September 2002

dope bag data & comment

A M E R I C A N R I F L E M A N

Among this year’snew products fromSmith & Wesson is a

line of lightweight revolverswith scandium alloy frames.Previous lightweights fromS&W and other manufac-turers featured frames ofaluminum or titanium.Aluminum makes for a verylight gun, but its limitedtensile strength restricts itsuse to guns with chamber-ings no more powerful than.38 Spl. +P. Even then, theS&W’s cylinder has to besteel, thus limiting theweight reduction that couldbe achieved.

Scandium is a rare andexpensive element.Thankfully only a smallamount of scandium isneeded to boost the tensilestrength of aluminum to thepoint where it compares tothat of steel. Combined

with titanium cylinders, theuse of a scandium and alu-minum alloy means S&W’sguns made from that alloycan be both lighter andmore powerful.

The Mountain Lite ischambered in .357 Mag.,and it features a titaniumcylinder CNC-machinedfrom bar stock with aseven-shot capacity.Theframe and barrel shroudare of the aluminum andscandium alloy, while thebarrel itself consists ofstainless steel. By maximiz-ing the use of lightweightmaterials, the Mountain Liteweighs in at just 181⁄2 ozs.

In such a lightweighthandgun, careful attentionmust be paid to the compo-sition of internal compo-nents that are especiallyvulnerable to batteringfrom recoil of cartridges as

powerful as the .357 Mag.Accordingly, the MountainLite makes use of Titaniumpins for the hammer andtrigger pivots that hold upbetter under recoil, alongwith triggers and hammersof casehardened steel.Titanium has a hardeningthreshold beyond whichparts become brittle,which is why hammers,triggers and other internaloperating parts are ofhardened steel. Fewmishaps will put a revolverout of action faster than abent ejector rod; accord-ingly, a shroud beneath thebarrel protects theMountain Lite’s stainlesssteel unit.

A wide checkered pad-dle on the external ham-mer aids thumb-cockingfor single-action fire. Incontrast, the trigger’s

The American Rifleman has used the phrase “Dope Bag” at least since1921, when Col. Townsend Whelen first titled his column with it. Even then,it had been in use for years, referring to a sack used by target shootersto hold ammunition and accessories on the firing line. “Sight dope” alsowas a traditional marksman’s term for sight adjustment information, whilejudging wind speed and direction was called “doping the wind.”

WARNING: Technical data and information contained herein are intended to provide informationbased on the limited experience of individuals under specific conditions and circumstances. Theydo not detail the comprehensive training procedures, techniques and safety precautions absolute-ly necessary to properly carry on similar activity. Read the notice and disclaimer on the contentspage. Always consult comprehensive reference manuals and bulletins for details of proper trainingrequirements, procedures, techniques and safety precautions before attempting any similar activity.

76

S&W Mountain LiteScandiumRevolver

Smith & Wesson’s new Scandium-framed revolvers—offering ultralight overall weight with nearly thestrength of steel—continue thecompany’s long history as an inno-vator in the manufacture of hand-guns. The .357 Mag. Mountain Liteweighs only 181⁄2 ozs.

MANUFACTURER: Smith &Wesson (Dept AR),2100 Roosevelt Ave.,Springfield, MA 01102;(800) 331-0852;www.smith-wesson.com

CALIBER: .357 Mag. (tested)or .38 Spl. +P*

ACTION TYPE: double-actionrevolver

FRAME: matte-finished,forged scandium alloy

BARREL: 31⁄8" stainless steelRIFLING: six-groove, 1:18"

RH twistCYLINDER: seven-shot titaniumSIGHTS: fixed-post front with

Hi-Viz fiber-optic insert,V-notch rear adjustable forwindage and elevation.

TRIGGER: double-action:10 lbs. pull, double-action;3 lbs. pull. single-action

OVERALL LENGTH: 81⁄8"WIDTH: 15⁄8"HEIGHT: 5"WEIGHT: 181⁄2 ozs.ACCESSORIES: trigger lock

and key, lockable alu-minum carry case,

SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE:

$799*Other options available.

