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The quest for value is never ending in the hunting rifle market. Hunters traverse fields and mountains in search of deer, elk, moose, and other game, and they likewise amble through aisles of gun stores searching for the best game-getter for the lowest dollar possible. However, they may be overlooking the best deals by not considering used firearms available at gun shows, in online auctions, at pawn shops, and, yes, at those selfsame gun stores. But what is a good deal? Definitions vary. But most of us would agree that finding a secondhand, good-shooting gun for a couple of hundred dollars is a treat, so knowing what to look for is important.We recently stumbled across a Weatherby Vanguard Series 1 308 Winchester for only $300, and online searches showed many more of this older model are available for that plus another $50 to $75. At the same time, we also came into possession of a Ruger American Rifle No. 6903, also in 308, which has an MSRP of $449 but can sell at $50 to $75 off that, making the pricing of an individual gun pretty close between the two. Both rifles are hunting models fitted with synthetic stocks, blued barrels, sling studs front and rear, and rubber buttpads. We wanted to know which is the better buy - a used gun thats basically selling half-off its original price, or a brand-new gun that comes with the confidence that only the buyer has shot it? We endeavored to find out in a head-to-head match-up.We tested an American chambered in 243 Winchester in the February 2013 issue, and we said then that the pricing might make it a popular choice for deer stands. Also, it had a well-made stock with integral bedding blocks, a precise single-stage trigger, and was a generally well-thought-out, smoothly assembled rifle. Five years ago we tested a then-new Weatherby Vanguard Series 1 Stainless in 270 Winchester and found that gun lived up to its guarantee of three-shot groups of 1.5 inches or better fired from a cold barrel with premium ammunition.To get things going this time, we mounted a 30mm Leupold VX-R 3-9x40mm Matte FireDot Duplex scope (Leupold #110686, $456.24) on the Weatherby using Leupold 30mm medium-height rings (Leupold #49957, $35.30) and Leupold Dual Dovetail Weatherby Mark V 2-piece bases (Leupold #51706, $17.78.) The FireDot scope has an illuminated dot right in the center of the duplex reticle. Its intensity can be stepped down by a switch on the left side of the scope - a useful setup for low-light conditions. For the Rugers optic, we selected a Sightmark 3-9x42 Triple Duty Riflescope SM13016. Made in China, the Triple Duty is equipped with an illuminated red/green Mil-Dot reticle, which aids in range estimation and shooting in low light conditions. We liked the bright and crisp picture the fully multi-coated optics transmitted. The 3-9x42 features a one-piece 30mm tube that is O-ring sealed and nitrogen purged, making it fog proof and water resistant. This scope features oversized, locking windage and elevation turrets with -inch-MOA clicks. It came with a set of 30mm rings, but we used some Weaver Tactical Rings (No. 48351) mounted to Weaver bases to put the Sightmark on and rotated it 90 degrees counterclockwise so we could reach the illumination dial more easily with the left hand.To determine the accuracy of standard hunting ammunition, we selected the following test rounds: Federal Premium 308 Winchester 168-grain Matchking BTHP GM308M; Winchester Super-X 308 Winchester 150-grain Power Point X3085; and Freedom Munitions 308 Winchester 150-grain FMJ. As the accompanying accuracy table shows, the Vanguard shot within its 1.5-inch guarantee with two rounds, the Freedom Munitions FMJs and Federal Premium Matchking boattails, with the Ruger trailing in accuracy performance across the board. As we wrung them out, we noticed other pros and cons with both rifles, which we report below:

How many old stocks have you seen that were broken at the wrist, repaired and then broken again? If you have been around guns for very long I'm sure you have seen your share. Based on the number of badly repaired old stocks that I have worked on, most folks think all it takes is some glue and perhaps a few screws and a splint or two. When the gun breaks in the same place a time or two they give up the job and put stock repair into the black arts file.

