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Back during the chaos of the pandemic, ammo prices shot up. Components were scarce and demand was high, so you took what you could find. Now, just about everything is readily available again and PMC Bronze .308 Winchester is setting a high standard of performance at a price that seems like the good old days.

The full-metal-jacketed rounds are ideal for those who genuinely practice with their .308s. If you are a high-volume shooter or really enjoy range time with an AR-10, PMC is a solid option.

While the 147-grain projectile is on the lighter end of the .308 family, these boat-tailed bullets provide consistent repeat accuracy at the low end of the price spectrum.

PMC Bronze .308 Winchester

• 2780 FPS
• Reloadable brass casings
• Clean-burning powders
• Boxer primers
• Boat tail FMJ bullets
• Medium- to long-range target ammo

What is the 147-grain .308 good for?

That’s a fair question. The 147-grain bullet was originally designed to run in belt-fed machine guns. It is brass jacketed, and there’s no hollow point hiding behind the jacket.

Consider the requirements for a belt-fed gun. The rounds are going to get beat to hell before they ever get in the chamber, so the projectile needs to stand up to some abuse. And accuracy—while important—isn’t really a requirement. Or not the first priority, anyhow.

If you need a sturdy round that will run well, the 147 is a solid choice. And it has made the progression over to becoming a popular range ammo for practice and competition. It is good for running on steel and paper.

PMC

PMC is a South Korean company known for their quality. They make all of their own components, so they control the quality control. They make millions of rounds annually, and many in the industry put them at number four, volume-wise, for ammo producers.

Yet stateside, they’re not renowned for their precision. They make exceptionally accurate ammo, but you’re more likely to find the value end of the spectrum—the range ammo. With their volume, though, this makes sense.

But make no mistake—this is not bargain-basement range ammo. PMC produces consistent performance and reliability. The .308 brass is even reloadable. PMC isn’t dumping garbage on the US market in order to maintain margins; they’re relying on their volume of production to keep costs reasonable.

How does it shoot?

I ran the 147-grain .308 through two platforms. The first, a Ruger SFAR, is ideal for the 147 grain on the range. I didn’t push it past the 100-yard mark as I was on a short range. The shots were consistent, as expected.

For high-volume runs with a .308, ammo can get pricey. That’s really the sweet spot for PMC.

The other gun I was working on was a Remington 700. I’m new to the Model 700 and I was trying to learn the nuances of the trigger. The best way to do that is to put rounds down range.

I sighted in with the 147-grain PMC and ran round after round, feeling for the break on the 700 (which is just over five pounds).

At the risk of stating the obvious, I’ll note that the PMC wouldn’t be my first choice for hunting with the Model 700. Not that it isn’t capable. It is. But the round isn’t designed for expansion.

But the accuracy at 100 yards is impressive. I wouldn’t hesitate to hunt hogs with this platform and ammo combination. I tend to hunt hogs with semi-autos and prefer magazines with stellar capacity. But a single shot placed perfectly can be even more effective.

These boat-tailed FMJs are going to penetrate. Pass-through is likely. So accuracy is paramount.

But I keep coming back to the range.

Though you could hunt with PMC Bronze ethically, that’s not its intended purpose. This is ammo designed to help you hone your skills.

When you need to get warmed up for fall or learn the feel of a new gun, the PMC shines. On sale, the PMC runs less than a dollar a round. That’s a steal for .308 in this new era of ammo inflation.

Westerns are a significant part of American media, especially with big names like John Wayne and Clint Eastwood. Just about everyone has heard of them, if not seen their movies. Many foreigners think of America as the wild west stereotype to this day, which goes to show the sheer impact of the old movies many of us know and love. And, of course, there’s the classic theme of charming cowboys saving the west—or sometimes bandits in black clothes causing havoc.

But what’s a cowboy or a bandit without a gun? Just about everyone in the old west is armed with a revolver if not also a shotgun or lever-action of some kind. Typically, the weapon of choice in old Western films is paired with some crazy handwork and tricks (most of which we don’t recommend attempting to replicate at home).

Tonight, we’re looking at a few classic guns of old American Westerns. Who knows, maybe we’ll inspire you to start up “True Grit” or “The Outlaw Josey Wales”.

The Searchers — Colt Single Action Army

A western isn’t a western without a Colt Single Action Army (SAA). This revolver is known for its recognizable design from its plow-handled grip to its solidly built frame. To this day, the old-time revolver is still being produced by the same model, even with new versions available. The SAA is alive and well in the 21st century.  

