Cartridge families have been a thing since shortly after the first cartridges were made. A family refers to a group of cartridges based on the same parent cartridge, and it’s how some of our best cartridges came into being. A well-known family would be the 30-06 Springfield clan, with the .270 Winchester and the 25-06 Remington being some of its popular kin. Today we are taking a look at the Creedmoor Family Tree, on their ascent to being one of the great dynasties in the cartridge world.
Creedmoor cartridges enjoy flawless function from various magazine systems
6.5 Creedmoor History
Back in the early 2000’s, the Creedmoor was developed by a group of folks looking to design a perfect cartridge. Their goal was a flat-shooting, low-recoil cartridge with high ballistic coefficient (BC) bullets that would feed well from a magazine. They based the cartridge from the 30 Thompson Center, another cartridge looking for fame. The case was shouldered at thirty-degrees and necked down to .264 and the Creedmoor was born.
Since then, the cartridge has been adopted widely by nearly every corner of the shooting market. Much to the chagrin of Creedmoor haters, whose sophomoric insults are blind to the obvious performance of the cartridge.
PRS rifles like these are very often chambered in 6.5CM, though these days they are switching to 6mm cartridges.
The 6.5 Creedmoor has also spawned a whole family of descendants that have become well-known titans in their own bore-size. There is no free lunch however, so the advantages of each come with their liabilities as well. Today we’ll look at some of them and evaluate their attributes and how they might best fit into your next rifle purchase.
22 Creedmoor
Barrel Life Estimate: 800-1100 rounds
Bullet Weights: 50-80 grains
Max Effective Supersonic Range Estimate: Approximately 1500yds
Let’s start at the bottom of the pile, with the 22 Creedmoor. Necking is the process of narrowing the case mouth of a cartridge to hold a different caliber bullet. The 22 Creedmoor is the result of necking the 6.5 down to .224 caliber, I understand there is some thinning of the neck during this process as well to make it work.
The result is a hot-rod overbore 22 centerfire cartridge, similar to the extremely popular 22-250. The 22 Creedmoor has done very well in the hunting and target shooting arenas. Mainly because it has large displacement and the horsepower to push even the large .224 caliber bullets fast. Typically made with a 1:8 twist, the 22CM can push big 75 and 80 grain bullets well over 3200 FPS. This leaves cartridges like the 22-250 and 220 Swift in the dust. And makes the 22CM an obvious choice for varmint hunting and long-range target shooting.
Feeding the 22CM is easily done from popular magazine systems, and it cycles well from all the popular actions. Handloading is fairly easily done with support from companies like Hornady and Redding. You can buy ammunition and components from Hornady, Alpha Munitions and others. The scorching performance of the 22CM come at a cost, as it has an appetite for barrel throats. Making this cartridge a choice for the bold shooters out there.
6mm Creedmoor
Barrel Life Estimate: 1500-2200 rounds
Bullet Weights: 58-115 grains
Max Effective Supersonic Range Estimate: Approximately 1700yds
The next step up in the necking process is the 6 Creedmoor. Very comparable to the venerable .243 Winchester, the 6CM offers high speed 6mm/.243 bullets for either sport or hunting. The 6CM uses a faster twist than the older .243 design, typically 1:7 to 1:8 twist. This gives the 6CM the ability to shoot more modern bullets, many of which were basically designed for this cartridge. The longer high BC bullets of today won’t fly from the 1:10 or 1:9 twist rates of decades passed. This gives the 6CM a leg up over cartridges like the .243 and 6mm Remington.
The 6CM offers the same performance as those older cartridges when shooting comparable bullets. And its optimal for use in the same types of hunting situations, arguably better due to efficiency. Getting similar velocities from the Creedmoor with less powder and bore erosion than the other cartridges mentioned. It would be an excellent choice for a light big game hunting cartridge, or as a competition cartridge as it has been used extensively over the years.
6 Creedmoor fits into rifles and other common accessories like this Cole-TAC ammo novel
Whether you wish to shoot 58-grain bullets at coyotes or 115 grain match bullets in a PRS match the 6mm Creedmoor has a diverse hand of talents. It has been pushed aside somewhat by smaller 6mm cartridges in the competition circuit, due to its lower barrel life and recoil. But still has quite a following of dedicated loaders and shooters, thanks to the support from the companies I mentioned above.
25 Creedmoor
Barrel Life Estimate: 2000-3000 rounds
Bullet Weights: 86-135 grains
Max Effective Supersonic Range Estimate: Approximately 1900yds
Coming out of nowhere, the 25 Creedmoor is one of my favorites, likely because I was part of it’s renaissance. The 25CM came about because of new bullet designs that made the 25 caliber a better option than the original 6.5CM. Bullets with higher BC and lower weight meant that the 25CM could shoot faster than the 6.5, and enjoy flatter-still trajectories and more energy on target.
All of the Creedmoor family have excellent components available
This made the 25CM an outstanding choice for many shooters. Hunters and competition shooters alike have adopted the 25CM, and once again the aftermarket has stepped in to support it as well. Hornady only recently legitimized the 25CM, but Alpha Munitions and Petersen Cartridge Company have been making brass for it for some time. This is one Creedmoor that has actually gotten more love from companies besides Hornady, at least till now. With excellent components available from Sierra and Berger.
Using the 25CM in competition like the NRL Hunter matches has become very popular due to its power and low recoil. It might be one of my favorite hunting cartridges as well, the incredible consistency has allowed me to make many one-shot kills on deer and elk. Some of which were so far out that it’s better to leave unsaid.
6.5 Creedmoor
Barrel Life Estimate: 3000-4000 rounds
Bullet Weights: 90-150 grains
Max Effective Supersonic Range Estimate: Approximately 1800yds
Component Suppliers: Hornady, Alpha Munitions, Petersen, Lapua, Nosler, Everyone at this point
The OG Creedmoor, a cartridge that stormed the precision rifle shooting circuit when it came out. At the time (2006-ish maybe) there were three 6.5 cartridges fighting for dominance. Besides the Creedmoor, the 6.5×47 Lapua and .260 Remington were all extremely popular. But likely due to support from Big Red and others, the 6.5 Creedmoor quickly became the dominant 6.5.
Still an excellent choice for many competitors, the 6.5CM might be the only cartridge today that has a shot at taking the place of the 308 Winchester in popularity. The 6.5CM does everything the 308 does, and it often does it better. The narrow 6.5 bullets have a higher ballistic performance and speed than the old Winchester, making it an excellent successor. The 6.5CM is the easy-button of sharpshooting, and because of that it enjoys support from nearly every corner of the shooting world. Whether you are looking for semi-auto rifles or bolt-action there is a great option in 6.5CM. And ammunition options are as deep and diverse as any other cartridge.
