Iconic American firearms often come from historic battles and legendary service histories. Today we revisit one such firearm, the venerable M1 Garand. The Garand like many other US military rifles, accompanied soldiers through some of their most challenging times. Additionally, the M1 stands out as the first semi-automatic service rifle used by infantry. I expect the firepower was well received by the young men who were used to running 1903 bolt-actions. For a bit of a personal touch, our test rifle today came from my late Grandfather, a Veteran of the Korean War.
my Grandfather, Anthony Hafen during the Korean War
The M1 Garand
The Garand was chosen after much testing to become a mainstay for the military, it’s rapid rate of fire and accuracy made it an obvious choice. The curious design of the Garand uses a one-piece gas-piston and operation rod, which opens and closes the rotating-bolt. The rifle is fed from an equally curious magazine system that uses en bloc clips that bundle cartridges together eight at a time. Simple controls and operation were made possible by cunning design and some seemingly complicated parts. The end result was a robust battle rifle with awesome power and range. Today that may not seem as apparent, but lets get into why it mattered then.
loading the 8-round clips
My Grandfather
My Grandfather grew up in the dry deserts of the American Southwest, raised on a cattle ranch settled by our Swiss ancestors. I credit my love for the outdoors at least partially to my Grandfather’s influence, his love of hunting and fishing surely was the inception of my own passions. As a small town boy growing up in the 30’s and 40’s, he spent much time in the wild west. And I expect most of that time he carried a gun with him.
He joined the Utah National Guard as a young man, as part of 213th Field Artillery unit. And shortly after the beginning of the conflict on the Korean Peninsula, his unit was called to serve. I can imagine a group of young Southern Utah cowboys must have felt extremely excited and nervous about such a foreign and dangerous engagement.
photo from the 213th FAB
Having grown up hunting deer and other game using typical firearms of the epoch, I imagine they were familiar with lever-action 30-30 rifles and similar firearms. I expect it was of much comfort when the Garand rifle was issued to them, with its heavy hitting 30-06 cartridges stacked deep in the magazine.
Shooting the M1 Garand
My brother and I took the Garand for a range trip to see how the old rifle shoots. The dry desert in the summer can be a bit warm and windy, but I knew our testing would simply be a refresher. The Garand has proven itself many times over, this was more about me experiencing the rifle.
We managed to get through the day without any smashed fingers, and a bit more familiar with this piece of history. The M1 Garand shoots very nicely, especially when run on the Lake City M72 Match ammunition. Like the rifle itself this ammo is from another time, 1967 to be exact. The 173 grain ammunition shot flawlessly from the rifle, though I don’t know if it was the rifle or me that wasn’t producing the best accuracy. In all likelihood it was me and my unfamiliarity with the rifle, as well as trying to shoot with iron sights which I don’t often do.
Results
Shootability
The Garand was very fun to shoot, with modest recoil and a different impulse than what I was used to. The loading and shooting procedure is as simple as you’ve seen it portrayed in all the movies. And I even found it wasn’t that hard to not get bit by the action.
not as accurate as I’m used to, but it did the job
Adjusting the sights is pretty self explanatory, and made it quick to get on target. I did notice that the stock feels pretty thick compared to our modern firearms, which made my grip feel slightly inadequate.
The controls of the rifle seemed perfectly predictable for a service rifle. The trigger was nothing out of this world, but it was good enough. The safety was a bit stiffer than we’d anticipated, but again it was serviceable.
If you found yourself part of the United States Army during the American Imperialism wars, you probably would be very familiar with today’s subject. While I’ve never been property of Uncle Sam’s green team, I often wonder how previous generations of American servicemen would feel about modern armament. Fortunate we are to be in the position to analyze both modern military rifles and those of generations past as well. Today we will share the same walnut grip with nineteenth-century Americans, as we walk through the Springfield Armory Model 1898 30-40 Krag.
The 1898 Krag
I had always wondered where the strange name of this rifle came from, as it turns out it came from Norway. Which if you like guns and hunting is a pretty cool place. The US adopted the design from the Krag-Jorgensen rifle that was also in use from Northern Europe to eventual places like Rhodesian forces and Asia.
This US Model 1898 was manufactured by Springfield Armory just after the turn of the last century in 1902. Despite its age, this old rifle still feels fantastic. The bolt-action that is famously smooth feels better than many modern rifles. The interesting bolt lug design is much different than our modern prescription. There is a single bolt-lug that rotates down engaging the receiver in the six o’clock position, but there is another at the rear of the bolt-body that also engages the receiver at three o’clock. A spring-claw extractor runs the length of the bolt on top, and the ejector pops-up from where magazine followers typically are.
