Smith & Wesson Announces New M&P Shield® M2.0™ Pistol Series The M&P M2.0 Family Just Got Slim…and Bright
SPRINGFIELD, Mass., (October 16, 2017) – Smith & Wesson Corp. today announced the launch of its new M&P Shield M2.0 pistol series, including the M&P Shield M2.0 pistol with Integrated Crimson Trace® Laser. Available in 9mm and .40 S&W, the M&P Shield M2.0 pistol family builds upon the popular M&P M2.0 platform, delivering professional-grade features and proven performance in a slim, lightweight, and easy-to-carry profile that incorporates the enhanced M2.0 feature set. James Debney, President, and CEO of American Outdoor Brands Corporation said, “When we launched the M&P Shield pistol, it quickly became the pistol of choice in the concealed carry market. Having recently shipped our 2-millionth M&P Shield pistol we are now excited to build upon its success by introducing our newest Shield in the popular M&P M2.0 series of products. As personal protection continues to be a leading driver for consumers purchasing a handgun, the M&P Shield M2.0 pistol and M&P Shield M2.0 pistol with Integrated Crimson Trace Laser both provide an all-in-one package for those looking for an everyday carry firearm.” The M&P Shield M2.0 pistol builds upon the success of the best-selling M&P Shield pistol line through notable enhancements, including the M&P M2.0 crisp trigger with lighter trigger pull, a tactile and audible trigger reset, and aggressive grip texture for enhanced control. Those familiar with the M&P Shield product line will recognize the familiar, slim profile and 18-degree grip angle for a natural point of aim. Available with or without a manual thumb safety, the M&P Shield M2.0 pistol series features a 3.1” barrel in both 9mm and .40 S&W, is available with both white dot sights or tritium night sights, and ships with one standard and one extended grip magazine. The M&P Shield M2.0 pistol is also available with Integrated Crimson Trace Laser, providing consumers with an out-of-the-box concealed carry solution that features two laser modes and ambidextrous laser activation for user confidence and reliable performance day or night. The new M&P Shield M2.0 pistol carries an MSRP of $479, or an MSRP of $579 including tritium night sights. The new M&P Shield M2.0 pistol with Integrated Crimson Trace Laser carries an MSRP of $499. For more information about the M&P Shield M2.0 family of pistols, including spec sheets and images, please click here. For more information on Smith & Wesson products, please visit www.smith-wesson.com About Smith & Wesson Smith & Wesson Corp. is a provider of quality firearms for personal protection, target shooting and hunting in the global consumer and professional markets. Smith & Wesson is world famous for its handguns and long guns sold under the Smith & Wesson®, Performance Center®, M&P®, Thompson/Center Arms™, and Gemtech® brands. Through its Manufacturing Services Division, Smith & Wesson Corp. also provides forging, machining, and precision plastic injection molding services to a wide variety of consumer goods companies. For more information on Smith & Wesson, call (800) 331-0852 or log on to www.smith-wesson.com. |
Monthly Archives: October 2017
Rifle Recoil, Accuracy and the 6.5 Creedmoor for Big Game Hunters
It is axiomatic that most can shoot with more accuracy with a .22 LR Rifle than with a larger center fire bullet. The fundamental reason is lack of recoil or kick as some may say.
Many folks recommend the .243 Winchester (6mm) as a good rifle caliber for a young deer hunter. And for good reason, it has low recoil in the 8 to 11 ft-lb class that many women and young shooters can easily handle.
But what if I could raise the caliber to 6.5 and still shoot in the 10 to 11 ft-lb class and really be able to pack a wallop at long range and have even deeper penetration ensuring game going down faster.
The 6.5 Creedmoor does just that and with great accuracy! I am a big fan as you can tell from all of my articles!
At right is a 6.5 Creedmoor next to a 30-06 cartridge. Big difference!! All said and done, the 6.5 Creedmoor built rifle can be lighter and easily handled in the field making it even more popular for all day or all week hunting and handling. Who doesn’t like that!