In “The Searchers,“ Ethan Edwards (played by John Wayne, because of course) returns home to Texas after the Civil War to find members of his brother’s family killed or abducted. He finds out members of the Comanche tribe are guilty of the crime and vows to save any survivors. The SAA revolver is anachronistic as it was made in 1873 but the movie is set in 1861-1865. Edwards, among several others, uses the pistol on their mission to save the surviving victims throughout the film. 

Specifications

• Type: Revolver
• Caliber: 45 Long Colt
• Capacity: 6-round cylinder
• Length: 13 inches
• Action: Single-Action

How the West Was Won — Winchester Model 1873

“How the West Was Won” covers 50 years of expansion in the west to make way for settlers. The story is told from the perspective of several generations of the Rawlings and Prescott families. The Winchester Model 1873 is a significant rifle as it’s seen historically as the rifle that “Won the West.” So, of course, it has to be used in a movie all about the West. It was relatively affordable while it was made and worked well. Not only was it popular centuries ago but it’s still a much-loved platform today. Who doesn’t love a good lever action?

In the movie, this rifle gets used the most during a shootout on a train. Zeb Rawlings (played by George Peppard) runs into an old enemy, Charlie Gant (played by Eli Wallach) boarding a train at Gold City’s train station. Previously, Zeb had killed Charlie’s brother, which resulted in threats toward Zeb and his family. After finding out that the local marshal can’t—or won’t—help, Zeb takes it into his own hands.

Zeb suspects that Charlie is on the train to steal a shipment of gold, so he prepares to ambush him with the hesitant aid of Marshall Lou Ramsey (played by Lee J. Cobb). Lou and Zeb use their Winchesters to fire at Gant throughout the conflict. This is just one of many strides the families take in this film to expand the west. Things used to be a bit more lawless. 

Specifications

• Type: Carbine
• Caliber: .44-40 Winchester, 44 Henry, .38-40 Winchester, .357 Magnum, and others
• Capacity: 7 to 14-round tube magazine depending on caliber
• Length: 49.3 inches, but depends on specific production
• Action: Lever-action

Unforgiven — Spencer 1860 Saddle Ring Carbine

“Unforgiven” starts when Quick Mike (played by David Mucci) cuts up a prostitute’s face. The local sheriff brushes it off, so the other prostitutes in the area put a $1000 bounty on Quick Mike’s head. William Munny (played by Clint Eastwood), Ned Logan (played by Morgan Freeman), and the Schofield Kid (played by Jaimz Woolvett) team up hoping to get the bounty. Ned uses a Spencer 1860 Saddle Ring Carbine, claiming to be the best shot ever. He later hands it off to William to take a shot at the outlaws.

Specifications

• Type: Carbine
• Caliber: .56-56 Spencer rimfire
• Capacity: 7-round internal tube magazine
• Length: 47 inches
• Action: Lever Action

Red River — Remington 1866 Derringer

“Red River” is a film based on the historical Chisholm Trail in 1867 following a cattle drive. Tom Dunson (played by John Wayne) has sworn to kill Matt Garth (played by Mickey Kuhn) as he claims he’s a thief. Tessa Millay (played by Joanne Dru) meets Matt eight days before Dunson arrives at her camp and falls in love with him, but she can’t go with him once he leaves. 

She ends up confronting Dunson about his intent to kill Matt. She slips a Remington 1866 Derringer into her shoulder sling but Dunson calls her out and tells her to take it out of her sling. Laying his own revolver on the table, he says the gun wouldn’t have done her any good. The incredible concealability of derringers does a lot to recommend them, but having only two shots to fire is less advantageous. Nonetheless, she couldn’t conceal it from Dunson.

Specifications

• Type: Handgun
• Caliber: .41 rimfire
• Capacity: 2 shots, fired one at a time
• Length: 4.875 inches
• Action: Hammer-fired

The Wild Bunch — Browning M1917

One that is less common in old American Westerns is the Browning M1917. The hefty machine gun was used in several wars and still holds a great reputation today. In “The Wild Bunch,” a group of old outlaws seeks out one more heist before they retire. Heading to Mexico, they decide their final task will be stealing the United States ammunition train, which they intend to give to General Mapache’s revolutionary army. 

They steal a Browning M1917 for Mapache as a gift. In a comical scene, Mapache (Emilio Fernández) attempts to shoot the machine gun single-handedly. It is then used in combat by the outlaws in a fight against the Mexicans. It should be noted that this firearm is likely an anachronism due to the timeframe of the movie being prior to its creation. But it’s still cool to see it on film as an interesting historical machine gun.

Specifications

• Type: Machine Gun
• Caliber: .30-06 Springfield
• Capacity: A 250-round belt
• Length: 38.5 inches
• Action: Full-auto

The 25 ACP round has been used in self-defense for over 100 years. Although considered underpowered today, the 25 is still a useful tool. It’s also a historic footnote that paved the way for the modern pocket pistol we now take for granted. Follow along as we explore both the history and ballistics of a small round that is anything but diminutive.