There is a bolt-shroud safety on top, very similar to the Springfield Model 1903 that replaced the Krag rifle. There is also a magazine disconnect switch that we’ll get to in a moment. The large and obtrusive magazine stands out on the right-side of the rifle. It’s spring-loaded door and follower hinge open to allow cartridges to be deposited within.
The long thirty-inch barrel is partially covered by the walnut stock that extends almost all the way to the muzzle. There are three sling-mounting rings placed along the underside of the stock, which seemed normal in those days. Also typical for the time, there was a ramped adjustable rear notch sight, with a very thin front blade sight.
How to Feed the 30-40 Krag
Krag cartridges come from a time when it was simply the caliber and powder charge that named the cartridge. The original Krag fired a 30 caliber bullet with 40 grains of powder, a step up over the 30-30’s thirty grains of powder. I load mine with 150 grain round-nose bullets, though you can use spitzer type bullets in the Krag due to its interesting magazine.
The magazine feeds in an almost rotary design, circling from the bottom right up and to the left side of the action where the bolt pushes them into the chamber. With the magazine folded open the cartridges are dropped into the loading gate. The spring follower folds out of the way during this process, but as soon as the gate is closed the follower pushes up to five cartridges into line.
During the loading process the fresh cartridges are presented on the left-side of the bolt to be pushed into battery. The magazine disconnect switch allows the rifleman to operate the bolt without feeding these cartridges from the magazine. This was likely used for single feeding cartridges dropping them in from the top of the action. And with the flip of a switch you could rapidly shoot the five rounds from the magazine.
Shooting a Relic
There is something interesting about shooting firearms from another epoch. I imagine the early Americans who shot these rifles appreciated the smooth bolt and feeding the same way I do. Taking up the first stage of the trigger I imagine the countless shots taken by Krag rifles over the last century.
In our ever changing world there is some solace in knowing that we are spoiled for choice when it comes to sporting arms. Being a part of the firearm industry certainly offers me additional privileges and access, and today I intend to share with you another one the countless rifles I’ve been able to examine. Today we are taking a close look at the Springfield Armory Waypoint 2020 rifle chambered in 308 Winchester.
The Waypoint 2020 is marketed as a lightweight precision rifle with a definite nod towards the hunting crowd. The Waypoint is a bolt-action rifle patterned after the extremely popular Remington 700 footprint. There is a variety of models but all of them feature a carbon fiber stock, and detachable box-magazines. Different color camo patterns can be selected, as well as other features like carbon-wrapped barrels and radial muzzle brakes. Let’s get into it.
The Springfield Armory Waypoint 2020
2020 Action
The foundation of the Waypoint rifle is the 2020 action, a two-lug ninety-degree bolt action much like the Remington 700 it closely resembles. I say closely because it greatly improves over it’s predecessor. The 2020 action uses a one-piece fluted bolt-body with a removable bolt-handle. At the front of the bolt you’ll find the sliding extractor and spring-plunger ejector. The sear is tripped by a Trigger Tech Field trigger, which in my experience is fantastic.
At the back of the action you’ll find the bolt-stop/release. This is the stronger and superior design, making the bolt quick to remove and firmly stopped when it reaches the aft stroke. The Waypoint 2020 action comes with a scope base-rail installed, using both screws and dowel pins for security.
Carbon Fiber Stock
Rigid and lightweight are the first things that come to mind when feeling the Waypoint stock. At the back there is a soft rubber recoil pad as well as some flush mounted QD-cups for attaching a sling. The vertical grip is very modern and comfortable, allowing easy placement of your thumb at the proper angle. The Aluminum trigger-guard is also very well done, and features the mag-release in the front of the trigger area. And using AICS pattern magazines is a sure way to gain points with most shooters.
The front of the stock also features a QD-cup for sling attachment, as well as M-Lok slots on the bottom to attach a bipod. I found the stock to be very comfortable and very serviceable.
Carbon Wrapped Barrel
The twenty-inch barrel is carbon fiber wrapped, for weight reduction. At the muzzle it was threaded 5/8-24 with a radial muzzle brake installed to tame the rifle. Chambered in 308 Winchester the barrel features a 1:10 twist which allows for a great deal of bullet compatibility.