Some accuse 1911 fans of believing the sun rises and sets on the big 45 ACP. And it is a certainty that the full-size pistol has played an important role in many lives as a badge of office, tool of the trade, a lifesaver, a game taker, and a sporting instrument. Some claim that when their hands wrap around the 1911s handle, it says friend like no other pistol. The 1911 has prevailed in innumerable engagements because it fits most hands well and features well-placed controls. Also, the 1911 fires a powerful cartridge, but not so powerful that most of us cannot control it.Digging down further, another great advantage of the 1911 is a straight-to-the-rear trigger compression. No need to lay the finger above the trigger and swing it down in an arc as is necessary with the double-action first shot pistol. Also, the trigger resets rapidly, and the slide lock safety and grip safety offer a combination of safety features not found on many handguns. But the full-size 1911 has its downsides as well - mainly, it is big and heavy.So, to keep the advantages of the design and to mitigate its shortcomings, many civilian carriers have adopted shorter and lighter 1911s of the Commander size. The original Colt Commander featured a barrel and slide -inch shorter than the 5-inch Government Model. The Commander pistol also had an aluminum frame, making it lighter. Later, the steel-frame Combat Commander was introduced. Some stated that inch off the slide was pointless when the weight of the pistol was considered. We do not find this to be true for one specific reason: The shorter length is just right to prevent pinching the buttocks when seated. The shorter pistol is also faster from the holster, and though the short sight radius may limit absolute accuracy, the Commander lines up on target quickly at combat ranges.Some shooters also worry about the physics in the Commander-size pistols leading to more malfunctions. And it is true that the compact 1911 pistols with 4.25-inch-or-shorter barrels develop increased slide velocity because the same cartridge working on a lighter slide speeds things up. Therefore, a heavier recoil spring is needed for the short pistol to give it time to eject the spent case, then for the slide to race forward and strip a round out of the magazine. Because the Commander tries to run faster, Bill Wilson of Wilson Combat recommends 185-grain defense loads in these pistols, because the string of cartridges is about 315 grains less in weight than a magazine full of 230-grain loads, so the magazine spring has less weight to push up. Wilson also recommends a heavy hammer spring to control the slides velocity as well as a square-bottom firing-pin stop to change the leverage of the slide against the hammer in recoil. These recommendations show an expert understanding of the function of a short 1911. Of course, there are still more variables in a short 1911 that only hands-on testing can reveal, so we pitted a popular 4.25-inch barrel SIG Carry Stainless 1911CA-45-SSS 45 ACP, $1142, against the new Ruger SR1911CMD No. 6702 45 ACP, $829, and the 4-inch-barrel aluminum-frame Kimber Pro CDP. The results were interesting.

In the 1950s, some revolvers were expressly designed and marketed for police detectives to conceal carry, though shooters had been cutting down the barrels of full-size revolvers to make them more concealable since Sam Colt was alive. Small, compact revolvers were called snubnose revolvers and have been and continue to be a staple defense weapon. They can be small and snag-free for easy concealment, and they can be drawn smoothly from pockets, purses, and ankle and belt holsters, among other conceal-carry modes. Of the more concealable types of snubnose revolvers, some are DAO (double action only), wherein the revolver is only able to fire with a double-action pull of the trigger. There is no hammer to thumb back and fire the revolver single action, and no hammer spur to snag and impede a draw.Rugers LCR has helped create a new interest in these compact five-shooters, so we wanted to see how a good, old S&W with comparable features - a Model 42 - would compare. If the LCR is the iPhone generations revolver, then the Model 42 would be the gun for those who grew up using rotary-dial telephones.

The turn of the 19th to 20th Century saw lots of innovation in the world of firearms. Forty years earlier, the Civil War had been fought largely with muzzle loaders. By the turn of the century metallic cartridges had taken a firm hold, and many were the ways to use them, especially to fight wars. We take a look here at two rifles that had their roots just before the first World War. One is the Canadian Ross 1905 Mark II (about $400), and the other is a Remington-made 303 Pattern 14 rifle, also known as the Rifle No. 3 Mark 1* (about $500), which became our "1917 Enfield" when made up as a 30-06. The Ross and Pattern 14 both take the rimmed 303 British cartridge.

Just prior to WWI, Charles Ross designed what was a rather lightweight and somewhat flimsy rifle, and through his connections to people in government power, managed to get a military contract to build a bunch of them. These were found to be lacking in strength, though quite accurate. A second version of the rifle was forthcoming, the Mark II Ross rifle. Though they were also not ideal for military use, they saw lots of service, were used in Canada and in the U.S. for training, and a goodly number survived. These were often cut down to form "sporters" of a somewhat dubious nature, though some were done up very well by various gunsmiths and by the Ross factory.