This year appears to be the year of the sound suppressor. With the tax on transfers removed, and support for the NFA reduced to only the boot-licking tyrants in government. It would seem the market has responded in turn with an unbelievable bloom in production. It seems everyone is making suppressors (or silencers if you prefer), with countless new models coming out every day. Companies who were never known for such products are now releasing entire families of suppressors. With such a massive increase in options it the market, it can be very intimidating when you wish to choose one. Today we are going to discuss the process of selecting a suppressor. What is the Best Suppressor? How to choose the right silencer for you is about what you need to know, and what to avoid; almost like a friend walking you through the process.
the right suppressor makes shooting better in nearly every way, this Banish Meateater is one of my favorites
The Law
Many of us have been infringed upon by the National Firearms Act (NFA) for decades. If you are new to it, we should make a few clarifications. The NFA was passed in 1934 to establish an excise tax and registration on various firearms configurations. Perhaps at the time people were more naive about such things, but today they are simply arrogant tyrants for continuing its enforcement.
The NFA required a government sanctioned approval and a two-hundred dollar tax to be paid before a person or entity could legally own the following; Suppressors/silencers, Machine Guns, Short-Barreled Rifles (SBR’s) and Shotguns (SBS’s), Destructive Devices, and Any Other Weapons (AOW). The last one there to allow them the ability of classifying anything they deem scary or too dangerous to be regulated.
The How
All this is overseen and enforced by exactly who you wouldn’t want to; the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The very same group of people responsible for such travesties as Waco and Ruby Ridge. If you are unfamiliar with the ATF and their policies and actions, you should look into it.
Transfers of NFA regulated items are done using a variety of different forms from the ATF, much like tax forms from the IRS. Depending on a few particulars, you might use one of these different forms to transfer an item.
Basically you go to a dealer of NFA items, whether it be a local class 3 firearms dealer or one of the various online vendors like Silencer Central. After picking out a particular item you like, you pay the vendor for it and they have you fill out the appropriate paperwork or online forms. These are then submitted with photographs and fingerprints to the ATF for approval. And like any government agency it has traditionally been a painful wait. Particularly for a suppressor which by itself isn’t even dangerous.
Selecting a Suppressor
“Let’s talk about suppressors already” you are probably saying, you didn’t come here for a bunch of legal talk. But if you did come for additional recommendations on how to do it, I’ll add some more recommendations at the bottom.
Budget
Like any purchase, you’ll want to have a budget when you start. Now that the two-hundred dollar infringement fee has been removed, you no longer need to account for that in your budget. There are cans from anywhere as little as 150$ up to many thousands of dollars. So decide what you are willing to invest in your suppressor, and then count on another 10-20 percent. Why?
rimfire suppressors like this Anechoic Pipsqueek are nice for my 22’s and 17HMR, this combo with my Taurus TX 22 is a ton of fun for the whole family
For the most part, a suppressor is a lifetime purchase. The bureaucracy required to transfer them means most folks keep a can for its lifetime. So if you are potentially going be stuck with something for life, you may as well splurge a little and get the better one. If the six-hundred dollar model will suit your needs, maybe get the eight-hundred dollar model.
Host Firearms
Considering which firearm hosts you intend to use the suppressor with has a great impact on what model you choose. And keep in mind that over a lifetime things can change. You might only want a 30-caliber suppressor today, but ten years from now you might have a .35 caliber.
Chode cans like this YHM Fat Cat 5.56 add minimal length and still do a great job keeping down the noise
So evaluate the hosts you have and might potentially have in the future when looking at suppressors. This is particularly important if this is your first and only suppressor. Whereas if you plan on becoming an NFA stamp collector like the rest of us, you might just buy a variety of suppressors.
Different suppressors work better for different types of host firearms. Semi-auto firearms for example tend to suffer from back-pressure when suppressed. While single shot firearms are essentially unaffected by the issue. There are different suppressor designs to optimize use with all the different host types. You also need to keep in mind bore-size as well as pressure. A 30-30 and a 30 Nosler will both go through a 30-caliber suppressor, but larger magnum pressure and volume cartridges might be too much for some suppressors.
Suppressor Types
Suppressors have been affected by technology just like everything else today. Traditional suppressors were made using a stack of baffles within a tube. Resulting in a stack of chambers with a central hole through each. The bullet could pass from the muzzle of the rifle through each chamber and out the muzzle of the can. But the expansive gases rushing from the barrel would get progressively trapped and slowed as they go through each chamber.
the YHM Phantom 22 is disassembled here, and you can see the sections and baffles that slow escaping gas
More modern designs use all different kinds of ways to capture and slow the gas flow from the host. But the idea is the same, reducing the exit speed of the gas greatly reduces the sound signature from the host.
Modern manufacturing methods like direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) or 3D-printing as many people call it have changed the game. These technologies have made unprecedented designs possible to make, and it’s pretty cool.
Function
Suppressors work by reducing high pressure expelled from their muzzle which removed the supersonic report. Energy cannot be destroyed, only converted, so you can turn high pressure into either heat or noise. Some suppressors are very quiet and they tend to get pretty warm because they capture so much energy. Flow-thru style cans tend to be a little louder in my experience, but the trade off is less back pressure and heat. Different designs reduce report in different ways. Flow-thru style cans typically redirect gases slowing their escape to a reasonable volume.
these Huxwrx Flow DMLS suppressors have some wild internals only possible through 3D printing
Materials
Carbon steel has traditionally been used for suppressors. But modern metal alloys have made them even more robust and resistant to erosion. Erosion takes place when very high temperature gasses with included burning powder residues are blasted through the suppressor. The heat, pressure and debris cause wear on the internal surfaces of the suppressor. Better materials like inconel, stainless steel and cobalt are being used to improve durability of suppressors.
Mounting Solutions
Each suppressor manufacturer has typically come up with their own suppressor mount. These muzzle devices typically incorporate a muzzle brake design or flash hider for use when the suppressor is absent. These are often used as a quick and secure way to install the can to its host firearm.
But again, American ingenuity has upped this game as well. In recent years US suppressor manufacturers have began making their cans using a uniform industry standard hub system. The hub system uses a 1.375×24 thread, and it allows the user to quickly change out the mounting solution. You can use any number of thread patterns or muzzle devices to mount your suppressor.
Overbore
While there are plenty of different options, one thing you should keep in mind is that bore size isn’t everything. For example, there are plenty of 6.5 caliber suppressor options. But most 30 caliber suppressors will work just fine for 6.5’s. So if you are buying your first can, don’t limit yourself to that 6.5 suppressor if you have other firearms that could also benefit from a 30-caliber can.