Specifications
Springfield Armory Waypoint 2020 308 Winchester
Weight
6 Pounds 9 Ounces
Length
41.5 Inches
Barrel
20-inch 1:10 twist Carbon Fiber
Trigger Adjustment
2.5-5 Lbs
Muzzle Device
Radial Blast Brake ⅝-24 threads
Magazine
AICS compatible 5-round
Optics Mounting
Picatinny Rail 6-48 Screws
Receiver
Stainless Steel 2020
Color
Evergreen Camo/Green Cerakote
MSRP
$2599
Range Preparations
In order to properly test the Waypoint, I would add a few things and bring along others. First off was a good scope, for that I decided to go with one of my favorites. The US Optics TXH 3-18 is a perfect scope for a precision hunting rifle, with a set of 34mm rings it dropped perfectly into place on the Waypoint. I’d also add a Harris bipod for supported shooting, using the M-Lok slots I attached a pic-rail section to make my bipod easy to install and remove.
For ammunition I brought a nice spread as well. First off were a couple selections from Hornady, the American Whitetail 150 grain ammo, and the Precision Hunter 178 ELDX. I also brought along some Barnes Vor-TX 130 grain ammunition as well as a box of DTM 308 Match 175 grain.
And just for good measure I also threw in my Silencer Central Banish Backcountry suppressor, which would make a perfect lightweight companion to this rifle.
My first foray with the Waypoint was at a public range, not something I enjoy but worth the time. It took no time to zero the rifle with just a couple shots after I boresighted it. After which I shot a few different groups to see if the rifle preferred one ammo type over another. It came as no surprise that the DTM 175 match seemed to shoot the best, with a Barnes 130 grain in a very close second place. Velocities from those two were 2560fps and 3020fps respectively. After some accuracy testing, I continued shooting to see how the rifle functioned and fed.
Tristar is a firearms company with a specific stated purpose of specializing in value and firearms. With a variety of products manufactured in Turkey, they bring a great variety of firearm products at a very affordable price. Today we are taking a look at one of Tristar’s newer releases, the inertia driven Tristar Matrix 12 gaugeShotgun .
Yes, you read that right, the Matrix clones the clean and reliable operating system used big names like Benelli and Franchi. And while the Matrix is no slouch when it comes to looks, you might feel better about trouncing through the field or marsh with it instead of a more expensive shotgun.
The Tristar Matrix
The Matrix is their first venture into inertia driven shotguns, but hardly their first semi-auto. I’ve had the good fortune to shoot other Tristar shotguns, and I was impressed. With the Matrix using inertia to operate the action, the gun operates clean and requires less maintenance. And with a five-year warranty you can trust it will stay that way.
the controls of the Matrix are big and easy to find
The Matrix is offered in three different color patterns; a finished Walnut (tested here), a synthetic model with black polymer furniture, and a camo model featuring RT-MAX-7 wetland camouflage. All three finishes are also available in a 26-inch 20-gauge option for those looking for a lighter option.
Both options feature a 14.25-inch length of pull, and weigh in just over seven pounds with the 20-gauge models being about a 1/4 pound lighter. There appears to be a dovetail cut into the top of the receiver, though I couldn’t find an option for mounting anything to it.
Apart from the chokes included, there is also a different stock wedge you can use to adjust the angle of the buttstock. At the very rear you’ll find a soft rubber recoil pad for comfort.
the Matrix came with a set of chokes and wrench, as well as stock wedges
Matrix Features
Inertia Action
Oversized Operating Handle
Slam Button Bolt Release
Fiber Optic Sight
3 Chokes and Wrench (IC, M, F)
3-inch Chamber
28-inch Barrel
Ventilated Sight-Rib
Shooting the Tristar Matrix
To give the Matrix a good test, I figured we would put it to work on a case of clay targets. An afternoon and a case of shells ought to be enough to see what makes this Tristar shine. On a cool spring morning, my kids and I went up into the snow-covered Rocky Mountains. The cold breeze carried clay targets high into the blue sky and created that bobbing up and down while they flew.
We threw clays by hand, taking turns between throwing and shooting. Burning through a case of clay targets and box after box of ammunition. The handsome and curious walnut color shined beautifully in the afternoon sun.
Its another one of those iconic gun stories here today folks. Many of us grew up watching the apex of cinema that was the 1980’s, and you couldn’t watch good films back then without seeing iconic firearms. The Steyr AUG became extremely popular in the late 70’s and thereafter with a variety of law enforcement and military adoptions. Much like FN’s P90 and the HK MP5, the AUG (which I will always pronounce AWE-g) was so different and interesting that it demanded attention. As a true bullpup aficionado, I felt required to revisit the AUG with the release of the new Steyr AUG A3 M2 NATO version of the rifle.
me shooting the original AUG A1
There has been other variants of the rifle, like the famous waffle mag AUG, and even a 9mm version. But the A3 M2 NATO version of the rifle seems to have the best features of all. This rifle uses standard NATO Stanag magazines, but also incorporates a bolt release. This makes the AUG a bit more formidable and useful in tactical operations (at least thats what I think as an absolute unit of a civilian). I could spend a lot of time talking about the history of the AUG and all of its accolades, but you can go scroll through Wikipedia for that. All you need to know is that the Alpha-male terrorist guy from 1988’s smashing hit Die Hard chose the AUG because of his tactical prowess. And thats good enough for us today.
