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.
You may have heard of using canted scope mounts, and if you are unfamiliar why or perhaps trying to decide if you need one. Today we are going to discuss the subject. You might ask why use canted scope mounts and how much you might need? It is particularly important for long range shooting applications. To put it simply, a canted scope mounting system is designed to allow better use of a riflescope’s internal travel. Hopefully by the the time you’ve finished reading this, you’ll understand what if any size canted scope mounting system best fits your needs.
A Riflescope’s Internal Travel
To start out, we need to understand how a scope works. Inside a rifle scope you will find the reticle, which is mounted on a movable structure called an erector tube assembly. Moving the reticle up and down and left to right is done using covered or exposed turrets. These turrets move the recticle within the tube of the scope allowing you to align the reticle with the point of impact of the gun. This is what we do when we “zero” a riflescope.
All scopes have limits in their internal travel, and the bigger the scope tube is the more travel they can accomodate. Thirty years ago, most scopes used a smaller one-inch tube. Mainly because it allowed enough internal movement to allow zeroing most rifles. As technology advanced, and shooting distances quickly extended, it became more common to use a bigger tube to allow for additional movement.
It might be hard to tell, but this mount has 20 MOA built into the scope mount, as does the scope rail it attaches to for a total of 40 MOA
Why More Movement?
Even novice shooters understand that the farther away something gets, you have to aim higher to hit it. Compensating for the drop of a bullet during flight can be done by holding high or by offsetting the sight. When you dial the turret of a riflescope down, it forces you to hold the rifle higher in order to put the crosshair on the target.
Ballistic prediction allows us to calculate how much we need to correct for. Which can then be input to the scope using the turret to adjust the offset a specific distance.
If you look closely you can see the angled scope mounting rail on this Desert Tech SRS M2, the Burris Veracity scope is canted down at the front
As we continue to push the boundaries of long-range shooting people want more and more ability to push their equipment. But every scope has its limits, you can only dial the scope so far before the reticle bottoms out. At that point you’ll be forced to hold over the target if you want to shoot farther.
MOA vs. MRAD
Rifle scopes typically use one of two measuring scales, one is the minute of angle or MOA measurement. The other is called the milradian scale or MRAD for short. And if you are super high speed it can be further shortened to MIL.
Both of these scales serve the same purpose, and are simply different methods of measurement. It isn’t actually, but is often compared to the difference between inches and centimeters. They are two different scales to measure the same thing. Most rifle scopes come in one or the other gradations and sometimes offer different models for each.
different manufacturers use different methods to graduate turrets, like this US Optics FDN25X
These numbers are important not because I am a math nerd. When you hear the term weaponized math its because these numbers are particularly helpful when killing a target. I would recommend you study further to better understand MOA and MRAD as it will only help you be smarter about the subject.
Your Scope’s Internals
The amount of movement your reticle can move within the scope is measured by you guessed it; MOA or MRAD. Lets say your scope has an internal movement of 15 MRAD in elevation (up & down), and 10 MRAD windage (left & right). That means that no more than 15 MRAD can be adjusted within the scope, but that is before you’ve even zeroed the rifle. So AFTER you zero the scope to the rifle you may have even less reticle movement.
This is why scope tubes keep getting bigger, because a 30mm tube has more room for travel than a one-inch tube etc. But lets say you zero your rifle, and in the process you use four of the available 15 vertical MRAD. That means you’ll only have 11 MRAD of vertical travel left.
You can see then why having a 34mm tube with something like 32 MRAD of vertical travel would be advantageous to a long-range shooter. Stay with me here, because if you had 32 MRAD of travel and used four to zero the rifle, 28 is more than the 11 you had with the other scope. Does that make sense?
Canted scope mounts are typically either a canted scope base rail, or a scope ring set with a cant built-in to the mount. Both options accomplish the same purpose, they offset the scope a specific amount. These canted scope mounts are typically sold in various degrees of cant, usually 20, 30, 40 or more MOA, which can also be delineated in MRAD sometimes. Especially if you find yourself in Europe.