S&W MOUNTAIN LITE

curved face is smooth tolimit any perceivedrecoil that could betransmitted through thetrigger assembly of thislightweight gun. Forsafer storage, theMountain Lite includes alock pin on the left-handside of frame above thecylinder latch.Turningthe pin counter clock-wise blocks movementof the trigger, hammerand cylinder. An “L”with an arrow stampedabove the cylinder lockserves as a visual cuefor the user.

Although theMountain Lite’s morevisible features seem tobe aiming for high-techcachet, the hammer andcylinder are powered bytraditional flat springs.

A powerful, lightweightrevolver also demandsstocks that aid recoil man-agement.With that purposein mind, Hogue BantamGrips are standard on theMountain Lite.The Bantam

is a one-piece unit thatwraps around the front, butnot the back strap. Interioraluminum panels stiffen theBantam’s soft neoprene sur-face.The grip has a largefillet above the topmost ofits three finger grooves toprotect the firer’s hand fromany potential rapping fromthe trigger guard, and thelast finger groove extendsbeyond the bottom of the

grip frame, allowing thefirer to establish a

shooting grip usinghis whole hand.

The lightweight andunique recoil

profile of titanium revolvershave been known to unseatbullets in lightly crimpedcartridges.The manuals forthe last group of S&W titani-um revolvers we tested(August 1999, p. 34) specifi-cally recommended thatusers avoid unjacketed bul-lets, but Smith & Wessonmakes no specific recom-mendation or restrictions onammunition brands or typesfor the Mountain Lite.However, the manual doesadvise users to testammunition by loading acylinder and shooting allbut the last round. If thebullet in the remainingcartridge shows signs ofunseating, that ammuni-tion should not be used.

For accuracy and veloc-ity testing we shot theMountain Lite from aRansom Rest. Results areshown on the accompany-ing table. Consistent withS&W’s previous guidelines,we saw no evidence ofbullets unseating in com-mercial ammunition withjacketed bullets.We did,however, observe someloosening in the unjacket-ed wadcutters we tried insearch of a lighter load forpractice. The trigger of ourexample broke at 10 lbs.pull in the double-actionmode and just 3 lbs. sin-gle-action. There was nostacking, and the triggerpull length was very shortfor a double-action.

The Hogue grips arecomfortable and do anadmirable job protectingthe firer’s fingers from therap of the trigger guard.The backstrap, however, isopen and recoil throughthe web of the hand washarsh. Although shootersexperienced in controllinghard-kicking handgunsfound it manageable, it iswise to remember that theMountain Lite is not astrong candidate for thoseseeking a plinker for longshooting sessions.

Hi-Viz sights are largeand easy to see even inlow light, thus aidingrapid sight alignment.Like the Mountain Lite’slarge L-frame and wideseven-shot cylinder, itssights are too bulky fordiscreet carry next to thebody under clothing.These features shouldpresent no problem forcarry in a backpack orbelt holster. Bulk is farless of a penalty thanweight when trekking thehigh country in any case.

The Mountain Lite is aspecial-purpose tool. Forthose who need a power-ful handgun that is toolight to be left behind, it iscertainly worthconsideration.

September 200277

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CCaarrttrriiddggee ((ff..pp..ss..)) ((fftt..--llbbss..)) SSmmaalllleesstt LLaarrggeesstt AAvveerraaggee

Hornady XTP 1256 Avg. 438 2.45 3.26 2.81125-gr. JHP 37 Sd

Federal Hydra-Shok 1119 Avg. 440 2.83 5.11 3.78158-gr. JHP 25 Sd

Winchester Nosler PG 931 Avg. 347 2.56 4.37 3.63180-gr. JHP 22 Sd

Average Extreme Spread: 3.41

Measured average velocity for 10 rounds from a 31⁄8" barrel. Range tem-perature: 78°F. Humidity: 64%. Accuracy for five consecutive, five-shotgroups at 25 yds. from a Ransom Rest. Abbreviations: JHP (jacketed hol-low point), PG (Partition Gold), XTP (Extreme Terminal Performance).

SHOOTING RESULTS

A M E R I C A N R I F L E M A N

The rear sight blade has a V-notch (r.) and is screw-

adjustable for windage and elevation. Many previous S&W

target and hunting revolvers featured an orange insert to

aid rapid sight alignment in poor light. The Hi-Viz fiber-

optic front sight (l.) is a natural evolution of that tradition.