Karl would for sure have traded his waffel AUG for my NATO A3 model, sadly he turned to ballet and we lost him in 1995. RIP Karl
The Steyr AUG A3 M2 NATO
The curious looks of the Steyr AUG is matched by an equally interesting operation. The polymer buttstock houses the sear-pack, recoil pad, and magazine well. The receiver is captured by a sliding plastic former after being pushed in from the front. The barrel features external lugs not unlike a the bolt, both of them are inserted to the receiver and rotate to lock in.
stabbing a mag into the AUG A3, you can simply continue sliding your hand up and release the bolt into battery
Operation
The barrel assembly has a spring-loaded locking detent making barrel removal extremely quick and easy. The gas piston is located on the right side of the receiver, and pushes a long operation rod that is attached to the right side of the bolt-carrier.
The field stripped AUG A3 M2 NATO
On the opposite side of the bolt-carrier, there is a near twin operating rod that engages the charging handle on the left side. The charging handle has a polymer folding design, it can be folded in both at the front and rear of its travel. It also features two snap-springs that hold the charging handle in place to the front while shooting to stop reciprocation.
left-side detail: note folding charging handle, and safety behind the trigger
The safety is a push-push type, a simple plastic square that goes through the receiver behind the trigger. The trigger itself is also polymer, and attaches to two steel rods that transfer movement to the sear pack in the rear.
Also on the left-rear-side of the buttstock, you will find the bolt-release that makes this A3 M2 model so much better than previous versions of the rifle. It allows you to seat the magazine and drop the bolt almost in one motion.
Other Features
Up front you will find the down-grip, one of the AUG’s famous features. The grip can be pulled and folded parallel under the barrel for lower profile. Right above the down-grip on the right side, you will find the gas block and gas valve.
Because its not 1988 anymore, and the petulant tyrants who banned the import of this Austrian beauty for years because of its incredibly dangerous features; I choose to shoot the AUG suppressed like my other guns, for sporting purposes and whatever else I see fit. So I have the suppressor gas valve for the rifle, which helps reduce overgassing due to suppressor backpressure.
On the right side roughly two o’clock position there is an accessory pic rail for adding accessories. And across the top of the receiver you will find another picatinny rail for mounting sights. There is also a factory made 3X optical sight that can be installed in place of the pic rail. But it DEFINITELY came from the 80’s, and there it should stay.
I was excited to get this rifle on the range, mainly to see how it compared to other bullpups I’ve shot. Which are not few. But before that, I would need to pull the flash-hider that made it so dangerous to import once upon a time. I would try a couple suppressors, first the Yankee Hill Machine Fat Cat because it is super short. Keeping the already compact AUG as short as possible would maintain its designer’s purpose. I’d also use my Anechoic Anechox 35, it too does a great job taming noise. Its flow thru design would hopefully keep me from suffocating in exhAUGst from the ejection port.
shooting for accuracy
For sights, I installed my Primary Arms PLxC 1-8 low power variable optic (LPVO). The impressive clarity and sharpness would come in handy for shooting this rifle.
I grabbed a few different mags to see how they each faired in the AUG. And to fill the magazine, I would use a few different options. Some PMC Xtac 55 grain ammo, as well as some Hornady 62 grain FMJ ammo, and for accuracy I figured I’d try some PMC Match 77 grain.
we tested a variety of different Stanag magazines, and they all worked
Shooting the Steyr AUG A3 M2
I do a lot of my shooting outdoors and in the wild mountains that surround me. But today I took occasion to frequent a local range which I don’t often do. For todays purposes it would be fine. The two-hundred yards available to me were more than enough to test the legs of the AUG.
a wiff of burnt powder is inevitable when shooting suppressed
Shootability
As an ardent bullpup fan, the AUG came to me as very familiar. The balance and weight was like others I’m used to. But since I was used to other rifles like my WLVRN, I did have to reconfigure a few of my muscle memories.
magazine release detail
The mag release works great, and makes sense to have it there. But I wouldn’t mind if it was more like my WLVRN or an X95. The balance on this rifle was outstanding, even with a suppressor up front. You could single-hand shoot this rifle all day.
Reliability
The Steyr AUG has been well known for its reliability. Both in law enforcement and military the AUG has seen long-term service on basically every continent. We found the AUG A3 M2 to be perfectly reliable, with no malfunctions experienced during testing.
