Rounding up the right gun is linear-algebra tough right now. A surge of panic buyers are snapping up pistols, rifles, shotguns, slingshots and peashooters (not to mention ammo) fasters than they roll off the line. In a bid to aid our gun-buying audience, we’re rounding up a few weekly gun sales we believe hit the mark for quality, affordability and, above all, availability. In full disclosure, we’ll make a few bucks (it won't cost you extra) if you use our links. If you don’t, no hard feelings, we get it. Remember, nearly all these items are time and availability limited, so don’t wait … you'll regret it if you do.
TriStar Cobra Tactical
Known for performing well above their price points, TriStar’s shotguns are typically solid values. When it comes to extremely affordable home-defense pump-action shotguns, it’s difficult to beat the Cobra Tactical. The 18-inch barreled 12-gauge can handle 3-inch shells and has a respectable 5-round capacity. It’s a pump-action, in turn, reliable as the day is long and has some nice extras, such as a spring-loaded forearms for fast cycling, Picatinny rail on the forearm for accessories attachment and blade front sight. And right now, the Palmetto Armory has them at a price that can’t be beaten!
Black Aces Tactical 12-Gauge
A nifty system, all in all. Black Aces’ Tactical 12-Gauge is more than a typical pump-action, it’s a system. The 18.5-inch barreled gun is sold with both a shoulder stock and shockwave grip, allowing shooters an extremely versatile and nimble system. The shotgun is chambered to handle up to 3-inch shells, has a 5-round tubular magazine, front and rear sights and comes with three chokes and a hard case. The nickel plating is nice too, giving the gun a measure of corrosion resistance.
Charles Daly AR-12S
A pretty svelte and effective system, the AR-12S is also an affordable box-fed shotgun option. A gas-operated semi-automatic, the gun proves a relatively smooth and reliable shooter. AR-style accouterments—carry handle, adjustable buttstock, AR-style controls—make the gun a familiar option for anyone that’s handled the rifle. The 19.5-inch barreled AR-12S comes with a 5-round magazine, is chambered for 3-inch shells and compatible with Beretta/Benelli chokes.
Tristar Sporting Arms KRX Tactical
The KRX Tactical has been around a spell and has proven somewhat popular. Again, this is a gas-operated, box-fed semi-auto patterned after the AR-15. Thus, the gun is very familiar to many shooters, with its controls and ergonomics what you’d expect them to be. It has some solid upgrades on many of the guns in its class, including a chrome-lined chamber and barrel, full-length Picatinny rail on top and fully adjustable rear sight and fiber optic front.
Ammo Sales
Par for course, ammo is tight out there folks. But Lucky Gunner has two 12-gauge ammo deals available, both 00 buckshot.
Lightweight and built for precision, the Sauer 404 Synchro XTC is engineered to seamlessly combined accuracy and flexibility.
What Sets The Synchro XTC Apart From Other Rifles:
Switch barrel and bolt-head design allows rifle to jump between numerous calibers.
Hand-laid carbon-fiber stock and fluted barrel combine for a featherweight package.
Fully adjustable buttstock improves fit and accuracy potential of the gun.
Graduated trigger setting lets the shooter know the exact break weight.
Outside the AR world, jumping calibers on the same rifle is a somewhat foreign concept to American shooters. Not so in Germany. Partly as a skirt around somewhat onerous laws and partly a bit of engineering showboating, Teutonic gunmakers have embraced and perfected the switch-barrel concept. Perhaps non more than J.P. Sauer & Sons.
Released around a half-decade ago, the Sauer 404 redefined flexibility with a bolt-action able to climb up and down the spectrum of calibers with the greatest of ease. Thank the ingenious swappable bolt head, along with the interchangeable barrels, for the world’s most protean long-gun. Subsequently, the line has only improved over the years, culminating recently in one of the company's sharpest shooters —the Sauer 404 Synchro XTC. A hybrid hunter-precision option, the rifle incorporates the best of both for a rifle that's accurate and versatile in the same breath.
Where it’s at on the 404 Synchro XTC is its stock. Sure enough, a thumbhole stock is enough to get many to turn their noses up at the rifle. For those who get past this—or just plain love them—there is quite a foundation to the rifle. Rigid and stable, the hand-laid carbon-fiber stock is the ideal platform for consistent accuracy, further aided by a fully adjustable buttstock. Both length of pull and comb height are modifiable, ensuring shooters address the rifle the same every time they're behind the trigger.
And it’s light. The 404 Synchro XTC’s stock and fluted barrel, combine for a 5.9- to 6.2-pound package (depending on caliber), which almost flirts with mountain-rifle heft. Of course, if the rifle is bored up through its modular design it has the potential to thump a bit. But ample recoil pad and the thumbhole’s pistol grip should make it more bearable than a traditional featherweight rifle.
It being a Sauer creation, the 404 Synchro XTC has a load of nifty extras most hunters or target shooters should appreciate. Its manual cocking system, a button at the rear of the bolt that cocks and uncocks the rifle silently, makes it among the safest long guns on the market. And the gun’s adjustable trigger is graduated—marked with Roman numerals—making it simple to discern if the rifle is set for a 1.2-, 1.6-, 2.2- or 2.7-pound break.
At present, Sauer offers the 404 Synchro XTC in 14 different calibers, from .243 Winchester up to .404 Jeffery. Though, there is a little question of price. Hate to burst bubbles, the rifle isn’t cheap, starting at $8,199. On the other hand, the money might be worth it given the Synchro is the closest thing to a do-all rifle there is.
For more information on the 404 Synchro XTC, please visit jpsauer-usa.com.
The new EDC X9S from Wilson Combat is a smaller, more compact version of its very-well-received EDC X9.
Ideally adapted to every day carry, the revamped Wilson Combat EDC X9S is smaller but just as magnificent.
What Sets The EDC X9S Apart From Other Compacts:
Built on a rugged alloy frame.
Sized to match most of the popular striker-fired compacts.
