant is
battery. I subscribe to the old East certainly fired enough at a time to shot at. It doesn’t get any better than
India hunter’s advice, “Use your intimidate the uninitiated. Jimmy that for an elephant hunter. Wolfgang
big gun for everything, Laddie, and Sutherland cropped almost every big also loads the Woodleigh soft nose
count it practice for the day your life tusker in the Southern Province of bullets, which are unexcelled when
depends on it.” There is no better Tanganyika, today’s Tanzania, with a you want an expanding bullet. This is
advice you can give a dangerous pair of Westley Richards .577 double the only .577 ammo that I would use
game hunter. The more you use it, rifles. Decades later, hunters were or recommend others to use. I can’t
the deadlier you will become with it. complaining that there was no big say that too strongly because this is a
You will find that game shot with a ivory left there. Sutherland also had a life and death matter.
.577 doesn’t require difficult tracking, .318 Westley Richards but preferred
as it doesn’t go far. The sportsman’s the .577 for the extra margin of safety THE HISTORY OF THE
ethic of giving the game a clean, fast, it offered. .577 began in the black powder
humane kill has never been better Bad ammunition has been the era with the 24-bore Enfield .577
served. A good .577 double will easily downfall of many. The post-war muzzleloader and continued through
hit anything at normal hunting ranges Kynoch gilding metal-clad ammo the .577 Snyder cartridge conversion
and beyond. While the ammo is ruined the .600 nitro’s reputation. to these guns. The black powder
expensive, it is nothing compared to Original Kynoch .577 steel jacketed 3-inch version was developed when
the rest of the cost of the safari and ammo deformed on elephants, which the famous white hunter and explorer
if you don’t practice with it, how do inhibited their performance. The Sir Samuel Baker wanted an express
you ever expect to save your life with ammunition loaded by Wolfgang cartridge that could perform on
it when the chips are down? It’s a gun, Romey in Petershagen, Germany, pachyderms. The original black
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powder load with a 650-grain lead
bullet was potent but the full potential
of the cartridge wasn’t reached until
the nitro loading was developed at
the turn of the century. The modern
nitro load launched a 750-grain bullet
propelled by 100 grains of cordite at
2,050 feet per second. It equaled the
8-gauge in stopping power and only
the enormous 20-pound-plus 4-gauge
offered more stopping power. For
those whose life was on the line with
dangerous game in thick cover, this
behemoth was a blessing. Due to the
burning and pressure curve of cordite
being different from modern powders,
it can be difficult to recommend a
load that will shoot to the point of
aim at all ranges in all the guns that
were regulated with cordite charges.
Wolfgang Romey is considered one of
the world’s great authorities on small
arms and cannon powders and he has
powders that match cordite’s burning
and acceleration rates so that his ammo
shoots to the same point of impact as
the cordite shells at all ranges.
For the handloader, I have heard
that 145 grains of IMR 4831 with
an F215 primer and a 750-grain
Woodleigh bullet will give the factory
standard velocity of 2,050 fps, but
HANDCRAFTED since I have no experience with it I
IN THE USA cannot give any endorsement. Since
Leather Conceal loading for a particular double rifle
Carry Bags & Purses is more about getting the barrels to
shoot to the same point of impact
than velocity, the handloader should
start with 5 grains less powder and
work up till the barrels are shooting
to the same point of impact. Getting
a double rifle to shoot to the sights at
extreme ranges takes more than just
matching muzzle velocity, so I prefer
to stick to Wolfgang Romey’s ammo.
I like my long-range capability with
this very accurate cartridge and do
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she hunts
Mozambique isn’t as tourist-
friendly as nearby African
nations like Namibia and
South Africa, but for seasoned
hunters seeking unique plains
game like the warthog, it’s a
prime safari destination.
PLAINS GAME PARADISE

Rough-around-the-edges Mozambique offers seasoned hunters plenty of options.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY BRITTANY BODDINGTON
M
ozambique is one of
those magical places
I could go to over and
over again.
The last time we were there was
primarily for my fiancé Brad to get a
buffalo (American Shooting Journal,
February 2019), but we did a lot of
other hunting as well. The plains
she hunts
game there are all slightly different to Mozambique has plenty of wildlife viewing
opportunities, so expect to stumble upon
other places, which makes it a great cobras and monkeys (below) in your travels.
destination for those who have been
there and done that in nearby South
Africa and Namibia, in the southern
end of the African continent.
My favorite of the Mozambique
antelope are the blue duiker, suni
and the red duiker. They are part of
the pygmy antelope group – tiny and
elusive. Hunters typically use a small-
caliber rifle for the red duiker, while
the blue duiker and suni are mostly
hunted with a shotgun because they
are so small.
They live in dense forest
undergrowth and move about in little
channels carved by constant travel. For their first try to get them all. safe and wonderful for all ages. But for
the most part they are undetectable, If the small antelope are not more seasoned African hunters I highly
unless you catch them in little open exciting for you, larger antelope are recommend Mozambique.
areas. But even then they stand still also unique to the area. You’ll find It takes some effort to get to
with incredible camouflage skills. Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, Chobe the hunting area. You must fly to
It took me a couple days to start bushbuck, Selous’ zebra, Livingstone Johannesburg, South Africa, and then
picking them out as we drove around. eland, wildebeest and more. up to Beira – the fourth largest city in
I had to train my eyes to look for their Mozambique – where you can catch a
shape and color. Hunting these small A HARD-CORE EXPERIENCE charter flight into camp. It’s not a huge
antelope is always a challenge, and For first-time hunters and families I deal to get there, although it does take
only the lucky hunters succeed on typically recommend Namibia; it is some effort and patience.
I only go to Mozambique
with Zambeze Delta Safaris
(zambezedeltasafaris.com), which is
run by Mark Haldane. They always
have everything planned out and take
care of all the details, making the
customs entry and exit smooth sailing.
Since I do not speak Portuguese
and very few airport employees
speak English, I really appreciate his
attention to detail.
EARNING YOUR STRIPES

I was hoping for the chance to hunt a
zebra on this last safari. The Selous’
zebra is a beautiful creature, featuring
stripes going all the way down the legs to
the hooves and no brown shadow stripes.
They don’t get very many permits
to hunt these zebras, so I wasn’t able to
hunt them on my last safari. This year
Mark saved one tag for me!
They tend to stay in herds, with most
of the animals avoiding the thick forest
and staying more toward the edge of the
floodplains where the buffalo reside.

she hunts
We went out to the edge of the
floodplain to glass for zebra in the early
afternoon. We saw a few herds way out
in the open floodplains, but there was no
way to get anywhere near them with zero
cover, so we continued to glass.
This continued for a few days with
no luck for us. But one day toward the
end of our trip we happened upon a
group of zebra grazing in a relatively
open area. We decided to make a plan
and sneak in. We were so fixated on
the zebra 400 yards ahead of us that we
almost missed the small group with a
stallion off to our left at 150 yards. Brad
spotted them and got our attention.
We changed our plan and got behind
some small palm plants. I was able to
get the sticks up and take a standing
shot and hit exactly where I aimed.
The zebra dropped to the shot. I was
shooting a borrowed Blaser in .300
Win. Mag., my favorite caliber for plains
game. The zebra was incredible – a true
stallion with battle wounds from years of
fighting, but it still had beautiful stripes
and was exactly what I was looking for.
HIGH ON THE HOG

Our final wish-list species was a big
warthog for each of us. Fortunately Brad
Lush green conditions greeted the
hunters’ morning coffee at camp. and I both found an old dinosaur in the
The edge of barren floodplains like this offer a good opportunity to

spot zebras, which congregate in herds away from the thicker forests.

she hunts
“Mozambique is one of those places I could

easily visit every year,” Boddington writes.
last two days of the hunt. I thought my

warthog was huge until I spotted the
one for Brad to shoot.
The tusks were so long that one
of the warthog’s eyes was blocked by
the tip of the tusk. The trip was a huge
success and we are already planning
our next adventure there. I’m hoping
for an eland next time and Brad really
wants to hunt a bushbuck. Translation:
Mozambique is one of those places I
could easily visit every year! 
Editor’s note: Los Angeles

native Brittany Boddington is a
Phoenix-based hunter, journalist
and adventurer. For more, go to
brittanyboddington.com and facebook.
com/brittanyboddington.