Ergonomics
You definitely don’t want to shoot the AUG left handed, it’s ejection will likely hit you in the mouth or chin. The seamless back end of the rifle doesn’t offer a great deal of adjustment. So there is no way to adjust the comb-height or length of pull.
the factory flash hider of the AUG A3
The grip has a cutlass style trigger-guard, normally I would say I don’t like them. But the way the trigger is seated within the guard and tucked up I think was well done. The controls in general are simple and no nonsense. The safety is easy to function, though it does feel like a fifty year old design. The charging handle is foldable both at the front and rear of its travel, it can be a little close to optics mounting which can cause occlusions with your knuckles.
Trigger feel is often a concern with bullpup rifles. I have experienced both poor triggers and excellent triggers from some of my favorite bullpup rifles. Previous versions of the AUG were among what I would call ok triggers, but this one seems a little better. Not mushy and more short and crisp than I expected.
Accuracy
I was quite happy with the accuracy of the AUG A3. I wasn’t expecting to be anything fantastic, but 1.5 MOA was decent best groups. Especially considering I was using an LPVO at 8X, I expect I could have done better with a little more scope.
Value
The bullpup 5.56 field is getting pretty deep, though the AUG has been in it for longer than most. The IWI X95 is particularly popular with many folks, and while I don’t hate it there are others I prefer. The X95 can be had for about the same price as the AUG A3 M2, and I think I prefer the Steyr. The Springfield Armory Hellion is around the same price on any given day, and it too shares a strong service record like the AUG and X95.
If you want something cheaper, you could go with the Keltec RDB, and if you want something made in the USA the Desert Tech WLVRN is my favorite of all of these bullpup rifles. If you’re curious about that, you can read my article on the WLVRN Here.
The barrel is quickly and easily removed from the rifle, you can also see the gas valve here.
Pros and Cons
I’m not gonna lie, I really like the Steyr AUG A3 M2 more than I expected to. It shoots well, has a nice impulse, and is quite compact. There are really only a few things I suppose I would change; I’d like a mag-release that could be done with your trigger finger, I really like that feature in the other rifles. And I suppose I’d also like one of the different fore ends made for the AUG by the aftermarket. The down-grip is comfortable but I think I might like something a little different. Lastly it would be nice if there was some modularity in the back end of the gun, like for length of pull and such.
the AUG bolt carrier
Its no wonder to me that this gun has remained as popular as it has. It is fun to shoot, and with the added capabilities of the NATO mags, and the new bolt release it really brings the AUG to a better place.
Last Words on the AUG A3
Bullpups are my thing, so I suppose you shouldn’t be surprised I liked one of the most popular models out there. But I’ll also say its not just because I’m a bullpup guy. I found the AUG A3 M2 NATO offers a bit more than its predecessors, and all the good features of every other AUG model. So if you are simply looking for a reliable, compact and fun rifle to shoot the AUG could fill that role. And while you do it you can LARP as the 1980’s action hero you watched as a kid.
Howa has been making firearms for longer than most of us have been alive, but that isn’t the only thing the company shares with other big names in the gun industry. The Howa brand has become well known for quality and affordability, and because of that solid record, Howa rifles have become a dependable option for hunters and shooters of all kinds. Today we are taking a look at one of Howa’s newest models in their M1500 Mini action line. That rifle is the Howa Mini 22 ARC, the 22 ARC is a new cartridge offering from Hornady. And a perfect fit for the very popular Howa Mini action that already has a variety of micro-action cartridges. The model we tested here today is the HS-Precision version of the Howa Mini, with a fiberglass stock and detachable box magazine.
The Howa Mini Action
Howa has been making the Model 1500 action for decades, with popular models in nearly every common caliber and even some that weren’t. In much more recent years, Howa release the Model 1500 Mini. A scaled down version of the action, made specifically for smaller cartridges. The Howa Mini is currently available with chamberings in .223Rem, 6mm ARC, 6.5 Grendel, 350 Legend, 7.62×39, and of course now in the 22 ARC.
The Mini action uses a two-stage match trigger, and a three-position thumb safety. It is a push-feed action that utilizes a one-piece two-lug bolt. The bolthead houses an M16 style claw extractor, and a single plunger style ejector. These features are popular and have become the standard for quality rifle actions.
Feeding the Mini action is done by a detachable polymer box magazine. The trigger-guard and floorplate are comprised of a single piece of polymer, with a magazine release at the front of the magwell. The magazine itself holds five rounds of the 22 ARC cartridge.
