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By Mary & Dr. Jim Clary. In 1996, when Louis Imperato and his son, Anthony Imperato founded Henry Repeating Arms to honor the Legacy of Benjamin Tyler Henry. Their goal, as that of Mr. Henry, was to produce quality lever action rifles “Made in America and Priced Right”. “Henry Repeating Arms takes its name from Benjamin Tyler Henry, the inventor who patented the first repeating rifle in 1860, known as the Henry rifle. There is no affiliation or lineage to Benjamin Tyler Henry or to the New Haven Arms Company, who sold the original Henry rifle from 1862 to 1864. Anthony Imperato secured the trademark to the Henry name in 1996.”
Their first (and most successful model) was the Henry Golden Boy, a rimfire lever action that “brought out the West in you”. Over 1 million Golden Boy rifles have been sold. The Golden Boy was followed quickly by a “replica” of the original Henry in 44-40 and 45 Colt calibers and the Henry Big Boy which was ideal for brush hunting and cowboy action shooting.

Today, there are more legacy model Henry rifles than I can count, all of which feature the iconic tubular loading magazine, which has become characteristic of Henry firearms. Then, in November 2020, the company issued a press release informing us all that in response to popular demand, ALL centerfire Henry rifles would now feature a side-loading gate on the frame, in addition to their tubular loading magazine. Our legacy Henry rifles just became more valuable and the newer models guaranteed that Henry Repeating Arms would continue to be one of the leading long gun manufacturers in the U.S.A.
Jim has always been a cowboy at heart, having harvested his first whitetail deer with an old Winchester lever action rifle in 1965. When Henry came out with their Golden Boy, he was first in line to get one. Ever since, he has loved Henrys and has been motivated to obtain more of the rifles that are “Made in America or not made at all”.

Shortly after the announcement that all centerfire Henry's would feature the side-gate loading feature, they introduced the steel-frame, side-loading gate 410 shotgun with an Invector choke, the Henry H018G-410. I decided that we had to get one, not just for our “collection of Henry's”, but for small game hunting AND home defense... not to mention the fun of busting clay pigeons with a 410.
As one can see in the title picture, the H018G comes in two versions: one with iron sights and one without. We ordered the one without iron sights and it arrived just before Christmas. This is one gun that will be my favorite and Jim will have to ask me nice to borrow it.

The laser-engraved checkering on the dark straight-grained American walnut furniture is superb. It is both functional and beautiful. The wood to metal fit is excellent. It is too bad that some of the other manufacturers can't do the same.

The Invector full choke included with the shotgun ensures that this gun will deliver a 40 inch spread at 40 yards. Because we wanted to have a more open spread for trap shooting, we ordered a modified choke which delivers a 40 inch spread at 35 yards. Between the two chokes, we are set for busting clays, hunting small game and home defense.

Home defense... that may sound a bit strange when referring to a diminutive 410 shotgun, but with Winchester PDX1 rounds, this gun is ideal for folks who don't want the excessive recoil from larger gauges, yet still want the stopping power of a shotgun. Rather than take our word for it, go to the YouTube channel of the Kentucky Patriot for field demos of the PDX1 rounds from a 410 at self-defense distances and you will be a believer. Steve's channel is https://youtu.be/OjhoJ1TcJfc.

The H018G shotgun has a thick non-slip ventilated black rubber recoil pad which reduces the “felt-recoil” to almost nothing. It also has sling swivel studs, but we are not sure why, as few folks are going to put a sling on a 410 shotgun. However, the studs are there, in case you want/need them. The gun is drilled and tapped for a Weaver 63B base mount in case you wish to mount a scope for turkey hunting.
Our test gun cycled flawlessly, loading each new round from the magazine after ejecting the spent hull. No hesitation, no hangups, no glitches... everything functioned perfectly. The side-gate made it easy to reload “on the fly”, while the tubular magazine permitted rapid unloading when necessary. This Henry was accurate and fun to shoot, like all Henrys.

The overall specifications are:
Model Number: H018G-410
Action Type: Lever Action Shotgun
Caliber: .410 Bore
Magazine Capacity: 6 rounds - 2 ½” shells (only)
Safety: Transfer Bar
Barrel Length: 24"
Barrel Type: Round Blued Steel
Receiver Finish: Blued Steel
Rate of Twist: Smooth Bore with Full Invector Style Choke
Length of Pull: 14"
Rear Sight: None
Front Sight: Brass Bead
Scopeability: Drilled and Tapped
Scope Mount Type: Weaver 63B
Stock Material: American Walnut
Buttplate/Pad: Black Ventilated Rubber Recoil Pad
Overall Length: 42.75"
Weight: 7.54 lbs

With an MSRP of $983, this Henry is competitively priced with other shotguns on the market, except it is better.

