Tabla de contenidos para September 2023 en Guns & Ammo

ON THE CO LLECTOR AND USED-GUN MARKET, the value of a firearm primarily depends on the correct identification of the make, model, variation and accurate evaluation of the condition. What is it? Identifying a recently manufactured firearm is usually easy. The manufacturer and model name are generally marked on the gun, as required by law. On older and antique guns, figuring out the make and model can be complicated. Most major American makers include the manufacturer’s name, but sometimes there is no model designation. Some research is required to identify these guns. Online forums for the manufacturer’s products can be helpful, as are certain resource books. What is the condition? Determining a gun’s condition is essential, and can easily halve or double the value. However, condition is a bit subjective.…

IF YOU’RE A REGULAR READER of this column, you know that I review a fair amount of expensive optics. At $1,600, the Leapers Integrix IX6 (leapers.com) approaches what is reachable for many rifleman. I’ve found that it offers excellent performance without the $2,000-plus price tag. Accomplishing this was only possible through Leapers’ manufacturing strategy. Optics have, by far, the most diverse swath of manufacturing processes of any product in the firearms industry. Since most of us focus on image quality and ascribe performance to the lenses used in a scope, that’s a good place to start. The reality is that a scope can be broken into two separate engineering tasks: Optical and mechanical. Optical engineers design lens shape, placement, and composition. Mechanical engineers design turrets, erector assemblies, and other components.…

WITHIN A NONDESCRIPT BUILDING, not far from Wisconsin-Illinois border, a small and nimble factory runs almost 24 hours-a-day. Employing 50 dedicated individuals and an army of robots, this company has specialized in manufacturing button-rifled barrels, bolts, bolt carriers, handguards and billet receivers for AR-15, AR-10 and AR-9-type firearms. Since 2016, it has made parts and assemblies for other companies, brands you certainly know. To protect ongoing contracts with its clients, I had to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before entering the facility, which prevents me from revealing who these parts are manufactured for. In 2022, this team decided to launch its own brand. Meet Outerwild. I asked Leanne Lally, director of marketing, “If business with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) has not tapered off, why get into the business of manufacturing…

ACCORDING TO THE FBI’S uniform crime report covering 2010 to 2019, 511 law-enforcement officers were feloniously killed in the line of duty with a weapon. Twenty of those victim officers were disarmed and killed with their own weapo n by the offender. Safariland dominates the law-enforcement duty holster segment, ever since the introduction of the Self-Locking System (SLS) in 1996, which features a rotating hood design. In 2006, the Automatic Locking System (ALS) was released. Sometimes called a “thumb release,” it is positioned inside of the body of the holster against the user. These are still popular features on Safariland’s duty holsters today. The year 2023 marks another milestone for Safariland, as it is the year the Vault holster was introduced. Firearm retention remains the primary focus for a brand…

EARLIER THIS YEAR, it seemed handgunning interests were favoring larger, heavier offerings. Examples included SIG Sauer’s tungsten-infused TXG and anodized-metal AXG P320s, the Smith & Wesson Metal Frame M&Ps, Taurus’ Executive Grade and optic-ready revolvers, Springfield Armory’s 1911DS Prodigy and the new-for-2023 Kimber KDS9c. Even Savage followed up its micro-compact Stance with a suite of full-size Model 1911s. We thought the pendulum was swinging — but no. Managing Guns & Ammo’s digital networks requires attention to the content our audience wants to consume. In the handgun segment, reader interest remains overwhelmingly with subcompact carry guns. It makes sense. For armed citizens, the most researched options online rank micro-compact 9mm pistols including the SIG Sauer P365 series, Springfield Armory Hellcat and Taurus G4X among the top results. New variations of these…

COLT OFFICERS MODEL Q: I would like to know the approximate value of a .38 Colt Officer’s Model, serial #535XXX. This gun was presented to my uncle by the Gary Serbian Society, and it is so inscribed on the gun. My uncle went on to become the Chief of the Indiana State Police during the 1930s. He was always after John Dillinger, and I have the old police file on Dillinger, which is another story. The gun has not been refinished and it is in original condition, along with his leather holster. I attempted to get the original sales information from Colt, but I was told the old records were destroyed in a fire in the 1960s. Your input would be much appreciated! T. L. Thousand Oaks, California A:…

HOW MANY TIME have you shot at a distant steel target without knowing for sure whether you hit it? For me, too many times, which is why it is so helpful to have a another person monitoring the target area with a spotting scope to call hits and misses. However, even that doesn’t always work. Depending on the cartridge load, impact velocity and weight of the projectile, hits on steel can be difficult to detect. “No impact, no idea,” is something no one on a rifle likes to hear. If you’re by yourself, it can be even more frustrating. Caldwell now offers an affordable solution with its new Flash Bang Hit Indicator for 5-inch or larger AR500 steel targets. There are 10 flashing green LED lights that provide visual feedback…

WHEREVER YOU STAND on the National Rifle Association (NRA, nra.org), it no longer has the political and social influence it once had. While there is no organization immediately capable of matching the NRA’s size, funding, and grassroots network, one is emerging as a credible leader in the protection of gun rights: The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF, saf.org). The SAF has been one of the most prolific legal forces in the gun rights movement. In 2022, SAF participated in the initiation of 16 different cases relating to firearm laws. SAF is also one of the lead plaintiffs in the lawsuit challenging Maryland’s restrictive concealed-carry law. I have noted that the group has been increasingly active in roles outside of the courtroom as well. To that end, SAF announced a partnership with…