Utilizes Sig P226/228 magazines.
Designed sans a grip safety.
A bit hefty, it does a number on recoil.
Reliable as the day is long.
I would like to introduce you to a new defensive handgun. It’s the EDC X9S from Wilson Combat.
Now, unless this is the first gun magazine you’ve ever read or your Internet is broken, you’ve surely heard of Wilson Combat. The company was founded by Bill Wilson, who started his gunsmithing business in 1977 in the back of his family’s jewelry store in Berryville, Arkansas. Wilson Combat has now grown to become one of the largest employers in the area and a premier manufacturer of what many consider the best custom 1911s in the world.
Younger shooters might not know Bill Wilson’s history. In addition to building an impeccable reputation as a gunsmith, he was the Pistolsmith of the Year in 2002, a top-level IPSC competitor, former director of USPSA and one of the co-founders of the International Defensive Pistol Association.
Those interested in a compact, high-capacity, everyday-carry gun of the finest quality should take the time to “test drive” the Wilson Combat EDC X9S.
Bill is now retired. Well, not really. Bill doesn’t sit around watching Starsky and Hutch reruns; he supports Wilson Combat by providing research-and-development services. Essentially, he comes up with cool stuff for Wilson Combat to build, and then he shoots it until he knows it works.
In 2017, Wilson Combat introduced the EDC X9. Being a near-perfect amalgamation of the best of what a 1911, Browning Hi Power and Glock 19 had to offer, the EDC X9 is a magnificent defensive handgun.
Still Magnificent, Just Smaller
But, with the understanding that a more compact handgun was more popular for concealed carry, Wilson Combat began working on a smaller version of the EDC X9. The EDC X9S has just been recently released, and I got to spend about a week working with one. Because of its size, reliability and ease of shooting, it’s ideally adapted for everyday carry.
It’s basically an evolution of the EDC platform. Wilson Combat’s main goal with the EDC X9S was to design a first-rate, 10+1-capacity pistol that was about the same basic size as an S&W M&P Shield. But, unlike the Shield or similarly sized Glocks, the EDC X9S is not made of plastic; it’s built on an alloy frame and accepts double-stacked 9mm magazines. In fact, it uses 10-round Sig Sauer P226/228 magazines. The trigger, magazine release, hammer, thumb safety, ejector and tilting barrel recoil system are very 1911-ish in style.
Just slightly larger than your hand, the EDC X9S is similarly sized to the Glock 26 and S&W Shield.
However, the EDC X9S, like all the pistols in the EDC line, lacks a grip safety. The backstrap, which houses the mainspring, is hinged at the top rear of the frame, just as on the larger EDC X9. It’s released by inserting a punch into a hole in the bottom of the backstrap, and it pivots out of the way for access to the internals.
The pistol has a 3-inch, coned-and-fluted barrel that’s ramped. It doesn’t have a barrel bushing but does have a dual recoil spring. The slide is removed just as on any other 1911 but, unlike traditional 1911s, the extractor is external and user serviceable. The pistol’s grip is sculpted with Wilson Combat’s X-Tac treatment, and a similar pattern replaces the common 1911 grasping grooves at the rear of the slide.
Slide and Trigger
The EDC X9S doesn’t have grip panels. The textured sides of the aluminum grip are flat and integral to the frame. For its compact size, it’s not that light. As a comparison, a fully loaded Glock 26 is 4 ounces lighter. This quarter-pound difference is kind of a big deal, because that extra weight is in the slide, helping to dampen recoil and allowing for faster target recovery and follow-up shots. In essence, it makes the EDC X9S more comfortable to shoot.
Thanks to an outstanding trigger—with the shortest reset I’ve ever experienced—the EDC X9S is very easy to shoot fast and accurately. I’ve already written here about the “Forty-Five Drill” I use to evaluate defensive handguns. In that drill, the goal is to draw from concealment and fire five shots into a 5-inch circle at 5 yards in under five seconds. My average time for five runs with the EDC X9S was 3.37 seconds, with only one shot—fired during the first run—landing outside the 5-inch circle. The pistol was also extremely reliable; I tried to make it jam, but I couldn’t.
The EDC X9S Balance
With the EDC X9S, Wilson Combat has done a wonderful job of finding a balance between concealability and shootability. The grip will comfortably fit a wide range of hand sizes. It’s not too heavy, and if you compare all its dimensions with a Glock 26’s, the two pistols are, for all practical purposes, the same exact size. (I have to admit that I like my larger EDC X9 a bit better, but I’m accustomed to carrying a commander-sized 1911/Browning Hi Power pistol on a daily basis. For others who might want high capacity combined with ultra-concealment, the EDC X9S is a better choice.)
The Wilson Combat EDC X9S utilizes a double-stack 9mm magazine for a total capacity of 10+1 rounds. Each pistol is also shipped with an extended, 15-round magazine.
I consider Bill Wilson one of the best—if not the best—pistolsmiths in the world when it comes to defensive handguns. I’d also rate Wilson Combat as the top source for custom 1911 or 1911-styled handguns.
The new Wilson Combat EDC X9S is the current premier evolution of the 1911, and if you’re looking for a compact carry gun, it should be on top of the list of handguns you want to check out. Although some will scoff at its base price of $2,695 (yeah, I know: You can buy five Glock 19s for the same price), there’s a certain pride and comfort in knowing you own the very best.
Coming with everything you require to carry out of the box, the SAR9 X Platinum ends up a tidy upgrade package.
What Does Sarsilmaz's 9mm Come With:
Paddle holster
Double magazine pouch
Magazine loader
Accessory flashlight
Carrying case
Sarsilmaz is one of the largest small arms manufacturers in the world that many haven’t heard of. Yeah, historically there's been a few import geeks here and there who’d have one of the Turkish concern’s guns, but not enough of them to really start a trend. This changed somewhat a few years back with the introduction of SAR9 to the American market, giving shooters a Glock-ish option at a decidedly non-Glock-ish price.