By Mary & Dr. Jim Clary. Mounting a new scope on a rifle is never much fun. After you get the eye relief distance set you then work on about leveling the reticle. Therein lies the source of many scope problems. Most shooters believe that sighting in the scope on range is the hardest part of mounting a scope.... not even close.

Getting the reticle level is the critical part. If the reticle is not level, then any and all adjustments made when shooting will be off. In other words, your accuracy goes to heck in a hand basket. And, the farther away you are from your target, the worse the deviations become.

Most of us have used the small levels on the turret covers and in the action to level our scopes. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. More often they result in a slight cant which is devastating to accuracy. Jim owns and has used just about every leveling tool on the market, and after he is finished, he hands me the rifle and I readjust the scope to level the reticle by eye. I have often wondered why he even bothers with the levels as they just never seem to get it right. To save a lot of time and effort, he could just hand me the rifle and let me adjust the scope. Of course, the reticle wouldn't be perfect, but the cant would be unnoticeable to most folks and satisfactory for normal hunting distances........ BUT, not for target shooting. Such has been our situation over the years. Sound familiar?

The reason that the use of levels is frequently wrong is that the turrets on most scopes
are rarely perfectly aligned with the reticle. It is a function of the manufacturing process. Thus, even if your turret is level to your gun, the reticle may not be. This translates into a slight cant, often unnoticeable to the eye... but, critical for accuracy beyond 200 yards.

OK, so you don't shoot anything beyond 200 yards, but wouldn't it be nice if when you “dialed in” at closer ranges that the scope functioned exactly as it was built to?

That is why, after some considerable trial and error, that the folks at Real Avid developed the Level Right™ Pro system. This system eliminates the cant in scope mounting by ensuring that the reticle is level with the bore. In four easy steps, your scope is perfectly mounted with a level reticle, perfect for hunting at any range or target shooting.

Rather than paraphrase the steps, we will quote them exactly from the instruction manual.

1. In one easy step, use Level-Right Pro to level the gun and square the scope to the barrel. Then lock it down.
2. Level and lock down Precision Alignment Grid behind the stock and turn on Reticle Light to project the reticle onto the grid.
3. With all components level and locked down, rotate scope tube within loosened rings to align the projected reticle with the Precision Alignment Grid.
4. Tighten ring screws while observing projected reticle on Precision Alignment Grid. Make sure the reticle remains level throughout the process.

The kit includes the following:
1. Precision Alignment Grid
2. Faceplate with Scope Saddle
3. Picatinny Top Rail Mount
4. Standard Barrel Mount
5. Mini-Tripod
6. Rechargeable Light Projector with USB Recharging Cable
The MSRP of the Level Right™ Pro is $69.99. This system works every time. With it, there is no reason or excuse for canted, non-level, reticles which result in missed targets. This is one tool that Jim is keeping.

By Mary & Dr. Jim Clary. We have reviewed and tested a lot of flashlights over the years, ranging in power from 500 to 1,000 lumens. Most were pretty good lights, although some were better than others from a durability point of view. Some of them used conventional AA, C or D cell batteries, while others used Lithium ion rechargeable batteries.
When we received the new COAST XP11-R, our first thoughts were, "another flashlight, it will probably be like all the rest." Well, we were wrong, absolutely dead wrong. This light stands apart from all of the other flashlights we have tested and reviewed.
This light comes with the newest ZITHION-X™ rechargeable battery and is compatible with either COAST Extreme Performance alkaline batteries or other brand-name battery types. This provides one with the cost savings of a rechargeable with the option of reverting to conventional alkaline batteries in an emergency. And, there is a battery-life indicator to keep you apprised of when the light needs recharging.
Another unique feature of the XP11 is its one-handed beam control. The slide focus system permits you to transition from spot to flood beam with the push/pull of one hand. That kind of responsive-beam control allows you to operate this light with one hand keeping the other hand free.
However, the most impressive feature of this flashlight is the turbo feature. In its standard high beam mode the XP11-R delivers a beam of 1,000 lumens, but switching to the turbo mode and you get 2,100 lumens. There are no halos or hot-spots with edge-to-edge clarity. That is truly amazing for a hand-held light of its size. As such, you have a power boost for critical situations when needed.
As you check out the detailed specifications of the XP11-R, we are convinced that you will decide that it is worth buying, especially at the MSRP of $69.99. That is a real bargain.
• Beam Distance (high) - 508 ft / 155 m
Light Output - 1000 Lumens
Runtime - 5 hours