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Gun care products maker expands into muzzleloader market,
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PHOTOS BY SEAL 1
rom competitive shooters have heard of Bore Butter and Wonder
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at Seal 1, explains the origins of the and is not vegetable oil- or vegetable actually increase the hard carbon
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different companies. I’m sure that you Seal 1 products do not incorporate they introduced their Below Zero
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Seal 1 offers an just for the Earth but for those who
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while you, your kids, or grandkids are
handling and cleaning your firearms,
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visit seal1.net.
ROAD HUNTER
DECODING TURKEY DECOYING
Tom behavior changes throughout the spring turkey

season, and knowing what their posturing and calling
means helps hunters determine what decoys to use.
Faux gobblers, jakes and hens ‘serve a specific purpose, sending precise messages, and the more
you know what these messages are, the better the odds of filling a tag’ during this spring’s season.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY SCOTT HAUGEN
E
ach season more and more could run upwards of $500. Some different colored heads. They can be
turkey decoys hit the custom-made, hand-painted synthetic found in full-strut, half-strut, feeding
market, and the creativity models will run $400 or more. positions, aggressive postures,
and precision with which Hen decoys come in a variety of submissive stances and more. The
they’re designed is nothing short of body postures and color ranges, and key is knowing which decoy sends the
amazing. Some decoys look even better some are even moveable. Jakes come message you want to convey at the
than the real birds. in a range of body positions with heads time of your hunt.
What will likely most influence what painted various colors and with tails at Whatever decoy or decoys you
decoy or decoys you buy will come full or half-fan, all in an effort to evoke decide to get, make sure you’re getting
down to how much money you want specific moods and behaviors. Some them for a reason. In other words,
to invest. A simple two-dimensional jake decoys even spin, raise and lower make sure you know what message
decoy can be purchased for as little a partially fanned tail. each decoy is sending. Based on turkey
as $20, or you can actually have a bird Tom decoys are also available populations and patterns, decipher
mounted for use as a decoy, and that in a wide selection, with an array of what objectives you want your decoy
ROAD HUNTER
set to convey.
If looking to use moveable decoys
– mechanically, battery or manually
operated – be sure it’s legal in the state
you’re hunting. One more warning:
when hunting pressured public
grounds, be sure to hide the head of a
mature tom decoy in your pack when
on the move; to stay safe around other
hunters, you don’t want it sticking out
when walking through brush. At the
same time, when calling, be watchful
of fellow hunters who might approach
your decoy, looking for a shot.
SO, WHAT TURKEY decoy should you

buy? If you’ve never hunted turkeys
before, I’d start with a lone hen,
and that’s it. A lone hen decoy has
accounted for more than 75 percent Turkey decoys send a very
specific message. What decoys
of the toms I’ve taken over a decoy or work well early in the season may
decoy spread. In other words, a hen not produce later in the spring.
decoy has worked for years, and it will
continue working. adult toms that there’s a hen nearby, and pirouetting. When walking behind the
The purpose of a hen decoy is to she must be ready to breed, for the jake hen decoy, a tom might try to approach
capture the attention of a tom that is is courting her. This will often draw a and mount her. I’ve had numerous hen
looking to breed. If he sees her, he’ll mature tom in, fast. decoys knocked over by toms trying to
likely come to inspect. When a mature tom approaches a lone breed them. This is why, when using
If you’re looking to acquire multiple hen decoy, he’ll usually break into full- a lone hen decoy, you want her facing
decoys, your next best purchase might strut to get the hen’s attention. Often he’ll toward you or to the side of you, to keep
be a jake. A jake decoy situated near strut and walk around the hen, sometimes the tom from staring your direction, as
a hen decoy sends the message to gobbling, spitting, drumming and he’ll make an effort to get in front of her.
DAVE SMITH DECOYS

Recently I’ve been using a selection of Dave Smith Decoys
(davesmithdecoys.com) on my spring turkey hunts. These are
the most realistic man-made decoys I’ve ever used, and I’ve never
had a tom or hen spook from them.
Last season I was very impressed with the Mating Hen decoy.
Used alone, I had multiple toms mount this decoy early in the
season.
I also had great results with the DSD Mating Pair turkey
decoys. Not only did this duo capture the attention of distant
toms, but the sound they made when bumping together while
pulling the jerk cord made approaching toms aggressively react.
I’ve used a lot of full-strut tom decoys over the years, and the
DSD Strutter is the best I’ve seen. Last season, a guide buddy
had 100 percent success when using this tom decoy. It’s bulky,
and not cheap, but more than worth the investment and effort if
you’re serious about taking your turkey hunting to the next level. Author Scott Haugen, based in Oregon,
highly recommends the realistic faux
–SH turkeys made by Dave Smith Decoys.

ROAD HUNTER
When setting up a hen decoy for
bowhunting from a blind, I’ll usually stick
her 5 yards from the blind, no more than 10
yards. If hunting with a shotgun, 25 yards
is good, for this will give the pattern time
to spread out. This is where patterning
your shotgun is important, so you know
exactly how it’ll perform at what range.
If using a jake decoy in conjunction
with a hen, positioning is important,
especially for bowhunters. When using
a jake decoy – or any tom decoy, for that
matter – it’s a good idea to set them so
they’re either facing you or standing
broadside to where you’re sitting. This
is because when a tom approaches, he
usually goes in front of the intruding male
decoy in an effort to visually impress and
intimidate him. For a bowhunter, getting
the live tom to stand between you and the
jake decoy will offer the best shot.
AS FOR MATURE tom decoys, there are

