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Elwood Shelton

.22 WMR Vs .22 LR: Application Defines This Rimfire Rumble

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In the .22 WMR vs .22 LR debate, it’s difficult to claim the rimfire king has been dethroned. The .22LR remains the top choice for all but a few niche applications.

Certainly, side-by-siding the .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (.22 WMR) and .22 Long Rifle (.22 LR) isn’t akin to, say, comparing the .45-70 Government and .38 Special. No, indeed the popular rimfires are much closer in performance and application than the straight-walled rifle and pistol cartridges. But there are stark enough differences and nuances to the .22 cartridges to warrant some discussion, especially if you aren’t familiar with one or both. Though, given the sheer profusion of the Long Rifle, both being foreign seems a stretch.

In essence, the .22 WMR vs .22 LR discussion boils down to application. While the .22 LR is a generalist extraordinary—capable hunter, unparalleled plinker, dead-nuts target cartridge—the .22 WMR excels in one category. It’s a hunter and even here the terms might too be broad. The magnum rimfire’s specialty, where it makes its bones and finds few its equal is varminter. Pest control, that is.

The .22 LR (left) is a jack-of-all-trades, while the .22 WMR is a specialist, for all intents and purposes.
The .22 LR (left) is a jack-of-all-trades, while the .22 WMR (right) is a specialist, for all intents and purposes.

Yes, it’ll pop prairie dogs from sunrise to sunset. Mangle marmots with the best of them. And flay felonious foxes on the hoof from the hen house. True enough, at a much closer range and without as much authority, the .22 LR will do the same, just as the .22 WMR will murder tin can and spinner targets on a lazy summer afternoon. But there are some good reasons why it worth the effort to keep each rimfire cartridge in its wheelhouse.

Brief History Of The .22s

As always, it worth looking back at the history of a cartridge to get a better sense of its present use. For the .22 LR, it goes way back.

Designed in the early 1880s by Steven Arms, the Long Rifle was an amalgamation of a couple of other .22 rimfire cartridges. Stevens took the .750-inch case from the .22 Long and the 40-grain heeled bullet from the .22 Extra Long to create what we know today as the .22 Long Rifle. Union Metallic Cartridge Company produced the first factory .22 LR ammunition, a 40-grain round that clocked in at 1,082 fps from a rifle. Since, the .22 LR has gone on to become among the most-shot cartridges in the world, with somewhere in the neighborhood of 2.5 billion rounds produced annually.

Savage-B-Series-Hardwood-2
The .22 Long Rifle came in 1887, after the Short and Long. 

The advent of the .22 WMR came much later, the late 1950s, in the first serious attempt in the 20th Century to improve the range and killing capability of the .22 caliber. By all accounts, it succeeded marvelously. Utilizing the .22 Winchester Rimfire case and extending it to 1.055 inches, Winchester greatly increased case capacity, thus the velocity of the magnum rimfire. Furthermore, they topped it with a tougher jacketed bullet to ensure its projectile didn’t come apart at its top-end velocities. Today, the .22 WMR is still the hottest rimfire of that caliber, capable of pushing a 40-grain bullet from a rifle muzzle at 1,900 fps—in some cases even more.


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The Rimfires' Ballistics

As should be obvious from the above section, the magnum rimfire has a decided ballistic edge in the .22 WMR vs .22 LR discussion. At least in terms of its velocity and range. But that doesn't necessarily mean it's a more talented cartridge than the .22 LR. A quick example.

Take two similar CCI loads for the .22s, a 40-grain Maxi-Mag (.114 BC G1) for the Magnum and a 40-grain Mini-Mag (.118 BC) for the Long Rifle. The .22 WMR leaves the muzzle of most rifles at around 1,875 fps, while the .22 LR comes out at roughly 1,235 fps—a difference of 640 fps. This is quite glaring and very notable on the range. As is evident in the graph below, zeroed at 50 yards, the .22 LR takes a much more parabolic trajectory to the target, going a full ¼-inch above the point of aim. On the other hand, for the .22 WMR, the target is nearly a straight shot.

22 WMR vs 22 LR

Extend the range, things become even blunter. Given the Long Rifle round goes sub-sonic around the 30-yard mark, its range is somewhat limited. It only suffers around 2.5 inches of drop at 80 yards, in turn—with the aid of a good riflescope—could pick off a prairie dog at that distance. Much further and it’s pushing things with its quickly degrading trajectory. The .22 WMR on the other hand remains supersonic out to roughly 150 yards and drops 11-inches less than the long rifle at this range. So, it reaches much further.

The magnum's hitting power is where things get tricky. At 50 yards, it delivers 110 ft/lbs of energy—more than twice as much as the smaller .22. Though, this isn't a case where more is better. While the .22 WMR will put a varmint on the ground for good, it potentially proves too much for game meant for the table. Tree squirrels for certain, but at closer ranges, it will bloodshot the likes of cottontails and jackrabbits. Not so the .22 LR, which at most normal hunting ranges delivers enough to put an animal down and not much more.

Terminally, the .22 WMR offers greater penetrating potential, which makes it more adept than the .22 LR at snuffing larger critters such as coyotes. Though, it’s a stretch to call it a dedicated predator cartridge—perhaps an occasional one. Additionally, this characteristic perhaps makes it better suited to self-defense than the Long Rifle and some ammunition companies have developed loads for just such work. This isn’t to say either .22 is ideally suited for dealing with two-legged predators by any stretch of the imagination. No arguments, they are both deadly. However, I don't think it would be wise to rely on either to neutralize a threat. But if one of the .22s is all that’s on hand, they’re better than nothing.

The Many Bullets Of The .22 Magnum

Advances in bullet design have touched all corners of the firearms world including rimfire cartridges. This is a boon for the dedicated .22 LR shooter, who now finds some interesting additions—monolithic copper hollow-points, for instance—in his arsenal. Nice as this is, by and large, solid lead and copper-plated lead bullets remain the staple and give a decided edge to the larger cartridge in the .22 WMR vs .22 LR conversation.

The same V-Max bullet design you'll find on Hornady's centerfire rifle cartridges.
The same V-Max bullet design you'll find on Hornady's centerfire rifle cartridges.

Much like its centerfire cousins, the magnum rimfire mainly utilizes jacked lead-core bullets, which allows it to take advantage of some large technological leaps of recent decades. One that quickly jumps to mind, polymer-tipped hollow points, such as Hornady’s V-Max bullets. In addition to improving the bullet’s ballistic coefficient (how efficiently it cuts the air), it also improves terminal performance by initiating the bullet’s expansion. But the magnum rimfire also uses tried-and-true bullet construction to improve its hunting versatility. For meat hunters, soft-point, controlled-expansion options such as CCI Gamepoint, help to ensure less damage is done to the game.

Long Rifle Still The Most Affordable .22

Truth be told, this is one of the big dividing lines between the cartridges, the difference-maker for most shooters. It always comes down to money, right?

In short, you’ll always get more shooting done with a .22 LR, simply because it’s a more affordable cartridge. In saner times, when ammunition isn’t akin to Unobtainium, Long Rifle will run you around a dime or less per trigger pull. While .22 WMR, expect it to run $.20 or more per squeeze. Affordable when measured against centerfire cartridges, it still adds up and certainly makes the larger cartridge less attractive for pleasure shooting.

Gunning Up The WMR And LR

Here’s the good news, no matter where you fall in the .22 WMR vs .22 LR discussion, your cartridge is on equal footing when it comes to firearms. Rifle, revolver, pistol—you can find an iron chambered for either cartridge. Go something like the Ruger Single-Six Conversion you can shoot both with a simple swap of the cylinder. Hey, might as well take advantage of similar bullet diameters. (Note, the diameters aren't exactly the same the—.223 for .22 Long Rifle and .224 for the .22 WMR.)

The one difference, on average, you’ll find more affordable guns in .22 LR. No, there’s not a conspiracy against the magnum cartridge, it’s simply a matter of more manufacturers make .22 LR guns. These include very economical options typically angled at beginning shooters. As far as what sort of gun each gun excels from … all of them—you simply need to determine what type best fits your applications.

What Are They Good For?

As I pointed out at the beginning of the article, the .22 WMR excels in one particular niche—varmint hunting. Does this mean it can’t be used as a meat hunting cartridge or for target shooting? Perish the thought. With greater velocity, shooters utilize the cartridge for long-range rimfire shooting. A scaled-down firearm—say a 6-inch barreled revolver—tames it enough to work on edible game at closer ranges, if there’s a steady enough shot behind the trigger. But overall, most cherish the magnum rimfire as among the most economical options to ride an acreage of ground squirrels or exterminating vermin such as skunks. Well out of spraying range, mind you.

As for the .22 LR, what can’t it do is a better question. While its killing power isn’t as great as the .22 WMR, particularly at longer range, it’s still the go-to cartridge of bunny hunters and other small-game enthusiasts. And it's equally as potent on varmints, it just won't catch them as far out or product as dramatic results as the magnum.

Additionally, its resume as a target round is impeccable. Among the fastest-growing precision shooting competitions, NRL22, is tailored to the Long Rifle and it’s a staple of bullseye matches. Perhaps its only limit is its range, but that’s bothered few the past 100 some year.

And price? Even in lean years, the .22 LR remains the most abundant and affordable cartridges. Plain and simple, you'll get more shooting done with the old standby.

Parting Shot

Most shooters are well served having guns chambered in both the .22 LR and .22 WMR. Neither is going anywhere any time soon and each absolute joys to pitch downrange.

What if it's one or the other? In that case, if you happen to be a farmer or rancher that requires an economical option to keep ground squirrels out of the hay or prairie dogs from tearing up an alfalfa field, the .22 WMR is perhaps the best choice. The cartridge owns the pest-control wheelhouse and stands tall in this role.

For the rest of us, the .22 LR is the logical choice. It's simply the more versatile of the two cartridges. Be it drilling bullseye or putting small critters out of their misery, the Long Rifle is a proven asset. And one that won't break the bank. Honestly, no collection is complete without one.

.22 Magnum Pistol: What’s Available In Semi-Auto (2024)

The .22 Magnum pistol is a rare bird, but we pick four top options in the caliber to satiate even the most finicky rimfire fan.

What Are The Best .22 Magnum Pistols?:

A semi-automatic .22 Magnum pistol … cue crickets chirping. Popular as the souped-up rimfire cartridge has proven over the past 60 odd years it’s never really conquered the pistol market. Revolvers, those chamber in what’s properly known as the .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (.22 WMR), shooters have them coming out their ears. But pistols tread on hen's teeth territory.

What’s the deal? There’s a couple of things at play stacking the deck against the widespread production of .22 Magnum pistols. More than anything, the cartridge poses a tricky proposition. Rimmed cartridges are notoriously finicky in box magazines. Load them incorrectly—that is, hitch a rim behind another rim—and you’re managing a failure to feed. Jam-o-matics aren’t a load of fun, even if they deliver more punch to their destination.

If that isn’t enough, the .22 Magnum is a high-pressure cartridge that doesn’t play nice with straight blowback systems. Instead a delayed blowback operation is required to function properly. The task is tall in a pistol, requiring elegant engineering. This leads to the next big issue—cost.

22 Mag Winchester

Inherently, given a delayed blowback operation is more mechanically complex than a straight blowback, it cost more to engineer, manufacture and QC. Faced with this, the suits crunching numbers at gun companies have a simple refrain: Screw it, make a .22 LR pistol! If they’re ambitious, maybe they’ll roll the dice on a .22 Magnum revolver. Grimace if you must, but their calculus isn’t skewed.

Plus guns chambered for standard-bearer .22 LR not only cost less up front, but also in the long run. Savvy shoppers (in normal times) pay a dime or less per trigger pull of .22 LR; for .22 Magnum, they’re ponying up nearer to a quarter per pop. That adds up—particularly for plinking and pleasure shooting. Given these factors, it’s almost a wasteland when it comes to .22 Magnum pistols … almost.

There are some notable exceptions, so we picked out four semi-autos that have what it takes to scratch the magnum-rimfire itch. But, be warned, the world isn’t exactly awash in options. So, as your mother most likely told you on more than one occasion, beggars can’t be choosers.


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.22 Magnum Pistol Options:

Rock Island Armory XT

Rock-Island-XT-22-magnum-pistol

With a fraction of the fanfare it deserved, Rock Island launched its XT line a little over a year ago. Yet, the pistol deserves credit, it delivers on all accounts—affordability, dependability and, above all, accuracy.

No surprise from the Filipino company that made its bones with economical 1911s, its .22 Magnum pistol cuts the same figure and has the same feel. The similarities stop there, but it's still great news for anyone who loves the grip angle or aesthetics of the 1911. The XT is a top-ejector affair, somewhat reminiscent of a Beretta 92, with a unique two-piece barrel design that’s part of the pistol’s delayed blowback operation. It sounds complicated, but honestly is a fairly straightforward system that pays dividends. Not only does it run like a top, but it makes for a trimmer, more manageable gun.

The XT has a real sporty feel to it, so it's easy for us to imagine that it would do well in a competitive setting. The flat-top Pro model would make an interesting option for this, with its full-length Picatinny rail on top of the slide. Certainly, the pistol’s configuration lends it to self-defense, though, the caliber might not be anyone's first choice. And even though it’s light, the XT is too large to make it a backup option.

Pros:

  • Traditional 1911 feel and look
  • Good reputation for reliability

Cons:

  • Must buy the XT Pro variant if you want to mount an optic, and it has an MSRP $150 higher than the standard model

Rock Island XT Specs (Base Model)
Caliber: .22 Magnum
Barrel Length: 5 inches
Overall Length: 8.54 inches
Weight: 40 ounces
Magazine: 14 Rounds
MSRP: $599
armscor.com


Kel-Tec PMR-30

Kel Tech

When the Kel-Tec labs unleashed this Frankenstein’s monster around a decade ago, it was met with—to be honest—furrowed brows. What exactly was the angle of the plasticity, futuristic-looking .22 Magnum pistol? Not easily categorized, the new-wave heater nonetheless shouldered its way on the market, if for no other reason than sheer, unadulterated firepower. There aren’t many problems that can’t be solved with 30 rounds on tap.

Yes, for those unfamiliar with the PMR-30, that’s its hook—capacity. Which, when you put your mind to it, makes this fairly difficult to classify pistol quite useful for many applications. Backwoods insurance policy, rucksack’s best friend, inconspicuous truck gun—in essence, Jack-of-all-trades. Perhaps its most agreed-upon role is as a bug-out bag pistol.

Next to firepower, the PMR-30’s light weight is its greatest asset. Even fully juiced, it doesn’t weigh much more than a centerfire duty pistol. And for all its idiosyncrasies, the pistol is easy and comfortable to run, even delightful. It fits the hand well, boasts a snappy trigger and, thanks to Hi-Viz sights, is relatively quick on target. Overall, it offers a lot for someone in the market for something a bit different, but functional.

Pros:

  • Highest capacity
  • Most affordable (can be found new for about $350 at time of writing)

Cons:

  • Some users report reliability issues when the mag is loaded by hand rather than with a speed loader

Kel-Tec PMR-30
Caliber: .22 Magnum
Barrel Length: 4.3 inches
Overall Length: 7.9 inches
Weight: 14 ounces
Magazine: 30-round
MSRP: $495
keltecweapons.com


Excel Arms MP-22 Accelerator

Excel

No, ultra-accurate .22 Magnum pistols haven’t gone the way of the dodo. Quietly, niche manufacturer Excel has continued this once popular-vein of rimfire handgun with the Accelerator—a true mammoth of this class. No seriously, it’s a big piece—54 ounces!

Much of this is thanks to the heart of the Browning Buckmark-esque pistol, an 8-inch stainless-steel bull barrel that dang near needs a blow torch to heat up. Surprisingly enough, even with the sheer amount of firetube, the gun balances well in the hand and doesn’t prove front-heavy. Partly, this is due to plenty of frame reward and how Excel positions the grip, with a fair amount of slide hovering over the hand.

Excel offers some interesting design points on the Accelerator, from a Weaver-style rail on the slide to magazines with an assisted loading system. But the one that sticks out like a goiter is the charging handle. Don’t laugh until you try it. While many might write it off a garish, it’s plum handy and fast if you’re running an optic up top.

While it appears that Excel Arms is now out of business, the Accelerator MP-22 is still available on the second hand market for reasonable prices.

Pros:

  • Best potential ballistics thanks to its 8.5-inch barrel

Cons:

  • No longer in production
  • Bulky, arguably outdated design

Excel Accelerator
Caliber: .22 Magnum
Barrel Length: 8.5 inches
Overall Length: 12.88 inches
Weight: 54 ounces
Magazine: 9-round
MSRP: N/A
excelarms.com


Walther WMP

Walther WMP

New for 2022, the WMP or Walther Magnum Pistol came as a bit of a surprise. It's certainly on the more “tactical” side of handguns due to its inclusion of features like an optics-ready slide, and that isn't typical of .22 Magnum pistols.

The WMP is a full-size, polymer-framed handgun with a 4.5-inch barrel and 15-round magazine capacity. It has a typical accessory rail on the underside and an optics-cut slide on top. The front sight is also fiber optic. The pistol is fully ambidextrous as well, in part thanks to its unique Quad release mechanism that features both a traditional button mag release and a Walther-style paddle release on each side.

These features combine to make the WMP a very versatile pistol, just like the cartridge it fires. With its optics-ready slide, it could be used in competition, for pest control or just for having a blast at the range. Regardless of your reason for wanting one, we believe that the new WMP will soon establish itself as one of the best .22 Magnum pistol designs on the market.

Pros:

  • Ready for a modern pistol red dot and weapon light out of the box
  • Ambidextrous

Cons:

  • Newest model on this list, so has least amount of real-world use and is yet to establish a reputation.

Walther WMP
Caliber: .22 Magnum
Barrel Length: 4.5 inches
Overall Length: 8.2 inches
Weight: 27.8 ounces
Magazine: 15-round
MSRP: $549
waltherarms.com


Editor's Note: Adam Borisenko contributed to this article.

Best 9mm Revolver: Everyday Carry Options (2024)

What Are Your 9mm Revolver Options:

Ah… the revolver. Timeless and still highly trusted. Why not? Outside the side-by-side shotgun, few firearms have more on-the-ground, behind-the-trigger practical testing backing up their prowess. Old West gunslinger Wyatt Earp and modern-day New York lawman Jim Cirillo bet their lives regularly on the wheelguns. Both came out winners.

Far from outdated, the revolver is tried-and-true. Even so, the handgun has remained relevant to modern shooters, evolving into more useful and convenient forms. Next to light alloy frames and hammerless designs, one adaptation gaining favor presently is the 9mm revolver. Though, truth be told, the concept is nothing new. Gun designers have squeezed in the 9mm and other semi-automatic pistol cartridges into wheelguns for decades creating classics along the way. The .45 ACP M1917, for instance.

If you aim to shoot a 9mm revolver get use to these. Moon clips are the standard for this caliber wheelgun.
If you aim to shoot a 9mm revolver get use to these. Moon clips are the standard for this caliber wheelgun.

While the 9mm doesn’t have as storied a model to its name, I've found gunmakers have cooked up some dandy revolvers for the cartridge in recent years. Competitive shooters have especially benefited with geeked-out, highly-tuned race guns hitting the scene. Smith & Wesson’s PC Pro 986 and Ruger GP100 Match Champion are a couple high-octane wheelguns that come to mind.

Concealed carry hasn’t been left out in the cold. While the selection pales to standby revolver chamberings—.357 Magnum and .38 Special—there are options. And as interest in 9mm revolvers continues to grow, it’s expanded. So, what’s available now? We’re going to take a look with five 9mm revolver options fit for concealed carry.


Load Up On More 9mm Knowledge:

  • 11 Affordable 9mm Carbine Options
  • 7 Best 9mm Pistol Designs Of All Time
  • How To Choose The Best 9mm Ammo For Self-Defense
  • Is The 9mm Luger The Best All-Around Defensive Cartridge?

Best 9mm Revolver Options For Concealed Carry

Ruger LCR

9mm Ruger LCR

Honestly, the LCR has looks to rival a mud fence. Matte black all around and a cylinder profile reminiscent of a wasp nest, the lightweight 9mm revolver (it also comes in .38 Spc. and .357 Mag.) won’t win any beauty contests. It doesn’t have to. From my experience, its attractiveness comes from its reliability and convenience, making it among the most cherished modern-day defensive wheelguns.

The LCR’s greatest advantage is eminent concealability, which few other revolvers rival. Weighing in at a hair over 17 ounces unloaded, and boasting an 1.8-inch barrel and 6.5-inches in overall length, the gun is unassuming and anything but cumbersome. Having carried the LCR, I can attest it is likely the one revolver you'll carry every day.

Furthermore, the aircraft-grade aluminum-framed revolver is demure enough to fill a backup gun role, one you can dual-purpose ammo with a semi-auto pistol.

Light as the 5-round revolver is, those who are new to snubbies might find it bucky, but that’s nothing some practice won’t cure. Ruger gives you a leg up in this department with an excellent double-action trigger—a must on a DAO gun. Smooth as polished marble, the friction-reducing cam system doesn’t stack and makes the 9-pound pull weight much more manageable.

Optimized for concealed carry, Ruger removed every conceivable snag point, such as an exposed hammer and rear sight (it’s integral with the frame). Additionally, the LCR 9mm is fast on the reload—when you get the system down—utilizing full moon clips. Overall, it deserves its place among the best 9mm revolvers.

Ruger LCR 9mm Specs
Barrel Length: 1.87 inches
Overall Length: 6.5 inches
Width: N/A
Weight (Unloaded): 17.2 ounces
Capacity: 5
Sights: U-notch integral rear, ramp front
Cartridge Retention: Moon clip
MSRP: $859
Website: ruger.com

Pros

  • Lightweight and easy to carry
  • Excellent factory trigger that doesn't stack
  • Optimized for carry, with all snag points eliminated

Cons

  • Light enough it proves a bit bucky
  • DAO trigger not the best choice for beginers

Smith & Wesson PC Pro 986

Smith & Wesson PC Pro 986

Granted, the PC Pro 986 is a beast of a snub-nose and might not exactly fit every armed citizen’s definition of the ultimate clandestine 9mm revolver. But if overcoming the platform's main constraint—firepower—is your concern the handgun’s extra bulk pays you back 10 fold. Holding 7-rounds in its ample titanium cylinder, the 986 flirts with the capacity of many micro 9mm pistols that have become the hot ticket in recent years.

First off, I'll point out the obvious–the revolver is turned and designed for competition. Yet, this facet means the revolver is very responsive, particularly its trigger. I might say its the best I've felt on the list. In double-action it is smooth and lighter than most production modes, vastly improving the 986’s accuracy. At the same tick, shot-to-shot, the revolver is quick thanks to an overtravel stop that ensures efficiency in rapid-fire. Adding to this, the gun comes with an adjustable rear sight, which goes a long way in taking advantage of the other accuracy enhancements.