• Beam Distance (low) - 137 ft / 42 m
Light Output - 75 Lumens
Runtime - 37 hours

• Beam Distance (medium) - 288 ft / 88 m
Light Output - 330 Lumens
Runtime - 7 hours 15 minutes

• Beam Distance (turbo) - 721 ft / 220 m
Light Output - 2100 Lumens

Our only complaint, and it really isn't much, is that when you turn it on it goes from medium mode to high and then low. It would have made more sense to us to start out in the low mode, then medium, followed by the high and then the Turbo. But, we are picky and will get used to the current settings. Again, this is one flashlight that puts all others to shame.

By Mary & Dr. Jim Clary. Over the past few years, a new breed of firearms owners have emerged. It is difficult to pin point an exact time, whether it was when the AR platform rifles were introduced or with the advent of the polymer frame pistols; but, this new breed of owners are highly motivated to learn all of the finer points of how their weapons operate AND to be able to perform many of the tasks previously left to gunsmiths themselves.

With that demand for knowledge came a demand for better, higher quality and easier tools with which to DIY their firearms. That is where the folks at REAL AVID came into the picture. They tapped into the knowledge and experience of professional gunsmiths, armorers and builders across the world, adding to the mix law enforcement and military personnel to produce professional grade products for you and me. ALL of their equipment/tools are designed and tested in their laboratories and on the range before they are produced for the public. That is why we consider REAL AVID products among the best that can be obtained ….. anywhere. And NO, we are not paid for our opinions nor are we employees of REAL AVID. We just believe that their tools are well built, easy to use and priced right. That makes them a winner in our view.

With the above being said, we decided to take a look at their Gun Boss for the AR15 platforms. Now, everyone has an excess of gun cleaning tools. Cleaning rods of all sizes and lengths, patches of every size and enough brushes/jags to swab an army arsenal. But, very few of us have a single kit that is designed specifically for the AR15 which is small enough to easily fit into your range bag. The Gun Boss is just such a kit.

If you take another look at the picture at the head of this review you will see what we mean. The star chamber cleaning pads are ideal for cleaning the bore or adding lubricant to keep the bolt functioning properly. And the star chamber brush is unique in the industry. Add into the mix the required picks, jags and punch for the take down tool and you have an almost complete package. All that was needed was the six piece sections of a 33” cleaning rod with a rotating seventh section, T-handle and a convenient carrying case to produce a complete package that every AR shooter should have.

With an MSRP of $29.99, it is a real bargain. If you have an AR-platform rifle, you really need to consider picking up one of these kits... you will never regret it.

By Mary & Dr. Jim Clary. Without getting into a discussion of politics, suffice it to say that the anti-gun folks in the country mislabeled AR-platform rifles as “assault rifles”. Whether on purpose or unintentional, they used the term to malign the rifle for the next 50+ years, ignoring the FACT that AR stood for Armalite Rifle, NOT Assault Rifle.

Over time, AR platform rifles have been developed with an infinite number of variations, from barrel types, calibers, stocks, and rails. There has never been a firearm in history that allowed the end user to modify it to where it bore no resemblance to the factory original. AR platform rifles have truly morphed into the Modern Sporting Rifle (MSR), capable of being tuned, tweaked and “polished” into a personal piece fitting each users' individual requirements.

With the capability of modifying your AR-platform rifle to suit your personal preferences, it makes sense that you have the proper tools to do the job. Without the proper tools, you wind up paying a gunsmith $50 - $100 to make changes or you wind up possibly damaging a very expensive piece of equipment. That being said, enter the Wheeler Engineering Delta kit.

This kit has every tool that you need to either build an AR rifle from the 'ground up”, or take an existing one apart for a complete cleaning, as well as making the modifications to it that you have been planning on. It even includes the necessary vise to hold your rifle while you work on it. The tools are tough, well designed and cover all aspects and variations of the AR rifle.