The reason they are made with varying degrees of cant is so you can optimize for your purpose. For example, lets say you want to maximize the distance of your 6.5 Creedmoor (because thats what Creedmoor people do). And the furthest you can shoot is 1300 yards with the scope turned all the way to maximum elevation. But using our example from before, lets say you used four MRAD in order to zero the rifle. (what that means is you have 4 MRAD you can still dial down when the scope is at the rifle’s zero). That means you have 4 unused MRAD of travel, that could be used if you offset the scope 4 MRAD down.
Canted scope mounting systems allow you to setup your riflescope as close to the mechanical bottom of its internal movement as possible. This allows you to get the maximum adjustment possible out of your given scope.
Note: It’s probably never a good idea to run a scope all the way to the bottom or all the way to the top of its travel. Better to stay at least several clicks away from the extremes.
The amount of mechanical adjustment directly affects the distance envelope you can engage on your rifle and scope combination. Below you can see how two identical rifles have differing trajectory envelopes based on canting the scope on the second rifle. Both rifles still have the same available amount of scope travel, but one is able to maximize it with the scope cant.
Canting the scope allows identical rifles to shoot further taking full advantage of the scope’s adjustment
Extreme Long-Range
Canting the scope in the extreme is sometimes done when shooting extreme long-range, with amounts like 60, 80, 100 or more MOA of scope cant. Most of those rifles never shoot close distances, and I’ll tell you why that’s a good thing.
Extreme Long Range guns like this Desert TechHTI can easily use 40MOA or more scope cant
When you cant the scope, it pushes the envelope of your scope adjustment out. But it also might push your ability to zero out further too. A typical 20-30 MOA scope cant won’t be an issue most of the time. But it could require you to zero your rifle at 200 yards or more if you get real aggressive. Moving the envelope of your scope further out, can have the same effect on your zero distance. So instead of having a range of 100 to 1300 yards, you might have a range of 300 to 1600 yards. Just something to stew on while you consider your options.
Final Thoughts
I hope this has all made sense to you. Finding the right scope mounting solution is paramount for long-range shooting, I hope it is clearer to you now as to what you might need. Sometimes it takes a little trial and error to find out the best option, but once you get the right setup you’ll be glad you went through it. And in the process you’ll probably learn a few things about mounting scopes and how to adjust them.
In the pursuit of excellence and functionality, it seems there are too many optics manufacturers to count these days. One of the many companies fighting to earn your money is Arken Optics, a Texas based company with its production done in Asia. Arken Optics prides themselves on rugged performance and extreme clarity, back by a 100% lifetime warranty. Today we will take a look at my first venture into their products, with the Arken Optics EP-5 5-25X56 riflescope.
right out of the box
Our market has been flooded with Asian made optics over the last few decades, and they have become so competitive that even big brands like Nightforce and US Optics have opened lines of offshore sourced optics in order to hold onto their share of the market.
The Arken Optics EP-5
Arken’s EP-5 scope uses Japanese made lenses that are assembled in China according to the internet. This should come as no surprise, as so many of the scopes you find on the market today share the same origin. The lower cost of these optics is matched by a lifetime warranty, something you simply must have these days. Long gone are the arguments about why something is covered versus not, most companies now have a no questions asked repair or replacement warranty. For you and me, that is definitely a good thing.
The Arken EP-5 is built around a 34 millimeter tube, which has become the standard for these type of optics. The large fifty-six millimeter objective gathers quite an image and compresses it down nicely for your observation. With the reticle placed in the first focal plane, you can always count on the values of the reticle subtensions as you zoom the scope in or out.
setting the Zero-stop screw
The large erector assembly houses heavy duty turrets to adjust the reticle for most any shooting scenario. Ten Milliradians per rotation is what I consider the minimum standard for a good long-range scope. With 1/10 MRAD clicks and a zero-stop these turrets are made for serious shooting business.
Features
Arken Optics EP-5 5-25X56 FFP features
Magnification
5-25X
Objective Diameter
56mm
Eye Relief
3.4 Inches
Field of View
25.3-4.9 ft @100 Yards
Tube Size
34mm
Turret Adjustment
1/10 MIL
Reticle Position
First Focal Plane
Reticle
VPR Illuminated
Zero Stop
AZS Zero Stop
Elevation Adjustment Range
32 MIL
Windage Adj. Range
16 MIL
Adjustment Per Revolution
10 MIL
Parallax Adjustment
25Yds – Infinity
Illumination
Red
Length
14 Inches
Color
Matte Black
Weight
39.2 Ounces
Sunshade
Included
Battery
CR 2032
I mounted the EP-5 on my rifle using a Zro Delta 34mm cantilever mount which gave the appropriate sight height. The rifle it would go on is my Desert Tech SRS M2 which at the moment has a 22-inch 6.5 Creedmoor barrel in it. This setup would be very familiar to me, and allow a good platform for evaluating the Arken EP-5.