So, all of this is great, but the Performance Center marvel is still a 31-ounces L-frame revolver, with a William Taft-sized monolithic cylinder. Yes, this adds up to a milder shooter, thus better accuracy. But, it will take some consideration to puzzle out if it fits your carry profile. As do the sights and hammer spur, which all have the potential of hanging up on the draw if you’re not practiced. I'll be the first to admit, this option isn't for everyone–particularly those who aim to carry IWB. But I firmly believe for the right armed citizen, the 986 is an excellent 9mm revolver option that will perform well above many in its class.

Smith & Wesson PC Pro 986 Specs
Barrel Length: 2.5 inches
Overall Length: 7.5 inches
Width: N/A
Weight (Unloaded): 31.4 ounces
Capacity: 7
Sights: Adjustable target rear, ramp front
Cartridge Retention: Moon clip
MSRP: $1,259
Website: smith-wesson.com

Pros

  • More firepower on tap than any other 9mm revolver
  • Its trigger–Performance Center tuned–is the best on the list
  • Proves a very shootable revolver, capable of delivering shot-to-shot accuracy quickly

Cons

  • By nearly any standard, the 986 is a boat anchor
  • It is almost strictly limited to OWB carry for most folks

Charter Arms Pit Bull

9mm Revolver Charter Arms Pitbull

Sooner or later, nearly every wheel gunner has an inkling to toy around with a .44 Special. This inevitably leads to one gunmaker—Charter Arms. Its long-standing Bulldog has become legendary at this point, if for no other reason than it’s one of the only dedicated .44 rigs configured for carry. More recently, the company has shown a real knack with 9mm revolvers too.

Starting life a decade ago, the Pit Bull is an ingenious system doing away with moon clips—half or full—for spring-loaded ejectors. Just snap a round in the cylinder and there it stays until ejected, just like it was a rimmed cartridge. Anybody who’s dealt with moon clips, particularly well-used warped ones, get the advantage the ejectors offer. Additionally, the feature makes the gun compatible with strip speedloaders, which—while not the fastest—are among the most convenient.

About as plain Jane as a revolver gets, the Pit Bull won’t turn any head—aside from an icon of its namesake on the barrel. Matte blasted stainless-steel finish, ramp front sight and integral rear are the order of the day, and the trigger isn’t a polish job for sure. But the gun’s fit and finish are downright decent, and its tight cylinder lockup gives it an overall solid feel and dependable performance. I like that a hammer is part of the package, one with a somewhat muted spur. In turn, with a little familiarity, it can be drawn with little worry of getting tangled up.

Charter Arms Pitbull Specs
Barrel Length: 2.2 inches
Overall Length: N/A
Width: N/A
Weight (Unloaded): 22 ounces
Capacity: 5
Sights: Fixed rear, ramp front
Cartridge Retention: Spring ejectors
MSRP: $520
Website: charterfirearms.com

Pros

  • Barrel is long enough to get a near full burn from most loads, thus good velocity
  • Novel ejectors do away with moon clips
  • Compatible with strip-style speedloaders

Cons

  • Trigger tends to be stiff and heavy
  • A bit heavy compared to other options

Rock Island Armory AL9.0

Rock Island AL9.0

Most think fairly economical 1911 pistols when Rock Island Armory is the topic of discussion, but the gunmaker has proven a more than adept revolver-smith over the years. Added to the gunmaker’s lineup a few years back is a jack-of-all-trades 9mm revolver that certainly has the stuff to fill a defensive role. To this end, I find the AL9.0’s capacity an especially tantalizing aspect, holding 6 rounds of Parabellum and quickly reloading via full moon clips.

The tradeoff with the AL9.0 is its measurements. While its width–1.5 inches–and barrel length–3 inches–are more than manageable, the gun tips the scales at 32 ounces. That doesn't exactly make it a featherweight. But it does add up to a very comfortable shooter, especially digesting the already well-mannered 9mm. In shooting it, despite a somewhat heavy DA trigger, I've found the gun very responsive and have been able to clear plate racks quickly once in a rythem.

I like the rubberized grip and the adjustable rear target sight–though the latter does concern me as a snag point. But the my real nit to pick is with the AL9.0's hammer spur, which prominently sticks out. But, if you’re willing to put in the time with the heater, and learn its ways, the revolver should prove more than manageable.

Rock Island Armory AL9.0 Specs
Barrel Length: 3 inches
Overall Length: 6.75 inches
Width: 1.50 inches
Weight (Unloaded): 16 ounces
Capacity: 6
Sights: Fixed rear, ramp front
Cartridge Retention: Moon clip
MSRP: $899
Website: armscor.com

Pros

  • Very shootable revolver and quick shot-to-shot
  • Standard revolver capacity gives you 6 on tap

Cons

  • Heavier than many would care to tote on a daily basis
  • Snag points on rear sight and spur

Taurus 905

Taurus 905

It comes as no surprise Taurus has had a 9mm revolver for some time. After all, the gunmaker has wheelguns chambered for nearly everything under the sun. The 905 has been a mainstay for many for the past decade or so and is a more than capable defensive gun, along with about anything else you’d want out of a 9mm.

Granted, the steel-framed handgun is on the lower end of capacity holding 5-rounds, but that’s fairly standard for a majority of concealed carry revolvers regardless of caliber. The 905 makes up for this by coming in lighter, 21 ounces, and slightly narrower, 1.4-inch width, than other 9mm revolvers. Plus, it’s fairly streamlined with a built-in rear sight (ramp front) and all its edges fairly smoothed down.
The only hitch, at least for some, is the spur on the hammer, though it’s not a dealbreaker.

Handily, the 905 utilizes Taurus Stellar Clips (and moon) to hold the rounds in place, a neat bit of engineering that makes loading the clips easier than traditional moon clips. Like any 9mm revolver using clips, the gun itself is quick to reload with practice. The one hitch in the 905’s giddyap is a substantial double-action trigger pull, out-of-the-box flirting with 12 pounds.

I'll also pitch in one more thing. Taurus makes a concealed hammer model of the 905, however, it's only available with a 3-inch barrel. It's definitely still a carry option, but it's disappointing the company hasn't come out with a similar feature on its 2-inch barred model.

Taurus 905 Specs
Barrel Length: 2 inches
Overall Length: 6.5 inches
Width: 1.4 inches
Weight (Unloaded): 21 ounces
Capacity: 5
Sights: Fixed rear, ramp front
Cartridge Retention: Stellar clip
MSRP: $410
Website: www.taurususa.com

Pros

  • Weight provides just the right balance between ease of carry and shootablity
  • Steller Clips makes reloads quicker

Cons

  • Concealed hammer not available on 2-inch barreled model

More On 9mm:

Best 10mm Ammo For Self-Defense And Hunting (2024)

What 10mm ammo has you covered for self-defense and hunting?

The Best 10mm Ammo For Self-Defense:
The Best 10mm Ammo For Hunting:
The Best 10mm Ammo For Training:

Languishing in semi-obscurity for a good quarter century, the 10mm has earned new-won respect in recent years. There’s plenty of reasons for Col. Jeff Cooper's darling wandering the wilderness all those years. The first pistol chambered for the powerful cartridge – the notorious Bren Ten – didn’t exactly pirouette onto the stage. And similar to the .44 Magnum, average shooters liked the concept of the snappy cartridge on paper better than when the squeezed the trigger.

As to its rise, who’s to say exactly. The safe wager, it’s the 10mm’s versatility that has captured ever-fickle shooters’ imaginations. It shoots longer, hits harder and has potentially more applications than any other semi-automatic pistol cartridge today. If you’re willing to spend the time to master the 10mm’s stout, yet manageable recoil you have at your disposal an unparalleled self-defense cartridge and top-notch medium- to large-game option. Heck, once you get to know it, the big ten is also plenty of fun at the range.

Whatever is truly at the root of the 10mm’s resurgence, the marketplace has responded. While gunmakers have been quick to jump on the bandwagon in recent years, they pale in comparison to ammo manufacturers. There is a veritable sea of new 10mm ammo that has hit the shelves over the past decade or so, making for some choppy waters when trying to find the best of the best. With a nod to expediency, we’re here to clear some of the fog and look at what’s top when it comes to feeding your .40-caliber beast.

10mm Ammo


Multitalented, the 10mm is generally preferred for two primary purposes: self-defense and hunting. There is crossover between 10mm ammo and these applications. But outside the realm of revolvers, perhaps no other caliber has more specialized rounds for these purposes.

This means, not every self-defense round cuts muster on the hunt and not every hunting round is appropriate for personal protection. With that in mind, the best 10mm ammo list has been broken down to these purposes (plus a range fodder suggestion) and have slightly different criteria in their selection. For self-defense ammo the benchmarks considered were, met FBI penetration protocol, substantial bullet expansion, manageable recoil with respect to bullet weight and reliable feeding. On the other hand, hunting bullets were measured on maximum penetration, bullet robustness and potential maximum range. Not that you want to push a handgun shot in the field, but it’s peace of mind if the first shot fails to do the job and you need to follow up.

Get An Edge On 10mm Ammo:

So, without further ado, here's what we think are some of the best 10mm ammo options out there for self-defense, hunting and training. Let us know in the comments if we're on target or missed the mark wildly.

10mm Ammo For Defense

Hornady 175-grain Critical Duty

10mm-ammo-Critical-Duty


A showstopper defensive round, this member of Hornady’s heralded Critical Duty family does the job and more. The 175-grain round is tailored for full-sized handguns and is loaded to provide excellent ballistics and penetration. To the latter, it fully meets not only the FBI’s penetration standards, but also the agency’s barriers tests, giving you a powerful upper hand in almost any self-defense situation. Over-engineering, a hallmark of Hornady, is to thank for the top-performing 10mm ammo’s performance. Thick jacketed and aided by a Flex Tip core, the FlexLock bullet is designed to expand only when it's supposed to — which isn’t in plywood or heavy clothing. Furthermore, a jacket-to-core band (Interlock band in Hornady terminology) ensures the bullet holds together and lead core retains mass as it expands. By the company’s statistics, the FlexLock bullet preserves 99-percent of its weight after expansion. A hard-hitter, Critical Duty is a manageable defensive 10mm ammo option, allowing for controlled follow-up shots if needed. Hornady is among the best bulletsmiths and ammo companies in the country and it shows through in a round you can bet your life on.
Bullet: 175 gr. FlexLock
Muzzle Velocity (fps): 1,160
Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs): 523
Ballistic Coefficient: .160
Sectional Density: .156
MSRP: $37.99 box of 20

Speer 200-grain Gold Dot

10mm-ammo-Gold-Dot


In terms of defensive 10mm ammo, 200-grain options are few and far between – at least in the contemporary shooting world. Given this, the buzz Speer started at the 2018 SHOT Show with this behemoth addition to the iconic Gold Dot family is understandable. It’s a lot of jacketed lead to pitch, but it's not just its size that matters. The round's terminal performance is what makes it more than worthy of consideration. On bare ballistics gelatin, the hollow-point expanded nearly a full ¾ of an inch. No matter the situation that should prove more than enough persuasion to halt most attackers dead in their tracks. Packing plenty of punch, this Gold Dot isn’t loaded to the hilt. Speer lists its muzzle velocity at 1,100 fps out of a 5-inch barrel. That’s good enough to get the job done, and also make the snappy caliber manageable past the first shot for most shooters. But it also makes one wonder if the company has a 200-grain hot-rod model in the works.
Bullet: 200-grain Gold Dot HP
Muzzle Velocity (fps): 1,100
Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs): 537
Ballistic Coefficient: .151
Sectional Density: N/A
MSRP: $48.99 box of 20

SIG Sauer 180-grain V-Crown

10mm-ammo-SIG


Near blister hot and offering incredible expansion, SIG Sauer has produced one of the wickedest defensive 10mm ammo choices out there. While the round kicking out of the muzzle around 1,250 fps is right around what most 10 mm aficionados like to see, it’s what the V-Crown bullet does when it hits the target that turns heads. The projectile balloons like it's gone off its diet, expanding right around ¾ of an inch — more than ample to produce a devastating wound channel. SIG has done a wonderful job ensuring not only this, but all V-Crown options produce these results. Whereas many ammo makers are content skiving just the jackets of a defense round, SIG takes these through the hollow point’s lead core ensuring consistent and dynamite expansion round in and out. Nickel-plated cases are a nice addition to the round, not only for their deadly good looks, but also making chamber checks easier.
Bullet: 180-grain V-Crown JHP
Muzzle Velocity (fps): 1,250
Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs): 624
Ballistic Coefficient: N/A
Sectional Density: N/A
MSRP: $24.99 box of 20

10mm Ammo For Hunting

Federal 180-grain Trophy Bonded JSP

10mm-ammo-trophy-bond-2


Designed to smash through tough hide and bone, Federal’s specialty 10mm hunting ammo is a proven game getter. Topped with a bullet from the renowned Trophy Bonded line, the jacketed soft point won’t go to pieces in medium- and large-sized game — an absolute must in a handgun hunting bullet. The core is bonded to the jacket, ensuring it retains its mass as it bores through flesh and bone, producing a devastating wound channel. It’s tough enough, too, to give you the peace of mind that if you happen to have to smash through something such as a deer’s scapula you’ve got the projectile to do it. At the same tick, an excessive meplat (nose) guarantees the bullet’s exceptional expansion. Furthermore, the round is plenty hot for hunting. Federal Premium pegs it at 1,275 fps and plenty of outside testing backs up the assertion. In addition to accuracy, the velocity delivers the penetration required to reach the vitals for a quick and ethical kill. Quite simply, the 180-grain Trophy Bonded round is among the best available for the 10mm.
Bullet: 180-grain Trophy Bonded Bear Claw
Muzzle Velocity (fps): 1,275
Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs): 650
Ballistic Coefficient: 0.134
Sectional Density: N/A
MSRP: $44.99

Buffalo Bore Heavy Outdoorsman 220 grain

Buff-bore


Near the heaviest bullet the 10mm can digest, Buffalo Bore has cooked up the answer if penetration is the question. Launching a hard-cast flat nosed bullet, the 220-grain round is designed to handle the largest and toughest critters you’d logically take with a 10mm. A good bet for hunting larger cervidae or as an insurance policy when traversing bear country. Engineered for minimal expansion, the bullet nonetheless punches a devastating hole in game and makes child’s play of hide and bone. And with 3-feet of potential penetration at hand, a well-placed shot will destroy all vitals in the bullet’s path. Hot, Buffalo Bore loads this 10mm ammo to the hilt, with an average muzzle velocity of 1,200 fps. At that speed, it delivers a whopping 651 ft-lbs. of energy to a target at 25 yards. If that’s not enough to get you in the ballpark of what you’re hunting, you probably shouldn’t aim to bag it with a semi-auto pistol.
Bullet: 220-grain Hard Cast plain based LFN
Muzzle Velocity (fps): 1,200
Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs): 703
Ballistic Coefficient: .219
Sectional Density: N/A
MSRP: $44 box of 20

Hornady 180-grain XTP

10mm-ammo-Hornady-XTP


Honestly, this is twofer 10mm Ammo. The 180-grain Hornady round is just the ticket for self-defense or hunting small to medium game, offering power, penetration and excellent expansion in either case. Another factor that should appeal to both camps, accuracy. Surprising for a hollow point, the XTP bullet is among the most popular among target and competitive shooters. The round offers excellent penetration, with the jacket rolled over the core to ensure it defeats clothing, hide and bones. Then, it expands violently — as much as 60-percent its original diameter — aided by skives in the jacket. This minute feature ensures the bullet mushrooms, even at lower velocities and in a very uniform consistent manner. Not that you have to worry about low velocity with this 180-grain round, on average it leaves the muzzle at 1,200 fps. All in all, the XTP round punches well above its weight and is easily the jack-of-all-trades on this list.
Bullet: 180-grain XTP
Ballistic Coefficient: .164
Sectional Density: .161
Muzzle Velocity: 1,275
Muzzle Energy: 650
MSRP: $35.99 box of 20

Underwood Ammo 150-grain Xtreme Hunter

10mm-ammo-underwood


Don’t let its lightweight fool you, Underwood’s 10mm hunting round is pure dynamite. Solid copper, the 150-grain round obviously offers incredible penetration potential. Plain and simple, it won’t break up even against bone — in fact, it will crack right through it. But it perhaps has an advantage over some the hard cast options previously mentioned – wound channel. Milled fluting gives the Xtreme Hunter the unique property of creating a permanent wound cavity greater than many bullets designed to expand. Penetration and large wound cavity — that’s a potent combination. Being a lighter round, it’s also much easier to shoot, despite leaving the barrel at a screaming clip — 1,425 fps by Underwood’s numbers. At this velocity, its energy is akin to projectiles more than 30-grains its weight at the muzzle. At first, it may not look it, but the Xtreme Hunter is more than capable medium to large game 10mm ammo.
Bullet: 150-grain Lehigh Defense Xtreme Hunter
Muzzle Velocity: 1,425
Muzzle Energy: 676
Ballistic Coefficient: N/A
Sectional Density: N/A
MSRP: $47.99 box of 20

10mm Ammo For Training

Remington 180-grain UMC FMJ

10mm-ammo-Remington


Plain decent plinking, practice and range ammo. Decent velocity, inexpensive, good general weight and reliable. What more do you need from target ammo, 10mm or otherwise?
Bullet: 180-grain FMJ
Muzzle Velocity (fps): 1,150
Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs): 529
Ballistic Coefficient: N/A
Sectional Density: N/A
MSRP: $48.99 box of 50

CCI Blazer Brass 180-grain FMJ

10mm Auto CCI
CCI brass may not be the most consistently-loaded ammo out there, but in the current ammo market this stuff is at least available and relatively cheap. If your only goal is to shoot as much 10mm ammo for the least amount of money possible, CCI Blazer may be the way to go.
Bullet: 180-grain FMJ
Muzzle Velocity (fps): 1,200
Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs): 575
Ballistic Coefficient: N/A
Sectional Density: N/A
MSRP: $35.99 box of 50

What Is The Best Concealed Carry Holster? (2024)

What Is The Best Concealed Carry Holster?

Top Concealed Carry Holster Options:

When it comes to choosing the best concealed carry holster, the process has never been more difficult. A particular holster may be perfectly made, designed to mold to every curve and crevice of the human body, light as a feather, and breathable as mountain air. The difficulty is, if it doesn’t feel right when you wear it, it’s not worth a penny.

The best concealed carry holster the author used with the Kahr CM9 is a Crossbreed MiniTuck IWB (inside-the-waistband) with a forward cant.
What attributes make the best concealed carry holster? Like a lot of things in life, that depends – in this case on your clothing choices, CCW handgun and lifestyle.

Luckily, the holster market is nearly limitless. If you can conceive of a potential way to carry a handgun, there’s somebody out there stitching together a CCW holster that'll work. All you need to do is to find it.

Here we’ll look into what makes a good concealed carry holster, what types are available and some recommendations of the top models out there today. From there, you should find yourself armed with enough knowledge to hunt down the best concealed carry holster to fit your needs and enhance your experience.

What Makes A Good Concealment Holster?

Regardless of the style of handgun holster you opt for, it should be capable of a few basic functions. Obviously, if you want the best concealed carry holster, concealability is chief among the attributes you’ll need. Beyond that, there are a number of safety and other considerations you’ll need to take into account. Let’s go through them.

Fit: Holster fits both your gun and your body
Retention: Holds gun firmly in place, without any worry about it slipping out.
Concealable: Reiterate, it must enhance the ability to conceal a handgun on your person.
Protects Handgun: You’ll sweat, so your holster must provide a barrier from moisture.
Protects You: Must cover the trigger completely to avoid a negligent discharge while holstered.
Enhances Draw: Holster must allow a full combat grip on your draw; cleanly works with the rest of your attire.
Enhances Re-holstering: The holster mouth doesn’t collapse after drawing, allowing a clean and quick re-holster.
Comfort: Simply, if it doesn’t feel right on your person, you won’t wear it, pretty much blowing the whole carrying thing to hell.

Considerations

Funny as it may sound, it’s not all the holster’s job to get it right. You’ve got to meet the piece of gear halfway in some respects. You need to put some hard and heavy thought into the clothes you wear, whether or not you’ll invest in a new wardrobe, the lifestyle you live, the type of gun you plan to carry and your proficiency with it.

If you do, you’ll go a long way in figuring out what the best concealed carry holster is for your particular circumstances.

EXOTICCO - What is the best concealed carry handgun? Galco makes some of the best.

An example. Say you drive for a living, an inside-the-waistband holster – particularly those carried past the 3 o’clock position, might prove an uncomfortable choice. Furthermore, it could hinder a draw when on the job. Neither ideal.

Or if you wear shorts and a T-shirt all the time, it all but precludes an out-side-the-waistband holster. Additionally, a full-sized 1911 might not top the list as your preferred defensive handgun choice. Absolutely, you can conceal this style of pistol under this type of garb, but your options are severely limited in how you do so.

Also, your risk profile can play a role in how you carry. By risk profile I mean the likelihood you’ll become involved in a lethal-force event. Certainly, this is not a set-in-stone guideline and depending on how much and where you travel in a day it can change. Evaluating this variable, however, goes a long way in finding the holster best suited for you. A small urban business owner who walks his till daily to deposit has much different needs and concerns from somebody who telecommutes to work every day from the comfort of their own home.


For more information on the best concealed carry holster check out:


The key to all these factors is flexibility, not simply in the holster you choose, but the gun you carry and how you conceal it. This shouldn’t mean you compromise. But something as simple the willingness to add an additional layer of clothing or the position in which you plan to carry your gun can make all the difference.

The Best Concealed Carry Holster Styles

There are a few other specialty holsters out there, but for the most part these are the most popular concealed carry options available:

  • OWB Holster
  • IWB Holster
  • Appendix Carry Holster
  • Cross Draw Holster
  • Shoulder Holster
  • Belly Band Holster
  • Ankle Holster
  • Pocket Holster

Certainly, somewhere in this mass, there has to be the perfect one for you.

OWB Holster

Attaching to your gun belt on the outside of the pants, the outside-the-waistband holster is one of the most comfortable ways to carry. Outside perhaps the confines of a car’s bucket seat, an OWB Holster won’t dig into your side. Additionally, when made of good leather or Kydex (a type of plastic) it is among the easiest concealed carry holsters to draw from. The grip is clearly presented allowing you to get your entire hand around it with little or no impediment.

The downside, OWB holsters are more difficult to conceal. If you go this route plan on an additional layer of clothing, such as a jacket or second shirt. Furthermore, make certain the clothing covers the entirety of the gun and holster. You don’t want to “make” yourself (inadvertantly disclose you're armed) by simply bending over to pick something off the floor.

Top OWB Holster: Galco Combat Master Belt Holster

Best concealed carry holster from Galco.
Galco’s tough to beat, especially the classic pancake design of the Combat Master Belt Holster. It flattens tight against the body, while providing plenty of room to access a handgun. Tough as iron, the steerhide is durable and has a long lifespan. It’s damn good looking to boot. MSRP: $130

Runner-Up: Kryptek Typhon Kydex OWB

Best Concealed Carry Holster Kryptek Typhon Kydex OWB
Hugging the body tightly and cutting down the profile of your pistol, the Kryptek Typhon Kydex OWB holster is tough to beat. Rigid, the holster consistently presents your gun’s butt so drawing is second nature. Options for multiple belt attachments also adds a lot of versatility to the system. MSRP: $59.99

IWB Holster

Kissing cousin to the OWB holster, the inside-the-waistband holster is perhaps the most prolific carry method today. As its name suggests, the holster is carried on the inside of the pants and close to your body. This intimate position reduces printing (when the outline of a gun is visible through clothing), thus is a highly concealable method.

