Rifle May-June 2024

In Rifle No. 333 (March – April 2024), I discussed the history and virtues of the 22 WMR or 22 Magnum cartridge and why I’m so fond of it. However, after concluding my comments, it occurred to me that most of my rifles are now classics and have long since been discontinued. While there are many good bolt rifles currently available from Ruger, Savage and others at a relatively modest cost, the only lever-action rifle currently available is from Henry Repeating Arms Company, which is produced 100 percent in U.S. ...Read More >

Lately, I’ve been reminiscing about experiences from my younger days. One subject was my single day of hunting pronghorns with a Winchester Model 1894 32-40. Nowadays, that cartridge is mostly considered as a very mild one meant for Schuetzen-style paper punching. However, it’s a fact that in the late nineteenth century, Ballard, Marlin and Winchester marketed 32-40 sporting rifles for deer hunting. In fact, Winchester kept its Model 1894 32-40 leverguns cataloged until 1930. Such were the 32-40s that captured my interest in the 1980s. As is my usual mindset, if one of something would suffice then, I’ll need at least two or three for satisfaction. My three 32-40 leverguns were: one beautiful Marlin Model 1893 B-Model, a likewise very nice Winchester Model 1894 saddle ring carbine and a well-used Winchester Model 1894 rifle. ...Read More >

In this segment, I am going look at a few items that folks seldom consider, but are important, nonetheless. One such item is that everywhere on the planet, it rains, snows or freezes during hunting seasons. A rifle is going to get wet. Wiping with a rust-preventing cloth in camp can push any moisture into the base/ receiver or rings/scope tube contact surfaces. Condensation will do the same without help from anyone. Rusting results. ...Read More >

I have run a few German Precision Optics, aka GPO USA, riflescopes through the paces at this point, experiences that have spawned a great deal of respect for the brand. GPO is an American company whose optics are designed, engineered and quality inspected in Germany to its strictest standards, but they are assembled in some of the largest overseas production facilities around the world, which I assume means Asia. This results in high-quality products, including top-tier features, but they are sold at very reasonable prices. The three GPO scopes I have tested, for instance, have retailed for less than a grand, but provided exceptional long-range and varmint-shooting function and stood up to hard use. ...Read More >

In 1981, Sharpe’s Eagle, the first in Bernard Cornwell’s series about the British Army in the Peninsular War, appeared in bookstores and changed – well, not everything, but a whole heck of a lot. ...Read More >

From the first moment I handled AG Composites’ stocks I was both impressed and covetous. The first impression after pawing over several models was the feathery mass of these 100 percent carbon-fiber stocks. Depending on the specific model, these are rifle stocks that weigh from 25 to 40 ounces (the latter included adjustable combs and accompanying hardware). The second impression I had after weighing a couple of models in the hand and taking in the details more closely is the eye-grabbing aesthetics. AG Composite stocks just look sexy. There is then the inevitable instinct to shoulder each stock in turn, which is when I discovered the exceptional ergonomics of the company’s creative stock designs. They simply feel good and place all the parts of the shooting equation into comfortable alignment. ...Read More >

It seems that many older, traditional U.S. firearms manufacturers are closing their doors, contracting out parts for manufacturing, or moving operations overseas. However, Savage Arms Corporation is still making rifles (and pistols and shotguns) right here at home. For several decades, the company has flourished as they built rifles that are in high demand, unusually accurate, reliable, fitted with trending stocks, are ready to go out of the box and are modestly priced. ...Read More >

A second bullet barely edged the hole. When my third slid through, barely nicking paper, I turned to grin. “Uh-uh,” mouthed my pal, shaking his head. He held up two fingers. ...Read More >

The most difficult part of writing about the Strasser RS 700 is knowing exactly where to start. The rifle is, quite simply, brilliant. ...Read More >

Like the later Newton bolt-action rifle, the lever-action rifles of the Bullard Repeating Arms Company were well-made, innovative and they should have become American classics. Instead, outproduced by lower-priced and clunky-by-comparison Winchester and Marlin Leverguns – Bullard rifles, like the Newtons, are today, a little-known footnote in American arms history. ...Read More >