Over the years there have been many arguments and questions surrounding the 45 Colt. Is the proper name 45 Long Colt? What’s the purpose of 45Colt since 45ACP can do everything it can do? Today I am not here to review the 45 Colt; nether am I here to try and answer any of the above questions or try and clear up any of the debates surrounding this magnificent cartridge. Today I just want to share my experience with you of shooting 140 year old 45 Colt cartridge over a brand new chronograph for the first time.

Though I have been reloading for 20 years I have not shot across a chronograph since I left home as a young lad. My dad has always utilized a chronograph and is of the mindset you can’t reload without one. I have never been one to hot rod any of my reloads, I subscribe to if I need more, go up in cartridge size or grab your rifle. I have always played it very safe when reloading, never going over the max in reloading handbooks and only reloading for best accuracy. I have always known if used correctly a chronograph could be a great tool in helping you achieve the best accuracy. The chronograph provides you the exact stats you need to determine how consistent your reloads are from shot to shot and this is how I plan on utilizing the chronograph I now have access to thanks to Darrell.

This range day was not meant to review or test anything; today was just a matter of going out and having fun since I had not been out in a while, as you have probably noticed by the lack of new articles.

Range Equipment/Materials

S&W 625 45 Colt Performance Center – Previously Reviewed

Ruger 454 Alaskan — Previously Reviewed

Competition Electronics ProChrono Digital CEI-3800

Reloaded Ammunition

Bullet — 255gr Lead .452, Brass — Starline, Winchester LPP, 5.9gr of Alliant Powder Red Dot from Lyman 49th Reloading Manual, COAL 1.602

This loading proved to be very mild in recoil, pleasant to shoot and plenty accurate from sandbag rest out to 25 yards.

The first 18 rounds were fired from the S&W 625 45 Colt from the sitting position while only rest my elbows on the bench.

6 shots

12 Shots

6 Head shots

Chronograph Read Outs: S&W 625 45 Colt Performance Center 6in barrel, Target B34 25 yards, Chronograph 8Feet from the muzzle.

There was very little powder reside on the cases after firing, but the rounds were smoky but this is normal because of the lube used in the groove of the bullet.

The second round of firing were 18 rounds fired from the Ruger Alaskan 454/45Colt from the sitting position while only rest my elbows on the bench.

6 Shots

12 Shots

6 Head shots

Chronograph Read Outs: Ruger Alaskan 454/45 Colt 2in barrel, Target B34 25 yards, Chronograph 8Feet from the muzzle.

Tale of the Tape:Summary

The 45 Colt cartridge is very versatile and can be loaded from mild to wild. Cowboy action shooters love this round loaded to 750fps. Hunters also find the 45 Colt to be very useful at 1000fps when fired from lever action rifles or Ruger BlackHawk revolvers. Don’t under estimate the 45 Colt as a great self defense cartridge as well. The key to the 45 Colt is pairing it’s capability and flexibility when hand loaded with the right firearm. Firing hot rodded hand loads or buffalo bore +P rounds in a Colt SAA is sure to cause damage to your firearm. I love the 45 Colt for it’s old western history, having been carried on the hips of Wyatt Earp, Doc Holiday, Scott Cooley and Johnny Ringo. I think it is only fitting that I now find a nice Single Action 45 Colt to add to my collection.

If your looking for a fun relaxing day on the range reload a number of rounds of your favorite cartridge, grab multiple firearms and a chronograph and be awed by the variability between the combinations. If your looking for the best accuracy out of your favorite cartridge experiment with different powders and amounts of powder, over all lengths, crimps shot over a chronograph to reduce your extreme spread and standard deviation to as low as numbers as possible to achieve the best consistency.

This single stack striker fired pistol has been of high demand and flying off shelves according to my local shops I often visit. I have shot, held and reviewed the Glock 30 and there is no comparison between the two in its slimness. The XD-S should be compared to the single stack Glock 36 even then it sports a slimmer frame.

This slim compact grip also makes concealed carry much easier than the Glock; the shorter frame is less likely to print under your shirt or jacket. However IMHO the XD-S is not a pocket pistol. I found it difficult to quickly draw it from my pocket on many sets of trousers I tried it in. The compact size of the grip does, however, cut down on capacity. The magazine holds five rounds, the chamber one more. In the capacity category the XDs could essentially be compared to that of a bigbore revolver. I preferred to carry the XD-S inside the waistband in a leather holster. Though Springfield provides you with a nice action pack inside of a very nice carrying case.

I like the sights on the XDs, the front sight is a red fiber optic one, and it really stands out even under low-light. The rear sight is a combat-style, with two white dots –

The front and rear sights are very fast to acquire the target as you raise the gun to eye level. The slide is forged stainless steel with serrations deeply cut in the rear of the slide, which wraps over the top edge slide providing a firm grip easing the racking of the slide. The Finish is Melonite-coated an extremely tough treatment being used throughout the industry by just about every firearms manufacturer. Slotted into the top of the slide is the loaded chamber indicator, which lifts up at an angle, which provides great tactical and visual cues.

The loaded chamber indicator is a very nice feature. I like the loaded indicator feature for low light tactical situations. This feature is NOT a reason to forget your safe gun handling rules. Always treat the firearm as if it were loaded with the muzzle pointed in a safe direction.