IWB holsters come in many styles and systems, from multi-material hybrid holsters to simple leather models. How particular models attach can also vary, but a majority nowadays utilize clips and loops that attach over the pants to a belt.

Clandestine, the IWB holster has a few wrinkles that you must consider before going this route. Given their position, they tend to be more difficult to draw from and require a fair amount of practice to perfect. They turn up the heat in the hotter months, given they directly contact the skin. And finding a comfortable model takes effort and patience.

Top IWB Holster: Alien Gear Cloak Tuck 3.5

Best Concealed Carry Holster: The Alien Gear Cloak.
The Cloak Tuck is a rarity in IWB Holsters — comfortable. Breathable perforated neoprene backing keeps the holster cool against your body, which makes it ideal for hot-weather carry. Adjustable cant, ride and retention make it among the most flexible options on the market. Tack on Alien Gear’s excellent customer service and you’ve got a winner. MSRP: $64.88

Runner-Up: We The People Holsters Custom Kydex IWB

We The People Holsters IWB
We The People Holsters’ Custom Kydex IWB line has a lot going for it. Besides being about as slim and trim as Kydex IWB holsters come, the models in this line are also very affordable and are available with many more color and pattern options than what most other companies offer. The most basic black models start at $41 but spending a few dollars more can get your holster adorned with camouflage, American flags, the Constitution or even “Let’s Go Brandon” just to name a few. They fit 1.5-inch belts, are available in both right- and left-hand configurations and can be upgraded with a We The People Holster Claw that’s sold separately. MSRP: Starts at $51

Appendix Carry Holster

Essentially an OWB or IWB holster that is generally slimmer in overall dimensions, making it easier to carry a gun in the front of your person. In recent years, appendix carry has become somewhat controversial. Some instructors refuse to teach the style of carry, due to safety concerns, namely the tendency to contentiously muzzle sweep some part of the body. This is especially true if you happen to be … ahem … a man. Additionally, it’s not generally considered the most comfortable way to carry, particularly among the heftier armed citizens.

Still, an appendix carry holster fills a niche for certain shooters. It facilitates a fast draw for righties and lefties when seated, say driving. It guards against a gun grab executed from the rear. And, at least among the slender, it tends to conceal nicely.

Top Appendix Carry Holster: Concealment Express IWB Kydex

Best Concealed Carry Holster: IWB Kydex style.
Not exclusively for appendix carry — it will perform in nearly any position — the holster is an excellent option up front. It presents plenty of your handgun's grip making a draw intuitive, while still keeping it low enough to conceal. Adjustable cant and retention give you the ability to fine-tune the holster to your preferences. MSRP: $41.95

Runner-Up: L.A.G. MK 2 AIWB

Best Concealed Carry Holster LAG MK 2 AIWB
Precision designed and pressure formed, L.A.G. MK 2 AIWB holster is purpose made for the task. Two different height wedges allow you to adjust how tightly the rig fits your body and adjustable cant lets you micro tailor the presentation of your gun. It’s also lightning fast on the draw. MSRP: $69.95

Cross-Draw Holster

Again, most IWB and OWB holster can fit the bill. But in recent years outside-the-waistband cross-draw holster models have gained popularity. Typically slim options with a lot of play in the cant (how much the gun is angled) are favored, reducing muzzle sweeps common in appendix holsters. Cross-draw holsters are carried support side (weak side), away from the dominant hand in the 1 or 2 o’clock position. As the name implies, a draw is executed by reaching across the body.

The style of carry proves useful for those seated for long periods, giving unimpeded access for both right and left-handers. However, it suffers the same drawbacks as appendix holsters, in they’re more difficult to conceal. More so, given they’re right up front.

Top Cross Draw Holster: Wright Regulator Cross Draw Holster

Best Concealed Carry Holster: The Regular Crossdraw
Lacking some of the adjustment found in other models, the Regulator more than makes up for it in concealability, performance and quality. Holding the handgun high and tight against the body, the holster greatly reduces the likelihood of printing while providing excellent access. Built from rich, fine-grained leather, it also might be among one of the best looking holsters on the list. MSRP: $115

Runner-Up: DeSantis’ Sky Cop

Best Concealed Carry Holster DeSantis
Situated at an excellent height and designed to carry full-sized pistols, DeSantis’ Sky Cop is a tactically proficient cross draw holster. The nice part about the rig, it’s simple to conceal for an OWB option and comfortable, even in a sitting position. Though, outside of tension, it doesn’t offer much adjustment. MSRP: $92.99

Shoulder Holster

Technically a cross draw method, shoulder holsters are worth a few words on their own. Contrary to every James Bond flick and TV detective show you’ve ever watched, they are not the most popular concealed carry holster. In fact, they’re rare.

Shoulder holster rigs are typically constructed of leather and consist of harness straps that go over the shoulder and support the gun. Generally, they are configured to hold a handgun in a vertical or horizontal position and some are adjustable between the two.

This style of holster can be tricky to conceal, a bulky jacket is advisable to avoid printing. And poorly designed ones are uncomfortable; the key is to find one with wide straps that distribute weight. The great advantage of the shoulder holster, they're a snap to draw from sitting.

Top Shoulder Holster: Alien Gear ShapeShift

What is the Best Concealed Carry Holster? Alien Gear's shoulder holsters are hard to beat if comfort is the goal and belt carry isn't an option.
Padded in all the right places, one of Alien Gear’s newest holsters vies to be among the most comfortable shoulder rigs around. Padded straps are the secret, along with plenty of adjustment to get the perfect fit. Boasting Level III retention with a quick-access strap, the holster removes the concerns of a gun drop. Built with stability in mind, the lightweight system keeps everything in place. It’s also compatible with all the company’s other ShapesShift products – so it’s more than just a shoulder holster. MSRP: $243.88

Runner-Up: Galco’s VHS Shoulder System

Best Concealed Carry Holster Galco VHS Shoulder System
Galco’s VHS Shoulder System is an absolute classic. Almost the archetype of a shoulder holster. It should be, considering it’s the company’s improvement on its iconic Miami shoulder holster. The key component of the steerhide rig is its four-point spider harness that pivots independently thanks to the Galco’s Flexalon swivel back plate. Field tested by the military and law enforcement, the system just the ticket for upper-body carry. MSRP: $336

Belly Band Holster

A deep concealment method, the belly band holster is an elastic band, usually with holster pockets sewn into it to retain a handgun. Generally speaking, most are dynamite at concealing a gun, given how close it keeps one to the body.

A favored method of carry by women, belly band holsters are also excellent at keeping a gun handy while undertaking an athletic endeavor, such as jogging or biking. In most cases, a belly band eliminates all concerns of a gun drop.

They are also extremely flexible, positioning a gun nearly anywhere on the torso – armpit, waistline, small of the back, etc.

They have their drawbacks, though. Given belly bands hold a gun so close, they are not exactly quick-draw rigs. Getting a gun re-holstered in many can also tend to prove a task. Additionally, small guns are better suited to the system.

Top Belly Band Holster: Crossbreed Belly Band

Best Concealed Carry Holsters? Try this low-profile belly band style.
A Kydex shell integral, Crossbreed’s Belly Band makes holstering as simple as drawing. The modular design has an additional length of band, providing additional support for heavier firearms. Extra pouches allow you further space to carry a flashlight, extra magazines, accessories, even a wallet. MSRP: $74.95

Runner-Up: ComfortTac Belly Band

Best Concealed Carry Holster ComfortTac Belly Band Holster
Don’t let the economical price fool you, you’ll get the whole nine yards with the ComfortTac Belly Band Holster. Designed to be worn anywhere on your torso and in any position, it's among the most flexible options on the market. Made from rugged surgical elastic, nylon and neoprene backing, the ComfortTac includes a silent-release retention strap, mag pouch and money pocket. MSRP: $39.99

Ankle Holster

Working best with small semi-auto pistols and snubby revolvers, ankle holsters are a favored method to carry a backup gun. Generally not a first choice for primary carry, they have a big disadvantage requiring you to bend down and pull up your pant leg to access the gun. Still, if it’s the only feasible method to carry your primary defensive handgun, it’s better than not being armed.

Top Ankle Holster: Uncle Mike’s Ankle Holster

Best-Concealed-Carry-Holsters-uncel-mikes

While it may cost a little more than most other ankle holsters, Uncle Mike's option has a lot going for it. It has a calf loop for keeping the gun from slipping down your leg, so even carry pistols on the heavier side should be good to go. The real reason Uncle Mike's Ankle Holster is our top pick is the amount of options available. When ordering, you don't just pick whether it's a right- or left-hand model, you can also select between five sizes. These are designed to accommodate nearly any type of handgun you would want to tote on your ankle, so whatever you have, Uncle Mike has you covered. MSRP: $41.45

Runner-Up: Blackhawk Nylon Ankle Holster

Best Concealed Carry Holsters Blackhawk Nylon Ankle Holster
Surprisingly comfortable, the Blackhawk Nylon Ankle Holster makes carrying a backup gun a second thought. While it’s designed to tote only small guns (think sub-compacts and the like), it has all the features to keep them at the ready. Chief among these, its calf loop, which plants the gun firmly in place – even if you’re on your feet all day. Closed-cell backing keeps the rig cool and non-stretch retention strap ensures your gun doesn’t hop out of the holster. MSRP: $42.45

Pocket Holster

An update to an age-old method of carrying a gun, the pocket holster is simple and essential to utilizing this facet of your clothing. Concealment-wise, the holster breaks up the outline of a small pistol or revolver, making it appear little more than a wallet. More importantly, it provides a level of safety, keeping the trigger covered. Remember, that’s one of the essential functions of a holster. You should never carry a gun in your pocket without the best concealed carry holster for the application.

Again, gun size is an issue. Pocket holsters are not fit for full-sized pistols. Furthermore, clothing is also a concern. Tight-fitting pants won’t fit the bill, making a timely draw all but impossible.

Pocket Holsters: Crossbreed Pocket Rocket

Best Concealed Carry Holster: Crossbreed's Pocket Holster.
A hybrid design, the Pocket Rocket takes pocket carry to the next level. The sturdy leather paddle reduces a small gun’s outline to little more than a wallet, while rugged Kydex holds it in place until needed. Holstering is a breeze. MSRP: $37.95

Runner-Up: Clinger Holsters Comfort Cling

Best Concealed Carry Holster Clinger Comfort Cling
More than a pocket holster, the Comfort Cling also doubles inside the waistband option. Now that’s handy. The secret is a glue-like outer fabric that facilities an effortless draw from the pocket and keeps the holster in place when tucked into your britches. Best of all, it weighs next to nothing. MSRP: $27.97

Choices Abound for the Best Concealed Carry Holster

Competition among today's CCW holster makers has given armed citizens a plethora of choices for nearly every conceivable handgun, clothing choice and lifestyle. No matter what situation you need to prepare for, the best concealed carry holster is but a mouse click away.

Best Semi-Auto Shotgun: Scatterguns For The Field And Defense (2024)

Semi-Auto shotgun makes and models abound. Picking one that will enhance your shooting ability and enjoyment means understanding their operating systems and yourself.

What Are The Best Semi-Auto Shotguns?

Other Great Semi-Auto Shotgun Options:

The turn of the 20th Century must have been an amazing time to be alive. The advent of the electric light, moving pictures, the internal combustion engine and, of course, the semi-auto shotgun. The mind reels at the technological advancement. Particularly the smoothbore.

Not to take anything away from the horseless carriage and illumination at the flick of a switch, but the autoloading scattergun must have been mind-boggling to the folks of the age. Five shots with little more than the pull of a trigger? The devil you say! Two short decades before 1905, shotguns were exclusively single barrel or side-by-side affairs, complete with external manually cocked hammers. Not exactly the stuff for rapid-fire. Moving to an autoloading system was dang near akin to jumping from ox-and-cart to GTO.

No wonder the semi-auto shotgun dominated much of the past century and only continues to get better with time.

Already know all this stuff? You can JUMP AHEAD to our picks for the best semi-auto shotguns.

Why A Semi-Auto Shotgun

Avoiding the obligatory Why not a semi-auto shotgun? there are some solid logical reasons to consider this type of smoothbore. The two most significant: firepower and ease of use.

beretta-1301-sadowski
Seriously, who doesn't want a beast such as the Beretta 1301 Tactical. Photo by Robert Sadowski

The first is fairly self-explanatory, in most cases, a semi-auto shotgun is capable of delivering more shot downrange in a shorter period of time than anything else. Competitors understand this, with various semi-auto models—such as the Remington Versa Max Competition Pro—dominating 3-Gun Matches. This advantage translates over to any endeavor you might need to send a mass of pellets on target and quick, from knocking down white wings to protecting hearth and home.

As for ease of use, well that too is pretty simple to get a handle on. Once you know how to load a semi-auto shotgun and chamber a shell, the only thing you concern yourself with—barring a malfunction—is aiming and trigger pull. That’s quite a load off the mind—and muscle memory—allowing you to focus on what’s important—hitting the target.


Draw A Bead On Shotguns:


Though, don’t confuse ease of use with a less complex system. Compared to its cousins—the double-barrel shotgun and pump-action shotgun—the semi-auto shotgun is most certainly not a simpler machine. Granted, its operational systems—recoil (inertia) or gas, we’ll get to those in a second—aren't beyond the grasp of a well-seasoned novice. But they do involve a bit more understanding to troubleshoot, which means dedication to learning exactly what goes on under the hood.

So, what is going on under there?

Recoil Operated Semi-Auto Shotgun

Now dominated by the inertia system, shotguns that cycle via the kinetic energy from a shot being fired have been with us for some time. The semi-auto alluded to at the beginning that got its start around the time light bulbs were becoming a thing, was recoil-operated. In fact, it was an all-time great—John M. Browning’s Auto-5, which ruled semi-auto shotgun sales for the first 60 years of the last century. Though, its operation was much more complex than what we see today.

Consider by many, especially waterfowlers, one of the finest hunting semi-autos around, Benelli's inertia driven Super Black Eagle is a classic.
Consider by many, especially waterfowlers, one of the finest hunting semi-autos around, Benelli's inertia driven Super Black Eagle is a classic.

A long-recoil gun, the A-5’s barrel and bolt both moved rearward in unison after a shot, the barrel returning first and ejecting the shell, then the bolt to load a fresh round. After Browning ironed out the initial bugs, the “Humpback” —so-called due to the prominent rear of its action—became renown for its reliability. Replacing the long-recoil semi-auto is a system that draws upon the same force to cycle the gun, but in a slightly different fashion.

In the inertia operated semi-auto shotgun, the bolt carrier and what is known as an inertia spring float freely in the receiver. When fired, the shotgun as a whole recoils rearward, while these components initially retain their position in a state of inertia. The difference in motion compresses the very stiff spring. The force of the spring decompressing unlocks the bolt head, throws the carrier rearward and cycles the gun.

It doesn't get much simpler than this. An inertia drive system from a Franchi shotgun. The carrier, bolt head and spring (inside the carrier) are the only moving parts of the action.
It doesn't get much simpler than this. An inertia drive system from a Franchi shotgun. The carrier, bolt head and spring (inside the carrier) are the only moving parts of the action.

While the system gained popularity with Benelli engineer Bruno Civolani’s improvements of the late 1960s, the system came about soon after Browning’s A-5, developed by Swede Carl Sjögren. The genius of Civolani’s design was its simplification. Sjögren’s system required a separate weight, while the Italian made the bolt carrier the weight. A small detail, but one that gives inertia semi-auto shotguns one of their most favorable attributes—simplicity.

The Benelli proudly boasts its modern inertia operated shotguns only have three moving parts—bolt head, inertia spring and bolt carrier. In turn, they are easy to maintain and tend to stand up to a licking. Waterfowlers love them, given they’ll take all their marshy abuse and still fill a bag.

Inertia guns are also light, which might be good or bad depending on your standpoint. It’s good if you value a nimble field piece you won’t get bogged down carrying all day. The bad of it, light means thump. By and large, the guns generate more felt recoil than gas-operated guns, which can prove problematic for the recoil sensitive and high-volume shooters.

Gas Operated Semi-Auto Shotgun

High Standard was the first to cobble together a gas-operated semi-automatic shotgun in the late 1950s, sold by Sears and marketed under the retailer’s J.C. Higgins brand. But for the most part, the development of the system—especially as we know it today—was a Remington affair. And while it came out with a few models prior—Model 58 for example—Big Green’s Model 1100 set the standard of what became the dominant style autoloader of the latter half of the 20th Century. Reliability of what was considered a finicky system up to that point, along with shootiblity are what etched the 1100 into shooter’s hearts.

Autoloaders-3
Remington Model 1100 12 gauge. Although a bit hefty at around 7-1/2 pounds, it was still very popular with upland gunners through the 1960s and 1970s. In the lighter 20 gauge at 6-1/2 pounds, it continues to be a popular upland gun.

Opposed to recoil, gas-operated shotguns bled off some of the expanding gas of the deflagrated propellent to cycle the gun. The gas drives a piston(s) reward with it the action bars that subsequently operate the bolt. Out with the old, in with the new, hammer cocked and you’re ready to do it all over again. Simple enough, but it is a slightly more complex system that does overall have more components than inertia guns.

Given this, gas-operated semi-auto shotguns tend to be heftier. This aspect is actually a benefit for many, given the weightier firearms soak up more recoil, thus has built a reputation of being easier to shoot. Trap shooters and the like have gravitated to gas guns exactly for this benefit.

Of course, this can make gas guns more burdensome when you’re on the hoof. On top of that, and compared to inertia guns, they're dirty. Even if it isn’t the poop where it eats AR rifle situation, gas-operated semi-auto shotguns require regular cleanings, lest carbon fouling, well … fouls everything up.

A look at Remington's VersaPort layout. Shorter shells cover up fewer ports allowing more gas to escape, while larger shell cover up more venting less gas. In turn, the shotguns self regulate to cycle no matter what they're fed.
A look at Remington's VersaPort layout. Shorter shells cover up fewer ports allowing more gas to escape, while larger shell cover up more venting less gas. In turn, the shotguns self regulate to cycle no matter what they're fed.

This style of semi-auto shotgun, in the past, has also proven difficult to run a wide spectrum of shells through reliably. While most will kick high brass out like it’s late on its bar tab, low brass often doesn’t have enough oomph to cycle. This has changed in recent years with Remington’s Versa Max and V3, and Savage‘s Renagauge shotguns. Each is designed cycle shells with no gas adjustment, no matter the load. Remington does this through numerous ports and Savage values.

Gas Vs Inertia: Which Wins Out?

The correct answer is both. Honestly, if you buy a reputable brand, which there are many nowadays, you’ll get a semi-auto shotgun that will run like a top. What you have to decide is, given the strengths and weaknesses of each operating system, which fits you best as a shooter?

If you shoot mountains of clays each month and want to stay sharp first shot to last, the slightly milder gas-operated semi-auto might be your cup of tea. If you head into the depths of flooded timber for duck season and need a gun that will function no matter if you drop it into a mud hole, well the inertia system will most likely shine for you. Be honest with yourself about your endeavors and you’re personal preferences as a shooter and the right choice should standout.

Benelli M4, is it the right gun for you? Could be, if you're in the market for a tactical option known for it's manageable recoil.
Benelli M4, is it the right gun for you? Could be, if you're in the market for a tactical option known for its manageable recoil.

The same holds for self-defense. Overall, both gas- and inertia-operated shotguns are more than capable of holding their own as defensive guns. And there are many fine examples of each with a tactical bent, from Stoeger’s inertia-driven M3000 series to Mossberg’s gas-operated 930 Tactical options, among many others. You just need to figure out what will enhance your shooting and not hinder your training.

Our Selection Process

So, what's our criteria for determining the best semi-auto shotguns? It boils down to personal experience with the guns and our team’s hours behind autoloaders. We’ve weighed the guns on a number of factors, some of the most important being:

  • Overall reliability
  • Quality of manufacturing
  • Shootability
  • Aesthetics

Semi-Auto Shotguns Buyer's Guide

Beretta A400
Beretta A400
Used by plenty of competition shooters and hunters, Beretta’s semi-auto shotguns are well respected. The A400 series has more to offer than reliability, however. Equipped with Beretta’s Kick-Off hydraulic dampener recoil reduction system and the Blink gas operating system, each A400 is also fast-cycling and easy on the shoulder. This makes follow-up shots in the field as easy as can be. The controls are also enlarged for easier operation, especially while wearing gloves.

Beretta has several different A400 models available with varying barrel lengths, gauges, stock styles and other features to choose from, each geared toward a specific shooting discipline. Regardless of whether you’re after deer, birds or clays, there’s a Beretta A400 out there that could serve you well.
MSRP: Starts at $1,849 // beretta.com

Benelli Super Black Eagle 3
Benelli Black Eagle
Benelli needs no introduction, as the company’s shotguns are widely regarded as some of the best in the world, regardless of the application. When it comes to waterfowl hunting, however, it’s the Super Black Eagle 3 that takes the cake. It uses a gas-less Inertia Driven System action, similar to the above-mentioned CZ 1012, but Benelli claims that its shotguns have been known to fire over 500,000 rounds without a malfunction. This system also enables reliable function with everything from weak target loads to 3.5-inch magnum shells.

Available in both right- and left-handed configurations, the Super Black Eagle 3 has several features designed to aid with usability and ergonomics. The Comfort Tech 3 stock has shock-absorbing inserts to reduce felt recoil on the shoulder and face, the controls are oversized for faster and easier use and a new loading mechanism makes reloads fast and smooth. It’s available in 12-, 20- and 28-gauge configurations with varying chamber sizes, with a 24-, 26- or 28-inch barrel and with several finish colors and patterns.
MSRP: Starts at $2,199 // benelliusa.com

Beretta 1301 Tactical
Beretta 1300
Another great semi-auto shotgun option from Italy, the Beretta 1301 Tac is the more tactical cousin of the A400 featured in the hunting shotgun section. Like the A400, the 1301 features Beretta’s BLINK gas operating system, allowing for a 36-percent faster cyclic rate than similar designs. This system allows for reliable operation with a variety of shell types as well.

Other tactical features include a 7+1 capacity when using 2.75-inch shells (though it functions with 3-inch shells as well), ghost ring sights with a Picatinny rail for optics and enlarged, highly textured controls. It also has provisions for mounting a light or laser on the forend. Two models are available, one with a pistol grip and one with a traditional stock, but both feature an 18.5-inch barrel and black synthetic furniture.
MSRP: Starts at $1,720 // beretta.com

IWI TS12
IWI TS12
Like the KS-12, the IWI TS12 is another model that excels at on-board ammunition capacity, but it comes at the cost of reload times and bulk. This bullpup semi-auto 12-gauge shotgun holds 15+1 rounds on tap between three rotating tube magazines, but reloading those tubes in a hurry will be much more challenging than swapping box mags.

