Ballistic - June 2022

174 Pages·2022·137.9 MB·English

L U
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Nino Bosaz
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Linas Cernauskas
SENIOR EDITORS Greg Duncan, Mark Chesnut*
SKILLSET EDITOR Ben Tirpak*
→ ART DIRECTOR/COVER DESIGN Rory Slifkin
IT WAS OCTOBER PREMEDIA Franco Nguyen, Mike Gregory
1982. I recall sitting SENIOR DIGITAL EDITOR Chad Adams
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Richard Ortega
on the edge of my
CIRCULATION CONSULTANT Scott Hill/ProCirc
seat in the Juliet Theater in COVER PHOTOS Alamy (Rambo); Michael Bordon*
Poughkeepsie, New York. (Skillset) Alex Landeen*
(Springfield Hellion/Hellcat)
Next to me was my dad, who
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watched while chain-smoking a
full pack of Salems—impressive SUBSCRIPTIONS/SINGLE COPY INQUIRIES
because First Blood had a 800-284-5668;
[email protected]
scant 93-minute run time—as
we rooted for Rambo to survive ballisticmag.com • skillsetmag.com
the onslaught of firepower from tactical-life.com • personaldefenseworld.com
what this Green Beret was
capable of. John Rambo—the athlonoutdoors.com
ultimate survivalist. baseball field loaded for bird. SVP/GENERAL MANAGER Nick Seifert
ATHLON OUTDOORS
My pals and I spent the rest 1987: Fact: Bringing guns to science fiction eeriness afoot. ATHLON SPORTS
of the fall acting out scenes in school was actually permitted, We have gun and magazine
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the woods, using pocketknives, at least in this case... My buddy bans, First Amendment rights
National Office
of course. We weren’t quite John Lucas—he was a big ’un stripped away and massive Big 212-478-1910; [email protected]
ready to step up to the Bowie and we nicknamed him Johnny Brother overreach on a scale
Independent Account Representatives
plate. We crafted spears and Rambo—and I did an oral report never witnessed before. Today’s
traps (never caught jack), and together for Mr. Dourdis’ Sports law-abiding gun owners—parents NORTHEAST REGION Scott Buchmayr•978-462-6335
SOUTHEAST & UPPER MIDWEST Amos Crowley•216-378-9811
climbed through boulder fields Literature class on sport- and at school board meetings even— WESTERN REGION Scott J. Cherek•307-635-8899
and Laurel-laden hillsides hiding deer hunting. We had to get are being labeled as domestic MIDWEST/CENTRAL SOUTH Dan Flavin•248-515-8654
SPECIALTY/AT LARGE Mark Pack•949-683-0083
and avoiding being hit with BBs permission from the principal terrorists. That’s all change “We
from our war-scarred 10-pump (and we did) for the show- The People” don’t need. So DIRECT RESPONSE ADVERTISING Jim Coen•718-825-7533
Crosmans. Stupid, I know, but and-tell part of the project. I let’s keep fighting the good fight VP, OPERATIONS AND STRATEGY Carrie Roeder
MARKETING & Niki Morrison
we had a 3-pump maximum and brought in my Remington 1100, when and where we can.
PROGRAM MANAGER
wore goggles. Mud balls and and John brought in his Bear Those Rambo days seem MARKETING COORDINATOR/ Maureen Pichner
pies were our versions of hand Archery “kit bow” he’d built with so far away. We have some ADMINISTRATOR
grenades. Man, we were the his dad. Man, we country kids good change to bring your way, CORPORATE ADDRESSES 2451 Atrium Way, Suite 320
Nashville, TN 37214
shit—or at least we thought so. knew how to impress the chicks however. In this issue of Ballistic,
* Consultant
Playing Manhunt with neighbor- back then. we welcome our Skillset Mag
hood kids (boys and girls) still 2022: My how things have editorial team led by Ben Tirpak,
TO THE READERS: Be advised that there may be products
ranks at the top of the fun list. changed in society! Today, my as well as their loyal subscribers
represented in this magazine as to which the sale, possession or
Playing Army is a close second. son can’t even wear a ballcap to the mix. Once its own quar- interstate transportation thereof may be restricted, prohibited or
subject to special licensing requirements. Prospective purchasers
1985-1986: We stepped or t-shirt to school that sports terly publication, Skillset will now should consult the local law enforcement authorities in their area.
up our game with hand-me- the likeness of a firearm. Zero- run as a 32-page (sometimes All of the information in this magazine is based upon the personal
experience of individuals who may be using specific tools, prod-
down .22s for squirrel and tolerance policies are brutal more) special in five of the six ucts, equipment and components under particular conditions and
circumstances, some or all of which may not be reported in the
crow popping. Like Rambo, we (unconstitutional IMHO). There’s annual issues of Ballistic. We
particular article and which this magazine has not otherwise veri-
knew we could survive off the a George Orwellian Nineteen look at this change as a highly fied. Nothing herein is intended to constitute a manual for the use
of any product or the carrying out of any procedure or process.
land. And believe it or not, the positive one in that now, both
This magazine and its officers and employees accept no respon-
NYS Conservation Department Ballistic and Skillset fans will get sibility for any liability, injuries or damages arising out of any per-
used to release pheasants on NEW FOR 2022:HUNTING RIFLES HOT AR-15S FIPNUGTB.E 1LA6 0R more content. We’re certain that son’s attempt to rely upon any information contained herein.
a neighboring property to our Ballistic readers will wholeheart-
BALLISTIC® (ISSN 2573-0290) is published bimonthly by
high school. On school days edly enjoy the Alpha-edgy, edu- Athlon Sports Communications, Inc., 2451 Atrium Way, Suite 320,
Nashville, TN 37214. Single copy price: $9.95 U.S. and $10.95
when we knew we were going cational and fun Skillset goods,
CAN. Subscriptions are six issues for $32.97 per year in the U.S.
to try to luck into a leftover bird while Skillset fans will still get Periodicals Postage paid at Nashville, TN, and at other additional
mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send subscription requests to:
or two, our 20 gauges sat in what they know and love, and
Athlon Media Group, PO Box 292167, Kettering, OH 45429.
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trucks remained as we marched this…there will be blood! All rights reserved under international and Pan American Copyright
Visit outdoorgroupstore.
Conventions. Reproduction in whole or in part, via electronic or any
into the woods just past the com to subscribe to —Nino Bosaz
other means, without written permission of the publisher is strictly
Ballistic and order prohibited. Printed in the U.S.A. Volume 8 Issue 4.
print and digital copies. Ballistic Magazine adheres to the California Consumer Privacy Act of
Subscribe for the full year 2018. For more information about your rights as a California consum-
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2 BALLISTIC 06¥07 2022

