SEPT / OCT 2023 www.insidefirearms.com
sept / oct 2023 | insidefirearms.com | 3 sept / oct 2023 | contents Inside the Industry First Round Join the Cause By Patrick Meitin New & Notable Firearm products with strong sales potential Industry News The latest on news, events, and people in the firearms industry Company Profile Comp-N-Choke Distributor Spotlight Davidson’s Company Profile American RAC Industry 5Q Five Questions with Sports South People Timber Creek Outdoors Faith, Family & Freedom By Michaelean Pike Market Trends Reloading Center Starline Brass 6mm ARC Cases By Patrick Meitin Rifle Report Marlin Firearms 1895 SBL in 45-70 Government By Patrick Meitin Gear Report Zeta6 EDC Speed Loaders By Patrick Meitin Gear Report Radcolube CLP 3in1 Firearms Cleaning Products By Patrick Meitin The Awesome AR-15: Popular for a Reason By Kat Ainsworth Stevens Reloading Center RMR Bullets 9mm Nuke Pistol Bullet By Patrick Meitin Focus on Optics InfiRay Outdoor RICO MICRO Thermal Imaging Device By Patrick Meitin Pro Shop Essentials OSR Business Insurance By Patrick Meitin The Industry's Hottest Hunting Optics By Patrick Meitin Gear Report Black Talon Tactical Calibrated Adjustable Drop-In Single Stage Triggers By Patrick Meitin 4 6 8 24 38 42 58 10 19 20 22 26 28 36 41 44 46 56 10 56 28 19 20 38 6 46
inside the industry | first round Join the Cause W hile crime soars in most major American cities, spawning sharp increases in firearms sales nationwide, the powers that be have formed the Office of Gun Violence Prevention. This office was supposedly formed to curb gun violence and mass shootings—a goal any of us can certainly get behind. Unfortunately, this is proving to be yet another example of attempting to curtail firearm ownership without going through the proper constitutional channels, having failed to sell lawmakers on the merits of the latest anti-firearms agenda. As crime is naturally dealt with on a state and local level, this move will do nothing more than add another layer of federal bureaucracy without offering any substantive solutions to the root causes—such as poverty, poor education, and mental health issues. It appears this move is simply an attempt to appease those who don’t believe the government is doing enough about perceived gun violence. Our government has certainly done nothing to curb exploding crime, instead tossing fuel on the fire with Defund and Bail Reform, which studies and statistics show to be a failure. Forming a nifty-sounding agency allows those involved to point at something and claim they’re trying. Meanwhile we have seen state governors who feel brazen enough to issue a ban on lawabiding citizens carrying firearms in certain jurisdictions. The Bureau for Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has also undertaken actions to impede firearm ownership, including implementing a rule requiring AR-15-style pistol owners to pay a $200 tax, submit fingerprints and register those firearms. Compliance has been scanty while owners await an inevitable SCOTUS ruling. During the current fiscal year, the ATF has also stripped 122 firearms dealers of their licenses based on minor clerical errors—up from 90 revocations the previous year, and 27 in 2021. This concerning information comes via the Wall Street Journal. Prior to 2020 the ATF more typically issued warnings for such minor infractions. I find it fascinating when people who passionately shoot and hunt with firearms so flippantly dismiss these obvious attacks on our 2nd Amendment rights. “No one is trying to take your guns away,” they claim, as if talking to a conspiracy theorist. I suppose by consuming nothing but heavily biased or bubbled news sources you might miss some politicians pointedly saying as much out loud. I’m the first to admit I’ve never been much of a joiner. Yet in the times we live in, it is more important than ever to support organizations fighting for your 2nd Amendment rights—National Rifle Association (NRA), Gun Owners of America, National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), Safari Club International (SCI), and National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR) large among them. These organizations, and others, are the ones on the forefront of fighting infringements to your 2nd Amendment rights. It is the very reason for their existence. So, while you might be one of those who isn’t a natural joiner, it is more important than ever to support those groups that support you, the firearms shooter, collector, and dealer. Patrick Meitin, Executive Editor
Inside Firearms is a publication of Apollo Creative Inc Printed in the USA. Publisher Apollo Creative Inc Owners • Stephen Mack | Patrick Meitin | Ed Rother Executive Editor Patrick Meitin • [email protected] Associate Editor Michaelean Pike • [email protected] Copy Editor Kat Ainsworth Stevens • [email protected] Online Editor Stephen Mack • [email protected] Contributors Gary Lewis | Michaelean Pike | Kat Ainsworth Stevens Sales & Marketing Stephen Mack • [email protected] • 814.341.9313 Aaron Buehler • [email protected] • 616.520.3244 Design & Production ER Graphics / Ed Rother • [email protected] Social Media Manager Jason Ashe Video Editor Marc Balistreri Account Manager Pam Ludlam • [email protected] Subscription Services & Change of Address: Inside Firearms Circulation Department Inside Firearms, PO Box 986, Levittown, PA 19055-9998 Phone: 844.862.9286 • Fax: 888.965.9961 [email protected] Publication Office Inside Firearms / Apollo Creative Inc P.O. Box 15827, Colorado Springs, CO 80935 Phone: 719.495.9999 • www.InsideFirearms.com Inside Firearms Copyright © 2023 Apollo Crreative Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. Inside Firearms is a registered U.S. trademark of Apollo Creative Inc. The views and opinions expressed in this magazine or online by any contributor do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the publisher, the magazine or its staff. Submission Guidelines: Apollo Creative Inc and Inside Firearms magazine assume no responsibility for unsolicited editorial, photography or art submissions. Contributors submitting articles, photos or art do so at their own risk. Material will not be returned without a selfaddressed envelope with sufficient postage. No contract, agreement, term or condition provided by any contributor shall be binding on Apollo Creative Inc unless it is signed and returned by the Editor. Firearms and hunting are inherently dangerous activities. Improper use of hunting or firearms equipment may cause serious injury or death. Always follow state and local hunting safety rules, and get required permits or licenses before hunting. Apollo Creative Inc uses reasonable efforts to include accurate and up-to-date information in our publications; however, we do not make any warranties or representations as to accuracy or completeness. All information in this magazine is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind. Apollo Creative Inc is not responsible for researching and investigating the accuracy of the contents of articles or advertisements published in this magazine. Readers use the information in this magazine at their own risk. Apollo Creative Inc assumes no liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this magazine, or arising from use by any person of the information in this magazine.
6 | inside firearms | sept / oct 2023 market trends | new & notable Sling Steady The Sling Steady system provides a more stable and reliable rifle squeeze bag, making it a great add-on sale for any serious hunter or long-range shooter. By creating a lightweight and more manipulatable squeeze bag that attaches directly to the sling, recreational shooters and hunters are able to steady their rifle much more quickly and effectively than before. The Sling Steady is quick and easy to install, using a standard rifle sling, the system’s provided draw strings and clevis/quick disconnect. Customers can also utilize the Velcro media ports to add or subtract media as needed to provide the desired hardness. The Sling Steady Sport Series measures 7 inches long, 2.5 inches wide and weighs 6.3 ounces and is perfect for AR-style platforms. The Sling Steady Pro Series is ideally suited to hunting rifles and measures 9 inches long, 2.5 inches wide and weighs 9.5 ounces. Learn more by visiting slingsteady.com Riptide Armory Gun cleaning products keep new guns looking new and functioning flawlessly, making them a natural add-on to any new firearm purchase. Riptide Armory’s Advanced Gun Cleaner & CLP+ Kit cleans, lubricates and protects firearms with long-lasting Nano Coat Technology. The high-performance two-step cleaning kit pairs Riptide Armory’s deep cleaning Advanced Gun Cleaner with the company’s advanced all-in-one CLP+ Graphene lubricant formulation. Advanced surfactants and chelates target carbons, mineral deposits, metals, and tough residues while remaining safe for all gun finishes, parts, and stocks, the second Graphene step creating a durable nano shield with anti-corrosion and surface smoothing properties for easier cleaning and more durable protection. The U.S.-made, veteran-owned business uses only the most advanced technologies available. Learn more by visiting riptidearmory.com. Silynx Communications Silynx’s Clarus Pro Rugged Noise Cancelling Headset is extremely compact and rugged. Every shooter needs hearing protection, making for nearautomatic add-on sales. Silynx employed combat-proven technologies to develop the Clarus Pro, providing electronic hearing protection that is not only compact, but robust. Its low-profile design measures about 1.7 inches high, 2.2 inches wide and 0.6 inches thick. The design can withstand dirt, mud, water, shock, vibration and many other environmental elements. Active NRR 25 hearing protection is combined with hear-through capabilities to maintain situational awareness, and it includes an in-line microphone for cellphone use and mobile audio connectivity. A single AAA battery offers up to 100 hours of use, and a low-battery warning voice prompt is included. The set allows holding normal conversation, while canceling background noise. Learn more by visiting silynxcom.com. Rick Young Outdoors No pair of binoculars is complete without a harness, and Rick Young Outdoors makes the lightest. The Ultra-Light Bino Harness is a hugely reliable suspension binocular/rangefinder harness that keeps customers’ optics instantly accessible without bulk, while eliminating stretch or sag over time. Rick Young’s U.S. manufactured shock cord is tough and doesn’t soften, stretch or sag with use. The shock cord grips and hugs the body and transfers optic weight around the shoulders and chest without digging or binding. The round cord won’t vibrate in the wind like flat strap harnesses can. A fast single-point adjustment allows quickly fitting the harness to any body type or clothing bulk, keeping optics ready. This design allows users to wear it in five different positions and store it tangle free when wrapped around binoculars. Fasteners are molded from proven composite. Learn more by visiting rickyoungoutdoors.com. Iosso Iosso is proud to announce that its proven Case Polish is now available in new signature cobalt blue color packaging. Iosso’s Case Polish easily piggybacks on any reloading product purchase as it works in conjunction with tumbling media to help reduce tumbling time and give brass casings a shiny, like-new finish. Iosso’s Case Polish removes powder fouling, residue, oxidation, tarnish and discoloration, bringing casings back to a high luster and protecting them from future tarnishing or spotting. Case Polish is available in a variety of sizes for use by everyone from the home reloader to commercial enterprises. Case Polish is environmentally and user friendly, making it perfect for those with allergies. The USDA Certified Bio-based formula has no odor. An 8-ounce bottle retails for $13.50, while quarts include an MSRP of $35.95. Case Polish is also available in larger sizes up to 55 gallons. Learn more by visiting iosso.com. Tagua Gunleather Any handgun sale should be followed up by asking how the customer plans to carry their new purchase. Holsters are a natural add-on to any handgun purchase, and Tagua Gunleather holsters offers some of the best in the business. The Loyal model from Tagua Gunleather lives up to its name by providing one of the most reliable holsters a customer will ever buy. It is crafted from super soft, high-quality leather, which allows the The Loyal to provide the ultimate in comfort for carrying a concealed handgun inside the waistband. The holster is designed to accept most styles of attached handgun optics, and was designed to provide a multi-fit design that can accommodate a wide range of handguns while also offering a secure fit. The Loyal is built to last and backed by Tagua Gunleather’s lifetime warranty. Tagua Gunleather offers a full lineup of quality, handmade handgun holsters. Learn more by visiting taguagunleather.com.
inside the industry | industry news ATF Notice Regarding Recent Changes to the ATF Form 4473 As you know, due to statutory requirements set forth in both the NICS Denial Notification Act and the Bipartisan Safer Community Act (BSCA), ATF Form 4473 was revised in December of 2022. Incorporating industry member suggestions made during the recent 60- and 30-day Notice and Comment periods, ATF has further revised the form and now that newest version (August 2023) has been approved by the Office of Management & Budget for implementation. ATF encourages all federal firearms licensees (FFLs) to begin using the Revised Form immediately. The Revised Form is available on ATF’s website and can be downloaded and printed for immediate use. Please note that the entire Form, including instructions, must be printed, and stored together. Hard copies of the Revised Form will be available through the ATF Distribution Center beginning November 1, 2023. The ATF eForm 4473 application is also being revised and notification will be sent pursuing additional action.” Liberty Ammunition is a leading U.S. manufacturer of self-defense ammunition for the consumer, law enforcement and government sectors. Liberty is one of the lightest and fastest ammunitions with all calibers exceeding the speed of sound. The high speed creates a hydrostatic shock as the projectile ruptures at the bottom of the cavity, dumping all energy into the threat. Liberty Ammunition is available only at leading retailers and distributors in the USA. | FOLLOW LIBERTY AMMUNITION BY VISITING LIBERTYAMMO.COM. German Precision Optics (GPO) Launches New Website GPO USA is inviting customers to explore its completely redesigned and reshaped website. The new site has been redesigned to offer the ultimate user-friendly experience with improved navigation and functionality while allowing customers to see the full portfolio of optics offered from GPO. It offers many new features as well as an adaptive design, regardless of the device being used. Created with the user experience in mind, the new GPO site is now faster and better organized so users can quickly and easily navigate the site to find the information and products they are lookwhen it is ready for use. A detailed breakdown of all form changes is provided on ATF’s website: ATF Form 4473—Firearms Transaction Records Revisions. The Revised Form will become mandatory for use on February 1, 2024. Please contact your local ATF Industry Operations office should you have any questions regarding the changes to the form. | GO TO WWW.ATF.GOV FOR MORE INFORMATION. Liberty Ammunition Wins Arbitration Liberty Ammunition, a leading manufacturer of self-defense ammunition, has been awarded full judgment resulting from an Arbitration Award it obtained against Veritas Inspections Systems, LLC. The award includes prejudgment interest as well as administrative fees. Gary Ramey, CEO of Liberty Ammunition said, “Liberty Ammunition is dedicated to producing superior self-defense ammunition. Unfortunately, Liberty was provided with inferior equipment from Veritas and was forced to take legal action. We are pleased with the Arbitrator’s decision and we are now
sept / oct 2023 | insidefirearms.com | 9 ing for. The site now utilizes backend meta data, specs are searchable, and a product comparison function has been added, allowing customers to make an informed purchase decision based on a comparison of product specs which are also searchable. “We are proud to launch our new website, which offers an improved user experience and advanced features. We were determined to match the quality of our products by offering optimized navigation, quality content and power tools to meet the growing needs of our customers,” said Michael Jensen, GPO, U.S. owner and CEO. “We are confident that this new site will become a valuable resource for anyone looking for premium optics.” The new site, gpo-usa.com, is up and running now. Be sure to check it out. GPO USA, an American company, was founded on the premise that design, engineering, and quality control can be 100 percent conducted in Germany to its strictest standards, yet products can be assembled at some of the largest production facilities around the world. This unique production process allows GPO to offer the highest quality products with better features at a significantly better price. GPO USA is confident that its products will not only function perfectly but will always exceed customers’ expectations. Therefore, GPO USA has created an industry-leading Spectacular Lifetime Warranty. With outstanding professional service, GPO USA will take care of its products before, during, and after the purchase at no charge—EVER. Founded in 2016, GPO USA is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. | FOR MORE INFORMATION ON GPO USA VISIT GPO-USA.COM OR CALL 844- MY BINOS (844-692-4667.) Rock Ridge Outdoors Names Dani Navickas Regional Sales Manager Rock Ridge Outdoors is pleased to announce the company has named Dani Navickas as its new Regional Sales Manager. “We are thrilled to welcome Dani Navickas as our new Regional Sales Manager,” said Janette Palmer, VP of Sales at Rock Ridge Outdoors. “With an exceptional depth of experience within the outdoor industry, an exclusive network of contacts, and well-earned reputation for excellence, Dani is going to lead our team to new and exciting opportunities and growth.” Navickas brings more than 25 years of experience working in sales, marketing, and product development within the shooting and outdoor industries, including tenures at Velocity Outdoor, Sig Sauer, and Remington. “I’m incredibly excited to join the talented team at Rock Ridge Outdoors,” said Navickas. “I look forward to applying my expertise and passion to help the company and its impressive roster of brands grow.” Based in Minden, Louisiana, veteranowned Rock Ridge Outdoors is the parent company of an impressive roster of best-in-class outdoor brands, including American Buffalo Knife and Tool, Cupped Waterfowl, Dead Ringer, The Grind, Mammoth Coolers, Pro Sport Outdoors, Rogue Ridge, and Telum Tactical. | TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ROCK RIDGE OUTDOORS VISIT ROCKRIDGEOUTDOORS.COM.
