Coyotes are often known to be the smaller cousins of gray wolves, and the foxes of the coyotes. You can clearly see the similarities in their appearances. However, there are many points of comparison between the three animals. This AnimalSake article does an analysis to put an end to the age-old debate of coyote vs. wolf vs. fox.

Wolves, coyotes, and foxes have roamed the earth alongside man for millennia. And yet they still manage to be an integral part of our ecosystem. But truly what is the difference between these three wonderful creatures besides their appearance?

Apart from looking quite similar to each other, they fall under the dog family ofCanidae. The Canidae family is divided into two main categories, the Canini, which consists of dogs, jackals, and wolves, and then there is the Vulpini family, which largely consists of foxes.

However, a few questions have haunted many for a very long time―are coyotes and wolves in the same family, how are coyotes and wolves alike, and how are coyotes and wolves different from each other? This article elaborates on size, diet, appearance, etc., about these beautiful Canidae for your understanding.

Coyote Vs. Wolf Vs. Fox

Following are some points of similarities and differences between the fox, coyote, and the wolf, which will help you see the variations in the same family.

Scientific Classification

Note: The following table includes the scientific classification for red foxes and gray wolves.

Appearance

Foxes are the smallest of the three weighing around 6 to 24 lb. They stand tall at around 15 – 20 inches and 15 – 30 inches long. They have a flattened skull, upright ears, slanted eyes, slightly upward-turned snout, elongated body with short limbs, and a long bushy tail.

Coyotes are smaller than the wolf and larger than the fox. They weigh around 24 – 46 lb. and are around 4 – 5 feet long and 50 – 66 cm tall. They have a long and slender snout with triangular ears and a long bushy tail. They have a bluish-black scent gland located at the upper side of the base of their tail.

Wolves have a heavier and larger body structure in comparison to the fox and coyote. They also have a wider and rounded snout. Wolves have shorter ears and a torso with a sloping back. They also have long but less bushier tails, which they carry high while running. They also have a black gland spot on the upper side of the base of their tail.

Coat

Foxes have been known to shed their dense winter coat around April. Different subspecies of foxes come in a variety of coats of fur color, length, and density. They range from white, black freckled with white, gray underside, auburn pelt, etc.

Coyotes have light gray, red, black and white-colored fur on their body. The colors and shades vary as per their geographical location. For example, those living on high elevations have black and gray fur as compared to desert dwellers, who are more whitish-gray. The coyote’s fur consists of short, soft underfur and long, coarse guard hair.

Wolves have a dense and coarse guard fur, along with a long and fluffy regular coat. Most of the unwanted fur is shed out on the offset of spring and grows back around fall. You can often find them in a combination of grays, blacks, and whites.

Behavior

Foxes are omnivorous scavengers, who tread out in search of food in the form of small prey only at the night. Unlike other canids, foxes do not live in packs. On the contrary, some like the Arctic foxes live solitary lives.

Coyotes are strictly monogamous and the pack is centered around the nuclear family, mostly around the reproductive female. However, it has been found that other non-family members join the pack temporarily.

Wolves are often found hunting in packs of around 7 – 8 wolves. This often includes the alpha male and female, older offspring, and pups.

Vocalization

A fox’s vocal repertoire is vast depending on what it wants to convey. It whines, yelps, lets out explosive calls, combat calls, growls, barks, and produces shrill screams.

Coyotes are often heard yipping and at times giving out short barking howls.

Wolves, as you are aware, are known for their howls. They also bark and whine to communicate.

Diet

A fox’s diet mainly consists of smaller mammals, rabbits, birds, insects, reptiles, crabs, eggs, and plants.

Coyotes hunt for rodents, reptiles, amphibians, fish, birds, pigs, sheep, goats, deer, hare, rabbits, and insects.

Wolves prey upon livestock, moose, deer, roe deer, wild boar, reindeer, ibex, wild goats, saiga, mule deer, badgers, ground squirrels, hamsters, marmots, mice, foxes, coyote pups, eggs, waterfowl, bison, rodents, fish, monkeys, reptiles, frogs, snakes, insects, wolves, etc.

Predators

A fox’s natural enemies mainly consist of the coyote and wolf and other predators, viz., bears, humans, eagles, and other larger carnivores.

Coyotes fall prey to mountain lions, tigers, bears, humans, and wolves.

A wolf’s life is often endangered by predators, viz., tigers, humans, and other wolves.

Reproduction

Foxes mate around December to February, with a 52-day gestation period. The litter can consist of around 4 – 5 cubs. In the initial 2 – 3 weeks of a cub’s life, they are kept within their den receiving the heat and nutrition from the vixen. Around 4 weeks into this world, they begin to slowly emerge out of their underground homes. The cubs are weaned when they are around 6 weeks of age. At around 6 months of age, they step into young adulthood.

Coyotes mate around mid-January to early February and have a gestation period of 60 – 66 days. The litter consists of around 2 – 10 pups. The pups survive away their mother at around 7 weeks and begin to eat solids after 3 weeks. Around October to November, when the pups are 7 – 8 months old, they begin to accompany their parents on hunts. On reaching adulthood, pups split from their parents and find their own mates.

Wolves breed around January to March with a gestation period of around 63 days. The litter often consists of around 4 – 7 pups. The entire pack pitches in to care for the pups till they have reached maturity, which is around their 10 months of age. Around this time, they are able to hunt on their own and become a contributing member of the pack. At times, some young wolves disperse into the wild.

Though these beautiful creatures are found wandering in the wild, they are in constant threat due to deforestation, unlawful human encroachment, and killing. Conversational camps and programs have been enforced to reduce the depletion of their fast-depleting population. Furthermore, cross mating with our faithful companions (dogs), and crossbreeding between coyotes and wolves have brought in new species.

The following ammunition cartridge ballistics information and chart can be used to approximately compare 10mm Auto vs .45 Colt (LC Long Colt) ammo rounds. Please note, the following information reflects the estimated average ballistics for each caliber and does not pertain to a particular manufacturer, bullet weight, or jacketing type. As such, the following is for comparative information purposes only and should not be used to make precise predictions of the trajectory, performance, or true ballistics of any particular 10mm Auto or .45 Colt (LC Long Colt) rounds for hunting, target shooting, plinking, or any other usage. The decision for which round is better for a given application should be made with complete information, and this article simply serves as a comparative guide, not the final say. For more detailed ballistics information please refer to the exact round in question or contact the manufacturer for the pertinent information. True 10mm Auto and .45 Colt (LC Long Colt) ballistics information can vary widely from the displayed information, and it is important to understand that the particular characteristics of a given round can make a substantive difference in its true performance.

Caliber Type Velocity (fps) Energy (ft-lb) 10mm Auto Handgun 1200 550 .45 Colt (LC Long Colt) Handgun 1050 500

Velocity

As illustrated in the chart, 10mm Auto rounds – on average – achieve a velocity of about 1200 feet per second (fps) while .45 Colt (LC Long Colt) rounds travel at a velocity of 1050 fps. To put this into perspective, a Boeing 737 commercial airliner travels at a cruising speed of 600 mph, or 880 fps. That is to say, 10mm Auto bullets travel 1.4 times the speed of a 737 airplane at cruising speed, while .45 Colt (LC Long Colt) bullets travel 1.2 times that same speed.