The barrel is also Melonite coated sporting a fully supported ramp, to assist in the feeding of rounds from the magazine. The Springfield XD-S comes with two, 5 round mags, but there is an optional 7 round mag you can purchase. The 7 round magazine comes with the extra grip panel, which matches the back strap you have installed on the XD-S. I can’t brag enough about the carrying case, not only is it very rugged but also Springfield left an additional space for the 7 round magazine inside the case.

As you can see the 7 rounder is a perfect fit. For concealed carry, my preference would be the 5 round magazine, and use the 7 round magazine as a spare. The 5 round magazine produces less print under summer type clothing while in the winter under heavy clothing the 7 rounder would be my

preferred magazine for concealed carry.

The frame of the XD-S is polymer with aggressive style like

chequering, which Springfield Armory refers to as grenade-style. It reminds me of knobby tires on big trucks used for mudding. However your visualization the

texture provides a “grippy” feel without the worry of shredding your fabric while

carrying or ripping up your hands while shooting. There is one thing that’s for sure you will need a firm grip when firing this pocket rocket. But don’t let that scare you the grip and low bore axis aides in minimizing recoil in such a small package. The only negative I found with this package is really due to the fact that I have really large meaty hands. The grip safety the XD line is known for requires a very high grip. After my range testing I noticed 2 black railroad like marks on the back of my hand, where the slide made minimal contact every time I pulled the trigger. For those with extremely large meat hooks like mine the XD-S would benefit from an extended beavertail thus preventing the slide from coming in contact with your hand. The front of the frame sports a rail which for testing I mounted a Streamlight TLR-2. It was easy on and off with a tight fit as expected.

Range Visit:

During this range visit I fired 100 rounds through this loaner.

Left to Right the ammunition used was: Speer Lawman Clean Fire, Speer LE Gold Dot, Federal LE Tactical HST, Reloaded 230gr ball 5grains of W231, Reloaded Hornady 185gr XTP HP 6.5grains of W231. All ammunition proved to be reliable, no malfunctions were had during this range visit.

Fond of the loaded chamber indicator while at the range I took another picture of this feature which shows how easy it would be to determine if the weapon was loaded or not in a low light tactical situation just by feel. This picture also shows how deep the grooved serrations are.

The XD-S for such a small platform with a short barrel proved to be plenty accurate. The accuracy actually surprised me with point of aim and impact being right on.

The target on the left was shot at 10 yards, first was 10 shots to the head utilizing both 5 shot magazines. The second and middle grouping was 7 shots out of the 7 round magazine. The third and lowest grouping was achieved at 15 yards with a 5 round magazine. All of these groups were achieved standing with a two hand grip. The bullseye target on the right was shot at 20 yards with the 7 round magazine with reloaded Hornady 185gr load. A major contributor to the accuracy achieved I believe is due to the 5 pound trigger pull. Though this seems heavy I believe it is perfect compromise for safe carry, defensive use and range fun. I ended the range session firing 12 rounds at a silouhette  target positioned at the 25 yard line. I started out with the XD-S holstered loaded with a 5 round magazine, drew the pistol, racked the slide, acquired the target and fired 5 rounds. I reloaded with the 7 round magazine and emptied it on target as fast as I could.

After my range session I proceeded home to disassemble and clean the XD-S. The take down lever on the XD-S is very similar to the Sig Sauer line of pistols but on the XD-S the take down lever flips up.

Wrapping Up:

The XD-S is pure power (45acp) in a very compact shootable package. My impressions of the XD-S were so positive it has totally changed my mind and perception on this pistol series. With its Glock like similarities I had no burning desire to test or own one. Until today I had never held or desired to hold or shoot the XD line. But I must say the XD-S is a comfortable design, and the quote Springfield “The XD-S feels so natural; it’s like an extension of your own body. The unique combination of an ultra-slim profile paired with enhanced performance point-and-shoot features allows you to shoot accurately without having to adjust your wrist giving you greater control. At only 1” wide, the XD-S fits as perfectly into your concealed-carry strategy as it does in the palm of your hand. And with it, you get the power of a .45 with superior control and comfort without sacrificing important safety features”. Don’t follow in my footsteps in having a preconceived thought about the XD-S without first giving it a try.

My Browning Buckmark goes Kaboom, I guess it doesn’t only happen to Glocks.

Update! Chris is documenting this experience thoroughly with pictures. 
Update #2 Ammunition Lot Number=2FT508 —– The extractor is missing in one of the pictures.

Update #3 Picture of the same gun taken 3 months.

Update #4 Unfired and Kaboom Case display from the same box

The 10/22-TD is a take-down version of the basic synthetic-stocked 10/22 Stainless Carbine. The Take-Down splits the barrel away from the receiver, allowing the owner to remove the barrel and receiver for easy transportation. The 22 caliber is often the center of many debates around it’s capability as a survival caliber but it is evident to me Ruger believes in its ability, by packaging it in a nice padded soft nylon case.

According to Ruger this nylon Bug-Out bag will float for a some period of time with the gun safely housed inside depending on what other materials you may have packed inside. I wasn’t willing to test this theory with such a nice 22 and case, I will take Ruger’s word for it this time. The Bug-Out bag has many compartments for housing additional Ruger BX25 magazines, first aid kits, a lot of ammo and any other accessories you may need for the average plinking day on the range or for a bug-out survival type of scenario.