many thoughts to using them; in fact,
Replacing a synthetic turkey tail fan with a real one you’ve dried
yourself can make a difference in getting wise toms to commit. they are so new to the world of turkey
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ROAD HUNTER
hunting, the verdict is still out on just
what these decoys can and cannot
do. Personally, I’m amazed at how
their application continues to expand
and just how effective they can be
throughout the season.
The key to choosing and using a
tom decoy comes down to knowing
what’s behaviorally going on with the
birds in your hunting area. In regions
with high tom densities, I’ve observed
fights amongst mature birds throughout
much of the season, and it’s especially
high during the first half of the season.
During wet, cold, delayed springs, I’ve
seen toms remain in bachelor flocks
two to three weeks longer than normal,
meaning these are also great situations
in which to use a full-strut tom decoy. I
also like them later in the season when
hens have gone to nest.
I like using full-body, strutting tom
decoys in agricultural areas, too. Here,
toms are used to seeing hens, and
This tom couldn’t resist a Dave Smith Decoys Mating Hen, know what gobblers are in the area. But
one the author had great success with early last season.
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ROAD HUNTER
introduce an aggressive tom decoy and I’ve had the best success using and leave you wanting more.
the live bird will often come barreling white-headed tom decoys in One thing I do with all my strutting
in to see who the new intruder is. conjunction with hen decoys in a tom decoys is replace the factory
Some hunters like using tom decoys submissive, breeding position. I think supplied synthetic tail with a real fan
that are in half-strut or a walking this combination is effective because it I’ve made. When heading to Merriam’s
position, as this sends the message sends the message that a hen is ready country, I’ll use a Merriam’s tail fan, and
that they are interested in the hen to breed, and that an aggressive tom in Rio country, a Rio fan. I like the real tail
decoy, but not overly confident. This is ready to mount her, but also willing fan because it doesn’t reflect light and
semisubmissive decoy position can be to take on any challenges. Where tom the feathers move in the slightest breeze.
an open invitation for a live tom to come ratios are high, or many hens have With turkey season fast
in, strutting his stuff as he approaches gone to sitting on their nests, this can approaching, grab a decoy or two
with the attitude that he’s going to be a great decoy combination to get and use them, wisely. Decoys serve
establish dominance, then breed. toms fired-up and moving in. a specific purpose, sending precise
There are tom decoys with I’ve also had good luck using a messages, and the more you know what
red, white and blue heads, and brightly colored, red, white and blue- these messages are, the better the odds
ones with nearly all white heads. headed, full-strutting tom decoy over of filling a tag. 
Brightly colored heads send the both a submissive hen decoy, as well as
message, “Hey, look at me, I’m good one in a feeding position. Editor’s note: For copies of Scott
looking, I’m brave and I’m worthy For years, hunters thought that tom Haugen’s best-selling book, Western
of breeding.” A white-headed tom decoys would scare off turkeys, and in Turkey Hunting, send a check for $20
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tough and mad, and for you other some of the most eye-popping memories online at scotthaugen.com. Follow Scott
toms, come fight me, I dare ya!” you’ll ever witness in the turkey woods, on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
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COYOTE
HUNTING OPTICS:
WHAT SHOULD YOU TOP
THAT AR-15 WITH?
Scope selection varies by
region, usual range to target,
time of day you’re afield.
STORY BY MATT COLLINS
ARTICLE AND PHOTOS COURTESY OF
GUNBACKER.COM
H
unting a natural predator
can be an exhilarating and
rewarding experience.
There’s nothing quite like
hunting something that can be just as
clever and canny as you are.
Coyotes fit this bill nicely. They’re
smart, fast, tough creatures that also Coyotes roam every nook and cranny of the country,
happen to be destructive to livestock but what scope is best for your neck of the woods may
be different than habitats elsewhere. (CHAD ZOLLER)
and other game animals like pheasant
and quail. All of this combines to
make coyote hunts a popular and
enjoyable pastime.
That is, if you can actually hit the
sneaky suckers.
Coyotes are a challenging animal
to hunt. They’re smarter than a lot of
common game animals like whitetail
and even turkeys, and they’re stealthy
and cautious at all times.
If you’re looking to go after this
wily creature, you better make sure
that you and your gear are up to the
task, or you’re sure to go home empty-
handed. Today, we’re going to be
talking about one of, if not the most
important piece of gear for coyote
hunting: your optic.
Coyotes are small, fast, and
sometimes like to hunt in low light
around dawn and dusk, so you’ll need most subjective, part about choosing and still being sure of an ethical kill on
all the help you can get if you want any scope, and that almost goes a coyote-sized target.
to down some songdogs this year. double for choosing a predator scope For those longer shots,
A good optic is a strong step in the for coyote hunting. magnification in the 14x to 20x range
right direction, while a poor one will The magnification you need is is more on par with what you’ll want
definitely leave you hanging out to dry. going to vary wildly based on your to make sure you can not only spot
environment, your rifle, and even your something small like a coyote, but also
OVERVIEW personal skill level. land an accurate killshot.
There are so many different high- First, consider your environment. I like a 4-14x variable optic,
end choices out there these days that What’s the local geography like? personally. It has a wide enough view on
choosing just one to mount on your The terrain? Are you in woodlands, the low end to make those close-range
rifle is somewhat of a daunting task. covered swamps, or wide open plains? shots where the coyote is just about in
How do you pick one scope from the If you’re somewhere in the Deep your lap, but also enough magnification
thousands that are out there? South, like I am, you might have to to easily spot coyotes slinking through
Well, first you need to define your make a 300-yard shot, but most of the grass at 300-plus yards.
needs. A 40x target scope and a 3-9x your hunting is going to be under
hunting scope can both be perfectly 150 yards or so. For this, a 3-9x is LIGHT-GATHERING
good scopes, but for dramatically going to be just fine. You’ll want to Like I said before, coyotes rarely
different types of shooting. You will stay away from closer range optics, cooperate and come out to stand
likely be hunting varmints from a like Aimpoint’s. in the open during broad daylight,
distance, so you won’t have a need for For those who hunt Great Plains preferring to be more cautious during
a red-dot sight or a high-priced optic country, you might have to make shots the day, and a little more active around
like a holographic EOTech sight. as far as 400 yards, sometimes even dusk and dawn.
For coyote and other varmint more. I’ve personally taken shots on Why does that matter? Because if
hunting, here’s what you need. coyotes as far as 800 yards, but that was your scope doesn’t pull enough light to
with a rifle that I know very, very well. see the coyote, good luck even knowing
MAGNIFICATION I personally wouldn’t feel comfortable it’s there. A good coyote scope will be
This is the most contentious, and also reaching out much further than that able to pull in ample light to make those

FIVE GREAT PICKS
W
hile there are many different optics on the market, here are the ones I’ve used and tested personally, so I can vouch
for all of them in the field. Each has all the traits I consider to be most important, so let’s dive in and take a look at
each model in more detail. –MC
VORTEX DIAMONDBACK SERIES

The Vortex Diamondback series might just be the best value in budget-
minded optics right now. Vortex has nailed the pricing on these things,
and you still get an excellent feature set for the price.
This is the scope that I would consider the best for occasional
hunters, or those who want to save the most money on their gear. The
4-14x44 and the 6.5-20x50 options are more than adequate for coyote
hunting at even the longest ranges.
I have one of these scopes on a .308 AR-10 and after probably 1,000
rounds or so, the zero hasn’t shifted at all and is still dead on. On
something lighter like a .223 AR more suited to coyote hunting? It’ll
keep running forever.
BUSHNELL TROPHY SERIES

The Bushnell Trophy series is the other budget option that I would
still consider worth your time. The glass isn’t as clear as the Vortex
Diamondback line, and they don’t have Vortex’s stellar lifetime
warranty, but they are perfectly good otherwise, and are typically a little
bit cheaper.
These are more traditional hunting scopes, and are ideal for those
who are looking for a traditional duplex crosshair reticle. Bushnell owns
a huge chunk of the hunting market, and scopes like this are why.
If you’re looking for something simple with an uncluttered reticle,
this is the way to go. This scope line also has some pretty impressive
light-gathering ability, and is more than rugged enough for all but the
worst abuse your rifle is likely to see. Don’t drop it out of a treestand
and it’ll be just fine.
VORTEX VIPER SERIES

The Vortex Viper series is a higher-quality version of the Diamondback
series. It has better target turrets with better adjustments for longer
shots, as well as an illuminated reticle for those all-important low-
light shots.
The Viper series also has (slightly) better glass that contributes to the
Viper series’ overall higher price, and the scope washes out far less at
higher magnification. The Viper series might be the best value in long-
range optics right now, and I’ve easily made 1,000-yard shots with this
scope at full 20x magnification.
If your personal skill and rifle are up to the task, these scopes make
shots like that a cakewalk, even in low light.