Various calibers

Energy

Furthermore, the muzzle energy of a 10mm Auto round averages out to 550 ft-lb, while a .45 Colt (LC Long Colt) round averages out to about 500 ft-lb. One way to think about this is as such: a foot-pound is a unit of energy equal to the amount of energy required to raise a weight of one pound a distance of one foot. So a 10mm Auto round exits the barrel with kinetic energy equal to the energy required for linear vertical displacement of 550 pounds through a one foot distance, while a .45 Colt (LC Long Colt) round exiting the barrel has energy equal to the amount required to displace 500 pounds over the same one foot distance. As a rule of thumb, when it comes to hunting, muzzle energy is what many hunters look at when deciding on what caliber of firearm / ammunition to select. Generally speaking, the higher the muzzle energy, the higher the stopping power. Again, the above is for comparative information purposes only, and you should consult the exact ballistics for the particular 10mm Auto or .45 Colt (LC Long Colt) cartridge you’re looking at purchasing.

Please click the above links to take a look at all of the 10mm Auto and .45 Colt (LC Long Colt) ammo we have in stock and ready to ship, and let us know any parting thoughts in the comment section below.

Foundry Outdoors is your trusted home for buying archery, camping, fishing, hunting, shooting sports, and outdoor gear online.

We offer cheap ammo and bulk ammo deals on the most popular ammo calibers. We have a variety of deals on Rifle Ammo, Handgun Ammo, Shotgun Ammo & Rimfire Ammo, as well as ammo for target practice, plinking, hunting, or shooting competitions. Our website lists special deals on 9mm Ammo, 10mm Ammo, 45-70 Ammo, 6.5 Creedmoor ammo, 300 Blackout Ammo, 10mm Ammo, 5.56 Ammo, Underwood Ammo, Buffalo Bore Ammo and more special deals on bulk ammo.

We offer a 100% Authenticity Guarantee on all products sold on our website. Please email us if you have questions about any of our product listings.

During my 20 years in the outdoor industry, I’ve witnessed a pile of incredible arrow builds. Most of those builds have come from arrow-mastermind Easton. From arrows designed for speed to carbon shafts wrapped in a penetration-boosting metal jacket, the hits keep on coming.

A tried-and-true staple in the lineup and a quiver-filler for throngs of archers, the Axis ranks as one of the finest shafts ever created. Why? Side of filling thousands of freezers and making massive taxidermy bills, this arrow is a do-all. The 5MM build is micro, which means the shaft can buck the wind and find its mark even at extended distances. Plus, the micro-profile focuses kinetic energy into the frontal area, which creates less friction and ensures maximum penetration. Then there’s the fact the arrow is offered in seven spine sizes, meaning most any archer can pair the Axis with their stick-and-string setup. Bottom line: The Axis is a durable, accurate and dependable big-game wrecker that countless bowhunters put their trust in. It just doesn’t get any better.

Or does it?

Enter the Axis 4MM Long Range. I could hear the excitement in Easton’s Gary Conrnum’s voice as he gave me the 411 on this new-for-2021 arrow. Cornum is an arrow guru, and when he gets pumped about a product, people should take note.

“It’s our best Axis build to date,” he said. “Now Axis lovers can get a super micro-diameter shaft with a front-of-center boosting aluminum point outsert that has standard 8-32 threads. This arrow is as accurate as they come and delivers incredible downrange penetration.”

True to Form

The literature I’d read and my conversation with Cornum had my mind buzzing, and when my Axis 4MM Long Range bare shafts arrived, I couldn’t wait to put them through the paces. The 100-percent carbon cut with ease, and the aluminum point half-out outserts glued in without hassle. The outsert measures just a tick over an inch, so if you’re cutting your arrows, be sure and compensate for this. If you shoot a 29-inch arrow, you’ll want to cut your 4MM shafts at 28-inches if you plan to use the included aluminum half-out outsert.

This was my first Axis build that didn’t require the use of Easton’s chamfering stone, HIT Epoxy, and HIT Insert Tool. Instead, I used 91 Isopropyl Alcohol to clean the inside of the shafts, applied insert glue to my aluminum outserts, and twisted them into the shaft to distribute the glue evenly to the inner shaft wall. The process is super simple and saves a lot of time. The fletching process was a breeze as well. I opted not to use wraps, and my AAE Hybrid 23 vanes grabbed the carbon wonderfully.

With my 4MM Long Range soldiers ready to fly, I first conducted a speed test. Tipping the scale at 405.5 grains, my 28 ¾-inch 4MM Axis Long Range arrows powered by Hoyt’s Ventum 33 set at 68 pounds of draw weight and a 29-inch draw length propelled shafts at an average speed of 302 fps. Plenty fast, and my kinetic energy rating was an impressive 82-foot pounds. The ACU-Carbon build blended with the aluminum half-out outsert system ups velocity and helps the arrow deliver more energy downrange. Plus, each shaft passed the spin test and popped perfect bullet holes through paper after a bit of rest adjusting. More impressive was the accuracy factor. From distances between 20 and 100 yards, my four-fletched arrows found the mark.

For a week, I shot the Axis 4MM Long Range in crosswinds, tailwinds and headwinds, and there’s no question the shaft’s ultra-micro diameter build resists side-to-side wind drift. I also shot fixed and mechanical broadheads out to 100 yards. My fixed-blade heads hit a tad right of the mark starting at 50 yards, which is normal, but even though they were a tad right, each fixed-blade shaft grouped. The SEVR 2.0 mechanical-tipped shafts hit right with my field points out to 100 yards. The 4MM MicroLite Nocks are tough; attach brilliantly to the string and leave it cleanly. After the tuning process, I detected zero nock travel. Warning! Shooting groups with these shafts, especially with fixed-blade broadheads, is not advised. The Axis 4MM Long Range is without a doubt the most accurate arrow I’ve ever fired, and unless you have unlimited funds and lots of time to build arrows, I would suggest shooting individual spots.

Satisfied with the accuracy of the arrow, I moved on to some penetration tests. I received the arrows late in the spring, and with turkey tags punched and no bear hunts on the horizon, I used a new Block foam target to conduct a few penetration tests. With a calculated F.O.C. of precisely 12.6 percent, my Axis 4MM Long Range arrows drove deeper into foam when shot head-to-head against my standard 5MM Axis arrows. It’s important to note that bowhunters should shoot for an F.O.C. between 11 and 18 percent. I have no doubt the optimized F.O.C. build blended with the arrows speed and micro-diameter construction will lead to big-game pass-throughs, even at extended distances.

Those who favor the HIT system blended with Deep Six technology can separately purchase 4MM Deep Six Steel HIT Inserts (20 grains). If you’re looking to up arrow weight and increase your F.O.C. but want to stay with the outsert system, 4MM Titanium Half-Out Inserts (55 grains) can also be had for a few more greenbacks. The Axis 4MM Long Range is available in spine sizes of 250, 300, 340 and 400, and straightness ratings of +/- .003” and +/- .001” can be purchased. The Axis 4MM Long Range can be purchased by the dozen (bare) or half-dozen (fletched).

If you’re looking for a do-all hunting arrow that will perform at extended distances on medium-sized and large big-game animals like elk, moose and grizzly, the Easton Axis 4MM should line your quiver come fall.