On the Range
Springtime in the Rocky Mountains is a great place to shoot, and that is where we would go to shoot with this Arken scope. The open country would allow target engagement at various distances and angles which is good for testing turrets and reticles. Moving from one target to another across different draws and canyons gave a great depth to shooting, and sharply analyzing optical clarity.
Controls
The turrets of the EP-5 are very prominent, they are both physically big and have a broad movement. The 1/10 MRAD clicks are very tactile and audible, its very easy to adjust them without even looking as you can feel and hear each click.
excellent control surface textures and resistance was my experience
Adjusting the focus and parallax is done with the left-side turret. It is adjustable from twenty-five yards to infinity, this allows you to optimize the clarity of the reticle at nearly any useful range. The reticle is also illuminated, and the illumination control is located on top of the side-focus turret. Power for the illumination is done by a CR2032 lithium cell, which oddly enough wasn’t included with the scope.
Tension of the controls on this scope are just right in my opinion. The resistance on the power adjustment ring was neither too soft or too hard, the same could be said about the turrets and other controls. A good texture is also machined into the control surfaces, allowing great purchase with your bare or gloved fingers.
Optical Performance
the Arken Optics VPR reticle
The Japanese lenses in the EP-5 proved to be very good, particularly considering the price of this scope. At all power settings I found the scope to be bright and very detailed in the image. The details of the reticle matched the sharp image of the target area, this made it very good for measuring target sizes and making corrections.
Looking at things like animals, trees and rocks even at distances like two-thousand yards away still provided great detail. Whether or not I would use this scope for shooting at that kind of distance, it certainly provides a beautiful image.
In low light situations like pre sunrise, the big lenses of the EP-5 work overtime. Every scope looses some brightness as you increase the magnification, and this one is no exception. But picking out antlers among branches is still very doable. Particularly when you optimize the power low enough to brighten the image but still high enough to see detail.
Tracking Reliability
Scope tracking that matches reticle values is incredibly important. I found the Arken EP-5 to be perfectly accurate for pretty much any shooting scenario, particularly considering its low cost of entry. Not only was the EP-5 accurate in it motion, it also has a great deal of travel. The thirty-two MRAD of internal movement is even more valuable when mounted on a canted system like the SRS M2. The 30 MOA built into the scope rail allow you to zero the scope nearer it’s mechanical internal lowest point, getting full advantage of the scopes movement.
The Zero stop on the EP-5 is a simple and robust system. There is a set screw with a pin-like non-threaded pin that you can screw down from the exterior top of the turret. By turning the screw down, it creates a stop on the inside of the turret. There is a second set screw ninety degrees to the rear of the zero-stop screw to prevent it from moving. You can easily set the zero-stop or disengage it using the screw.
Pros and Cons
I had a hard time coming up with something I disliked about this scope, in fact if you twisted my arm I think the only thing I could say would be that it is a little bulky when compared to similar scopes from other manufacturers. Perhaps you might complain about not including a battery for the illumination, as most every other manufacturer does. I suppose it is much easier for Arken Optics to avoid the logistics, and labeling requirements that come with batteries.
On the plus side, the Arken Optics EP-5 is a genuine great value. Like some other manufacturers, they basically use a direct to consumer sales program. I expect this is partially responsible for the very affordable price point of Arken Optics. I was particularly impressed with the quality of the scope when I saw the street price of under $700.
Conclusion
The Arken Optics EP-5 is an excellent bargain that gives a fantastic optical performance and reliable mechanics. No doubt that is why they have become extremely popular in the precision shooting community. I expect I’ll see more of Arken Optics soon.
