November 2008

Semi-Auto Carbines in 6.8 SPC and 308 Win: Socom II Wins
Semi-automatic carbines have become enormously popular. Applications range from law enforcement and home defense to competitive target shooting and hunting. The most popular platform is the AR15-based weapon chambered for 223 Remington. But if you visit your local shooting range, you will find AR-style carbines, circa the 1960s, shooting alongside historical battle-rifle actions made popular in the 1940s. For this evaluation we acquired three different solutions to the self-defense rifle equation, mixing midrange and top-of-category power choices with 6.8s and 308s. In the AR15 platform, we started with a 308 Winchester–chambered Armalite AR10 A4C carbine, $1502. Against that bigger, but still familiar, design, we pitted a similarly-familiar M1A variant in the form of Springfield Armory’s $2090 Socom II AA9627 with black fiberglass stock. To this mix we added a midrange-power 6.8mm Remington SPC Ruger KMini-6.8/5P, $894.

20-Gauge Pump Shootout: BPS Slide-Action Has What We Want
Where are some great reasons for considering a 20-gauge pump shotgun. Considering the common 3-inch chamber length available today, the 20 gauge itself works well as a general-purpose hunting gauge, handling appropriate payloads for most upland game as well as decoying waterfowl, all in a trimmer package than expected from a 12 gauge. When a common question with autoloaders is constantly focused on 'what it cycles with,' no such issues exist with pump-action repeaters that do their job regardless of payload and velocity considerations. Finally, in a day when quality autoloaders can easily breach the $1500 threshold and the sky is seemingly the limit for stack barrels, pump-action repeaters with similar (or better) build quality and less maintenance requirements can be acquired with significantly less financial stress. We recently tested a trio of slide actions whose prices, at least, promised more value for the dollar than some other lines can deliver. The parameters for this match-up were simple: we wanted representative high-quality models of highly polished blue and checkered walnut in 20-gauge pump guns that are presented as high-quality repeaters. Our 3-inch-chamber 20 gauges were the Ithaca Model 37 Featherlight, $859; Browning’s BPS No. 012211813, $566; and the Remington Model 870 Wingmaster No. 26947, $773. The three have interesting and sometimes interlocking histories.

AR-15 Replacement Pistol Grips: We Like Magpul, Tapco
This month, Gun Tests continues its ongoing series of AR-15 accessories, looking at one of the first items gun owners look to replace after purchase: the OEM version pistol grip. The handle supplied as standard equipment by most gun manufacturers is an undersized, hollow piece of hard plastic that affords little in handling, comfort, or utility. We looked at four contenders who offered their versions to improve on this design. All of them succeeded in besting that lower standard, but we set our sights much higher in identifying the best of the bunch. The AR-15 is an extremely versatile shooting platform, varying from short-barreled close quarter defense models, to long-barreled target and varmint rifles. These configurations radically change the weight, balance, and ergonomics required for each application. This is becoming even more complex as new technology is employed in its use. We now have red dot, holographic, laser, illuminated reticle, and night vision sights. Lights with Xenon and LED technology, some now featuring strobe capabilities, are all being mounted on the AR, and that’s just in the civilian market. All of this new gadgetry has couple of things in common: A need for spare parts and power. So now we not only need proper ergonomics to balance and handle our guns, but to also to act as storage areas for all our batteries and other spares. Oh, and it should look really cool too.

Affordable 22 LR Revolvers: S&W's Air Lite Redeems Itself
As the cost of centerfire ammunition continues to ascend, many gun owners will turn to the standby 22 LR round as a way to shoot economically, whether those pursuits include knocking over cans, punching holes in paper, or killing the occasional rodent. Of the many available guns chambered for the rimfire round, perhaps the easiest to load and shoot and enjoy is the revolver. We recently tested a trio of wheelguns chambered for the 22 round, and versions of two of them have previously been tested and graded for their utility. For example, just over a year ago (October 2007), we shot the Taurus Model 94SS4, $406. That stainless-steel gun with a 4-inch barrel got a B-, mainly because it was too heavy to be considered as a trail gun. We also said back then, 'But the Taurus is a great deal less costly, so if you don’t mind its weight and if you can do without extreme accuracy, it might be right for you. It looked great, performed quite well, and was easier to load and unload.' We were more enthusiastic about a Taurus Model 94B2UL Ultra-Lite Nine, $375, reviewed in March 2006. We said of that gun, rated a Best Buy: '…All in all, the Taurus doesn’t need a lot to make it into one of the finest 22 revolvers we’ve seen. As we found it, it worked well, and the price was modest.'