One of the lesser-quality Ross sporters made its way to our test facility here in Idaho, along with a stout example of the Pattern 14 rifle. We tested both rifles with Remington 174-grain solids, Serbian PPU 150-grain SN, and with mil-spec ball, head stamped HXP with a date of 85, and labeled L1A1. This had a bullet weight of 175 grains. We gave both rifles a good, hard look, and this is what we found.

The shotgun is the consummate defense weapon, having the ability to load up or down, depending on the situation: down for close-range work with buckshot, up for longer range with slugs. Shotguns can also be loaded with less lethal loads - polymer or rubber shot-that can incapacitate an intruder or get the attention of a black bear raiding the bird feeder in the spring. The Benelli M2 Tactical and the EAA SAR Semi-Auto Special Purpose (SARSASP) are specifically designed for defensive and tactical use. Both have polymer pistol-grip stocks, short barrels, ghost ring sights, and magazine capacities of five rounds. They also can handle 2.75-inch and 3-inch shells. Which one of these shotguns would we use to defend our home? We shot them to find out.

In the 1950s, some revolvers were expressly designed and marketed for police detectives to conceal carry, though shooters had been cutting down the barrels of full-size revolvers to make them more concealable since Sam Colt was alive. Small, compact revolvers were called snubnose revolvers and have been and continue to be a staple defense weapon. They can be small and snag-free for easy concealment, and they can be drawn smoothly from pockets, purses, and ankle and belt holsters, among other conceal-carry modes. Of the more concealable types of snubnose revolvers, some are DAO (double action only), wherein the revolver is only able to fire with a double-action pull of the trigger. There is no hammer to thumb back and fire the revolver single action, and no hammer spur to snag and impede a draw.Rugers LCR has helped create a new interest in these compact five-shooters, so we wanted to see how a good, old S&W with comparable features - a Model 42 - would compare. If the LCR is the iPhone generations revolver, then the Model 42 would be the gun for those who grew up using rotary-dial telephones.

We recently had the good fortune to have three interesting 9mm polymer-frame handguns come our way. Two of them are new to these pages, the Walther PPX M1 No. 2790025, $450; and the Kriss Sphinx SDP Compact, $1295. This marks the first time weve ever tested a Sphinx of any sort, and the PPX is a new model. They were joined in this shootfest by a handgun weve tested two times previously, the CZ USA CZ 75 P-07 Duty, $528, but in a new variation, the No. 91178, which has tall sights and a threaded barrel to accommodate a suppressor. Those seemingly minor changes to what has been a Grade B gun improved it in our eyes, even if we werent going to fit it with a can.This trio had a lot in common. They were very close in overall length, if you discount the CZs longer barrel. The CZ and the Sphinx are obviously related in bloodline, with the Sphinx being fairly described as a legal, but much higher end, copy of the CZ 75. Walthers product has the most market-savvy approach, coming in many hundreds of dollars below the Swiss-made Sphinx and at least a few tens of dollars, maybe more, below the CZ. There are differences, too, with the Walther being a DAO action and the Sphinx and CZ being DA/SA, and the CZ being convertible to SA operation as well. But because of the Walthers excellent trigger, it didnt give up as much as you might think to the second-shot single actions.But when the smoke cleared, our team said we had three above-average products that we probably would not purchase; therefore, we cant recommend that you purchase them either. You may disagree; because in the stats and descriptions below, you may see silk where we saw sows ear.