The 10/22TD case will support a receiver with a scope attached but it will have to be one that’s relatively short in length or perhaps one with detachable scope rings. I found a 4x Leupold FX-1 fits nice an snug, on the factory provided scope base. I believe there was a packaging mistake with this particular one I received as there were two factory scope bases provided in the bag.

Though I mounted a scope on this rifle right away it comes with a very nice set of iron sights. The rear sight is adjustable for both windage and elevation.

The front sight is a very nice gold bead, which makes for quick sight alignment and sight picture as well as target acquisition.

.

The 10/22 Takedown is a bit more than just another variation of an existing rifle. It’s a 10/22 sure enough, but it’s altogether different from but much of the same as the millions of 10/22s that have preceded it. Standing in the rifle rack next to all of the other 10/22′s one might walk past this model not giving it much of a second look. Looking closely you will find the forend gap, which separates the receiver and barrel. The obvious difference is the recessed lever in the bottom of the fore-end, just forward of the gap.

This lever is the critical component in disassembly and reassembly of the 10/22 Takedown. The take down procedure consist of making sure the gun is safe, removing the magazine, racking the bolt to the rear and pulling the take down lever while twisting the barrel and puling it away from the receiver. On assembly loosen the takedown adjustment ring by turning it clockwise as far as possible, insert the barrel assembly and turn it clockwise until it locks (approximately a quarter-turn), tighten the adjustment ring by turning it counterclockwise as far as possible with finger pressure. The system is similar to but not exactly like that of the Browning takedown who are the originators of this design. In the manual Ruger recommends cycling the bolt two to three times to ensure everything is properly seated. Though I did not have any problems with this one after about 600 rounds of firing I feel it is worth mentioning that Rugers QA process seemed to allow some barrels to leave the factory without the proper heat treating. You can tell if this will be a problem through visual inspection. The end of the barrel should carry a blue like color ring around the barrel.

Those without the heat treatment will not have this color pattern and will eventually lead to peening of the end of the barrel. Though there have been few cases reported Rugers customer service has been top notch in taking care of the customer and replacing the barrel. The takedown concept has been a topic of many debates mainly around the long term accuracy of repeated assembly and disassembly. I have seen many Brownings with thousands of rounds through them still providing a lot of fun while maintaining their accuracy throughout the years. I know believe the Ruger 10/22 Takedown will provide the same. I have enjoyed testing this rifle over the past couple of months with many different brands of ammunition and the function has been flawless.

Range Time

My first time on the range my son and I put 200 rounds of Remington 22LR ammo through it for break in. This took a little longer than expected due to Ruger only providing one 10 round rotary magazine.

At the end of the session I fired 5 shots of each brand of ammunition I had on hand, Remington, Wolf Match Target, CCI-SV and Federal Blue Box.

The rifle loved the Wolf Match Target the center group represents the 5 shots fired. The bottom left group on the target represents CCI-SV, the top right group represent Remington all three groups provided decent accuracy at 50 yards. What amazed me most was the horrible performance of the Federal Blue Box (510). The top right group was the first shot with the Federal ammunition amazed at the shotgun like pattern. I fired a second group, bottom left of the same ammo, which yielded the same results. Bottom line the Ruger 10/22 Takedown does not like Federal Blue Box (510) for some reason.

My son and I really enjoyed the time on the range together but knew right away there were many more trips in our future with this gem of a rifle. The 10/22 Takedown exhibited better accuracy for me than many standard versions I have shot and this may have been due to the trigger when measured came right in at 4 pounds on the RCBS trigger gauge. This test was performed with 22LR snap gaps, though some manufacturers manuals do state it is ok to dry fire I come from the old school of never dry firing a rimfire.

On my last outing with the Ruger 10/22 Takedown due to 30 degree weather I visited an    indoor range with many different brands of ammunition and fired groupings from my sandbags at 50 yards. Between each 5 shot group I disassembled and reassembled the rifle, I also fired 10 fouling shots of each brand of ammo before firing for accuracy groupings. The 10/22 Takedown performed very well, I believe this is a good indication of how repeatable the 10/22 Takedown will be.

The takedown concept has been around for quite sometime, so this is nothing new though it is Ruger first venture into the takedown concept and IMHO Ruger has done an outstanding job. Releasing a takedown version of the 10/22 during a time when just about everyone is talking about survival, bug-out and SHTF type situations will surely please many. Especially those like myself whom have never owned a 10/22 before and is looking for an easy back packable rifle. If utilized in duress type of situation the backpack is a turn off for me with the large Ruger logo embossed on it, as I would not want anyone to know there was a rifle in my backpack. This can be easily resolved with one of Mr. Skinners Scabbards http://www.skinnersights.com/scabbards_20.html which may not be as roomy as the Ruger case but provides a different level of concealment, just another option.

The Ruger 10/22 Takedown is about half the price of the Browning and with a little help from the you the user base making a request — Darrel just may loan me his for a head to head comparison.

Chrono Data (average):

1443 fps, 716 ft/lbs energy

155gr retained weight

.812 average expansion

13.5” penetration

As you’ll see in the video, the bullet holds up pretty well with only minor deformation.