If you ask anyone to name a tree off the top of their head, oak is likely to be one of the most common answers you’ll hear. Oak trees are fairly common in the United States, and we use them for a ton of different purposes. However, many people don’t know that oak trees aren’t all the same. In fact, oak includes a large assortment of different tree species that vary quite a bit from one another. The United States is home to over 60 distinct species of oak trees alone.

You don’t need to get extremely granular with oak tree species if you don’t want to. Oak species generally belong in one of two major categories: white oak trees and red oak trees. If you enjoy oak trees and want to consider them for your own yard or landscape, you should know what you’re getting into with both white and red oak trees. So what are the differences are between white oak vs. red oak trees? Get a better idea about which one is perfect for you with the following information.

White Oak Overview

The oak trees we classify into the white oak family are usually distinguishable by their size. White oak trees can grow into massive specimens if left to their own devices. They produce many acorns, which help feed a wide variety of animals. They also provide shelter for animals. The average white oak tree usually ends up somewhere around 80 feet in height and tends to be almost as big as its height in the total width of its branches.

White Oak Appearances

As you might guess, white oak trees have a lighter wood color than red oak varieties. The bark tends to be ashier in color, and you can also characterize a white oak tree by how rough its bark is. White oak tree bark has very deep ridges that many people find attractive for their yards. In contrast to their rough and coarse bark, white oak tree leaves don’t boast any sharp angles. The leaves instead have more rounded tips.

Pros of White Oak Trees

There are plenty of benefits to owning a white oak tree. Their massive size is a draw for lots of people who enjoy larger trees. Their sizes reflect their long lives as well. Many white oak species have extremely long lifespans and can survive for centuries as long as nothing terrible happens to them. Many people also prefer white oak trees because of their gorgeous coloring during the autumn months. In terms of care, white oaks are highly resistant to drought, and they also have a high resistance to rot and disease.

Cons of White Oak Trees

There aren’t too many cons to worry about with white oaks, but the ones that exist are worth going over. Buying a young white oak tree is perfectly fine, but it’ll grow very slowly as a reflection of its extensive lifespan. You may not see your oak tree fully grown in your life if you buy it when it’s still a sapling. More mature white oaks’ imposing sizes can also make them a hassle to transplant should the need ever arise.

Red Oak Overview

When you compare them to white oak trees, red oak trees aren’t quite as towering in size. They certainly still make a statement, as they can grow up to about 75 feet. However, many usually finish growing around 60 feet instead. Also, their branches don’t stretch as far out laterally, giving them a skinnier and leaner appearance. Red oaks can survive quite well in different soil types, even highly compacted soil. They also help feed and provide adequate shelter for critters of all shapes and sizes.

Red Oak Appearances

The appearance of a red oak is almost completely opposite to that of a white oak tree. Red oak trees tend to be much darker in coloration. The bark on a red oak is also much smoother than its white oak counterparts, with very few deep ridges to find at all. As the name suggests, it isn’t rare to see a deep red tint in many of the species’ woods. Furthermore, red oak trees have much pointier ends on their leaves compared to the rounded edges of the white oak leaves.

Pros of Red Oak Trees

If you want an oak tree that you can watch quickly grow, you’ll prefer a red oak without a doubt. These trees can gain more than two feet in a year. While you won’t get as large of variety of colors in their leaves during the autumn months, red oak leaves do turn a very attractive shade of red before they fall. Additionally, red oaks can stave off the effects of many sources of pollution, and they’re much easier to transplant somewhere else when compared to white oaks.

Cons of Red Oak Trees

Some people may consider the smaller size of a red oak to be a con that they can’t budge on. In the eyes of many individuals, they aren’t quite as majestic as fully grown white oaks. Getting the right amount of water for a red oak can also be more of a balancing act than it is for a white oak tree.

Major Differences Between White and Red Oak

Let reflect on the main differences between white and red oak now. These are the factors that will probably sway your choice.

• Leaf shape: White oaks have soft, rounded edges on their leaves, whereas red oaks have a more striking and pointy leaf shape.
• Size: White oaks grow to be much larger than red oaks. The former reaches up to 80 feet, while the latter rarely ever goes above 70 feet.
• Growth rate: White oaks grow much more slowly than red oak species. Red oaks can grow multiple feet in a single year.
• Bark texture: White oak trees have bark that features a much rougher texture than red oak trees.

Now you have a better idea of the differences between white oak and red oak trees. Therefore, you can make a better decision when you find oak trees for sale. Plant Me Green provides customers with both types of oak trees. And we ensure that we only sell the highest quality trees in terms of health and longevity.

What is FLEX Technology From Mossberg?

One of the most revolutionary and creative designs belongs to Mossberg with its FLEX Toolless Locking System (TLS). The whole point of the FLEX TLS is to give shooters the ultimate customization ability for their guns. It’s a series of 3 (patent-pending) connectors that allow shooters to adjust or swap out the stock, forend, and recoil pad without any tools.

FLEX TLS gives each shooter the ability to customize their gun for an endless amount of shooting applications. For example, if you want a light, laser, and optic for SWAT or military use, you can simply change the standard forend to the FLEX Tri-Rail.

The FLEX TLS can swap out stocks for an overall shorter shotgun/rifle and you can change the recoil pad to your desired length. The FLEX TLS can be used in conjunction with almost every Mossberg created to enhance your capabilities and ensure you are 100% comfortable with every aspect of your gun.

MOSSBERG FLEX TACTICAL TRI-RAIL FOREND

Mossberg has the FLEX TLS incorporated fully into both the 500 and 590 models, but you don’t have to have one of those models to take advantage of the system.

FLEX was designed to be purpose-driven and guide each shooter to find the best combination of parts for their style or purpose of shooting. I can’t recommend a better system to customize your shotgun than the FLEX TLS.

The fact that you don’t need ANY tools and takes minutes to install makes a world of difference for those who value time.

Buy Here

Mossberg 6-Position Tactical Stock

The 6-Position FLEX Stock will fit any 12/20 gauge tactical series shotgun with no additional tools and installs within a few minutes.

This pistol grip and stock will instantly improve the ergonomics of the gun by providing a tighter grip and adjustable LOP for specific purposes. It even comes with a hook for a sling attachment to avoid carrying your shotgun for long periods.

This specific attachment is compatible with the FLEX 22 Model due to the specifications of that model.

Buy Here

Mossberg Flex 590 Tactical Shotgun

The Mossberg FLEX 590 Tactical is my favorite of the tactical shotgun because of the incorporated FLEX technology and the 9-shell capacity. The 590 FLEX Tactical Shotgun sets itself apart by its ability to be customized for dozens of applications.

This shotgun is already equipped with the FLEX TLS for quick and easy installation of everything from optics, scopes, lights, and lasers. The FLEX model is lighter, but it’s also about 5-7″ longer than most other tactical models.

The reason for this is to enhance the capabilities and allow shooters to collapse the stock if they want the length shortened.

Pros

• Easily customizable
• 20″ barrel provides a longer range for a bigger area to clear
• 9-shell capacity is more than enough to get the job done
• Tri-Rail system provides a lightweight and stable platform for a multitude of attachments

Features

• Ambidextrous safety lever mounted on top
• 20″ Barrels with Stand-Offs, Muzzlebrakes
• Free Gun Lock/10-Year Limited Warranty Included

Why Should I Buy The Mossberg 590 Special Purpose Tactical Shotgun?

