Your Perfect Rifle... Some Assembly Required Part 1

With a some imagination, and a few hand tools and fixtures, it is very possible for a person with reasonable mechanical aptitude to build a quality AR type firearm. Patience, good information and a willingness to learn can substantially improve the chances for a successful project. Why bother with AR assembly […] [Read More]

Winchester's Super X3 Field

I don’t know why, but I almost always associate a firearm’s personality with songs. The Winchester Super X3’s appearance reminds me of LeAnn Rimes’s “Blue“. That said, it’s shooting personality is more like… Justin Moore’s “Backwoods”. The SX3’s satin oil finished, cut checkering and finessed matte black hardware suggests a […] [Read More]

Remington's R-25 in 7mm-08 Remington Part 2

Remington’s AR-25 is similar to other quality AR-10 system; 308 Winchester based cartridges, very accurate without the need to tweak or finesse, but about 1.5 lbs less than the typical example. The cartridge types available for the R-25 cover a wide range of hunting applications, each providing a different level […] [Read More]

Remington's R-25 in 7mm-08 Remington Part 1

In 2006, investment fund Cerberus created Freedom Arms and purchased Bushmaster. In 2007, Freedom Arms purchased Remington, then purchased DPMS later that same year. Under the Freedom Group umbrella other companies with synergy were acquired which includes: Marlin®, H&R®, The Parker Gun™, Mountain Khakis®, Advanced Armament Corp. ®, Dakota Arms®, […] [Read More]

Burris' XTR Tactical Riflescope and Friends

Some years ago I purchased a High Standard Mil Spec AR 15. It became the subject rifle for evaluating accessories and for conducting gunsmithing projects for the Real Guns site. Most of the time it has a set of battle eights installed, but it has seen lots of red dot […] [Read More]

Winchester's Model 70 Featherweight Part 2

It amazes me how few firearms in the United States are chambered for the 7×57 Mauser these days. It is such a well proven cartridge and certainly the equal of the much more recently created 7mm-08 Remington. The chamber is a big plus for hunters and recreational shooters within the […] [Read More]

CIP, the Death of SAAMI and the 7x57 Mauser

Every accident or mishap is usually explained by a convoluted story that is almost totally devoid of logic and common sense. This story is no different. I was reloading some once fired brass that began life as loaded ammunition: Hornady Superformance – Made in USA, Prvi Partizan – Serbian and […] [Read More]

Winchester's Model 70 Featherweight

Winchester Model 70 Featherweight Manufactured U.S.A. Item # 535109285 Type Bolt Action Caliber 7×57 Mauser Mag Capacity 3 Barrel Length 22″ Rifling 1:9.5″ Weight 7 Lbs Overall Length 42 3/4″ Stock Satin Finish Hardware Blued Steel Length of Pull 13 3/4″ Drop at comb 1/2″ Drop at heel* 3/4“ Sights […] [Read More]

Remington's Model 700 XCR II Part 2

A magnum cartridge is one that has greater powder capacity than a corresponding standard cartridge. Theoretically, since “magnum” is a relative term, there can’t be a magnum unless there is first a standard, but sometimes that rule is not followed. When the 338 Winchester Magnum was announced in 1958, there […] [Read More]

Remington's Model 700 XCR II Part 1

Sometimes, as office staff, we engage in serious debate about the great problems and issues of our time. This morning it was whether or not the appearance of a very large fox was directly responsible for the cessation of daily visits from the local tom or if Billy Lee Riley’s […] [Read More]