Most kits for the ARs lack one or more tools, usually the vise or the torque wrench. Wheeler includes them both. They even include a chrome plated steel hammer with nylon and brass heads for punching in/out pins in your gun. Although not cheap, it is worth the investment if you ever plan on making modifications to your MSR.

The specifications of the Wheeler kit are as follows:
AR-15 Armorer’s Vise
AR-15 Combo Tool
Torque Wrench
Upper Vise Block Clamp with Gas Tube Alignment Tool
Maintenance Mat with Exploded AR-15 Diagram (this is a “priceless” gem)
Pivot Pin & Roll Pin Installation Tool
AR Front Sight Tool
Delta Ring Tool
Strap Wrench
AR-15 Bore Guide
AR-15 Adjustable Receiver Link
22 Cal Bore Brush
Bolt Carrier Brush
Chamber Brush
Magazine/Upper Receiver Brush
Nylon Brush Handle
Double-ended General Cleaning Brush
Cleaning Pick Set
With all of this equipment, it goes without saying that you need a carrying case, AND Wheeler included a very tough one. It is compact and easily taken to the range when needed. The overall price of this kit is $259.99. Considering all of the tools that are included, it is a bargain. And, in case you are worried about DIY with your gun, they have included a very detailed (with pictures) manual on how to use every tool. That, along with the Maintenance Mat make this kit a must have for anyone who shoots AR-platform guns.

By Mary & Dr. Jim Clary. Prior to 2010, I would have probably said that this tool was not necessary for the average shooter. After all, I had been mounting scopes, tightening the screws and floor plates in my firearms for over forty years without a problem. However, on a chilly morning in the Floridas Mountains of New Mexico on my once-in-a-lifetime hunt for the Persian Ibex, I changed my mind.

My outfitter had placed me in a makeshift blind along a well-traveled game trail to wait for a herd of Ibex that he knew would be passing by on their way to a meadow for their morning fare. My blind was perched on a ledge above the two-hundred foot canyon floor below. Now, despite my airborne training, I do not like heights, so I kept myself glued against the back of my blind as I waited for the Ibex. Around nine o'clock, right on cue, a herd came off the ridge to my left and angled their way towards my blind. I calculated that they would pass right under me... as they approached, I moved to the edge to take what would have been an easy shot and tripped. I fell on the rocks around my blind and knocked my scope loose. As I shouldered my gun, the scope flopped around like a Russian wobbly doll. As the herd passed beneath me, I wanted to cry, there was a huge billy in the 45" - 48" class walking slowly behind his nannies, and me with a floppy scope. Obviously, I did not take the shot. IF I had owned a Real Avid Smart-Torq™ Wrench and properly torqued the scope and rings down, it would not have come loose and I would have been able to put that Billy on the wall.

Under most conditions, when we tighten the screws down, we do it by "feel", and it is adequate Most Of The Time. Well, "most of the time" cost me a world class Billy. I did manage to get a Billy three days later, but it was not near as nice as the one that I "missed" due to my wobbly scope.

The Smart-Torq's design is unique in the industry. It is very ergonomic. The Force Assist handle/driver allows one to tighten screws and fasteners to the precise torque settings established by manufacturers. “The Force Assists provides the ability to securely seat the main driver and bit (with the free spinning cap) into the screw vertically while applying torque leverage from the perpendicular plane. This not only provides an easier way to manipulate the tool but allows the user to keep the bit properly seated to prevent slipping and stripping. I know Howard Tripp, Chief Innovation Officer at Real Avid, having chatted with him at length on the phone. His comments below also represent our experiences with the Smart-Torq and adequately sum up what this amazing wrench does:

“Building and upgrading guns and mounting scopes have become the bedrock of Gun DIY. Providing DIY installers the ability to confidently match those specifications has become more important than ever. Smart-Torq provides discrete one in-lb. increment settings to precisely match manufacturer’s torque specifications. Another great feature of the Smart-Torq is the well thought out ergonomics. With a driver handle that can be easily gripped with even smaller hands, driving fasteners and applying torque is very comfortable and easy and with the addition of Force-Assist, an extra leverage point is provided which allows the user to maintain alignment and vertical downward force while turning the tool along the horizontal axis.”