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04
VOL. 8 JUNE/JULY 2022
T H E P R E M I E R F I R E A R M S & S U R V I VA L M A G A Z I N E
FEATURES
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22 CUSTOM CHALLENGE
Here’s your chance to win a
heavenly/hellish Springfi eld Hellion
and a Hellcat Pro
BY ALEX LANDEEN
80 BEHIND RAMBO’S BLADE
30 THE BIGGER ‘CAT
An inside look at Lile’s forever
Springfi eld’s Hellcat Pro steps
famous do-it-all steel
up in size to tame recoil and offer
BY GARRETT LUCAS
superb handling
BY MIKE DETTY 86 SHOTGUN OR AR?
40 RAISING HELLION Scattergunnin’ Gunther and
Arnie “Pew Pew” shoot and miss
Springfi eld’s evolution of the HS
on home defense
Produkt-made VHS-2 rifl e system
BY FRANCIS MACOMBER
is one badass bullpup
BY BILL FOSTER 92 TWANGO BANGO
72 FIRST BLOOD Meet Umarex’s new game-busting,
double-barrel AirSaber Elite X2
This 40-year-anniversary tribute to
130 142
BY FRANK MELLONI
130 PCC YOUR WAY
For 3-Gun or self-defense, go the
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Latest loads that’ll make your Get fully loaded with the
142 SILVER CELEBRATION
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Looking back on the 25 years of
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Henry Repeating Arms excellence
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6 BALLISTIC 06¥07 2022 Ballisticmag.com

INSIDE
ISSUE
04
VOL. 8 JUNE/JULY 2022
T H E P R E M I E R F I R E A R M S & S U R V I VA L M A G A Z I N E
DEPARTMENTS
10
10 BREW HA HA
Meanderings of a
modern cavalier
BY FRANCIS
MACOMBER
38 156
16 STOCKPILE 152
New and notable guns
and gear picks from
134 AR STUFF 152 AFTER HOURS
the editors
Ratchet outta jams Malt liquor at its
38 THE UNKNOWNS
with Springfi eld’s best and worst
Two lesser-known new LevAR BY FRED MASTISON
accessory companies charging handle
156 THREADS
that pack in fun and BY ANDY GROSSMAN
function for gun nuts Stylish and practical
146 WILD
BY FRANK MELLONI solutions for summer
KITCHEN
concealed carry
50 GEAR QUICK HIT
Experience a fi eld- BY ALEX LANDEEN
FREE MINI-MAG INSERT
An on-the-go lockbox to-table adventure
160 FUBeAR
that can weather that’s perfect for the MEET SIG’S P322 Just in case you needed
anything BY LINAS pending food crisis Our accidental mascot a reason to buy one, here are 21
CERNAUSKAS BY SCOTT BAXTER lights shit up—bigly BY FRED MASTISON
BY JOSH SWANAGON
SKILLSET SECTION
98 INSIDER INFO 110 SNIP IT GOOD 120 TOP-EIGHT
MARTIAL ARTS
BY SUSAN KLUCHNIK What to expect when
MOVIES
you’re expecting
104 DRUNK ON
your one and only A beginner’s guide
FREEDOM
vasectomy to Kung Fu fi lms
An American tale of BY MORGAN LERETTE BY MARCUS
drinking and defi ance TORGERSON
104
112 COVER: PICKIN’
BY JEROME NEW
APOCALYPSE 124 FEAR THIS!
108 FIVE WAYS PALS
Turn fear into fuel
BOOZE FUELED
Because hard, SHTF and your life will
AMERICA
times call for forever never be the same
BY BLAKE STILWELL friends you can truly again
count on BY TONY BLAUER
BY NATE GERHART
110 128 LAST CALL
120
118 TAC SHARP
Note from the
Meet Allen Elishewitz, bossman, plus pics
a living weapon that of #SKILLSETFAM
124
makes weapons BY BEN TIRPAK
BY HANK GREENBERG
112
8 BALLISTIC 06¥07 2022 Ballisticmag.com