The 590 FLEX Tactical Shotgun is perfect for a 3-Gun shooting competition held by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF). This shotgun is the jack of all trades when it comes to self-defense and military CQB operations.

If you’re in the market for a Tactical shotgun and want to be able to customize the shotgun to fit your exact needs, this is the gun for you. I’m a little biased because this is the tactical shotgun that I own for my personal defense in case I have to defend my family.

I can tell you that this shotgun is smooth, accurate, has a low felt recoil, and works great with a light and a red-dot sight attachment.

A Petersburg resident has set a new world record for the largest mountain goat harvested by bow in North America. The hunt in Southeast Alaska was the first time Kaleb Baird had ever been out targeting a mountain goat. KFSK’s Angela Denning talked with him and has this story:

Before Kaleb Baird set off on his solo hunt, he did his homework. He had never been hunting for mountain goats before. But he grew up bow hunting deer and birds in Kansas. He knew the importance of being prepared. So, he spent half a year just researching.

“Studying maps and talking to the experts,” said Baird. “I talked to some biologists. I found a really good contact, a fella that used to hunt this population and lived down in that area for a number of years.”

Baird is not from this area. The 33-year-old had visited Petersburg for many years where his dad commercial fished but he didn’t become a permanent resident until last year. That opened up his options to go after a unique, isolated herd of mountain goats on the Cleveland Peninsula between Wrangell and Ketchikan.

The odds were not in his favor. This particular hunt is a lottery draw.

Baird: ‘“I think there was about 150 total hunters that applied and two winners,” Baird said.

KFSK: “So, you were lucky.”

Baird: “Yes, extremely lucky.”

That was in February. Fast forward to September and Baird is climbing the mountains of the peninsula with eight days of food on his back and more supplies stashed near the beach.

Baird: “I could’ve used a rifle on this hunt but growing up a bow hunter, I’ve just kind of been a bow hunter my whole life. There’s some incredible equipment out there anymore with regards to compound bows, which is what I shoot. But comfortably, me shooting at an animal, I’m usually 50 yards and inside. And on a hunt like this, 40 and closer, where you’re looking at uneven terrain, and big tough critters, you want to make a good, clean ethical shot.”

KFSK: “That is really close, 50 yards is really close.”

Baird: “(Laughs) Yeah, yeah, no kidding.”

KFSK: “So, it’s all probably strategy on how to do that?”

Baird: “Yeah, utilize the terrain, and wind, and sun and a number of things. Usually, it’s a patience game trying to get them bedding in the right spot and then you can decipher the rest and try to get in tight.”

KFSK: “When did you know that this could be a world record billy?”

Baird: “So, I killed him and I found him that day-I think it was day four of the hunt—and he dropped off of a pretty significant avalanche chute. And he lost about 7-800 foot in elevation from where I shot to where he died and probably did it in a manner of seconds. He basically dove off an avalanche chute. Took me a couple of hours to get down to him. Finally did, and the way he came to rest, his right horn was buried in some gravel in this avalanche chute and initially I thought it was shattered. But I lifted his head up and certainly, like I said, this is my first specifically targeting mountain goat hunt. I mean, I knew a little about size but not enough to really like lift up and say, ‘Oh man, this is going to be the world record’ type deal. I knew he was big just by putting my hands up to him and kind of taking some just some little guesstimates as to how long he was. That type of deal. But I didn’t really know until I got him back and checked him in with Fish and Game.”

KFSK: “So, what does being the world record holder mean to you? What has it mean so far?”

Baird: “Right now personally, I’m still kind of trying to wrap my head around it. It’s pretty surreal. Like I said, this was my first time. It wasn’t like I went up there—I did joke over the summer with some friends and family, I think, that I was going to shoot a world record but that was (laughs) completely in jest. I didn’t really think that that was ever going to be a possibility.”

That was just the beginning of a long process. The horns were measured ten ways by an official measurer and scored at 53-4/8 inches. A panel of judges in Arizona with the bow hunting organization Pope and Young confirmed the new record on December 5th.

Baird doesn’t know how much the mountain goat weighed because he quartered him and carried all the meat down the mountain. He also saved the head and part of the hide, which he plans to mount.

Depending on the pandemic, Baird could be recognized in April in Reno, Nevada at a convention that brings together a thousand bow hunters from around the world.

Baird’s mountain goat is the largest one ever harvested by bow in North America. A slightly larger mountain goat, measuring 57-4/8 inches from British Columbia holds the record for one harvested by rifle.

When we talk about ammunition for the AR-15, the most likely mentions include .223 Remington, 5.56×45 NATO, and .300 Blackout. Why? Because they are the most popular and readily available rounds available for sporting rifles today. But they are not the only rounds available.

Have you heard of the debate between 6.5 Grendel vs. 6.5 Creedmoor? Firearms enthusiasts everywhere can argue for hours about the two rounds and their ideal uses, kinetic energy ratings, and price per round comparisons.

Did you know that in Europe, the 6.5 caliber is immensely popular? Both hunters and target shooters adopted the round over a century ago. Here in North America, we stuck to what we know. That is changing, though. Both of the 6.5 caliber rounds we discuss here are making waves.

The History Behind 6.5 Grendel Vs. 6.5 Creedmoor

6.5 Grendel next to a standard 5.56mm round

Both the 6.5 Grendel and 6.5 Creedmoor were designed with unique goals in mind. Like most other AR-15 ammunition, though, 6.5 Grendel stems from a desire to replace the iconic .223 Remington, while 6.5 Creedmoor hails from the .308 Winchester round.

6.5 Grendel History

During the Vietnam War, the M-16 and 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge saw extensive military use. That use left a lot to be desired, though. Soldiers in the field reported inaccurate ammunition and regular weapon jams. A better platform and caliber were necessary. Enter the 6.5mm caliber.

Many companies sought to improve upon the .223 Remington and 5.56x45mm rounds. Thus Bill Alexander, the creator of the .50 Beowulf, set out to develop the 6.5 Grendel by modifying a 6.5mm PPC case and succeeded. The 6.5 Grendel is significantly more potent than the original .223 Remington while still running in an AR-15.

The 6.5mm Grendel was first publicly announced in 2003 at a Blackwater Training Facility in North Carolina where it displayed its ability to pack a bigger punch than the 5.56 NATO round – one could consider it as the round that basically became the US version of the 7.62×39.

6.5 Creedmoor History

On the other hand, 6.5 Creedmoor was developed largely because of the competitive shooting scene. Dave Emary and Dennis DeMille, of Hornady Manufacturing, worked on the cartridge in the early 2000s. Their goal was simple: create a round for high-power rifle competition shooting, specifically with a high ballistic coefficient, that was more shootable than a .308.

The initial design drew inspirations from the .260 Remington, a wildcat cartridge. Again, they saw success. The 6.5 Creedmoor was as accurate as the .308 Winchester but delivered less recoil, had less wind drift and a relatively flat trajectory. In fact, most people in the precision community now consider .308 to be a completely dead round for the sport, with no reason to choose it over the 6.5 Creedmoor.In terms of precision shooting rounds, the 6.5 Creedmoor became one of the most hotly discussed cartridges of the 21st century. Originally introduced in 2007, today, almost every barrel manufacturer in the U.S. has tooled up to accommodate for the hotly demanded barrel chambered in 6.5 CM.