The Smart-Torq possesses a unidirectional toothed clutch which permits the user to back out screws, without tripping the torque clutch. A very real benefit of the toothed clutch is that it extends the life of the tool (probably forever) when compared to the ball-bearing setups in other torque wrenches. In addition, the ridges on the rubber grip and the jeweler's spin top permits the user to easily apply the required amount of torque while at the same time maintaining downward pressure. As Dave Steiner of Real Avid has said, this is “the first Master Grade tool in this category designed especially and exclusively for optics mounting and Gun DIY” And we happen to agree.

The Real Avid Smart-Torq Specifications are:
Smart-Torque with a 10 – 70 in-lb range
Ergonomic rubberized grip
Force Assist handle/driver
High-density foam core fabric storage case
Included bits: T10, T15, T20, T25, 3mm Hex, 5/32 Hex, 3/16 Hex,
7/64 Hex, 90-6 Flat, 38-4 Flat, 60-5 Flat

With an MSRP of $79.99, this tool is priced right. We hope you pick one up so that you will not miss a trophy like Jim, due to a loose scope.

By Mary & Dr. Jim Clary

Henry Repeating Arms was founded in 1996 by Louis Imperato and his son, Anthony. Their first model, the H001 in 22 LR, was shipped in 1997 and has become a classic and staple of the company. We bought one as soon as possible and still use it today, over 20 years later...... it has never failed to load and still shoots accurately.

The Henry motto back then was “Made in America and Priced Right”. Well, they have lived up to that motto and in response to so many companies shipping jobs overseas, they initiated a new motto: “Made in America or Not Made At All”. In this day and age of imports, that is important to us, and it should also be to our readers.

From the original Henry 22 LR, the line has expanded over the years to include the Big Boys and Long Rangers in a variety of big bore pistol and rifle calibers. The number of variants is too numerous to list them all here, so one needs to head to the Henry website to check them out.

Then not long ago, Henry decided to introduce a lever action shotgun. Some folks wondered if such a gun would sell, after all, the famous Winchester 1897/1901 lever action shotguns, were discontinued around 1920. So, the question remained for the market-place to answer: Is there a niche for a high-quality lever action shotgun in the world today? In our opinion, and a lot of other folks, the answer is YES.

With that in mind, we asked Henry to send us their new side-loading brass framed H024-410 shotgun. One might legitimately ask why a 410 bore? The answer to that question is easy. First, for bunny and small bird hunting, the 410 is great (it does take some skill). Second, it is ideal for folks who are sensitive to the recoil from larger bore shotguns. And finally, it does make a fine “home defense” piece that anyone in the family can comfortably use. We will address the home defense aspect shortly.

The side-loading Henry combines their standard removable tube magazine for safe unloading and a side loading gate to keep the magazine topped off with up to five 2-1/2” .410 shells. The gun incorporates the standard Henry rifle sights, their fully adjustable semi-buckhorn rear and ivory bead front sight. Together, they provide a very accurate line-of-sight aim for consistent results.

The barrel of this Henry resembles a “standard” Henry barrel. In other words, it is not the thin barrel found on a typical shotgun. The barrel is cylinder bore choked, which translates into an open bore from chamber to muzzle. We had some doubts about how the Henry would perform with home defense loads; however, our tests quickly put those to rest.

For home defense loads, we selected the Winchester PDX1 that incorporates three plated discs which measure 0.40” x 0.24”, and weight 70 grains each (3=210 grains) backed up by 12 plated BBs with a muzzle velocity of 750 f.p.s. In addition to the Winchester PDX1 rounds we tested the Federal Personal Defense rounds with four 000 buckshot and a velocity of 850 f.p.s.

The targets were set up at 20 yards, a bit farther than most home defense situations would dictate, but we wanted to determine how well the cylinder bore barrel held the loads together. The targets below speak for themselves.

These are very impressive groups. In our opinion, more than adequate for home defense. However, as good as the targets look, they do not simulate actual damage. For that we went to Steve, The Kentucky Patriot, who tests his rounds with packages of pork ribs. Now, please don't laugh.... uncooked pork is tough by itself and when you include the ribs, you have a good idea of the damage these rounds can inflict. We believe that Steve's tests are more realistic than ballistic gel. As such, go to his YouTube channel, The Kentucky Patriot (https://youtu.be/OjhoJ1TcJfc) and you will be impressed with these rounds.


This Henry shotgun performed superbly in the field. It never failed to chamber a round or eject an empty hull. It is both beautiful and reliable. One cannot ask for more.