Despite being so large and bulky, the TS12 weighs only 8 pounds unloaded thanks to its polymer chassis. Its 28-inch overall length keeps it surprisingly compact as well. Another benefit for the tactically-minded is the inclusion of M-LOK rails as standard on the handguard. It’s available in three different finish colors too.
MSRP: $1,399 // iwi.us

CZ-USA 1012
CZ 1012
The biggest appeal of the CZ-USA 1012 semi-auto shotgun line is its gas-less inertia operating system, as it makes for some supremely reliable firearms. The system not only allows for the reliable cycling of a wide variety of shells (from low-power birdshot to hot 3-inch magnums), but it also increases the durability of the system and eliminates the need for regular cleaning. During testing, CZ-USA put 5,000 rounds through a 1012 without any maintenance and experienced zero malfunctions and no broken parts during that time. This means that for the average shotgun user, a CZ-USA 1012 will always be ready for the task at hand regardless of how infrequently it’s been cleaned or oiled.

The standard CZ-USA 1012 comes with handsome walnut furniture and a black metal finish that is available with both 28-inch and 26-inch barrel lengths, as well as two different metal finish colors with 28-inch barrels. Synthetic stock models with camouflage finishes are available too.
MSRP: Starts at $679 // cz-usa.com

Browning A5
Browning A5
The Browning A5 is the OG semi-auto shotgun, and it will never go out of style. While its features might not stand up next to some more modern offerings, just like Browning’s 1911, it’s a truly good-enough design to still be perfectly functional over 100 years after its invention. Whether you pick up an older model made by Browning or FN or a new production Browning with their new Kinematic Drive System, an A5 will serve you well. The new-production models feature some improvements, however, so we’ll look more closely at that.

Besides being available with synthetic stocks in various camo patterns and coming with fiber optic front sights, the new Browning A5s also feature the Kinematic Drive System which Browning claims to be extremely reliable, fast-cycling and soft-shooting. Browning’s confidence in the system is backed by a 100,00-round/five-year warranty. Several models are available with different barrel lengths, chamber sizes, stock materials and finishes.
MSRP: Starts at $1,539.99 // browning.com

Benelli M4
Benelli M4
Benelli graces this list again, only this time on the tactical side. The Benelli M4 has been considered by many to be the gold standard of tactical semi-auto shotguns since it was first introduced in the late 1990s. This shotgun was designed in accordance with U.S. Army specifications for a new 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun, and it’s been in military service around the globe ever since.

The main appeal of the Benelli M4 is also the system that warranted its adoption by U.S. Marines—the ARGO (Auto Regulating Gas Operated) system. The system runs much cleaner than most gas-operated weapons, improving reliability in all environments and increasing the possible round count between cleanings. These guns have been known to be run long and hard in very harsh conditions only to keep on ticking. Benelli offers the M4 with a couple of different stock, sight and finish options, but all come with an 18.5-inch barrel and a 12-gauge chambering. While the M4 has become a timeless classic, it comes with a hefty price tag, and its 5-shot tube makes it a bit less tactical than some of the other tactical semi-auto shotguns available today.
MSRP: Starts at $2,299 // benelliusa.com

KUSA KS-12
KUSA KS12
The Kalashnikov system has been a good fit for semi-auto shotguns ever since the concept was first fielded in Russia in the 1990s as the Saiga-12. Saigas and VEPRs in 12-gauge, 20-gauge and .410 were imported into the U.S. in large numbers until they were cut off by import bans, but in that time they established themselves as an excellent and reliable semi-auto shotgun system.

While Russian-made examples are no longer available new, the concept is still on the market in the form of American- and Chinese-made clones. Of these choices, the KS-12 from Kalashnikov USA is the best. Each KS-12 comes with black synthetic furniture, although models with side-folding stocks and tactical rails are available as well. All the barrels are threaded to accept 12-gauge muzzle brakes, and they’re compatible with most Saiga-pattern accessories. Arguably the most tactical feature of the KS-12, and one that makes it stand out from many other models on this list, is its ability to feed from detachable box magazines. It comes with a 5-round as standard, but KUSA makes 10-rounders too and aftermarket Saiga drums are still available as well. When it comes to fast reloads and having a lot of ammunition on deck, the KS-12 wins.
MSRP: $1,066 // kalashnikov-usa.com

Mossberg 930 SPX Pistol Grip

Mossberg 930 SPX

While Mossberg is best-known for its pump-actions, we think that the company’s tactical semi-auto shotguns are worth a look too. Namely, the 930 series. Based on a dual gas-vent system, Mossberg promises the 930 to be reliable, durable and smooth-cycling.

Mossberg has a more traditional Slugster model available as well, but the 930 SPX Pistol Grip comes with black synthetic furniture with a pistol grip, an 18.5-inch barrel, ghost ring/fiber optic iron sights and a Picatinny rail for optics. It features a 7+1 capacity, a 3-inch chamber and an ambidextrous safety, plus a button for quickly unloading the tube. It's available with either a black or tan finish.
MSRP: $1,191 // mossberg.com


Editor's Note: Adam Borisenko contributed to this article.

Power On The Cheap: Best Affordable 10mm 1911 Options (2024)

The 10mm 1911 typically commands a king's ransom, but not the six we hunted out.

What Are The Best Budget 10mm 1911s:

Purists might scoff at the thought of a 1911 in any other caliber than .45 ACP. Difficult to argue against the proposition. John M. Browning came up with nearly the perfect pistol-ammunition combination lo those 100-plus years ago. However, if the heavy-metal sidearm is your passion, you most likely know there’s an equally, dare we say better chambering available.

While the 10mm Auto was not designed specifically for the iconic handgun its eventual marriage to the 1911 was a match made in heaven. Like any good couple, the cartridge and gun bring out the best in each other.

Heavy and accurate, the 1911 makes the snappy cartridge more manageable, enhancing its overall accuracy potential. And for its part, the 10mm endows the pistol with the trait most shooters cherish in the 1911—power, and plenty of it. Gad, who could want any more?

Thankfully, we live in an exceptional age when 10mm 1911 options abound.

True enough, many are expensive affairs running well north of the everyday marksman’s budget, making them prohibitive for many. Yet, there is life outside the confines of Wilson Combat, Nighthawk Custom and other top-shelf gunmakers. We’ve come up with six such specimens in our best 10mm 1911 options for tight budgets.

Ringing Up A 10mm 1911

A brief word of warning. Budget-friendly is a relative term, especially when it comes to 1911 pistols. Manufacturing 1911s is more involved compared to many modern designs, given the machining and materials involved. In turn, the legendary firearm’s price basement isn’t as deep as, say, polymer striker-fired pistols.

Yes, there are economical 1911, you’ll see, but they still run more than what some are used to. For this particular buyer’s guide, we’ve set the ceiling at $1,300. Shop 1911s—in any caliber—you’ll come to find from that point down constitutes affordable.

Colt Delta Elite

S9137-10mm-Auto-Colt-
The Delta Elite was Colt’s first pistol chambered in 10mm Auto. Initial models suffered from cracked receivers. Current models are rock solid.

Sure, the Bren Ten gets all the love for kicking off the 10mm craze, but the Delta Elite did the heavy lifting in keeping the cartridge alive. Minted in 1987 the 10mm 1911 was one of the few options in the chambering through the late 1980s and early 1990s. While absent from the Colt catalog for several years, the gunmaker reintroduced the pistol in 2008, just in time to catch the new wave of Big-10 mania. Lucky for shooters. Few who shoot the Delta Elite come away disappointed.

Like any Colt 1911, the pistol is well made with excellent fit and finish, and in capable hands is a tack driver. Yes, it can drill the bullseye despite a Series 80 trigger. No, it’s not custom-trigger snappy, but its predictable 4-or-so-pound break is respectable enough.

At 35 ounces unloaded, the 5-inch barreled pistol has enough heft to tamp recoil and plenty of texturing on the grips and backstrap for supreme control. Genuine Novak Sights deliver just what you’d expect, an eye-catching aiming system and just the thing to milk accuracy out of the gun. And a brushed stainless steel finish (there a two-tone model too) give it dashing good looks. The Delta Elite certainly qualifies as a modern classic.

MSRP: $1,199; colt.com

Get An Edge On The 10MM:

Springfield Ronin

10mm Springfield Ronin

Over the years, Springfield Armory 1911s have earned a rock-solid reputation. Deservedly so, given for the price point few hang with the clean line and nearly flawless performance of the gunmaker’s catalog. You have to step up a bit to get into one of Springfield’s 10mm 1911 pistols. The only model presently made residing in the Ronin series. But it’s not so great a leap as to preclude the shooter of modest means.

Springfield markets the Ronin series as a combination of classic style and modern features, built using a mix of modern and traditional manufacturing methods.The result is this handsome, full-size two-tone 10mm pistol that performs as good as it looks. It uses a forged frame and slide, has a match-grade 5-inch barrel and an 8-round magazine capacity. Each Ronin 1911 also features forward slide serrations and checkered wooden grips.

The gun handles nicely, plenty of weight in the hand—40 ounces—making an extremely controllable 10mm. Top-notch sights enhance the overall system, an eye-catching fiber-optic pipe in front and two white dots in the rear. While a little heavy for everyday carry, the gun could possibly fill this role. Or with the right sights it could transform into a first-class hunter.

MSRP: $917; springfield-armory.com

Ruger SR1911 Target

SR1911

Ruger has an amazing ability to walk a fine line. Generally, this is between cost and performance and is perhaps best exemplified in its 10mm 1911, the SR1911 Target. No, you most likely won’t split gnat hairs at 20 paces with the piece, but for the money, the attractive-looking pistol delivers good-enough accuracy. Invest a little more with a competent gunsmith to clean up the trigger and you’d most likely have a light’s out shooter.

Essentially the pistol is Ruger’s rendition of a Series 70 1911, though the gunmaker made some significant breaks from the original design. This is evident in opting for a 5-inch bull barrel over collet bushings. Debate rages over if bulls provide more support compared to bushings. This won’t get solved here. One thing indisputable about the feature, combined with a full-length guide rod, the SR1911 has more heft up front. A good thing overall, helping tame some of the recoil.

The SR1911 feel good in the hand and prove very controllable. Rubberized panels and ample checkering on the mainspring housing are to thank for this, as well as a high beavertail safety. A Bomar-style adjustable rear sight rounds out the package. It’s a good 1911, one most shooters find capable of filling most roles.

MSRP: $1,299; ruger.com

Iver Johnson Eagle XL-10

Iver

Yes, the owl head is the same as those budget revolvers from 100 years ago, but the modern Iver Johnson has nothing to do with its namesake. Unless you’re a sucker for nostalgia, this is a good thing. With a vastly expanded catalog, Iver Johnson is an importer with a slew of superb pistols from the Phillippines (S.A.M. Inc.). Best of all, at prices nearly any shooter can afford.

This includes its outstanding Eagle XL-10 10mm 1911. Certainly, the long-slide pistol isn’t a top choice for on-person defense. A 6-inch barrel and 46-ounce weight is plenty to keep under wraps. Outside of that, the 10mm is fit for any other duty—home defense, competition or hunting.

The Eagle XL-10 has some throwback appeal, dang near a spitting image of John Browning’s Government model design—only longer. The gun’s fit and finish are impeccable—sometimes a concern in budget imports—as is its trigger which generally runs a hair north of 4-pounds. About the only strike against the 10mm, it's right-hand configured and not at all ambidextrous For the price and performance, even lefties can get over this.

MSRP: $933; iverjohnsonarms.com

Rock Island TAC Ultra MS

Tisas 10mm

When it comes to budget 1911s that bring something to the table, Rock Island Armory is the king. Based out of the Phillippines, the gunmaker offers one of the largest selections of the iconic pistol out there. And nearly every one of them ticks like a clock. Including the gunmaker’s impressive catalog of 10mm 1911 options.

As far as budget options go, it’s difficult not to opt for the TAC Ultra. One of the truly-carry friendly configurations available in10mm in this tier, the pistol is the perfect choice for overpowering personal protection.

Commander sized, the 4.25-inch barreled TAC Ultra is much more concealable than other options on this list. At the same tick, it boasts enough bore to get the powerful Perfect 10 to live up to ballistic expectations. But don’t expect a long-slide kitten when behind the trigger. At around 37-ounces unloaded it is decidedly lighter than most 10mm 1911s, translating to more felt recoil. Nothing a little practice and teeth gritting can’t overcome.

Rock Island gives shooters the tools to manage the hand-fitted beast, with ample checkering on the mainspring housing and G10 grips that prove very positive. The pistol is also dolled up with carry-enhancing features, including a low-rise, fully adjustable rear sight and corrosion-resistant parkerized finish.

MSRP: $849; armscor.com

Tisas D10

Tisas-D10-feature

Tisas is a Turkish company, and Turkish firearms have received a mixed reputation in the U.S. The truth is that the Turkish gun industry has grown massively in the past few years, and while some companies' products have been less-than-stellar, plenty of others have proven themselves as great-value guns. The general consensus is that Tisas 1911s fall in the latter group.

In most respects, the Tisas D10 is a fairly standard 10mm 1911. It features a full-size frame, a 5-inch barrel and it comes with two 8-round magazines. The safety is ambidextrous, the grips are made of G10 and extra serrations and checkering have been incorporated throughout the pistol for a more secure grip and improved cocking capabilities. Additionally, the ejection port on the Tisas D10 has been flared and lowered to assist with reliability.

It also features a forged frame, a forged slide and a hammer-forged barrel. This should help keep the pistols running, even after a high round count of full-power 10mm loads, but if a problem does arise the D10 is backed by the Tisas Lifetime Service Plan which covers material defects. The construction methods and warranties have led Tisas to claim that the D10 is now one of the best-value 10mm firearms on the market.

MSRP: $799; tisasusa.com


Raise Your 1911 IQ:


Editor's Note: Adam Borisenko contributed to this article.

Best Double-Barrel Shotgun: Affordable Double Edition (2024)

Economical over/unders and side-by-sides … might as well ask for bargain diamonds. Except for these 10 affordable double-barrel shotguns that definitely buck the trend.

Top Affordable Double-Barrel Shotgun Pics:

Other Budget Doubles That Are Worth A Shot:

Crisp autumn air in your face, the crunch of dry grass underfoot, the sound of pounding wings filling your ears — bird season is unparalleled bliss. Even more so if you’re in the corn stubble or cattails with a shotgun you’re truly proud of. 

For me, this has generally meant heading afield with a scattergun with a couple of barrels and plenty of class — a double-barrel shotgun, in short. Unfortunately, for many budget-minded hunters, side-by-side and over/under options are little more than wistful dreams. A great deal of the engraved steel and high-grade walnut runs more than a down payment on a new pickup truck, in some cases a house. Unless you do your shopping. Which I'm trying to give you a hand with here, offering up nine affordable double-barrel shotgun options fit for your next wingshooting adventure.

Double Barrel Shot 1

What I'm shooting for are doubles that come in at a mark most shooters can afford and are worth the money. Not an easy task. True enough, most don’t have coin finishes or gold quail motifs. But they’re plenty good at knocking birds out of the sky and building memories along the way. In the end, that’s what will make them a classic to you.

But, before we get to that …

Our Selection Process

I've been lucky enough to come into the acquisition of a number of fine doubles over the years, from Belgium Brownings to classic Ithicas — when they were still made along the Finger Lakes in New York. In short, I've had the chance to handle some dang good guns over the years.

While what I'm delving into doesn't fall into the category of the aforementioned shotguns, they have proven themselves solid performers on my shoulder or those of the Gun Digest team. And each of them ticks off all of the following boxes to make them top choices as entry-level shotguns.

  • Affordability: The guns come in at (or dang near) $1,000 in MSRP
  • Performance: They shotguns have no mechanical issues and can hit the target
  • Aesthetics: This is baked in the double-barrel shotgun cake — they've got to look good
  • Durability: Maybe the guns are heirloom quality, but they're put together well enough to get years of enjoyment

Why A Double-Barrel Shotgun?

Pump-action and semi-automatic shotguns have ruled the roost for more than a half-century, for a logical reason — firepower. Bare minimum, they’re capable of loading up one more shell than a double, which potentially gives you one more goose in the bag or shot at a particularly wily rooster. Not to mention, in most circumstances, they’re a heck of a lot cheaper than over/unders and side-by-sides.

Double Barrel Shotgun Lead

So why revert to old technology? There are plenty of reasons, but to my mind, the double-barrel shotgun's edge boils down to four factors:

Reliability: Doubles have few moving parts, so there’s less that can go wrong. Overall, they're more impervious to the elements, so there is little worry about fouling. And they’ll never misfeed. This adds up to a gun that's ready the second you flush a bird. Additionally, they're easy to maintain. And if you do, your double-barrel shotgun — even an inexpensive one — will likely outlive you.

Flexibility: There’s no worry about if a low-brass load will cycle through your double-barrel. It will shoot anything that fits its chamber. Plus, you can choke each barrel differently, giving the option for a looser pattern for close shots and a tighter pattern for more distant ones.

Shootability: While not a hard-and-fast rule, double-barrel shotguns — particularly over/unders — are much better balanced than semis and pumps. In turn, you have a more responsive gun at your disposal, something easier to swing and follow through with, which (fingers crossed) should add up to more birds.

Tradition: Honestly, this reason outdoes the others for me. While there are many fine pumps and semis out there, plum few bring the nostalgia of a double-barrel shotgun in the field — even an economy model.

What You Should Know About Budget Doubles

If you’re looking to buy American, this isn’t the class of shotguns for you. Even if it sports your favorite gunmaker’s name across the receiver, it was most certainly made somewhere else. Most likely Turkey.

Shotgun 6

It’s the go-to country for economy shotguns presently. And has a mixed reputation for the quality of its products. Some shooters swear they’re tough as wang leather and the best deals going. Others claim they’ll fall apart if you narrow your eyes in their general direction. I've found the truth lies somewhere in the middle.

If you’re shopping for a reputable brand, most likely they’re going to demand quality assurance from the factory from which they import. They don’t want their good name tarnished, so they’ll keep tight reigns on how the guns are made. More fly-by-night operations, selling guns at rock-bottom prices (below what’s shown here) … well, those might require a wee bit more consideration.

A “trust, but verify” mentality is a good way to approach a budget double-barrel shotgun purchase (honestly, any gun purchase). I would suggest not going in and just buying something off the shelf. Go over the gun with a fine-tooth comb. Make certain it looks well manufactured — the machining is smooth, removable chokes fit properly, each barrel fires and there are no flaws in the stock. A good warranty isn’t a bad thing to have backing up the gun either.


Draw A Bead On Shotguns:


Also, if at all possible, get out and test shoot the model you’re interested in. Not only will this give you an idea of how the gun functions, but you’ll also see if you even like it in the first place. If you don’t feel you’re qualified to do all this, employ a more gun-savvy buddy to give you a hand in your evaluation.

Certainly, these guns aren’t going to put you in the poorhouse if you get a lemon. That said, this is your cold, hard cash, so don’t flush it down the drain.

The fine points out of the way let’s get to the good stuff.

Best Double-Barrel Shotgun

Weatherby Orion I

Double Barrel Shotgun Weatherby orion

The original Orion was a Japanese slogger, a real smooth smoothbore. The reboot of the over/under is Turkish, but from all accounts keeps the Orion’s reputation intact. I really like this gun.

First off, the double-barrel shotgun cuts a sharp profile, with an A-grade walnut stock, Prince of Wales grip and deeply blued metal. Its vented rib, matte on top to cut glare, is a nice touch, too. Though, I do have a nit to pick with the stock's gloss finish — then again, this is Weatherby, it's kind of expected.

More important than looks, the Orion I is well made — most certainly up to Weatherby standards, with a tight fit and excellent machining. The all-steel receiver gives the gun a bit of heft — the 7-pound neighborhood — yet it’s not enough to make it unpleasant on long hunts. And it’s responsive — quick to the shoulder, in part thanks to its Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pad’s Speed-Mount heel, which reduces snags.

Weatherby moved the barrel selector to the tang safety (it use to be on the trigger), but has retained the ejectors. It’s available in 12-gauge only, however, you do have the choice between 26- and 28-inch barrels. Inflation has kicked the gun over our ceiling, but not enough for us to take it off this list. It still has plenty to offer at this price point.

MSRP: $1,049, weatherby.com

CZ Bobwhite G2

Double Barrel Shotgun CZ Bobwhite

Back by popular demand, CZ reintroduced its popular side-by-side, this time going by the handle of Bobwhite G2. But the new-old double-barrel shotgun isn’t a spitting image of its former self.

It still boasts the same striking profile, including a straight English grip, ample walnut and double trigger. But, CZ cleaned up some of the shotgun’s internals making it all the sweeter to shoot. In particular, it floated the firing pins, redesigned the sear and implemented a coil spring to activate the hammers. I also appreciate the English-style double triggers, which really gives the gun a feel much higher than its pricepoint.

Though it’s not all peaches and cream, the gun isn’t actually Czech or American-made. You guessed it, Turkey — but with what appears to be plenty of oversight from CZ. The Bobwhite G2 is available in 12-, 20- and 28-gauge, and is outfitted with a 28-inch barrel in each case. It comes with five chokes and, depending on gauge, weighs in at 5.5 to 7.3 pounds.

MSRP: Starts At $799

TriStar Trinity

TriStar Trinity

TriStar has a knack for marrying affordability, function and style. Nowhere is this more apparent than in its Trinity line. Where else in the world of double-barrel shotguns can you find a 24-carat gold inlay standard in a $855 gun?

Starting there, the Trinity is an exceptionally good-looking over/under. In addition to the inlay, the gun pops thanks to heavily engraved motifs on the polished steel receiver giving it a timeless look. Sure, it’s production-acid engraving, but it doesn’t take away from its beauty. Particularly with the Turkish gun wearing a fine stick of oil-finished Turkish walnut, with plenty of checking on the grip and forearm.

Well made and kept to tight tolerances, thanks to CNC manufacturing, the Trinity locked up well for me and appeared to have a quality steel-to-wood fit. And it has some likable extras. Vented top and middle rib, tang safety and chrome-lined barrels are all standard, as is a select single trigger and bright fiber-optic bead. Furthermore, it’s available in the resurgent 16-gauge, as well as the more common 12- and 20-gauges — 3-inch chambers across the board. Beretta choke compatibility as well.

MSRP: Starting at $855; tristararms.com

Stevens Model 555

stevens-555-second

The 555 has Stevens’ name, but not Stevens’ place of origin. That means it’s Turkish — which can be good or bad news. Luckily, in this case, it’s the former. The 555 is well built and a performer, with a tight lock-up and responsive on the shoulder. It also has little extras not often found at this price point. The Schnabel fore-end is one such example.

The aluminum receiver has a steel reinforcement insert — over the firing pins — giving the double-barrel shotgun some added durability. The 555 is light, too — a hair over 6 pounds in the 12- and 20-gauges, 5 ½ in 16, 28 and .410 — making it not only nimble on the swing but also a joy on those long days in the field. The safety doubles as the barrel selector and its trigger is good enough for a much more expensive gun. Walnut, checkering and removable chokes are all there too. Not a bad package at all.