Sarsilmaz continues to profit off the tidy striker-fired pistol, recently expanding the line to include the SAR9 X Platinum. While not wandering too far off the company’s winning formula, the gun boasts enough upgrades and extras to pique the interest of those after a decked out 9mm at a decent price. How decent? Sarsilmaz released the black-finished version of the 9mm with an MSRP of $422 and the stainless-steel model with an MSRP of $444. In the scheme of things, not bad for a duty-sized striker-fired.
As to the gun’s bells and whistles, much of it comes in the accessories pack, which includes a paddle holster, double magazine pouch, magazine loader, accessory flashlight and carrying case. Though, the SAR9 X Platinum has a few upgrades on the original iteration, including a Cerakote finished slide with cuts to reduce weight, and a match-style barrel, crowned to ensure the integrity of the bore.
From there, the pistol gets fairly familiar to the SAR9. If you want the full lowdown on the original, Richard Mann did an extensive review on the SAR9. But in thumbnail, like the SAR9, SAR9 X Platinum is a polymer-framed striker-fired pistol with a fairly low bore axis, which makes it a relatively manageable and quick shooter. It also has a manual thumb safety, which will draw cheers or jeers depending on who you are. And the Platinum comes in at a fairly manageable 27.5 ounces and sports a 4.5-inch barrel. It comes with one 17- and one 19-round magazine or two 10-round magazines in capacity restricted states.
Boasting a slide cut, the Springfield XD-S Mod.2 OSP gives shooters an optic-ready, single-stack option.
What Does the Springfield Pistol Bring To The Table:
Compatiblity with a wide swath of micro red-dot optics.
Solid base to mount a red-dot without compromising the pistol's concealablity.
The performance that has grown the XD-S line's popularity.
Once frowned upon as unreliable and burdensome, red-dot optics have stormed the gun world in recent years. Thank the world’s optics makers for this sea change. Shrunken down and tough as an Abrams tank, the next generation of micro red-dots are at once unassuming and battle tough. Not to mention, once mastered, they’ll get you on target in a split second.
Springfield Armory embraced the aiming technology a while ago, releasing optic-ready models such as Hellcat and XD-M. But the gun company has gone back to its roots with its recent entrant to this niche, expanding its most popular pistol line with a model ready to piggyback a red-dot. Shake hands with the Springfield XD-S Mod.2 OSP (Optic Sight Pistol).
Retaining the features shooters have grown to love, Springfield enhances the pistol with a factory-milled slide for the direct mounting of red-dot optics. At once, the mount reduces the profile of the sight making it more compatible with concealed carry and aids the optic in absorbing the recoil impulse of the pistol. Sure enough, the XD-S Mod.2 OSP is 9mm—not the buckiest of calibers, but enough produces to loosen screws or knock off the zero on lessor systems. When not in use, Springfield supplies a polymer cover plate, which fits seamlessly on the side and features cocking serrations to aid in manipulation.
The single-stack pistol is available with a factory-installed Crimson Trace CTS-1500 an auto-dimming unit that features a 3.5 MOA reticle. A sight cut in the optic allows XD-S Mod.2 OSP’s U-notch rear and front ramp sights to co-witnesses through the red-dot, but the iron sights do not appear to be high-rise. This could possibly cause issues with other optics. To that end, what other optics play nice with the pistol? Shield Sights series of mini-red dots, SIG Sauer Romeo Zero, Leupold DeltaPoint and the like.
As to the pistol itself, there are few surprises away from the slide. It’s pretty much an XD-S: polymer frame, striker-fired, 7+1-round and 9+1 capacity, ambidextrous mag release, passive grip and trigger safety, fairly positive front and back strap texturing. The one thing to be said, on optic on the pistol isn’t the worst idea to come down the road and should help the 3.3-inch gun accuracy given its terse sight radius. It’s fairly affordable to boot, the standard XD-S Mod.2 OSP’s MSRP set at $425 and the option with a Crimson Trace sight $549.
XD-S Mod.2 OSP Specs: Caliber: 9mm Color: Black Barrel: 3.3″ Hammer Forged Steel, Melonite® Finish, 1:10 Slide: Forged Steel, Melonite® Finish Frame: Black Polymer w /Enhanced Grip Texture Sights: White Dot Front, Serrated Rear, Crimson Trace CTS-1500 Red Dot Recoil System: Dual Captive Recoil Spring w/ Full Length Guide Rod Grip Width: .9″ Magazines: (1) 7-Round, (1) 9-Round Extended Weight: 21.5 oz w/ Flush Mag, 22.5 oz w/ Extended Mag Length: 6.3″ Height: 4.4″ w/ Flush Mag, 5″ w/ Extended Mag MSRP: $429; Crimson Trace sight $549
Desired muzzle velocity and downrange accuracy prove elusive goals off the reloading bench. Exactly what factors are you dealing with in the chase for each?
Accuracy in a rifle—even though “precision” is the word we actually should be using—is something every reloader is after. And, once we see a muzzle velocity figure published for a particular cartridge, there’s little others can do to drive that benchmark from the mind.
Comparing the data in several reloading manuals, you’ll find some rather wide variations in muzzle velocity figures, even for the same load. You’ll sometimes see significant differences in the maximum charge weight, as well as the velocity for that weight charge. It can be maddening, especially when you’ve chosen a particular cartridge for the velocity potential and you see numbers that are, well, disappointing.
Why does this happen? And why, when you see a target from a friend or acquaintance produce a target from a particular “recipe,” doesn’t your rifle produce a similar group?
Variables to Consider
Firstly, modern rifles are showing more-consistent results than we’ve ever seen. When I was a younger man, anyone who had a 1 MOA rifle was talked about in reverent whispers—as if they owned some mythical weapon blessed by divinity. Of course, many hunters were using iron-sighted lever-action carbines, and minute-of-pie-plate at 100 paces was “good enough.”