What Came Before

In my time rubbing elbows with fellow concealed carriers, I have often asked what round they consider to be the bare minimum in terms of ballistic power. While we have to admit that all pistols are underpowered compared to a good rifle or shotgun, some pistol rounds are better than others. Many prefer to carry a mid-size or subcompact pistol chambered in 9mm Luger, while a pocket pistol chambered in 380 ACP will suffice if the wardrobe dictates it. The 380 ACP is moderately powered, pushing a 95-grain bullet at about 900 feet per second out of a typical pocket pistol like the Ruger LCP. A pocket pistol chambered in 25 ACP can get a 50-grain bullet out of the tube at 750 feet per second.

In the context of modern concealed carry attitudes, the 25 ACP stinks ballistically. But if the round is so terrible, why was it introduced in the first place?

The long and short of it is that firearms even less powerful than the 25 were common for concealed carry. Although big brands like Colt, Smith & Wesson, and Webley did well in sales of large .44 and .45 caliber pistols for martial and police service, these companies and dozens of others, both known and obscure, sold pocket pistols like hotcakes to a civilian market that had to contend with ordinances that prohibited the open carry of firearms.

Ease of carry and the ability to get a jump on an opponent outweighed power. The Remington Model 95 derringer chambered in the dinky .41 Short was a perennial favorite, as was a smattering of revolvers chambered in 22 Short and 32 S&W like the Colt Open Top Pocket and Iver Johnson Safety Automatic. In Europe, small revolvers like the Velo Dog weren’t uncommon in a coat pocket.

When John Browning created the 25 ACP and designed his FN Model 1905 pistol around it, he was out to build a better pocket pistol. The Model 1905 was a small, blowback-operated semi-automatic pistol that could go into a gentleman’s vest pocket. The 25 ACP cartridge is centerfire and more powerful than the 22 Short. The 1905 held more rounds than its contemporaries, like the 5.7 Velodog, and could be fired more quickly than the typical derringer.

The Rise and Fall of the 25 ACP

After its debut in 1905, the 25 ACP was more immediately popular in Europe than in the United States, largely in part due to the World Wars. Although never designed for a martial role, pistols like the FN 1905, Mauser 1914, and the Beretta 418 saw use as both private purchases and official issuance to those in non-combat roles. It is little wonder that when Ian Fleming tapped into his past as an intelligence officer during the Second World War to create the martini-guzzling super spy James Bond, the character was initially armed with a Beretta 418 in 25 ACP.

The United State Army issued some Colt Vest Pockets (Colt’s version of the FN 1905) during the Second World War, but the reception of the 25 ACP in the American market had a slower burn. Although guns like the Colt Vest Pocket make for a classic hideout gun of the Prohibition era, small-framed revolvers chambered for .32 S&W Long and .38 Special were far more popular. But the 25 ACP’s acceptance picked up after 1945. Returning GIs came home with plenty of captured handguns. Large firms like Browning, and Beretta sought the American market, as did smaller consortiums like Astra and Tanfoglio.

In the decades since the end of the war, if you wanted a pocket pistol there were two viable options: opt for a small-frame snub-nose revolver like the Smith & Wesson Chief’s Special or the Colt Detective Special or run a 25 ACP pistol like the Beretta 950 or the Baby Browning. If you didn’t have as much cash to spare for either, an Astra Cub or something similar would suffice.

Unfortunately, the choices grew worse before better. The Gun Control Act of 1968 regulated the importation of foreign handguns by subjecting the models in question to a point system that determined whether a handgun had a sporting use. The 1960s was not a decade of universal bliss and the GCA was championed as an effort to limit the number of small handguns on the street. Manufacturers responded in kind. The grip frame of the Walther PPK was extended to meet import requirements. Browning successfully licensed their design through PSA. Beretta chose to construct a manufacturing facility in the United States. Others, like Astra, pulled out of the market entirely.

In response to the drought, American firms filled the void. Bauer produced unlicensed, though high-quality, copies of the Baby Browning. Seecamp created the LWS 25, a double-action-only pistol designed for instinctive point shooting. Others like Bryco, Jennings, and Raven produced inexpensive 25 ACPs that lacked the refinement and build quality of their European counterparts.

In attempting to disarm criminals of their cheap, concealable Saturday-night-specials, the GCA ultimately created more of them to the benefit of the criminal and the detriment of law-abiding citizens in need of protection. In 2003, Kel-Tec introduced the polymer-framed P3AT, an eleven-ounce double-action pocket pistol chambered in 380 ACP. The age of the modern pocket pistol had begun and by then, the 25 ACP was synonymous with criminality and junk.