Many devout fans of the 10mm love their Glock 20, myself included. So when I heard the Generation 4 version was released, I jumped at the chance to pick one up. I really like the Gen 4 grip on my other Glocks and I thought it would be especially helpful with the recoil of some hot 10mm rounds. Turns out I was right.

I ordered the gun the day it came out and had it in my paws the next day. I cleaned it, lubricated it to specs, turned the rear sight around (I don’t like the Glock sight picture), and patiently waited for the weekend to put some rounds through the beast.

Pros:
-Glock grip angle helps absorb the 10mm recoil (one man’s opinion)
-Cost: many other 10mm pistols sell for double what the G20 sells for
-Accuracy: the gun is more accurate than I am
-Positive ejection with both hot and weak loads
-Easy to maintain
-Gen 4 grip surface helps keep a firm grip on the gun, even when your hands are sweating
-Low bore axis helps tame the recoil
-Lots of aftermarket support (holsters, sights, ect….)
-100% reliable so far

Cons:
-new to the market so heavy recoil springs aren’t yet available
-the finish isn’t the old glossy Glock finish of a few years ago so finish durability is unknown

Heres a video I did to show the firearm in action. I do some shooting, demonstrate the ejection pattern with hot ammo, a 15m group, table top review (with part numbers), and some chronograph testing.

Chronograph data:

Temp–90 degrees with 80% humidity

Prvi 180gr JHP: 976fps, 381ft/lbs energy
Underwood Ammo 165gr Gold Dot JHP: 1372fps, 689ft/lbs energy
My New YouTube Channel
Certified Glock Armorer

Today I had the pleasure of having on the range both — the worlds most powerful and the world fastest production revolvers, which I often refer to as “Smith and Wesson’s Behemoth Magnums”. The “Kings” are capable of launching .50 caliber bunker busting projectiles and .45 caliber projectiles at missile like speed capable of taking the biggest wild life game on God’s green earth.

To fire such high-pressure cartridges Smith and Wesson had to develop a totally new platform capable of withstanding massive pressures. Smith and Wesson’s largest double action revolver frame at the time was the N frame. Capable of only withstanding pressures of the 44 Magnum 36000PSI, these behemoths would easily produce pressures in the 65000PSI range according to SAAMI specs. Thus Smith and Wesson produced its X-Frame, which is substantially larger, thicker, and heavier than any other S&W frame in all dimensions save one. The grip frame portion is the same specification as a K/L and post 1996 production round-butt N-frame. The grip designed by Hogue for the Model 500 and 460 is a full-wraparound type with recoil-cushioning internal Absorbathane inserts within the upper web portion to fully cover the backstrap on these massive revolvers. Other Hogue monogrips developed for Smith and Wesson leaves the backstrap exposed, utilizing the smaller grip allows for the backstrap to be fully covered while not increasing the reach to trigger. Smith and Wesson recognized the fact this would have to be an extremely large revolver that would have to fit in average sized hands. Covering the backstrap also prevents the steel from being in direct contact with the palm of your hands thus cushioning felt recoil.

What I soon realized — if these grips were capable of taming these behemoths it would surely make a pussycat out of a N-Frame 629 44 Magnum. After this range session I soon ordered a set of these grips to go on my S&W 629 and what a difference it would make. It is now very easy to have an all day range session enjoying full load 44 Magnums without palm and wrist fatigue. As seen in the pictures above the X-Frame 460 Magnum dwarfs the 629 44magnum but the Hogue grips are a perfect fit.

S&W also had to develop a stronger lockup mechanism than their traditional center pin to hollow ejector rod, nor is there any barrel-lug latch. The solid, small-diameter ejector rod is unsupported at the front, but the frame latches the yoke directly with a spring-loaded ball detent. Until now ball-detent yoke latch designs were often thought of as inferior on the grounds that any spring-loaded device will be subject to disengagement under recoil. The genius of S&W developed the rifling of the 500 to torgue more firmly against the ball detent and yoke thus working with recoil, pressing the latch more firmly into its notch, rather than opening it. This redesign actually strengthens the yoke-frame engagement rather than stressing it. The rifling of the 460XVR acts in much the same way though S&W had to use a little creativity in this department as well. The 460XVR rifling begins with a subtle, 1:100″-rate of twist; however, it rapidly progresses to 1:20″—sufficient to stabilize even the heaviest .451″-.452″-projectiles—just shy of the compensator. The breech end of the barrel—behind the forcing cone—is highly polished to enhance longevity as well.