6.5 Grendel vs. 6.5 Creedmoor: Cartridge Sizes

As 6.5 Creedmoor was based on the .308 cartridge, it’s naturally a larger round. The 6.5 Grendel features a rim diameter of .441”, while the 6.5 Creedmoor is .473”. The larger size means the Creedmoor round achieves a higher maximum average pressure, because it has a larger case capacity for more powder.

6.5 Grendel Specs

• Bullet Diameter: .264”
• Case Length: 1.52”
• Maximum Overall Length: 2.26”
• Rim Diameter: .441”
• Case Capacity: 35gr H2O
• Max Pressure: 52,0000 psi

6.5 Creedmoor Specs

• Bullet Diameter: .264”
• Case Length: 1.92”
• Maximum Overall Length: 2.825”
• Rim Diameter: .473”
• Case Capacity: 52.5gr H2O
• Max Pressure: 62,000 psi

6.5 Creedmoor vs 6.5 Grendel Ballistics

The sheer size difference between the two rounds means a significant gap in ballistics. That being said, both rounds were built with unique purposes in mind. One was meant to replace .223 Remington, while the other was meant to improve upon .308 Winchester—two distinct rounds with massive differences of their own.

6.5 Grendel Ballistics

• Muzzle Velocity: 2,580 fps, 1,818 ft-lb.
• Trajectory – 100 Yards: +2.2”, 1,581 ft-lb.
• Trajectory – 200 Yards: 0”, 1,376 ft-lb.
• Trajectory – 300 Yards: -9.2”, 1,189 ft-lb.
• Trajectory – 400 Yards: -26.4”, 1,023 ft-lb.
• Trajectory – 500 Yards: -52.8”, 876 ft-lb.

6.5 Creedmoor Ballistics

• Muzzle Velocity: 2,925 fps, 2,280 ft-lb.
• Trajectory – 100 Yards: +1.6”, 1,968 ft-lb.
• Trajectory – 200 Yards: 0”, 1,693 ft-lb.
• Trajectory – 300 Yards: -7.1”, 1,448 ft-lb.
• Trajectory – 400 Yards: -20.6”, 1,232 ft-lb.
• Trajectory – 500 Yards: -41.6”, 1,024 ft-lb.

6.5 Grendel vs 6.5 Creedmoor Applications

As you can see 6.5 Grendel and 6.5 Creedmoor are fantastic rounds that successfully improve upon their respective parent rounds. But like all other rounds, each one has its own optimal application.

Why Choose 6.5 Grendel

In terms of intended applications, the 6.5 Grendel is best if you only expect to be using it in a rifle meant for home defense or any kind of target shooting on a range. It is also a very viable caliber for hunting white tail deer and varmints. If you’re looking for a caliber that’s somewhere in between the 5.56mm NATO and 7.62mm NATO rounds, this is it.

Why Choose 6.5 Creedmoor

To be clear, both calibers are excellent for hunting small game such as feral hogs, whitetail deer, and fallow deer at short- to medium-range distances. However, if you wish to hunt larger game, bigger than a deer, then 6.5 Creedmoor is the better choice. In Europe, hunters will take down moose with 6.5 Swede, which is fairly close to the 6.5CM round. Even in competitive shooting, 6.5 Creedmoor is the clear winner when compared against the 6.5 Grendel for its superior bullet velocity and (less bullet drop) flatter flight path.

My introduction to the diminutive .17 caliber came via a mid-winter coyote caper in southwestern Alberta. I hunted mule deer there the previous year with a good buddy, Andre van Hilten, owner of Willow Creek Outfitters. The predator hunter in me couldn’t help but notice the abundance of coyotes as we picked apart the landscape with our optics in search of antlers. So it was no surprise the next January I was following Andre down a sharp ridgeline where we set up overlooking a spiderweb of brushy draws that converged at a frozen stock pond.

It was that magical crepuscular time of the morning all coyote hunters cherish. The breeze was cool and wispy as the sun peeked over the horizon. Andre laid into the rabbit distress call with the guttural growl of a chain-smoking blues singer, causing the hairs on the back of my neck to stand and applaud. I watched the hills come to life as coyotes began crawling out of the woodwork. Nine in all! Most were milling around several hundred yards out, finishing up the night shift and paying us very little attention. Then I spotted two coming hard, one down a fence line, the other circling the far end of the stock pond. I’d like to say that we cleaned house, but circumstances conspired to produce a big fat zero. Don’t ask, and I won’t tell. No worries, though. There was no shortage of coyotes and we’d get a chance at redemption in this predator-rich environment.

That reckoning came in the form of several rugged-out coyotes over the next few days of hunting, firmly planted by the formidable .17 Remington Fireball and its petite 20-grain AccuTip-V projectile. This hunt occurred a few years back when Remington first introduced the cartridge—a necked-down version of its .221 Fireball—and paired it with the also petite Model Seven rifle. I was one of a handful of early test subjects asked to measure its mettle. While I was somewhat skeptical of using such a small bullet on such large northern coyotes, that concern proved to be unfounded. A look at my notes from that hunt demonstrates the efficiency of this formidable little cartridge.

On that Alberta hunt we had no unrecovered coyotes. The longest shot—193 yards—to a broadside coyote dropped it in its tracks with no exit wound. A shot at 170 yards netted a similar result: instant death with no exit wound. A shot to the head at 171 yards dropped another coyote with an exit wound that caused only minimal damage. Only one coyote showed considerable fur damage: a frontal shot at 94 yards that encountered bone and exited out the shoulder.

Another group of hunters in Wyoming experienced similar results with kills ranging from 60 to 250 yards with no unrecovered coyotes. Only one hit coyote went a considerable distance and required a finishing shot. The dog shot at 250 yards was hit to the rear of the lungs, and the tough canine traveled 200 yards before succumbing.

Currently, there are three major .17-caliber centerfire cartridge offerings: .17 Remington, .17 Remington Fireball, and .17 Hornet. Each comes factory loaded with a decent selection of special-purpose varmint and predator bullets. I’d be remiss in not mentioning a lengthy list of wildcats, such as the .17 Ackley Bee, .17 Ackley Hornet, .17 MACH IV, .17 Javelina, and others.

So let’s set the stage by first looking at the three factory offerings in .17 caliber:

17 Remington

The first modern-day factory-loaded .17 varmint cartridge was the .17 Remington, introduced in 1971. It’s the hottest of the bunch (excluding the wildcats), and its angry little 20-grain Remington Premier AccuTip-V bullet leaves the barrel at 4,250 fps. This cartridge is based on the .223 Remington case (with some dimensional changes) necked-down to accept 0.172-inch-diameter bullets. Like its parent case, the rim diameter is 0.378 inch, and the shoulder angle remains 23 degrees.

