Gun Silly Season
BY Herschel Smith
6 years, 10 months ago
Well, it’s gun silly season when the manufacturers trot out their new designs hoping for a piece of the market. As for myself, I have tried to optimize my gun safe by minimizing the number of calibers it contains. My favorite cartridge of all time is the .45 ACP. If your wife really loves you, she gets you something like this for Christmas. It’s a CMMG .45 ACP PDW, and it sells as a pistol rather than a long gun.
Springfield Armory is introducing their newest line of M1As shooting the 6.5mm Creedmoor.
Wilson Combat is introducing what they call the .458 HAM’R. Looks like a “wildcat” cartridge and I wonder about availability (and cost).
On January 3, 2018 at 6:38 am, Pat Hines said:
I’m a big advocate of the AR-Pistol, but not in alternate calibers. Keeping the AR-Pistol in 5.56 maintains cross platform interchangeability. That is I can pick up AR 5.56 rifles used little and dropped once for my parts supply. Yes, I do have a couple of Cars in 6.5 Grendel, couldn’t resist, but they’re not my EDC rifle caliber weapon.
I like the 6.5 Creedmoor (CR), it’s a caliber that makes a lot of sense. I’ve acquired two rifles in it, both bolt guns. One is a Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle which I have mainly because it has a ten round removable magazine. In 6.5 CR, this rifle uses the same magazines that the 7.62NATO uses, so no new magazines are required, though I like at least 5-10 magazines per rifle. The other one was a “splurge” purchase, a Ruger RSI, the Hawkeye model with a full length stock, all stainless steel. It’s much less practical than the GSR, but I love the looks and feel.
I may build an AR-308 (referring to the large frame AR) in 6.5 CR, still thinking about this one.
On January 3, 2018 at 10:03 am, Fred said:
Many places, I’m sure we’ve talked about it here, have discussed the advantages of ‘consolidating’ the number of calibers in your safe. I did this a couple of years ago. What I did not consider was an AR pistol (shoulder that thing at your own risk) as a middle ground between a tax stamp SBR and full size pistol caliber rifle. Not only does your wife love you, she ain’t dumb neither. Fine choice of weapon indeed. I’m suddenly in need of a new firearm. I would consider it an excellent ‘urban’ self-defense platform although I would need one in 5.56 as well and now I ‘need’ 2 new firearms…ugh.
On January 3, 2018 at 10:26 am, Herschel Smith said:
Thanks Fred. She does indeed love me, and she ain’t dumb.
I love the .45 ACP. From 0 – 25 or even 30 yards, there is no need for more for me. It’s the perfect home defense weapon, slower, fatter, controllable, it matches my 1911s for caliber, and my kids know what to buy me for presents (“Guess I’ll just get dad more .45 ball or PD since I don’t know what else to get him”). I’ve got enough 5.56 guns. Don’t need another.
Match that gun up with a 28 round Glock mag and a Surefire tactical light and I’ll be set for a good home defense gun or truck gun.
EDIT: Oh, and eventually I’ll get a suppressor for it.
On January 3, 2018 at 3:05 pm, Pat Hines said:
Back to your original post, Herschel, that new Wilson round is interesting alright, but it’s not only made of “Unobtainium”, the rifle itself is some sort of hybrid.
Check out the .338 Federal round. It’s loaded ammo, been around for eleven years, uses standard 20 round AR-308 magazines, and can be hand loaded by anyone using .308/7.62 brass (with a little work). With a 210 grain bullet, it does this: 2630 fps and 3225 ft.lbs.. That’s big bore power.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.338_Federal