With an all-new frame and lockup mechanism S&W also had to develop a cylinder capable of withstanding the 60,000PSI Cor-Bon developed 500 Magnum ammunition, and the 65,000PSI Hornady developed 460 Magnum ammunition. This newly developed ammunition would require the cylinder to be over 2inches in length. It would sport a 5 shot design allowing the cylinder latch cuts to be offset adding to the strength of this new revolver. Most who own and regularly shoot the S&W 500 reload for it and for this session I would be no different. Early on S&W 500 Magnum cases were developed for Large Pistol Magnum Primers. Per Starlines website On July 28, 2003, Smith & Wesson and Cor-bon changed specification of primer pocket to fit Large Rifle Primers. Rifle primers are same diameter as pistol except they are approximately .006″ taller. This was done to prevent the primer from being pierced by the firing pin when loaded with max loads and heavy bullets (bullets over 400 grains). It was determined that a hole in a primer allowed pressure to damage the firing pin and bushing, kind of like a cutting torch and the harder cup of a rifle primer will prevent this from occurring. All cases sold by Starline, Inc. after July 28, 2003, will contain a large rifle primer pocket to accept a large rifle primer. Hodgdon Powder has generated load data, which recommends using Win. Large Rifle Primers. Cor-bon has also tested and recommends CCI 250 primers (Magnum Large Rifle). Starline cases will have an “R” after the “Mag” on head stamp to signify rifle pocket. If you have previously purchased 500 cases without “R” on head stamp and wish to modify, you can use a large rifle pocket uniformer to deepen the primer pocket by .006″ to accept large rifle primers. This will not affect integrity of case.

 Thank you Starline for this information, it is important, early on I did purchase 500 brass without the R indication. Notice in this picture all the brass has the “R” indication. I worked up loads utilizing the CCI250 Primers of silver color and Winchester Large Rifle Primers of gold color represented in the picture. The difference in primers seems not to matter all loads burned clean and accuracy was about the same.

Having gained experience from the 500 Magnum, the 460XVR cases were developed with Large Rifle Primers from the onset of the project. With the 460VXR having increased pressure over the 500 Magnum S&W had to heat-treat the entire frame and cylinder to withstand the 65,000PSI pressures.
S&W discovered early in the process extraction with minimal effort with the 460XVR required for the cylinders to be highly polished. Though when examining and comparing the inside of the chambers of both platforms I did not detect any difference and on the range both exhibited smooth extraction

For the best performance and IMHO shoot-ability Smith and Wesson mated a 7 1/2 barrel with the X-Frame to finish out the build of both platforms. Shoot-ability you say — yes the weight of the total package comes in over 72 ounces and the weight forward feel of the longer barrels assist with recoil.

The advertised barrel length for both is 8.38″ but this includes the compensator. Interesting enough on the early S&W 500 Magnums there is a permanently fixed three-vent muzzle brake which fits over the protruding rim of the internal barrel tube. Later version of the S&W 500 Magnum would have shorter barrels and removable muzzle breaks following in the footsteps of the 460VXR which comes with two muzzle breaks. One for jacketed bullets and one for lead hardcast bullets.

The S&W 460XVR also sports 6 venting ports out of the top of the barrel, as well as a highly visible green front sight. Venting gases also helps tame recoil and reduces muzzle rise. The downside is muzzle blast and concussion –  a 200grain Hornady load leaving the muzzle at 2300fps out of the 460XVR and the 350grain Cor-bon load at 1600fps will create rifle like concussion. While on the outdoor covered 50yard range the range officer mentioned that every time I fired one of these behemoths he would notice the shingles on the edge of the roof raise up.

Because of such blast I strongly recommend doubling up on hearing protection with earplugs and muffs, which is a practice, I use every range session no matter which firearm I may be using. To keep piece on the range I would also recommend giving a calm friendly “fire in hole” warning to the shooters on either side of you. Luckily on this day I had no one on either side though there were some 22 benchrest shooters a couple of lanes down. After the first shot of the S&W500 magnum I noticed their shooting came to an abrupt halt and they were standing next to me wondering what hand cannon was making all that noise.

Range Session
All shooting was done without rest with a two handed standing hold with iron sights.

At the 50yard line shooting at a 16″ x 24″ B-34 target the front sight seems to cover the entire target. My loads on this day averaged 4 inches, for the 460XVR my loads were with a 200grain bullet and the 500S&W rounds were loaded with a 350grain bullet. The 350gr 500S&W bullet can often be hard to find here locally for me. Luckily I have a friend in the business of supplying reloading supplies at good prices with great customer service, so I dropped him an email and though he didn’t have them at the time he found me a good supply. If you are ever in the need of reloading supplies drop Jeff and email at jrs.reloading at yahoo.com

I started out shooting 45Colts out of the massive 460XVR X-Frame and it was the equivalent of shooting 38special wad cutters out of S&W model 27. I then proceeded to fire 454 Casull’s and though it was not harsh the X-Frame doesn’t turn the 454Casull into a daily plinker, this was most like shooting hot 125gr 357 Magnum loads in a medium frame 686.I then proceeded to fire two cylinders, 10 rounds of 460Magnum. The 460Magnum is flat shooting out to 200 yards and is highly capable of taking think skin game like dear at this distance, for me this would take a lot of practice though you could increase your chances at a humane shot at this distance by mounting a scope and utilizing shooting sticks.

With the S&W 500 I fired 3 (5) shot groups, again the X-Frame and Hogue grips tamed the recoil but this experience was of one, which quickly reminded me of hand grenade training in the Marine Corps. It seemed every-time I pulled the trigger the concussion was like a hand grenade going off 10 feet in front you. On my first 5 shots this is when I noticed there was something different about the triggers on the 460XVR and S&W500. I then stopped to examine both and noticed the 460XVR uses the typical thin smooth trigger while the S&W500 was outfitted with the wide smooth target trigger.