A recess with a steel pin (top) serves

as a lanyard loop for backcountry

adventurers who might lose their

gun in a fall. The internal operating

parts of the Mountain Light are

hardened steel, while the hammer

and trigger pivot pins are titanium.

Most hunters whouse a spottingscope will never

portage the YukonTerritory or trek the highcountry in the SierraNevadas. For those rea-sons, they do not need anexpensive spotting scopethat is “everything proof.”Still, the main objective inthe purchase of any spot-ting scope for hunting andshooting must be a clear,bright image with plentyof definition to enable theuser to judge animals andtargets from a distance.For those who use spottingscopes under more typicalconditions, Burris offers itsLandmark series.Designed specifically forhunters and shooters, theLandmark scopes offerbright, crisp images with aone-year warranty at agreat value. How great avalue? Try $227 to $290.

With magnification setat 20X, the Landmarkenables the user to get the“big picture” while quickly

scanning large amounts ofterritory. The 60X magnifi-cation setting enables thehunter to judge gamedetail or scratch scores ontargets by zooming up onthem for a closer look.Experienced hunters findspotting scopes an excel-lent tool for planning stalk-ing routes in advance,avoiding obstacles andidentifying points of refer-ence. Target shooters findspotting scopes help themjudge wind and mirage aswell as scores.

Burris’ Landmark spot-ting scopes are offered intwo models—a 15-45X witha 60 mm objective lensand a 20-60X with an 80mm objective lens. Bothare relatively compact andlightweight. The 15-45Xmodel measures just over121⁄2" in length and weighs24 ozs. The 20-60X modelis approximately 171⁄4" inlength and weighs 44 ozs.We received an exampleof the latter for test andevaluation.

As image quality was amajor consideration in theLandmark series, Burrisspecified multi-coating onall lens surfaces, variablemagnification and large-diameter objective lenses.

September 2002

dope bag data & comment

A M E R I C A N R I F L E M A N 78

Burris LandmarkSpotting Scope

Burris’ new Landmark spotting scope

is aimed at the hunter and shooter

who does not need an expensive,

“everything proof” scope. Evaluated

here is the 20-60X Landmark with an

80 mm objective lens.

Because of its size and weight,

the Burris Landmark 20-60X spot-

ting scope will be used mostly

from fixed/semi-fixed positions

and from vehicles. The smaller

15-45X can be carried by the

hunter comfortably in the field.

To keep weight down, thescope tubes are made ofaluminum alloy with ahigh-impact plastic focusadjustment knob.Magnification adjustmentis by means of twisting theocular eyepiece, which ismarked clearly for 20X,40X and 60X. A white doton the eyepiece bodyserves as a referencepoint. The eyepiece has arubber cup with approxi-mately 3/4" of eye relief. Aflat base with a threadedhole integral to the reartube allows fast, easymounting on most tripods.

Our test example scopeoffered a 105' field of viewat 1,000 yds. when set at20X magnification and 52'at 60X—quite sufficient formost hunting applications.Exit pupil is 4 mm at 20Xand 1.33 mm at 60X. Bothare acceptable for a spot-ting scope of this type andpower.With its 80 mmobjective lens, theLandmark gathers enoughlight to provide a twilightfactor of 40 at the lowestsetting and 69 at the high-est magnification, whichenables the user to easily

judge game at dawn, duskand in heavily overcastconditions. Compare thosefigures with a typical 3-9X40 mm rifle scope with atwilight factor of 19!

Landmark scopes comewith two, high-impact,black plastic lens covers—the rear threads into placewhile the objective lenscover seats with a frictionfit. A padded nylon carrycase is supplied with eachscope. The case hasadjustable, quick-releasecover fasteners and anadjustable carry strap forsecure field transport.Wecarried this scope whilehiking for long periodsand found it comfortableto carry. However, this isdefinitely not the casewith a tripod! For that rea-son, the Landmark willfind most use in fixed orsemi-fixed camps andfrom vehicles.

To begin our tests, wefirst attached the Landmarkto a tripod we have usedpreviously for testing spot-ting scopes. No difficultieswere encountered inmounting or orienting theLandmark. Next, wechecked image brightnessand light transmission on aheavily overcast, rainyafternoon—just the type of

hunting condition where aspotting scope is invalu-able. Targets of examina-tion ran from the innerlimbs of dark trees to brickwalls, small print on signsand birds. Ranges variedfrom about 150 yds. tomore than 600 yds.