.17 Remington Fireball

Remington launched the .17 Fireball, a necked-down version of its .221 Fireball, in 2007. It pushes the 20-grain Remington Premier AccuTip-V bullet out the barrel at 4,000 fps, almost matching the .17 Remington. But it uses significantly less powder than the .17 Remington and therefore produces less heat and fouling, which can be an issue with the high volume varmint hunters shoot. The .17 Remington Fireball was Remington’s factory-produced answer to the popular .17 Mach IV wildcat, which it resembles.

.17 Hornet

The .17 Hornet was originally offered as a wildcat cartridge by P.O. Ackley during the early 1950s, as a necked-down version of the .22 Hornet. Shooting a 20-grain V-max bullet, it produces a muzzle velocity of 3,650 fps and generates 592 ft.-lbs. of energy. Its trajectory is similar to that of a .223 Remington shooting a 55-grain bullet but with the felt recoil of a .22 WMR. As with the Fireball, there is less fouling, barrel wear, powder, and pressure when compared to the .17 Remington.

The Pros

It doesn’t take more than a glance to recognize what these cartridges have in common and what makes them effective for terminating predators, even those as large as northern coyote.Velocity, which, of course, is one of two ways to produce foot-pounds of energy. The other way being bullet mass. With their itty-bitty, frangible bullets, speed is required to produce the energy and terminal performance needed for effective kills—especially when dealing with coyote-sized critters. But the tiny .17 pill does come with some limitations.

First, the good news. There are many good reasons why downsizing to these diminutive cartridges for fur hunting can make sense, especially when pursuing smallish critters such as foxes, bobcats, and raccoons at moderate ranges: reduced recoil, flat trajectory, minimal fur damage, small maneuverable rifles, etc. Of these reasons, the one that left the biggest impression when I hunted with the .17 Fireball in Alberta was its mild recoil, which meant never losing sight of the target. Even when using high-powered optics, I could actually see the bullet hit fur on the coyotes I killed and that means I could often determine where the animal was hit and make quick follow-up shots when necessary. That’s because the .17 Fireball cartridge uses 50 percent less powder than the popular .22-250 Remington and generates 86 percent less recoil.

Next on the list of attributes is flat trajectory. Using the .17 Remington as an example, its 20-grain AccuTip-V bullet leaves the barrel at a blistering 4,250 fps, giving it a trajectory similar to the consummate varmint-getter, the .22-250 Remington, which has a muzzle velocity of 3,800 fps with a 50-grain version of the same bullet. With a 250-yard zero, the .17 Remington drops 2.5 inches at 300 yards and 13.5 inches at 400 yards. Comparatively, the .22-250 Remington with the same 250-yard zero drops 2.7 at 300 yards and 12.2 inches at 400 yards.

The next two characteristics—accuracy and terminal performance—have a lot to do with the bullets typically loaded for these cartridges, such as the aforementioned Remington AccuTip-V, Hornady V-MAX, Nosler FBHP Varmageddon, and others. In varmint calibers, these bullets, albeit small, combine superb flight characteristics and match-grade accuracy with a design optimized for explosive on-game results. Ballistic-tip bullets are death to thin-skinned critters, such as foxes, bobcats, and coyotes. The AccuTip-V performed as expected on those Alberta coyotes: a small entrance hole, explosive expansion, and very few exits. Most of the coyotes were dead before they hit the ground.

Finally, for outback hunts, lightweight, maneuverable rifles are the flavor of the day—for example, Remington’s Model Seven, Ruger’s 77/17, and Savage’s Walking Varminter. The fact that recoil isn’t an issue with the .17s means shedding weight makes sense when covering lots of ground or rugged terrain in pursuit of predators.

The Cons

OK, now for the not-so-good news. There are times when these undersized cartridges might get a fur hunter in trouble, such as when hunting in windy conditions or when hunting larger predators or a mixed bag of predators. The trade-off is that the lighter bullets produce less energy at the muzzle and shed it much quicker than heavier bullets, making them less effective as the yardage to the target increases. The .22-250 Remington produces nearly twice the foot-pounds of energy at the barrel—1,603 vs. 802—as the .17 Remington and 536 vs. 192 ft.-lbs. at 400 yards. That’s why I consider the .17s to be moderate-range cartridges for fur hunting, effective to 200 yards or so but not so much beyond that.

And as mentioned, wind drift is an issue with these lighter bullets when compared to larger calibers and their heavier bullets. Consider a .22-250 Remington pushing a 55-grain ballistic-tip bullet in a 20-mph crosswind. Hunters can expect 7.3 inches of drift at 200 yards and 17.5 inches at 300 yards. Compare that to the .17 Hornet pushing a 20-grain ballistic-tip bullet: 11.4 inches of drift and 200 yards and 28 inches of drift at 300 yards. For that reason, I often opt for larger calibers and heavier bullets if I know I’m going to be experiencing blustery conditions while hunting.

One last thing. Small-bore rifles generally need to be cleaned more frequently to maintain their accuracy.

I’m not ready to retire my .22-250 Remington rifles from active coyote duty, and I still have reservations about the downrange energy and wind-bucking ability of the 17-caliber cartridges on coyote-sized critter past 200 yards. But for light duty on fox-sized critters and coyotes at moderate ranges, these feisty little cartridges hold a secure position in my battery of predator/varmint rifles.

Introduced in 1959, the .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (22 WMR) is the quintessential ranch rifle round. The “.22 Mag,” as it’s less colloquially coined, delivers external and terminal ballistics sufficient to rid the pasture, woodlot and garden of marauding varmints, pests and predators out to 150 yards. When a quality rifle is placed in the hands of accomplished marksmen, that distance can be stretched a bit further. Despite the .22 Magnum’s uptick in external ballistics over the .22 Long Rifle (22 LR), perceived recoil is virtually nonexistent, making it ideal for multi-day prairie dog and ground squirrel shoots. Shooter fatigue with the cartridge is purely fictional.

Further endearing the .22 WMR to homeowners with neighbors is its reduced report; unless ultra-long volleys are commonplace, it’s unlikely that the sound will burden either the nearby residents or livestock within earshot. Ammunition is surprisingly affordable and diverse, too. In fact, 50-round boxes of ammunition in wide-ranging configurations range from $10.99 to $17.99 at MidwayUSA. Given such an assortment—the abovementioned retailer lists 26 different loads on its website—and price range, how do you know what to select? That’s the intent of this article—to provide an unbiased perspective.

In the subsequent paragraphs, I describe the particulars of six current .22 WMR hunting loads, as well as each load’s performance with regard to accuracy from a bench rest at 100 yards (five consecutive, five-shot groups), velocity and terminal performance at 50 yards in modeling clay. Velocities were recorded using a Competition Electronics ProChrono Digital 15 feet from the 20 ½-inch barrel of the test rifle, a Henry Repeating Arms Lever Action Octagon Frontier topped with a Bushnell Banner 3-9X40 riflescope. Bear in mind that as a lever-action rifle, the Henry was incapable of illustrating functionality of the ammunition in a semi-automatic, .22 WMR-chambered arm, and inherent accuracy shouldn’t be judged solely based on results from a single rifle, either. Lastly, I noted the advantages and drawbacks associated with each load. Here are my discoveries.