I have tested several rifles here in New Hampshire Rifleman Magazine with the 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge and find that many rifle brands are extremely cost effective from say the $400 to 600 dollar range for a new rifle such as Ruger, Thompson Center, Weatherby and Savage to name a few. And all of those I tested were MOA or better in accuracy. I mean really, that is just fantastic. If you hand load the 6.5 you are in for a treat, at the bench and at the target range it shoots holes in holes bringing a smile to my face every time. As a varmint rifle it is in the process of making new permanent friends for Coyote and Woodchuck/Prairie Dog hunters too.
I hope to shoot the 6.5 Creedmoor soon in a Weatherby Rifle I am due to test. Look for it soon!
© 2017
The WHITETAIL RUT IS ON!!
Each year I wait to hear those words but the hunters like me are in RUT too. They are out buying equipment, ammo, arrows, broadheads, scent killers and soaps a sure sign the hunters are in full rut. On the deer side, the first does are coming or near coming into estrous.
The bucks are going bonkers in anticipation!
Years back I found a spot where a young buck was working a deer trail scraping his small antlers on small saplings. I placed a scrape with multiple scents and never saw any deer use that trail again.
Less is often better.
I could have made a mock scrape and put just one drop of scent in it. Trust me the deer can smell it!
One of the things that I sometimes forget to take into account is that the doe’s are on the look out for potential mates too and walk leaving her inter-digital gland scent saying who she is. She can be spooked out too and leave the area taking the buck with her.
You gotta find where the deer are my friends. I have been out scouting and found very little recent deer activity except in one spot where a very big buck track was seen on the edge of a clover field. Big tracks are very rare to belong to a doe.
I am guessing the doe’s are feeding there at night and the buck is on the lookout for an estrous doe. This is a place I have been before so I know.
WATCH THAT WIND!!!!!!
This is a place to study especially early morning and at dusk. Got to get into the woods and intersect them without giving yourself away with too much human scent. Yea watch the wind and thermals on hillsides for morning updrafts and afternoon down drafts. If you are caught in a morning updraft thermal say at 7AM, that buck above is gonna smell you. Best to be in place always before light for a morning hunt. And in place by 2 pm or so for an afternoon hunt.
Still hunt when there are lots of other hunters! They bump deer!
Don’t over hunt a spot!
More….
© 2017
Muzzleloader Season for Whitetails : T/C Encore Pro Hunter Rifle with Muzzleloader barrel
Here in New Hampshire Muzzleloader season is almost upon us and it is tough to just get to see deer in my sights. I want the gun to go boom on the first shot! The T/C Encore does that with a flair. I wrote a series of articles on this rifle last year. see below. Check it out! Enjoy!
My T/C Encore Pro Hunter Rifle can swap to a Muzzleloader barrel. And last year I used a 30-06 barrel on a Russian Boar hunt. Read it below.
http://www.nhrifleman.com/?s=skinner&submit=Search
I swapped back to the muzzleloader barrel for the coming whitetail hunt here in New Hampshire beginning October 28.
Use your favorite bullet. See history of articles below on this TC Encore.
http://www.nhrifleman.com/?s=TC+Encore&submit=Search
Good Hunting!
© 2017
TC Venture in 6.5 Creedmoor – Out of the Box at 100 yards
First three shots from this brand spanking new TC Venture right out of the box, for a 3 shot group below using Hornady Precision Hunter ELD-X in 6.5 Creedmoor measure 7/16 inch at 100 yds. Wow! And I know that I can do better for grouping all from a gun that is advertised as MOA accurate. This is Sub-MOA Accurate. Wow! What is Weathershield™? See video below that says “way better than stainless steel” !!!
https://youtu.be/WrGs3O1WWdc
Spec’s from T/C website:
My first target at 100 yards with a 4.2 lb trigger that can be adjusted 3.5 to 5 lbs.
My bench setup below with very crisp and clear Leupold VX-3 2.5-8x36mm. Nice!!
This rifle has a synthetic clip that holds 3 shots and can be easily removed from the rifle in a snow or wet rain filled cold day where your body shivers. I would order a spare clip and have on hand. The bolt opens and closed a bit more snug than some bolts, but many will find that an advantage. I like the weaver bases already mounted.
The safety is a two position on/off lever at the top rear of the bolt.