AT 20X, the image wasbright, flat, clear and thecolors acceptably crisp inthe wide field of view.Small details such as pinebristles, branches andgrass blades could be dis-cerned easily at ranges to300 yds. At 40X, the imageremained bright, flat andclear with a minimalamount of color washout.However, the field of viewnarrowed noticeablyalthough it remainedacceptable and resolutionof detail remained verygood. At 60X, the imagedimmed substantially andwas not as clear with anoticeable amount of colorwashout and a narrow fieldof view. In our opinion,the 60X magnificationwill find very little usefor hunting althoughtarget shooters mayfind it acceptable forvery long ranges.Focus was by means ofa plastic knob atop therear housing. Smoothand easily turned, wefound the ratio too fast,which caused us toconstantly overshootthe focus.

As the Landmark isnot waterproof or nitro-gen-filled, we did notsubject this example toour normal waterimmersion test.

However, we did take theLandmark from a dryinside atmosphere of 73° Fto a high humidity outsidetemperature of about 36° Fto check for fogging. Noneoccurred.

Burris has a well-earnedreputation for high-qualityrifle scopes. To this mustnow be added a reputationfor quality spotting scopes.The Landmark series ofspotting scopes offersgood optical performanceat a reasonable price.Burris Landmark spottingscopes are an excellentchoice for the hunter orshooter who does not needan expensive spottingscope for extreme condi-tions or rough handling.

Available from: BurrisCo.(Dept.AR), 331 E. 8th St.,Greeley, CO 80631;(970) 356-1670;www.burrisoptics.comSuggested Retail Price: $227(15-45X), $290 (20-60X).

A M E R I C A N R I F L E M A N September 2002

79

The eyepiece (below) has

approximately 3/4" of eye relief

and is twisted to adjust magnifi-

cation. The focus ring (below r.) is

on the front of the rear housing.

Each Burris Landmark

spotting scope is sup-

plied with high-impact

plastic lens covers and

a padded, black nylon

carry bag.

Although the GunsiteAcademy is wellknown as a premier

training facility offering awide spectrum of instruc-tional shooting courses, italso produces a line ofupgraded M1911 pistols.One of the newest exam-ples of its built-to-specguns is the Marksman 1series with a titaniumframe that Gunsite states issubstantially lighter thanM1911 steel frames,

but with greater strength,durability and corrosionresistance. The NRATechnical Staff received aCommander-size model ofthe Marksman 1 for testand evaluation.

In keeping with GunsiteAcademy principles, theMarksman 1 titanium framepistols are single-action,M1911-type, service pistols

designed andupgraded forthe school’s

theories on modern defen-sive conditions.Accordingly, .45 ACP is theonly chambering offered.The pistols incorporate onlythe features Gunsite hasfound useful over the years.

Titanium has broadlysimilar strength character-istics to alloyed steel atapproximately half theweight. Titanium, however,costs substantially morethan steel and is more dif-ficult to machine. The all

titanium Marks-man frames begin

as investment cast-ings made to

Gunsite specifica-tions by CaspianArms, Ltd. The framehas a matte natural fin-ish and is assembledwith an extended safe-ty lever, an extended

magazine release but-ton, an aluminum trigger(adjustable for overtravel)and a beavertail grip safety.All levers are of stainlesssteel with a matte finishmatching the frame, whilethe beavertail safety is oftitanium. In addition, finesharkskin-type stippling isapplied to the frontstrapand mainspring housing toimprove purchase. Grippanels are smooth rose-wood with laser-etchedGunsite logos.

A steel slide with a satinblue finish and 13 grip ser-rations on the rear sides topthe Marksman 1. Gunsiteequipped it with a Kart ram-pless barrel, a skeletonizedhammer to reduce locktime and a match-gradebarrel bushing.

September 2002

dope bag data & comment

80

.45 ACP Vel. @ 15' Energy Group Size In Inches

Cartridge (f.p.s.) (ft.-lbs.) Smallest Largest Avg.