1. CCI Maxi-Mag .22 WMR 40-Grain Total Metal JacketParticulars: Featuring a full metal jacket, 40-grain bullet propelled to 1875 fps—for 312 ft.-lbs. of energy—this load was designed primarily for plinking and perforating paper; however, it’d nicely pull double-duty for those who want neutralize varmints or even dispatch porkers. Concerning the latter, from the field reports that I’ve read it’s the cat’s meow for exterminating feral hogs—to each their own. MSRP: $11.79 per 50-rnd. box; midwayusa.com.

Test: Across a Competition Electronics ProChrono Digital chronograph at 15 feet, the load averaged 1768 fps. Concerning accuracy, the flat-point, no-lead-exposed bullets proved to be near the top of the heap. In fact, for five consecutive, five-shot groups, it averaged 1.11-inch. The single smallest group measured 0.78-inch. As for its performance in the modeling clay, forget everything that you know about TMJ bullets—it doesn’t apply here. This bullet expands violently; weighing 33.4 grains, the recovered bullet measured an impressive 0.702-inch in diameter. Still, penetration was fairly deep.

Advantages: Eye-opening terminal ballistics, accurate, low cost, no-lead-exposed bullet.

Drawbacks: Looking for a non-expanding bullet to minimize pelt damage? This isn’t it.

2. Federal Premium V-Shok 30-Grain Speer TNTParticulars: This devastating round employs Speer’s appropriately named “TNT” bullet; pairing a lead core and thin jacket in a cavernous, hollow-point configuration maximizes expansion while simultaneously reducing penetration—perfect for stopping critters on the spot and reducing the risk of ricochet. Enhancing the external and terminal ballistics of the 30-grain bullet, its speedy 2200 fps velocity resulting in 322 ft.-lbs. of energy at the muzzle. MSRP: $12.99 per 50-rnd. box; midwayusa.com.

Test: Despite the test rifle’s 20½-inch barrel, this load achieved 2147 fps—only 53 fps less than the velocity achievable from a full 24-inch barrel. Accuracy with this round was respectable, averaging 1.39 inches for the 25 shots. Terminal performance in the modeling clay could be summed up with one word: devastating. The bullet created an immense yet relatively shallow cavity and completely fragmented. It’s little wonder why so many hunters report instantaneous kills on game upward the size of coyote.

Advantages: Shocking terminal performance, good accuracy, reasonable cost, reduced risk of ricochet.

Drawbacks: Want deep penetration? Look elsewhere.

3.CCI TNT Green .22 WMR 30-Grain Lead-Free Hollow PointParticulars: This is one of the few lead-free options in .22 WMR. It features a California compliant, 30-grain hollow-point bullet propelled to 2050 fps. Energy is 280 ft.-lbs. MSRP: $15.99 per 50-rnd. box; midwayusa.com.

Test: Taking into account its lightweight, 30-grain bullet, the recorded velocity of 1960 fps revealed that this is no speedster. That has little effect on its terminal performance, though. In fact, the projectile created a sizeable and surprisingly deep wound channel in which it fully fragmented, leaving the once-compressed core material strewn about. With such expansion characteristics, ricochets would be highly unlikely. The load’s strong showing with regard to terminal performance was somewhat offset by its accuracy potential; in the Henry it averaged 1.95 inches, which is large for extended-range work on smallish species.

Advantages: Lead-free (California compliant), good terminal ballistics.

Drawbacks: Pricey, lackluster accuracy.

4. Hornady 30-Grain V-MaxParticulars: The unabashed long-range option of this assemblage, this load employs Hornady’s 30-grain, polymer-tipped V-Max bullet propelled to 2200 fps, making it ideal for stretching the distance on wary varmints and predators. In addition to increasing the ballistic coefficient (BC) for improved external ballistics, the tip ensures explosive expansion even at the reduced velocities at distance. Recovery distances will be short—if the animals move at all. Energy is 322 ft.-lbs. As an aside, this bullet has a lead core, therefore it’s not California compliant for hunting; however, Hornady manufactures a lead-free option in its 25-grain NTX load. MSRP: $11.69 per 50-rnd. box; midwayusa.com.

Test: Averaging 2166 fps, the Hornady 30-grain V-Max load was the fastest of the group. It was also the most accurate; in fact, the average for five consecutive, five-shot groups was a remarkable 0.94-inch. The single smallest group measured a diminutive 0.21-inch. Between its speed and accuracy, this is the go-to round for stretching the distance. True to its lineage, the 30-grain V-Max bullet proved to be extremely explosive in the modeling clay; only a few shards of the jacket and core and the tip were recovered.

Advantages: Extremely accurate, fast, excellent terminal performance, reduced risk of ricochet, low cost.

Drawbacks: None

5. CCI .22 Mag GamePoint 40-grain Jacketed Soft PointParticulars: Unique in this grouping, the GamePoint load—marketed as a small-game load—features a 40-grain, jacketed, soft-point bullet, which is designed for controlled expansion and deep penetration. Said characteristics will endear it to pursuers of larger, tougher predators, such as coyotes. Propelled to 1875 fps, the bullet produces 312 ft.-lbs. of energy at the muzzle. MSRP: $12.99 per 50-rnd. box; academy.com.

Test: At 1915 fps, the Competition Electronics chronograph revealed that this load was slightly faster than the published velocity. Accuracy wise, the load did good but not great; for 25 shots it averaged 1.65-inch. What stands out about this load is its terminal performance. Constructed more like a big-game bullet than one for varmints, the recovered bullet weighed 39.9 grains—virtually 100 percent weight retention. Moreover, the bullet, which measured 0.545-inch in diameter, created a large wound cavity and penetrated deep. For coyotes and other large nuisance species within the .22 Magnum’s realm, there’s none better.

Advantages: Deep-penetrating, high-weight-retention bullet (perfect for larger animals within the cartridge’s capabilities), descent accuracy, moderate cost.

Drawbacks: More likely to ricochet than the more fragile bullets.

6. CCI Maxi-Mag .22 WMR 40-Gr. Jacket Hollow PointParticulars: Ah, yes, the omnipresent Maxi-Mag .22 WMR load; perhaps none is as so persuasive. The 40-grain, copper-plated-lead, hollow-point bullet is pushed to 1875 fps, for 312 ft.-lbs. of energy. Designed for small game and varmints—think utilitarian—the projectile offers controlled expansion for deep(ish) penetration. Because of its terminal performance, though, only with headshots should it be utilized on edible game. MSRP: $11.79 per 50-rnd. box; midwayusa.com.

Test: This load clocked 1759 fps from the Henry’s abbreviated barrel. Concerning accuracy, at 1.90-inch for it left much to be desired; you’ll struggle to make consistent hits on small species at the 22 WMR’s farthest reaches. The load offered a useful blend of terminal ballistics. Only the GamePoint and TMJ loads out-penetrated the Maxi-Mag 40-grain JHP bullet, and the cavity it produced was sizable. Given the recovered projectile expanded to 0.438-inch in diameter and weighed 17.5 grains, a sizeable portion of the bullet pierced deep while the washed off material would naturally serve to damage vital organs and structures.

Advantages: Utilitarian bullet design, low cost

Drawbacks: Unimpressive accuracy

The .22 WMR is a top-notch cartridge for eliminating nuisance animals at ranges out to 150 yards. However, its maximum potential is unlocked only through load selection. Here you’ve been introduced to six options among the many in the marketplace. One of them will help you extract the most from your “.22 Mag.”