The specifications are:
Model Number H024-410
Action Type Lever Action Shotgun
Caliber .410 Bore
Chamber Size 2 l/2” shells only
Capacity 6 Rounds
Barrel Length 19.8”
Barrel Type Round Blued Steel
Rate of Twist: Smooth / No Choke
Overall Length 38.1”
Weight 7.09 lbs
Receiver Finish Polished Brass
Rear Sight Fully adjustable Semi-buckhorn w/ Diamond Insert
Front Sight Ramp w/ 0.62” Ivory Bead
Scopeability Drilled and Tapped
Scope Mount Type Weaver 63B
Stock Material American Walnut
Buttplate/Pad Brass
Length of Pull 14”
Safety Transfer Bar
Best Uses Pest control, target, hunting, bird shot, personal defense
Embellishments Swivel Studs

NOW for more good news. For those folks who prefer a more modern looking rifle/shotgun, Henry introduced the X Model H018-410 with a blued steel receiver and synthetic stock. It comes equipped with a screw in Invector choke, large loop lever, M-Lok, Picatinny rail and fiber optic front bead.

We are really looking forward to shooting this shotgun as it has tremendous potential.
ARE YOU READY?

By Mary & Dr. Jim Clary. Virtually every shooter has had the occasion to run a few cleaning patches through their gun or make some minor adjustments while at the shooting range. And, most of us had to figure out how to hold the gun or prop it up to get the job done. That is no longer a problem with the Tipton Range Vise.

MSRP of this little gem is $27.99, a price that everyone can afford. Out of the box it is folded up for storage, measuring a mere 11 ¼” in length.

However, when you need it, simply open up the supports and the Vise expands to almost 18”, more than adequate to support most sporting arms for a minor cleaning or slight adjustment.

However, when you need it, simply open up the supports and the Vise expands to almost 18”, more than adequate to support most sporting arms for a minor cleaning or slight adjustment.

We found it ideal for placing our firearms on when they are not being used, rather than laying them down on the table. And, when the range is cold, the vise is ideal.

As with all of the Tipton vises, this one is constructed from a solvent-resistant nylon which will last a very long time. The two forks are equipped with non-marring pads to protect your guns’ finish while holding them securely in place for cleaning, light maintenance or as an extra set of hands. And, there are six rubber feet on the base of the vise to ensure that it does not slip.

This vise is well designed, very functional and totally practical. We definitely recommend it.

By Mary & Dr. Jim Clary. In Jim's younger days, if you wanted to adjust or change the press-fit sights on a pistol you got out a small hammer and punch and tapped away. More than one sight base has been ruined by hitting the punch hard, not to mention the frequent marring of the slide or barrel of the pistol. But, that was the only way that even professional gunsmiths had to adjust or install new sights.

Fast forward to the 21st century. The designers at Real Avid figured out how to build a “sight pusher” for press-fit sights. The key to this tool working on so many different pistols is the Universal Press Block. The Press Block features multiple contact surfaces for almost any size and style of press-fit dovetail slots and sight profiles.

This tool is a heavy-duty piece of equipment and it works with just about every pistol on the market. The reason that the tool is so easy to use is because the oversize handle partners with extra fine drive threads to provide maximum torque with minimal effort. And, to ensure that the pistol slides are not damaged in the process, they installed adjustable non-marring surfaces on the clamps.

The following diagram illustrates the features of the Sight-Pusher. And yes, the base has a functional vise attachment ridge.

1. Ergonomic Grip Control
2. Spring Loaded Vertical Adjustment Knobs
3. Easy Torque Handle
4. 3/8” Rachet Receiver
5. Side Clamp Adjustment Knobs
6. Safe Lock Anti-Torsion Frame
7. Slide Clamp
8. Universal Press Block
9. Slide Cradle
10. Bench Vise Attachment Ridge
11. Magnum Push Rod

With an MSRP of $149.00, this tool is not for everyone. However, if you are an avid pistol shooter, with multiple handguns, you might want to consider it. It makes adjusting and/or changing sights relatively easy. AND, it does not damage either the sights or pistol slides... that makes this tool a winner in our book