10 | inside firearms | sept / oct 2023 T hese days, my social media feeds are filled with ads from companies who claim to share my values, and I’m sure I’m not alone. It seems many companies have discovered that consumers would rather patronize businesses that hold certain values. Of course, it’s very easy to talk the talk. It’s far harder to actually walk the walk. As I interviewed several members of the Timber Creek Outdoors team, I was imBy Michaelean Pike pressed with how often the company’s values came up. As we discussed the history of the company, the company’s impressive line of lightweight and functional products, the programs designed to help dealers compete against online sellers and Timber Creek’s plans for the future, I heard again and again how those values—faith, family, and freedom—drive everything the company does. At Timber Creek, those words aren’t just plastered on the website to make customers feel good. They’re a roadmap for the company’s success and growth. A Passion for the Outdoors At the center of Timber Creek is the Tiller family. Led by patriarch Dewayne Tiller and his wife, Pat, the Tillers are passionate about the outdoors. Hunting, fishing, and spending time in the outdoors is simply what they do. “I have always liked the outdoors,” Dewayne said. “At age six I went hunting with my mother and father. I killed my first deer when I was 12. It didn’t matter if I was using a bow or rifle, I just enjoyed being outdoors and hunting what-
The Tiller family credits much of the success of Timber Creek to its family dynamics. Not only do they enjoy working together, but the company benefits from the unique strengths of each family member. From left to right: Jason Goss, Carla Goss, Kim Tiller, Tyler Tiller, Pat Tiller, Dewayne Tiller, Shawna Tiller, and Matt Tiller. sept / oct 2023 | insidefirearms.com | 11 ever game was in season. When my children and grandchildren came along, it was important to me to expose them to what I enjoyed—the outdoors.” That’s exactly what he did, sharing his passion with his three children—Tyler, Matt, and Carla. “I could not tell you when I was first introduced to the outdoors,” Tyler said. “The outdoors is a passion of mine. And it’s a passion that my siblings share, and it all stems from the passion that my father has. I was essentially born into the outdoors. I can’t remember the first hunting trip I ever went on with my dad and brother, but I recall lots of hunting trips with them before I was even old enough to hunt. “The most appealing thing to me when I’m in the outdoors by myself is the opportunity to be in God’s creation and just stand in amazement as the sun comes up or the sun goes down. But I prefer being in the outdoors with someone else. You don’t have the distractions of your family or your work or your cellphone. And you just get to be out with someone else and be raw. I’ve had a lot of fun hunting trips and we weren’t even successful. You build a special relationship with someone when you experience that together. “I have kids that are now hunting with me—a 13-year-old and a 15-yearold—and I love watching them set goals. My daughter killed several gigantic bucks, bucks bigger than I’ve ever killed. She doesn’t set the goal of killing a giant buck. She sets the goal of working hard to be a good shot, work-
12 | inside firearms | sept / oct 2023 ing hard to be a good hunter. Watching her achieve that goal every year is really empowering for her and rewarding for me.” Pat, while not a hunter herself, still enjoys going with her family. “I grew up in the country,” she said. “I love playing in the woods and the creek. When I started dating my husband, hunting was a big part of his life, so it became a big part of my life. I love the outdoors, and hunting appeals to me because it gives me a chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of life. It gives me a chance to spend time with my family. And I really enjoy seeing what God has created for us, His amazing hand in everything around us.” Getting Into Manufacturing Since 1980, Dewayne and Pat have run a successful manufacturing company, although Dewayne has experience in many other fields as well. “I graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in education,” he said. “I taught school at the elementary level for eight years. I sold electrical supplies for two years. In 1980, I started my own business manufacturing things out of plastic. God has grown that business to the point that it now supports our children’s families. As I did that, I also worked as general manager for Bowtech, an archery company, for 10 years. Following that, I co-owned Cosmos, a company producing and selling a snack food item.” Tyler, Matt, and Carla grew up in the family business, learning what it takes to run a successful company. After graduating high school, Tyler attended community college for manufacturing technology, where he learned to work with prints, models, and CNC machines. Then he returned to work at the family company. “I built molds for injection molding,” he explained. “I did that for several years. Then I went to work at Bowtech Archery. I worked in their R&D department on the manufacturing side.” Eventually, he came back to the family business, machining and molding parts. Then the company began doing production machining, a decision that would soon lead to the birth of Timber Creek. Turning Frustration into Opportunity In 2014, the Tillers’ business began doing production machining for other companies. Although the company had started off producing plastic parts, a few years earlier it had added metal parts to the plastic-injection business. “Someone came to me with a 10/22 mag release they wanted me to produce for them,” Tyler said. “I skipped my annual archery elk hunting trip to do this. They ordered 3,000 parts.” “We made the product,” explained Pat. “When he came back to pick it up, he took a very small portion. I think 50 was all he wanted.” The Tillers suddenly had a huge number of parts on their hands. “He was told he needed to either buy the entire order now or we would sell what remained,” Dewayne said. “He told us to go ahead and sell the rest of the order to someone else. With the outdoor and gun knowledge of our family, we thought we would be able to sell other products along with this item. That is how Timber Creek Outdoors Inc. got started.” It wasn’t easy. Tyler began visiting local gun shops to show them the part and see what he needed to do to sell it. “They wanted a clamshell, so we did research and ordered clamshells,” he said. “They didn’t just want a blank clamshell, they wanted a backer card to go along with it. And the backer card needed to be branded and have graphics.” Luckily, the Tillers have, as Tyler put it, a “get-it-done” attitude. Faced with a challenge, they sat down and got to work, finding a graphic designer to create a logo and help with branding. From there, the company quickly began to grow. John Hernandez, longtime industry veteran and product development consultant for Timber Creek, believes it’s that “get-it-done” attitude that sets Timber Creek apart from the competition. “What it boils down to at Timber Creek is its get-it-done-no-matter-what type of business philosophy,” he said. “When suppliers, dealers or industry partners have a request for Timber Creek, the answer is yes. So many people say no, we can’t do that, here’s the problem with that. Timber Creek figures out a way and they have the work ethic to be able to execute.” That was evident from the very beginning as the company began receiving requests from dealers.
The Tiller family not only works together, they also share their love of hunting and the outdoors with each other. This passion started with Dewayne Tiller and it continues across three generations with his children and grandchildren. sept / oct 2023 | insidefirearms.com | 13 “Once we established the brand, the name and the packaging, people said we should make an AR mag release,” Tyler explained. “And a muzzle break, and a foregrip. We were just hungry to make parts out of metal, and we had the ability to make parts. With a little bit of guidance from some dealers here in Oregon, we quickly grew the product line. Timber Creek was founded in January 2015. And by 2016 and 2017, I was telling customers we would have one new product a month. We were just rapidly expanding, talking to our dealers, asking them what they wanted to see us make, and then going and making it.” For Tyler and his family, it was an exciting time. “My family has been in manufacturing for decades, but we never really had a brand that we controlled,” he said. “We had some products that were ours, that we sold in distribution. We did a lot of OEM manufacturing. But we never as a family said, ‘We’re going to start this entity and we’re going to market this brand and we’re going to control this brand and we’re going to develop it.’ I was frustrated that I missed that elk hunting trip and worked really hard to make thousands of parts that just ended up sitting on the shelves. But the vast majority of Timber Creek has been exciting. We’re constantly trying to grow. In our dealer base, in our marketing ventures, in our product development.” And grow Timber Creek did. Quality Products The company soon became known for its lightweight, high-quality parts available in a range of colors. “When we first started, we offered parts in a few colors,” Tyler said. “We started making red parts to send to dealers as displays. We didn’t sell them as a color option. The dealers started calling, saying, ‘Hey, those red parts are really cool. Can we buy some?’ So, we added red to the product line. We added pink because we wanted to add a
14 | inside firearms | sept / oct 2023 color for women and girls. That blossomed into ten standard colors. There are other companies out there that offer color options on their accessories, but I don’t think there’s anyone that’s touching our 10 standard stock colors.” In addition to the 10 standard stock colors, dealers who visit Timber Creek at SHOT Show can order custom colors. “At SHOT Show, dealers have the option to order any wild color they want,” Tyler said. “That’s kind of our McRib of the season. They tell us the Cerakote color, and we’ll get it done for them. I don’t know how many different color options we’ve offered over the years, but I would guess it’s several dozen.” The color options definitely make Timber Creek stand out, but as hardcore shooting and hunting enthusiasts, the Tillers also know their parts have to offer functional advantages as well. “I think the experience of having hunters and shooters doing the designing has been a great asset because they know how things should work,” Pat said. “Our products are extremely lightweight,” Tyler explained. “We design them with the users in mind, making them easy to install, and we try to increase functionality on the gun. We put a lot of effort into developing new products that look cool, that are lightweight, but that are also functional.” Timber Creek continues to develop new, purpose-driven products based on feedback from consumers, requests from dealers and their own experience. “In the last couple years, we’ve branched out and developed a Greyman line that appeals more to a gunfighter or a battle rifle,” Tyler said. “We’ve launched a carbon-fiber line. We’re getting into pistol parts and rifle chassis. “We also offer our Enforcer kit. It’s a complete upgrade kit that allows you to upgrade a standard AR to a free-float handguard, an ambi charging handle, an ambi safety selector, and an extended mag release. It’s an all-at-once, do-it-yourself upgrade. You can take a gun that looks like everyone else’s and with this one kit you can change the color of it to reflect you, your personality, what you’re into. I’ve seen men—big, burly men—make purple guns to match their purple Harleys out of an Enforcer kit. My daughter has a Tiffany blue AR because she loves Tiffany blue. I think that kit is really appealing because it’s an all-encapsulating product. Your gun is now upgraded, both in functionality and in look. “When you look at the individual pieces—the ambi charging handle or the ambi safety selector—the advantages come more in the functionality. Our ambi charging handle has really large wings so when you have an optic above it or a big red dot, you don’t have a hard time getting to your levers to charge. Also, if you have gloves on, sometimes it can be harder to grab those levers, so the functionality improves there. Same with the ambi safety selector. You can configure that safety selector to fit your needs as a right- or left-handed shooter. It’s one long lever and one short lever, so you don’t get contact on your trigger finger, but you still have good engagement with your thumb when you’re flicking it on and off.” Supporting Dealers From the beginning, gun shops have been a big part of Timber Creek’s success. “We have about 1,200 active dealers across the U.S.,” Tyler said. “We really value the relationship we have with our dealers. Retailers are structured to sell products to consumers. We are 100 percent structured around having our dealer network out there so a person can walk into their gun shops and look at our products. Look at the colors. Look at the options. Pick what fits them best. For us, it’s safety. And hopefully the dealers can find safety with us as well. If we’re launching a new product, the dealers will have faith that we’re going to develop a good product and they will bring that new product on and sell it for us. Because
sept / oct 2023 | insidefirearms.com | 15 we’ve established successful programs with them in the past. “For me, my dealers are the heartbeat of TC. It’s how we distribute the products, it’s how we develop the products, and it’s how we look to the future. I had conversations last week with dealers in Washington because of the state’s heavy regulations. Essentially the vast majority of Timber Creek AR parts can no longer be sold in Washington state. I had great conversations with those guys about what the future looks like and what products Timber Creek currently offers that will be a huge success for them as they learn to accessorize Glocks. Or they learn to accessorize bolt-action rifles like they have been doing for the last several years with ARs. Our success is in those 1,200 dealers, in growing that dealer network and having those relationships with gun shop owners across America.” Timber Creek knows that brick-andmortar dealers face growing competition from online sellers. To that end, the company has developed programs to ensure its dealers retain a competitive advantage. “What sets us apart are our dealer programs,” said Brent Antiok, Timber Creek sales manager. “We have really competitive margins. We offer free shipping to dealers. We have dealer exclusives—some things that you won’t find on our website you’ll find through our dealers. We offer different holiday buying programs. Exclusive discounts, that sort of thing. We encourage people that like Timber Creek to buy from our dealers.” “We offer our dealers 50 percent margins,” added Tyler. “We offer them no minimums. There are a lot of opportunities to work with Timber Creek that some of our competitors don’t offer. We also offer a MAP policy that applies to online sales that does not apply to our brick-and-mortar dealers. Our online MAP products have to be listed at MSRP and can’t be discounted more than 20 percent. That gives our brick-and-mortar dealers 30 points to match any online listing. And they can choose in their store to sell it above or below that if they’d like to.” A Deep Faith When I asked members of the Tiller family what factors they believed led to the company’s success, each and every one of them said they owed their success to God.