S&W 460XVR Trigger

S&W 500 Trigger

Both triggers weighed in at 11pound double action and 4 pound single action trigger pulls with my RCBS trigger gauge.
S&W 500 First 5 shots

S&W 500 Second round of 5 shots

As you can see the gun is way more accurate than I can be with it by the cloverleaf pattern of 3 rounds in the second firing. To ring out this sort of accuracy I found myself concentrating more than I ever have in any other range review and I believe that to be because of the rifle like concussive blast going off such a short distance away. With a rifle this blast is usually 20 inches or more away depending upon the barrel length, with a handgun it is literally going off in your hand with each firing.
S&W 500 Third round of only 3 shots this time. I stopped short because I noticed a lot of people on the range standing around watching me or as my daughter would say giving me the stink eye waiting for me to be done. I intended to try and ring out every bit of accuracy as possibly knowing it would be my last 3 rounds by taking silhouette head shots.

I am sure you all noticed that all groups were left on the target. I left the rear sight as it was adjusted and only adjusted my point of aim up or down. I am sure with a couple of clicks on the adjustable rear sight I could move these groups to the center of the target.

Having spent another great day at the range relaxing and ridding myself of stress I noticed my heart was really pumping and mentally I was drained from the additional focus it took of me to work through the blast from these behemoths. Though very enjoying and having spent my entire life around firearms hunting or while serving in the United States Marine Corps I had never experienced blast fatigue before. And I have spent many hours behind a Mk19 grenade launcher capable of sending 60 40mm grenades down range in a hurry when needed.

Smith and Wesson clearly now reigns supreme with the introduction of the X-Frame. I doubt we have seen the last of S&W innovation and creativity based on this platform. One thing I immediately noticed is that my 223 Remington rounds would fit in the cylinder length wise, let your imagination run wild.

Though I rarely shoot at 100 yard distances with 22LR, I believed this would be a way to kick up the fun meter a notch on the range. Having accomplished what I had sat out to achieve, finding target ammunition for both the Kidd Customized 10/22 and the CZ452 Varmint. At 50 yards for the Kidd 10/22 Customized this proved to be Lapua X-Act for serious target work and CCI-SV for everyday range plinking. Eley Tenex turned in the second best group on the 10/22 but I elected to chose CCI-SV for my plinking ammo because of price. Eley Tenex can usually be had for about $190 for 500 and CCI-SV for approximately $36 per 500. The CZ on the other hand shot most all brands of ammunition I had on hand very well with Lapua X-Act for serious target work with CCI-SV turning in the best groups for every day plinking ammo.

A few days later I showed up to the range with so much gear it quickly reminded me of my beloved alice pack stuffed with 70lbs of gear I once lugged all over God’s green creation as a young lad while serving this country in the US Marine Corps but I digress.

This time I would show up with 3 rifles. The first out of the rifle case on the bench would be the Kidd 10/22 Customized Build.

Rifle Build:
Tactical Solutions Vantage Forest Laminate 10/22 Stock
Tactical Solutions Tru-Tac 1″ Med Rings
Mueller 4.5-14x40mm Black APV Scope with Sunshade
Bultler Crek Scope Cap COvers #16 & #34
20″ Fluted .920 Bead Blasted Barrel
Trigger Unit two stage red curved 1Lb
Long Magazine Release
Silver Ruger Take Down Screw
V-Block and Screws
Bolt Buffer

The second on the bench would be the CZ452 back again from the 50 yard test.

Rifle Build: CZ452 Varmint All Stock except for work done on the trigger to reduce the trigger pull to 1lb. Weaver Classic 3-9x32AO Scope.

Last but not least and one I am very fond of to be tested  for accuracy would be my all stock tactical Savage MarkII TR. Topped with a Nikon 3-9x40AO Target EFR.

Testing Conditions:
Range: Outdoors
Distance: 100 Yards
Weather: 62 Degrees 2MPH winds from the east
Bench: Sand Bang Rest Front and Rear
Ammunition 22LR:Lapua Center-X, Fiocchi M320 Match, RWS R50, Fiocchi SM320 Supper Match, Lapua X-Act, CCI-SV, Wolf Match Target, Eley Tenex Ultimate EPS — As you can see I really didn’t test any bulk box ammunition American Eagle Red Box, Federal Champion Blue Box and Blazer as I did in the 50 yard test.
Scopes: All scopes were set to 8x power with AO set to 100 yards.
5 shots measured for accuracy
I received many emails from the Day1 testing about the cleaning procedure and fouling shots between brands of ammunition. This time between each groupings of shots a bore snake lubricated with frog lube was pulled through the bore twice. Then 10 fouling shots were fired with the exact same ammunition before firing the official 5 shot grouping.

Kidd 10/22 Customized Build Averge Group:0557

Considering I have spent very little time at the 100 yard line with 22LR I was fairly impressed with how the rifles performed. Again the Kidd Ultimate proved with the right ammunition it was capable of accuracy I once thought impossible by a semi-auto rifle. The Fiocchi M320 Match proved to be extremely superior over the other brands at 100 yards. Take notice of Fiocchi SM320 Super Match which is supposed to be a tier above Fiocchi M320. I ended up shooting two groups with this ammunition because 2 of the 5 rounds fired during the initial grouping had a noticeably louder report than the other 3 rounds. I believed this to be a QA issue with the  ammunition causing the larger group size.