By Mary & Dr. Jim Clary. In 1996, when Louis Imperato and his son, Anthony Imperato founded Henry Repeating Arms to honor the Legacy of Benjamin Tyler Henry. Their goal, as that of Mr. Henry, was to produce quality lever action rifles “Made in America and Priced Right”. “Henry Repeating Arms takes its name from Benjamin Tyler Henry, the inventor who patented the first repeating rifle in 1860, known as the Henry rifle. There is no affiliation or lineage to Benjamin Tyler Henry or to the New Haven Arms Company, who sold the original Henry rifle from 1862 to 1864. Anthony Imperato secured the trademark to the Henry name in 1996.”
Their first (and most successful model) was the Henry Golden Boy, a rimfire lever action that “brought out the West in you”. Over 1 million Golden Boy rifles have been sold. The Golden Boy was followed quickly by a “replica” of the original Henry in 44-40 and 45 Colt calibers and the Henry Big Boy which was ideal for brush hunting and cowboy action shooting.

Today, there are more legacy model Henry rifles than I can count, all of which feature the iconic tubular loading magazine, which has become characteristic of Henry firearms. Then, in November 2020, the company issued a press release informing us all that in response to popular demand, ALL centerfire Henry rifles would now feature a side-loading gate on the frame, in addition to their tubular loading magazine. Our legacy Henry rifles just became more valuable and the newer models guaranteed that Henry Repeating Arms would continue to be one of the leading long gun manufacturers in the U.S.A.
Jim has always been a cowboy at heart, having harvested his first whitetail deer with an old Winchester lever action rifle in 1965. When Henry came out with their Golden Boy, he was first in line to get one. Ever since, he has loved Henrys and has been motivated to obtain more of the rifles that are “Made in America or not made at all”.

Shortly after the announcement that all centerfire Henry's would feature the side-gate loading feature, they introduced the steel-frame, side-loading gate 410 shotgun with an Invector choke, the Henry H018G-410. I decided that we had to get one, not just for our “collection of Henry's”, but for small game hunting AND home defense... not to mention the fun of busting clay pigeons with a 410.
As one can see in the title picture, the H018G comes in two versions: one with iron sights and one without. We ordered the one without iron sights and it arrived just before Christmas. This is one gun that will be my favorite and Jim will have to ask me nice to borrow it.

The laser-engraved checkering on the dark straight-grained American walnut furniture is superb. It is both functional and beautiful. The wood to metal fit is excellent. It is too bad that some of the other manufacturers can't do the same.

The Invector full choke included with the shotgun ensures that this gun will deliver a 40 inch spread at 40 yards. Because we wanted to have a more open spread for trap shooting, we ordered a modified choke which delivers a 40 inch spread at 35 yards. Between the two chokes, we are set for busting clays, hunting small game and home defense.

Home defense... that may sound a bit strange when referring to a diminutive 410 shotgun, but with Winchester PDX1 rounds, this gun is ideal for folks who don't want the excessive recoil from larger gauges, yet still want the stopping power of a shotgun. Rather than take our word for it, go to the YouTube channel of the Kentucky Patriot for field demos of the PDX1 rounds from a 410 at self-defense distances and you will be a believer. Steve's channel is https://youtu.be/OjhoJ1TcJfc.

The H018G shotgun has a thick non-slip ventilated black rubber recoil pad which reduces the “felt-recoil” to almost nothing. It also has sling swivel studs, but we are not sure why, as few folks are going to put a sling on a 410 shotgun. However, the studs are there, in case you want/need them. The gun is drilled and tapped for a Weaver 63B base mount in case you wish to mount a scope for turkey hunting.
Our test gun cycled flawlessly, loading each new round from the magazine after ejecting the spent hull. No hesitation, no hangups, no glitches... everything functioned perfectly. The side-gate made it easy to reload “on the fly”, while the tubular magazine permitted rapid unloading when necessary. This Henry was accurate and fun to shoot, like all Henrys.

The overall specifications are:
Model Number: H018G-410
Action Type: Lever Action Shotgun
Caliber: .410 Bore
Magazine Capacity: 6 rounds - 2 ½” shells (only)
Safety: Transfer Bar
Barrel Length: 24"
Barrel Type: Round Blued Steel
Receiver Finish: Blued Steel
Rate of Twist: Smooth Bore with Full Invector Style Choke
Length of Pull: 14"
Rear Sight: None
Front Sight: Brass Bead
Scopeability: Drilled and Tapped
Scope Mount Type: Weaver 63B
Stock Material: American Walnut
Buttplate/Pad: Black Ventilated Rubber Recoil Pad
Overall Length: 42.75"
Weight: 7.54 lbs

With an MSRP of $983, this Henry is competitively priced with other shotguns on the market, except it is better.