Adding to the quality feel of this rifle by housing it all in the HS -Precision fiberglass stock was a nice touch. The lightweight stock has a beautiful finish and an aluminum bedding block built into it for rigid support and accurate shooting.
Additional Features
Stock: HTI® synthetic, pillar-bedded stock & recoil pad
Mag: 5 or 10-round detachable magazine (Depending on Caliber)
Forged, lightened, one-piece bolt w/ two locking lugs
Tool-less Firing Pin Removal
Machined Receiver and Forged Bolt
Large Internal Bolt handle and pressure vent holes
One of the safest actions on the market
Reliable M-16 Style Extractor/Ejector
Stringent and Exacting Headspace specs
Bolt Faces are True and Square to Chamber
Two Stage Match Trigger
3 Position Safety
SUB MOA – 3 Shot Group @ 100 yds with premium factory ammo
Sling Swivel Studs
Range Preparation
With its twenty-inch barrel, the Howa Mini in 22 ARC would be an excellent varmint rifle. With that in mind, I figured I would set the rifle up for that kind of activity. I do quite a bit of varmint hunting here in the intermountain west, mainly hunting Marmots and prairie dogs, with the occasional coyote or badger tossed in.
Riflescope
First off, I would need a good rifle scope. For a good match and application, I decided to use the Lucid Optics MLX 4.5-18X44, I’ve used it on a variety of rifles and therefore knew it would work well on the Mini. The rifle had come with a 30mm set of Nikko Stirling scope rings that bolt directly to the receiver, and with a touch of thread-locker I torqued them down. After setting the eye-relief and level, I torqued the ring-caps down as well. Before leaving to the range, I would boresight the combo on my kitchen table using my toolless boresighting method.
Suppressor
With the threaded muzzle of the Mini, I was absolutely going to take advantage of adding a suppressor. The petite thread protector comes off easily and was barely noticeable until you did. I threaded on my Yankee Hill Machine Turbo T3, having first installed a 1/2-28 direct thread at the breech of the can for a simple connection.
Ammunition
I have to give a huge thanks to Hornady, who provided ammunition for this review. Several boxes of their three different ammo lines. The Hornady Match line features the new 88 grain ELDM bullet, the Hornady Black line uses a 75 grain ELDM, and lastly the V-Match line uses the 62 grain ELD-VT. With this great variety I expected I would have some great results
On the Range with the Howa Mini 22 ARC
This wasn’t my first time shooting a Howa Mini, as I also have a different model in 6mm ARC. I’ve had great experiences with that rifle, so I was expecting this one to go as well. Running the short cartridges through the rifle felt fantastic, and watching the bullets impact on target was extremely satisfying.
Modern bolt-action rifles don’t need much to shoot well. Mostly all it takes is trying a variety of ammunition types to see what the barrel shoots best. Of course with newer cartridges like the 22 ARC there are fewer options to test, that said we had some great results from the three Hornady options.
Ammunition type
Hornady V-Match 62
Hornady Black 75gr
Hornady Match 88gr
Average groups
.532 MOA
1.274 MOA
.562 MOA
Buying a Howa Mini is more about finding the model you want versus finding a good deal.
Today we are bringing you another rifle review, and I’m a bit excited about this one. Our subject is the CVA Cascade, which entails quite a few models. The model we are looking at today is the Cascade SB which I assume means Short Barrel. I’ve had the luck of playing with another Cascade in the past, and I quite enjoyed it. So I was excited to see how this newer model performed to see what if anything changed.
The CVA Cascade SB
The Cascade is a bolt action rifle, with a three lug bolt resulting in a 60 degree lift. It has a similar design to the Ruger American action, using the bolt release as a bolt stop to prevent it’s aft travel as well as to keep the bolt clocked properly.
note rear action screw in front of the trigger, instead of on the tang
A Remington 700 style trigger is used, and it is fed by a detachable magazine that holds 4-rounds of 6.5 Creedmoor. There is an interesting change from typical bolt-action design; the rear action screw has been placed in front of the trigger, instead of in the tang at the rear of the action.
The threaded eighteen-inch barrel is of a slightly heavier profile than typical hunting rifles, but I am here for it. I like the performance of medium weight barrels over the skinny barrels typically used on hunting rifles.
CVA Cascade Short Barrel 6.5 Creedmoor
Weight
6.8 Pounds
Barrel Length
18-Inches
Barrel Twist
1:8 inches
Barrel Thread
⅝-24
Finish
Graphite Black Cerakote
Overall Length
38.5-Inches
Length of Pull
14-Inches
Capacity
4+1 rounds
Safety
2-Position
Stock
Polymer w/ Veil Tactical Black Camo Finish
CVA Cascade History
CVA is a well known brand among smoke pole subscribers, I can remember hearing about CVA muzzleloaders as far back as I can remember. Connecticut Valley Arms has been around since the early seventies, and before entering the centerfire market had been best known for pioneering inline muzzleloader rifles. Their bolt-action inline muzzleloaders likely had something to do with the Cascade’s development. As it would seem they decided to bring their manufacturing and knowledge to the centerfire realm with the Cascade series of rifles.