16 | inside firearms | sept / oct 2023 “The most important quality of all is the fact that all of our family depends on God for wisdom and guidance,” Dewayne said. “In everything we do, we want to bring glory to Him.” Pat agreed. “I think our success comes from our strong faith in God,” she said. “Depending on him for direction in our designing and manufacturing. It wasn’t always easy, but God is always faithful with His guidance.” “We have seen growth over the last eight years,” Tyler said. “But within that success, there have been numerous struggles. Whether it’s a financial struggle as a young business or a manufacturing struggle trying to provide for customers in a timely manner, it has not been an easy road. We have a lot of faith in God that He’s going to see us through the most stressful times. Often in our weekly board meetings, we stop the meeting and have a prayer when someone’s talking about a hardship they have coming up. It allows us to move forward with a clear head where we can try to make the best decisions possible and know that God has provided for us and will continue to do so.” A Close Family At its heart, Timber Creek Outdoors is a family, and their close-knit relationship is a major part of the what makes the company stand out. “We have five family members who make up our board,” Dewayne said. “We do not always agree on what part should be designed and manufactured next. We try to be considerate of each person’s ideas and struggles, looking for the best way for each person to be successful in their area.” “We’re very close,” Pat said. “We live two miles from each other. We go to church together. When there are problems at work, that could flow over to family gatherings. We do very well with that, but that is a challenge. And it’s not an 8 to 5 job. Everybody’s always thinking, ‘What can you come up with next, how do we improve what we’re currently making, where are we falling short, what do we have to do?’” Tyler pointed out the team’s complementary qualities. “We all have different qualities and collectively we make a really good team,” he explained. “We get to use everybody’s talents. My brother is a phenomenal woodworker. The result of that is we have a phenomenal SHOT Show booth because I’m able to come up with concepts and designs and have a vision for how it will look, and my brother’s able to build it.” As the Tiller family has grown, so has the company. Carla’s husband, Jason Goss, joined the team and serves on the board. In addition, Dewayne and Pat have been able to give their grandchildren work experience. “I love that our grandchildren, at whatever age they want to work, get a chance to gain experience,” Pat said. “It might just be something as simple as sorting parts, but at least they learn what it’s like to work. We have 11 grandchildren. The youngest is 7, the eldest is 26. Three of them are married, so we really have 14 grandkids.” More Than Just Immediate Family The Tillers are an incredibly close family. But what came across clearly through our interviews is that, at Timber Creek, “family” doesn’t just mean blood family. “We have people who have come to work with Timber Creek and have become part of the family,” Tyler said. “The family mentality that my dad instilled in me and my siblings extends out to all the employees and the decisions we make at Timber Creek. We don’t necessarily make decisions based on what’s best for the company all the time. Sometimes we make decisions based on what’s best for our family or an employee’s family. “We are a team here. We work together for a common goal, and we have a lot of fun doing it. I want people to know who we are as a family. And that extends to the employees.” “All employees feel like they’re part of the family,” Brent confirmed. “You get a family vibe when you come to our shop, when you come to our office, and when you come to our SHOT Show booth. It’s really cool to be a part of.” That sense of family extends to the company’s customers, both its dealers and its end users. To buy from Timber Creek is to become part of the family. “We really pride ourselves on our relationships with our customers,” Tyler said. “I would like to think we have the best customer service out there. We had the oppor-
sept / oct 2023 | insidefirearms.com | 17 tunity to do a third-party review with SHOT Show. And through that review, out of 2,300 exhibitors at SHOT Show, Timber Creek ranked number one for their exhibitor performance score. That score was based on what the customer experienced when they came to talk to Timber Creek—how they were treated, how they were educated, how well they’ll remember Timber Creek in the future. I think that speaks volumes about our customer service and the priority we put on our customers. We want to form long-standing relationships with people. “Our products are backed with a lifetime warranty. I don’t care how your product broke. You’re going to call Braden Madison in our customer service department, and he’s going to send you a new part. Because we value our customers, we value our dealers, and we stand behind our products.” Bolstering Freedom The Tillers and the rest of the Timber Creek team are keenly aware that the freedom we all enjoy came at a cost. “When I think of the word freedom, I think of the debt that is owed to our veterans and our soldiers,” Tyler said. “Timber Creek wants to support our veterans. We are free because of the people who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, and we won’t forget it.” The company takes immense pride in manufacturing its products in the United States. “We want to encourage and strengthen the workforce in the United States,” Dewayne said. “Making our products in the U.S. allows us better control than having product made across the ocean.” “We’re proud to be Americans,” said Pat. “We want to do what we can to boost the economy of our country. We decided that even though it would be cheaper oftentimes to have things made overseas, we were willing to pay the price to be able to say made in America.” “We get to employ Americans and put people to work,” Tyler explained. “Last year we launched our Timber Creek Range Series where we’re offering paper targets. We have adhesive targets and regular paper targets. Those are printed at a print shop five miles from us. A lot of targets in today’s market are printed overseas. We were able to accomplish a pricing structure that can compete with overseas pricing, but the guys
18 | inside firearms | sept / oct 2023 get to go to work here to print those targets. It’s about making superior products here in America, but also stimulating the U.S. economy and putting Americans to work.” Timber Creek Today The company’s 9,000-square-foot manufacturing facility is located outside Springfield, Oregon, on the Tiller family ranch, which was named for the creek that runs through it. “We’re Timber Creek making parts on Timber Creek Ranch,” Tyler said. The company has certainly grown from its early days. Originally, Tyler worked from his parents’ carport, which the family converted to an office for the sales team. Eventually they had the opportunity to move into a space that had previously been an old country store, turning that space into the company’s corporate office. In addition to the Tiller family, many longtime employees and contractors help to ensure the company’s success. “The gratitude goes to the people who do the work,” Tyler said. “My brother and brother-in-law and I do our best to put together the plans and the products and the ability to manufacture, but when it comes down to it, it’s our employees who are turning the wrenches on the machines. It’s the sales team that’s out there selling it. It’s the people in the warehouse who are packaging the product.” The Future of Timber Creek Every member of the Timber Creek team said the same thing when I asked what we can expect from the company in the future: more. More products. More options. More growth. “People can expect our company to continue to come up with quality, innovative and cutting-edge products that will make their outdoor experiences more pleasurable,” Dewayne said. “Our company isn’t satisfied with our accomplishments,” Pat said. “We’re always looking for ways to improve parts or come up with new parts or diversify our product line. I think consumers can expect new colorful products that carry a lifetime warranty. Products that will make their outdoor experience better. And, most of all, products they can count on to be reliable.” “You can expect a lot of growth into other platforms,” Tyler said. “People know us for our vast array of colors. I’d like for people to know us for our vast array of parts. As we’re expanding these colored parts into other platforms, we’re also expanding into our Range Series and looking at expanding into range bags and gun cases and other things like that. What you can expect from Timber Creek will be dictated by the demand that we see from the consumers and our dealer network. But within that demand, we have plans to branch out to different materials as we’ve developed our carbon-fiber line and also into different platforms— bolt guns, shotguns, pistols. As we expand from there to soft goods or maybe archery or maybe fishing, we want to continue to grow and do things that we enjoy doing as a company.”
sept / oct 2023 | insidefirearms.com | 19 reloading center | market trends 6mm ARC Reloads—Starline Brass ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Overall 3-shot Loaded 100-yard Bullet Powder Charge Length Velocity Group (grains) (grains) (inches) (fps) (inches) ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 80 Badlands Precision Bulldozer-2 Power Pro Varmint 31.0c 2.25 3,062 .92 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 95 Sierra Tipped MatchKing Power Pro 2000-MR 32.0c 2.26 2,783 .58 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 105 Hornady Match CFE 223 28.0 2.26 2,470 .72 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 90 Lapua Scenar-L Power Pro 2000-MR 29.0 2.23 2,495 .26 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 107 Sierra MatchKing IMR-8208XBR 26.5 2.25 2,512 .45 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 115 Nosler RDF A-2520 26.5 2.26 2,397 .47 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– NOTES: Brass: Starline. Primer: CCI BR-4 Howa, Winchester WSR Savage. Dies: Hornady Custom Grade. Press: Area 419 ZERO Reloading Press. Other: RCBC Universal Hand Priming Tool. c = compressed load. Reloading is potentially dangerous—use due caution. Publisher cannot accept responsibility for errors in published load data. Reduce listed loads by 10 percent and work up while watching for excessive pressure signs, as not all firearms chambers are alike. Starline Brass 6mm ARC Cases I t’s no secret to reloaders that components have been difficult to secure of late. I just waited a year to receive 7mm PRC brass, for instance. My ace in the hole during these difficult times has become Starline, a company that has been making pistol and hard-to-find antique rifle cases for more than 40 years, but in recent years began producing mainstream rifle brass that, like those original pistol cases, exceed all SAAMI specs. In the dozen or so instances I’ve used Starline brass for projects recently, it has proven top notch in every way, proving hugely consistent and long lasting. My high-pressure 10mm Auto, for instance, is notorious for destroying cases in short order. My Starline cases have survived multiple full-power loadings without a single case lost. I was thrilled to learn Starline has recently added 6mm ARC to their extensive lineup. The 6mm ARC is being chambered in more rifles every year, including some of the sexiest ARs and bolt rifles I’ve tested in recent years. The ARC is one of those little dynamos that hits well outside of its weight class, delivering high BC, heavy-forcaliber bullets with enough authority to cleanly harvest a couple dozen sizeable hogs and a mature white-tailed buck at 268 yards. The Starline 6mm ARC cases I recently received held 31.0 grains of water when filled to the brim, or essentially equal to Hornady cases. Weighing 10 random cases revealed a weight deviance of less than 1 grain, or on par with the best European brands in the business. Starline brass is made on Vietnamera machinery manufactured when cost was no object, and then retooled and tweaked to get the results the company desired. This machinery is operated by precision-minded employees with an obsessive dedication to quality. Starline Brass starts with quality materials—a 260 alloy consisting of 70 percent copper and 30 percent zinc— then subjected to a vertical draw process that promotes uniformity. Starline anneals and washes the material between each draw, which adds to manufacturing time but ensures improved consistency and a more durable case that can be reloaded dozens instead of five or six times before developing issues such as cracked necks. The 6mm ARC cases I loaded for testing included tight primer pockets and provided consistent neck tension. Five selected loads, including bullet weights from 80 to 110 grains and shot from a Howa Mini Action Carbon Stalker, also resulted in consistent precision. Check out Starline’s growing brass lineup by visiting starlinebrass.com. By Patrick Meitin est. 1976
20 | inside firearms | sept / oct 2023 market trends | rifle report R uger acquired Marlin Firearms shortly after Remington Arms Company’s unfortunate demise. There is a near knee-jerk tendency in the gun world to write off any change to an original, as if the fear of losing something dear and cherished spawns an obligation to disparage any new development. That has not happened in the case of the Ruger-made Marlin 1895 SBL. In fact, many are calling this the best Marlin ever. The new Model 1895 Marlin rifles are being manufactured in Mayodan, North Carolina, where Ruger produces its AR-15 rifles and several other models. Though Ruger plans to have Marlin stand on its own, the Ruger thumbprint is unmistakable. Most obvious is the RM (Ruger Made) serial number prefix, R proof mark, and Ruger red trademark Marlin bullseye just forward of the rear sling stud. More subtly, there is a conspicuous improvement in overall detail and quality. It makes sense Ruger would choose the stainless steel, laminated-stock Model 1895 SBL to relaunch the Marlin brand. It offers obvious appeal, which also made it a top seller under previous Remington ownership. I know those who happily use this rifle for black timber elk hunting and Alaskan brown bear guides who depend on them for backup. I’d wager that blued steel and walnut stocked 1895s will soon appear, to appeal to those who prefer traditional styling. Ruger introduced many welcomed refinements to the 1895 SBL through modern manufacturing approaches. Inletting and metal-to-wood fit is better than ever, eliminating the gaps inherent to many older Marlins. Past Marlin lever rifles were chambered with multiple machining passes, while new chambers are reamed in just two passes, reducing the opportunity for deviations and promising more accurate rifles. Several key parts are being cut with wire EDM technology, saving on costs but also creating smoother, more precise tolerances, which shows in areas such as trigger pull. The forged stainless steel receivers are heat treated before machining, making the metal more difficult to mill but also maintaining tighter tolerances by eliminating stress shifts. While lovers of blued-steel and walnut might lament the modern touches of stainless steel and epoxy-impregnated laminated wood, this does make these rifles tighter and theoretically more accurate. The loading gate spring and the bolt are nickel plated, the bolt also including snazzy spiral fluting. The laminated stock’s laser-cut checkering is aesthetically pleasing, with sharp points, a higher line-per-inch count than older Marlins, and a superb finish. The forend is slightly trimmer, improving the fit of the metal tip band that also holds the front sling stud. A laser engraved Marlin horse and rider logo is etched into the grip flat, instead of an added cap. My first experiences with the Marlin 1895 SBL involved Remington ammo—the only option I could secure immediately after receiving the rifle. I mounted a Skinner Optics 1-6x24mm scope in sturdy four-hole rings to the Marlin’s factory-installed Pic rail in the interests of accuracy testing. This optic made an ideal pairing, by the way. Remington’s High Performance Rifle held 300-grain SJHP bullets sent at an advertised 1,900 fps, while Remington Core-Lokt was loaded with a 405-grain SP pushed to an advertised 1,600 fps. Off the bench at 100 yards both shot initial By Patrick Meitin The Marlin 1985 SBL comes with a ghost-ring rear/fiber optic, tritium-backed front irons, plus a Picatinny rail for optics mounting. The Marlin 1895 SBL in 45-70 Government holds an oversized lever loop, which was comfortable even with bare hands and ran smoothly. Marlin Firearm's 1895 SBL holds six rounds of 45-40 Government ammo in its tubular magazine, plus one in the chamber, providing a lot of serious firepower. The 1895 SBL is loaded through a side gate and the nickel-plated bolt includes spiral fluting. The rifle fed all tested ammunition reliably. Marlin Firearms 1895 SBL in 45-70 Government
sept / oct 2023 | insidefirearms.com | 21 Marlin Model 1895 SBL Specifications ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Manufacturer: Marlin ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Country of Origin: USA ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Caliber Tested: 45-70 Government ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Receiver: Forged, heat treated & polished 416 stainless steel ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Barrel: Cold hammer forged 410 Stainless Steel, threaded 11/16 x 24 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Barrel Length: 19.1 inches ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Barrel Twist Rate: 1:20 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Magazine Capacity: 6+1, 6-shot tubular ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Lever: Oversized, polished 416 stainless steel ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Bolt: Nickle plated, spiral fluting ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Safety: Horizontal crossbolt ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Trigger Pull As Tested: 6 Pounds, 6 Ounces ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Stock: Black & gray wood laminate ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Sights: Adjustable rear ghost ring, Hi-Viz front bead with tritium insert, Picatinny rail ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Overall Length: 37.25 inches ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Weight: 7 pounds, 4 ounces ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– MSRP: $1,399 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– For more information, call (336) 949-5200 or visit marlinfirearms.com three-shot groups well inside 2 inches— despite a fairly heavy 6-pound, 6-ounce trigger pull. Recoil was just tolerable while locked over the bench. After zeroing and hanging paper to see what this Marlin would do, I collected some beer cans someone had been kind enough to scatter about my shooting site, filling them with water from an adjacent stock tank and placing them at odd intervals from 50 to 100 yards. Side-gate loading required some reacquaintance, but soon smoothed out. I shot those water-filled cans offhand, working the lever as if they were trophy bucks instead of someone’s discarded trash to be collected and tossed into the pickup bed, rediscovering the joy of lever-gun shooting. Inside 75 yards no can was safe, the Marlin 1898 SBL running smoothly and without a single hiccup, the trim carbine handling like an extension of my arms and the foam recoil pad keeping the rifle solidly anchored on the shoulder. The smooth-polished lever functioned effortlessly with bare hands. With enough shooting even the 100-yard cans were eventually splattered, and my reconstructed shoulder was growing sore, despite the quality foam recoil pad. Full-power 45-70 loads do produce some recoil. After receiving additional ammunition options for accuracy testing and running some handloads through the 1895, I removed the optic and reinstalled the ghost ring (it had to be removed for scope installation, as it interfered with the rear scope ring). I can’t say I shot these irons as well as I had the optic, but it was actually better than I had expected inside 50 to 75 yards—or what I consider treestand/ deep-woods ranges. Off the bench the Marlin assembled some impressive groups, especially considering the handicap of a 6x scope. The best 1895 groups, using Hornady LEVERevolution 250-grain MonoFlex, Barnes VOR-TX 300-grain TSX FN, Remington High Performance 300-grain hollow point, and Winchester Supreme 300-grain Partition, clustered below or close to 1.50 inches with three shots from 100 yards. The only factory load the Marlin didn’t like was the Hornady 410-grain Subsonic load. The cast-lead reloads didn’t do as well, but these would likely be better suited to treestand ranges. Marlin’s 1895 SBL is certainly hunt ready, providing an easy-toting, easy-handling rifle with enough punch for any big game in North America. Marlin 1895 - 45-70 Government Factory Loads ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Advertised/ 3-shot Measured Extreme 100-yd. Load MSRP velocity spread group (grains) (fps) (fps) (inches) ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 250 Hornady LEVERevolution MonoFlex $54.99 2,025/2,054 73 1.30 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 300 Barnes VOR-TX TSX FN $62.99 1,925/1,803 49 1.22 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 300 Remington High Performance Rifle $55.99 1,900/1,734 62 1.57 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 300 Winchester Supreme PartitionGold $50.85 1,880/1,712 73 1.44 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 405 Remington Core-Lokt $54.99 1,600/1,451 67 1.89 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 410 Hornady Subsonic $49.99 1,075/999 72 3.50 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Marlin 1895 - 45-70 Government Handloads ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Overall 3-shot Bullet Powder Charge length Velocity 100-yd. group (grains) (grains) (inches) (fps) (inches) ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 405 HSM RNFP Hard Cast IMR-4198 27.0 2.257 1,184 2.46 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 465 Montana Bullet Works A-2230 34.5 2.400 1,221 3.77 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– NOTES: Brass: Starline. Primer: Winchester WLR. Dies: Hornady Custom Grade. Press: Area 419 ZERO Reloading Press. Other: RCBC Universal Hand Priming Tool. All velocities established with a LabRadar Doppler unit. Reloading is potentially dangerous—use due caution. Publisher cannot accept responsibility for errors in published load data. Reduce listed loads by 10 percent and work up while watching for excessive pressure signs, as not all firearms chambers are alike.