MSRP: $768, savagearms.com

Other Doubles Worth A Shot

Stoeger Uplander Field Shotgun

Double Barrel Shotgun Stoeger Uplander

At this point, economy side-by-side is almost an oxymoron. However, Stoeger pulls it off pretty well with the Uplander.

As for its overall profile, the Brazilian-made gun is fairly traditional, boasting double triggers and a nice stick of A-grade Walnut. But, for the most part, it’s plain as a gray November day, with little embellishment outside a smattering of checkering on the standard grip and fore-end.

However, Stoeger gives you some choice of configuration on this double-barrel shotgun, with 26- and 28-inch barrel options available on its 12- and 20-gauges. The 28-gauge and .410 are purely 26-inch barrel affairs. It features a tang safety — as it should be — removable chokes and extractors standard.

The Upland Field tends toward the heavy side, creeping up on 8 pounds and the action of the one I toyed with was a bit stiff out of the box. But for the money, those are minor complaints.

MSRP: $499, stoegerindustries.com

Pointer O/U

Pointer over under

Over the years, Pointer has kicked a firm toehold in the affordable shotgun market. There’s a simple reason for this. The Turkish import, sold through Legacy Sports International, over-delivers in about every way. Its Field Over/Under is a testament to this. Long on ornamentation, walnut and performance, the double-barrel shotgun punches well above its entry-level price.

It’s very much an all-around gun, despite its name and case coloring on the receiver. At 7.5 pounds, it's suited for long upland hunts where excessive weight is noticeable but proves hefty enough to manage a well-timed double at the range. Sticked in walnut, the oil finish is on target as is the laser checkering on the fore and pistol grip, giving the gun excellent handling. And the 26-inch chrome-lined barrels are there for the long haul and capable of devouring anything you feed them—a 3-inch chamber.

The belle of the ball, however, is the trigger. By no means is it akin to something you’d find on a $6,000 legacy gun, but for its price range, I've found few in its class that compare to its responsiveness.

Other notables include vented rib, fiber-optic front sight, extractors and single select trigger. It’s also available in three gauges—12, 20 and .410—and ships with five chokes. The one bone of contention, the factory-installed recoil pad is a bit thin, but that’s a minor complaint.

MSRP: $499; legacysports.com

Mossberg International Silver Reserve

Silver Reserve

The sun does not rise and fall exclusively on the Model 500 at Mossberg. Quite right, the company is known for its wrought-iron tough pump-action, but its double-barrel shotgun more than holds its own.

Now if the Silver Reserve seems familiar it should. Released in 2021, the shotgun is new, but in essence, a revamp of another Mossberg model we loved and will miss—the International Silver Reserve II.

So, what’s changed? Namely aesthetics. The gunmaker has opted for a plain-slate matte silver receiver, giving the over/under a more working-class look—no big shakes in a field gun. This brought me down some, given the International definitely cut an attractive profile. Also gone, the ported barrels trap modes. However, Mossberg has retained many of the favorite features of the original double-barrel shotgun and added two new gauges to the mix.

To the latter point, the Turkish-made gun is now available in 28-gauge and .410 bore, in addition to 12 and 20. As to familiar assets, 28- and 26-inch barrel lengths—depending on the gauge—a slim and highly manageable boxlock and extractors. The trigger tends heavy, and some of the frills are gone, but the International Silver Reserve is still among the best values out there.

MSRP: Starts At $756; mossberg.com

CZ Redhead Premier

Double Barrel Shotgun cz-redhead-premier

This barely makes the cut per this post's price limit but I feel it's well worth the money. The Turkish-made (who saw that coming?) double-barreled shotgun has some nice refinements making it among the top in this class. This includes some understated, yet nice engraving, laser-cut checkering on its walnut stock, Prince of Wales grip, mechanical trigger, tang safety, ejectors and 8mm flat-vent rib.

The fit is genuinely good. Not best-gun quality, but it was more than enough to satisfy me and certainly any first-time double shooter or a hunter who might go a little rough on his or her gun.

CZ doesn’t hold back on this line, offering it in 12-, 20- and 28-gauge, with the option of a 26- or 28-inch barrel in 20-gauge. The Redhead Premier comes with five chokes and in its larger gauges can handle 3-inch shells. If you’re looking for more than a bargain out of a double, it’s difficult to outdo what CZ offers here.

MSRP: $999; cz-usa.com

More Shotgun Info:

Best .380 Pistol Options For Deep Carry (2024)

Ruger-LCP-II-15

With improvements in defensive ammunition, the .380 pistol has surged in popularity. What are the top picks in the small and concealable option?

Updated 1/11/2024

What Are The Top .380 Pistol Options For Concealed Carry:

Until the world recently started truly going to hell in a handbasket, the .380 ACP pistol was all the rage. Not that it still isn’t. Any gun is better than no gun in the past couple of years. That said, full-sized 9mms with readily available extended-capacity magazines are looking pretty dang good right now. Who cares if it prints? But I digress.

Raising the humble .380 from the dead was one main factor: ammunition. Improvements in bullet design, providing consistent penetration and expansion took what was once a marginal self-defense cartridge and made it, well … marginally better. This is to say, the debate over whether it’s a smart move to carry a .380 ACP as your primary self-defense gun is alive, well and hot as ever.

So, before we ramble on to the top .380 pistol options available today, we should hit some of the pros and cons of the demure 9mm and its handguns.

Why You Want A .380 Pistol

Peruse .380 pistol options and it becomes evident the caliber has a huge advantage over almost every other. They’re small, downright minuscule. Over the years, the ubiquitous 9mm has made up ground. The likes of the Sig Sauer P365’s dimensions encroaches on .380 territory. Still, this is the exception, not the rule … yet.

Since the key to concealed carry is concealing your firearms, these pocket pistols have a leg up. If you reside in a shorts and T-shirt climate, a Government Model 1911 is awfully difficult to keep under wraps. A Ruger LCP not so much. In turn, keeping a .380 pistol concealed is a somewhat easy task.

380-Pistols-4

However, the clandestine nature of .380 handguns isn’t the main selling point. Fostering program compliance is. In layman terms, this means a gun you’ll carry every day. Easier said than done. Though, smaller, lighter guns tend to promote diligence.

A big plus for the .380, yet, there are some less than desirable facets to the caliber and its guns that deserve thought.


Take Aim On The .380 ACP:


Why You Don’t Want A .380 Pistol

The size of .380 pistols is a major advantage, but it isn’t wholly a bed of roses. By and large, small guns are difficult to shoot well. Not impossible mind you, but to become proficient with a micro .380 takes more practice than say with a Glock 17.

There are some blatant reasons for this discrepancy:

Short Sight Radius: Sight radius is the distance between the front and rear sights. The less of it there is, the more difficult it becomes to hold on a target.

Abbreviated Grip: Most .380 pistols have a small grip, both in height and circumference. In turn, the guns prove difficult to keep firm control over, particularly in faster shot sequences.

Lightweight: It sure it is nice to have a featherweight on the hip, until the time comes to pull the trigger. The lack of heft in most .380 pistols amplifies recoil. Add in the smaller grips, you’ve created a downright bucky handgun.

Low Capacity: The tradeoff for a highly concealable gun is lack of rounds on tap. Expect 6-round magazine to be the norm.

380-ACP-Feat

Ammunition is also a concern. While its indisputable .380 ACP has improved over the years, it still suffers from one major fault—middling velocities for the caliber. Worrisome, given velocity is the main variable dictating modern bullets' performance. Not enough of it, the projectile won’t penetrate deep enough nor expand properly, if at all.

Does this mean the .380 isn’t legitimate for self-defense? Far from it. But it does mean doing your homework on the ammunition you’ll use to guard your life. Choose carefully.

Top .380 Pistol Picks For Concealed Carry

Walther PPK/S

Walther PPKS 8a

Truly one of the classics, the PPK/S still holds its own in modern concealed carry. Larger than the original PPK, it’s easier to shoot and is accurate as the day is long.

At the same tick, the .380 pistol is plum concealable in every sense of the word. More suited to tote around on the hip—it is 19 ounces after all—the PPK/S can pull pocket-carry duty in a pinch.

As far as accuracy, two words sum up the pistol: dead nuts. Much of this is thanks to a fixed barrel, a feature that eliminates any barrel wiggle and makes the dashing heater a natural pointer. Though, it is a straight blowback action, which means it tends to produce stouter felt recoil. Additionally, the PPK/S has a DA/SA trigger. A good one, mind you. But you must remember that first trigger pull is a hefty 13 pounds or thereabouts.

Incidentally, now might not be a better time to get into a PPK/S. Walther once again is the exclusive manufacturer, which adds up to excellent fit, finish and quality control.

MSRP: $849; waltherarms.com

Sig Sauer P238

380 Pistol Sig

Ticking like a Swiss-made timepiece, the P238 had folks looking .380 ACP long before the cartridge regained popularity. Of course, Sig invested some sound engineering to conjure up a pocket pistol that runs like a full-size iron.

At its essence, the .380 pistol is a micro 1911 offering all the assets John M. Browning intended in perhaps his most famous design. A good example, a smashing single-action trigger that works overtime in ensuring the 2.7-inch barreled gun’s accuracy.

As far as concealability, few beat the P238. At 3.9-inches in height and 15-ounces unloaded it is legitimately a pocket pistol and would do well in this role.

Though, for some, there are sticky points to the pistol. The thumb safety is one, the cost is the other. The 6+1 capacity P238 runs on the spendier end of the spectrum. Take solace, few ever feel the pistol is a waste of money.

MSRP: $685; sigsauer.com

Glock 42

Glock’s new G42 in .380 ACP is a winner for concealed carry.

Among the most highly anticipated guns in the past decade, the G42 didn’t disappoint. Concealable, familiar and, above all, reliable, the .380 pistol ticked all the boxes of a deep-cover concealed carry piece. In short, it’s a Glock.

Admittedly, the G42 has been overshadowed in recent years by Glock’s petite 9mm offerings. But it still has a place in on-person defense. Particularly due to its shootability. It’s larger size relative to other .380s is partly to thank for this, with the gun measuring in at 4.13 inches in height and .98 inches in width.

Like most Glocks, the striker-fired has a decently crisp trigger out of the box and a short reset. In turn, those familiar with the gun can run it fast, accurately so. Though, if it or any other part of the G42 isn’t up to your standards, the Glock aftermarket is huge and the pistol upgradeable.

MSRP: $400; glock.com

Smith & Wesson M&P380 Shield EZ

380 Pistol EZ

Semi-auto pistols prove prohibitive to some. The hitch, heavy springs make manipulating the slide nearly impossible. Recognizing this issue, Smith & Wesson dealt with it head-on, deftly so, with the M&P380 Shield EZ.

Compared to a standard pistol, the .380 requires a fraction of the force to rack the slide making it accessible to a greater swath of the shooting world. Smith & Wesson accomplished the feat by breaking from the herd. Opting for an internal hammer instead of the dominate striker-fired design, the company was able to use lighter springs, thus reduce the force required to manipulate the slide. For good measure, Smith & Wesson added a few other assets, such as aggressive slide serrations and flared section at the rear of the slide.

Truly, there are few nits to pick on this 8+1 capacity .380 pistol. If you had to gripe, the oversized grip safety doesn’t win style points. Beyond that it’s a tidy and welcome concealed carry system.

MSRP: $416; smith-wesson.com

Ruger LCP II

Ruger-LCP-II-1

Even years after its release, the LCP II is still something to marvel at. How did Ruger squeeze so much into so little?

An improvement on the original Light Compact Pistol, the LCP II is an ideal backup or deep-carry gun. To that end, it’s plum minuscule, weighing in at a scant 10.6 ounces and measuring .75 inches in width and 3.71 inches in height. That’s small.

But the LCP is no compromise, holding 6+1 rounds and shooting like a dream. Much of this is thanks to Ruger’s improvements on the trigger, giving the double-action hammer-fired gun a single-action feel. The other part of the equation, excellent ergonomics that fit even the large mitted.

Again, this is a small gun and featherweight. In turn, many new to handguns will need time to master the LCP II. But as far as picking a piece that’s a no-brainer to carry every day, few beat Ruger’s little .380 pistol.

MSRP: $349; ruger.com

Springfield Armory 911

Springfield 911

Value and performance, oftentimes it’s in an inverse relationship. Not the case with Springfield Armory’s petite, effective and, yes, dashing .380 pistol.

Before we get to the 911’s brass tacks, however, yes it does have a striking resemblance to Sig’s P238. If Springfield just knocked off the pistol and left it at that it’d be an issue. However, the company improved upon a proven design giving it legs of its own to stand on. In particular, the pistol is lighter (12.6 ounces) than the P238, arguably has better sights (Pro Glo day/night), nicer standard grips (G10) and is considerably more affordable. Not to mention, the aluminum-frame mite is fully capable of shooting the lights out.

Though, there is at least one bone to pick—the trigger. If there’s any one thing to raise eyebrows it’s the 911’s G10 switch, an effort to cut weight and costs. This isn't to say, the pull and the break aren't excellent. They are what you’d expect from a single-action of 1911 linage. Yet, for some, it just doesn’t have the same feel as cold, hard steel. A deal-breaker? No. Still, something to keep in mind if you’re finicky.

MSRP: $536; springfield-armory.com

Shoulder Holster: 8 Pro Up-Top Carry Options (2024)

Updated 1/8/2024

The shoulder holster isn't just for cinematic good and bad guys. It has a role in real life as these eight upper-body rigs prove.

What Are Some Top Shoulder Holster Options:

A suppressor will make a .308 no louder than mouse flatulence, a hit from a .45 ACP will sweep a perpetrator off his feet, and you never have to reload six-gun. If your gun education came from the warped lens of Hollywood, you’ll swear up and down these are 24-karat, chiseled-in-stone truths. Handled anything above and beyond a cap gun, you understand their veracity is the same caliber as pitch lines for X-ray specs and political promises.

One of the most enduring cinematic fantasies is that of the shoulder holster. Mobsters, undercover cops and PIs, by the big screen’s account it’s the way every good and bad guy carries their heater. Except it isn’t. The belt holster has and does reign supreme, given its simplicity, versatility and comfort. But that doesn’t mean the usefulness of the shoulder holster is mere La-La Land fiction.

For particular individuals who face certain circumstances, the upper-body rig proves eminently advantageous. Drivers and those seated most of their day find shoulder holsters extremely convenient and fast on the draw. And there might not be a more efficient way to amble around with a hand cannon during hunting season.
It sure make it simpler to scramble up a steep grade.

Whatever your case may be, there are plenty of solid shoulder holster options out there and we’re going to look at some of the best. So without further ado, here are some of the top shoulder holster choices that give the silver screen star a role in real life.

Alien Gear ShapeShift

Shapeshift Shoulder Holster 4
Using the hybrid concept, Alien Gear has produced a comfortable and efficient shoulder holster system.

One of the newest and most versatile options, the ShapeShift is also among the most comfortable. A hybrid shoulder holster, Alien Gear combines the strength of an English bridle leather superstructure and Kydex holster, with the comfort of its CoolVent neoprene backing. Padded in all the right places and overall slim in design, it’s easy to forget you’re carrying with the ShapeShift. The system moves with the body thanks to a four-point back swivel and belt anchors, providing consistent handgun presentation that never leaves you fumbling.

It also conceals well. A light overgarment—button-up shirt or windbreaker—is enough to keep your pistol and two spare magazines under wraps. Furthermore, the ShapeShift provides excellent passive retention, but also comes with a removable thumb-break for further security. A bonus, it’s part of Alien Gear’s modular holster system family. This means, if you already own a ShapeShift OWB or IWB holster, you can simply buy the shoulder straps and convert over. MSRP: $243.88

Read Also: Alien Gear Cloak Shoulder Holster Review

Galco Classic Lite 2.0 Shoulder Holster

Classic Lite 2

Galco knows how to get the most out of gun leather, which is obvious when you catch a glimpse of effective and budget-friendly shoulder system. Modeled after the company’s professional rigs, the Classic Lite 2.0 Shoulder Holster is streamlined to make it more conducive to armed citizens, without compromising performance. In particular, this is seen in Galco’s use of the same connectors and Fexalon swivel backplate that make the pro models move naturally with the body and adjust to any frame. To boot, the Classic Lite is about as comfortable as all-leather shoulders come. Thank center cut steerhide for this.

The shoulder holster system comes complete with holster, harness, and a magazine ammo carrier. The original model previously only had one magazine pouch, but since the introduction of the improved 2.0 model it now has two. It’s also available in right- and left-hand draw configurations. The holster proper features a level-2 retention system—a metal button thumb snap—which keeps your pistol secure until you need it. Carry angle is strictly horizontal, which conceals well and draw fast. MSRP: $158


For more information on the best concealed carry holster check out:


Gould & Goodrich Gold Line Shoulder Holster

Shoulder Holster Gould Goodrich

Gould & Goodrich is known for its duty-grade holsters and accessories. But if you’re aiming to go top-shelf with a shoulder holster and price isn’t a barrier, then it’s difficult to do better than the company’s Gold Line. The rig is the whole nine yards. Especially impressive is the quality of the leather. It's thick enough to stand up to any punishment you can dish out. But it doesn’t wear heavy, with ample shoulder straps distributing the system’s weight.

Designed to move with you, a four-point back swivel keeps the rig in place even if you happen to be moving at a full sprint. A thumb break retention system secures your handgun and dual magazine carrier keeps plenty of ammo on tap. About the only knock on the shoulder holster, it’s only available for a relatively small selection of handguns—Beretta, Glock, Sig Sauer and Smith & Wesson semi-automatics. MSRP: $216.66

Bianchi Model X15 Vertical Shoulder Holster

Shoulder Holster X15

Carry big iron? Bianchi has a shoulder holster to keep it in check. While there are configurations to handle more moderately sized handguns, the X15 is fully capable of tending up to an 8-inch barrel behemoth and competently so. In turn, the Bianchi shoulder rig makes an excellent choice for your next handgun hunting adventure.

Made from full-grain, vegetable-tanned cowhide, the rugged holster has a touch of elegance—nice since it’s the type you don’t need to keep undercover. A wide X-style harness does a solid job of distributing the weight of a heavy gun, making it overall easier to carry. And the shoulder holster keeps your gun where it needs to be, with a dual spring design. It also offers more security when needed with secondary retention strap. An amazingly consistent presentation, the X15 always puts your gun where you need it. However, it is strictly a vertical draw affair and doesn’t feature a configuration to handle scoped guns. MSRP: $174

Uncle Mike's Black Kodra Nylon Sidekick Vertical Shoulder Holster

Shoulder Holster Uncle Mikes 1

Rummage around the holster market for any amount of time, you soon learn nylon holsters are often suspect. The Sidekick is a decided exception. The rig is well built, gives you excellent access to your handgun and lightens your load. That last point, weight, is among its greatest benefits, given the shoulder holster is comparatively featherlight. Since it can handle some of the largest firearms on the market—even ones with scopes—the Sidekick is a top candidate to take on the hunt. It’s also extremely budget-friendly, so you won’t weep if you beat it up.

The rig is completely adjustable to body-frame size and features belt anchorages, keeping the system tight as a drum. But it’s purely a vertical draw system and bulky. If you picked it for concealed carry, you might have difficulty keeping it from printing. Despite this, for a rough-and-tumble entry-level hunting rig, it’s among the tops. MSRP: Starting at $45.95

Galco Miami Classic II Shoulder System

Glaco Miami II

It’s difficult to pick the Miami Classic II over the original—after all the earlier iteration is an absolute classic. But for the modern armed citizen, the new twist on the iconic system has a refinement that provides a major advantage—its magazine carrier. An open-front design, the carrier puts your spare magazines right at hand, picking up the pace of reloads. A good thing, indeed.

Practically everything else remains the same on the shoulder holster, including Galco’s top-end leather, dynamic spider harness and fully adjustable strap system. Like the Miami Classic, the II is a straight-up horizontal carry rig, which does an exceptional job concealing a firearm. But if you carry a full-sized firearm, and are smaller framed, it can prove ungainly. MSRP: $329

DeSantis New York Undercover

Desantis NY undercover

A true classic in every sense of the word, the New York Undercover shoulder holster has defined the style of carry since the 1970s. It looks the role and has only gotten better over the past four decades. Particularly in the comfort department. Wide shoulder straps on the DeSantis rig do an incredible job of distributing weight evenly, making it an ideal option for heavier handguns. At the same tick, the system offers full range of motion, making it an ideal holster for those on the move.

Equally as convenient is the NY Undercover’s adjustment system. All four straps are independently adjustable, allowing the shooter to tailor the fit exactly to their frame and the position of both gun and support-side equipment (mag or cuff holders available). Drawing is fast and intuitive as well. Horizontally situated, the premium saddle leather rig presents the butt for a perfect high grip and natural break of the retention strap. The only nit to pick on the DeSantis shoulder holster is its price tag. But it’s a time-tested system, quality made and worth every penny. MSRP: $220.99

Versacarry Mayhem

Versacarry shoulder holster

Versacarry crashed the holster scene with some true head-turning hybrids a couple of years back. Since it's turned its attention to building a better mousetrap when it comes to the good old shoulder holster. By all measures, the company has wildly succeeded with a rock-solid system that not only wears comfortably but also might be among the most attractive rig on the list.

Water buffalo hide is what Versacarry is known for, supple leather that nonetheless is tough as cut nails. It fairs well in a shoulder rig. Wide-cut straps disperse the weight of the system evenly over the shoulders and resist stretching over time. While the Level 2 hanger doesn’t chafe under the arm. To boot, water buffalo hide does a good job resisting moisture, thus offers a level of protection to your firearm. The shoulder holster anchors firmly to the belt and comes with two magazine holders, compatible with both single- and double-stack magazines. The only knock, the holster is purely a horizontal carry option, which facilitates a fast draw, but isn’t every armed citizen’s cup of tea. MSRP: $167.99


Editor's Note: Adam Borisenko contributed to this article.

9 Best Concealed Carry Revolvers For Personal Defense (2024)

Updated 1/4/2024

Find out the best concealed carry revolvers that are more than ready to cover your six.

What will keep you covered when it comes to concealed carry revolvers?

Semi-automatic pistols have ruled the roost when it comes to self-defense guns in recent years, but concealed carry revolvers still hold their own when push comes to shove. The time-tested design is offered in some excellent self-defense calibers, is straightforward in operation and is as dependable as the next day’s dawn. And there are some top-notch and well-thought-out options in the revolver market tailor-made to hang ever ready on your gun belt and deliver when called upon.

A Brief Word On Concealed Carry Revolvers

Before we move on to the best concealed carry revolver buyer’s guide, we should take a minute to talk about the option for self-defense. It’s not the ideal choice for everyone, particularly entry-level shooters. Yes, the guy behind the gun counter might have sworn up and down otherwise, but guess what—he was selling you something, he might not have had your best intentions at heart.