LEUPOLD VX-3I SERIES
Leupold is one of the most respected names in the optics world, and
they continue to earn their reputation with every single product they put
out. Their scopes aren’t cheap by any means, but you can be absolutely
sure they’ll work and continue to do so under even the most adverse
conditions.
The Leupold VX-3i series comes with the proprietary Diamondcoat 2
lens coating, which not only gives you the highest level of scratch- and
abrasion-resistance Leupold has ever offered, but it also gives you some
of the best light gathering and contrast of any scope on the market
today.
With these scopes, you can stay in the field longer, shoot later, and
drag it through all the roughest terrain without having to worry about
the scope at all.
NIGHTFORCE NXS SERIES

Nightforce is basically the king of the tactical scope market, so you know
they’re going to have some great options for the coyote hunters out
there. The NXS series is not cheap. At all.
Even the cheapest options in this line are likely to cost the same as a
couple mortgage payments, but for that high cost of entry you get what
might very well be the best scope on the market without getting into
the “could have bought a used car instead” budget.
These are the scopes the military uses, and police departments that
can afford them also love them. These scopes can literally take a bullet
and keep working. It doesn’t get any more rugged than that, folks.
I’ve used a Nightforce scope on the few opportunities I’ve had to
reach out to 2,000 yards, and when I build my .338 rifle out, this is
what’s going on top of it.
These scopes will survive any kind of abuse, pull in light better than
anything but a dedicated night vision optic, and come in a variety of
magnification and objective sizes to give you exactly what you need for
your next coyote hunt, no matter the conditions or distance involved.
“20 minutes after sunset” shots, and clear, high-quality glass. Bargain-bin and don’t want to learn? That’s OK too!
may even have an illuminated reticle to scopes at your local gun store need Most hunters will really be OK
make shots like that even easier. not apply. with a simple duplex reticle for coyote
Of course, if you live somewhere Personally, I like a scope from a hunting. Learning your gun, using
that allows night hunting, you’ll need quality manufacturer like Vortex, U.S. consistent ammo and learning your
something that can do an even better Optics, Bushnell, Sightron, etc., and windage and elevation holds with a
job in this area because you’ll be with at least a 40mm objective lens, simple crosshair is going to be of more
working from spotlights. but more preferably a 50 to 66mm use to most hunters than learning how
How do you get a scope with good objective lens. to use a MRAD, MOA or BDC reticle.
light-gathering abilities? Mainly, get If you want to get a reticle that’s
one with a large objective lens. The RETICLE tuned to your particular hand-loaded
objective lens of a scope is the end There are fancy target reticles out bullet, or mil-dot reticle that you can
that points towards your target. It’s there that will help you estimate use target shooting, go for it. Just don’t
typically measured in millimeters, distance, judge bullet drop be fooled by the manufacturers (or
and when you see that something is a automatically and correct for windage. other gun blogs) that say you need
4-16x40 scope, it’s the last number in Do you know how these reticles work? them for coyote hunting. Use what
the listing that tells you the objective If so, great! Mil-dot and BDC scopes you’re comfortable with, and learn to
lens has a diameter of 40mm. are wonderful for hitting targets at use it extremely well.
For a good low-light scope, you’ll unknown ranges in variable scenarios. That’ll make you a much more
also want something that has very Don’t know what a milliradian is effective varmint hunter, I promise.

RUGGEDNESS
For those of you who can walk 100
yards to a treestand and reliably call
coyotes to you on any given day, you
don’t need to worry about this section
too terribly much.
For the rest of us mere mortals
who have to schlep our rifles several
miles, getting in and out of vehicles
at different stands, a rugged scope
that isn’t going to get scratched up,
knocked around or lose zero is a must.
That’s why I recommend quality
brands with a solid reputation, and a
good warranty policy as well. There’s
nothing worse than shouldering your
rifle to take aim at that coyote in the
distance and finding a big scratch on
your scope lens, or worse, taking a shot
and realizing your zero has shifted so
badly you’re nowhere near the target.
CLARITY AND CONTRAST

This is another area where you get
what you pay for and it definitely
behooves the aspiring coyote hunter
to spend a little more on quality glass.
Coyotes have some great natural
camouflage that makes them very
difficult to spot in their usual habitats.
This means that you need a
scope with good clarity that won’t
wash colors out, which means good,
high-quality glass, well-made, that’s
multi-coated and fog-proof. These
are features that you only get in more
expensive scopes, but optics makers
like Burris and Vortex are offering
insanely good scopes with these
features, at very affordable prices.
Whether you go after coyotes
once a year, or you’re continually
picking them off from your front
porch to protect your livestock,
there’s a scope out there that will
help you get the job done.
With a sufficiently rugged optic
like the ones mentioned in the sidebar,
and the right magnification, your next
coyote hunt should be a breeze. 
Editor’s note: Matthew Collins is an active

contributor at GunBacker. He enjoys both
competitive shooting and gunsmithing.
When you don’t see him at the range, you
can catch him on Instagram and other
gun-related websites.

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BLACK POWDER
A BUTTON FOR ‘UNCLE DAVE’

It wasn’t the game that the A group fired with the big
.58 while sighting-in.
author expected to take with it,
but his big .58-caliber flintlock
still performed well in the woods.
STORY AND PHOTOS BY MIKE NESBITT
L
et me begin this tale
by reviewing some
background and a few
technicalities. The rifle that
is the real centerpiece of this story is a
.58-caliber flintlock,
in the fullstock
Hawken style. That
was the last rifle While both of these originals are Washington state’s Cowiche, on
made for me by the percussion rifles, my gun is a flintlock. the eastern slopes of the Cascade
late Dave Dolliver. No original Hawken mountain rifles Mountains, looking for deer and elk,
It was my second have been found with flintlock ignition, during the early season. There was
.58-caliber rifle, but compared to some but I do believe some were made. plenty of meat taken by other camps
of the other muzzleloading calibers, This rifle was finished in late but that kind of luck just didn’t shine
I had very little experience with the summer, now more than a few years on me. However, I did make one
.58s. Getting more experience with ago. Then it was taken to the range rather good and lucky shot.
the .58s was something I did set out to to be sighted-in and that took just That took place on Thursday, our
do and when that experience came, it a few shots. I’d fire a group of three fifth day of hunting. It looked like we’d
came in good measures. shots, then file down the front sight have a dry day, unlike previous ones
The design for this rifle came from to bring up the point of impact. That with rain and snow. In the morning
two original Hawkens, which are both was repeated five times and with just I grabbed the .58-caliber Hawken
featured in John Baird’s book, Hawken 15 shots fired, the rifle was hitting very and headed out to a favorite ridge
Rifles: The Mountain Man’s Choice. close to center at 25 yards. Then it where I could sit and just watch the
From the lock to the muzzle, it copies was tried at 50 yards with the powder hillside below. Les was going into
an original fullstock Hawken that has charge raised from 60 grains (which the canyon with hopes of making
a 39-inch barrel. From the lock to the was used at 25 yards) to 80 grains. The something move for me. I picked a
buttplate, my new rifle follows the target at 50 yards was very good too. good sitting spot, but the wind shifted
lines of the Modena Hawken and the so I moved. At my new spot I caught
Modena-style patch box is included. THE NEXT WEEK was spent camped a glimpse of what looked like a dark,
There is one difference, however. with Les Miller high in central round critter running downhill, away
from me. It didn’t make a sound and
it disappeared behind a tree only to
reappear for just a moment before it
was gone completely. That, I’m pretty
sure, was a running blue grouse.
Here’s “Ol’ Uncle Dave,” the last rifle made for (Some have suggested that it might
author Mike Nesbitt by Dave Dolliver.
have been a turkey, but all I saw was
BLACK POWDER
furred coyote came by. It went right in
front of me, coming from my left and
continuing to my right. When it got
well past me, perhaps just 30 yards
away, I eared my rifle’s hammer back to
full cock. To do that silently, I held the
trigger back and pulled the hammer
back until it stopped. Then the trigger
was released and the hammer was
eased forward so the tumbler in the
lock could engage the trigger sear.
That was done with no noise at all. But
then I set the trigger and there was no
way to muffle the very quiet “click”
that set triggers have. That quiet click
Nesbitt’s coyote looks small, but note
of the triggers sounded more like
that his rifle boasts a 39-inch barrel. a loud “clank!” to the coyote in the
silence of those mountains. The coyote
the silhouette.) Then the wind shifted my left. Of course, I was also hidden turned with a surprised look on its face,
again so another move was made, rather well in that direction. My view as if it was saying, “My gosh! That’s the
taking me to my third spot. downhill was very good, as well as click of a set trigger!” Then it bolted
My third spot was a good one. I was to my right. Best of all, at this new and ran at full speed going straight
anchored very comfortably next to a location, the wind was in my favor. down the open hill.
stump, which was also next to a spruce Nothing stirred or entered my view When the coyote bolted, going
tree, so I had very limited visibility to for about two hours, when a nicely so fast that my eye could barely