22 | inside firearms | sept / oct 2023 market trends | gear report Zeta6 EDC Speed Loaders W hen I was young, an obsession with quick-drawing and speed loading revolvers would likely have been viewed as a symptom of watching too many cowboy movies. Concern for such skills today is more likely a symptom of the average citizens’ concern for self-preservation in these dangerous times. It is safe to say more Americans than ever own firearms today (NICS-check records indicate record numbers of firsttime buyers in recent years) and it’s a safe bet many of these firearms purchases are handguns sparked by self-defense concerns. This can be taken further by suggesting many of those first-time buyers chose a revolver for every day carry (EDC) because they were intimidated by the perceived learning curve involved with operating a semiautomatic pistol. In a self-defense scenario—especially one involving more than one assailant— the ability to reload a five- or six-shot revolver quickly can mean the difference between life and death. Speed loaders are nothing new, but Zeta Industries—manufacturer of Zeta6 brand speed loaders—are certainly something fresh and unique. Most revolver speed loaders are molded from hard plastic with metal parts or milled entirely from aluminum. They are heavy as standalones as well as uncomfortable when carried in a pants pocket. This is why most shooters carry their speed loaders in a separate belt or shoulder holster pouch. Zeta6 speed loaders are molded from pliable polymer meaning they have no hard edges or corners to poke and prod when carried in a pocket. Comfort is a huge plus here. Round sockets with retaining tabs hold cartridge rims in the flat rubber base until rounds are fed into the open revolver cylinder and the base peeled away. They also sell for a fraction of the cost of molded or milled speed loaders, allowing shooters to purchase dozens instead of one or two classic speed loaders. Several models are offered, with the K-PAC2 being the newest in the lineup. J-CLIP (five-round) and K-CLIP (sixround) speed loaders include a pentagonor hexagon-shaped cartridge base with a ribbed thumb tap that feeds any five- or six-shot J- or K-frame-style revolver in a single quick step. The rounded packages might prove somewhat bulky while wearing tighter blue jeans, but would carry well in cargo, vest, or jacket pockets. The patented design also allows these speed loaders to clear most standard grips. K-PAK2 offset-strip speed loaders were specifically designed to carry 12 rounds in a blue jeans pocket, or anywhere else, by nesting two six-round K-PAK2 loaders together. The K-PAK2 includes seven cartridge sockets but was designed to carry six rounds. In this way the K-PAK2 can be configured for right- or left-hand use. The J-PAK is similar but made for 5-shot J-Frame revolvers, so it allows carrying 10 rounds comfortably in a pants pocket. I have used both styles with my 357 Magnum Kimber K6S Combat revolver without developing preferences but they’re affordable enough customers can try both and see which works best for them. Learn more at zetasix.com. By Patrick Meitin
inside the industry | company profile 24 | inside firearms | sept / oct 2023 Comp-N-Choke B ut in the 27-plus years that CompN-Choke has been in business it has become most recognized for its innovative shotgun chokes, made for every specific need, in every gauge and for a huge variety of shotgun models. Comp-N-Choke’s passion is based on a love for hunting and the outdoor shooting sports. The company was founded when Charlie Boswell, an avid hunter, lifelong shooter, and professional level sporting clays shooter, became dissatisfied with the performance his shotgun was providing. Following exhaustive research, Charlie and his son Stuart collaboratively designed a slot-ported shotgun choke that provided the performance they had in mind. This choke design produced the superior patterning they sought. The choke tubes they created in the 1990s set a new standard and were quickly adopted by experienced competition shooters and sportsmen worldwide. With more than 50 years of combined experience and an extensive machining and manufacturing background, Charlie and Stuart have learned a thing or two about efficient manufacturing processes. This vast experience and expertise has been instrumental in creating top performing, competition-proven choke tubes at remarkably competitive prices. The drive at Comp-N-Choke remains to manufacture USA-made products using U.S.-sourced materials that give shooters a competitive edge while also providing cost-effective solutions to improving shotgun pattern performance. All of Comp-NChoke’s products are still manufactured in-house at their Georgia plant using top-of-the-line equipment that enables the company to maintain their industryleading quality. In addition to helping engineer and test various choke tube designs, Charlie Boswell set out to introduce serious shooters, hunters, and other shotgun markets to the Comp-N-Choke approach. Comp-N-Choke has worked diligently to discover the best marketing tools to present Comp-N-Choke to the public and create the demand that keeps dealers’ cash registers ringing. Not content to rest on their laurels, Comp-N-Choke continues to push the envelope during research and design, as well as materials technology, to provide superior choke tube performance and durability, while also working to keep costs down. Comp-N-Choke, for example, creates extended ported tubes that hold 18 slot ports to produce high performance pattern consistency that has remained a gold standard in the choke-tube market since they were introduced in the early 90s. This porting also helps to tame muzzle jump, allowing shooters to get back on target more quickly. This is especially evident in the company’s industry-renowned turkey and waterfowl targeted products, but also extends to all of their competition options. One of Comp-N-Chokes’ most recent releases is the ARC Series of non-ported choke tubes, for those who prefer this popular style. The company is also working on production of a choke-tube wrench for their full line of chokes to make installation and removal of choke tubes easier. We encourage you to have a look by visiting compnchoke.com. Comp-N-Choke operates out of Sylvania, Georgia, where manufacturing, distribution, and shipping facilities are located in a single location. The company also offers custom services such as barrel porting, threading, and bead installation, and manufactures muzzle brakes for rifles.
26 | inside firearms | sept / oct 2023 market trends | gear report Radcolube® CLP 3in1 Firearms Cleaning Products E very shooter has a favorite gun cleaning product, some utilized for generations with their distinctive aromas eliciting fond memories. However, the problem with classic cleaning products we have trusted for decades is they all contain solvents. Conventional gun cleaning formulas use solvents to eat away at fouling, and require adequate ventilation or even wearing rubber gloves, as they can cause skin irritation or respiratory issues. They can also lead to eventual weapon malfunctions as the solvents flash off, the solution breaking down to attract moisture and debris, and gumming in cooler temperatures. Radcolube CLP 3in1 is different, having been developed for military small arms to be nearly odorless and function without troublesome solvents. The fully synthetic proprietary blend actually works beneath carbon and copper to lift if off metal surfaces and then seal and season the metal surfaces against rust and corrosion. Future cleaning involves wiping instead of scrubbing, and then lubricating and protecting metal surfaces. Radcolube CLP 3in1 stays in place for months, and will not break down to cause gumming after prolonged shooting. Radcolube has been proven to extend barrel life up to three times when used exclusively, and will not degrade powder charges, making it muzzleloader compatible. Originally issued in standard issue opaque MIL-Spec bottles, Radcolube recently adopted a robust new packaging design that provides an attractive look on store shelves, and cleaner, easier application. Options include a 2-fluid-ounce squeeze bottle with needle applicator, 6-ounce pump-top spray bottle, and a 32-ounce trigger-pump spray bottle. The fine applicator makes it easier to reach tight spots in modern firearms and inside bolts (it will not corrode internal bolt springs like some products will), the 6-ounce bottle easily stashed in a range bag, the 32-ounce bottle ideal for the gun bench. Headquartered in Batavia, Illinois, this USA product is formulated, bottled and distributed by their parent company, Radco Industries, Inc., which has been in business 51 years. This means less likelihood of supply disruptions and product ready to ship when needed. Radcolube CLP 3in1, in addition to supplying America’s warfighter, has gained enormous traction in the civilian market, becoming especially popular with professional shooters, including 3-Gun competitors and extreme long-range marksmen. Part of Radcolube’s aggressive entry into the retail marketplace are their cobranded Breech-To-Muzzle cleaning kits sold in conjunction with their friends at Otis Technologies. The Rifle & Pistol Cleaning Kit, for instance, is packaged to serve popular 5.56mm, 7.62mm and 9mm firearms. It is packaged in a plastic clamshell, but the entire kit is held in a zipped 4-inch diameter by 2.25-inch thick fold-out nylon case that easily fits in range bags. The Multigun Competition Cleaning Kit adds 12-gauge capabilities to that lineup, held in a zippered 8.5-by3.75-by-2-inch nylon pouch. The ELR Cleaning Kit, developed for the Extreme Long Range Shooting Organization (ELRSO), is assembled for .300-, .338-, .375-, and .416-caliber rifles. The zippered, foldout nylon case is 12-by-8.5-by-3 inches and includes carry handles. Interested retailers can contact Radcolube by visiting radcolubeclp.com/retailers/. By Patrick Meitin
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28 | inside firearms | sept / oct 2023 More than six decades have passed since Eugene Stoner gifted the gun world with the gas-operated AR-15, and in that time they’ve only grown in popularity. This is a rifle with a few names, too. It’s important to mention that while there is an M16 in the military, it’s not the same as the civilian’s AR-15. The M16 is a select fire weapon for military use while the AR-15 is a semi-automatic rifle available to the general public. Taking that a step further, today the only manufacturer retaining the copyright to officially call their rifles an AR-15 is Colt, which is why there are AR-15 style rifles with various model names assigned to them. This includes the MSR moniker, which stands for Modern Sporting Rifle. Is it an AR-15? Yes, it is, only under a different title. Regardless of name, we’ve collected some of the current stand-out AR platform rifles of the gun world for your perusal. These are the guns your customers are likely to take an interest in this coming year. Carbine Length Rifles RUGER ■ Ruger has enjoyed a long-time presence in the gun world and their firearms have proven themselves time and again. The Ruger AR-556 line includes a variety of 5.56 NATO chambered AR-15 platform guns, some of which are made to be restricted state compliant. The standard AR-556 in 5.56 NATO has a cold hammer forged alloy, 16.10-inch barrel with a barrel ring and delta nut that can be easily
By Kat Ainsworth Stevens sept / oct 2023 | insidefirearms.com | 29 removed if someone wants to swap out the handguard. This standard model has a 30-round capacity. The Ruger AR-556 has a Picatinny rail over the receiver, so the user can choose to add optics, and it ships with a Ruger Rapid Deploy folding rear sight and A2 front sight, the latter of which is elevation adjustable. It has a six-position stock that is adjustable for length and has a mounting point for slings. A QD attachment point and bayonet lug are also included. Other features include a Ruger flash suppressor, single-stage trigger, and an ergonomic pistol grip. Although the standard model is black, there are models offered with colored furniture such as teal and FDE available from certain distributors. Visit ruger.com to learn more. UNBRANDED AR ■ For customers interested in lighter weight platforms designed for portability, there is the Unbranded AR UAR-C 16 Inch Rifle from the company’s Carbon Series. This is a carbine-length AR-15 that is made to be light enough to carry with or without a sling, so it will appeal to many gun owners. The Carbon Series UAR-C has a 16-inch barrel and 15-inch handguard. It sports a 223 Wylde barrel chamber, meaning it can be used with either 5.56 NATO or 223 Remington ammunition. Barrels chambered in 223 Wylde are designed according to stricter tolerances, meaning the shooter can get greater accuracy out of whatever ammunition they are shooting than they would from a 5.56 NATO barrel. This barrel has a 1:8 twist rate and a nitride finish for durability. Features of the UAR-C 16 Inch Rifle, Carbon Series, include a Picatinny rail over the receiver, a length-adjustable stock, and an A2 flash hider. A UAR carbon fiber lower helps cut weight on this AR-15. This model includes a forward assist. The UAR-C 16 “America’s Gun” remains one of our best-selling firearms