This Banish Meateater uses interchangeable muzzle sizes for various caliber
A couple examples from my collection; the YHM R9 is a 9mm bore suppressor, and can be used on my 9mm pistols and carbines. But it is also rated for up to 308 Winchester, so I can also use it on my 5.56, 6.5CM and 308 Win rifles. That is a huge leg up for that suppressor, allowing some folks to suppress their entire gun collection with a single can.
the YHM R9 is at home on 9mm Pistols like this Canik TP9, or on centerfire rifles
Another option is my Silencer Co Omega 36M, this suppressor can be reduced in both bore diameter and length. You can change the muzzle-cap for different calibers, and remove a section of the baffles to reduce overall length. So long as you have enough bore clearance, you can use oversized suppressors. Undersized suppressors on the other hand have a very short life when used on larger calibers (usually no more than a single round before turning into range debris). Do not try it.
here you can see the dexterity of the Omega 36M, short and small on the right, and long and open on the left for my 8.6Blk
Choosing Your Next Suppressor
So with all that information at your attention, let’s look at individual selection. Let’s say you have a typical AR style rifle chambered in 5.56, something you want to be quiet but for high volume shooting.
Semi-Autos
If you shoot outdoors and aren’t as worried about getting gas blown back from the action, you could use a traditional can like the YHM Turbo. I have several of these cans and I love the sound suppression and the gas blowback isn’t bad. They are also very affordable and rated for heavy strings of fire.
Or perhaps you want something a little tougher, and with lower back pressure? I also have a Banish Speed K, a 3D printed inconel suppressor. It couples some flow through technology to reduce back pressure and increase durability.
You could also spend the money buying one of the flow-thru type suppressors that greatly reduce the blow back. Something like the Huxwrx Flow 5.56 or the Wolf Pack Armory Romulus 5.56 suppressor. While they may cost more than traditional cans, the payoff is significant.
Pistols
Semi-auto pistols often require a booster assembly to function. The booster is a necessary part that allows the barrel and slide of your pistol to function properly with the added mass of the suppressor.
These boosters are’t always included with the suppressor itself, and you’ll probably have to also purchase the appropriate piston that will integrate the booster with your barrel.
the booster assembly allows the barrel and slide to move and unlock without having to move the suppressor assembly with it. This allows guns like this Canik METE to function flawlessly suppressed.
Bolt-Action/Single Shot
But what if you are just a deer hunter looking for a can to make your hunting experience more pleasant? There are countless cans at your reach that do a great job on bolt-action rifles. Bolt guns are barely affected by blow back, and so going with a traditionally-manufactured less-expensive suppressor is an easy choice.
My Kids; the youngest used this Browning X-Bolt 2 in 308 Winchester to take his first deer. For suppression we used the Banish Backcountry titanium suppressor, it was an excellent choice.
There are just a few things that I consider when looking at cans for this purpose. Weight is a big one if you are roaming the Rockies like me, and the caliber or cartridges you plan to use with it as well. If you are hunting with a 6.5CM most of the time you don’t need a great big or tough suppressor. Whereas if you hunt with a 300 RUM you probably best look at some magnum rated suppressors.
Something like a Dead Air Nomad will cover most hunting cartridges under 30-caliber. They are reasonably priced, but there is also a titanium model for additional cost and weight savings. If you are looking for something nicer, you might look at the titanium ThunderBeast options.
Flow-thru and semi-flow-thru cans can also work just fine on your single-shot firearms. I use a couple different Anechoic Anechox suppressors with a 35-caliber bore, but they have worked great on everything from semi-auto .223 and 6mm ARC up to the mighty 338 Lapua Magnum.
It’s a Modular World
I mentioned the modular hub mounting system, but there is more modularity to modern cans than just that. Different end caps allow you to optimize your can for the caliber choice of the day.
Here are five suppressors from different manufacturers, all share the same hub design and any number of mounts can be installed in the breech of any of them
As one who dabbles quite a bit in multi-caliber modular rifles, having modular cans that can adapt with its host is convenient. My Desert Tech WLVRN can be a 5.56 one day and a .308 the next, so keeping one can that can do double or even triple duty is handy.
these two cans both feature interchangeable muzzle caps, changing both caliber compatibility as well as functional flow patterns
There is no free lunch however. A suppressor good at many things isn’t likely to be exceptional at more than one. A heavy duty full-auto can will take some serious abuse, but it is likely going to be heavier. And a lightweight titanium can would be great for your hunting rifle, but won’t likely stand up to heavy strings of fire as well.
Prepare Yourself
If you are starting down this road, get ready to accelerate. I know very few people who got one suppressor and said: that’ll do. Everybody I know typically gets one after another because they are too much fun.
the first one is just the beginning, more will come
To that end I would strongly recommend a gun trust. A personal transfer make any NFA item your legal property, whereas a trust can be accessed by multiple people. This allows several people to put their property together (like a family or friends) and more than one person can use the assortment. A trust has both pros and costs, but I’ve found it to be a much better situation. Silencer Central even offers assistance creating your trust. There is also a great list of frequently asked questions here.
Last Words
Read much, and study up. there are many important things you should know as a suppressor owner. It is an addictive habit, just like shooting. Make sure you do it right the first time, and like I said don’t be afraid to splurge a little bit for a lifetime purchase. Hopefully this has been helpful, if you have any questions feel free to reach out. And don’t forget to abolish the NFA and those who enforce it!
-CBM
If you’d like to read more about individual suppressors, click here
Among the many popular entry level shotguns you will find the venerable Mossberg Maverick 88. Maverick is a subsidiary of O.F. Mossberg, The brand offers lower cost firearms than the parent company, giving a more affordable option to many. Today we are looking at the Maverick 88 Security model, we will review the gun and see how it measures up to our expectations.
Fresh out of the box!
Mossberg Maverick 88 Specifications
Gauge
12-Gauge
Action Type
Pump-Action
Chamber
3-inch
Barrel Length
20-inch
Finish
Blued
Choke
Cylinder Bore
Capacity
7+1
Length
41-inches
Length of Pull
14.5-inches
Sight
Single Bead
Stock Material
Synthetic Black Polymer
Weight
6.5 Pounds
Mossberg Maverick 88 History
The 88 comes from the year 1988 when it started production. Copying the design of Mossberg’s model 500, the Maverick 88 shares a great deal of parts with it. Mossberg design goes back much further than the fabulous 1980’s, all the way to the company’s founding in 1919. Based in Connecticut, the O.F. Mossberg company manufactured a variety of firearms and parts over the many years. Including during the war periods making parts for firearms beyond their own.
During the post-war period, Mossberg made a big name for itself manufacturing various shotguns. This included new designs such as bolt-action and lever action shotguns. It was during this time the incredibly successful Model 500 was released. Since 1962 the Model 500 has been a stalwart in the lineup of pump-action shotguns, arguably a rival against the extremely popular Remington 870. With more models sold over a shorter period of time.
the compact Maverick 88 was quick to get on target
In more recent history during my own lifetime, Mossberg has rekindled their production of rifles. They have manufactured both lever-action rifles as well as bolt-action rifles like the very popular Mossberg Patriot line of rifles. But true to their shotgun roots, they also in recent decades brought the Model 930 semi-auto shotgun to market as well. It’s all quite the pedigree for Mossberg, and an American legacy I hope continues on.