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BLACK POWDER
follow it, a voice inside me said, “Not that was carried in an empty 35mm which left no exit wound. I was sure
a chance now.” At the same time, film container and a prepatched ball, glad I hadn’t listened to that voice that
another voice inside my head said, patched with a prelubed .020-inch patch had said “Not a chance now.” A bit
“Give it a try!” Perhaps I listened from Bridgers Best, from the loading later I stepped the distance off back to
too much to those voices and the block, which hung around my neck. where I’d shot from and that distance
argument they were having because Before reloading the rifle, however, was 79 uphill paces. My uphill pace is
I don’t recall actually squeezing the I had to stand up. I had been sitting just a bit shorter than while pacing on
rifle’s trigger. When the sights were there, without moving, for over two level ground, so the actual distance for
aligned, giving the running coyote hours and my legs were sound asleep. the shot was about 70 yards, if not a
just a little lead, the big rifle roared. That meant standing up was quite a hair more.
chore and while I was somehow able The fur on that coyote was certainly
THAT LOAD WAS a heavy one; it was really to rise, there was nothing quick about in prime. That became my trophy for
meant for elk. Behind the patched it. Once I was able to stand, reloading this hunt and I cased out the skin using
.565-inch round ball was 120 grains of the rifle was easy and with the rifle my Remington Bullet knife, keeping
GOEX FFg powder. The big flintlock freshly loaded and primed again, I only the tail attached. Then the skin was
rifle fired without any hesitation headed down to find the coyote. carried up the hill and back to camp
at all and I saw the dead coyote go After getting down to the old skid where Les was already waiting for me.
skidding out from behind the rifle’s road that was below me, I saw the He quickly grinned and complimented
cloud of smoke. After skidding the coyote lying there, stone dead. At first my good shot. Later, back at home, my
little distance that I could see, the I could not find where the bullet had .58-caliber Hawken, the rifle I’ve named
coyote completely disappeared. It had hit. That was a mystery until I noticed “Ol’ Uncle Dave” in honor of its maker,
slid over a small drop in the hillside a puckered-over entry hole right in the was awarded a small low-dome brass
and that hid it from my view. My next back of the coyote’s neck. The .58’s ball tack put in the bottom line of the stock
step, of course, was to reload the .58, had hit the critter in the back of the behind the trigger guard for its first
using a premeasured powder charge neck and then exited out the mouth, good shot at a critter. 

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84 American Shooting Journal // May 2017

BROUGHT TO YOU BY
BULLET BULLETIN
BEST HANDGUN CALIBERS

FOR BEGINNERS
Caliber choice is critical for new shooters.
Pick the right entry point and you’re already on your way to enjoying a fun, long-term shooting hobby.
STORY BY JASON WILSON • ARTICLE AND PHOTOS COURTESY OF GUNBACKER.COM
or a new shooter, buying need to identify what they intend the
F
TRAITS OF BEGINNER CARTRIDGES
their first handgun can be an gun to do. For example, a new shooter In general, beginners should stick
intimidating experience. What may desire a firearm that is suitable to commonly available, well-reputed
brand, what style, revolver or for self-defense; a self-defense caliber handgun calibers. Magnum rounds
semiauto, and most of all what caliber? has certain criteria to meet. A shooter are often too much of a handful
Most people jump straight into picking looking for a fun range gun has some for new shooters, and odd balls are
out their favorite handgun without different criteria to meet. often expensive and hard to find.
thinking about what caliber it is. We are going to first look at the Commonality and affordability are very
Caliber choice is critical for new best calibers for beginners, and then desirable traits for a caliber to have.
shooters. Too much gun can be a provide you with a few examples of If you cannot afford to shoot the
handful; too little and you might be popular handguns in each caliber that caliber regularly, the skills you build
undergunned. you should consider when you are first will deteriorate. The same goes for
Beginners looking for a firearm starting out. trying to find ammunition in odd
bullet bulletin
calibers. Rounds like the .32 Long are of beginners tend to create an and harmed themselves or another.
still out there, but they can’t be found exaggerated and noticeable flinch that Firearm selection is another
in most big box stores. pulls a shot off target. Starting with important thing to remember when
The round should be relatively low a smaller, lower recoiling caliber and choosing your first caliber. If a shooter
recoil. Beginning with powerful, heavy working up to larger calibers is the likes a certain caliber, they need to
recoiling rounds can actually cause better way to go. ensure that caliber is in a firearm type
training scars. Training scars are poor Magnum calibers for beginners are they want. For example, the 10mm is a
habits gathered from poor training also genuinely unsafe. There have been great round, but few production guns
and practice. tragic accidents in the past where an chamber it compared to 9mm.
Magnum calibers in the hands individual lost control of the firearm
FOUR GREAT BEGINNER CALIBERS
While there are a number of different
caliber choices out there, we are going
to focus on four of the great American
stalwarts for anyone just starting out.
We highly recommend starting off
with a .22 handgun of some type if
you are brand new to shooting. The
ammunition is cheaper, and you won’t
have to deal with recoil when you are
first starting out.
If you are brand new to firearms and
hop out on the range with your shiny
new 1911, you might just decide not
to come back after you feel the power
that a .45-caliber handgun offers. We’d
also recommend that you look at a
handgun with a metal frame instead
of a polymer frame if you are nervous
about any type of recoil.
Now let’s look at each caliber in
detail, and then we will give you a few
different handguns to check out that
we feel are a good fit for anyone that’s
just starting out.
.22 LR: A SAFE CHOICE