30 | inside firearms | sept / oct 2023 Inch Rifle, Carbon Series, is designed to be a reliable, accurate, lightweight gun that sees dedicated use. Users can mount a red dot or optic to the topmost rail and utilize the M-LOK compatible handguard for additions such as lights, lasers, and forward grips. This is a great gun that would make a fine addition to any customer's collection. Visit unbrandedar.com to learn more. BUSHMASTER FIREARMS ■ The name of Bushmaster has long been synonymous with reliable AR-15s, and despite the changes the company has undergone, that remains true. One of their fantastic mid-range rifles is the QRC II Enhanced Summer Range Package, so named because the gun ships with a quality hard-sided case and accessories. The QRC II is chambered in 5.56 NATO, also making it compatible with 223 Remington. It includes a 16-inch 4150 chrome moly vanadium, salt bath nitride pencil barrel. Both the upper and lower receivers are forged from 7075 aluminum alloy, which is great for fatigue resistance and overall durability. Key features of the Bushmaster QRC II include a carbine length gas system, MPI tested bolt, and MIL-SPEC trigger. It holds a standard A2 pistol grip and flash hider. A full length Picatinny rail makes putting whatever optics the user wants simple and an M-LOK compatible handguard does the same for lights and lasers. It has an enhanced magazine release for easier manipulation and ships with Magpul MBUS iron sights, meaning it’s shootable out of the box. The stock is adjustable for length which makes live fire more comfortable—and accurate. The QRC II is available with a 10-round or 30-round magazine, depending on whether the destination state has capacity restrictions. Visit bushmaster.com to learn more. AMERICAN TACTICAL ■ The Alpha Maxx RIA from American Tactical (ATI) is a flat top style AR-15 with a 16-inch pencil barrel with a 1:8 twist rate. This is a fantastic AR-15 for gun owners interested in a basic, durable firearm that is designed to get the job at hand done. The barrel is made from 4150 chrome moly vanadium, which is resistant to use related wear, and holds a phosphate finish for durability. It’s chambered in 5.56 NATO, meaning it can be run with either that or 223 Remington ammunition. It has a 30-round capacity. Guns ship with flip-up iron sights, but if the customer prefers not to use irons, they have options. This is thanks to the full-length Picatinny rail that makes it simple to add optics and magnifiers. In addition, there are M-LOK compatible slots in the forward portion of the handguard for the easy mounting of lights or lasers. The carbon fiber infused stock is adjustable for length, making it easy to fit to any user. A standard birdcage style muzzle brake is included as well. Visit americantactical.us to learn more. DIAMONDBACK FIREARMS ■ The DB15 line of guns from Diamondback Firearms is a solid family of AR-15 platform rifles that run the gamut from standard capacity to restricted-state friendly. The DB15 16 Inch Carbon Series, 5.56 NATO, FDE w/Additional 16 Inch 300 AAC/Blackout Upper is our focus, as it is a beautifully made gun that offers extra options. With its standard configuration—the 5.56 NATO barrel—the DB15 has a 16- inch tube made from 4150 chrome moly vanadium with a 1:8 twist rate and a black nitride finish for durability and wear resistance. It has a carbine-length gas system. Features of the DB15 include a Magpul MOE carbine stock that can be adjusted for length, a standard MIL-SPEC trigger, and a Magpul MOE pistol grip. There is a Picatinny rail over the receiver and a section of rail at the muzzle end of the handguard as well, so the user can choose whether they mount optics or iron sights. The 12-inch handguard is M-LOK compatible as well, making it possible to add whatever aftermarket accessories are preferred with a variety of choices for placement. The 300 Blackout upper has the same barrel type and handguard style as the 5.56 NATO upper. For safety’s sake, the dust covers on the uppers are marked with the caliber. This is a well-made AR-15 that is suitable for everything from defensive use to hunting. Visit diamondbackfirearms.com to learn more. SMITH & WESSON ■ There is no denying the popularity of Smith & Wesson’s AR line, and the M&P15 Sport II is a great example of the company’s guns. The Smith & Wesson M&P15 Sport II is a 5.56 NATO chambered gun with a 16-inch barrel and a 30-round magazine (there is a restricted state compliant model available as well). An Armornite barrel finish increases its resistance to wear and tear. This carbine has a ribbed, heat Ruger AR-556 Unbranded AR UAR-C Bushmaster QRC II American Tactical Alpha Maxx RIA
sept / oct 2023 | insidefirearms.com | 31 resistance forend and classic pistol grip. It includes forward assist and a dust cover, so while it is purpose-driven as a basic duty gun, it does include many of the features customers will expect on their AR-15 platform rifle. A Picatinny rail atop the receiver makes this gun optics ready. Other features include a QD sling swivel attachment point at the bottom of the gas block, a chromed firing pin, and an integral trigger guard. The threaded barrel means it is compatible with whatever muzzle device the user prefers, although it does come with a standard birdcage style muzzle brake. It weighs approximately 6.51 pounds empty and has an overall length of around 35 inches, depending on the length of the adjustable stock. This is a nice entry-level AR-15 from a respected manufacturer. Visit smith-wesson.com to learn more. ZRODELTA ■ The Ready Series 17.76 inch LVOA Rifle from ZRODelta is a fantastic example of a carbine-length AR-15 designed according to exacting specifications. In fact, the company’s dedication to the details lead them to design this gun with a 16- inch barrel and 17.76 inch handguard. That’s right, this is a gun that takes the spirit of 1776 seriously. A Top Hat muzzle brake brings the barrel to the edge of the handguard so the entire setup is tucked neatly inside. The Ready Series has a forged receiver set, Mission First Minimalist stock, and ELG fire control group. A full-length Picatinny rail makes the addition of optics, magnifiers, and any other accessories simple. And, of course, the handguard has M-LOK compatible slots along the sides. This carbine-length AR has a 223 Wylde barrel to give shooters the greatest possible accuracy whether they’re using 223 Remington or 5.56 NATO. It has a 1:8 twist rate, which is the sweet spot for stabilizing bullets. The bolt release is ambidextrous and the stock is adjustable for length. This gun has an overall length of 36.5 inches depending on where the stock is set. According to ZRODelta the handguard has a 1.5 inch external diameter and is compatible with most popular suppressors, should the customer choose to go that route. Also available from ZRODelta is the Zulu2, a purpose driven AR-15 with a proprietary build. This gun has a 7075 forged receiver set and 16-inch 223 Wylde barrel with a 1:8 twist rate. While it’s designed according to exacting demands just like the company’s Ready Series, it’s done in a more affordably priced platform. The Zulu2 has a free floating LVOA handguard, Mission First Minimalist stock and pistol grip, and an ELG fire control group. This rifle does have a forward assist which is a great detail for a duty gun. The Zulu2 is offered with a variety of Cerakote finishes including FDE (flat dark earth), OD green, Stone Grey, and Vortex Bronze. It’s also available in anodized black. There’s a Picatinny rail over the receiver for optics and an additional length of rail at the muzzle end of the handguard. That means customers can use iron sights or other forward-mounted accessories if that’s their personal preference. An A2 flash hider, ambidextrous bolt release, and 30 round Lancer magazine come standard. Visit zrodelta.com to learn more. RED ARROW WEAPONS ■ Red Arrow Weapons (RAW) is a manufacturer known for attention to detail and dedication to quality, and their 350 Legend carbine-length AR-15 is a fantastic example. The RAW 350 Legend has a 16-inch barrel made from 4150 chrome moly vanadium with a black nitride finish, so it’s resistant to the wear and tear of serious use. As its name suggests, it’s chambered in 350 Legend, a cartridge that’s gained a lot of well-deserved popularity. It ships with one 5-round magazine. Features of the RAW 350 Legend include the manufacturer’s own 15-inch M-LOK compatible handguard, 7075 T6 upper and lower receivers, and an H2 Heavy buffer. The gun comes standard with a CMC trigger set at a 2.5-pound pull weight for superior trigger control and accuracy on target. Its overall length with the adjustable stock collapsed is 32.5 inches; with the stock fully extended, the gun measures 36.25 inches in length. Empty, the gun weighs 6 pounds 9 ounces. This is a gun made to be used and it is versatile enough for home defense, range time, hunting, or use as a truck gun. Visit redarrowweapons.com to learn more. SPRINGFIELD ARMORY ■ The Springfield Saint is a family of AR15s that are offered in both larger capacity and restricted state capacity models. This particular model is a 5.56 NATO chambered gun with a 16-inch barrel and direct impingement, midlength gas system. The upper and lower receivers are machined from 7075 T6 aluminum for strength and are Type III hard coat anodized for superior corrosion and wear resistance. It has a B5 Bravo stock that is adjustable for length and offers a great ZRODelta Zulu2 ZRODelta Ready Series LVOA Smith & Wesson M&P15 Sport II Diamondback DB15
Mossberg International 715T Flat Top Bear Creek Arsenal BC-15 in 17 HMR Springfield Armory Saint Red Arrow Weapons 350 Legend 32 | inside firearms | sept / oct 2023 cheek weld thanks to its ergonomic design. In addition, it has a B5 handguard that’s sleek, M-LOK compatible, and includes built-in heat shields. Other features of the Saint include a pistol grip created to fit and fill the hand for greater control, a GI style charging handle, and a nickel boron coated GI trigger. The gun ships with a low-profile adjustable flip-up rear sight and an A2 style front sight. It comes with a 30-round Magpul PMAG Gen M3 magazine and a padded soft case. Overall length is between 33 inches and 36.25 inches, depending on stock position. The Saint is designed as a duty rifle and meant for serious shooters. Visit springfield-armory.com to learn more. Rimfire Rifles BEAR CREEK ARSENAL ■ While 17 HMR might not get as much press as 22 LR, it is still an amazing cartridge with all sorts of applications. And if you’re an AR fan who happens to want a 17 HMR, you’re in luck: Bear Creek Arsenal manufactures the BCA BC-15 in 17 HMR. It is a no-frills, affordably priced rifle made to give customers the best of both the 17 HMR chambering and the AR platform. The BC-15 has a heavy 16-inch barrel with a black nitride finish for resistance to the expected scrapes and bumps of use. A 1:9 twist rate helps stabilize the rimfire round. The BC-15 in 17 HMR has a Picatinny rail over the receiver for optics and another length of Picatinny at the forward end of the handguard for a light or laser (or a front sight if your customer prefers irons). A 15-inch M-LOK compatible handguard also makes it possible to add whatever aftermarket accessories are desired. The gun has a BCA bolt carrier group, flash hider, and Gen 2 charging handle. An adjustable stock makes it easier to fit the gun to specific users and an attachment point at the base of the stock makes it easy to add a sling. This is a nice choice for shooters looking for a plinking or handy varmint rifle. Visit bearcreekarsenal.com to learn more. MOSSBERG ■ The Mossberg International 715T Flat Top is a rimfire AR-15 with a carbine length barrel. It is designed to be both tactically appealing and userfriendly, and the 22 LR chambering makes it a nice entry-level option for customers looking for a training or plinking gun. This gun ships with a 25-round magazine, so there is plenty of capacity, and standard rail-mounted, adjustable front and rear sights make it ready to shoot right out of the box. Although it doesn’t have a carry handle, the front sight on the 715T Flat Top is A2 style, so it retains a bit of that classic aesthetic. Features of the Mossberg 715T Flat Top include a vented quad rail with Picatinny surfaces that make it easy for your customers to mount aftermarket accessories. The barrel has a blued finish for durability and measures 16.25 inches in length, making it a carbine-length AR-15. Twist rate is 1:16. Thanks to the gun’s adjustable stock the length of pull can be changed for nearly any user (Mossberg lists length of
sept / oct 2023 | insidefirearms.com | 33 pull as adjustable between 11 inches and 14.25 inches). This is a nicely versatile rimfire that will appeal to customers in the market for first AR-15s, plinking rifles, or training guns. Visit mossberg.com to learn more. Pistol Caliber Rifles ANGSTADT ARMS ■ Pistol caliber carbines (PCC) are popular not only for competitors but for range use and other applications such as home defense. The Angstadt Arms UDP-9 Rifle is a well-made carbine that is compatible with Glock magazines, making it a fantastic choice for fans of the PCC. The UDP-9 Rifle is chambered in 9x19mm Parabellum (9mm Luger) and has a 16-inch barrel made from chrome moly vanadium. It has a 1:10 twist rate to stabilize standard 9mm bullets and a black melonite finish for wear and corrosion resistance. The barrel is also threaded, so it is muzzle device ready. Angstadt Arms uses a MIL-SPEC AR-15 fire control group for the UDP-9, and it’s compatible with most aftermarket PCC triggers, which opens customization options. Features of the UDP-9 Rifle include a 7075 T6 billet upper and lower, threaded bolt catch screw, B5 Systems Bravo stock, and B5 pistol grip. The stock is adjustable for length and an ergonomically designed upper portion makes it easier to get a good cheek weld. A flared mag well facilitates rapid magazine changes. The gun has a receiver-length Picatinny rail to accept optics and a portion of rail on the front end of the handguard, so the shooter can also use iron sights. M-LOK compatibility on the handguard leaves plenty of space for adding other aftermarket accessories as well. The bolt remains open after firing the final round. And if your customer is more interested in an SBR or AR pistol, Angstadt Arms does offer those in the UDP-9 family. Visit angstadtarms.com to learn more. HI-POINT FIREARMS ■ The 30 Super Carry is a cartridge that gained nearly instant popularity when it was launched by Federal. Now, to make it even better, Hi-Point Firearms is offering a carbine-length gun chambered for 30 Super Carry. This isn’t a strict AR-15 but is instead an AR-15 style firearm that accepts handgun magazines. The Model 3095 is designed to be used hard and offers a host of features to appeal to gun owners looking for a gun with tactical applications. It has a 16.5-inch barrel and an overall length of 31 inches, making it maneuverable and portable. And thanks to its 6.25-pound empty weight, it is light enough to tote for training or a long day at the range. Features of the Hi-Point Model 3095 include a Picatinny rail over the receiver, making it easy to mount optics, and an accessory rail on the underside of the handguard. It has last round lock open so the user has a visual indicator when ammunition is exhausted. The Model 3095 has a 10-round capacity, internal recoil buffer in the skeletonized stock, and fully adjustable iron sights. This is a great option for the shooter who wants an AR-15 style gun but prefers a handgun caliber carbine. Visit hi-pointfirearms.com to learn more. Custom Quality Rifles 51FIFTY ■ When it comes to precision-built rifles and significant customization options for features, 51Fifty is the answer. The 51Fifty Evolve-15 Apex, specifically, is a model with numerous variants. This AR-15 platform rifle is available with the buyer’s choice of 16-, 18-, or 20-inch barrel and a wide variety of cartridge options. So, whether a customer is interested in 223 Wylde, 6.5 Grendel, 6.8 SPC II, or 6mm ARC—among others— 51Fifty has them covered. The Evolve-15 Apex is also offered with the choice of finishes: Bad Ass Berry, Basic Black, Battle Grey, Berry Frost, FDE, Fool’s Chocolate, OD Green, and Sagent. Features of the Evolve-15 Apex include a fluted barrel, ambidextrous safety, and an oversized magazine release. A Picatinny rail over the receiver makes adding optics straightforward and a length of rail at the muzzle end of the handguard means the shooter can also use irons if they prefer. The handguard is M-LOK compatible, so lights, lasers, and other aftermarket accessories can be added. 51Fifty uses an adjustable gas block, which is fantastic for fine-tuning for reliability with specific ammunition. The buffer system is adjustable as well. Other custom-tier options include a suppressor-optimized charging handle and full-auto rated bolt carrier group (no, this is not a full-auto gun, but this means the BCG performs well under pressure and high round counts). For a true custom experience, consider working with 51Fifty to build your customer’s dream guns. Visit 51fiftyrifles.com to learn more. Angstadt Arms UDP-9 Hi-Point 30 Super Carry 51Fifty Evolve-15 Apex Daniel Defense DDM4 V7 Pro