But, I feel modern rifles are also the best available. Inexpensive rifles are delivering groups that would have surely turned the heads of our grandfathers. We’re seeing sub-MOA guarantees on more models each year—to the point that a rifle that delivers a 2-inch group at 100 yards causes the shooter to make a face as if they’ve just taken a mouthful of sour milk.
Carefully handloaded 6.5-284 Norma ammunition, which is wonderfully accurate, is slightly below expectations in the velocity department.
I’m not suggesting you call off the pursuit of accuracy in your handloads once you hit the 2 MOA mark, but I am saying that not every rifle is capable of ½ MOA performance. The individuality of your barrel most definitely comes into play where group size is concerned, and there are so many variations that it sometimes seems no two are alike.
For example, my 6.5-284 Norma is a Savage rifle—from its custom shop—and it’s most definitely one of the most accurate rifles I own, giving 1/3 to ½ MOA groups out to 500 yards. However, it shows a definite preference for flat-based bullets, and I suspect the bore might be a bit “loose.” In spite of a 25-inch barrel, the velocities for this rifle are lower than expected across the board, further confirming my suspicion.
Also, consider this: I’ve seen more than one of the modern, high-BC bullets need time to settle down, giving better groups at 300 yards than at 100 yards. I suppose the bullet, like a spinning top, needs some time to obtain the perfect stability. I’ve seen this phenomenon with the longer, heavier-for-caliber bullets, such as the Nosler AccuBond, Hornady ELD-X and ELD Match, along with other similar bullets.
Target Muzzle Velocity Figures
Reaching a target muzzle velocity figure in your handloads can be equally challenging.
Taking a look at any box of ammunition, you’ll see a certain muzzle velocity listed. Is that gospel? Certainly not, because the manufacturer has no idea what type of firearm you’ll be firing that ammunition from, its barrel length or any other parameter. The same can be said for a reloading manual.
Keeping a record of the velocities of your handloads will help you in years to come.
For example, the original .416 Rigby load used a 410-grain bullet at 2,350 fps for 5,000 ft-lb of muzzle energy. This has been a benchmark for comparing newly developed cartridges; and, if a cartridge doesn’t develop those velocity and energy figures, it’s generally been frowned upon.
The problem is, a ballistic pendulum and a long test barrel were used to obtain those “defining figures,” and when original ammunition for the .416 Rigby was put through a modern chronograph, the results were eye-opening. Muzzle velocities of 2,150 to 2,175 fps were observed, lowering the energy values closer to the 4,000 ft-lb mark.
Wouldn’t that make the .416 Rigby ineffective? No one ever knew the difference … certainly not the game animals.
I’ve seen some .308 Winchesters beat the muzzle velocity of the .30-06 Springfield, and I’ve seen .30-06 Springfields that can outperform some .300 Winchester Magnums. In both instances, it had to do with the particular barrel. Such is the way of the world of ballistics: There are no absolutes.
In most of my rifles, the majority of which are for hunting, I prefer to squabble over accuracy more than velocity. I’m not willing to give up a whole ton of velocity, but coming up 50 to 100 fps light isn’t going to crush me.
In my .404 Jeffery, the data indicated I should’ve been getting 2,325 fps with the particular powder charge of Reloder 15 I was using. However, no matter how hard I shook the chronograph, all I could get was 2,280 fps. It was the characteristics of my particular barrel and, with extreme spreads of 15 fps, the accuracy was certainly there, averaging ¾ MOA from the big gun.
Using a good chronograph, such as the Oehler 35P seen in the background, will help determine trajectory and wind deflection values.
Working with a custom 7mm Remington Magnum and 175-grain Nosler AccuBonds, I found wonderful accuracy—only to find that the muzzle velocity was slightly more than 2,500 fps instead of the 2,925 fps it should have generated. For reasons I can’t quite explain, this particular powder just didn’t get along with that rifle. Therefore, I switched powders and equaled the accuracy while reaching proper velocities.
There are many factors affecting velocity: barrel length, variations in bore diameter and the little, inexplicable “gremlins” that cause reloaders to mutter inaudible sentences.
Be sure to consider a reloading manual as a laboratory report; that is, it’s a snapshot of the performance of a certain bullet, with a certain powder charge, in the manual’s particular test barrel. This is why all the books of data suggest strongly that you start at the bottom of the charge weights and work up slowly; your rifle might develop higher pressures faster than the test barrel did.
I also recommend that you keep copious notes regarding your rifle and load development. Make note of the case brand, primer brand and type, powder charge (and perhaps even the lot number), and bullet brand and weight. If you experiment with a good number of different loads, you might start to draw your own conclusions regarding your barrel, as compared to the various test barrels.
Don’t get too hung up on it. As long as your loads do what you need them to do, the goal has been met.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the February 2020 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
For all the recent fervor around the 6.5 caliber and all their long-range goodness, the 6.5 PRC has proven a slow burn. Don’t misconstrue this. Guns for the magnumtized 6.5 Creedmoor have flourished and the heavy-hitting six-and-a-half has developed a dedicated following—especially among hunters—since its release a few years back. But the comparably, the 6.5 PRC has taken rear mammary to its smaller sibling. The proof is in the pudding, ammunition selection.
Thumb through the virtual pages of any ammo retailer and you find the pickings are somewhat slim for the big dog 6.5. Not nil mind you, but compared to the new(ish) 6.5 Creedmoor—heck even the little cousin 6mm Creedmoor—6.5 PRC ammo doesn’t abound. Luckily what’s out there is good, particularly if you’re looking to take the 6.5 on the hunt. We’ve select four of the best 6.5 PRC ammo options out there presently, hopefully, there’ll be more as the years ware on. But before we go there, perhaps we should discuss why you might want to consider the beltless magnum.
Why Shoot 6.5 PRC
Aside from the stock answer of, Why the heck not shoot it?, there’s a pretty simple reason—it outperforms the 6.5 Creedmoor. You get all the ballistic goodness of the caliber, backed up with a larger powder charge. That means more velocity, which leads to better downrange and terminal performance.