Overall I give this rifle an A+ “out of the box” for price and quality for a USA product.
It has posts for a sling and is easy to carry. With a MSRP of $578 how can you go wrong.
More soon…
© 2017
Thirteen Original Colonies – French and Indian Warfare Tactics gave birth to the wide use of the Pennsylvania Rifle for a new kind of warfare.
In my research on the Pennsylvania/Kentucky Rifle, (America’s first Sniper Rifle) I learned that Continental Congress leaders learned warfare tactics by Native Indians et. al. during the French and Indian war of 1756 also known in Europe as the Seven Years War.
http://www.history.com/topics/seven-years-war/videos/what-was-the-french-and-indian-war
“SEE WEBSITE BELOW :
“Riflemen played an important role in the French and Indian War and the American Revolution, wars characterized by irregular combat in woodland battlefields. By the eve of the latter conflict, several patriot leaders believed that American woodsmen armed with Pennsylvania Rifles could easily defeat stodgy, musket-wielding redcoats. In 1775 George Washington recruited rifle companies as the core of his new Continental Army. The Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment and units from southern colonies answered the call.”
http://explorepahistory.com/hmarker.php?markerId=1-A-333
The British had the 13 colonies and wanted expand north and west. The French had Canadian land in Quebec and wanted to expand south and west. It was the native Indians of different tribes that aided both sides in battle.
It was George Washington who learned battle tactics during this time frame.
http://www.history.com/topics/seven-years-war/videos/george-washingtons-early-years
And in New Hampshire, General John Stark learned his new colonial battle tactics under the New Hampshire Provincial Regiment led by Colonel Nathaniel Meserve under British leadership in the French and Indian War as well.
Accordingly, the British won the French and Indian war and concluded with the Treaty of Paris but because Britain’s Secretary of State William Pitt who managed the money, borrowed heavily to win. Accordingly the British taxed the colonist’s too heavily for it and resulted in rebellion. Thus making British leadership and its military unwelcome in the colonies and itching for a Revolution to kick the British and its King George driven monarchy out.
Meanwhile, the German trained, Pennsylvania gunsmiths such as Jacob Dickert, were busy making the Pennsylvania Rifle many know as the Kentucky Rifle (to settle Kentucky) with grooves (called rifling) in the barrel to spin the bullet. Thus making that rifle a superb long range rifle, out to 300 yards, in the hands of a marksman, hunter or soldier. General Washington created Rifle Regiments…and Brigadier General Daniel Morgan
A master of the Pennsylvania Rifle and one the most brilliant battlefield tacticians of the Revolution and trusted by General Washington.
And today we get to honor those men and reenact with that Rifle and Hunt with it.
T/C Venture Weathershield in 6.5 Creedmoor Arrived for Testing
MSRP under $600. MOA accurate. Guaranteed.
We will begin testing soon. I am in love with the 6.5 Creedmoor Cartridge. Comes with picatinny scope mounts
New Bolt Action Weatherby in 6.5 Creedmoor Vanguard Weatherguard Arrived For Testing
MSRP 749.00 Wow! Some retailers selling for under $600. Claim to fame? The Howa Action! And it’s a Weatherby! Guaranteed under an inch with best in class ammo they say. Can this puppy hunt? We shall see…More soon!
New Nosler Custom .338 Winchester Magnum Brass For Sale
Nosler Custom .338 Winchester Magnum Brass (50 Count) for sale. New in original wrapper.
$65 Free Shipping USA Only.
Send email to erhale@comcast.net to purchase.
What’s new in Hunting Knife/Saw – The SwingBlade-Pak
It ain’t cheap but a great investment at $99 bucks. The blade that has the rounded end is for gutting as in a gut hook and for caping. The blade and saw is a Japanese AUS-8 steel and the blade is 3.6 inch shaving sharp for gutting and caping. Comes with orange handles too for easy visibility. I saw it at Bass Pro too. Love the quality leather sheath. The video below sells the caping/gut hook tool easily and is field tested.
https://www.outdooredge.com/products/swingblaze-pak-szp-1
If you are looking for a new and innovative product for field dressing this may be it.
The other China made product is the Kodi-pak.
Check it out!