As it goes, three areas make the concealed carry revolver tricky for beginners:

Barrel Length: Concealed carry revolvers are among the most compact handguns around, mainly due to an abbreviated barrel. We’re talking 3 inches or less. That’s short. While highly concealable, these ‘snubbies’ have exceedingly short sight radii—the distance between the front and rear sights. This is a concern, given the shorter the radius the less noticeable issues with your sight picture become, thus are more difficult to correct. Not the formula for success when you’re just starting.

Trigger: By and large, the concealed carry revolver has a double-action (DA) trigger, meaning each pull cocks the gun and releases the hammer. Indeed, many models can be shot in single-action, an impractical side-benefit for self-defense—unless you happen to be John Wesley Hardin. You’re not, by the way.

DA triggers are bears given most have a rather hefty pull weight, the amount of weight your finger must apply to depress the trigger and break a shot. Whereas most striker-fired pistols have a break somewhere around the 4- to 7-pound range, most DA revolvers' triggers trip in the 10-pound neighborhood. This makes trigger control much more difficult—i.e. the ability to break a shot while holding the gun on target.

Reloads: Reloading a revolver isn’t only a challenge for new shooters, but masters as well. Speed and tactical reloads especially. The issue at hand, quickly reloading a revolver is not a push-button affair like a pistol—a magazine doesn’t drop free and 15 rounds don’t load in with the slap of a palm. The process isn’t intuitive and requires many more steps than a pistol. Can it be done quickly? You bet your life, but expect a steeper learning curve and much more practice to reach proficiency.

Now, these points aren’t meant to scare anyone off from a concealed carry revolver. Simply to enlighten you about some of the challenges inherent in the system, particularly those new to the gun game.

As a new shooter, perhaps you have the time and patients to learn a revolver’s manual of arms and perfect them to the point you can save your life with one. But if the process sounds daunting and more to tackle while taking the first steps as a gun owner, then perhaps a concealed carry revolver is something to consider down the road when you’ve built your skill base.

All that covered, here are the 9 best concealed carry revolvers that will definitely keep you covered.

Best Revolvers For Concealed Carry

Smith & Wesson Performance Center 442

Smith Wesson PC 442

There are those, foolish as it may be, who think a J-frame is just a J-frame—it doesn’t matter what model number Smith & Wesson slaps on one, they’re all the same. Boy howdy, what a mistaken frame of mind. S&W Performance Center 442 is more than proof.

Hand-assembled and tuned to perfection, the .38 Special is the epitome of a serious concealed carry revolver, a cut above most everything on the market today. Smith & Wesson has trimmed down the weight of the 442 to a scant 15-ounces unloaded, mainly thanks to an aluminum alloy frame. Yet, boasting a polished five-chamber stainless-steel cylinder, the +P-rated .38 is more than up for rough EDC treatment.

But is it on target? At 15-yards in—where it would most likely be employed—absolutely! Expediting the 1.875-inch barreled gun’s target acquisition is a factory-installed Crimson Trace Lasergrip, which activates when you grip the revolver’s rounded butt. Of course, there’s a ramp front and integral rear sights for backup. By the way, the DAO (double-action only) PC 442 comes sans an internal locking mechanism, always a plus when talking S&W. MSRP: $839


Ruger LCRx 3” .357 Magnum

Ruger LCRx 3 357 Mag

Hate to break it to you, size matters. Too short in the barrel department and the better part of that powder you're burning deflagrates in thin air. All you’re left with is a heap of muzzle flash and limp ballistic performance—particularly from a big dog, such as a .357 Magnum. Hence, why Ruger’s addition of a 3-inch barreled .357 Magnum LCRx is so welcome.

Certainly, the lightweight magnum falls short of producing the velocities found out of a 6-inch revolver—but not by much. Which is to say, with this LCRx you’re well-armed. As to its extra size, especially compared to many of the other options on this list, yes, it’s larger. However, not prohibitively so. The stainless-steel Ruger is still extremely concealable and at 21.3 ounces unloaded is no burden at all.

True enough, it’s not as streamlined as other concealed carry revolver options. It boasts adjustable rear target sights and an exposed spur. Yet, Ruger manages to keep this all fairly unobtrusive, keeping the LCRx snag-free once you’re used to the system. MSRP: $859

Colt King Cobra Carry

Concealed Carry Revolver Colt King Cobra

Unless you’ve lived under a rock the past couple of years, it’s impossible to miss Colt is back in the double-action revolver game. The rebooted snake gun line has started all sorts of chatter, but none more than the return of the King Cobra .357 Magnum. No longer sized for duty, the relatively demure 6-round revolver has all the makings of a superb concealed carry option – particularly now with the release of a bobbed-hammer model.

Arm Yourself With More Concealed Carry Knowledge

The King Cobra Carry is nearly identical to the hammer model released in early 2019, except the spur has been shaved off and it's outfitted with a 2-inch barrel. These modifications give the revolver excellent carry characteristic, the terse barrel making it as simple to tote around as most snubbie .38 Specials. The bobbed hammer accentuates its already snag-free frame.

Yet, there are a couple of things to keep in mind with the King Cobra. First and foremost, a 2-inch barrel isn’t going to facilitate magnum performance – it won’t be down to +P .38 standards, but it isn’t going to punch up either. Further, all that burning powder has to go somewhere, and that’s in a burst of flame from the muzzle. To the hammer, well the gun is a straight DAO, which if you’re buying for carry might not cause concern.

 Are .357 Magnum Snubnose Revolvers Still Relevant For Carry?

Overall, the all stainless steel concealed carry revolver is attractive, featuring Hogue Overmolded grips and a brass-bead front sight and integral rear. The gun holds six rounds and weighs in at a very manageable 26 ounces. Overall, a great addition for the company and an excellent choice for those who prefer iron on their hip when they go armed. MSRP: $899

Rock Island Armory M206 Spurless

RIA Spurless

Not a new concealed carry revolver by any stretch of the imagination, but well worth adding to the list. The M206 Spurless is a real workingman’s .38 Special, short on glitz and glamor and long on performance. And, above all, affordable! That’s a rarity nowadays, but highly welcome.

How Rock Island pulls this off is jettisoning aesthetics on the steel-framed revolver and purely focusing on performance. And the plucky 6-round, 2-inch barreled double-action performs. The trigger is surprisingly smooth for an entry-level revolver, its timing is impeccable and ramp front and fixed back sights plenty accurate. Plus it comes with some desirable features, such as checkered wood grips, ejector-rod shroud and a Colt-like cylinder release. Furthermore, there’s the choice of Parkerized and matt nickel finishes.

Medium-Bore Match-Up: .38 Special vs 9mm

The issue the M206 presents, at least for some, is Rock Island does not list it as +P rated. While generations of law enforcement more than accomplished their mission with run-of-the-mill .38 Special, the velocity at which it operates doesn’t always play nice with modern expanding bullets. To some extent, +P mitigates this issue – not always, but more so. Good defensive ammo is available for standard .38 Spc., but – especially out of a snubbie – requires savvy shopping. MSRP: Black: $279 ; Nickel: $369

Ruger SP101 Spurless .357 Magnum

concealed carry revolvers - Ruger Sp101
Ruger has several rock-solid options that make dandy concealed carry revolvers. But few match the elegant nasty of this SP101 model. The SP101 gives you five rounds of .357 Magnum (or .38 Special) at your disposal in a manageable package.

11 Top Picks For Concealed Carry Handguns

The handgun tips the scales at 25 ounces, tending toward the heavier end of carry pieces, but not bad for a single-piece, stainless-steel frame revolver. That weight pays off when the gun is fired, taming the snappy magnum’s recoil, doubly so with the revolver’s meaty rubberized grips.

Ruger has configured this SP101 for going undercover by including a spurless hammer (the model is also available with a spur) and by rounding every conceivable snag point — including the front sight. Furthermore, its 2.25-inch barrel and 7.20-inch overall length make the double-action a breeze to keep under wraps. Of course, common with any gun that focuses on concealability, there are tradeoffs. In this case, the barrel length will not allow the .357 Magnum to come close to its full ballistic potential. With that said, it will still send a load of fury down range. MSRP: $919


Charter Arms Bulldog DAO

Concealed carry revolvers - Charter Arms Bulldog DAO
A surefire way of stopping a threat is to poke big holes into it. Charter Arms gives you the ability to do exactly this with its legendary .44 Special Bulldog.

The 2.5-inch barreled revolver has been around for a spell, first introduced in the early 1970s, and has only gotten better with time. This includes some much-needed tweaks to the original design, such as making the front sight integral to the barrel and expanding the selection of models to keep up with prevailing concealed-carry trends.

The DAO is one such example. A clipped spur isn’t absolutely essential for concealed carry revolvers, but it does up the odds of a clean draw each time the gun is unholstered. Not to mention, it makes the revolver more comfortable to carry.

The five-round revolver is very controllable, especially for weighing 21 ounces and pitching bullets up to 300 grains in weight. Much of this is due to the low pressure at which the .44 Special operates, and it is further helped down this road with generous grips, complete with finger grooves.

Find Out: What Is The Best Concealed Carry Holster?

Being chambered for .44 Special, however, does pose a bit of a challenge. Ammo is not as abundant as it is for the .38 Special or .357 Magnum. But for those willing to shop around, there are solid and hard-hitting options and plenty peace of mind in holstering a dog that definitely has bite. MSRP: $442

Smith & Wesson Model 642

concealed carry revolvers - S&W Model 642
For many, this Smith & Wesson J-Frame is what comes to mind when they think about concealed carry revolvers. The double-action only .38 Special (+P rated) is one of the easiest revolvers to carry, given it is among the lightest options available today.

The Model 642 weighs in at less than a pound unloaded — a scant 14.4 ounces — thanks largely to its aluminum-alloy frame. And with a shrouded hammer, well, there’s no worry about the revolver digging into your side when driving or snagging on your shirt when you need it most.

Granted, the 1.8-inch barreled snubby takes some practice to become fully proficient with it (what gun doesn’t?). But the .38 Special is a notoriously forgiving round to shoot — one might even say pleasant. Chuck five rounds of +P ammo in its stainless-steel cylinder when it's time to head out the door, and you’ll know you're covered for anything short of World War III. MSRP: $539


Ruger LCR in .38 Special +P

Ruger LCR
Outside of the cylinder, revolutionary hasn’t been applied much to the revolver since the 1830s. But there’s a whole bunch of it in the Ruger LCR (Lightweight Compact Revolver).

The diminutive five-round handgun is absolutely cutting edge when it comes to material use. Not only has Ruger turned to aircraft-grade aluminum for the gun’s frame, but also polymers for its fire-control housing. Combined with a highly fluted stainless-steel cylinder, the LCR is among the lightest guns available today — a whopping 13.5 ounces. On top of that, Ruger’s friction-reducing cam system makes the LCR among the easiest double actions to shoot well.

Per Ruger’s MO, the revolver is highly modifiable, boasting an easily replaceable pinned ramp front sight and grips. But outfitted at the factory with a Hogue Tamer Monogrip, there might not be much reason to go shopping in the latter department. The revolver is available in five calibers, but for carry the .38 Special +P seems like it would be a strong choice, making the 1.87-inch barreled gun much more manageable, while still packing a punch. MSRP: $739


Kimber K6s

concealed carry revolvers - Kimber K6s
Kimber is generally known for its stunning and highly functional 1911 pistols. But recently, the company has begun to make a name for itself as a revolver-smith. This has been due to the well-conceived and excellently crafted K6s, a gun that seems to boast every must-have when considering concealed carry revolvers.

Chief among them is the K6s’ wickedly light and slim design. At 23 ounces and outfitted with a 1.39-inch diameter cylinder, it is the lightest and most compact of all six-round .357 Magnums available today. But Kimber didn’t stop there in tailoring the K6s for carry, shrouding the hammer and smoothing every line so it melts seamlessly onto the person, while remaining quick on the draw.

Obviously, the K6s comes with the usual challenges inherent to a 2-inch barreled .357. But the company has done everything to put the shooter in the driver’s seat. This includes excellent grip ergonomics that gives shooters superior control over the gun. And to top it all off, a match-grade trigger comes standard. MSRP: $985



6.8 SPC VS 6.5 Grendel: Intermediate Cartridge Rumble

When it comes to 6.8 SPC vs 6.5 Grendel, the better intermediate cartridge all depends on your aims.

For most, the .223 Remington/5.56 NATO is enough to get the job done in an AR-15. Hey, it fits the bill for the U.S. military for going on 60 years now, so there is proof in the pudding. However, more than one marksman—military and civilian—has yearned for a bit more oomph per trigger pull.

This was especially true in the early years of this century when in-the-field performance issues with the 5.56 reared their ugly heads. The less-than-desirable results in the hands of our fighting men and women got the innovation wheels turning in search of a solution. The answer: a true-to-form intermediate cartridge, something along the lines of the storied Soviet 7.62×39mm. Medicine that put bad guys down and kept them there.

The 6.5 Grendel is the brainchild of Bill Alexander, and he makes cracking good rifles chambered in it. That doesn’t mean you can’t make your own rifle, and eventually you will. Trust me on this one.
The 6.5 Grendel and 6.8 SPC hit the scene within a year of each other, true intermediate cartridges for the AR-15.

This answer came in two cartridges—the 6.8 SPC and 6.5 Grendel. While not enough to de-throne the small-bore king as head of the military, the metric marvels vastly improved the potential of AR-style rifles with minimal disruption to the rifle’s design. Not a bad combination, one that earned each a dedicated following. That morphed into the mythologies of the hard-hitting 6.8 and the long-flying 6.5.

For many, the 6.8 SPC vs 6.5 Grendel debate seems cut and dry. Except, it’s not quite. Truth be told, there’s a bit of nuance to the conversation.

Shared History

As mentioned, both cartridges were attempts to improve on the 5.56 NATO, in particular the small-bore's terminal ballistics. The simplest path was to step up the caliber.

In 2004, the 6.8 SPC hit the scene. A multi-year project between Remington Arms and the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit to develop a more potent intermediate option, the cartridge had some early snags (more on that in a moment). Through testing, the 6.8mm caliber became the choice since it proved as accurate as the 6.5 cartridges at medium range, but offered improved terminal performance, somewhat akin to the 7mm. Remington turned to the defunct .30 Remington—essentially a rimless .30-30 Winchester—for the parent case since it provided ample capacity with a marginally larger case head (.422 inch). While it required a bolt upgrade and dedicated magazines, the slightly larger head size theoretically didn’t inject structural integrity issues.

As to the aforementioned snags, what Remington delivered to the military wasn’t up to snuff—not the cartridge, but the chamber design. Too little lead (.050 inch) led to pressure issues. “Big Green” remedied this with downloaded ammo, but that hurt the cartridge’s performance. Thankfully, the chamber issue has since been addressed, the lead extended to .100 inch in what is known as the 6.8 SPC II. Most modern rifles chambered for the cartridge are of this ilk and say as much on the barrel. Officially, however, the original 6.8 SPC design is still what’s on file with the Shooting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute (SAAMI).

The 6.5 Grendel was introduced in 2003 through the efforts of Bill Alexander (of Alexander Arms) and Janne Pohjoispää. In designing an intermediate cartridge they turned to a logical parent case for the job—the legendary 7.62x39mm (with a nod to its PPC progeny). The Grendel, too, requires a new bolt to accommodate its larger case head (.445) as well as dedicated magazines.

While its designers had military aspirations for the Grendel, it mainly remained a target-shooting and hunting option—at least stateside. In more recent times and in other parts of the world this has changed. In 2016, the Serbian Army become the first military force to officially adopt the cartridge, adding legitimacy to the design.


Learn More About The 6.8 SPC And 6.5 Grendel:


6.8 SPC Vs 6.5 Grendel Ballistics

There is a lot of hubbub when it comes to debating 6.8 SPC vs 6.5 Grendel ballistics. In most people’s minds, the SPC (Special Purpose Cartridge) is a true intermediate cartridge, while the Grendel flirts with long-range capabilities. However, the cartridges’ external ballistics track much closer than most folks expect.

Much of this is due to nearly identical case capacities. Depending on the brass in question, both hold right around 35 grains of water. Essentially, this means that loaded with the same powder, with the same bullet weight, out of barrels of equal length, both cartridges will produce similar velocities. The difference comes in ballistic coefficients (BC), given at the same weight a 6.5 bullet will be longer, thus boasting a higher BC. Simply put, it will buck air resistance and wind drift more efficiently. But crunch the numbers and you’ll find the Grendel’s downrange advantage takes time to manifest.

I've put together an example to illustrate. Take handloads for the 6.8 SPC and 6.5 Grendel both topped with 120-grain Hornady SST bullets pushed by Ramshot X-Terminator powder for maximum velocity out of a 20-inch barrel. According to the Western Powders Reloading Manual, a shooter can expect the .510 BC (G1 model) Grendel bullet to launch at 2,344 fps and the SPC’s .400 BC bullet at 2,457. Out to 600 yards with a 100-yard zero, the loads track nearly identical trajectories. It's only after this point that the Grendel performs better, dropping 6-inches less at 700 yards and 10-inches less at 800 yards. Additionally, while the 6.8 goes sub-sonic—thus losing optimal ballistic performance—just past 800 yards, the 6.5 stays supersonic out to nearly 1,000 yards.

Hornady 6.5 vs 6.8

This is a sterilized example and not quite true to life. While there are ample specimens of 20-inch 6.5 Grendel rifles, they’re rarer for the 6.8 SPC, which is generally found in carbine-length guns and smaller. Let’s look at another scenario, a more realistic one that takes this into account.

Take two similar factory loads, heaviest for caliber in Hornady’s Custom line: a 123-grain SST bullet (.510 BC) for the Grendel and a 120-grain SST bullet (.400 BC) in the 6.8 SPC. Next, we’ll put the rounds in much more common configurations for each caliber—a 20-inch barreled Grendel and a 16-inch barreled SPC. In addition to the higher BC, the extra bore in the Grendel gives the rifle/cartridge combination a 120 fps advantage over the SPC. This adds up past the 300-yard mark. Again on a 100-yard zero, at 500 yards the Grendel has fallen 15-inches less than the SPC and at 600 yards 26-inches less. That’s substantial for anyone concerned about flatter trajectories or reaching out.

Factory Ammo

There are arguments the 6.8 SPC has a superior terminal profile, doing more damage once at its target. Military testing has turned up the 6.8 (or .270 if you will) does tend to produce more devastating wounding patterns. Much of this is attributable to the caliber’s larger diameter, plus a greater cross-section at the nose that more efficiently initiates bullet expansion. Though, hit a whitetail in the vitals at a reasonable hunting range with either 6.8 SPC or 6.5 Grendel, chances are the deer won’t know the difference.

6.8 SPC Vs 6.5 Grendel Platforms

If the 6.5 Grendel allows a longer effective range than the 6.8, it seems it should be the natural choice for most shooters. I’ve foreshadowed why there’s a place for both cartridges in modern shooting, however. Get behind most 6.8 SPC guns and you'll drive a more nimble platform.

As mentioned, carbine-length rifles (16-inch barrels and down) are the norm for the 6.8, which makes sense given who the cartridge appeals to. Hog hunters have buoyed the SPC thanks to its excellent intermediate performance and agility of its platforms. In places such as Texas and Oklahoma, the management of these critters is a target-rich endeavor that calls for a hard-hitting and deft gun/cartridge combination. Furthermore, the 6.8 SPC has found a place in short-barreled rifles and AR-pistols, a very potent defensive option that excels in close-quarters engagements.

The 6.8 SPC II isn't afraid of going small. An example, Wilson Combat's SBR Tactical.
The 6.8 SPC isn't afraid of going small. An example, Wilson Combat's SBR Tactical.

This isn’t to say the 6.5 Grendel isn’t available as a carbine. Heck, Palmetto State Armory has a 12-inch Grendel pistol, for those interested. However, given most folks’ desire to take advantage of the cartridge's ballistic capabilities, 20-inch-plus barrels dominate. Even Bill Alexander recommends this length for Grendel rifles aimed at hunting. Certainly, with practice, shooters can become quick in transitioning targets with a longer-barreled gun, but overall it is more challenging.

6.8 SPC Vs 6.5 Grendel Ammo

In ammo squeezes, you take what you can get. In fatter times, both cartridges are fairly abundant, though there is some difference in what’s stocked on virtual and brick-and-mortar shelves.

Hunting ammunition, topped with soft-point or polymer-tipped bullets, dominates the 6.8 SPC selection. This makes sense since hunters have kept the cartridge afloat. Away from this arena, I've found little more than affordable range ammo with FMJ bullets.

Federal 6.5 Grendel
Helping the 6.5 Grendel go long is an ample selection of factory-loaded match ammunition.

Given it has a more dedicated following of target shooters and technically has the chops to reach out 1,000 yards in skilled hands, the 6.5 Grendel has a wider ammo selection. In addition to hunting and range ammo, manufacturers also turn out legitimate match options. For instance, Federal Premium’s Gold Medal Grendel ammo boasts a 130-grain Berger AR Hybrid OTM bullet—a modern low-drag projectile designed to maximize range. And I'll attest, the load is fit for reaching out.

Bullet weights for both cartridges, the 6.8 SPC ranging from 85-grains to 140-grains and the 6.5 Grendel 85-grains to 130-grains.

Who Fits Whom?

So, when everything shakes out in the 6.8 SPC vs 6.5 Grendel conversation, which cartridge is the best fit for which shooter? It’s a difficult question to answer. Given, when everything is equal, the cartridges have similar performance. But they’re still not identical.

Since the 6.8 SPC is generally found and performs well out of carbine- and pistol-length guns, the cartridge excels at tasks that require agility in the 300-yard neighborhood. From my experience, the cartridge is excellent at thinning a sounder of hogs, but is more than adept for pieing a corner to confront a bump in the night. On the flip side, the 6.5 Grendel gives you the ability to stretch your rifle’s legs or hunt in open country. I've come to accept you have to pack more rifle, but the effort pays off with a selection of higher BC bullets and the ability to operate out to 800 yards.

Compared to other cartridge comparisons, the differences are slimmer in the 6.8 SPC vs 6.5 Grendel debate. That said, at the margins, each provides an advantage to a particular shooter. You just have to puzzle out what shooter you happen to be.

Best 9mm Carbine: Affordable PCCs (2024)

Test the waters with these economical 9mm carbine options.

Best 9mm That Won't Break The Bank:

Other 9mm Carbines To Consider:

Gun trends come and go, but among the most enduring has been one of the most controversial – pistol-caliber long guns. The concept of a carbine or rifle that grazes on handgun ammunition is nearly the same vintage as America’s love affair with firearms.

As those familiar with this style of gun know, long guns that pitch handgun ammo were a staple in the American West. In those days, the system made a world of sense. Minor catastrophes, be it blizzards or bushwackers, could leave a pioneer high and dry in the ammunition department. You never knew when the next wagonload would mosey down the trail, after all. In turn, the piece of mind of, say, a Colt Frontier and Winchester 1873 feeding from the same trough likely saved lives.