For a beginner, carrying a firearm in a purse can feel a little daunting at first. Sure, on body carry is often considered more secure and accessible, but a purse can offer all that if utilized in a safe way. The trade-off? You might wonder how easy it is to get to your firearm quickly or whether your purse is secure enough to keep everything you need in place. The GTM CCW Purse offers a solution to these points in a high quality made, easy to use purse with a variety of stylish options. Giving users a secure way to carry without feeling like you’re compromising on safety or fashion. After testing it, I can say it does a pretty solid job of checking the right boxes for both security and style.
The bag selection I chose, The Clutch Purse, is perfect for everyday sub-compact carry, while being roomy enough for a wallet, keys, and even some lip gloss. The adjustable strap offered versatility, and I loved how the brass finished hardware added a touch of class to the overall look of the bag.
For some time now, I carried the bag while running errands from toting kids to sporting events to a date with my husband. I am happy to report that it strikes a nice balance between function and style, though there are few considerations to keep in mind.
Key Features: Premium leather finish with a soft finish
Ambidextrous design of the conceal carry compartment
Multiple internal pockets for organization
Includes velcro holster for key positioning
strong buckles and rings together with robust straps keep these bags secure
Initial Impressions
The GTM CCW Clutch Purse immediately impressed me with its high quality leather that was incredibly soft. The sleek design made it hard to believe it was a concealed carry bag over just a luxury purse. The first thing I noticed was how the concealed carry compartment blended into the bag well. It doesn’t scream “gun carrier”. This definitely gives it a discreet, everyday look to the bag.
the over-the-shoulder Sling Backpack is nice for those who prefer the style
The clutch is perfectly sized for casual outings, as it just fits the essentials like a phone, wallet, keys and maybe some compact makeup. Still, there is ample space for your compact or subcompact firearm in its very own designated zippered pocket.
Carrying With the GTM Purse
I carried this purse everywhere I went (yes, even to the bathroom.) I did not leave it behind, not once. Here is how it performed:
Concealed carry compartment
The concealment pocket is located on the back side of the clutch, offering a secure space for your firearm. It is roomy enough for a compact handgun, and the velcro lined holster allows for adjustment to your comfort.
both bags had room for compact and similar pistols, but not much more.
Ease of use
With a little practice, I found it easy to access my firearm. I also liked that the holster was ambidextrous, making it comfortable for everybody.
Comfort and usability
The strap was high quality and comfortable, it adhered to solid rings that had reinforced webbing. This was something I find to be important when considering any bag and can make or break it for me, as someone who worked in luxury retail. The interior compartments helped keep everything pretty organized, from my phone and cards to lip balm and other essentials you may have. The purse is not weighted down enough to be bothersome, even when fully packed.
plenty of storage compartments and separations for organization
Pros and Cons
Pros:
Stylish and discreet– it looks like a high end clutch. Soft, premium leather. Easy access to concealed firearm with adjustable holster. Strong shoulder strap and robust solid hardware. Interior pockets to keep everything organized
Cons:
Best suited for smaller firearms like compact or subcompact. Larger firearms may not fit properly, making for a bulkier bag.
Necessary trigger guard depending on firearm. For those carrying a firearm with a trigger blade-safety, a proper trigger guard may be required for extra safety. The Velcro holster provides some structure but I can see it not always offering the level of protection needed for more sensitive models.
We used various pistols to test the fit of the GTM purses, but mainly we used the Ruger EC9 and the Taurus TX22 Compact.
Final Thoughts
The GTM CCW Clutch is a practical yet stylish option for women who need a discreet way to carry a firearm. It is obvious that it was designed with ease of access in mind, so you can quickly retrieve your firearm when necessary, while also being manageable for daily use. However, the leather holster may feel less secure for some and could require additional accessories for safety, and it’s best suited for smaller firearms. Obviously, you can customize different holster options depending on the firearm you choose to carry.
Priced at 149.95, this CCW clutch is a solid choice for those who value practicality. If you’re looking for something sleek and easy to carry for the basics, the clutch is a great option–but it may not be the best fit if you carry a larger firearm or need more space for everyday items. Nevertheless, Gun Tote’n Mamas offers a wide array of options for your specific needs and firearm sizes.
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.