The brass tacks are thus, the 6.5 PRC has 28 percent more case capacity than the 6.5 Creedmoor, which producing an 8-percent increase in velocity. Downrange makes a difference. Take a 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5 PRC ammo loaded with the same bullet, you’ll deal with nearly 50-inches less drop at the 1,000-yard mark and enjoy another 250 or so yards more super-sonic flight with the bigger 6.5 cartridge. Not small potatoes.
Trajectory comparision between Hornady's 6.5 Creedmoor 147 gr ELD Match and 6.5 PRC 147 gr ELD Match. Both have identical bullets, with an identical .697 ballistic coefficent. Yet, thanks to a greater velocity, the 6.5 PRC outperforms the Creedmoor downrange.
In the bargain, you’ll still get a relatively mild shooting caliber. Will it kick? More than a 6.5 Creedmoor, but much less than a majority of magnum-class cartridges—of course, depending on the heft of your rifle. It certainly not as drastic as jumping from .308 Winchester to .300 Winchester Magnum. Additionally, the 6.5 PRC is absolutely dynamite on large game, leading many to dub it the ultimate hunting round in the caliber. Pretty tidy package, all in all.
Best Hunting 6.5 PRC Ammo
Hornady Precision Hunter
The roots of the cartridge don’t get any deeper than this. Along with Hornady Match, Precision hunter was the 6.5 PRC ammo option to hit the market and still stand up against the competition. The stuff is loaded pretty hot, pushing a 143-grain ELD-X bullet 2,960 fps at the muzzle, giving it the chops to harvest game at the limits of an ethical shot. While the bullet itself has an excellent ballistic coefficient (.625) thanks to its sleek secant ogive, boattail design, and heat-resistant polymer tip, it also performs admirably once it’s at its destination. Designed to retain 50 to 60 of its weight, no matter the distance, the bullet produces devastating wound channels on whatever you lay your crosshairs on.
Nosler Trophy Grade AccuBond
Nosler has met few 6.5 cartridges it didn’t love—this includes the PRC. Luck for hunters, given its Trophy-Grade AccuBond stuff, is among the most potent big-game medicine on the shelves. Topped with the 140- and 142-grain polymer-tipped AccuBond bullets, the 6.5 PRC ammo is tough enough to handle the likes of elk, moose, and everything down. Boasting a bonded-core, the bullet won’t fly apart once at its terminal destination. Aided by the 6.5 exceptional sectional density, it bores deep into game ensuring you hit vitals. It’ll fly too. With a respectable .509 ballistic coefficient, expect Nosler Trophy grade to excel even at your limits.
Federal Premium Trophy Accent
A bit lighter, but no less devastating opting, Federal’s 130-grain Trophy Accent is another option that gets the caliber to live up to its full ballistic potential. A few of the ammo’s basics. The Terminal Accent bullet (.532 BC) is polymer-tipped and has a bonded core, ensuring it hangs together once at its target. And Federal loads them so they scoot at 3,000 fps at the muzzle. But the bullet itself has some interesting design features not found in other 6.5 PRC ammo. In particular, it has a specialized groove, which aids in optimal performance out of a wide variety of rifles. No secret sauce there. But how it’s designed, with an angled rear wall, improves its aerodynamics and reduces bullet drop at longer ranges. Trophy Accent is a great option for those long, windy shots at pronghorns on the prairie or sheep in a gusty basin.
Best Match 6.5 PRC Ammo
Hornady Match
As we alluded to above, there’s another Hornady option on this list. The bad of the matter, at present time it’s about the only factory loaded 6.5 PRC ammo tailored to match shooting on the market. Picking are slim folks. The good, it’s an excellent long-range option. Hornady’s Extra Low Drag (ELD) bullets are a favorite of competitive shooters and don’t disappoint in this ammo. A bit heavy for caliber, the 147-grain bullets deliver a highest-in-class ballistic coefficient at .697. This adds up to a projectile that shoots flatter and is more impervious to wind drift. It also maintains its BC in flight, thanks to its heat impervious Heat Shield tip that does not degrade due to air friction. The larger bullet means a tad less case capacity, but Hornady still goes to the hilt, milking 2,910 fps of velocity at the muzzle from it.
Big mags can be hard to load, but that’s not so with the BEML.
Ben’s Easy Magazine Loader it's exactly as it sounds.
Loading magazines is a hassle. Loading high-capacity magazines, with few exceptions, is even more of a hassle. There are now machines, some even electrically powered, that load magazines. But they take up space, and they cost money.
How to save your thumbs and not bust the bank? BEML to the rescue.
So Easy
The BEML, or Ben’s Easy Magazine Loader, is one of those “Why didn’t I think of that!” devices that I find fascinating. It’s dead simple: a handle with two parallel rods.
To use it, you place the magazine on the bench, base down. Put a loaded round on the two rods. Use the rods to push the follower or top round down until there is clearance, and then slide the round on the BEML under the feed lips. Repeat as necessary.
Now, on something such as a 1911 magazine, this might not be the tool you need. Some magazines have sharp edges or corners, and it’s just easier to use the BEML. Some double-stack 9mm magazines are easier to stuff than others. Some are a real pain. (You know which ones they are; no need for me to call out the offenders … Mr. Polymer.)
Ben's Easy Magazine Reloader And Pistol-Caliber Carbines
Where it becomes a real aid is when you are loading up a pistol-caliber carbine. Getting the last rounds into a 17-round magazine is hard. But getting the last dozen rounds into a 33-round magazine or an extended-capacity 50-round magazine can bring tears to your eyes (yes, Virginia, there are 50-round magazines for PCC. Competition shooters use them every weekend across America. God, I love this country!).
The BEML is not caliber-specific, because the rod spacing allows use in 9mm to .45. The designer/company owner says the BEML can go all the way down to .25 ACP. However, I’ve got to say that if you find loading the last of six rounds into your .25 ACP pistol to be a chore, you really need to be eating your Wheaties.