Today, the practicality of pistol-caliber carbines is hotly debated. Truly, few subjects outside of politics and religion ignite passions as quickly. To some, such carbines are analogous to outfitting a Formula One racer with a moped engine. To others, they’re the ideal economical plinker, wieldy home-defense option and perfect survival tool. Each has valid points, and maybe you’ve thought you’d like to investigate the matter first-hand to make up your mind.


More 9mm Information:

  • Is The 9mm Luger The Best All-Around Defensive Cartridge?
  • How To Choose The Best 9mm Ammo For Self-Defense
  • 7 Best 9mm Pistol Designs Of All Time

Problem is, with a recent upswing in popularity, the market is filled with options that make experimentation somewhat cost-prohibitive. In most cases. There are still deals if you know where to look. And we’ve dug up 11 of them, all less than $1,000 and solid in performance (plus two that just go over the line).

While many of these are available in other calibers, we’ve opted to concentrate on 9mm carbines. In general, the cartridge performs well out of long guns and gives shooters a good taste of this style of firearm’s potential. Out of a carbine, the 9mm gains modest velocity, is highly suppressible, generates little recoil and is offered in more models. Moreover, it’s the cheapest of all handgun ammunition, so you won’t break the bank giving the style of gun a run.

Who knows, given a chance, you might find the 9mm carbine is what you’ve been after all these years.

Ruger PC Carbine

Ruger Carbine Shooting


Dusting off an old concept, Ruger cooked up a real one of its most popular new(ish) firearms with this 9mm carbine. Evolving the old Police Carbine concept, the PC Carbine arms shooters with a familiar configuration that has some handy tricks up its sleeve. First and foremost, it’s a takedown rifle.

Given many like to employ pistol-caliber carbines as utility or truck guns, this single feature vastly enhances the Ruger rifle. Splitting in two just before the receiver, the 34-inch long gun nearly shrinks by half. And at around 7 pounds it’s absolutely portable, say in a backpack or the like. Furthermore, Ruger has shot to make the carbine as flexible as possible with Security 9 and Glock magazine compatibility.

9mm-Carbine-Ruger

Overall, we find it worth the extra money well spent on the variants outfitted with a handguard as opposed to a forend, purely from the practical sense. It's a heck of a lot easier to slap on a flashlight to an M-Lok system. But the original PC Carbine is still get a handy little gun that ticks off rounds like nobody's business. In either case, the Dead-Blow action runs like clockwork and the muzzle is threaded, just in case you wanted to take advantage of the caliber’s eminent suppressibility. MSRP: $779; www.ruger.com

Faxon Firearms Bantam

Faxon bantam

Faxon Firearms is no stranger to PCCs. Luckily for shooters, the Ohio based gunmaker has leaped from PCC components to complete builds this year with the affordable and feature-rich (for its price) Bantam. Honestly, the 9mm carbine has plenty of room to grow, but if you’re looking for a solid gun off the shelf it more than ticks off the boxes.

To start, the 16-inch barreled, blow-back Bantam has several features you’d expect on a more expensive AR-style PCC, including a lightweight 13-inch M-Lok aluminum free-floated handguard and last-round hold open. In addition to this, it boasts foraged receivers with a tensioning screw to ensure the tightest possible mate-up between upper and lower. The latter is a bit of an OCD tamer, but if you can’t live with a bit of rattle it’s a godsend. Finally, it’s Glock magazine compatible, which is nearly a must nowadays given Glock calls the tune for 9mm mags.

The M4 stock, A2 pistol grip and flash hider are noting to get too geeked up about, but if you can live with standard fair, they’re fine. MSRP: $1,049;

PSA AK-V MOE Rifle

PSA AKV

Based on the legendary Vityaz-SN Russian submachine gun, Palmetto State Armory gives AK shooters a 9mm carbine option that should prove very familiar. From lever safety to paddle mag release and side charging handle, the PSA AK-V MOE Rifle is easy to slip into if you run an AK variant. While it holds a unique place in the pantheon of 9mm carbines, the rifle isn’t Kalashnikov through in through.

Similar to most pistol-caliber carbines, it’s simple blow-back operated meaning some of its features common to the Vityaz are just there for looks. Namely, the front sight block is non-functioning, given it doesn’t use gas and piston to cycle.

The 7-pound rifle is heavy on Magpul furniture, with Magpul AK Polymer Grip, Black Magpul Polymer Upper/Lower Handguard, Black Magpul Zhukov (folding) Stock. The AK-V MOE Rifle comes with a 35-round PSA U9 pattern magazine, also compatible with the CZ Scorpion. There’s good and bad in this, given the mags are well made and usually easily had, but they aren’t as plentiful as Glock. The carbine itself is rated for +P+ 9mm ammunition, so you can run it hot if you so wish. MSRP: $949.99; www.palmettostatearmory.com

Smith & Wesson M&P FPC

SW-MP-FPC-feature

A new addition to this list, released in early 2023, the S&W M&P FPC is not yet proven but it does look very promising.

It's a straight blowback, semi-auto PCC that feeds from double-stack 9mm M&P magazines, has storage for two spare mags in the buttstock and the whole thing can be folded in half where the barrel meets the receiver. Because the folding mechanism is horizontal, it can be folded without interfering with one's optics like on Kel-Tec's folding PCC.

Speaking of optics, on the M&P FPC they're mounted on the M-LOK handguard that also has Picatinny rail on its top. The barrel is also threaded and the grips are compatible with M&P pistol palmwswell grip adaptors. To top it off, the whole package ships with three magazines and a carrying case that fits the rifle while folded. MSRP: $659; www.smith-wesson.com

TNW Aero Survival Rifle

9mm-Carbine-Aero


Prepping is one of the areas where the pistol-caliber carbine concept thrives. Given its potential to eliminate ammunition concerns between a long gun and pistol, it’s a robust strategy. And TNW has contrived among the best tools for the job.

Flexible beyond belief, the Aero Survival Rifle isn’t bound purely as a 9mm carbine. Quick-change barrels open the blowback semi-auto to a host of chamberings, including .22LR, .45 ACP, .40 S&W, 10mm and .357 SIG. Since its task is to tackle the unexpected, this sort of flexibility has the potential to pay dividends. I've got to admit, the system inspires peace of mind.

Adding to the Survival Rifle’s usefulness, it’s a takedown. At 16 inches taken down, it’s a perfect insurance policy in a truck, boat or, what it was originally designed for, airplane. This is particularly true if it’s paired with a case TNW cooked up for the rifle that stows it and a couple of spare barrels, so you can match the rifle to the ammunition on hand.

Furthermore, the 5.5-pound carbine is compatible with Glock magazines and has receivers constructed out of aircraft-grade aluminum. MSRP: $919; www.tnwfirearms.com

Kel-Tec Sub 2000

keltec-sub2000-gen3


Compact as they come, Kel-Tec may have cooked up the ultimate backpack gun in the SUB-2000. It certainly created among the most unique 9mm carbines (also available in .40 S&W) at the end of the market already known for being idiosyncratic. Honestly, despite any faults, I can't help but love this design.

What makes the SUB-2000 so intriguing is its unique folding design. Hinged at the fore of the receiver, the carbine folds into a neat 16-inch package, ideal for keeping it handy in a rucksack, sports bag or vehicle. And its even gotten better as the gun enters it third generation. The Gen3 carbine's barrel twist as it folds, meaning you can reduce it to its maximum size, while keeping an optic on the top rail. Like many shooters, this was one of my main complaints with the first to generations of the SUB-2000.

Deployment is still quick on the carbine even with the modification and it's as light as ever — a mere 4 pounds. This is thanks to the extensive use of fiberglass-filled nylon that makes up a majority of the gun. Additionally, Kel-Tec designed flexibility into the system, given your choice of magazine compatibility: Smith & Wesson, SIG Sauer, Beretta and Glock. Likely this has you covered, no matter what pistol you carry.

Adding to its appeal are easy and intuitive controls, such as the under-the-buttstock charging handle. Not to mention plenty of extras – ample rail space, fiber optic front sight, sling mounts and a wealth of aftermarket upgrades. MSRP: $499; www.keltecweapons.com

PSA Gen 4 AR-9

9mm-Carbine-PSA


Swimming decidedly against the tide, Palmetto State Armory’s AR-9 doesn’t aim to send your heart, and wallet, into palpitations. Crafting everything in-house, the company controls costs, at the same tick turns out an honest-to-God value in its 9mm carbine. In fact, for its price, the 16-inch rifle is among the best deals going in a category of pistol-caliber long gun that seems to get more expensive every year.

Accuracy is where the blow-back really earns high marks, getting everything out of the Parabellum and a bit more. Adept enough to consistently drill steel at 100-yard, longer if you want to push it, it's definitely a precision shooter. An elusive trait in pistol-caliber carbines. Furthermore, like a good date, it isn’t picky about what it eats.

As desired with an AR-style rifle, the controls are where they’re supposed to be, even if PSA had to put the mag release on a lever to accommodate the modified lower. And it comes with a fairly slick handguard, rife with M-LOK slots and excessively milled to make it featherweight. Best of all, the AR-9 is compatible with Glock magazines, which gives you plenty of aftermarket choices. The nits to pick, it’s a bit of a thumper for 9mm and it doesn’t have a last-round hold-open — what else is new with blowbacks? MSRP: $859.99;

Beretta Cx4 Storm

9mm-Carbine-Beretta


From my vantage point, the Storm has the external appeal of a bad Buck Rogers’ remake. But if you can get past its futuristic styling and a ton of polymer, you’re left with a smashing carbine. The Storm is simple and advanced at the same tick, and is more than up to the most demoing task of a 9mm carbine — home defense.

Lightweight (5.6 pounds) and slight size (29.5-inch length), really up its potential in CQB. It’s nimble, on top of that accurate. Once the relatively heavy 7-pound trigger is mastered, the Storm can create a tempest downrange. A forward-looking gun, even though it’s more than a decade old, Beretta engineered a lot of flexibility into the 9mm (.40 S&W and .45 ACP also available). This is especially apparent in its ambidextrous nature that extends well beyond the magazine release. Boasting a symmetrical bolt design, the Storm jumps from right- to left-handed configuration simply by reversing the ejector, extractor and operating handle. Nice touch, if you are a lefty that happens not to like hot brass flying across your face.

Beretta also designed the carbine for magazine flexibility. Compatible with both PX4 and 90 Series mags, it has quite a bit of latitude. There’s no shortage of 92 magazines available and, for the most part, they’re reliable and fairly cheap. MSRP: $899; www.beretta.com

JRC Takedown Marine

9mm-Carbine-JRC


Honestly, you don’t need to own a boat to be intrigued with Just Right Carbine’s Takedown Marine. Nickel plated and a stainless steel (barrel), the 9mm carbine (also available in .40 S&W and .45 ACP) is about as flashy as they come. Glitz, however, is beside the point.

At its heart, the Takedown Marine is a survival/utility carbine, meant to weather abuse. Corrosion-resistant, the gun is impervious to the severe damage that saltwater and moisture in general wreaks on unprotected steel. You needn’t have a high-seas adventure planned to reap the Marine’s benefits either. The nickel plate also does a heck of a job ensuring you have a fully functional gun at the ready if you happened to live in the wetter corners of the country or if you needed an option stowed away that didn’t require constant maintenance.

As expected, the Marine is a blowback-operated carbine, which endows it with an admirable trait as a utility gun — it chews through nearly any ammo. Given it accepts Glock magazines, keeping it fed shouldn’t prove a problem either. In addition to this, JRC has included some other intriguing features to make it handy no matter the circumstances: reversible ejection, a very manageable 6.5-pound weight, top rail for the addition of an optic and, as its name implies, a takedown feature. Retained by a screw-on forestock, the gun is a snap takedown into a tidy package about 16-inches in length. MSRP: Starts At $599; www.justrightcarbines.com

Hi-Point 995

9mm-Carbine-Hi-Point


Who hasn’t sauntered into a gun show and caught one of these beauties winking at you? Safe bet, you at least jingled your pocket change to see if you had enough to take one home.

Despite its blue-light special price tag, the 995 performs respectably for a utility long-gun that appears designed especially for this role. Rudimentary as they come, the carbine’s simple blowback operation gives it the chops to chew through any ammo. Additionally, 9mm coming out of a 6.25-pound gun is a kitten in the recoil department.

No one would describe the 995 as a tack driver. With that said, it’s capable of hitting center mass at 100 yards when you’re familiar with it. The downside to the carbine, you get what you pay for in looks. Furthermore, designed to skirt the 1990s “assault weapons ban,” it comes with a 10-round magazine (20-round magazines are available). MSRP: $315; www.hi-pointfirearms.com

Freedom Ordnance FX-9

FX-9

Freedom Ordnance generally doesn’t come to the fore when talking 9mm carbines. A shame, given its AR-style FX-9 is a regular jackhammer. The simple blowback outfit proves reliable with most ammunition and is configured such that if you know how to run Eugene Stoner’s brainchild, you know how to run the carbine.

That said, where the 16-inch barreled 9mm really earns high marks is its accuracy. The FX-9 is most certainly a 100-yard gun and makes hits on closer targets seem like cheating. It’s a nimble bugger to boot. Weighing in at right around 6 pounds, it isn’t the lightest option on the market. Yet it’s wispy enough to engage multiple targets as fast as you can pull the trigger.

Quality made for an entry-level carbine, the FX-9 receivers are milled billet aluminum, while the steel components are nitride and nickel-boron nitride coated. The gun has last-round hold open – always nice – and the system is completely modular, making it a snap to go shorter, which there is ample opportunity to do. The one sticky point, if you happen to be left-handed, is the magazine release is configured for right-handed shooters and is not ambidextrous. MSRP: $829.99; www.freedomordnance.com

Thureon Defense Standard Carbine

Thureon Defense 9mm Carbine

Admittedly, Thureon Defense’s 9mm carbine almost doesn’t qualify for this list. Bumping its head on this article's price ceiling, it starts to stretch the definition of “affordable”. Yet, quality-made and reliable as a faithful dog, the Standard Carbine proves an excellent value, one most will agree is worth every penny.

While it has some AR trappings, the long-gun is more a hybrid of it and more traditional pistol-caliber carbines. Mimicking America’s favorite rifle, the 16-inch barreled gun boasts an M4-style telescoping buttstock, AR-style pistol grip and a trigger that uses components bases on those used in ARs.

However, its receivers—particularly the upper—is much more blocky and taller than those on an AR. Plus, as you might suspect, it’s a simple blow-back operation—so that’s not a true buffer tube on the back.

Of its endearing qualities, the Standard Carbine is a tack-driver relative to most other pistol-caliber carbines. The 9mm grazes off Glock magazines, so keeping it fed is of little issue. It’s also reliable as all get out, no matter what you run through it ball, hollow point or otherwise—always a plus if you put it in a defensive role. Finally, it’s outfitted with a side (left) charging handle, which has the potential to really pick up the carbine’s pace. MSRP: $949; www.thureondefense.com

Colt AR-15 9mm

Colt 9mm

Despite all the turmoil the company has endured—including jettisoning rifles at one point—Colt still makes a solid long gun. That goes for the ones that graze on pistol fodder, such as its 9mm Carbine. A true-to-form—and function—AR-15 from the company that knows the rifle better than anyone else, the pistol-caliber carbine is a delight. One likely to last a lifetime.

Colt has been turning these out for some time, essentially just modifying existing 5.56 AR-15s to fill the role. Where this is obvious are the mag-well blocks, pinned into place on a standard lower, making it compatible with the slimmer pistol caliber magazines. The upper is slightly modified with an abbreviated port and large puck-style brass deflector, which also pushes lingering gas away from the shooter. And while not dead-nuts to the original Colt 9mm carbine, the throwback A4 style removable carrying handle with Magpul A2 adjustable rear sight. (Adjustable A2 front sight too, by the way.)

A very nimble 6.35 pounds unloaded, the 16-inch barreled rifle is generally quick target to target and as manageable as you’d expect a pistol-caliber long gun to be. The blowback’s two-stage trigger isn’t much to write home about, but better than a gritty mil-spec. And the furniture, M4-style handguard and 6-position stock, appear rudimentary, compared to modern-day options. Also, magazines are a touchy issue. They’re Colt pattern, which is essentially an Uzi mag with a slightly different locking cut. But with 32 rounds they keep a lot of fun on tap. MSRP: $1,099; colt.com

Rossi R95 Review: Hands-On With The Trusty Trapper

Right-sized in price and profile, the Rossi R95 Trapper is ready for hard duty in the field.

Likely, you’d have to return to the days when muscle cars were the epitome of cool to find a time when lever-action rifles garnered as much attention as they do today. Is it necessity, nostalgia or some other unseen force driving the resurgence? Honestly, it doesn’t matter.

What does is the renaissance of this style of long gun has resulted in the expansion and evolution of perhaps one of the handiest—not to mention enjoyable—rifles. This even goes for the more budget-friendly end of the market of these generally spendy guns. Case in point, the Rossi R95.

Released just in time for deer season late this summer, the Brazilian-made gun does the impossible for rifle-caliber lever guns—gives a sub-$1,000 option to the masses. A relief to many, given the somewhat archaic technology generally sends spasms into the most tender region of man’s lower extremities—his wallet.

Even more heartening, with an MSRP of $950, the rifle punches well above its price tag especially where it counts—downrange performance. At least, this was my experience with the R95 16.5-inch barreled Trapper model in a few trips to the range to put it through its paces.

R95 Familiar Origins

You’ll be forgiven if the R95 inspires a bout of deja vu. There’s plenty familiar with the 5+1 capacity .30-30 WCF if you even have a passing knowledge of Rossi or Marlin for that matter. For all intents and purposes, the new rifle is a revamped Rio Grande, which was a clone of the timeless Marlin 336. However, Rossi didn’t simply slap a new model name on its old clone and call it a day. Overall, the R95 is much more streamlined than the company’s previous attempt at a 336 and includes a few notable—and desirable—tweaks.

Rossi 95 side profile
The R95 isn't Rossi's first foray into 336 clones… there is the Rio Gande. But for the most part, the new lever-gun surpasses its forerunner in all facets.

To the former point, and thankfully, Rossi utilizes a much better grade of wood in the R95—walnut—as compared to birch on the old rendition. Furthermore, the company textures the fore and grip to theoretically provide a better purchase on the gun, whereas the Rio Grande’s lumber was smooth as a newborn’s bottom. I intentionally throw in the word theoretically because I’m not completely sold on how the stock is textured. Pebbled, the pattern is very comfortable off the bench and in controlled environments but isn’t quite as aggressive as I’d want in a field gun. Especially anything likely to encounter inclement weather.

Nicely, Rossi has nixed the barrel bands on the R95. Some purest might grit their teeth at this move and I get the sentiment—it’s a clone, so why not stick with the pattern the gun is based on? Except, this move goes a long way in improving the overall aesthetics of the rifle, cleaning up its lines and giving the gun its own legs to stand on. Undoubtedly a small change, but one that caught my eye right out of the box and kept it fixed the entire time I tested it.

Rossi R95 passive safety
The plunger style passive safety, akin to what you'll find in many striker-fired pistols.

Intriguing as those changes are, the real meat of the R95 redesign—one might even venture to say upgrades—happen under the hood. In the bolt to be exact. The R95 uses a single-piece firing pin and a firing-pin block—similar to many striker-fired pistols—as its passive safety.  Not that there were many complaints with the 336’s tilting-rear two-piece firing pin, but in theory, the Rossi system should offer a much more robust striking system.

Furthermore, the R95 boasts an AR-15 style extractor, compared to the stamped steel style of the Marlin. Both are equally stout ways to go about pulling brass, but I’d argue the Rossi system will win favor come disassembly. The stamped-steel extractor was never fun to pry off a bolt.

Other Notables

Adding better out-of-the-box effectiveness, Rossi opted for an elevation-adjustable buckhorn rear sight and driftable front sight on the new rifle. The inclusion of classic lever-action style sights should prove popular, given it improves the utility of the rifle offering both close- and mid-range aiming solutions. However, I would have appreciated factory-included indexing under the notch to better use the buckhorns. But at the price of the gun, it’s not a deal breaker.

Though, Rossi might have known what it was doing with more mid-tier sights. Given the R95 is a side ejector, it plays nice with optics, and like the gun it’s based off it will likely end up with an LPVO or 3×9 on its top side. Anticipating this, Rossi has drilled and tapped the receiver for the addition of your preferred optic.

R95 sights
Buckhorn sites are a nice touch to the R95, allowing fast acquisiton up close. But the rifle is drilled and tapped to accept a scope.

A few other of the R95 Trapper’s notables include a rich, black oxide finish that sets off the dark bands in the walnut. The large loop looks right in place on the Trapper model and is proportioned modestly enough to get the rifle running. The spring tension on the loading gate is perfect, allowing for fast topping off of the gun’s tubular magazine. And the trigger, well… aside from the blade being made from stamped steel, it tripped at a very consistent 3 pounds. Also, Rossi didn’t skimp with the recoil pad, which proved more than ample and very comfortable.

At The Range With The R95

As things go, I walked away fairly impressed with the R95 Trapper’s performance. Running 200 rounds through the Trapper—140-grain Hornady LeverEvolution and 150-grain Federal Power-Shok—on two range trips, the carbine proved accurate and extremely reliable.

I didn’t opt to mount an optic on the gun, wanting to give the buckhorn sights a run, given I feel there is a substantial segment of this market who will opt to stick with the factory sights. At 100 yards, shooting off a bench and sandbags, the notch proved plenty accurate as did the rifle, printing right around 1 MOA. The gun seemed to prefer Hornady, with the groups showing more consistency with LeverEvolution in the chamber.

R95 extractor
As evident on the bolt, the rifle has an extractor very similar to an AR-15.

Switching to the buckhorns at 50 yards, the rifle was equally as intuitive and on target. Obviously, this method wasn’t as dead-nuts as using the notch and I used it from several shooting positions—offhand, kneeling, braced against a post. That's OK—the system isn’t meant to produce cloverleaves. Instead, buckhorns facilitate fast target acquisition and transition and allow the shooter to let the reigns out on the gun.

I did and it responded. The action is as fast as your lever hand can make it and it runs smooth—butter-smooth, an attribute that makes it intuitive to keep the rifle on target for follow-up shots. This short configuration has the makings to conquer hog hunters’ hearts.

As I said earlier, it’d be nice to have an indexing mark on the buckhorn—this addition would greatly improve response time. But it’s still passible as is and shouldn’t dissuade anyone from the rifle. As for reliability, I didn’t encounter a single hang-up in my time with the gun, something I’ve read was an issue on some Rio Bravos. Incidentally, the R95 spit brass like no tomorrow and at an angle that spent cases should never end up molesting an optic.

Dressing It Up

A final note about the R95—though it wasn’t part of the test—there is ample opportunity to play dress up with the gun. Midwest Industries, Marlin Point Precision and several other accessory companies have furniture that can give the gun a much more tactical bent. Generally speaking, going this route is much less expensive than buying a geeked-out tactical lever-action off the rack. Not to mention, you can tailor it exactly to your wants and needs. So, if you can’t live without an apocalypse-ready lever-action rifle, the R95 is only a few upgrades away.