34 | inside firearms | sept / oct 2023 DANIEL DEFENSE ■ Competitive shooters might lean toward a Daniel Defense rifle for its rugged durability and overall performance. The Daniel Defense DDM4 V7 Pro is a 5.56 NATO chambered rifle with an 18-inch barrel and numerous top-end features. High-strength 7075 T6 aluminum is used to create durable upper and lower receivers. The lower includes a flared magazine well for smooth, rapid magazine changes and the upper has M4 feed ramps. That 18-inch barrel is cold hammer forged from chrome moly vanadium and also chrome lined for results you’ll see on target. Additional features of the DDM4 V7 Pro include a full-length Picatinny rail for optics mounting and an M-LOK compatible handguard for whatever accessories a shooter requires. A Geissele Automatics Super Dynamic 3 Gun Trigger is like the cherry on top with its glass rod clean break and short reset. The charging handle is a Radian Competition Raptor, which is favored by many multi-gun shooters, and the rifle also features a Radian Competition Talon selector. It has a gun metal gray finish that’s both aesthetically appealing and functional. This is a well-made rifle intended for competition, but you will also find fans of high-end rifles gravitating toward it thanks to its sleek appearance. Visit danieldefense.com to learn more. NOVESKE ■ For the ultimate in precision, consider guiding customers to Noveske. The Gen 4 6mm ARC Rifle with an 18-inch barrel is a stellar example of Noveske’s commitment to excellence, and it has a bevy of useful features. As its name suggests, this rifle is chambered in 6mm ARC, the cartridge Hornady recently launched that is a truly solid performer at mid-to-long ranges, and all in an AR-15 platform. The barrel is machined from 416R stainless, which is a chromium steel alloy known for corrosion resistance and high strength. It has a rifle-length gas tube and a low-profile, Noveske marked gas block. This rifle is highly customizable for fit thanks to the fully adjustable B5 stock. Both the cheekpiece and buttpad can be adjusted using precision dials to fit the shooter, resulting in a better cheek weld and greater comfort. A mounting point on the stock could be used for a sling. The handguard is a 15- inch free-floated model that is M-LOK compatible and there is a full-length top Picatinny rail for optics. For an added layer of precision, the gun has a hand polished chamber and feed ramps. This is a rifle built to deliver serious precision. Visit noveske.com to learn more. SONS OF LIBERTY GUNWORKS ■ There’s a full range of options with Sons of Liberty Gunworks, and among their most versatile serious-use models is the SOLGW M4-76. This is basically a beautifully made gun, but not so tricked out that it’ll make your customers hesitate to use it. This is, specifically, one of the manufacturer’s premier fighting rifles, so you know it’s meant for hard use. The M4-76 has a 16-inch barrel, which technically makes it a carbine length AR-15, and it feeds from a 30-round magazine. This is a direct impingement 5.56 NATO chambered gun. It’s a flat top style AR-15 designed for superior accuracy, reliable cycling, and durability. Its size makes it a great option for gun owners looking for a home defense gun, but it can also be used for range time, hunting, and as a truck gun. Features of the SOLGW M4-76 include a full-length Picatinny rail for optics and an M-LOK compatible handguard to accept aftermarket accessories. The polymer stock is adjustable for length, giving the gun an overall length between 36 inches and 42 inches. Empty, the gun weighs 6.5 pounds, making it light enough to carry for long periods without fatigue. This AR-15 features SOLGW’s Liberty Fighting Trigger and B5 furniture. And, of course, SOLGW ships the M4-76 with iron sights so it can be used right out of the box. Visit sonsoflibertygw.com to learn more. JACOB GRAY ■ When it comes to custom-quality firearms that perform spectacularly, Jacob Gray immediately comes to mind. The Jacob Gray JG-10 Warthog is a great example of their quality and offers a bevy of features meant to enhance overall performance. This gun is made using the Gen 1 Low Profile DPMS LR-308 platform. The JG-10 Warthog is chambered in the classic 308 Winchester and has a 16-inch barrel. That carbine length barrel makes the gun more portable and easier to maneuver in tight spaces, making this gun a real possibility for customers Jacob Gray JG-10 Warhog Sons of Liberty SOLGW M4-76 Noveske Gen 4 6mm ARC Q Honey Badger
sept / oct 2023 | insidefirearms.com | 35 focused on finding a solid home defense or truck gun. Features of the JG-10 Warthog include a stock that’s height adjustable, an M-LOK compatible 15-inch handguard, and a standard muzzle brake. The gun also has a flared mag-well for rapid magazine changes, a winter trigger guard, billet dust cover, and ambidextrous selector and bolt release. It ships with a 20-round magazine. This gun is designed for accuracy, reliable cycling, and ease of use. It offers versatility as well thanks to its 308 Win chambering, which makes it compatible with hunting, self-defense, and sports shooting in general. Visit jacobgrayfirearms.com to learn more. Short Barreled Rifle (SBR) Q ■ If you have a customer interested in putting the time and patience into an SBR, the Honey Badger by Q is difficult to beat. The original Honey Badger was designed by Kevin Brittingham of Q back when he was with AAC, and that gun never went to market. This Honey Badger is available and it’s made to be the ideal personal defense weapon. Since it is an SBR, it has a 7.0-inch barrel and is chambered in 300 Blackout, as it should be. Features of the Honey Badger by Q include a two-position PDW stock that is designed to be comfortably and securely mounted to the shoulder. It includes a 70-degree safety selector. The gun comes with a flat-faced, two-stage trigger with a crisp break, for enhanced accuracy on target. It has an adjustable gas block, which is a must with an SBR, let alone one made for close quarters battle. A Picatinny rail makes adding optics easy and the handguard, SBR short as it is, is M-LOK compatible. It weighs 4 pounds, 8 ounces unloaded and has an overall length of 20 to 25 inches depending on the stock position. This SBR isn’t identical to the original Honey Badger, it’s better. Visit liveqordie.com to learn more. Unbranded AR Ambi Lower ■ Whether you’re a builder or looking to swap out parts on an existing AR-15, it’s a good idea to consider outfitting your gun for ambidextrous use. This isn’t only a necessity for left-handed shooters, either. The ability to run a gun on either shoulder is important for all gun owners. The Unbranded AR ambi lower features a proprietary ambidextrous bolt release system. This enables right-handed shooters to able to close the bolt with their right index finger, while also making it possible for left-handed shooters to run the gun smoothly as well. This forged lower receiver comes with an MFT grip and an Unbranded AR low-profile, collapsible stock. Stocks are made from durable materials for longevity and resistance to wear and are MIL-SPEC in diameter. The ambidextrous lower comes assembled and ready to be paired with an Unbranded AR complete upper or the upper of the user’s choice. It weighs 34.7 ounces. The Unbranded AR upper receiver that’s the perfect match for the ambidextrous lower is a complete assembly, barrel and all. This upper features a 16-inch 223 Wylde barrel with a 1:8 twist rate. Additional components include a MIL-SPEC M16 5.56 bolt carrier group, Nitride coated 12-inch MLOK compatible handguard, and MIL-SPEC charging handle. An A2 flash hider comes standard. Picatinny rail over the receiver makes adding optics simple and an additional length of rail at the muzzle end of the handguard makes it possible to add a front iron sight or other accessories. Visit unbrandedar.com to learn more. Unbranded AR Ambi Lower Unbranded AR Upper Receiver
36 | inside firearms | sept / oct 2023 market trends | reloading center RMR Bullets 9mm Nuke Pistol Bullet I n the beginning, Rocky Mountain Reloading (RMR) sold largely pulled and overstock bullets, their own selection of hard-cast lead pistol bullets, the primed cases from pulled ammunition, and raw materials for bullet casting. But RMR owner Jake Wilcox had a dream of manufacturing his own jacketed bullets. That dream soon become reality with RMR Bullets now producing the 69- and 75-grain .224-caliber 3-Gun Hunter rifle bullets and 10 jacketed pistol bullets, including a 95-grain 380 Auto/.355-inch Round Nose (RN), 9mm/.355-inch 115-grain RN, 115-, 124-, 135-, and 147-grain FN/Truncated Cone, 124-, 135-, and 147-grain RN, .357-cal 124- and 147-grain, and the 115- and 124-grain 9mm NUKE pistol bullets under discussion here. RMR is also slated to release a .40-caliber Flat Point and .45-cal RN. Cast-lead bullets have been dropped from the lineup. The 9mm NUKE—originally labeled the MPR (Multi-Purpose Round)—has undergone several refinements. The MPR included a shorter ogive compatible with 9mm Luger and 357 SIG. It expanded like a selfdefense bullet but was made to matchgrade tolerances, making a viable self-defense option but priced low enough to allow affordable practice or competition shooting. The MPR was upgraded recently to create a more effective self-defense bullet, and the NUKE moniker applied. The label originated from the triangular cuts in the lead core, which resemble the international radiation symbol following expansion. RMR added these triangular internal cuts to “pre-expand” the lead, opened the hollow point cavity a touch, and adjusted the leadin angle of the HP cavity. These changes enhanced bullet expansion, giving those carrying short-barreled handguns improved terminal performance in self-defense scenarios. The NUKE provides reliable expansion at 1,000 fps, while holding together at up to 1,250 fps. The NUKE is still an affordable multi-purpose bullet, but is now even more effective as a self-defense option. But how does it shoot? Quite well, in fact. RMR owner Jake Wilcox and General Manger Justin Stout met me for some shooting, arriving with a variety of handloads Stout had assembled the night before. Wilcox shot a T2 Tripp Research made by Virgil Tripp himself, Stout a custom Aaron Goodfellow. The 115-grain Nuke seated over 5.7 grains of Accurate Silhouette grouped three shots into 2.73 inches at 25 yards, while the 124-grain bullet shot 1.69 and 1.20 inches using 5.7 grains of Silhouette, and 1.42 inches using 5.7 grains of Accurate B-86. Shooting a parts-build PPC rifle, threeshot/25-yard groups measuring .40- and .41- inch resulted from the 124-grain NUKE seated over 5.6 and 5.7 grains of Accurate Silhouette, and .49-inch from the 115-grain NUKE combined with 5.7 grains of Silhouette. Shot from a rest at 100 yards, two 10-shot groups from the PPC rifle resulted in 3.30- and 3.34- inch clusters using the 124-grain NUKE and 5.6 grains of Accurate No. 2 powder. NUKE 9mm pistol bullets offer both affordability and accuracy in a package that also provides sure stopping power on demand. To learn more about RMR Bullets, visit rmrbullets.com. By Patrick Meitin
38 | inside firearms | sept / oct 2023 inside the industry | distributor spotlight Davidson’s America’s Leading Shooting Sports Wholesaler T his extensive network allows Davidson’s to serve their customers and dealers across the nation with the utmost efficiently. Davidson’s says it owes much of its success to visionary founders Herman and Edythe Davidson. Their son, Sigmund Davidson, was crucial in steering the company towards wholesale distribution of firearms. Bryan Tucker, who serves as Chairman and CEO, has maintained the tradition of excellence and expanded Davidson’s influence nationwide. In addition to these key figures, Halsey Lane, who served as Former Davidson’s President; Tim Mulder, former Senior Vice President and CFO; and Larry Massimo, Executive Vice President all made significant contributions to the company’s growth and success. Herman and Edythe Davidson began what we now know as “Davidson’s” in 1932. They first called it “General Automotive Supply & Manufacturing” and sold car parts and supplies. In 1947, they added fishing gear to their offerings, and by the 1950s the company had grown into a regional distributor of hunting, fishing, and general sporting goods. During this time, they also became a distributor for Sturm, Ruger & Co., marking the beginning of their wholesale firearms business in 1955. Sigmund Davidson joined the compaDavidson’s is headquartered in Prescott, Arizona, but operates out of multiple locations, including distribution centers and sales offices in Prescott, Arizona, and Greensboro, North Carolina. Additionally, Davidson’s maintains a sales office in Chapin, South Carolina, and a presence across the United States with Remote Sales Executives and Customer Relationship Managers in more than 20 states. ny as their gun buyer in 1968. In 1970, Davidson’s expanded even further by adding Smith & Wesson products to their distribution list. Tragically, Herman Davidson passed away in 1980, and Sigmund took over as Chairman, CEO, and President. By the mid-1980s, Davidson’s decided to exit the sporting goods and tackle business and focus primarily on firearms. By 1987 Davidson’s became the largest Ruger distributor in the country, and in 1988 expanded their operations to Prescott, Arizona, to be closer to Ruger’s manufacturing plant. Around this time Bryan Tucker started working for Davidson’s as a salesperson in 1982, eventually working his way up to become President in 1991. When Sigmund Davidson sadly passed away January 3, 1997, Bryan Tucker became the new owner. In 2015 Davidson’s expanded by opening an East Coast distribution center in Greensboro. Wayne Tumlin became president in 2021, while Bryan continues to serve as CEO and Chairman. One key factor that has helped Davidson’s truly stand out is their vast firearms inventory, which ranks among the largest in the United States. left: Korrina Burgio pulls a pallet of firearms from overstock. right: (L-R) Davidon’s President Wayne Tumlin, CEO Bryan Tucker, and Director of Marketing Brad Canter review new additions to davidsonsinc.com
sept / oct 2023 | insidefirearms.com | 39 Alongside this, Davidson’s offers an extensive inventory of ammunition, optics, suppressors, and accessories, making Davidson’s a comprehensive one-stop shop for firearms dealers. Davidson’s takes pride in their commitment to operating the business with the convenience of their customers in mind. When a dealer reaches out to Davidson’s between 9 a.m. Eastern to 5 p.m. Pacific, Monday through Saturday, they can expect to speak with a real person, not an automated system. Davidson’s customer relations managers also go the extra mile by visiting dealers in person to assist in planning events, sales, and strategies to optimize their business. In critical times, Davidson’s has even stepped in to support their dealers who have been confronted with civil unrest or catastrophic weather events. Collectively, the company refers to these attributes as “The Davidson’s Difcounterclockwise from below: ■ (L-R) Vice President of Sales Mike Massimo, Director of Merchandising Ron Dan, and Executive Advisor Larry Massimo talk about Davidson’s exclusive firearms. ■ Davidson’s headquarters in Prescott, AZ. ■ Chelsey Stanley packing a customer order. ■ Arizona warehouse employees enjoying Warehouse Appreciation Day. ■ Michelle Nelson and Scott Davenport process orders. ■ North Carolina sales team discusses strategies for the next sales promotion. ■ Davidson’s web team developing a plan for the next website update.