I am always on the search for the perfect low power variable optic (LPVO), I find them optimal for medium range carbines. And lately, I’ve been on a big medium range kick. Today we are taking a look at a new to me LPVO with some great potential, that scope is the Vector Optics 1-10X28 Continental. The Continental is a 1-10 first focal plane (FFP) scope with a MRAD reticle and 10 MRAD turrets. After a quick look, I felt quite confident I was going to enjoy this scope, but how well could this scope made in China perform?
first look in the box
Vector Optics Continental
The Continental series of optics from Vector feature 34mm tubes, and an impressive erector and turret structure. As a 10X variable, the magnification ring rotates approximately 180 degrees to go from 1X to 10X. The locking turrets give 10 MRAD per rotation with 1/10th MRAD clicks, with very audible and tactile clicks.
The elevation turret also features an impressive zero-stop function, that is both precise and solid. Additionally, there is a visible and tactile indicator that pops up with a red pin that you can both see and feel when you turn into the second turret rotation. And when you turn into the third rotation, it pops up even further, exposing a silver layer under the red pin indicator.
Inside the scope you will find the VET-CTR reticle, a milling type reticle with a large outer ring for encircling targets up close. As you zoom in the scope you will find a Christmas-Tree-style drop grid, as well as a smaller circle around the center crosshair. When illuminated by the 11-brightness settings, only the large outer ring, and the small inner ring are lit up. At 1X the illuminated rings of the reticle closely mimic the reticle used in many holographic sights. Once the scope is zoomed in beyond about 5X, the outer ring disappears leaving only the center ring illuminated. This gives the feel of a red dot aiming scenario, but you obviously have all the rest of the reticle detail as well.
the VET_CTR reticle seen at low power
Features
Tube Dia
34 mm
Parallax Setting
100 yards
Click Value
1/10 MIL
Turret Function
Zero Stop, Turret Lock
Elevation Adjustment Range
51 MIL
Windage Adjustment Range
51 MIL
Diopter Compensation
-3 to +2
Illumination Setting
11 Brightness settings
Battery Type
CR2032
Battery Life
N/A
Waterproof
IP68
Fogproof
Nitrogen Filled
Shockproof
1000 G
Housing Material
6061-T6 Aluminum Alloy
Finish
Matte Black
Length
278 mm / 10.9 in
Weight
651 g / 23.0 oz
Items in the Package
A Pair of 34mm Picatinny Scope Rings, A Spare Elevation Turret (Without Zero Stop Feature), User Manual, Lens Caps and Cleaning Cloth, etc
My very first impressions of the 1-10 Continental as I lifted it from the box were very good. It feels quality made, and has perfect resistance on the controls. Optically the scope looks fantastic as well, it feels like a true 1X meaning you can shoot with both eyes open with minimal dispersion between each eye’s perception.
Before heading to the range to shoot with this scope, I wanted to get it mounted and bore-sighted to the rifle. The rifle I chose for testing the Continental is my Desert Tech WLVRN, it is a multi-caliber rifle that I switch barrels back and forth between .223 and a custom 6ARC that I made for it. To mount the scope, I selected a cantilever mount from Zro Delta. After leveling and mounting the scope, I bore-sighted it to be at least close to zeroed before leaving the house.
the VET-CTR reticle seen at 10X
In my humble opinion, LPVO’s are ideal for short to medium range shooting, typically on a carbine rifle. There is great reason to believe that fast and loose shooting is done well with lower magnification, especially if you can keep both eyes open. But because I enjoy shooting further distances as well, the Continental 1-10 also presents you with the option to engage medium range targets as well. The turrets allow you to correct for distance, and provided you have a gun with the reach, you could easily engage out to a kilometer with such a setup.
That said, most of our shooting with the Continental was done inside the 400 yard-line. The WLVRN in .223 is quite accurate, and hitting small distant targets from supported positions was pretty solid. And even without support, you can quickly engage and take down targets at closer distances.
Optical Performance
The bright image projected from the Vector Continental was beautiful. I very much appreciated the edge to edge clarity on the scope, at either end of the power spectrum. The reticle was clear and crisp, which can often be a challenge with FFP scopes.