First, let’s get the biggest news about the new LCP MAX out of the way. It has a magazine capacity of 10 rounds, and an optional 12-round magazine is offered as an accessory. That’s twice the capacity of the previous .380 ACP LCP and LCP II pistols, which, by the way, are still in production. Ruger accomplished this increase in firepower by developing a double-stack magazine that is, surprisingly, not much wider than the original single-stack magazine.

Fine Features

Like the other LCP pistols, the new LCP MAX’s slide has cocking ears, grasping grooves (front and rear), and an external extractor. The top edges and the muzzle end are beveled for concealment and a smooth draw.

According to Ruger’s website, the LCP MAX has a 2.8-inch barrel, but according to my Stanley tape measure, the sample barrel measures closer to 2.75 inches, which is the specified length for the LCP and LCP II pistols. Either way, the barrel is finished in black, and the muzzle is crowned. The recoil guide rod is full length. And the chamber has view ports on both sides that serve as loaded-chamber indicators; they are not on top of the chamber like on many other pistols.

Whenever a .380 ACP pocket pistol is reviewed, readers ask whether it is blowback or recoil-operated because a lot of the older small-caliber, small-size semiautomatic pistols are blowback. The LCP MAX is a recoil-operated autoloader.

Like its predecessor, the LCP MAX utilizes a tilting-breech design. When a cartridge is fired, the steel barrel and steel slide remain locked together for a short distance of slide travel, after which the breech end of the barrel cams down, out of engagement with the slide. The slide then moves fully rearward, extracting and ejecting the fired case. Then the dual recoil springs return the slide to its forward position, picking up a cartridge from the magazine and chambering it. As the cycle is completed, the breech-end of the barrel cams up and locks into the slide.

The LCP MAX uses Ruger’s Secure Action fire-control system similar to the Ruger-57 and Security-9 semiautomatic pistols. When the slide cycles, the recessed hammer is cocked fully. Squeezing the trigger (which involves pressing the built-in safety lever to allow the trigger to move fully to the rear) releases the hammer to strike the firing pin. The slide automatically locks back on an empty magazine.

Speaking of magazines, the double-stack 10-round magazine that comes standard with the LCP MAX also comes with an interchangeable finger-extension baseplate. It doesn’t increase the magazine capacity, but it offers a bit more to grab onto. I didn’t use it in my shootout because I had a secure purchase using the flush-fitting magazine baseplate. (For the record, I wear medium-size gloves.)

But switching the baseplates is easy. Just push a pin punch or similar tool into the magazine seat where it protrudes into the hole on the baseplate. Slide the baseplate forward toward the front of the magazine. Use caution because the magazine spring is under heavy tension and can cause the forcible ejection of the magazine spring seat and the spring. The magazine spring seat, the spring, and the follower can be removed for cleaning at this juncture. Then just reassemble the parts, switching the baseplates.

The magazine’s metal tube has two witness holes on the right side; one has the number 5 near it, and the other has the number 10, indicating the round counts. The LCP MAX does not have a magazine disconnect safety, so that means it will fire with the magazine removed just like the earlier LCP and LCP II pistols.

The magazine release on the pistol’s frame can be switched from the left-hand side to the right-hand side. This procedure is a bit more complicated but still fairly user-friendly. The pistol needs to be disassembled, so let’s go through those steps first.

Once you’re certain the pistol is not loaded and the magazine has been ejected, pull the slide fully to the rear and engage the slide stop. Visually check the chamber one more time to be sure it is empty. Retract the slide and release it. Pry loose the takedown pin with a flat-head screwdriver or other blunt tool, then remove the takedown pin entirely with your fingers. Move the slide assembly forward and off the frame. The recoil spring guide rod assembly and barrel can then be removed from the slide.

To switch the magazine latch, first look down into the front of magazine well and locate the magazine latch. A wire coming up from the lower part of the magazine well engages the magazine latch, and it serves as the magazine latch spring and retainer. Use a pointed steel rod, such as a scribe, to approach the spring from the bottom of the magazine well. Push the wire to the side it is bent towards while prying it towards the rear of the magazine well until the wire comes free of the latch. The spring does not need to be removed.

Remove the magazine latch by pushing on the striated button side and pushing it all the way through the grip frame. Rotate the striated edge up to get around the end of the magazine latch spring and then down again to remove it from the frame.

Reinstall the magazine latch by starting the striated end into the opposite side of the grip frame. When the latch reaches the spring, rotate it past the spring and then rotate it back to reach the opposite side of the frame. The spring should lie against the flat on the magazine latch.

Use the pointed scribe to manipulate the wire magazine latch spring sideways, away from the striated button, until it locks itself into the magazine latch.

Reassemble the barrel and recoil spring guide rod assembly in the slide and install the slide onto the frame. Always check for proper function after reassembly before firing live ammunition. The company states it is safe to dry-fire an empty LCP MAX in moderation without damaging the firing pin or other components, but using a snap cap is recommended for continued dry-firing.

The pistol’s rear sight is all black with horizontal striations on the face and a U-shaped notch. The front sight has a green tritium dot with a white-outline ring around it. It and the rear sight are dovetailed into the slide. If windage adjustment is desired, drift the rear sight in the direction you want to move the point of impact on the target.

The high-performance glass-filled nylon frame has an aluminum insert and a rounded trigger guard that has coarse horizontal texturing on the front. The grip portion has fine texturing on the sides, the frontstrap, and the backstrap.

The LCP MAX comes with a pocket holster, a trigger padlock, and a polymer magazine loader.

Range Results

I fired the new LCP MAX with eight .380 ACP factory loads ranging in bullet weight from 60 to 100 grains. The pistol functioned perfectly with all loads. Overall average accuracy for three, five-shot groups with each load at 25 yards was 4.49 inches. Its best single five-shot group measured 2.50 inches, and it came with Federal 99-grain HST ammunition. That load’s average accuracy was 4.00 inches. Shooting offhand at 10 yards with the Federal 99-grain HST ammo placed a full magazine of 10 rounds into a gaping ragged hole with all shots nearly touching.

The LCP MAX weighs just 10.6 ounces, so some recoil is expected even with the low-recoiling .380 ACP round. Some loads were pretty snappy in terms of felt recoil, but none were uncomfortable. The trigger pull averaged 6 pounds, 14 ounces for a series of 10 measurements with an RCBS trigger pull scale.

The only complaint I have from my shooting session doesn’t really have anything to do with the gun’s quality or function, but the sights were a tad fuzzy. But that is due to my poor eyesight.

Obviously, it’s time for me to get some new eyeglasses!

Ruger LCP MAX Specifications

• Manufacturer: Sturm, Ruger & Co., ruger.com
• Type: Recoil-operated, hammer-fired autoloader
• Caliber: .380 ACP
• Magazine Capacity: 10 rounds
• Barrel: 2.8 in.
• Overall Length: 5.17 in.
• Width: 0.94 in. (slide is 0.81 in.)
• Height: 4.12 in.
• Weight, Empty: 10.6 oz.
• Grips: Integral to polymer frame
• Finish: Black oxide
• Sights: U-notch, drift-adjustable rear; tritium/white-outline front
• Trigger: 6.85-lb. pull (as tested)
• Safety: Safety lever trigger, internal striker block
• MSRP: $449