Use Ben's Easy Magazine Reloader's rods to depress the top cartridge. Then, slide the next one off the rods and under the feed lip.
Once I had a chance to test the BEML in a few magazines, I found myself wondering where Ben’s Outdoor Design was when I was shooting PCC in the early days and used a carbine that required Sten gun magazines. That was a real monster to load—a double-stack magazine that fed from a single central point. I had an array of loading-assist devices to get those things filled up, and back in the “medium-old” days, none of them was very satisfactory.
A Word to the Wise
Fair warning: The BEML is small enough so that if you lose track of it at the range, it might not come home with you. It could easily “disappear” into someone else’s range bag if you’re at a range where such things are not dealt with via summary hangings! But there’s a convenient hole in the handle, so you can chain the BEML to your range bag.
The BEML costs only $12.95. As simple as it is, if your son or daughter has any shop skills (and their school still offers shop classes), they could make one once they had one to copy.
But why do that? This is America, where cleverness is supposed to be rewarded; and I can’t see saving a few bucks by ripping off someone’s clever idea. I’m going to buy a bunch more and chain one to each range bag I commonly use.
Fix It Sticks introduces competition-inspired 3-Gun and Long-Range kits, giving shooters the tools to troubleshoot their guns anywhere.
Drive around without a jack or jumper cables you’re courting fate. Not the good kind either. The dusty backroad variety, in the middle of the night, without a gas station or house light on the horizon. Likely, you’re doing the same every time you head to the range.
In all likelihood, you’ll throw a stubby flathead in your range bag when scoping in a deer rifle. Maybe, a cleaning kit is on hand—good enough to dislodge a stuck case in a pinch. But actual, to-the-quick gun tools meant to troubleshoot accuracy-eating, gun-stopping malfunctions are an afterthought, if that, for most shooters. That’s all changing.
In recent years, Fix It Sticks has taken it upon themselves to provide shooters with comprehensive gun tools that are no more trouble to tote along than an extra box of ammo. And now the company has introduced two purpose-built, comprehensive tool kits that handle hard-use and precision firearms. Developed with input from competitive shooters, Fix It Sticks Long Range Kit and 3-Gun Kit boast an extensive array of the most useful tools, bits and torque limiters required to maintain a gun's accuracy and performance.
Tailored to tune up rifles, shotguns and handguns, Fix It Sticks 3-Gun Kit is ideal for the multi-gun shooter—even if they aren’t competitors. In addition to a multi-section cleaning rod and the company’s redesigned Take-Down Ratchet T-Handle, the kit includes:
65 Inch/Lbs torque limiter
45 Inch/Lbs torque limiter
25 Inch/Lbs torque limiter
15 Inch/Lbs torque limiter
½-inch Socket/Adapter
Mini Pry Bar
Pin Punch set
Bronze Scraper
Steel Pick
Cleaning Brush Bit
Set of two 8-32 adapters
Aimpoint Bit
.223 BCG Scraper
.308 BCG Scraper
A2 Sight Bit
Castle Nut Bit
Choke Wrench
1911 Bushing Bit
Glock Front Sight Bit
24 Chrome Plated Bits
Magnetic Patch
Microfiber Lens Cloth
Soft Carrying Case
Fix It Stick Long-Range Kit
Designed to keep precision rifles pounding the X-ring, Fix It Stick’s Long Range Kit is a must-have for anyone who goes the distance. The kit also comes with the company’s versatile Take-Down Ratchet T-Handle, cleaning rod and a number of other useful tools including:
65 Inch/Lbs torque limiter
45 Inch/Lbs torque limiter
25 Inch/Lbs torque limiter
15 Inch/Lbs torque limiter
½-inch Socket/Adapter
Mini Pry Bar
Pin Punch Set
Bronze Scraper
Steel Pick
Cleaning Brush Bit
Set of two 8-32 adapters
Bubble Level Set
3/16 inch Extended Action Bit
5/32 inch Extended Action Bit
24 Chrome Plated Bits
Magnetic Patch
Microfiber Lens Cloth
Soft Carrying Case
Be it a loose action screw, rattling handguard or flighty scope rings, Fix It Sticks has you covered with its Long Range and 3-Gun Kits. The 3-Gun Kit runs $350, while the Long Range Kit is priced $368.
Be it self-defense or an afternoon at the range, most shooters turn to the tried-and-true semi-automatic pistol. Fans of this style of handgun presently live in a golden age, with more classic designs, new innovative models and performance-enhancing accessories available now then ever before. We’ve gathered up some of the top-pick of new pistols and pistol gear that’s recently hit the market, in every case likely to boost your performance behind the trigger.