Remington R45AP7 747 Avg. 285 1.92 5.79 4.42230-gr. JHP 9 Sd

Winchester X45ASHP2 874 Avg. 308 2.54 6.04 4.34185-gr. JHP 24 Sd

Black Hills 928 Avg. 354 3.04 4.41 3.71185-gr. JHP 9 SdAverage Extreme Spread: 4.10

Measured average velocity for 20 rounds from a 41⁄4" barrel. Range tem-perature: 81° F. Humidity: 42%. Accuracy for five consecutive, five-shotgroups at 25 yds. from a sandbag. Abbreviations: Sd (standard devia-tion), JHP (jacketed hollow point).

SHOOTING RESULTS

In keeping with Gunsite philos-

ophy, the built-to-spec

Marksman 1 titanium frame

series are single-action,

M1911-type, service pistols

designed and upgraded for

modern defensive use.

Gunsite Marksman 1Titanium Frame M1911

Sights are low-

profile Trijicon/

Novak combat

types with a white tri-

tium dot insert in the

front blade and a white tri-

tium bar in the bottom of

the rear notch.

A M E R I C A N R I F L E M A N

Three Chip McCormickCorp. eight-round maga-zines are provided.Wefound the nickel-platedsteel magazines droppedfree of the pistol when themagazine release buttonwas pressed. Of course, themagazine well is beveled.

Sights are low-profileNovak combat types asmade by Trijicon with agreen tritium dot insert inthe front blade and a greentritium bar in the bottom ofthe rear notch. Both frontand rear sights are drift-adjustable for windage asthey are mounted in dove-tails cut into the slide.

Because the Marksman1 has a titanium frame, the34 oz. empty weight of the

completepistol isapproxi-mately 2 ozs., or 6 percent,lighter than that of a steelframe CombatCommander.

To test the Marksmanfor reliability, we fired sev-eral hundred rounds of .45ACP ammunition throughthe example. Bulletweights of 185 and 230grs. were used. Quite sim-ply, the Marksman 1digested everything wetried without a hitch.Accuracy tests were firedat 25 yds. from a sandbagrest using various types ofammunition. In defensiveshooting-style drills, theMarksman 1 fared very

well due to its reliability—there were no failures ofany kind—crisp triggerpull and Novak sights.

Gunsite has resisted theurge to add unnecessarybells and whistles to theMarksman.Yes, Gunsite’sMarksman 1 titanium

frame pistol isexpensive, butit delivers the

performance-based pedigree youpay for. In that con-nection, one mightask what the valueof an ergonomic,accurate and reliable pistol iswhen the chipsare down.

MANUFACTURER: GunsiteAcademy (Dept. AR), 2900W. Gunsite Road, Paulden,AZ 86334; (928) 636-4565;www.gunsite.com

CALIBER: .45 ACPACTION TYPE: short-recoil oper-

ated semi-automatic pistolFRAME: Caspian matte

titanium alloyBARREL: 41⁄4"Kart match-gradeRIFLING: six-groove, 1:16"

LH twistMAGAZINE: eight-round,

single-columnSIGHTS: Novak low-profile

combat with tritium inserts,drift-adjustable for windage

TRIGGER: single-stage, 31⁄2 lb.pull, adjustable for overtravel

OVERALL LENGTH: 8"WIDTH: 15⁄16"HEIGHT: 6"WEIGHT: 34 ozs.ACCESSORIES: soft carry case,

two extra magazinesSUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE:

$1,899

MARKSMAN 1

Because

the Gunsite

Marksman 1 has

a titanium frame,

the 34-oz. empty

weight of the com-

plete pistol is

approximately 2 ozs.,

or 6 percent, lighter

than a steel frame

Colt Combat

Commander.

Although Gunsite

Academy is well known as

a premier training facility, it

also offers a variety of upgraded M1911s,

including the titanium-framed Marksman 1.

September 2002

Leica LRF 800 Rangefinder

When it comes togear hunters arebringing to

camp, the biggest changewe’ve noted over the pastdecade is the suddenprevalence of laser

rangefinders.We may verywell have reached thatpoint where more big-game hunters’ packs thannot now contain thebattery-powered distance-measuring devices, and

Among the laser rangefinders we have used, the LRF 800 provided

first-time hits more frequently, and did so in driving rain and heavy

snowfall, gloomy swamp and glaring desert, and on occasion,

exceeded its advertised 800-yd. maximum.