Maverick 88 Features
Pump-Action- reliable and simple operation for everyday use
7+1 or 5+1 capacity- high capacity tube magazine for defensive situations
Compatible with Model 500- Allowing users to use the huge aftermarket support
Compact size- the short length and weight makes it very portable
Three-Inch Chamber- to accept a wide variety of ammunition
Improved Cylinder Barrel- Simple barrel with versatile shot pattern
note controls around trigger guard
Additional Maverick 88 Models
The Maverick 88 is available in a variety of models, in both 12 and 20-gauge. And there are also 6 and 8-shot magazine lengths though it appears the barrels aren’t interchangeable between the 6-round and 8-round models.
muzzle details, including the front sling stud
Various patterns are available across the different models as well, with camouflage and other colored synthetic stocks. There is also a folding stock security and slug-gun models.
Mossberg Maverick 88 Review
As a copy of the Mossberg 500, I was expecting the Maverick 88 to be both reliable and familiar. There is plenty of other data on the 88, in fact it has been tested and even tortured extensively over the last few decades. All this to say, I expected the Maverick to perform well.
My experience shooting the Maverick involved a variety of typical shotgun drills. We shot some airborne clays, as well as stationary targets. Both on the range and in the field the Maverick was fun and easy to enjoy.
Shootability
The Maverick 88’s controls are simple and easy. The cross block safety is at the front of the trigger guard, and the action release is just behind it. Both are easily reached with the trigger finger. Out of the box the Maverick was a touch stiffer than I expected, but it didn’t take long to get it broken in.
The compact size of the 88 made it easy to handle and get on target, even for some of the kids. The same could be said for the light weight of the Maverick. Airborne targets proved to be slightly harder than I was used to, probably because I am used to looking down a rib. The shorter barrel made the Maverick seem louder than the other guns we were shooting, but I expect that is just from the shooter’s perspective.
Reliability
There is a huge spread of millions of Mavericks in circulation, I don’t expect it is due to poor function. On our first trip out, we shot nearly half a case of ammo through the Maverick 88, both Winchester and Remington 1-⅛ ounce loads. Everything shot equally well, and we had zero malfunctions of any kind. Loading the gun through the ejection port singly or feeding from the mag the gun worked flawlessly. I did shoot just a few 3-inch loads that I had, and they also cycled fine.
Accuracy
Accuracy with shotguns is more about patterns than groups. The fixed choke of the barrel as an improved cylinder took away some ability to customize patterns. But this is mainly a defensive shotgun, which is less likely to be used for bird hunting or other typical shotgun practices. The standard versions of the Maverick 88 are sure to use the standard interchangeable choke like the Mossberg 500. So it’s not entirely surprising or unreasonable. We did use some heavier loads, with bigger shot like one would use in a defensive situation. And at inside-the-house ranges they were quite potent, putting all the BB’s into what would be a defensive target. God help those on the other end of a shotgun.
Ergonomics
The simple stock of the Maverick is comfortable and useful, there’s not a lot of frills involved. The rubber recoil pad does well reducing the felt recoil, but there’s not much else to it. The foregrip has an easy texture to hold on to with deep grooves. Though I think I would prefer something slightly less aggressive.The brass bead on top of the muzzle was easy to find with my cheek on the stock.
Value
The Maverick 88 offers exceptional value. The market for sub-four-hundred dollar shotguns is filled with a wide variety of options, and the Maverick is quite a contender with its price.The MSRP is only $290, and can often be had for much less. I’m surprised you can even make a gun for that cheap, much less make any money on it.
Not only is the Maverick low-cost, it still has the decade tested and proven design that churns through shotshells. This makes the Maverick a strong option for those looking to spend less, but still want a shotgun they can rely on and use heavily.
Pros and Cons
I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised by some of the finished parts and coating of the Maverick based on its price. You know you are looking at a low cost shotgun, and that’s not to knock the Maverick. But you know what you got when it comes to cost.
That said, the gun just works, as designed and it does it well, cycling through box after box of ammunition. Its simple and reliable function promise years of service. Disassembling the Maverick 88 after shooting was quite simple, and it helped give good insight to how the gun is both made and assembled. The steel stamped and machined parts all looked uniform and good quality.
Report Card
Shootability (B+) Its simple and straight to the point, not a lot of embellishments
Reliability (A) Its a pump shotgun, it either works or is broken
Accuracy (A-) For defensive use, its great (not really a bird gun)
Ergonomics (B+) Very simple, not much to play with or adjust
Value (A) Hard to beat this for a defensive shotgun
Preferred Ammunition
We shot a variety of Remington Gun Club and Winchester trap loads through the Maverick. As a defensive shotgun you are more likely to shoot defensive loads like Fiocchi Defense Dynamicsor Hornady Black, both using buckshot. But the Maverick seemed to chew through everything we put in it.
Upgrades and Accessories
A defensive shotgun like the Maverick 88 should probably have a good sling to keep it close. The front and rear sling mounting studs allow you to use just about any one you’d like. One like this Specter Gear 2-point slingmight be perfect.
Another popular accessory for defensive shotguns is an extra shell holder. This six round shell holder from GG&G appears to be quite nice, but there are other more affordable options.
Last Thoughts on the Mossberg Maverick 88
Whether used as a defense weapon or as just a recreational shotgun, the Maverick 88 is a handy and fun little gun to shoot. It is quite reliable, and inexpensive to boot. It’s easily customized with aftermarket support for both the 88 and its Mossberg 500 relative. With so many of them out there, you can rest assured that it will be around for a while too.
Admittedly I am more of a rifle junkie than a shotgun enthusiast, but I can appreciate a good shotgun when I need it. I grew up hunting waterfowl and upland game in the western US, and for the most part I could do everything I needed with any of the classic pump-shotguns. But with time, and more mature tastes, I’ve broadened my inventory of shotguns. Over under shotguns carry a little more attitude, they bring a little more class to the game. Almost like K-cans, sports cars, and expensive glasses, they tend to be more of a luxury item. You can do anything with an autoloader or pump-gun, but it takes a touch of shooter’s vanity to give up capacity and reloadability with an over under. In today’s review, we are taking a look at a new over under option from European American Arms, the EAA Balikli Blue Label over under shotgun.
European American Arms
EAA Corp is a firearm supplier that specializes in getting quality firearms at affordable prices. The company prides itself on importing firearms that are more about quality function than looks. This obviously has an appeal to many Americans who only care about putting holes through the X and meat on their table.
Browsing the lineup of EAA firearms you will find some very familiar looking firearms. This appears to be in part because EAA sources firearms very similar if not cloned from popular guns made by the best manufacturers. You’ll find models with great similarities to popular firearms made by companies like Beretta, Browning, and others.