The 25 ACP Today

There are entire sections of gun store counters nationwide filled with small-framed 380 ACP pistols designed for pocket carry and priced to sell—and they do sell! By all metrics, guns like the Ruger LCP and the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 380, are just as light as the 25 ACP pistols of old and pack an objectively bigger punch.

Likewise, the 22 Long Rifle cartridge has grown in capability. This rimfire round had been around since the end of the 19th century, but in the 1980s, compact autoloading handguns like the Beretta Bobcat were becoming more common. Likewise, reliable, high-velocity loads like the CCI Mini-Mag and Stinger served to mitigate some of the issues associated with rimfire rounds. Despite all of it, the 25 ACP has yet to die.

Some pistols were made in such huge numbers that the demand for the ammunition persists. Several manufacturers still produce 32 S&W for the millions of small break-top revolvers that were around when the 25 ACP came on the scene. Likewise, millions of 25 ACP pistols were made, and it appears that the people who have them are using them for serious work.

Although not nearly as cheap or plentiful as the 22 Long Rifle and the 380 ACP, several foreign and domestic manufacturers load both full metal jacket as well as defensive hollow point 25 ACP ammunition.  Among the latter include known lines like the Hornady Critical Defense, Hornady XTP, and Speer Gold Dot. The ammunition situation mirrors firearm availability. There are many 25 ACP handguns to choose from, but most of them are decades old. Unlike pistols chambered in those other calibers, it can be tricky to find a new handgun in this chambering. Currently, Beretta, PSA, Seecamp, Phoenix Arms, and North American Arms offer a 25 ACP pistol.

Compared to a true service cartridge, the 22 LR, 25 ACP, and 380 ACP fall quite short in the ballistics department. All of these fall low on the power and handling spectrum, but the differences between them are more than academic.

The 22 Long Rifle shooter has the benefit of cheap, practice ammunition and plenty of handguns to choose from. Some experts have stated that the 22 LR is more powerful than the 25 ACP. That is technically true, but effectively false.

Most 22 LR ammunition is designed for a rifle barrel and is chronographed out of a rifle-length test barrel from the factory to give an advertised velocity. The CCI Stinger, for instance, has an advertised velocity of 1640 feet per second. Out of a pocket pistol with a much shorter barrel like a Beretta 21A, that same round will clock in just north of 1000 feet per second. This is still impressive compared to a 25 ACP 50 grain load traveling at 750 feet per second. But you are getting that velocity with a lighter 32-grain bullet that lacks the sectional density of the jacketed 25 load. 

In this caliber, 50-grain hardball is the winner. A comparable solid 40-grain load like the CCI Mini Mag will have a similar sectional density as that load, but velocity is knocked down to 850.

In a block of 10% Clear Ballistics gelatin fronted by four layers of denim, the 25 ACP hardball load can reach 12 inches of penetration. The CCI Mini Mag 40 grain load reaches to the 10-inch mark. Similar tests using 2x4s as penetration mediums confirm that the 25 retains a marginal advantage in the pocket pistol arena over the 22 LR. And despite the advances in 22 LR ammunition, the round is still a rimfire. It uses a heeled bullet that tends to collect debris and the rim priming can still be faulty. Even with the best ammunition, dud rounds still happen.

The case against the 25 ACP is more compelling when compared to the 380 ACP. Defensive 380 loads are hit-and-miss when it comes to penetration and hollow point expansion but there are a few that work quite well. With a full-metal-jacket or Buffalo Bore’s 60-grain hard-cast load, the 25 ACP can achieve comparable penetration but there will not be any expansion.

On the whole, the .380 is going to poke bigger and deeper holes in whatever you are shooting, and it will do it out of a pocket platform. The cost of the .380 is controllability. Although less powerful than a service caliber like 9mm Luger, the .380 ACP can be snappy when touched off in a lightweight pistol. It takes more mental and physical preparation to hold the pistol on target for quick follow-up shots. While you trade off ballistic performance in most cases with the 25 ACP, what you get in exchange is an even smaller handgun that is much easier to shoot for the end user.

Jeff Cooper once advised us to “carry a 25 if it makes you feel better, but never load it. If you load it, you may shoot somebody. And if he finds out about it, he may be very angry with you.” But how do we square the history and usage of the 25 ACP when he also opined that the No. 1 rule of a gunfight is to have a gun? By today’s standards, the 25 ACP isn’t much and there are scant few new pistols chambered for it. The world has moved on and bigger is better, right? Well, not always. And in those situations where a bigger gun can be counterproductive, a properly loaded 25 ACP pistol not only beats having no gun, but is, and has been, a proven and useful tool.