The .22 LR round is a classic of
American firearms. It is a tiny rimfire
round chambered in the anemic .22
caliber. The .22 LR is probably the
most popular round in the world if you
judged it on a per-round-sold basis.
At only an inch long, the rounds are
often sold in bulk. You can commonly
purchase .22 LR in bricks of 500
rounds for around $30. This makes it
a very affordable round that can be
purchased and fired in bulk while not
killing the wallet.
The round is common enough that
any gun store in the United States will
carry it. The same goes for big box

COWBOY STANDARD
.25 85 GR. RNFP/500 .32KEITH 125 GR. SWC/500
ICES !
.32 78 GR. RNFP/500 .380 95 GR. RN/500
OW E R PR
.38 120 GR. TC/500 9MM 115 GR. RN/500
NEW L
.38 125 GR. RNFP/500 9MM 125 GR. RN/500
.38 130 GR. RNFP/500 .38 148 GR. DEWC/600
.38-40 180 GR. RNFP/500 .38 158 GR. SWC/600
.44-40 180 GR. RNFP/500 .40 180 GR. RNFP/500
.45LC 160 GR. RNFP/900 .45ACP 200 GR. SWC/500
.45LC 200 GR. RNFP/500 .45ACP 230 GR. RN/500
.458 350 GR. RNFP/100 .45LC 255 GR. SWC/500
GAS-CHECK
!
.38 158 GR. SWC-HP/100
PR ICES
.357 180 GR. LBT-WFN/100
NEW LOW E R
.41 230 GR. SWC/100
.44 240 GR. SWC-HP/100
.44 240 GR. SWC/100
.44 305 GR. LBT-WFN/100
.45LC 260 GR. SWC-HP/100
.45LC 325 GR. LBT-LWN/100
.458 430 GR. LBT-LWN/100
.500 440 GR. LBT-WFN/100
This is a good cross reference of the bullets we offer.

We have about 144 set of molds with new molds coming.
Sixteen employees working 10 hr. a day shifts 4 days a
week with 9 casters, 6 auto lubers, and 12 star lubers
gas checking every day. We have bullets made with five
different alloys that we order in 40,000 - 60,000 lbs at a
time a mixed per our set alloys.
Prices subject to change without notice.
bullet bulletin
very common and extremely popular.
It’s used by police, military, concealed
carriers, competition shooters and
recreational plinkers. And it can be
found in any self-respecting gun store
and big box store.
Buying online in bulk is often the
cheaper method, but does require a
significant initial investment. Buying
bulk can often reduce the price per
round to an affordable 17 cents. Nine
millimeter also comes in a very wide
variety of different loads and styles.
A shooter can purchase affordable
and common 115-grain full metal
jacket loads for practice, or choose the
.22 LR heavier 124-, 135-, or even 147-grain
rounds for a variety of different
stores that sell firearms. The .22 LR is Best .22 pistols for beginners: purposes. For example, the 147-grain
so highly desired and so common, it’s • Ruger SR-22 loads are often subsonic and perfect for
one of the easier rounds to locate. • Walther P22 suppressor use.
When it comes to recoil, the .22 LR • Any of the pistols covered in our The 9mm round is an excellent
is probably one of the lightest rounds roundup here round for both defensive use and
out there. There is almost no recoil plinking. Its affordability makes it a
in your average-sized handgun, just 9MM: MOVING UP IN THE WORLD great choice for simple target shooting.
a gentle push that lets you know you The 9mm round has experienced a There is more recoil than the .22 LR,
fired it. In the smallest of guns, like resurgence in the last two or three but it’s far from harsh or punishing.
derringers, the recoil is still minimal years. With ammunition technology The recoil is controllable in full-sized
and comfortable to fire over and over. constantly changing and evolving, weapons, compact weapons and even
The .22 LR is the perfect training the 9mm projectile has become more subcompacts. Shooters will not run into
caliber for shooters looking mainly to effective and more popular. The 9mm recoil issues until they go to super small
target practice and plink. It is not the round is the current choice of the United pocket pistols. Even then, the recoil is
best choice for a defensive round. It’s States military and NATO as a whole. controllable, just a bit snappy.
simply too small, and does not reliably Nine-millimeter ammunition is The 9mm is a great caliber that
penetrate deep enough to always strike
something vital.
As a target round it excels in
accuracy and beginners can shoot
quite a bit affordably to practice and
become proficient with their firearm.
Speaking of firearms, the selection for
handguns in .22 LR is expansive.
New shooters can find revolvers,
automatics, derringers, and even bolt-
action .22 LR pistols. The round is so
popular people make a wide variety of
firearms in the caliber. New shooters
can get cowboy-style revolvers, or
.22 LR versions of the most popular
automatic pistols.
The .22 LR is the best round for
beginners who are children, or who are
recoil-sensitive and scared of the loud
9mm
concussion most handguns create.

bullet bulletin
creates an advantage in terms of ammo. Firearm selection is also very • CZ 75 B
versatility. A single pistol can be broad for this caliber, and includes • Ruger SR9
used for target practice and plinking, automatics and revolvers. This caliber • Any of the pistols we cover in our
concealed carry and general self- is mainly found in automatics and can 9mm write-up here
defense, and even some competitions. be found in close to any configuration
The 9mm is a very versatile a shooter desires. .38 SPECIAL: LESS POPULAR BUT FUN
round, it’s easy to shoot, and quite Best 9mm Pistols for Beginners: The .38 Special is probably one of the
capable when paired with the correct • Glock 17 oldest active rounds still commonly
used for self-defense. It is a classic
revolver cartridge that’s been around
for generation after generation. The .38
Special is typically a revolver caliber,
and a good choice for anyone looking
for a modern six-gun.
There are at least two automatics
that can chamber and fire the .38
Special, but it is mainly used in
revolvers. The .38 Special is the round
used for small revolvers designed for
concealed carry.
The .38 Special is well known and
well respected for its features, which
includes a relatively low recoil, even
when fired from a small, snubnose
.38 Special
revolver. Snubnose revolvers in .38

bullet bulletin
Special give users a compact weapon, the .38 Special. For those who prefer hardly any muzzle rise. Since most
in a full-powered cartridge. In an a wheel gun over an automatic, a .38 .38 Specials are revolvers, you can
automatic, the same size auto would Special with a 3- or 4-inch barrel is an purchase reduced recoil ammo that
likely be in the weaker .380 ACP. absolute blast to shoot. will not cause functional issues with
The .38 Special isn’t just isolated to The round is accurate and performs a revolver.
snubnose revolvers, though. There are well as a defensive round. It also has a Best .38 Specials for Beginners:
several full-sized revolvers that shoot very mild recoil that is pleasant, and • Rossi 352
• Smith & Wesson 38
.45 ACP: AN AMERICAN CLASSIC

The .45 ACP is a classic American
round. Designed for the legendary
1911 automatic pistol, the .45 ACP has
served the United States for over 100
years. It was the standard military-
issue handgun cartridge for over 70
years and is still an American favorite.
The .45 ACP is a bigger round that
does have the highest level of recoil on
this list. However, the recoil impulse
from the .45 ACP is not harsh or painful
in any way. It is often described as more
of a slow push than a snappy kick.
The .45 ACP is good for beginners
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who start with a .22 LR may decide
to move up to a new caliber and the
.45 ACP is an excellent choice in that
situation. Since the round has been
around for so long, there are tons and
tons of pistols chambered in it.
The classic 1911 is just one of
hundreds of .45 ACP pistols out there.
The classic round has attracted almost
all major manufacturers to create a .45
ACP handgun.
The .45 ACP is an excellent choice if
you are a beginner looking to acquire a
suppressor. The common and cheap .45
ACP 230-grain ball round is naturally
subsonic. Other calibers have subsonic
rounds but they are often hard to find
or pricey.
This makes it a very quiet round
out of a suppressor since there is no
supersonic crack. The .45 ACP is also
an excellent choice for individuals who
have an affection for classic firearms.
The .45 ACP is an American institution
and it often attracts new shooters for
good reason.
Best .45 ACP Pistols for Beginners:
• Any type of 1911, preferably an
American-made model or a Sig Sauer
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COMPANY SPOTLIGHT
EVOLUTION OF A FIREARMS COMPANY