CVA has been aided in their ascent by its parent company BPI Outdoors, who purchased the company just before the turn of the last century. BPI manufactures multiple brands in the same space as CVA, which also adds to their knowledge and position.
CVA Cascade SB Review
As usual, I would take the Cascade up into the Rocky Mountains above my home to test it out. The solitude seems to help focus on the function and flaws of the guns I test. But before we got to that point, I would need to prepare the rifle for this outing.
First up the rifle would need a scope, I settled on using the Athlon Optics Heras SPR 6-24×56. The rifle had come with some Weaver scope ring bases installed, so I simply bolted up the scope using a set of Warne split rings. With the scope leveled and mounted I boresighted it using my toolless method. Next up I would stick a Harris 6-9 bipod to the front sling-stud for supported shooting. And lastly because I’m a purist, I installed my Banish Meateater suppressor on the muzzle. Before doing so I changed out the suppressor’s muzzle bushing to the smaller 6.5 for maximum suppression.
I gathered up a variety of ammunition to test in the rifle, with factory options from Federal, Hornady, and Sierra. And again because of the purist in me, I also brought some of my favored handloads to see how the Cascade liked them.
For maximum compactness, I also shot the Cascade with only a muzzle brake installed. For that I used the Patriot Valley Arms 6.5 Jet Blast brake. It is self timing, and very lightweight, which makes it quick and easy to install and remove. And it is exceptional at reducing felt recoil while shooting, even with a modest cartridge like the 6.5 Creedmoor.
Shootability
The oversized bolt handle makes for easy operation of the action. It has a smooth lift and stroke, better I would say than some of the typical comparable actions. There is less slop in the bolt while it is open, giving a much better feel of quality and control.
the bolt handle and smooth mag make cycling cartridges effortless
It came as no surprise that the trigger felt great, while I saw no reason to adjust it. I like knowing that I can. It’s also nice to know you could swap it out for one of the popular aftermarket triggers like Timney or Trigger Tech.
With such solid construction, the Cascade SB has minimal recoil, particularly with a suppressor or muzzle brake installed. I could see myself adding a stock pack to the rifle, as the comb is a touch low for the scope as I had it mounted.
Reliability
Cycling cartridges through the Cascade was fantastic. The polymer magazine is particularly slippery, which resulted in flawless feeding. So smooth in fact that there is little difference between running the action with or without cartridges. The bolt uses a sliding extractor to pull the cartridge from the chamber, and the single plunger ejector does a fine job of expelling the spent cases from the action.
bolt-head detail, note extractor design and ejector plunger
While we experienced no malfunctions while shooting the Cascade SB, it did seem that because of the tight fit of the bolt to the action, it was susceptible to crud building up. After shooting quite a bit, some of the debris from shooting did cause the feel of the bolt to suffer a little. Not a huge deal, but worth noting.
Ergonomics
I will say this about the rifle, as I pulled it naked from the factory box, my first impression was different. I wouldn’t say the gun is heavy, but it feels thick and stout. It has a robust and solid feel that delivers a great sensation of quality.
The rubberized exterior is very easy to grip, and feels good in the hands. The buttstock too is very unlikely to slip out of place, as it too has a soft rubber feel. This helped when running the oversized bolt knob, generally there is great purchase on everything. The safety requires a fair amount of pressure to engage, which is fine by me. That makes it harder to accidentally safe the rifle in the heat of shooting.
The CVA Cascade is a perfect fit for this open country
Releasing the magazine from the rifle is done at the front of the magwell. It was very easy to eject the magazine, I was actually worried it might be too easy, resulting in a lost magazine. But the release is safely recessed to avoid just such a thing.
Accuracy
I had a lot of hope for the Cascade in the accuracy department. I wouldn’t say I was let down, I was just hoping it was going to be a touch better. It definitely liked the Sierra Bullets Match King ammunition, and would regularly print 3/4 MOA five shot groups. I am quite confident that with a little load work up I can get it shooting even better.
As it was, I was using the Cascade SB to engage targets the size of a deers vitals at 300 and 450 yards without a care in the world. It certainly made me wish I was deer hunting with this little rifle instead of just playing.