A M E R I C A N R I F L E M A N 81

September 2002

dope bag data & comment

they have been adopted byvarmint shooters andturkey callers as well.Though reaction to theirmid-1990s introduction waswidespread and immedi-ate, it was not entirelyfavorable. Skeptics werequick to voice a number ofconcerns: that the unitswere burdensome, costly,unreliable and fragile, per-haps the laser even haz-ardous. Furthermore, somecited ethical fears thatrangefinders would promptill-advised long-rangeshooting.

Instead, as rangefindersproved their worth afield,the objections all but van-ished overnight, and therapidity with which theybecame standard equip-ment has been remarkable.

Chalk up the rapid suc-cess of laser rangefindersto the right idea at the righttime, but much credit mustalso go to manufacturersfor quickly making theirproducts more practicaland affordable.While laserrangefinders can be had invarious guises, today’s basemodel has evolved into apocket-sized, half-pound-or-so instrumentcapable of max-

imum readings rangingfrom 400 to 800 yds. andcosting between $250 and$500. One of the leaders inthis category is the LeicaLRF 800.

While Leica is bestknown for cameras, fans ofhigh-end optics hold theGerman firm’s binocularsand spotting scopes in thehighest regard. In fact,Leica was one of the first tooffer a laser rangefinder tosportsmen, incorporatingthe technology within asuperb 7x42 binoculardubbed the Geovid. Manyconsider this the ultimaterangefinder, but its weight(three pounds) and price(more than $2,500) havelimited sales to the mostdedicated users.

As with all consumer-grade laser rangefinders,the LRF 800 emits pulses ofinfrared light that reflect offthe target object, thenrebound back to the unit’sreceiver within a fraction ofa second. A precise inter-nal clock times the roundtrip of a series of pulses,then converts that data intodistance displayed in ahighly visible LCD readout.When the reflective quality

of the target is suffi-

cient, the entire process isvirtually instantaneous,providing the user an accu-rate number on which hecan base his decision toshoot or try to get closer.

Indeed it may surprisesome to learn that targetreflectivity, not ambientlight, is the prime determi-nant of rangefinder effec-tiveness. In short, light isbetter than dark, shiny bet-ter than dull. In our experi-ence, employing modelsrepresenting all majorbrands, positive readingsoff game animals werealtogether satisfactory,though some units onsome targets requiredmore than one try. Amongall those we have used, theLRF 800 provided first-timehits more frequently, did soin driving rain and heavysnowfall, gloomy swampand glaring desert, and onoccasion exceeded itsadvertised 800-yd. maxi-mum.When time is shortfor ranging a roving elk ordeer, such reliability ismuch appreciated.

The LRF 800 also pro-vides 7X magnification, ineffect functioning as amonocular to help the userpinpoint small, distant sub-

jects.Though it is not aspotting tool per se, theoptical quality delivered bymulti-coated lenses is cer-tainly worthy of the Leicaname.The unit is housed intough rubber armoring thatmakes it nearly imperviousto weather and hardknocks, and has a fold-down eyecup for easy eye-relief adjustment. Nicelycompact at 4"x4"x13⁄8", theunit nonetheless sportssquare corners that canmake one-handed removalfrom a pocket a chore.Too,we’d like to see a moreprominent control button,as the current part is diffi-cult to feel through heavygloves and may require theuser to take his eyes off theaction downrange.

Quickly,accurately,andfor most,affordably, laserrangefinders supply huntersvital data to make ethicaldecisions and take their bestshots.Among the top in itsclass, the Leica LRF 800 hashelped ensure these toolsare here to stay.

Available from:LeicaCamera,Inc.(Dept.AR),156Ludlow Ave.,Northvale,NJ07647-2308; (201) 767-7500;www.leica-camera.com/usa.Price:$450.

A precise internal clock times the round trip of a series of laser

pulses, then converts that data into distance displayed as a highly

visible LCD readout inside the rangefinder.

Rangefinders,

such as the LRF 800,

have evolved into pocket-

sized devices capable of read-

ings ranging from 400 to 800 yds.

A M E R I C A N R I F L E M A N 82