By importing products like these from EAA’s european and other partners, American gun owners can get a great price on a firearm comparable to much more expensive names.
The Balikli Blue Label Shotgun
Turkey is famous for making shotguns, so it came as no surprise that EAA’s Balikli shotguns come from Turkish factories. The Balikli Blue Label over under is built in the very typical design, with a break-action and single trigger. The set of barrels are cut 28-inches long in the 12 gauge model, and bored for chokes at the muzzle. Its vented rib also features a fiber optic orange bead at the front to aid in aiming.
The stock is fashioned from walnut, another famous Turkish export. The Balikli Blue Label shotgun is more of an affordable option than typical over under guns, so the walnut is a little more mainstream. The checkered walnut is matched to a handsomely engraved aluminum receiver. The mechanical single trigger fires both barrels, and the safety functions like most over under guns, allowing you to preselect which barrel fires first.
Specifications
EAA Balikli Blue Level Over Under Shotgun
Finish
Walnut / Black
Caliber
12-Gauge
Capacity
2 Rounds
Barrel Length
28-inch (12g) 26-inch (28g, 20g, .410)
Length of pull
14.5-inches
Overall Length
45-inches
Weight
6.35-pounds
Included Chokes
Skeet, Imp Cyl, Mod, Imp Mod, Full
the assortment of Mobile chokes were easy to change with the included tool
Shooting the Blue Label
Our first outing with the Blue Label was into the ice cold Rocky Mountains. The kids and I ventured into the snow with a box of clays and some Fiocchi 1oz target loads. Perhaps a little different than a typical trap trip, but we enjoy the hand-thrown clays. Shooting the light loads in these open mountains barely even justified ear protection. We all had fun figuring out the lead to break the clays, and the seemingly antiquated process of opening the action to reload.
Quality
Break-action shotguns are almost as simple as you can get, which should make it pretty easy to manufacture. I guess what I mean is this simple design lends itself to be made right. During all of our testing, I never found any kind of malfunction or problem.
While this shotgun isn’t meant to be some high-grade beauty like many other over under shotguns, it is well made. The wood is finished handsomely and everything fits nicely without gaps or edges. The checkering while simple, is clean and grippy. And the rubber recoil pad softens the felt recoil while shooting.
The receiver finish looks like a bead-blasted finish, with a pheasant motif engraved as is typical. Smooth controls with robust lock-up came as no surprise due to the simple design. I guess if you are the guy who shoots Perazzi or Guerini you’d probably notice more difference than I. But for the average American shotgunner, this gun’s fit and function were as good as you could expect for this price. You can tell its a sub $500 gun from Turkey, and that’s fine by me.
Shootability
I do like the shorter feel of under over style shotguns. Since they don’t have an action designed to cycle shells from a magazine, and are basically a chamber and breach, you get a shorter length than a similar barreled pump or auto. Swinging the 28-inch barrels was very natural, and the textured rib and fiber optic bead looked excellent when chasing clays through the sky.
The light weight of the Balikli Blue Label make it easy to carry around. I’d love to take it on a pheasant or chukar hunt, but at this point in the year It’ll have to be ducks or geese. Even our youngest boy had no problem handling the feel and recoil from this gun.
the kids had a great time throwing clays for each other
Reliability
It’s hard to come up with something much more reliable than a break action. There are so few parts to malfunction, and the simple operation is nearly impossible to screw up. I know other over under shotguns have spring ejectors to pop spent shells from the chamber. The Balikli Blue Label pushes the spent shells out of the chamber, making them easy to grab, but it doesn’t eject them clear.
smoke rises from the chamberthe compact package in its box
If you’ve followed me for very long, you know I have a soft spot for low power variable optics (LPVO). I use them quite a bit, and have dug deep into the subject many times. Part of the allure for me with great LPVO’s is the ability for rapid close engagement with carbine sized rifles. Without giving up the accuracy these same guns can use at greater distances. So, as I continue my quest to play with all the good LPVO’s out there, I bring you today’s subject; the Vortex Optics Razor HD Gen II 1-6 riflescope.
The Vortex Razor HD Gen II 1-6
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for the last few decades, you know who Vortex Optics is. The company has become a dominant force in the optics industry, well known for excellent customer service and listening to what shooters want. I guess its fair to say Vortex offers a lot of inexpensive products as well (like I said, they listen to their customers). But in my experience the higher end products like the Razor line are fantastic professional grade optics. So it was with anticipation that I opened the box of the Vortex Razor HD Gen II 1-6.
As is typical with Vortex products, the scope came in nice packaging and included the typical stickers, manual and tools. Because I had it handy, I decide to mount the scope in a 34mm Primary Arms cantilever scope mount for testing. This would allow proper eye relief on a variety of host rifles.
Specifications
Magnification
1-6x
Objective Lens Diameter
24 mm
Focal Plane
Second Focal Plane
Reticle
VMR-2 (MRAD)
Eye Relief
4.0″
Field of View
115.2′ – 20.5′ @ 100 yds
Turret Style
Capped
Tube Size
30mm
Adjustment Graduation
.2 MRAD
Travel Per Rotation
20 MRAD
Max Elevation Adjustment
43 MRAD
Max Windage Adjustment
43 MRAD
Parallax Setting
100 yds.
Length
10.1″
Weight
21.5 oz
My initial handling of the scope was quick. It wasn’t as heavy as I’d expected, like other Razors I’d handled before. The finish and textures were perfect, so I lifted it to my eye to get that first look. As I expected, the Razor has an immaculate image. Sharp detail and contrast is what makes these Razor HD scopes so desirable.
Controls
A cursory investigation of the controls felt good, the power ring being easy to adjust quickly between one and six-power. I was slightly surprised that Vortex hadn’t incorporated a throw lever attachment, but they do offer an attachable Switchview throw -lever you can add. The illumination control is also a little fancier than others. The rheostat knob must be pulled out slightly to allow it to turn and ignite the reticle inside. Pulling the knob out also exposes the white background of numeration labels for various power settings.
The 20 MRAD turrets certainly give plenty of travel should you choose to use them such. Inside the scope, the second focal plane VMR-2 reticle gives some fairly course MRAD subtensions. This is fine in my opinion as it gives you all you’ll likely need for the effective range of a carbine. Whole MRAD marks are shown with only the very center of the reticle illuminated, and the marks are accurate when used at the full six-power.
as always, images through the scope are far better than pictures can show
Shooting with the Vortex Razor HD Gen II 1-6
For testing purposes, I used the Razor HD on two different carbines. The first one is my OG Desert Tech MDRX chambered in 308 Winchester, and the other is an AR15 I put together using various parts (read about that here). The Razor made an excellent scope choice for both of these rifles, as they are both accurate enough to take advantage of the scopes range. Shooting these two rifles both on and off the range would give a good feel for how well the Razor HD is for engaging different targets.