CZ452 Varmint Stock with alb trigger work Average Group 0.663

The CZ452 performed flawlessly with the best groups going to Lapua Center-X

Up last would be the Tacticool Savage Mark II TR which I had previously reviewed. This all Stock Rifle has been back to the factory for work as I mentioned in my previous article linked to above. The bottom metal has also been swapped out with a DIP Thick Plate and a 1 piece DIP scope mount. Impressed with the Savage TR groupings the best group I could muster was 0.595 with Eley Tenex Ultimate EPS. I truly believe if had I made some adjustments to the accu-trigger of the Savage I could have turned in better groups. After shooting so many rounds in one session with two rifles with trigger pull weights of 1lb the Savage felt extremely heavy at 3 1/2 lbs, measured by the RCBS trigger gage. The accu-trigger is an amazing asset for Savage yet I let it stand in my way on this day at the range by not having adjusted it before leaving home. Of course I did not have the special tool required to make any adjustments to the accu-trigger.

Tacticool Savage MarkII TR Average Group 0.962

Again the mission here was to first have a nice fun relaxing day on the range and second find out which ammunition these 22LR rifles preferred at 100 yards.

For those wishing to compare how the rifles performed, the Kidd 10/22 Build really shined at 100yards producing the smallest average group therefore obviously turning in the highest number of best group sizes overall with 5 to the CZ452′s 3 while the Savage on this day wasn’t able to best any of the other two. The CZ452 again proved to be the most consistent turning in all group sizes below 1″ while both the Kidd 10/22 Build and the Savage MarkII TR both showed groups over 1″ and wide ranges between manufacturers. The quality build of the Savage MarkII is exceptional and I believe with a little trigger tuning it is capable of being a bit more competitive with this group represented here today.

Yet another fun relaxing great day at the range!

Unlike most whom grew up plinking and hunting small game with the Ruger 10/22 introduced in 1964 and the king of 22 Rifles sold, I grew up with a Marlin 60. Marlin is no slouch and I held my own with it against my buddies with 10/22′s but I always wondered what it would be like to own a Ruger 10/22. Many years later with the boom of something called the internet I was introduced to rimfirecentral.com where I became fascinated with the Ultimate 10/22 forum, but only as a lurker reading post after post learning as much as I could from the experienced shooters. Having left 22 rimfire behind for almost 2 decades and fully immersing myself into everything centerfire I could not believe the wealth of knowledge which had congregated in one place. One thing that was most prevalent to me outside of the fun being had on rimfirecentral.com and beautiful 22′s being displayed was that different firearms like different ammo which is the purpose of this review. Though centerfire suffers from this same fate it doesn’t seem to be as pronounced as it is in rimfire. So here I am 4 years later after first logging on to rimfirecentral.com finally deciding to try my hand at building an Ultimate 10/22. Had it not been for DM a very close friend and my shooting compadre I still may be sitting on the sideline. DM started me on this build presenting me with a Tactical Innovations CH 22 receiver and bolt, a thank you does not even come close to showing my appreciation or gratitude for such a gift.

The unique thing about this combination is it wears a charging handle and charges like an AR15, something I had never seen before on a 10/22. This is also another benefit of building an Ultimate 10/22, personalization can be taken to the extreme or be as moderate as you like it to be. All other parts were ordered from Kidd Innovations Design except for the Tactical Solutions Stock, Tactical Solutions Rings and Mueller APV Scope which all came from Mizzou Mule Guns. The parts from Kidd were of great quality with tight fit though the website for me was a little difficult to manipulate but thanks heaven for telephones. I called up Kidd and the young lady on the other end of the phone was very polite and helpful. On the same day I decided to call up Dennis with Mizzou Mule Guns and get everything else I needed. This was a great interaction with a very knowledgeable fella who also knows customer service like no other. A few days later all of the parts arrived and Christmas has truly come early this year. Having unboxed everything and laying it out was a great feeling of joy that quickly turned to oh sh!t what have I got myself into. The wife didn’t help at all when she came into the room with bulging eyes and stating what was already on my mind “what have you gotten yourself into”? She then turned away shaking her head and mumbling under her breath something about the next time she see’s DM. For the sake of friendship I just hope the next time she runs into my comrade she is in civilian clothing and not her uniform. It would be devastating to read about a close friend having been shot with a taser for resisting arrest or guilt by association. The bright side is at least it was the taser.
Build Components:
From Mizzou Mule Guns
Tactical Solutions Vantage Forest Laminate 10/22 Stock
Tactical Solutions Tru-Tac 1″ Med Rings
Mueller 4.5-14x40mm Black APV Scope with Sunshade

Bultler Crek Scope Cap COvers #16 & #34
From Kidd Innovative Design
20″ Fluted .920 Bead Blasted Barrel

Trigger Unit two stage red curved 1Lb
Long Magazine Release
Silver Ruger Take Down Screw
V-Block and Screws
Bolt Buffer