Freedom Armory Machine
Works, makers of rifle, pistol
suppressors, changes its
name to TiON Inc.
Dragoon
PHOTOS BY TION INC.
iON Inc., a division of
T Freedom Armory Inc., has

gone through quite the
evolution over the course of
its 25-plus-year run, morphing from a
modest 1,000-square-foot retail facility Grenadier 45
into a 23,000-square-foot state-of-the-art
operation and manufacturing complex.
Freedom Armory Inc. was first
established in 1993 with the intent
of creating a full-service, premier
training, shooting, retail firearms and
gunsmithing facility in Glen Rock,
Pennsylvania. They became a Class III
Minuteman
dealer shortly thereafter, selling silencers,
machineguns and short barreled rifles.
And in 2012, Freedom Armory formed a system,” says Scott Morris, the removed from the suppressor tube/
manufacturing division, called Freedom company’s president. “One of the most body for the ease of cleaning/servicing
Armory Machine Works, with its core difficult areas of suppressor sales is each suppressor component. The
y objective being the reinvention of the trying to describe the decibel reduction Grenadier 45 and Minuteman also
sound suppressor. of a given unit and the entire range of employ the company’s patented Gas
Over time, it became clear that the calibers that can be fired through it. We Indexing Technology (GIT), which
manufacturing activity must become excel in this area and provide a section allows the consumer to reconfigure the
its own entity with its own identity, in our catalog on testing with table data suppressor baffle stack for improved
and thus, Freedom Armory Machine to support the decibel numbers, such as sound reduction capabilities on
Works officially became TiON Inc. on bullet weight and barrel length.” different host firearms.
January 2, 2019. While the name has He continues, “The Grenadier 45 “The overall characteristic that
changed, the folks at TiON Inc. still is the most popular pistol suppressor, defines our line of suppressors is the
offer the same quality products with primarily because it supports more use of titanium and TBT in all our
the same excellent customer support. calibers than our 9mm suppressors. products, making them the world’s
Their most popular suppressor Our first suppressor, the Minuteman, lightest, serviceable suppressors in
remains their Dragoon 7.62 QD, and its 3.9-ounce weight, redefined the their respective calibers,” says Morris.
followed by the Grenadier 45 and rimfire suppressor market.” As for what’s next for TiON Inc.,
Minuteman .22. The Dragoon family of suppressors, Morris shares that they’re working on
“The shooting public is amazed by the Grenadier 45 and the Minuteman several new products, but “no sneak
the Dragoon’s less than 13-ounce weight all use the company’s Total Breakdown previews at this point.” Stay tuned. 
and total serviceability, as well as our Technology (TBT), which allows
unique quick disconnect mounting every suppressor component to be Editor’s note: For more, see tioninc.com.
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GUNS FOR THE
ALASKAN
BUSH DWELLER
From plinking for the pot to tending the trapline to protecting against cabin
raiders – four- and two-footed alike – here’s the arsenal one man recommends.
STORY BY JIM DICKSON * PHOTOS BY MANUFACTURERS
T
his article is for those who and since these must both provide increasing in recent years and wolves
live in the bush. Those who food and protection, this is no place come in packs, dictating a semiauto for
go on a guided hunt may to scrimp on quality. Having lived defense. No matter how deep into the
find other guns satisfactory there, here are my observations on the wilderness you go, you still may run
for their purposes, but a bush dweller’s subject. into people. Some of them are nice and
life may depend on his guns being The people living deep in the some are not. Some treat any cabin and
called on to meet every contingency, backcountry face threats the same as its contents as abandoned, even if there
not just those of a guided hunt. Most those in the city, only a bit different. is a fire still going in the barrel stove. Be
bush dwellers have only a few guns Wolf and bear attacks have been forewarned and be prepared.
Between foraging for dinner – looks like ptarmigan is on the

menu for this Arctic Alaska gunner – managing a trapline and just
dealing with the dangers of living in the bush, the Last Frontier is
no place to scrimp when it comes to firearms, especially for those
trying to make a go of it in the bush. (PAUL A. ATKINS)
Browning .22 rifle
Ruger 10-22 semi-auto
A GOOD .22 RIFLE is a basic after World War II, the CETME was carbine is also easy to hit with. Indeed
necessity for small game and practice. adopted by Germany as the G3. These it may well be the easiest rifle of all
No practice, no hit anything. The guns work perfectly with all 7.62 time to hit with. So don’t worry. The
old Browning semiauto .22 has the NATO and .308 loads, including the gun will do its part. In any survival
longest trouble-free life by far. That heavy bullet ones. Whichever one you scenario, hitting what you shoot at is
made it the mainstay of shooting buy, you need to send the trigger group the first priority. This gun is small and
galleries in years gone by. to Williams Trigger Specialties for a light, as is its ammunition, so you can
A somewhat cheaper alternative is trigger job, as the mil-specs on these carry a lot of ammo easily. The finest
the Ruger 10/22 semiauto, which has guns call for a bad trigger in order ones I have encountered are made by
earned a wide following. to survive an insanely high drop test Inland Manufacturing. They make it
Rifles need to be able to handle without jarring off. Some hoplophobic to the last mil-specs, which were a big
moose and bear. The best one currently bureaucrat’s idea of safety. improvement over the earlier ones.
available is the semiauto version of People often want to know what is Inland has been able to get 1-inch
the German G3 rifle. This was also the best survival rifle to carry in their minute-of-angle groups at 100 yards
Norway’s standard 7.62 NATO rifle, bush plane. The answer may surprise with their guns.
so you know that it will work in any you. It is the M1 carbine. Its cartridge Riflescopes often have a problem
part of Alaska at any time of the year. is basically a high-velocity .32-20 load with the fact that it rains so much in
The G3 has proven more reliable than and it kills small game cleanly without Alaska. Bushnell’s RainGuard coating
any other gun in widespread use. ruining the meat. It has also killed very on their scopes’ lens enables them to
Even Russia’s vaunted AK-47 pales many deer and bear, even though it be used in the rain. For semiautos, get
in reliability comparison to the G3. is universally considered not the best a German three-post reticle because
New guns built on the machinery caliber for that. Some people say they crosshairs blur in aimed rapidfire.
Portugal used to build the gun under would not want to face a charging Once you have taken that careful first
license from H&K in Germany are grizzly with one. Well, the grizzly’s shot, you may need aimed rapidfire
available from PTR-91. Guns built on brain is located on the centerline of the to bring a running big moose down
military surplus parts kits are available skull about halfway between the eyes before his noisy demise attracts bear.
from Century Arms at about half the and the ears when his head is down, I do not want to deal with skinning,
price. The ones made in Spain are and you have plenty of shots at it, for butchering and packing out a moose
called CETME and they were the first the carbine is almost as fast-firing as and a bear on the same day. That’s just
ones. Designed by German engineers a .22. Unlike most survival rifles, the more work than I want.
Inland M1 Carbine
PTR 109