It was quick to zero the Razor HD using the turrets for a perfect zero at about 75 yards. From there we switched it up, shooting various different targets at differing ranges.
Optical Clarity
As I mentioned, the Razor HD lenses offer a fantastic viewing experience. Both in the open country of the mountains and on the range I found the image to be above average quality. At 1X the Razor gave a broad field of view, making it very fast for moving between close targets. And zoomed in to 6X it gave more than adequate presentation for making sharp shots at distances well beyond six-hundred yards.
The parallax adjustment allowed excellent focus of the reticle against targets, leaving me with a sharp holdover for distance. And the bright dot in the center was fantastic for use like a red dot at low power.
A quick barrel swap made the rifle a 20-inch .223 fitted with a YHM Turbo suppressor
Mechanical Function
I definitely need to get the throw lever for this scope, as I want something to grab onto to switch magnification. I do like the level of resistance on the mag-ring, it is frustrating when they are too stiff to turn quickly. The locking function of the illumination is great to prevent accidental rotation of the knob. Nothing worse than turning on your reticle only to find a dead battery. It’s also easy to keep it in the off-position between two brightness settings so you don’t have to search for the one you want.
The turrets on the Razor HD are capped which makes it easy to not worry about them while maneuvering. Underneath the caps the low-profile turrets are easy to turn with just fingers, and their audible click of .2 MRAD can be both felt and heard. I am used to .1 MRAD clicks, but for a scope like this I get why they went with .2. The courser scale is fast to make adjustments, and scopes like this are less likely to be used in a precision shooting scenario. Where a 1/4 of an inch on target one way or another is not a big deal.
Durability
Vortex Razors have a pretty good history of standing up to abuse, much more abuse in fact than I like to give. I love packing my guns all over these mountains, where the worst abuse they usually get is lots of turret twisting. But a scope like this one I am far less likely to adjust the turrets often. Far more likely it will get slung and rubbed against a pack while hiking, maybe smacked on a rock in a hasty pursuit. I have every confidence this scope is prepared for far harsher abuse than what myself or typical gun owners will sustain. And the famous warranty that Vortex owners love to to tout, is always there for you. A warranty that likely had a large influence on the entire industry to follow.
Pros and Cons
As long as you have the understanding of the scope’s application, I don’t think theres anything wrong with this scope. Or at least anything you can knit-pick on it. I like FFP scopes, but I totally get why this one isn’t, and it works just the way it is.
It has an excellent optical quality, robust construction with great features. There is very little about this scope I would change but for personal preferences and reticle details. All these features do come at some cost however, as none of the Razors come cheap. With a current street price around $1300, the Razor is roughly double many other good LPVO options. I only bring this up because I have several other 1-6 scopes that I quite like that are significantly less.
I have never picked up a Vortex Razor and thought “this won’t do”. On the contrary I feel like every Vortex Razor I’ve ever used has been great, and at best all I could complain about was a reticle option or cursed MOA turrets or something like that. The Vortex Razor HD 1-6 is another great option for those looking for a quality LPVO. If you are considering dropping some serious money on an LPVO, make sure to at least look at one of these.
I’ve been lucky enough to be in the business of shooting for quite a while. Many years ago now I visited the production facility of Huxwrx Safety Company, at the time know as OSS. I remember looking at their cunning designs centered around the technology of suppression. Theirs was the first of many “flow through” designed suppressors I would see. Flow though means that instead of layers of baffles stacked on eachother, these suppressors would capture and channel high pressure gas through a series of what appear to be stationary fan blades. The result would be a greatly slowed escape of gas, which reduces the signature of a shot. Today I am presenting to you my impression of some of Huxwrx newer designs, the Huxwrx Flow suppressors.
These suppressors broke the mold, in more ways than one. They neither function like traditional suppressors nor are they built the same way. I mentioned the high-pressure gas deconstruction that takes place in the fan-like interior of these cans, but they are also built using a more modern technology. 3D metal printing has taken over many manufacturing needs, but to be more accurate these suppressors are made using Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS). Very precise lasers connect within a bed of fine metal powder, fusing the particles into a solid structure. This technology has many impressive attributes, but perhaps the most important when it comes to suppressors is the ability to fuse metal into solid one-piece shapes that would be near impossible to machine.
from the breech end, you can see the curious design of the Flow suppressors
Flow suppressors are mounted using one of Huxwrx muzzle devices that can also double as either a flash-hider or muzzle brake when the suppressor is absent. Another interesting part of the Flow design is to use the gas pressure passing through, to turn the suppressor against its threads. Basically tightening the suppressor onto its mount with every shot.
But the real juice here is about back pressure. From the beginning of the company, the idea behind these suppressors was to reduce back pressure in semi-automatic firearms. For both health reasons and cleanliness of the firearm, keeping spent propellant fumes out of your face and firearm is important to many shooters. The Flow Suppressor design is meant to reduce back pressure to make the shooting experience more pleasant for the shooter. It does all this while reducing the volume of muzzle-blasts and keeping muzzle flash to a minimum.
All that sounds great, and surely comes across as a good marketing ploy. But this is something I wanted to see for myself. And over the course of a few years I would get familiar with them. Huxwrx makes both a stainless and titanium flow 5.56 model, I tested the 17-4 stainless model. The 30-caliber model (7.62mm I guess) is made from titanium. Both suppressors seem to have a similar construction, and both are threaded left-handed onto their muzzle devices.
The one-piece design and slightly rough texture gives these suppressors a different feel for sure. I have shot them on various different rifles, but mainly on my Desert Tech WLVRN semi-auto rifles. One of the other positive traits of these suppressors is said to be that you needn’t adjust the gas-block on your rifle when using a Flow suppressor. I have found this to be true, my rifles seemed to work fine with the Flow suppressors using the same gas setting as unsuppressed operation.
Sound
Reducing the signature of a muzzle blast is the top priority of most suppressors. And the Flow series seems to do that well, changing not just the booming blast from the muzzle, but it seems they also lower the frequency of the noise you do hear. Turning the sound into a “thud” instead of the hiss I am used to hearing.
And while do find them to suppress the noise sufficiently, it does seem like they are a touch louder than some of my other cans. I have only my ear to judge, as I am not extremely concerned with actual numbers. Basically if I can comfortably shoot with a suppressor with no hearing protection, that’s good enough for me. I also noticed there was a bit of a ping-sound coming from the can with each shot. As I understand it I am not the only one to experience this phenomenon.
Cleanliness
I did notice also over the course of various shooting outings that my guns do seem to run cleaner with the flow suppressors. This came as no surprise as the overall amount of gas coming back into the receiver is reduced. The carbon mixed with lubricants that is one of the largest detractors to suppressed shooting can be greatly reduced by using these style of suppressors.