A quick search of the internet shows the Cascade SB we tested here today can be had for under $650. In my opinion that is a pretty good price for what you are getting. There is a great deal of competition for rifles like this in the four to seven-hundred dollar price range. For a touch more money you can get something very similar like a Franchi Momentum or a Tikka T3. And for a little less money, you can get something like a Ruger American Gen 2. All of these are good choices, and very competitive. I would say that the Cascade seems to match the quality of the higher price point rifles mentioned above, despite its lower price.
Cascade Pros and Cons
Keeping in the same line of comparison with those other comparable rifles, I wish the Cascade had a higher comb to rest your cheek on. Both the Ruger and Franchi mentioned have a high-comb that is perfect for sight alignment. And while 6.8 pounds isn’t heavy in my opinion, the Cascade could shave a little more weight by adding some flutes to the barrel. Some folks might prefer the rifle was fed by AI pattern magazines, and I’ll admit it wouldn’t hurt my feelings. But as good as this magazine works and fits flush, I’d keep it just like it is.
The action on this rifle feels great, it cycles cartridges smoothly and is built to last. Great trigger and magazine operation matched by good looks across the board on this rifle. There is little not to like about the Cascade, it is compact and great for maneuvering through forests and mountains. And it shoots as good as it looks.
Final Thoughts on the Cascade SB
I was very optimistic about how I would feel about this rifle, and after shooting it for a few weeks now I think those feelings were right. The CVA Cascade SB is a very stout little rifle, it has smooth function with fantastic features for hunters. It is compact and very maneuverable which is handy when you are pursuing anything. It shoots well and has very reliable operation, again, one of the few things I would change if I could would be to flute the barrel to lower weight. But even that isn’t much of a problem. I really like the Cascade SB, and I look forward to taking it into the forests this fall to put it against our mule deer and elk. I expect it will perform very well.
Some firearms are simply iconic, perhaps because of media and movies, or perhaps because of a stellar record in military service. Today we bring you one of those firearms, or at least a civilian legal version of it; The FN M249 S. The SAW is a light machine gun chambered in 5.56 and can be fed by either a belt of linked cartridges or Stanag magazines.
The FN M249 S
The M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) is operated by a single person though under heavy use could be served by two for ammo support. The M249 has an interesting operating system as well as a host of interesting features.
Caliber: 5.56x45mm
Operation: Closed-bolt
Mag Capacity: 200 Rd. belt or 30 Rd. mag
Weight: 17.2 lb.
Barrel Length: 18.5″
Overall Length: 40.75″
Overall Height: 9.5″
Trigger Pull: 8 – 15.5 lb.
Twist Rate: 1:7 RH
Whether you shoot the M249 from the prone position using the included folding bipod for support, or attaching it to a pintle mount for shooting from a vehicle, you will want some support for this seventeen pound machine.
The gun is fed from a plastic ammunition case that attaches to the bottom of the rifle. Belted ammunition is pulled from the box and fed into the action from left to right, spent cases and the M27 links are spit out as rounds are consumed.
The full-auto version of this rifle used by militaries fires from the open bolt, while this semi-automatic version fires from the closed bolt. Operation of the action is done using gas pressure tapped from the barrel that pushes a healthy piston and operating rod.
Ammo is loaded by opening up the feeding tray on top of the gun, and setting the belted ammo into the feeding pawl. With everything accommodated the tray is closed and locked at the rear. The feeding pawl pulls the belted ammo one round at a time into the gun, and the curious action strips the round from the links as it is chambered.
There is a two-position carry-handle mounted to the rear of the barrel that also comes in handy while swapping barrels. Interchanging barrels on a hot or compromised barrel is a regular occurrence for machine guns, and it was easily done even by a novice like myself. Simple sights including a hooded pin up front on the gas block, complimented by an adjustable rear sight make directing fire pretty self explanatory.
As you might imagine, the trigger is long and not impressive for someone coming from a marksmanship mindset. There is a push-push safety just like the one you learned on when you were a kid. And once you’ve committed to pulling the trigger there is plenty of exercise for your finger with all that curling.
Range Preparations
Apart from the obvious task of linking a bunch of ammunition together, all we did was mount up a Trijicon ACOG. It wasn’t exactly a match for the SAW’s in military use, but it was certainly good enough to do the trick.
Linking up 5.56 ammo is easily done by hand, but I would recommend something faster for best results. Once linked, the belt is laid in the plastic ammo box that closely resembles shoddy tupperware. There are other belt housings available but we only had the plastic box available.
Getting behind the M249 I was a bit excited, despite not being fully automatic. I was excited to see how this complicated machine worked after having seen all the inner workings that seemed a bit more complex than the typical guns I handle.