Picking out small details at distances like five to seven-hundred yards was easily doable, for example; a small animal like a squirrel was easily targeted at these distances. There is perhaps only one thing I would change about this scope and that would be to add adjustable parallax. Many LPVO’s come with set parallax, the Continental like many others comes set at 100 yards. For much of your shooting purposes this will be more than fine, but once you start reaching out to longer distances it can affect your ability to make hits. You can certainly work with it, but it would be very nice to have the ability to adjust for parallax.
Reliability
I really like to turrets of the Continental series of optics. The clicks are very clean and audible, which allow you to be very precise with your measurements. The 1-10 model has an impressive amount of erector movement when you consider the firearms it is likely to be used on. The scope comes with two different elevation turrets, one for use with the zero-stop and the other for use without it.
The controls of the Continental 1-10 are intuitive, and allows the shooter to be consistent in adjusting the sight. Measuring the recticle travel against the turrets show very consistent and accurate erector travel, back and forth movement of the controls proved to show reliable movement.
Ergonomics
Zero-Stop
The way to set the zero-stop requires removing the elevation turret, you gently push in the inner ring of the turret and rotate it according to the arrow printed on it. If zeroing the rifle requires you to dial down on the turret, you might have to remove the turret and release the zero stop by pushing in and turning it counter to the arrow indicated underneath.
After zeroing the rifle, you can again pull the turret off. This time rotate the inner ring with the arrow indicator. When the inner ring engages a locking pin, you will hear an audible click. That aligns the turret with the zero, and you can reinstall the turret. Check to see that it aligns properly on zero after installing.
Value
The Vector Continental line of scopes seems to offer some outstanding value. Features you would find on much more expensive scopes are included, and they not only look good but they function as you’d expect as well. If you are looking for an affordable 1-10 LPVO scope, you should definitely give this one a look.
Pros and Cons
If I had to mention something I would change about this scope, it would be the parallax. I wish it had the same parallax adjustment of its larger Continental siblings. Mainly because a 1-10 power scope can certainly be used out to distances as far as a kilometer, and at distances like that you absolutely need to adjust for parallax. That said, as long as you understand the fixed setting, this scope is still quite useful at such distances.
On the positive side, this scope offers a great deal of features and a good value. The glass looks fantastic, especially considering the price. The reticle is clear and very useful at all the different magnification settings. The large 34mm tube makes a strong base for the scope, and finish and fit of the whole unit is very satisfying.
Conclusion
If you find yourself evaluating short to medium range optics, you should at least consider the Continental 1-10. Whether it be for a medium range carbine or a small scout style bolt-action rifle, this would be a great optical sight option. Again, if it had adjustable parallax I probably would buy two or three more of these for all my carbines. But that’s just me, many of you may not be concerned or need such a feature. Its a beautiful image with precise aiming points for multi-purpose use, if that is something you are looking for you’ve found it here.
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.
We live in an interesting time, never before has there been so many options for firearms enthusiasts. And at the very same time there is a breathtaking assault against the right to obtain and bear all these arms. Todays subject might appear up front to be a step backwards in firearm design, but it for sure is a step towards countering the assault against second amendment rights for some. Today I present to you the Bear Creek Arsenal BC-15 Bolt-Action rifle. Your eyes aren’t fooling you, this is indeed a bolt-action AR-15 essentially.
That is why I said it might seem like a step backwards in firearm development, but you will soon see what makes this product a good idea.
The Bear Creek Arsenal BC-15 bolt-action rifle
Its appearance as an AR-15 rifle is by design, lets look at the rifle’s features to get started. The lower receiver is in fact a completely normal BCA complete lower, just like every other BCA lower it uses all the same parts interchangeably. (That will come in handy later) Where it differs is the upper receiver, though it also uses a great deal of the same parts there as well.
Edited to add: I enjoyed this rifle so much, that I ordered a second upper. This time an eighteen-inch heavy-barreled 6.5 Grendel. I wanted to have options, as well as another capable rifle for larger purposes. The Grendel upper shares much of the same features, but obviously runs on different magazines.
The Curious Bolt Design
The semi-auto bolt-carrier has been replaced by a different carrier, similar to the semi except missing the rear-most part. This results in the carrier having a fork-like back end. The bolt itself appears to be a standard AR bolt, with no gas rings installed. It rides in the bolt carrier secured by a regular cam-pin, but there is no cam-path cut into the carrier. The resulting motion looks like this; as the bolt handle is pushed forward, the bolt engages the barrel extension the same way it would in a semi-auto, but it rotates and goes into battery when the bolt-handle is pushed down.