With a few basic tools and having watched some of the video’s on Kidd’s website, 2 hours later there was a big smile on my face as I drooled over what I had just accomplished for the first time, building a 10/22 from scratch with custom parts. Instantly this put me on the path of trying to gather as much of a variety in 22LR ammunition as possible in hopes of discovering which would be the most accurate in this Kidd Ultimate 10/22 build. Again with the help of very close friends and a few trips to the local shops I felt I had gathered enough of a variety that I was bound to find something this build would like. While on my search for 22LR ammunition my intuition was really bothering me for having so much standard velocity ammunition for a 22 semi-auto. I was afraid some of it wouldn’t cycle the tight fitting bolt or fit the tight chamber of the Kidd barrel making my first range trip a disappointment and what a downer that would’ve been. This all proved to be inconsequential as all ammo performed reliably. Having amassed such a variety I got this crazy idea to also test this ammo in a few bolt action 22′s proving different ammunition shoots differently in each firearm. This could even occur on the same firearms built by the same manufacture. It was not uncommon for me to see two of the same rifles shoot the same brand of ammo differently, one being tack driver and the other patterning like a 12 gauge shotgun shooting bird shot. Could I also answer the question of – is it possible for a semi-auto to be as accurate as a bolt action? I was pretty confident in what the answer would be having watched some of the deadeye shots post their targets over at rimfirecentral.com but figured it would be fun nonetheless, on this outing fun was the ultimate goal after all.

This testing would be conducted on two different days.
Both rifles and bores brushed cleaned with Frog Lube before heading to the range.
Before starting the shoot off I fired 10 rounds of Blazer Bulk through both bores, then one pass with a 22 bore snake was used.
For accuracy 5 round groupings were fired with the various brands of ammo without any scope adjustment, utilizing the basic sandbag rest front and rear. Between each 5 shot groups a 22 bore snake coated with frog lube was pulled through the bore and 1 Blazer bulk box 22lr ammo fired for fouling. By the way for those familiar with Frog Lube it smells so minty on the range doesn’t it? But I digress.
Testing Components and Environment.
Day 1
Ammunition Tested Day1 – Eley Tenex Ultimate EPS, Blazer Bulk Box, Wolf Match Extra, Federal Blue Bulk Box, Lapua X-Act, CCI-Standard Velocity (further referred to as CCI-SV), RWS R50, American Eagle Red Bulk Box, Lapua Center-X

Outdoor Range
Distance 50 Yards
Target NRA Official 50ft Small Bore Rifle Taret A-17
52 Degrees
Wind 6mph from the east to west
Firearms Tested Day1
Ultimate Kidd 10/22 Build (See build components above)

CZ 452 Varmint with 1LB trigger work

The CZ Varmint comes without the iron sights found on other models, but features a fine wood stock with nice checkering. The fittings for the swivels and the way this rifle is assembled make it as tight as many others costing far more. The shorter, but heavier, barrel is in balance with the rest of the gun, offering a completely neutral feel making it very easy to handle while hunting. The buttpad is soft rubber and isn’t tacky, so it absorbs what little shock there is from a 22LR and protects the wood from damage when placed in a rack. The bolt is heavy and smooth in operation and the single stage trigger was perfect, no take up, very light but still safe for critter dispatching.

Weaver Classic Scope 3-9AO (Power was set to 8x for testing)

Of course the first up would be the Ultimate Kidd 10/22 Build, All ammo performed reliably except for RWS 50, for some reason it was a very tight fit into the chamber and the last round didn’t feed. A single drop of CLP on the 22 case while in the magazine and it fed that last round. There was pure joy and excitement when the average group size turned in to be 0.363 on it’s first visit to the range. Trying to keep the testing equal the Mueller AVP was set on 8x power as the Weaver Classic on the CZ 452 only went up to 9x but would be adjusted to 8x as well. This proved very difficult on such small targets at 50 yards. These targets actually were a mistake as I thought I had larger targets in my bag only to have discovered after I got to the range these were the only ones I had, and as my father would say use what ya got son and make the most of it.

Next up with the same batch of ammunition would be an out of the box CZ 452 Varmint with trigger work done to reduce the pull to 1LB. Average group sized was 0.358, though I did fire CCI Mini Mags. Long story short a fellow I ran into at the range would not stop bragging on CCI Mini Mag and he continued to persist that I try them. I didn’t want to insult the guy by not testing them considering he’d just handed me a box of them, even though I tried to give them back and pay him for them he refused.

By a close comparison the CZ 452 wins with a total of 5 groups to 4 groups of the Ultimate Kidd 10/22 Build. What I noticed on day 1 is the CZ shot the bulk ammo much better than the Ultimate Kidd 10/22. Could this be a sign of consistency or possibly the Kidd barrel needing to be broke in? The CZ 452 with this range visit has over 300 rounds through it now. Which gives it the win on total groups. Comparing group size the Ultimate Kidd 10/22 wins out with a smaller group with Lapua X-Act at 0.200.  At 50 yards Lapua X-Act proved to be the top performer in both rifles. The worst performers were RWS 50 in the Ultimate at 0.576 while the Blazer Bulks performance in the CZ 452 wasn’t bad it was the worst of the bunch in that firearm at 0.397.

Cease Fire – Cease Fire on the Firing Line Day 1 Range day is complete.

While the day was a blast and I was leaving the range very happy with the outcome, I had already started to think about another session. Possibly a day 2 trying my hand at 100 yards and possibly including other 22 rifles and giving the Ultimate Kidd a chance at revenge. Stay tuned for day 2.