Much like other suppressors that mount to a muzzle device, I like to frequently remove them to ensure carbon buildup is not causing a locking of the suppressor to its brake.
Value and Convenience
There many great reasons to use these suppressors aside from what I have mentioned so far. Let’s talk about a couple things that may be considered a detractor; New technology is almost always going to cost you more. The flow series of suppressors does cost more than many traditionally designed and produced suppressors. As more manufacturers in the suppressor industry follow the DMLS path, I expect the cost will come down both because of the technological development. And also in no small part due to market demands and competition. Bottom line is you pay extra to be on the edge of tech, whether it become the next best thing, or a complete failure. For at least this shooter, the jury is still out on whether I wish to pay this particular premium. As the majority of my suppressor collection remains the traditional baffled design.
the Flow 5.56 can worked great on both DI and piston operated rifles
My Opinion
If you are in the market for a suppressor, you are currently living through a golden age. Spoiled for choices in suppression means you can be pretty picky. Huxwrx suppressors certainly offer some advantages, and only you can decide if the juice I’ve outlined here is worth the squeeze on your wallet. Some just like to push the envelope and be different, and if you like to support companies who do that this might be your can.
It would be foolish of someone who shoots often, to not take proper precautions for their safety. When I was younger, I didn’t think about it much and looking back I sure wish that I had. Protecting eyes and ears while shooting has never been more easy, with technology and materials giving us many options. Today I am bringing you my opinion of another one of those options. Shell Shock Protection is a manufacturer of safety equipment for shooters, and today I present to you their Shell Shock Ultimate Eyes and Ears Combo. Just like it sounds, this kit comes with everything you need for shooting protection.
we did quite a bit of shooting with the Ruger RXM, you can read more about it here
Shell Shock Ultimate Eyes and Ears Combo
The Shell Shock kit comes with a set of their EXO PRO Bluetooth Earmuff’s and a pair of Switch Ballistic Glasses. These items come with a few additional accessories in a tidy little soft-case lined with foam and enclosed by a zipper.
The EXO PRO Bluetooth Earmuff
Pulling the EXO Pro muffs from the case, I was happy to see they use a gel cup for comfort. My other headsets also have this feature so I was both aware of and pleased by it. The ear cups fold out from the wire headband making them compact to stow and quick to deploy. The headset came with a set of AAA batteries and an AUX cord for plumbing in audio to the headset.
In addition to the dual omnidirectional microphones, the EXO Pro also has a Bluetooth connection feature. This allows you to connect your phone or other device to the headset to listen to music or in my case a conference call while sitting on a shooting bench. There are two individual volume knobs to adjust the BT volume and the ambient sounds.
Switch Ballistic Glasses
The Switch Ballistic Glasses come with two lenses, a shaded one for bright sunny days, and a clear lens for indoors. The lenses can be switched out of the frame by unlocking two levers on each side of the frame before swapping the lens. There is also a handy protective cinch-close carry liner to protect the glasses from being scratched or damaged.
The lenses are coated to prevent fogging, and of course they are rated Z87 for protection against flying debris that could damage your eyesight.
On the Range
As I shoot pretty often, it wasn’t long before I put the kit to use. Both indoor shooting and out door shooting would be involved. I typically shoot suppressed, which arguably doesn’t often require hearing protection. But I like to shoot handguns unsuppressed, and you definitely want ears for that.
I found the headset to fit just fine, and the gel cups felt soft against my face. One of the nice things about the gel cups is that they easily form around the temple arms of the glasses. I dislike when a headset crushes the temple arms of my glasses causing discomfort of the ear. The gel cups balanced the pressure against your head without pressing too hard, and still making a good seal.
The dual microphone pickups on the EXO Pro do a great job of picking up the sound around you, and blocking out what you don’t want to hear. I did notice that there seemed to be a bit higher frequency of sound picked up by the microphones, making it sound slightly more shrill sounding than I’d anticipated. Of course I had to fire up the BT receiver on the EXO Pro, so I could listen to my jams while I shot.
With the Switch Ballistic Glasses on, I found something that is typical of personal protective equipment. Not everybody’s face is the same, and I found that the glasses rode a smidge high on my nose for my taste. Requiring me to keep them further out on my nose, this leaves a little more gap than I’d like around the eyes. I think I can correct the issue by altering the removeable nose-pad some. Either way, glasses always fit depending on how your face is built. The lenses were nice, and the dark lens wasn’t as dark as many of my other sunglasses which made it easy to find targets. Switching out the lenses was quick and easy, though I am afraid I’d be more likely to lose one of them. Perhaps I should just get another frame.
Finding pistol sights and red dots through the lenses was easy, and it does feel good to have something between my eyes and all the bullet spall and debris flying around the range.
Pros and Cons
I mentioned the fit of the glasses not being perfect for my face, but that’s just life when you look like I do. It certainly wasn’t a big deal. On the EXO Pro headset I felt just a slight let-down. I’d expected the dual mics to give better awareness of sound direction. I also had hoped they had a rechargeable internal battery option. But to be fair the battery life is pretty good, so maybe I’ll just keep a couple AAA batteries in my shooting bag.
On the positive side, the headset does a great job of protecting your ears from the noise of shooting. They are comfortable even after several hours, and I love the Bluetooth option. For the street price of around $135 dollars, I think these are a pretty solid buy.
If you are ready to step up to a set of electronic ears, or just need another set of protective equipment to keep in your vehicle this would be a good option. It comes in a handy case ready for the range making it a slam-dunk for shooters on the move.
Over many years I have had a variety of different Leupold optics, for a long time I had several of the old Mark 4 scopes. I have always been a fan of Leupold’s brand you could say, so I am excited to bring you a review of one of their more recent scopes. Today’s subject is the Leupold Mark 5 3.6-18X44 riflescope. The Mark 5 line of scopes promises high-quality imagery, with professional grade optics, and built with quality in the USA. Leupold has kept a finger on the pulse of professional and precision shooters alike, so it comes as no surprise to see them often in both arenas of shooting.
This particular model of the Mark 5 line, is one of two more compact models. The Mark 5 2-10X and 3.6-18X are both smaller objective scopes, with shorter overall lengths. This while retaining all the same Mark 5 long-range features, and with a lighter weight. Making them ideal for smaller precision rifles and tactical carbines.
The Leupold Mark 5 3.6-18X44
I have wanted one of these for some time, I think they would be fantastic on one of my hunting rifles. The Mark 5 low profile turret system offers three revolutions of the 10.5 MIL turret. Locking the turret is done using the Zero-lock feature, this requires pushing the button to release the turret from zero.