Bolt Operation
The operation feels weird for several reasons, first off; the buffer in the stock applies spring tension on the bolt when pulled fully to the rear. This spring pressure is only felt about halfway forward from the extreme rear of the bolt stroke. Secondly; there is another spring behind the bolt inside the carrier. It keeps the bolt all the way forward when pushing into battery, but it also causes some back pressure when chambering a round. And a springs the bolt handle back when it is lifted out of battery.
one down side to the design is that you can’t field-strip the rifle without tools
At first it is quite awkward, and not what you are expecting. However, once you get the hang of it, it is actually quite fast. The opposing forces from the bolt-spring and the buffer spring actually seem to help you run the bolt faster. Once you get over it, its no bother at all.
The Barrel
From the barrel extension forward, as best as I can tell it is 100% the same barrel used in other comparable rifles. Which makes sense from a manufacturers perspective. Since no gas-block is needed, they simply installed a ring over the gas-block perch to prevent gas from blowing out the gas hole. The barrel is truly free-floated in that nothing touches it forward of the barrel nut.
The muzzle is threaded 1/2-28 like most 5.56 barrels, and it came with BCA’s typical muzzle device. I would be changing it out for my Yankee Hill Machine Turbo T3 suppressor almost immediately.
When shooting the 6.5 Grendel upper, I used my Banish Meateater suppressor. It was very pleasant shooting the Grendel with this suppressor.
The Rest
Everything else seemed pretty typical Bear Creek parts, the handguard used on all their AR’s, the lower parts and buttstock all look and function just like you’d expect them to. I’ll give them points on their pistol grip, I do like it much better than most typical grips. They also put one of those accuracy wedge pieces of polymer in it to keep the upper and lower from wobbling.
Other Models and Calibers
Bear Creek also makes these options in other calibers, and you guessed it they also make it in a large frame configuration as well. The options are actually pretty impressive, you can get either Parkerized barrels or 416 Stainless. There are also a great variety of barrel lengths you can choose from, as short as 7-inches and up to 22-inches. And perhaps too many chamberings to mention but I’ll try:
BC-15 Bolt-Action Calibers
BC-10 Bolt-Action Calibers
5.56 Nato
.243 Winchester
.223 Wylde
6.5 Creedmoor
.224 Valkyrie
.308 Winchester
.300 Blackout
8.6 Blackout
6mm ARC
6.5 Grendel
7.62×39 Soviet
350 legend
450 Bushmaster
458 SOCOM
12.7×42 (50 Beowulf)
Shooting the BCA BC-15 Bolt Action
To properly give this rifle a test, I took it across the state to ensure it got to see some country. Initial testing was done in the desert south west, coyote and jack rabbit country. Unfortunately neither of them showed up for the test, but the rifle worked great.
Ergonomics
I will say for sure that it took a little bit to get used to the bolt-throw on this rifle. It is unlike any other bolt-action I’ve ever operated, the lift is very short and the stroke has various degrees of resistance. It took me a minute to figure out what I was doing wrong, but once I got a feel for the operation it became second nature and particularly fast. The buffer spring pressure almost helps you transition from rearward motion to forward by adding spring pressure.
I did notice with the second upper in 6.5 Grendel the bolt was a little more finicky. I am not sure that this had anything to do with the cartridge difference or bolt-face change. Or if it was simply a side effect of mass-produced parts and tolerances.
The rest of this rifle is 100% pure AR, so you already know what that feels like. The trigger that came in the rifle was nothing to write home about but it did not keep the rifle from shooting well. I like the rubberized BCA pistol grip, it gives great purchase and is quite comfortable. The butt stock on the other hand could have come from a CAR-15 airsoft clone, or perhaps even a Nerf gun, but it worked just fine.
the BC-15 Bolt-Action would serve well as a hunting rifle
Reliability
As is typical with bolt-action rifles this one was 100% reliable. The only issues I had were part of the learning process with operation the bolt properly, as well as some ammunition that was a touch long for the chamber.