Jak Slide 2.0 Belt Holster
Rolling out in the 1970s, the Jak Slide holster is nothing new in the world of concealed carry. But how Galco makes them now is. Turning to hybrid technology, the famed holster maker improves on the traditional design for a more responsive and safer hanger. In particular, Galco has placed a Kydex skeleton into the steerhide Jak Slide, giving it some subtle—but useful—attributes. Namely, the holster won’t collapse after the draw, making it easier and more intuitive to rehang a pistol. At the same tick, the Jak Slide is as concealable and fast as it ever was … perhaps more so. It still goes down as among the top options for those who tote a 1911. MSRP: $55, galcogunleather.com
Thyrm SwitchBack 2.0
Simple concepts oftentimes prove the most useful. That pegs the SwitchBack 2.0 perfectly. Evolving the way you manage a flashlight in a defensive situation, the intuitive attachment allows full control of your torch and handgun. It even facilitates a two-handed grip on your gun, while keeping a light on your target. Mounting securely between a flashlight’s tail cap and body, the ring hooks around a finger on the support hand, freeing up the appendage for other operations in the process. Reloading, working the slide, and even support-side shooting are all a possibility—definitely not the case with traditional flashlight techniques. If you need another selling point, a robust pocket clip is part of the package, as is compatibility with SureFire and DFT lights. MSRP: $19.99, thyrm.com
Springfield Armory Ronin Operator 4.25-inch 1911
Lightweight, rugged, and now more concealable, Springfield Armory hits the right notes with its next iteration of the Ronin Operator, configuring the pistol with a 4.25-inch barrel. Commander-sized, the pistol is the best of both worlds, easier to keep under wraps, but with bore enough to milk more ballistic potential out of the 9mm and .45 ACP rounds. Plus, it’s built to please even the most discerning 1911 snobs, complete with a traditional barrel bushing system and match-grade barrel. It’s a looker to boot. Two-tone, the aluminum-alloy-framed Ronin also sports Cross Canyon laminate wood grips, giving it an overall wicked appearance. MSRP: $849, springfield-armory.com
Proving wildly popular since its release, the Ruger PC Carbine has staked a claim in the PCC sphere. It only makes sense upgrades would follow. For practical use, the Jawbone Mag Release might be among the most practical. Little more than an extension, the lever has the potential to completely revamp how you run the rifle, making reloads lightning quick by placing the control within reach of the trigger finger—beats the heck out of straining forward of the trigger guard. Made from aircraft-grade aluminum, it’ll stand up to your abuse. Plus, it’s a snap to install. What more could you want? MSRP: $84.99, jawbonetactical.com
S&W Performance Center M&P9 Shield EZ
Opening semi-automatic pistols to a greater swath of the shooting world, the easy-to-manipulate M&P9 Shield EZ has proven to be a game changer. Now it’s available all decked out. Getting the Smith & Wesson Performance Center treatment, the 9mm has several upgrades that have it running like a top. Some of these consist of a ported barrel, flat-faced skeletonized trigger, aftermarket sights, and tuned action. Additionally, it’s available with some head-turning finishes that give the pistol a truly customized look, including black, silver, and gold accents. Best of all, the Shield EZ comes in at a price nearly any shooter can afford. MSRP: $588, smith-wesson.com
Sig Sauer P938 SAS
There’s more to a concealed-carry-friendly pistol than its height, width, and weight. There’s also a little question about deployment. Sig Sauer all but eliminates this concern with the release of the P938 SAS model, which is about as streamlined as you get. In addition to milling all potential catch points on the pistol’s frame and slide, it also wears what might be the lowest-rise sights on the market. Known as Flush-Mounted FT Bullseye sights, the fiber-tritium low-light option leaves almost no footprint on the 9mm, offering the peace of mind that you can get your gun in the fight at the moment of truth. MSRP: $856, sigsauer.com
Holosun HE508T V2
Not shooting with a reflex sight yet? You should consider it. Holosun gets you into the action with its new HE508T V2 optic loaded with features that’ll get you on the mark. Chief among them is the unit’s Multiple Reticle System, which offers a transition between a 32 MOA Circle and 2 MOA Dot. Plus, the optic is built for all the punishment you can dish out, constructed with a titanium body and a durable base that helps it withstand shock. And the V2 is always ready to roll when you are, with a backup solar charging system that keeps it up and running. MSRP: $435.28 red dot; $470 green dot, holosun.com
The Cold War saw many interesting firearms designs, but few are as unique as the Polish PM-63, now available in the semi-auto Pioneer Arms PM-63C pistol.
Some firearms have a utilitarian look; some can be classified as beautiful; some look plain vanilla; and some firearms are flat out odd-looking. The PM-63 falls right into this last category of very odd-looking firearms.
Nevertheless, although it might look pretty weird, it’s a very well-thought-out design, and it reflects solid build quality for that era, especially for a Combloc weapon. But the select-fire PM-63 has been out of the reach of most Americans … until now. Thanks to Pioneer Arms, it’s been redesigned as the PM-63C—a civilian-legal, semi-auto pistol.
The PM-63 Design
The original PM-63 is a Polish-designed submachine gun (SMG) that’s blowback operated, hammer-fired and select-fire, with a full-auto rate of fire of 650 rounds per minute. It’s chambered in 9x18mm Makarov.
Officially named the “Pistolet Maszynowy wzor 1963” (PM Model 1963), it’s often referred to as the PM-63 RAK. It’s one of the first SMGs to incorporate the magazine well into the pistol grip, following in the footsteps of the Czechoslovakian Sa Vz 48 (aka Sa 23/24/25/26 Series) and the Israeli Uzi.
To retain pistol status with the ATF, the folding stock has been spot-welded in place, and the foregrip is permanently fixed and cannot be opened to a vertical grip.
Development started in the late 1950s by Piotr Wilniewczyc, who died in 1960, before development was complete. A team from the state-owned factory completed development, and the PM-63 was adopted into Polish military and police service in 1965. Around 80,000 were made until production stopped in 1977. It would continue on in service until it was replaced in 1984 by the PM-84 Glauberyt. During its service life, the PM-63 was adopted for use by 13 different countries and fought in 12 different wars or conflicts.
The PM-63 is unique. It’s essentially a pistol/SMG hybrid. Where most SMGs are distinctly different designs than handguns, the PM-63 looks as if it started life as a handgun and was then half morphed into an SMG. What makes it so different is that SMGs typically have an upper receiver and a reciprocating internal bolt. The PM-63 doesn’t; it uses a traditional pistol slide assembly (slide, barrel, recoil spring, guide rod).
Another unique feature is the shovel-looking protrusion in front of the barrel. It’s a muzzle compensator that directs gasses up, forcing the muzzle down, thus helping make the gun more controllable in full auto. It also makes for a great, one-handed cocking mechanism—although I don’t recommend using it unless it’s for an emergency, because using it would mean pressing the muzzle of a loaded gun into an object you could potentially destroy.
Then, there’s the monstrosity in front of the trigger guard, which is a front grip. It can be used as a grip when folded or can be opened to be used as a vertical grip. Cleverly tucked away is a folding shoulder stock made of stamped steel. It closes by sliding forward, with the arm resting firmly against the receiver and the butt folded up, nestled in a cut in the rear of the receiver.