Inland Mfg. M1911A1
Colt Single Action Army revolver
FOR PISTOLS, THE BEST choice is

the M1911A1. Due to the short ranges
in our part of the Alaskan interior,
my wife Betty and I ended up using
WWII Remington Rand M1911A1s
for everything with perfect results. M1911A1. This is a loose-fit also makes the web belt
We were both pistol shooters, which gun with play in the slide but and magazine pouch to
made this easy. The M1911A1 is by still incredibly accurate out to go with it. For concealed
far the most reliable pistol ever made 300 yards. carry, nothing beats the
and definitely the one to choose when For holsters we always used pancake holster and El
your life depends on your pistol. It the WWII G.I. issue rig of the M1916 Paso Saddlery makes a fine one for this
is extremely fast firing and instantly holster with web belt and magazine gun that they call their Tortilla.
reloadable with fresh magazines. Again, pouch. Both El Paso Saddlery and A .22 pistol is a necessity on a
in my opinion the best one in current Pacific Canvas and Leather make this trapline. We used a Stoeger .22 Luger
production is the Inland Manufacturing holster, and Pacific Canvas and Leather because it was so accurate and easy to

hit with. It wasn’t the best .22, though, Perry. Unlike most .22 pistols, these ever had with any automatic. That said,
and it is no longer made. Today the are easy to maintain. Many fine .22 the choice is now between single- and
finest .22 pistol is the Marvel Precision pistols are difficult and tricky to take double-action revolvers.
LLC .22 conversion unit mounted on a apart and put back together, but not The M1873 Colt Single Action
M1911A1 pistol. This means that you these. They also go on and off the gun Army revolver in .45 Long Colt has
have to buy an extra M1911A1, but quickly and easily. been popular in Alaska since the gold
now you are getting cheap practice rush. It has accounted for every type
with the gun that you are depending A LOT OF PEOPLE prefer a revolver. of Alaskan game many times over the
on. The Marvel Precision LLC units It is a myth that revolvers are more years. It is an extremely easy pistol
tighten down on the gun in such a way reliable than automatics. I like to to hit with, which accounts for its
that they provide the finest accuracy, shoot at least 200 rounds a day and popularity. On the downside, it is slow
as witnessed by the fact that they I have had far, far more jams and to unload the spent cartridge cases and
are used in the .22 matches at Camp malfunctions with revolvers than I reload the chambers. So slow that its
sustained fire rate is the same as a cap-
American and-ball revolver with paper cartridges.
Derringer Always remember to carry this gun
.45 Colt
with the hammer down on an empty
chamber, as otherwise a sharp blow
to the hammer can fire the gun. This
is the way it has always been carried
over the years, despite its being called
a “six-shooter.” The Colt has a lot of
screws and they all like to work loose
as the gun is fired, so get a pair of fitted
screwdrivers for it from Peacemaker
Specialties and keep them tight. I have
always found the 4¾-inch barrel the
fastest and best handling length on this
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gun. If you go this route, get a genuine caliber handguns. There are solid FOR SHOTGUNS, THE CHEAPEST
Colt. Trust me, you will be glad you did. reasons for sticking to these two solution is a Mossberg 500 12-gauge
The finest double-action revolver proven performers. Due to the poor pump gun. With a 20-inch riot gun
is the stainless steel Ruger Redhawk ballistic shape of pistol bullets and barrel and sights loaded with German
4-inch barrel in .45 Colt. It is a modern the fact that air resistance goes up Brenneke slugs, it will put down a bear
design without screws to back out and exponentially with velocity after 50 to as fast as the biggest magnum rifle.
is made as rugged and indestructible as 75 yards, your .44 Magnum’s velocity With a choked barrel made for use
modern science can make it. It has the has dropped below that of the .45’s with steel shot, which will ruin any
most perfect double action trigger pull and the .44 only has a .429-inch bullet barrel not specifically made for it, you
of any revolver I have seen. You can diameter compared to the larger have a waterfowl gun. You can shoot
actually shoot as good double action as .451-inch diameter of the .45. Since grouse and rabbits quite well in either
you can single action with this pistol. you never want expanding bullets in a configuration and you don’t have to
El Paso Saddlery has a full line of pistol used for big game, as you need use that infernal steel shot for them.
holsters for both of these revolvers. penetration, this size difference is If you are serious about your
significant. The sonic boom of a bullet shotgunning and don’t want to waste
THERE IS ALWAYS A place for a over the sound barrier of 1,100 feet per shells by missing game, you had better
close-range backup pistol, but it must second, added to the muzzle blast, will invest in a side-by-side 12-bore game
be powerful and small. The best one I quickly do permanent hearing damage gun from the British Isles and have
have found is the American Derringer to unprotected ears and how many it stocked to fit you. You will have to
Co.’s .45 Colt/.410 double Derringer. people have their shooter’s earmuffs on have a gun fitting at a shooting school
This gun is a close-range powerhouse all the time they are in the bush? The or a gunmaker over there and have the
that does not recoil badly, so long as subsonic .45s are safer on your hearing. stock made to these measurements
you keep a tight grip on it. In Alaska Recoil of the magnums slows down or, in the case of a used gun, altered
I would only carry .45 Colt ammo in the second and third shots so much to fit them. Now you have a gun that
it due to the bears it might be called that it can have fatal consequences to points exactly where you are looking
upon to defend against. you. Stick with a proven performer and you can hit unfailingly with. Prices
You will note that I only and don’t get caught up with the latest range from a new Purdey at the high
recommend .45 ACP- and .45 Colt- craze like a teenage bobbysoxer. end to a used Birmingham-made

Mossberg 500
ALASKA GUN CARE

boxlock extractor gun at the low end. Alaska’s extreme weather makes equally
Either way you won’t wear them out like extreme demands on gun oils. The best
you will a mass-produced gun in hard for year-round use is Ballistol. This was
shooting service. Having a broken gun the standard German Army oil in both
or running out of ammunition without world wars. It works equally well on steel,
bringing sufficient game to bag is a wood and leather. It forms an emulsion in
lot more serious deep in the Alaskan water, so it won’t wash away in Alaska’s
interior in the winter than it is for the rain. As long as there is 5 percent Ballistol
casual sportsman in the Lower 48. This in that emulsion, the water will evaporate
is reason enough to invest in the best. without causing rust. It can also be applied
in the rain if need be. When winter comes,
THE AFOREMENTIONED GUNS WERE moisture forms like dew on cold guns Ballistol
recommended as the best available brought inside. If they are lubed with
within the budget of the average Alaskan Ballistol, it will evaporate away without rusting. When Alaskan winter cold hits
bush resident. There are other guns, 60 below, do what the Germans did on the Russian front and use a mixture of 7
of course, but some of the best are parts kerosene to 3 parts Ballistol. There is no reason to use a dry, unlubricated
not readily available or are very high gun when Ballistol is available. A mixture of 25 percent Ballistol and 75 percent
priced, or both. The M1941 Johnson water makes an excellent bore cleaner that works on black powder, corrosive
semiautomatic rifle is a good example of primers and noncorrosive primers. Ballistol is nontoxic and also works to
this. The guns I have listed will give good prevent chapped, cracked and split skin in the winter months. –JD
service and not let you down.


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MAKING THE CX4

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Hand Guns Shotguns Bolt Action Rifles

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42 American Shooting Journal // March 2019

HIGH ON THE HOG

The edge of barren floodplains like this offer a good opportunity to

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46 American Shooting Journal // March 2019

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