We recently had the good fortune to have three interesting 9mm polymer-frame handguns come our way. Two of them are new to these pages, the Walther PPX M1 No. 2790025, $450; and the Kriss Sphinx SDP Compact, $1295. This marks the first time weve ever tested a Sphinx of any sort, and the PPX is a new model. They were joined in this shootfest by a handgun weve tested two times previously, the CZ USA CZ 75 P-07 Duty, $528, but in a new variation, the No. 91178, which has tall sights and a threaded barrel to accommodate a suppressor. Those seemingly minor changes to what has been a Grade B gun improved it in our eyes, even if we werent going to fit it with a can.This trio had a lot in common. They were very close in overall length, if you discount the CZs longer barrel. The CZ and the Sphinx are obviously related in bloodline, with the Sphinx being fairly described as a legal, but much higher end, copy of the CZ 75. Walthers product has the most market-savvy approach, coming in many hundreds of dollars below the Swiss-made Sphinx and at least a few tens of dollars, maybe more, below the CZ. There are differences, too, with the Walther being a DAO action and the Sphinx and CZ being DA/SA, and the CZ being convertible to SA operation as well. But because of the Walthers excellent trigger, it didnt give up as much as you might think to the second-shot single actions.But when the smoke cleared, our team said we had three above-average products that we probably would not purchase; therefore, we cant recommend that you purchase them either. You may disagree; because in the stats and descriptions below, you may see silk where we saw sows ear.

In the September 2013 issue we tested three of the AR-15 rifle types, and found some limitations among them. For example, we replaced the horrid trigger in the Bushmaster Carbon-15 with one of the excellent Geissele (pronounced GUYS-lee) SSA-E triggers. That trigger was such a revelation we immediately wanted to replace the triggers in the other two with the aftermarket ones on hand, but waited until now to try them.

We had on hand a Timney 668-S trigger that was supposed to give a 3-pound break. We had another Geissele trigger, the Hi-Speed National Match, to try. Besides triggers, we had two different types of butt stocks by Magpul. These were the easily-changed MOE, a mil-spec item that gives you several benefits; and the UBR stock, which requires some gunsmithing to install because you have to replace the original stock extension with Magpul's.

We also had other items from Magpul that we were glad to see. These were an add-on set of "iron" sights that were designed to clamp onto Picatinny rails. We had a front and rear, the so-called MBUS set, but none of our rifles had a forward rail, so we could not try the front sight. Two of the rifles had forward sights, and we were thus able to test the aperture rear sight on them.

We had a final item, which some shooters seem to like a whole lot. That's the costly Slide Fire mechanism, which permits rapid-fire shooting of any of the AR-type rifles. With all these parts in front of us, we got busy with the original three AR-15s, which were the Rock River Arms LAR-15, the ArmaLite M15, and the Bushmaster Carbon-15. Rather than try all the parts on all the rifles, we put them where they seemed most appropriate, or as in the case of one of the stocks, the only place they'd fit. Here's what we found.

Unlike the conflicts with bad guys depicted on television and in the movies, a home owner in a self-defense situation will rarely fire more than one or two shots. In most cases, the owner of a firearm specifically designed to stop the threat of an intruder will never fire even one shot in their home because they will never be put in such a position.

With the caveat that there might be a slight possibility of a zombie apocalypse or another type of breakdown of society, most self-defense shotgun owners are simply looking for a little peace of mind and a lot of confidence that their firearm will perform in a capable manner when and if it is required.

Nevertheless, it is also a fact that self-defense shotguns have been and continue to be a very popular item in the firearms market. Models from basic slide-actions that have been slightly modified from their field version counterparts to highly adapted tools designed to meet the extreme needs of law enforcement and military users are among the available offerings.

At a reader's request, we selected several new models of self-defense shotguns that carry low to moderate price tags and pitted them against one of the popular veteran self-defense shotguns to see how they would perform. The 12-gauge pumpguns in our test included the Benelli Super Nova Tactical No. 29155 pump-action 12 Gauge, $559, which has been a self-defense staple for years, and the recently introduced Stevens Model 320 Home Defense No. 19495, $270; the CZ Model 612 Home Defense No. 06520, $290; and the CZ Model 612 HC-P No. 06510, $349.

All of the short-barreled pump-action shotguns are designed for a specific need and purpose — self defense — and do not easily lend themselves to other uses, such as hunting in the field or busting clay targets.

As one veteran gunsmith in our group noted: "Most of these shotguns will not have a box of shells fired through them in a year and a lot won't have more than a half-dozen boxes shot in them during a lifetime."

With this truism in mind, we limited our field testing of the four shotguns to firing at paper targets on the range and did not attempt any evaluation of how the shotguns would handle clay targets or birds in the air. These self-defense firearms are designed to be fired more like a rifle than a scattergun, so it would be unfair to judge them on the qualities found in high-dollar, better-balanced firearms that have a place in the field and on clay-target ranges.