40 | inside firearms | sept / oct 2023 inside the industry | distributor spotlight ference,” and they have played a significant role in their huge success within the industry. The Davidson’s Guaranteed Lifetime Replacement Program is another aspect that sets the company apart. If a customer ever experiences a difficulty with a gun that is covered by the Davidson’s GuaranteeD® Lifetime Replacement Program (“GuaranteeD Program”), it will be replaced. If no replacement is available it will be repaired at no charge. It is as simple as the owner returning the gun to the GuaranteeD Program retailer where it was purchased and covering return shipping costs. Upon receipt, Davidson’s will ship the returning retailer a brand new gun. Many dealers have been appreciative of this program because it saves them time dealing directly with manufacturers. Davidson’s exclusive firearms boast an impressive history spanning 60 years. It all began in 1963 with the launch of the Davidson’s Model-63BDL side-by-side shotgun. Over the decades, Davidson’s has proudly sold hundreds of thousands of exclusive firearms, ranging from small, limited runs to more than 100,000 of their distinctive two-tone Ruger P-series pistols. Within the company’s lineup, dealers will find a variety of popular firearms featuring the company’s signature Davidson’s Dark Earth Cerakote finish. This unique finish is designed to blend in multiple environments, making these firearms adaptable and versatile. Today, Davidson’s proudly holds the distinction of being the largest distributor of exclusive firearms, a testament to their commitment to providing exceptional and distinctive products to their customers. Recent supply-chain challenges have certainly presented obstacles, but Davidson’s proactively addressed these issues to ensure they were able to continue delivering products efficiently. Their merchandising department communicates closely with manufacturers to keep their distribution centers wellstocked and prepared to effectively serve dealers and their customers’ needs. When it comes to the actual delivery of their products, Davidson’s distribution centers play a vital role. Their dedicated employees rise to the occasion to tackle the challenges shipping companies pose. These include dealing with earlier pick-up times, delayed freight and adjustments necessitated by inclement weather. Despite these challenges, Davidson’s distribution centers are committed to doing whatever it takes to get product into dealers’ hands as quickly as possible, often within as little as 48 hours. This commitment ensures that Davidson’s continues to meet the needs of their customers despite ongoing supply-chain difficulties. For more on Davidson’s visit davidsonsinc.com. clockwise from above: ■ Davidson’s South Carolina sales team. ■ Davidson’s distribution center in Greensboro, NC. ■ Vice President of Operations, Sheryl Manz. ■ North Carolina warehouse employees enjoying Warehouse Appreciation Day.
sept / oct 2023 | insidefirearms.com | 41 focus on optics | market trends InfiRay Outdoor RICO MICRO RH25 Thermal Imaging Device T he field of thermal optics has made significant progress in recent years and is becoming increasingly popular among both predator/hog hunters and tactical shooters. However, many individuals interested in night vision and thermal optics find the variety of options available confusing and overwhelming. InfiRay Outdoor offers a diverse range of thermal optics including weapon sights, handheld viewers, helmet-mounted viewers, and thermal clip-on units. One standout from InfiRay Outdoor is the RICO MICRO RH25, a compact thermal imaging device designed to serve multiple roles and provide an all-in-one solution for most customers. Despite its compact size and the initial price tag of $4,999 (previously $5,999), the device offers advanced features that make it a compelling investment. It boasts a 640x512 resolution, equivalent to sensors found in weapon sights three times its size. This is made possible through InfiRay’s 12-micron sensor technology, which allows high resolution sensors to be built much smaller. RICO stands for Rugged Infrared Compact Optic, and this unit certainly lives up to that name. With a machined aluminum housing and flat-dark-earth Cerakote finish, this optic is built to be tough. The RICO MICRO RH25 is powered by common 18650 rechargeable batteries, ensuring convenience and cost-effectiveness for the customer while in the field. To enhance its versatility, iRayUSA (the American distributor of InfiRay Outdoor) offers various mounting solutions. One option is the “pictail” shoe mount (IRAY-AC52), allowing users to attach the RICO MICRO to night vision helmet setups and weaponmounted configurations. Additionally, a collaboration with American Defense Manufacturing resulted in the “MQD” mount (IRAY-AC36), enabling the MICRO to function as a dedicated weapon sight or clip-on thermal imager for rifles equipped with dot or prism sights or variable scopes with up to 4x magnification. Proper collimation aligns the thermal unit with day optics, ensuring seamless operation. The RICO MICRO is designed for user convenience. It automatically switches to helmet mode when turned upside down, modifying the heads-up display to include orientation features and a compass while eliminating the reticle. The device operates at a 50Hz refresh rate, providing smooth visuals suitable for shooting moving targets and personal navigation. This is a huge improvement over thermal optics that were offered in the past. The 50hz refresh rate feels buttery smooth compared to the jarring and choppy 9hz refresh rate of older thermal models and the common 30hz refresh rate that is still commonly sold today. As a stand-alone the RICO MICRO can function as a pocket-sized, handheld scanner. Its 25mm F/1.0 lens offers a wide field of view ideal for scanning and detection. Users can zoom in to 2x or 4x while maintaining image quality on the 1024x768 display. For businesses entering the thermal and night vision equipment market, stocking the RH25 represents a safe choice. Its versatility allows it to fill the needs of various customers and their pursuits, making it more adaptable than many optics currently available on the market. For a complete list of specifications, visit irayusa.com/RH25. By Patrick Meitin
inside the industry | company profile 42 | inside firearms | sept / oct 2023 American RAC A little digging revealed this was a nationwide—if not global—issue, further motivating McMurray to design a system to eliminate unwanted access to firearms. After developing several prototypes, McMurray settled on the locking mechanism that is now the foundation of The American RAC system. The uniqueness of the product allowed him to be granted his first utility patent in 2003 and subsequent design and utility patents in 2004 and 2005. Today The American RAC locking system is used by homeowners, first responders, multiple defense agencies, and legions of responsible firearms owners. The RAC system prohibits unauthorized access to firearms and is an easily mountable device that is designed to withstand 4,700 pounds of force. The RAC system can be mounted in homes, offices and vehicles and includes the ability to store up to three firearms at one time. It has been endorsed by police departments throughout the U.S. With multiple patents awarded, American RAC became the first minority vendor to attend the SHOT Show. American RAC has received GSA approval and product compliance under California State of Law and has been sold to the Secret Service and Department of Defense. American RAC has also been picked up by Cabela’s, Gander Mountain, Meijer, and Walmart, as well as co-branding with Remington. American RAC has received many celebrity endorsements, and the National Rifle Association has invited American RAC to become a strategic partner. More recently the product line has been expanded to include truck mounts, which was awarded the 2nd Best product of SHOT SHOW 2014. In 2019 American RAC was invited to the advisory board of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) during SHOT Show. Newer developments include securing United States Patent #9,932764 for the company’s Flexible Vault in April 2018, United States Patent #10,401,106 for the Quick RELEASE Storage and locking system in September 2019, and the Gifting Program, established in January 2022, which provides RAC systems for low-income communities. Several government agencies recognized American RAC as a safe and effective way to prevent gun accidents, prompting Detroit government officials to request RAC’s in homes of firearm owners in February 2022 and receiving the mayor’s approval for an installation program in April 2022. At the same time RAC aligned with a Washington D.C. group for safer firearm storage after the company was endorsed by D.C. leadership. Soon after a program was approved to provide installation of RAC systems in every home in Michigan, and Clark County, Nevada, requested the RAC Gifting Program in Las Vegas. American RAC’s original mission was to keep guns safe from theft and out of the hands of children who may not understand the dangers a loaded firearm presents. After conducting years of research, the company proudly introduced a patented version of the industry’s most reliable products for responsible gun owners who wish to secure their firearms. The American RAC solution makes the ideal add-on to any firearm sale, asking the question, “How do you plan to store your gun?” This leads into relating how The American RAC system has become the gold standard for easily securing a firearm in a vehicle or at home and keeping it safe from curious children or potential thieves. Visit theamericanrac.com to learn more. When William McMurray was impacted by the tragic accidental death of a teenager he was mentoring, he was compelled to find a solution to unauthorized access to firearms in homes.
44 | inside firearms | sept / oct 2023 market trends | pro shop essentials OSR Business Insurance I n this atmosphere we see juries award insane amounts of money to plaintiffs for minor inconveniences, such as spilling hot coffee in their laps, as the attitude seems to follow that the large company from which that coffee was purchased can afford the hit. The fact that coffee-spilling case was overturned on appeal is beside the point. As an owner of a gun shop, range, outdoor service industry, or manufacturing facility, even the costs of litigation are more than most business can readily absorb. The daily news is filled with seemingly preposterous stories that nonetheless carry very serious implications for business owners caught up in nightmarish scenarios thrust upon them by an upside-down society. And the firearms industry is filled with potential pitfalls ripe for the unscrupulous seeking a big payday at your expense. You no doubt strive mightily to maintain a safe atmosphere in your place of business, carefully monitoring activities, liberally posting legal notices, even asking guests and customers to sign liability wavers drafted by expensive lawyers. Despite these precautions reality is that you are always but one unfortunate episode away from financial ruin and the end of your business dreams. Outdoor Sports and Recreation Insurance protects your business from such potentially ruinous scenarios, providing insurance coverage and solutions for many outdoor-related business ventures and products. OSR’s mission is to help their agents and their clients by offering underwriting solutions, while also providing a team of deeply experienced staff to help them succeed, so you sleep sound at night knowing a single incident will not jeopardize the welfare of your family, business or its employees. The OSR product line provides a comprehensive array of insurance options strategically crafted to offer property, professional liability, general liability, umbrella, and cyber liability protection against lawsuits both frivolous and genuine. OSR’s dedicated team of professionals will help you with all your insurance needs in this specialty market, including but not limited to coverage for shooting instructors, shooting ranges, shops, clubs and leases, special events, manufacturing, guiding services, lodges and preserves, cyber liability, gunsmithing, archery ranges, and much more. Coverage includes property up to $40,000,000 per location, general liability up to $1,000,000 per occurrence or $2,000,000 per aggregate, and umbrella coverage up to $5,000,000. OSR insurance offers affordable peace of mind, and allows you to breathe a little easier knowing a single mistake, or a freakish accident initiated by another on your property or while using your product or services, will not cause an undue financial burden for you, your business or its employees. One less thing, as they say, so you can concentrate on making your business more profitable, more innovative and better streamlined to serve the needs of all of your customers and their needs. By Patrick Meitin Let’s face it; we live in an increasingly litigous society where personal responsibility takes a back seat to “sticking it to the man” in some misguided idea of wealth redistribution.