Parting Shot

While the R95 might not be anything new for Rossi, the gun steps the company’s game up in the class of rifles. Perhaps not as nostalgic as a Winchester lever-gun clone, the Brazilian 336 mimic is entirely more practical for a modern shooter. At the very least, you needn’t wrestle with a bizarre scope mount to add an optic.

Rossi R95 buttstock
Nice wood and a well-formed large loop, the R95 cuts the right profile.

Rossi not only offers the Trapper model, but also a 20-inch barreled rifle—which might just be the ticket for folks who encounter a bit longer shot in their hunting season. But I can’t help being enamored with the Trapper. For me, it has all the features to make it a superb little brush gun, whether you’re still hunting deer in dark timber or hogs along the back forty’s thickets. It’s right-sized in every way for these duties, especially price.


Raise Your Lever-Gun IQ:

How To Sell On GunBroker: The Basics

Need to move an old gun? We give you the tips and tricks to getting it sold on GunBroker.com.

Selling a gun—even one that doesn’t get your attention like it once did—is always a difficult deal. Aside from the money, the only positive in cashing in a piece of your steel 401K is it makes more room in your safe for more guns.

Finding yourself at this point, however, generally places a big question mark in your path: Exactly how should you sell your firearm? There is no shortage of avenues—some good, some not so good. But among the most established and well-known options at your disposal is GunBroker.com. Likely, if you’ve ever done some online window shopping, you’ve tripped upon the site and its vast array of guns.

In this article, we’re going to break down exactly what GunBroker.com is, how you can use it to move an old iron that doesn’t get shot the way it once did and some tips to get the best possible price for your merchandise. Ready to sell? Then let's go!

What Is GunBroker.com?

Despite what your local anti-gunner or pearl-clutching politician might say, the website isn’t some unregulated gun bazaar or super-secret dark web denizen. Debunking their calculated hyperbolism, buying and selling firearms online is 100 percent legal, even for you—the average non-FFL American citizen. Yes, there is an FFL involved in online transactions, but you needn’t be Federally licensed to take part in the bustling online marketplace.

Gunbroker Search
If you can think up the firearm, GunBroker.com most likely has a seller looking to move theirs.

Now that’s cleared up, let’s focus on GunBroker.com properly, because there are some wrinkles with how the website works. While it’s loaded with firearms of every stripe, it is not itself a gun retailer. Nor is it an FFL. Instead, as alluded to a moment ago, it is a marketplace—simply a middleman connecting those who have guns to sell with those who have money to buy guns. Pretty simple.

This may raise the question, what does GunBroker.com get out of the whole deal? Like any business concern, it’s in it for the money, which it makes on transaction fees (we’ll touch more on this in a moment). After all, connecting you with someone willing to buy your gun is worth a little something—particularly if you live in Puckerbrush, Nev., and the buyer resides down in Bucksnort, Tenn.

Understand GunBroker.com’s Fee Structure

Since we touched upon it, one of the first things worth considering when planning to sell a gun on GunBroker.com is exactly what you’ll end up paying the site. The good news is joining the site and simply posting a gun for sale costs you nothing, the fees are only assessed after the sale is made. Outside of some particulars—we’ll touch on those below—the costs are fairly straightforward—a percentage of the total sale.

In GunBroker.com parlance, this is called a Final Value Fee. Where most folks get thrown for a loop is it’s a tiered structure. For the first $325 of a sale, the site charges a 6-percent fee. Every dollar above that amount is assessed at a 4-percent fee. Perhaps a quick example will clarify.

You sell a gun for $1,325. From this, $325 is assessed at 6 percent (or 325 x .06), while $1,000 is assessed at 4 percent (or 1,000 x .04). You’d calculate each rate, then add the two products, which in the case of the example would add up to $59.50. This is what you’d owe off your sale.

As mentioned, there are some particulars—addons if you will—GunBroker.com charges for sales. Some of these include boldface titles, showcase listings and reserve prices, to name a few. But fees on these only occur if you opt-in on using them, if you believe they’ll help your sale.

Pricing Your Firearm

Honestly, pricing may be the most difficult aspect of the whole rigmarole. If you ask too little, you’re leaving money on the table. Put the price too high and your gun will waste away, unbought and mocked by savvy gun buyers who know their stuff.

Perhaps the best thing to remember is, the value of your gun is what someone is willing to pay for it. Also, temper your expectations. Your gun has depreciated since you bought it, so you aren’t going to get what you originally paid. Sorry, that’s life.

There is, however, a way to hit the sweet spot in gun prices that will put the most money in your pocket, while moving your gun fairly quickly. This magic wand is research.

Doing Research

Gun Digest’s latest edition of the Standard Catalog of Firearms is a worthwhile starting place, especially if you’re dealing with rarer arms or models. But, GunBroker.com is a wealth of information in and of itself and can give you a solid idea of pricing for your particular firearms. All you have to do is search the existing listings.

Research GunBroker
Perusing auctions is one of the best bet for pricing intelligence. Once you choose your make/model, simply look for the auctions with the most bids to start building your pricing model

Unless you’re dealing with a very specific model of a firearm, general queries typically suffice. But you want to pay attention to a particular type of sale when researching—auctions. This even goes if you’re using the buy-now straight-up sale. Why auction? Because this type of sale produces—on average—the most realistic prices for a particular firearm at that moment and time.

To start, use the advanced search setting, enter your particular make/model, select auction, and then sort your results by highest bid volume. Doing this gives you the most active listings and likely the clearest picture of what the pricing is like on your particular gun.

From here, take your time and use your critical thinking skills. If a similar gun has an abnormal number of bids and an extremely high price, you’d likely want to consider it an outlier. Firearms with special features or customizations should also be omitted because they likely don’t accurately reflect what you’re selling. From there, you’re left with a good representational sample to work with.

Don’t just take those prices at face value, however. A solid strategy is to follow those auctions to see how they conclude and find out the final bid. This gives you a much clearer picture of what the market is willing to pay. This also raises another point, give yourself time to gather intelligence. You won’t do your best looking at guns one day and posting the next.

What Sort Of Sale?

How should you sell? That all depends on you and your risk tolerance. Penny auctions—ones starting at $0.01—generally finish with a higher final bid. But, boy, if your blood pressure is going to go through the roof waiting for that bid then this might not be the best route. Yes, you can set a reserve bid, but as mentioned GunBroker.com will charge you a fee for this—2 percent on the final sale.

For the more risk-averse, setting a sane starting bid—one you’re willing to accept if only one person bids—is a safer route. Likely you’ll achieve market price, but if you don’t you won’t drop tears in your beer.

Spelling Counts At GunBroker.com

Some long-time GunBroker.com patrons will grit their teeth when I spill the beans about spelling at the site. That is, folks have an entire strategy of querying make/model misspellings—particularly in auctions—because they’ll likely get a deal on the gun. This is a factor of the misspelling suppressing searches for the correct spelling. See, your fourth-grade teacher was right about not studying your spelling words coming back to bite you. Get someone to proofread before you make your sale live or you could walk away from your experience kicking yourself.

On the subject of writing, elaborate on the gun as much as possible in the description. If the stock’s finish is scratched, mention it. If it’s a unique chambering, make sure it’s in the copy. If you know the history of the gun—easy to find out online—throw that in. Buyers read this stuff and it makes for a richer product page, thus a more sellable product.

Get The Picture

We live in a visual world, particularly online. In turn, the pictures of the firearm you’re selling could prove to make or break in getting the gun moved. Even if you aren’t Ansel Adams, you should be as professional as possible in presenting your merchandise. No, that grip-and-grin of you, the gun your selling and the forky buck you took two years back isn’t going to cut it. Neither is a cell phone pic of it leaning in your closet next to a dirty pile of socks.

Good Gun Pic 2
Overall, this is a pretty tidy and attractive picture from a GunBroker.com listing. Not only does it display the gun, but everything that come with the purchase. Photo: GunBroker.com

You want it to look as close to the pictures you see on gun retailer websites as possible, which boils down to clear and clean images. Here are some points to consider when photographing your gun:

  • Background: Make sure it’s neutral, does not clutter the image or take away the details of the gun.
  • Lighting: Have plenty of it, preferably not casting obscuring shadows. If possible, photographing outside on a clear day should provide the light you require.
  • Focus: For God's sake, make sure your pictures are in focus! Blurry pics of a gun-shaped object don’t close sales.
  • Details: Take shots of your gun from every angle and focus on important features and extras.

There is a school of thought you should make the images interesting and kick a little flair into them. However, this may be dangerous ground. For every seller who might have an innate feel for composition, there are likely 10 who will junk up their pictures and hamper their sale doing so.

Overall, buyers will appreciate clean and clear over photographically eye-catching most times.

Parting Shot

Honestly, there are a ton of other tricks and tips to selling at GunBroker.com, but what was covered in this article should get you off on solid footing. Take your time, do your research, have realistic expectations and likely you’ll walk away from your sale satisfied and a bit richer.


More On Selling Guns:

Gems Of The Mediterranean

A look at some of the best firearms hardware this sun-soaked corner of the world has to offer.

I’ll pitch this out at the start—I’ve got no bone with American guns. Quite the opposite, actually. Red-blooded irons are the lifeblood of my arsenal and, generally speaking, are the first options I’ll grab for a task—be it protecting hearth and home or bagging a freezer full of venison. That said, a man’s eye can wander. When mine does, it usually lands flush on a particular corner of the map: the Mediterranean.

Now, I’m the first to admit the region—for the unwary—is a fertile lemon farm. Who hasn’t heard of or has a personal story about a dreadful Turkish shotgun, so ill-conceived it wouldn’t make an acceptable club?

Fair enough.

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Yet, for every troubled smoothbore exported from the Bosporus or persnickety pistol emanating from the Italian Alps, boatloads of top-rate, out-and-out classics are emanating from the Levant. Hell, some of them easily qualify as best-in-class, not to mention as alluring as a bikini-clad, olive-skinned beauty. All you need to know is what to look for when searching out the gems of the Mediterranean.

Pedersoli Tascosa Creedmoor Rolling Block 

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Throwback appeal aside, the Rolling block is a lights-out iron at long range—if your eyesight can handle the sights.

Honestly, much of the surface appeal of this rifle is its colorful history. There’s a tingle to wielding among the most utilized single-shots in history, one that’s proven its mettle as one of the all-time great precision arms. Yet, there’s more happening with the Italian reproduction than purely a façade of nostalgia for a golden age of riflesmithing. Plain and simple, the Pedersoli Rolling Block shoots.

Once dialed in, I had the .45-70 Government Tascosa Creedmoor Rolling Block (MSRP: $2,500) averaging right around ½ MOA all day long at 100 yards. Puffing Black Hills Ammo’s 405-grain Authentic Cowboy Action, that’s not too shabby.

As much as it humbles me, Pedersoli’s second-to-none manufacturing process deserves the lion’s share of the credit for these results. This is most evident in the rolling block’s massive 30-inch target barrel. Pedersoli’s boring and rifling process is second to none, involving polishing the bore to a mirror finish before cutting the rifling, giving the barrel a near-perfect bearing surface. Then, there’s the set trigger, which quite possibly could break with a stiff breeze. I estimated it roughly at 2 ounces, but that’s a shot in the dark given it barely registered on my Wheeler scale.

Furthermore, I’d be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to talk about the rolling block’s 3-inch tang Vernier rear peep sight and tunnel front sight. The frontier version of today’s high-powered rifle scopes, the system offers 300 points of elevation adjustment, as well as fine windage adjustment. Granted, it’s not the simplest system to pick up—particularly for greenhorns. However, once mastered, it’s perhaps the most accurate non-magnified aiming solution available.

Bergara B-14R

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From its HMS stock to B-14 action, and the option of a carbon-fiber barrel, few rimfires short of a custom gun offer shooters more than a B-14R.

If you’ve yet to shoulder any of Bergara’s rimfires, consider yourself robbed. Far surpassing the classification of “plinkers,” the rifles are among the finest you can find short of going custom. This especially holds for the Spanish company’s B-14R line of precision irons.

Essentially a full-sized trainer built off Bergara’s wildly popular B-14 series action—only chambered for .17 HMR, .22 LR and .22 WMR—the rifle delivers next-level accuracy. Of course, that’s what it’s meant to do, given the rifle is designed to offer precision shooters a cheap way of keeping their eye and skills sharp.

Yet, you needn’t be a PRS or NRL22 ace to appreciate what Bergara has put together. Chief among its assets, the rifle’s action has a Remington 700 footprint. The most utilized dimension of stock inlets—the sky is nearly the limit in how you configure the barreled action.

Want a chassis rig? That door is open. Desire a classy hunting setup? Search out a stick of walnut and let the brushy tails beware. The same compatibility holds for 700 bases and triggers as well, making the B-14R’s system eminently flexible and customizable. Heck, Bergara even patterned the rifle’s magazines after AICS short action mags, making certain no retrofitting is required.

However, don’t feel as if you’re compromising if you stay stock with the B-14R—it’s lights-out off the shelf. Available with an 18- or 20-inch carbon-fiber barrel ($1,329) or a slightly less expensive steel barrel ($1,229), Bergara mates the barreled action to its HMR stock. A hybrid of sorts, the HMR is light enough for field use but more than adept at precision work. Thank what Bergara calls its “mini-chassis” molded into the stock for this double duty, as well as a fully adjustable length of pull and cheek riser. Plus, Bergara’s single-stage stock trigger is no slouch—most find its crisp 2.5-pound trip more than adequate for their needs. 

Honestly, there’s more to chew over on the B-14R, but this is a survey of firearms, not a standalone review. Suffice to say, if you like splashing one round off another at ranges fitter for centerfires, the B-14R is for you.

Benelli Super Black Eagle 3

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An absolute terror of the flyways, the Super Black Eagle—now in its third generation—has solidified itself as the premier waterfowl semi-auto.

Now in its third generation, the inertia-driven auto isn’t long enough in the tooth to make an all-time claim on ducks and geese knocked from the sky. That said, hunters most certainly have slayed waterfowl at a blistering enough clip with the 12-gauge (there are 20- and 28-gauge options too) that it certainly has to be in the running. Of course, Benelli kind of planned it that way.

The Super Black Eagle’s introduction coincides with the 3½-inch shotgun shells, and the gun was among the first chambered for what became a favorite among waterfowlers. Although, pitching big dogs is only part of the story. Where the SBE (starting at $1,900) truly makes its bones in the duck blind is holding its own with the shotguns that go cha-chunk when running the action. Damn near impervious to water, sand, marsh muck and any other environmental hazard that brings lesser semis to a halt, the inertia system chews through shells as reliably as a pump-action, which is pretty much a necessity in a quality waterfowl gun.

Ruggedness generally gets the kudos with the SBE’s inertia system, but there’s a subtle benefit felt once the gun is at the shoulder: It’s nimble as all get-out. Simpler and smaller than a gas-operated gun, the SBE boasts a slimmer forend, which makes the gun much quicker on the point. And, it’s lighter, even in its 28-inch barreled configuration, than most comparable semis—in some cases by as much as 2 pounds.

Admittedly, the svelteness and inertia system put a bit of a thump to the SBE—particularly when shucking 3- and 3½-inch shells. But it’s not enough to make it a monster or dissuade you from taking after snow geese or other high-density shooting affairs. Far from it. In fact, given all the gun’s other assets, you likely won’t even take note of its recoil.

Franchi Momentum Elite

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Not a flashy option out of the Med, the Momentum Elite squares itself away as one of the top affordable hunting rifles.

Bold statement incoming: The Momentum Elite might be among the finest budget hunters available on the market today. At least it’s drawing on par with more established affordable European rifle makers, such as Tikka and the like. Given this market is as cutthroat as the Golden Age of Piracy, that’s saying something. It’s also surprising, given the bolt-action is essentially at the front end of the shotgun maker’s run into the rifle niche.

Where Franchi succeeds is striking a sane balance between affordability and quality, a difficult compromise to be sure. This is particularly notable in the Momentum Elite’s stock, which is injection-molded polymer, but a more rigid variety than to what most have become accustomed. Alone, this creates a light, yet solid shooting platform that proves durable in the field, with some nice ergonomic touches. A large pistol grip, recessed sling studs and the fore stud moved back to better accommodate a bipod top this list. But there are worthwhile subtleties in the Momentum Elite’s stock as well. In particular, its clever recoil lug system.

Essentially, a pair of lugs are embedded in the stock and canted in a “V” configuration around the action screw. These match up to corresponding slots on the underside of the action. It doesn’t seem like much, but the system perfectly centers the receiver while creating a rock-solid mate-up near impervious to recoil. Given mechanical consistency is a key to accuracy, the system goes a long way to upping the Momentum Elite’s ability to repeatedly deliver hits.

Saving dough, Franchi uses the easy-to-manufacture three-lug fat bolt, but this also imparts some desired qualities to the rifle … namely, the rifle’s 60-degree bolt throw. Not only is this fast, a boon in case a follow-up shot is required, but it’s much more forgiving if you run a large optic. The bolt is housed in the Momentum Elite’s cylindrical action and mated with a sporter contoured 24-inch barrel with a threaded muzzle. Additionally, the rifle comes with a muzzle break—nice, but a bit of a take-it-or-leave-it proposition.

Franchi tops off the system with its very respectable Relia trigger—fully adjustable from 2 to 4 pounds. Holistically, the Momentum Elite ($1,000) comes together to create a system capable of knocking the snot out of a dime at 100 yards until sundown. (I averaged 0.59-inch groups with the 6.5 Creedmoor I tested, which, for most hunters, is much more accuracy than they’ll ever require.)

Beretta 687 Silver Pigeon III

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So, no, despite its looks, a little old Italian man isn’t hand-cutting the game motif on the receiver. It’s laser engraved.

True enough, the “Mama Bear” of the 680 series isn’t the cheapest of the lot and is identical mechanically to the rest of the line. High points here include inertia-operated trigger-plate action powered by captive coil springs, conical locking lugs, fast-handling low-profile receiver and Beretta’s legendary Steelium barrels. As an aside, as comic book as the high-molybdenum steel sounds, it almost guarantees the tubes will last a lifetime, perhaps a couple. Yet, the Silver Pigeon III ($3,300) gives ample reason to pony up a bit more cash. Here we’re talking about aesthetics.

You’d be daft to think a motif of any kind leads to more broken clays or extra quail in the bag. However, the laser-engraved game scenes on the coin receiver—part of the III’s package—as well as the Class 2.5 walnut enhance the overall experience of the shotgun. It’s the same as leather seats in a car; the little extras deepen the pride of ownership and make those autumn flushes a bit more memorable. Not to mention, the flourishes make the gun a bit more exceptional when it’s handed down to the next generation.

Furthermore, Beretta’s over/unders are as reliable as the day is long and truly come into their own when shot. The manufacturer has an uncanny ability to make its production guns almost seem custom fit, a factor enhancing the firearm’s overall performance and reducing felt recoil. The 12-gauge Silver Pigeons I’ve handled (they also come in 20 and 28, as well as .410) always feel light when mounted, yet don’t tend to over-swing.

Balancing right around the hinge plate gives the gun this neutral aspect, and that makes it relatively versatile in its application. Combined with the aforementioned low-profile receiver and ample non-reflective rib, the Silver Pigeon also mounts fast and is among the most instinctual break-actions out there. For those who desire the entire package—looks, performance and grace—the Silver Pigeon III has each in spades.

Springfield Armory Hellcat

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The Springfield Hellcat has done its part to redefine the modern concealed carry pistol.

At the vanguard of the “micro nine” revolution, the Hellcat didn’t spark the sea change, but it sure as hell helped define it. Minute, enhanced capacity and relatively easy to shoot—these pretty much define the Croatian creation and the standard bearers of modern concealed-carry pistols. Pretty heady stuff.

While the Hellcat ($633 base model) hasn’t and likely won’t unseat the king—the Sig P365—it has proven to be perhaps the most adroit alternative of the micro 9mm options. Part of this is thanks to the 3-inch barreled pistol’s diminutive dimensions. Measuring 1 inch in width at its thickest point, 4 inches in height and weighing in at a tick under 18 ounces, the Hellcat is concealable in all but the tightest hot pants. Great, but anybody can make a tiny gun.

Where the HS Produkt design excels is in providing best-in-class firepower—engineering-wise, far from a walk in the park when it comes to miniaturized “nines.” Pop in a flush-fit magazine and you have 11+1 on tap; rock the extend-capacity mag and you’ve got 13+1. That’s not quite duty pistol specs, but it’s considerable peace of mind in a small gun.

The Hellcat is not a bull’s-eye pistol, but what 3-inch barreled gun is? It’s bucky enough that those unanointed in micro guns should plan on range time to acclimate to its temperament. Yet, for its size and weight, the pistol isn’t punishing. It’s got enough grip and Springfield’s aggressive advanced texturing do their parts in making the Hellcat a kitten. The pistol’s ball-and-basket sights are intuitive and as quick as a three-dot can be—despite being a bit quirky. Furthermore, Springfield offers the Hellcat in its optic-ready OSP variation for the cost of a box of defense ammo. That’s a no-brainer upgrade.

Even if the Hellcat won’t ever be the world’s most popular micro compact, it has more than proven itself among the best.

SAR 2000 

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For its price point, the Turkish take on the CZ-75 is among the top clones and one heck of a value.

Generally speaking, Turkey is better known for its blue-light-special shotguns than its pistols. Truly a shame. The Anatolia peninsula is home to some of the world’s most underrated handguns; case in point, the SAR 2000. While the Turkish take on the Czech classic isn’t going to win the Bianchi Cup anytime soon, it is a lights-out entry-level race gun for those just cutting their teeth in competition.

Once imported by Armalite as the AR-24, the 9mm DA/SA pistol is essentially a CZ-75 clone fairly well mimicking the original “wonder nine.” However, a burgeoning competitor can expect to pay around $250 less than a CZ original. A steel frame with plenty of heft (32 ounces) and a dang respectable single-action trigger for a pistol at this price point, the SAR 2000 ($480) can run.

Especially nice, the 4.5-inch barreled pistol boasts a thumb safety, as opposed to a de-cocker. This allows for cocked-and-locked carry, giving instant access to the 2000’s crisp 5-pound break right out of the holster. Its double-action pull is … well, a double-action pull—roughly 12 pounds. Furthermore, the Sarsilmaz gets the grips’ ergonomics right, enhanced with a decent undercut trigger guard and high beavertail.

Admittedly, the 2000 has some chinks in its armor. The company doesn’t offer target sights, just a drift-adjustable rear, or an optics cut. Middling cocking serrations at the rear, combined with a slick pyramidal fore slide, proves unforgiving, especially under the clock. And the lack of a flared magwell complicates expedient reloads. All these likely mean those who become dedicated match shooters will eventually outgrow the 2000. Until they do, competitors should have a blast and their share of success behind the Turkish treasure.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the October 2023 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.


More On Mediterranean Guns From This Article:

  • The Pedersoli Tascosa Creedmoor Rolling Block
  • The Bergara B-14 Squared Crest Rifle
  • The Benelli Super Black Eagle 3
  • Reviewing The Franchi Momentum Elite
  • SAR 2000 Review: A Turkish Take On The Czech Classic

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