Left: here you can see the lock button (depressed) and rotation indicator . Right: you can see the coil that guides the locking pin and rotation indicator
Being built on a 35mm tube is a small but significant difference. It does reduce mounting options but I suppose it might give some travel advantage. The physical dimensions of this scope are impressively compact, and it is also much lighter than similar scopes. This is one of fewer modern scopes I’ve had that don’t feature an illuminated reticle, which likely also keeps the weight down.
The magnification ring also features a removable throw lever, to aid in quickly transitioning from one setting to another. Taking it off is handy for when it interferes with bolt manipulation.
Specifications
Adjustable Parallax
Side Focus
BDC Dial Included
No
Custom Dial System (CDS)
No
Daylight Bright Illumination
No
Elevation Adjustment Type
M5C3
Electronic Reticle Level
No
Illuminated Reticle
No
Locking Dial
Yes
Magnification Type
Variable
Motion Sensor Technology (MST)
No
Nightvision Compatible Illumination
No
Reticle Focal Plane
First Focal Plane
Revolution Indicator
Yes
Reticle
FFP PR-1MIL
Rezero Type
Set Screw
Reticle Type
First Focal Plane
Adjustable Objective
No
Windage Adjustment Type
Capped
Weight (oz)
26
Elevation Adjustment Value per Click
0.1Mil
Elevation Adjustment Range (MOA)
100
Elevation Adjustment Range (MIL)
29
Elevation Adjustment Range (cm @ 100m)
291
Elevation Adjustment Per Revolution
10.5 MIL
Elevation Dial Travel Limit
30MIL
Windage Adjustment Value per Click
0.1Mil
Windage Adjustment Range (MOA)
80
Windage Adjustment Range (MIL)
23
Windage Adjustment Range (cm @ 100m)
233
Windage Adjustment Per Revolution
10 MIL
Magnification Max
18
Magnification Min
3.6
Objective Lens Diameter (mm)
44
Linear FOV Low Mag (ft@100yds)
28.3
Linear FOV High Mag (ft@100yds)
5.8
Angular FOV Low Mag (Degrees)
5.4
Angular FOV High Mag (Degrees)
1.1
Eye Relief Low Mag (in)
3.5
Eye Relief High Mag (in)
3.8
Minimum Parallax-Free Distance (yd)
50
Mounting the Mark 5
Due to the 35mm tube of the Leupold Mark 5, it was necessary to use a 35mm mount. Leupold offers a 35mm mount that works great for this. There are other 35mm ring options, but this was an easy button so that’s the way I went.
With the scope mounted and level, I set to zeroing the rifle. The first host for this scope was the brand new Desert Tech SRS Carbon SD rifle, chambered in 308 Winchester. On the rifle range it was a quick job of adjusting the Leupold to match the rifles point of impact. I was a little thrown off by the witness mark of the windage turret, located higher than the typical centerline of the tube.
I fired several rounds to confirm zero and see how the scope and rifle worked together. During this process I found my first flaw with this scope, I am not a big fan of the Tremor reticles . Maybe I am the flaw, but I just don’t like all the dots and such. Chalk it up to personal preference, but I would have picked a different reticle. Looking at my 100 and 200 yard targets I could easily make out great detail through the sharp image of the Mark 5.
I am not a big fan of public ranges, and if you find me there it’s usually more labor than love. So my next trips out with the Leupold Mark 5 were into the frozen Rocky Mountains and the dry winter ranges of the desert. This would give me more opportunity to scour the distant ridges through the scope. Allowing me to evaluate clarity and other qualities.
The bright environment made for excellent target identification. I practiced my typical routine of picking out targets, usually small rocks protruding from the snow. Snow makes a great indicator when the light is just right, sometimes you can even see bullet holes from great distances.
Dialing the elevation turret for various target distances put me in touch with its function pretty quick. I like the locking zero, and the rotation indicator feature lets you know where you’re at in the numbers. The clicks on these turrets are crisp and easy to count. I mentioned my reticle preference, but the Tremor obviously gives plenty of use for holding wind corrections.
Optical Clarity
I have always liked the look through Leupold scopes, and this one was no chump. Great detail and crisp imagery made this scope very useful in this big country. One of the reasons this scope is so appealing is because it is one of few good scopes that are this compact. The 44mm objective keeps this scope low, and its short length and light-weight make it optimal for a sharp-shooting mountain gun. Together with the SRS SD this scope would make an excellent night-vision or thermal combination. Despite the smaller objective and proportions this scope’s HD lenses still gives a great impression of downrange detail. That said I do feel like some of the 50 and 56mm scopes do look better. Its a trade-off.
Controls
I really like mid-range variable scopes, the 3.6-18 power is a very useful range in my opinion. The power ring of the Mark 5 is smooth and fairly easy to turn, I wouldn’t say too easy but it is close. The removable throw-lever is handy if you need it, and removable if you don’t.
I found the optical focus features of this scope to be very helpful as eyes begin to show their age. Both the ocular adjustment, and the parallax turret gave very fine adjustment, making those images pop.
The curious design of the elevation turret is both effective and functional. The coiled path underneath keeps the rotation indicator accurate, and the scope was always on zero when left there. With a total of 29 MRAD in elevation adjustment, there’s not many shots where you’ll need to hold over with the Tremor reticle. But its nice to have the option if you’re that kind of shooter.
here you can see the unorthodox windage witness mark
The capped windage turret I thought was going to bug me, but it ended up not being an issue at all. I found it really wasn’t worth the risk of having it exposed, and I didn’t need to use it much.
Value
There are a few other competitors scopes that closely mimic the features of this one. Most of them are 30mm tube though, and they are also about half the cost. As a rampant 3-18 power enthusiast I have a variety of them in my collection, and this one is definitely at the top of the price points. That means it has big shoes to fill, and I expect Leupold is up to it.
Having been chosen for the main optical sight for the US Army’s M110 sniper rifle is certainly a feather in their cap. Leupold claims the scope was designed with input from elite shooters, a claim I take at face value since I wasn’t asked…
At the end of the day I feel this scope while expensive can certainly justify its heritage. Military use isn’t necessarily the golden ticket that so many manufacturers portray it to be. But it definitely does mean something, and brings value to both the brand and the scope.
Pros and Cons
As I mentioned already, this scope is very light considering its features. It is also quite compact and optimal for use with other optical tools like clip-on thermals and night-vision. Its sharp imagery and easy to operate controls make it a slam dunk if you want such a scope. I suppose the only downside to this scope is its cost, with a street price around $2300.00 it might be a stretch for some shooters. And if you want illumination which might be necessary if you plan on using it with night-vision it’ll cost you another 350 clams.
Last Words
Few other optics in this category enjoy such heritage. So it should come as no surprise that if you want the top dog in the short and small game, you’re gonna pay for it. Luckily with Leupold you get more than just a good scope, you get the name behind it and the warranty and customer service that comes with it. Scopes like this make me wish I hadn’t sold off all my old Mark IV’s, even if just for the nostalgia.