46 | inside firearms | sept / oct 2023 O ptics are integral to shooting and hunting in today’s firearms world. Few serious hunters shoot irons today, and even if they do it’s a safe bet they’ll be wearing a set of binoculars around their neck or carrying a rangefinder. Optics give us an advantage, allowing us to place shots more precisely, ferret game from congested or distant cover, get an exact range, and save a lot of climbing and hiking to have a closer look at game (or just the holes poked in a distant paper target). We have a lot of ground to cover, so let’s jump right in, delving into the latest riflescopes and dot-optics, binoculars, and rangefinding binoculars. Riflescopes & Dot Optics LUCID OPTICS ● LUCID’s L5 series of riflescopes are designed and overbuilt to provide ruggedness and performance normally found in much more expensive optics after thorough input from operators, law enforcement and military professionals, as well as competitive and recreational shooters. That feedback was balanced with a long list of the company’s own development priorities, resulting in a purpose-built optic based on a 30mm one piece aluminum chassis including all the durability and quality LUCID Optics has become known for. L5 Riflescopes provide precise and repeatable 1/8 MOA windage and elevation adjustments via lockable and re-zeroable, tactical style turrets. The side parallax adjustment and ocular diopter adjustment provide a crisp target image across the entire magnifiLUCID L5 SERIES HUSKEMAW TACTICAL HUNTER U.S OPTICS FOUNDATION SERIES TRACT OPTICS TORIC ELR BURRIS VERACITY PH LEUPOLD MARK 5HD TRIJICON RCR By Patrick Meitin
sept / oct 2023 | insidefirearms.com | 47 cation range. The L5 Reticle offers a precise MOA measuring device with 2 MOA increments below the rifle’s zero and meaningful windage values. With the 4-16x44mm “Cross Over” rifle scope, LUCID Optics is providing a quality hunting solution. Visit lucidoptics.com to learn more. HUSKEMAW OPTICS ● Huskemaw’s Tactical Hunter 5-20x50mm riflescope is the newest addition to the company’s Tactical Series lineup and the next evolution in long range optics. This scope utilizes Huskemaw’s patented TrueBC, Rapid Field Ballistic Compensator (RFBC) Turret and the simple yet powerful wind compensating reticle. The 34mm main tube, 50mm objective lens, internal bubble level and illuminated reticle make the 5-20x50mm Tac Hunter an outstanding choice for big game hunters and long range shooting enthusiasts. It also allows making ballistic compensation and parallax adjustments while on the rifle and the German F2 Schott glass creates a bright, clear image for high magnification and low-light use. The glass-etched second focal plane reticle is sandwiched between two layers of German F2 Schott glass and lenses receive high-density multi-coatings. Lenses are grooved and bedded with a proprietary adhesive for maximum recoil tolerance. The illuminated reticle includes 10 intensity levels and the eyepiece includes a fast-focus feature. The heavy-duty, one-piece aircraft aluminum body creates superb durability, and the scope is fog, shock and waterproof. Internal titanium springs provide unequalled tracking and an adjustable zero stop simplifies getting back on track after large corrections. Side parallax adjustment and an internal bubble level to keep shots plumb are also included. Visit huskemawoptics.com to learn more. U.S. OPTICS ● The Foundation Series by U.S. Optics are domestically manufactured and provides the exceptional reliability, durability and performance the company is renowned for. The Foundation Series incorporates and improves on core components that U.S. Optics has developed, proven, and popularized since 1991—including one-piece 6061-T6 aluminum chassis, low profile ER3K elevation knob with zero stop, capped US#1 windage knob, adjustable integrated parallax and illumination knob, rapid adjustable 180-degree magnification throw, and customizable options to easily meet the
48 | inside firearms | sept / oct 2023 needs of individual shooters. First in the series is the FDN 10X with 1.8-10x42mm configuration, the FDN FX10 a fixed 10x42mm optic popular with many hunters, the FDN 17X a 3.2-17x50mm engineered with precision shooters in mind, and the FDN 25X a 5-25x52mm riflescope built to meet the demands of professional precision shooters who push things to the limit. All offer some of the sharpest optics in the business, and generous correction ranges based in 34mm main tubes. Precision-minded shooters seeking a U.S. engineered and manufactured rifle scope featuring European-grade features will find U.S. Optics to their liking. Visit usoptics.com to learn more. TRACT OPTICS ● TRACT Optics’ TORIC ELR is the newest addition to the award-winning TORIC line of riflescopes. TRACT continues to provide top-tier quality at belowmarket prices. The TORIC ELR (Extreme Long Range) includes a 34mm tube, First Focal Plane configuration, and 4x to 24x magnification range with a 50mm objective lens. The scope provides up to 160 MOA or 47 MRAD of corrections ideal for ELR and PRS shooters, as well as allowing long-range rimfire and air gun shooters, to dial precise adjustments at extreme ranges. The side parallax is adjustable from 15 yards to infinity. TRACT pairs this with tack-sharp SCHOTT HT glass with extra-low dispersion (ED) lenses and a glass-etched illuminated reticle. The reticle is available in MOA ELR or MRAD ELR Christmas tree style arrangements with a floating center dot. The scope is purged with Argon gas and completely fog and waterproof. Turrets feature locking windage and elevation adjustments, plus zero stop. A quick-focus eyepiece and 4 inches of eye relief are also part. The new ELR is currently offered in Graphite Grey, weighs 39 ounces, and comes with a 3-inch sun shade. The scope will retail for just $1,494. Visit tractoptics.com to learn more. BURRIS OPTICS ● Burris’ 2023 Veracity PH 4-20x50mm riflescope features the new PĒK (Programable Elevation Knob) system, premium optical clarity, a built-in Heads-Up Display (HUD), and Bluetooth connectivity for uploading custom ballistic data from the new BurrisConnect Mobile App. This advanced scope makes longrange hits easier than ever. Fast dialing solutions are at the shooter’s fingertips, without dope cards or data sheets. Veracity PH’s PĒK system and an easily assessable heads-up display showing the exact dialed distance, wind hold, rifle cant, and battery level are at the heart of this optic. Coupled with user-configurable and Bluetooth uploadable ballistic data via the BurrisConnect App, hunters can be assured of precise aiming. A digital position sensor in the scope’s click-less elevation turret provides 1/10 MOA adjustability. Customized ballistic profiles can be created for multiple bullet weights, velocities, and weather conditions. The FFP (First Focal Plane) Wind MOA FFP reticle includes hold-off and holdover marks accurate at any magnification. Side parallax is adjustable from 50 yards to infinity and windage and elevation turrets include zero stops. The 4-20x50mm scope is based on a 30mm tube with five-intensity illumination powered by two CR2450 batteries. It weighs 15 ounces. The elevation turret provides 66 MOA of travel, the windage turret 37 MOA in ¼-inch clicks. Visit burrisoptics.com to learn more. TRIJICON ● Trijicon introduced the RCR new sealed pistol red dot for 2023. The RCR, or Ruggedized Closed Reflex, is an extremely compact and durable closed emitter optic for demanding assignments. It’s based on the acclaimed Ruggedized Miniature Reflex (RMR). The RCR is waterproof to 66 feet and tough, with 7075-T6 aluminum construction that absorbs recoil and other impacts and diverts stress away from the lenses. The innovative capstan screw design mounts directly on any slide or plate that accepts the RMR, without over-torquing, cross threading, or stripping the screw head. Brightness is adjusted manually with 10 brightness settings available, including three night vision and super bright options. The LED illumination is powered by one CR2032 battery—replaceable while the unit is attached to the firearm—though a single battery provides VORTEX STRIKE EAGLE 3-18x44 FFP ATHLON NEOS 3-9x40 STRAIGHTWALL HAWKE OPTICS VANTAGE 30 WA FD IR STEINER H6Xi SERIES GPO SPECTRA 6X 4.5-27x50i SFP RITON 3 PRIMAL 3–18x50MM ZEISS LRP S3 425-50
six years of continuous use. A true-color, multi-coated lens provides wide-band light transmission and the 3.25 MOA red dot is easily adjustable at 1 MOA per click for elevation and windage without special tools. The unit allows 150 MOA of travel. Upgraded electronics include ruggedized battery contacts and electronics to ensure surviving harsh environments. Visit trijicon.com to learn more. LEUPOLD ● The Mark 5HD by Leupold weighs 20 ounces—lighter than other scopes in its class. Despite its feathery mass it provides superior edge-to-edge clarity and extreme low-light performance with the versatile PR2 reticle. The elevation turret provides three revolutions of adjustment to maximize longrange abilities via its 35mm tube. The ergonomic design includes more tactile/ audible click adjustments, larger numbers, and a high-speed, removeable throw lever for faster manipulation. Like all Leupold riflescopes, it’s designed, machined, and assembled in the USA and guaranteed for life. Leupold’s Professional-Grade Optical System delivers the light transmission, glare reduction, and resolution serious shooters demand, plus accurate holdovers throughout the magnification range with FFP reticles. The 5x magnification makes it versatile, the lightweight 35mm main tube providing 120 MOA/34.9 MIL of travel using a precise, repeatable 3-turn ZeroLock dial. The illuminated reticle creates a visible aiming point in low-light conditions. The overall design disperses recoil energy for unsurpassed durability. This scope is fog and waterproof and guaranteed for life. Look for it in 3.6-18x44mm, 2-10x30mm, 5-25x56mm, and 7-35x56mm configurations. Visit leupold.com to learn more. VORTEX OPTICS ● Vortex expanded the versatile Strike Eagle line, which is designed for gun enthusiasts and competitive shooters in dynamic scenarios. The Strike Eagle 3-18x44mm FFP riflescope (MSRP $849.99) closes the gap between tactical mid- and long-range shooting. The feature-rich riflescope delivers rugged construction, a sophisticated reticle, and superior optical quality so customers can send rounds with maximum speed and precision. The scope includes a 34mm tube milled from a solid block of aircraft-grade aluminum and provides significant elevation and windage travel. The illuminated EBR-7C reticle promotes faster target acquisition at any magnification or lighting situation, while the internal XD Optical System produces higher resolution and color fidelity. Other features include an extended throw lever, RevStop Zero System, and exposed/ locking turrets with a distinct tactile feel. Visit vortexoptics.com to learn more. ATHLON OPTICS ● Athlon’s NEOS 3-9x40mm Straight Wall Riflescope is designed for the new phenomena of straight-wall cartridge seasons. Straight wall rifles have recently seen a resurgence in popularity and Athlon has responded. It represents Athlon’s ability to provide Ridiculously Good Optics at a Ridiculously Low Price, with an MSRP of just $224.99. Whether customers hunt in areas requiring straight-wall cartridges, or they simply enjoy it, Athlon’s new Neos 3-9x40 scope helps wring maximum effectiveness from these classic rounds. Designed for cartridges such as 350 Legend, 450 Bushmaster, and 45-70 Government, they allow extending range. The NEOS’ 40mm objective lens minimizes weight while increasing light transmission via proprietary lens coatings and glass quality. Visit athlonoptics.com to learn more. HAWKE OPTICS ● Hawke Optics offers big bang for the buck and produces the extensive Vantage lineup with an Illuminated Fiber Optic Dot Reticle. The all-new Vantage 30 WA FD IR models bring fiber dot reticles to Hawke Optics for the first time, providing an intense, crisp, red illuminated center dot. The red illumination has an 11-stage brightness control. It includes a removable throw lever. The classic L4A Dot reticle provides an uncluttered view of the target and includes fiber optic illumination. Vantage 30 WA Fiber Dot Illuminated Riflescopes come in 1-4x24mm, 1-8x24mm, 2.5-10x50mm and 3-12x56mm. They include 11 layers of Fully MultiCoated Lenses for clarity and brightness and 30mm one-piece tubes. Vantage 30 WA FD IR models feature capped turrets,
50 | inside firearms | sept / oct 2023 a high torque zoom ring, nitrogen purging and fog, shock, and waterproofness. All are rated for powerful magnum cartridges and retail for under $550—with a Hawke No-Fault Lifetime Warranty. Visit hawkeoptics.com to learn more. STEINER OPTICS ● The new Steiner H6Xi Riflescope Series is tactically inspired for serious hunters in the most extreme conditions. The H6Xi series includes three FFP 6x options, including the 2-12x42mm, 3-16x50mm, and 5-30x50mm. These German-inspired, American-made scopes include 30mm tubes milled from 6061-T6 aluminum and purged and sealed to be fog, shock, and waterproof without undue weight. Steiner’s renowned HD lenses and illuminated Steiner MHR reticles provide sure aiming in any legal light. The Modern Hunting Reticle includes duplex crosshairs for quick target acquisition at lower magnification range and precise illuminated marks for wind drift and bullet drop zoomed into higher powers. The system provides 92 percent light transmission and a wide field of view. A low-profile elevation turret is less prone to snagging while large numbers, tactile detents with audible clicks, and zero stop make dialing corrections easier. The windage turret is capped and illumination system includes 11 intensity settings, with two night-vision settings, four night settings, and five day settings. Parallax adjustment is 25 yards to infinity, and all adjustment surfaces include aggressive knurling for no-slip manipulation even while wearing gloves. Visit steiner-optics. com to learn more. GERMAN PRECISION OPTICS (GPO) ● GPO’s SPECTRA 6X 4.5-27x50i SFP was made to go long. GPO CEO Michael Jensen calls this the company’s ultimate longrange hunting scope. The SFP center-dot reticle remains fine at all magnifications for precise bullet placement, and includes proprietary iCONTROL microdot illumination. This scope comes with DoubleHD objective lens technology with fully-multi coated lenses, iCONTROL illumination and PASSIONtrac ZERO-STOPLOCK turrets providing 30 inches/MOA of adjustment at 100 yards. The GPObright coating process boosts light transmission to 92 percent. An iControl Illumination feature automatically reduces illumination when the electronic module has remained stationary for more than 3 hours and alerts users when the battery has 15 percent battery life remaining. The scope features a one-piece 30mm anodized, nitrogen-filled aluminum tube holding zero-stop locking turrets with precise ¼ MOA adjustments. Other features include CCW click rotation, removable magnification throw lever, 3rd turret parallax adjustment, fast focus ocular, and multiple rotation engraving. It hit markets this spring at $1,249.99. All GPO products are backed by GPO’s exclusive Spectacular Lifetime Warranty. The SPECTRA 6X 4.5- 27x50i SFP comes with a cleaning cloth, see-through flip cap ocular and objective lens scope covers, and CR2032 battery. Visit gpo-usa.com to learn more. RITON OPTICS ● The 3 PRIMAL 3-18x50mm scope from Riton Optics is made for long range hunters. It includes exposed, zerostop turrets for fast adjustments and is equipped with Riton’s patent pending Dual Throw Lever System. The 3-18x50mm configuration makes an ideal crossover optic between hunters and long-range shooters. The user-adjustable zero stop makes it easy to return to zero after large corrections, and the integrated/removable two-location throw levers are availSWAROVSKI Z8i 1.7-13.3x42 P MEOPTA OPTIKA5 2-10x42MM PA BLACKHOUND OPTICS EMERGE SERIES SCY : Build a custom-tailored bullpup configured AR-15! Reap Weaponries • 320-223-5983 •reapweaponries.com • [email protected] • Relocates trigger interface 9 ¾” forward • M-LOK, KeyMod™ compatible • Designed for all mil-spec lowers with a removable trigger guard • Recoil rated for up to .50 Beowulf • Ambidextrous setup • Mil-spec components • Weights 12 ounces • Linear trigger system • Less than 1.5 lbs. trigger weight added • All components made in the USA CALL OR EMAIL FOR ORDERS • FREE SHIPPING! Speedloaders That Really Fit Wholesale Dealers welcomed Click the Dealer link at zetasix.com • Designed for EDC/Concealed carry • Available for J-frame, K-frame, and Ruger LCR revolvers chambered in 38 Special or 357 Magnum • More flexible and comfortable to pocket carry • Easily clears the frame and stock grips