Sticking with the types of ammunition that would handle most self-defense situations, we put the four shotguns through patterning and performance tests with a variety of shotgun shells. The ammo selection in our shooting bag included Remington ShurShot Heavy Dove 2.75-inch loads packing 1.125 ounces of No. 6 shot with an average muzzle velocity of 1,255 fps; Federal Power-Shok 2.75-inch loads with 27 pellets of No. 4 buckshot and an average muzzle velocity of 1,325 fps; and Winchester Super-X 2.75-inch 1-ounce rifled hollowpoint slugs with an average muzzle velocity of 1,600 fps.

When putting patterns on paper, we utilized the recently introduced Birchwood Casey Eze-Scorer 12x18-inch Transtar Blue and BC27 Green Silhouette Targets and the 23x35-inch Bad Guy, all on non-reactive paper. The targets, set at ranges of no more than 20 feet (typical of a home-defense situation), allowed us to realistically and effectively evaluate the performance of the test shotguns. We fired the Federal Power-Shot No. 4 buckshot at two targets, first at the Birchwood Casey Bad Guy set downrange at 20 feet and then at the Birchwood Casey Transtar Blue or BC27 Green Silhouettes about 10 feet to the side of the Bad Guy. The Remington ShurShot No. 6 shot was fired at the chest and head area of the Bad Guy targets, followed by a Winchester Super-X slug as a head shot.

It should be noted that all of the ammunition fired in the short-barreled shotguns produced quite a punch on both ends. These are not the type of firearms designed for extensive time on the firing range unless the shooter is immune from recoil. For the sake of our shoulders, a few rounds fired with each variety of ammunition were all that we deemed necessary for our evaluation. Here are the test results:

Among the most-popular concealed-carry handguns is the 9mm compact pistol. From the immensely popular mini Glocks to the Sig P290, there are quite a few pistols of this type in service. Thats not hard to understand why: in the same frame size, the 9mm is more powerful than the 380 ACP, and when compared to a similarly sized wheelgun, most 9mms offer more shots than a 38 Special. But many carriers who like the portability of a small 9mm pistol with a lot of shots worry how the 9mm compacts terminal ballistics compare to the same rounds shot out of a full-size gun.Oddly, thats less of an issue for 38 Special loads. Most makers design their 38 Special loads for use in snubnose revolvers - there arent a lot of 4-inch-barrel 38s in concealed-carry use. However, in the case of the 9mm Luger cartridge, many of the expanding-bullet loads with the best reputations were designed as service loads for use in full-size 9mm pistols with 4- to 5-inch barrels. Because the 9mm relies upon velocity to instigate bullet expansion, a significant loss of velocity may be ruinous to a bullets performance. The issue is important because the once-obscure German service-pistol cartridge is now the most popular semi-automatic carry-pistol caliber in America.The 9mm jacketed bullet load offers excellent penetration against web gear and heavy clothing, but commercial FMJ loads seem to exhibit icepick-like effect when used against motivated felons. Such a felon bent on causing human misery and suffering must be personally impressed by the ballistics of a cartridge. Some believe that the 9mm with nonexpanding bullets is effective in stopping a fight with one well-placed shot about half of the time. This 50% figure is challenged by the now-decades-old PoliceMarksmans Association study, which gave 9mm hardball a more realistic rating, in our opinion - 25%. The 9mm also showed the least likelihood of a hit per each shot fired. Poor hit probability and poor ballistics are a recipe for disaster. Practicing hard and carrying effective ammunition is a foundation for effective defense.A number of 9mm loads available today have good reputations. Some have been qualified in police service and others in lab testing. Often, police agencies demand more penetration than most of us really need, and with good reason. Unless you are facing felons behind cover or in vehicles, then a bullet with more expansion and less penetration may give better results. Many of the inherent difficulties in getting the 9mm to perform well are compounded by a short barrel that doesnt give a full powder burn. A bullet designed to expand well at 1200 fps may not reach its design threshold at 1100 fps and may not expand much or at all. After all, the bullet would be too frangible if it expanded at a lower velocity than its original design.In developing this report, we ran across several authorities with differing opinions.