By Mary & Dr. Jim Clary. Coast refers to this as a Rechargeable Focusing Work Light. We prefer to refer to it as an almost ideal base camp lantern. The advantage of this over others designed for camp use is its size and compact nature. It is small enough that one can drop it into a day pack, to provide an emergency light in case you get stuck after dark. Yet, it is powerful enough to illuminate your entire base camp with an output of 1,150 lumens.

The WLR1 has a built-in rechargeable Lithium ion battery. It may be charged from either an AC or DC outlet, or run directly (continuously) when plugged into an outlet. An AC/DC adapter cord is included with the unit. When operating with the on-board battery, you can always tell how much power you have via the battery-life indicator. And, there is a USB port from which you can power your phone in emergencies.

The handle is capable of 180-degree rotation which enables you to place the light right where you need it with the beam being appropriately aimed. You are able to cycle through full, medium and low light options with the push of a button. And most important of all for a base camp light, this unit is built to IP54-level weather proof and dust proof standards. Unless you use it as a hammer (the case is impact resistant), you will not break or crack the case. As expected, the LED is virtually unbreakable. In other words, this light will stand up to the toughest outdoor tests imaginable.

The specifications for the WLR1 Work (Base Camp) Light are:
Light Output (High): 1,150 lumens
Beam Distance: 252 ft / 77 m
Runtime: 3 hours 15 minutes

Light Output (Medium) 600 lumens
Beam Distance: 180 ft / 55 m
Runtime: 6 hours 45 minutes

Light Output (Low) 125 lumens
Beam Distance: 82 ft 25 minutes
Runtime: 13 hours

This Coast unit is guaranteed for 5 years against defects in materials and workmanship. In our opinion, it will last until the Lithium Ion battery fails to charge, and there is no way to measure that, except for the average hunter or backpacker, it might as well be a lifetime. The MSRP is listed at $70, but it has been on sale online for as little as $59.99.

By Mary & Dr. Jim Clary. Over the past few years, a new breed of firearms owners has emerged. It is difficult to pinpoint an exact time, whether it was when the AR or AK-platform rifles were introduced or with the advent of the polymer frame pistols; but, this new breed of owners are highly motivated to learn all of the finer points of how their weapons operate AND to be able to perform many of the tasks previously left to gunsmiths themselves.

With that demand for knowledge came a demand for better, higher quality, and easier tools with which to DIY their firearms. That is where the folks at REAL AVID came into the picture. They tapped into the knowledge and experience of professional gunsmiths, armorers, and builders across the world, adding to the mix of law enforcement and military personnel to produce professional-grade products for you and me.

All of their equipment/tools are designed and tested in their laboratories and on the range before they are produced for the public. That is why we consider REAL AVID products among the best that can be obtained ….. anywhere. And NO, we are not paid for our opinions. We just believe that their tools are well built, easy to use, and priced right.

With the above being said, we decided to take a look at their Gun Boss for the AK47 platforms. Now, everyone has an excess of gun cleaning tools. Cleaning rods of all sizes and lengths, patches of every size, and enough brushes/jags to swab an army arsenal. But, very few of us have a single kit that is designed specifically for the AK47 which is small enough to easily fit into your range bag.

The Gun Boss AK47 is just such a kit. If you take another look at the picture at the head of this review you will see what we mean. The components of the kit include:
1. Compact, weather proof, zippered case with ballistic nylon shell.
2. Gas tube mop
3. 6 Threaded steel rods with durable E-coating and swivel tip, which form a 28.5” rod.
4. 9-Function compact AK47 scraper
5. Bolt and piston brush
6. Cleaning patches
7. AK47 drift pin punch with gas port scraper tip.
8. 7.62mm bore brush
9. Nylon slotted tip
10. Chamber brush which is threaded on both ends
11. T-Handle for cleaning rod
12. Bore lluminator / safety flag
13. Gas tube nylon brush

A chamber brush, carbon scraper, gas tube brush & mop help to clean more than the bore and keep your bolt cycling reliably. No annoying loose parts, as every component is smartly organized and held securely in place. Combine all of these components in the convenient carrying case and you have a complete package for the range or in the field.

The kit is priced right with an MSRP of $29.99. If you have an AK-platform rifle, you should consider picking up one of these kits… you won't regret it.