The rifle cycled cartridges flawlessly, and tossed them out in a neat pile. Feeding from P-Mags is one of the appealing features of this rifle, and it worked great. I was a bit irritated with the AR bolt catch that would lock the bolt up when the last round was fired, but I should have anticipated it.
None of the previous aspects really surprised me, but I was a bit impressed when I put the rifle on paper at 100 yards. With cheap ball ammo the rifle would shoot groups averaging slightly over 1 MOA, and when using PMC Match 77 grain it would print five-shot groups around .6 MOA quite reliably. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that modern manufacturing processes can produce 1/2 MOA guns that shoot that well for less than $450. I look forward to trying some additional handload options to see if I can get it to shoot even better.
The Grendel, while still shooting sub-MOA deserves a little more attention. I intend to keep tuning handloads to find one that shoots even better. I expect I should be able to shoot 1/2 MOA groups with it as well.
some of the .223/5.56 accuracy resultsAnother example, this time of the Grendel grouping
Value
I did a quick and simple glance over the 223 bolt-action rifles for sale at Sportsmans Warehouse. And of the fifty plus options available there, only half a dozen of them were in the same price range as this rifle. I’ve shot some of those rifles and they didn’t print groups like this as easily.
The great shooting performance of the BC-15 Bolt-Action rifle means it could serve well as a varmint rifle, target shooting or any other similar activity. And because it is essentially an AR-15 there is no shortage of ways to improve it, which takes me to the next subject.
the push of a couple pins allows you to swap from one upper to another
My working theory is two-fold; this rifle being a bolt-action type, there are far less likely to be laws infringing on the right to keep and bear it. So for folks who live behind enemy lines in shit-hole states like California or Maryland, they can finally join the ranks of AR-15 owners, even if they have to cycle the action by hand. And I suppose they can pick fights with the pump-action Ak guys.
The second part of my theory is that buying this “bolt-action” rifle in restricted states, is a perfectly legitimate reason to have a completely functional and uninhibited AR-15 lower receiver. And with the push of a couple pins you can enjoy the same liberties as free men everywhere.
shooting groups for accuracy analysis at 100 yards
Pros and Cons
The popularity of the AR-15 family of rifles has brought the prices down, and since this rifle borrows so much from the AR family, it too has benefitted. Having a great many parts and accessories interchangeable is a great asset, and allows you to set this rifle up however you see fit.
testing my 6.5 Grendel handloads
While it may take a minute to get used to, the rifle works quite well. And its performance on the range was refreshingly positive. Reliable function paired with the incredible compatibility makes it both fun and versatile. Because the rifle shoots better than I had anticipated, I’m actually considering putting a better trigger in the rifle. The mil-spec trigger it came with isn’t terrible but could be better, and I’d like to see how much accuracy I can squeeze out of it.
the Kahles 318i was an excellent scope to test this rifle’s potential
Based on price alone, I think this rifle is pretty damn reasonable. But there are few things I’d change if I could; First off is the super cheap butt stock. I understand why they use cheap ones, as lots of folks change them out anyways. I for sure will be changing it something different. There is also a little pet peeve of mine about putting company logos all over the place, like, you could just put it on the receiver and call it a day. But that is of course just a subjective complaint. Honestly I don’t know what else I’d change on this rifle after what I’ve mentioned.
Final Thoughts
Some folks might chuckle at the idea of a bolt-action AR, I’d be lying if I didn’t say I did the same. But the more I thought about it, and especially after shooting this little rifle quite a bit, I can say my mind has been swayed. Not saying I would give up my traditional bolt-guns in favor of this one, just that I can absolutely see the reasoning behind this design, and a value in having it.
The Bear Creek Arsenal BC-15 Bolt-Action rifle gives a pretty impressive performance considering the sum of its parts. Aside from that, it offers gun owners in tyrannical states an option to play in the AR-15 world. And it does all this for a pretty reasonable price attainable by average Americans. I look forward to putting this rifle to good use on some varmints this spring.
-CBM
2026 Update:
Last season my son used the BCA bolt-action upper in 6.5 Grendel to shoot this handsome little buck from almost 300 yards. And I continue to use the .223 bolt-action upper for fun plinking and varmint hunting. Still love these things.