7.62x25mm Tokarev: The Many Copies Of The Combloc Icon
A Few Details
The relatively heavy weight of the gun, the compensator and the shoulder stock—combined with the mild-recoiling 9x18mm Makarov cartridge—make the PM-63 easy to shoot, even on full auto. To further enhance shooting, there’s an inertia buffer inside the rear of the slide that reduces the rate of fire from around 850 rounds per minute to 650.
To disassemble (and assemble) the slide from the lower receiver, the tick mark on the lower receiver (located between, and just forward of, the safety and rear sight) must be positioned between the two tick marks on the slide so the barrel can be rotated.
During the cycling of the action, the barrel doesn’t tilt like most handguns do; and, despite what some Internet sources say, the barrel doesn’t rotate during the firing process either. The locking ribs on the barrel lock with the locking ribs on the lower receiver, thus holding straight in line and fixed in place.
The mag release is located in the customary position used by European handguns of this era (the bottom of the grip/mag well). However, it’s better than most grip-bottom designs, because the release lever is thumbed toward the magazine instead of away from it, which is more awkward.
The rear sight incorporates an L-shaped flip sight with one side marked for 75 meters and the other for 150 meters. The front sight is blade-styled and machined into the slide. Despite the long overall length of the gun, the sight radius is only 6 inches (about the same as a Glock G19 compact pistol). The sights are pretty good for circa 1959, but by modern standards, they’re not very functional.
The PM-63C: Civilian Legal
What do you do when you find in your inventory guns that were produced for the military market, but they’re now obsolete? You do what Pioneer Arms Corp. did: You remanufacture them into a civilian-legal version for the U.S. civilian market.
U.S. gun owners and collectors can now purchase a semi-auto-only version called the PM-63C. The only downside? There will only ever be 650 of them … because only 650 are in existence.
The PM-63C looks odd, thanks, in part, to this large monstrosity in front of the trigger well. It’s a forward grip that has been permanently fixed into the folded position, per ATF rules. In the original select-fire version, the grip can be opened into a vertical grip.
There are four key differences between the original PM-63 and the civilian-legal PM-63C. First, and most obviously, it’s been remanufactured to shoot semi-auto-only. Second, to meet ATF requirements to qualify as “not a machine gun,” it fires from a “closed bolt”—or, in this instance, a closed slide. Third, to meet the ATF requirements for a pistol and not a short-barreled rifle (SBR), the folding shoulder stock has been bead-welded in the “closed” position so that it can’t be extended. Fourth—also to meet ATF requirements—the front grip is fixed in place so it can’t be unfolded into the vertical grip.
Markings include the original PM-63 stamping (on the right side of the slide) of the serial number: the circle-11 logo and “1971,” for the year of manufacture. Forward of that is the marking of the remanufacturing company (“INTERARMS, RADOM, POLAND, PM63-C cal 9×18”). On top of the slide and behind the rear sight is the mark of the importer, PAC’s U.S. subsidiary (“PIONEER ARMS CORP., FORT ORANGE, FL”). Just behind that is PAC’s archer (“Łucznik”) logo and “RADOM”, “POLAND” and an “11.”
PM-63C pistols can be purchased from PAC’s distributer, Classic Firearms, and includes the original-issue canvas holster, two magazines (one 15-round, one 25-round) and cleaning kit.
Range Time
The PM-63C is an interesting gun, but the biggest question I had was about reliability: It’s a difficult task to take a gun designed to be fired open-bolt and convert it to reliably fire from a closed bolt. It’s one thing to design a semi-auto version from the ground up, as with many MAC-11-style guns, but to convert an actual “already-made” military surplus gun is something different.
If this were the original select-fire PM-63, pressing the lever would allow the shooter to pull the shoulder stock to the rear. On this PM-63C, the lever still works. However, the stock bar has been welded in place.
If you’ve ever pulled the trigger on a Combloc handgun, it’s like pulling a brick through a garden hose! However, my PM-63C is very different from that; it’s good … maybe even very good. It’s long, but grit-free and surprisingly light, and it averages a pull rate between 4.0 and 4.3 pounds. It’s pretty smooth, with a clean break and a short reset.
For me, reliability isn’t a big concern with a gun such as this. I’m not buying it to perform flawlessly, and it will never be used for self-defense. I have other guns for that. I’m buying it because it’s unique, and it’s a piece of Cold War history.
With that said, reliability was … okay. I didn’t put a ton of lead downrange (again, I’m not testing it in order to use it as a carry gun). In total, out of the 60 rounds I fired, I had 11 feed malfunctions. In all cases, the fresh round was about halfway into the chamber, and the slide just couldn’t push it in all the way. I believe a stouter recoil spring would resolve the issue.
Accuracy was better than expected. The PM-63C has a compact pistol-length barrel, along with a compact pistol sight radius and 1950s-era sights. I set up 12-inch targets at 25 yards and 50 yards. At both distances, I managed to get 80 or 90 percent of the hits within the 12-inch target.
With the shoulder stock in the “closed” position, the butt plate folds up under the lower receiver. Note the bead weld at the junction where the shoulder stock and shoulder stock latch pin meet, preventing it from being opened.
At those ranges, It wasn’t bad. However, although the sights are marked “75 meters” and “150 meters,” the role for this is more of PDW, which would be mostly for closer ranges. Besides, let’s keep it real: It’s chambered in 9×18 Makarov, which has slightly more power than a .380 ACP; and no one is hurtling .380 downrange at 50 yards, let alone 75 or 150.
So, I set up some targets at 12 yards, and the PM-63C fared much better. I shot five-shot groups. The Hornady Critical Defense 95-grain FTX grouped at 2.12 inches; the Sellier & Bellot 95-grain FMJ grouped at 1.59 inches; and the Fiocchi 95-grain FMJ grouped at 1.57 inches. For me, that’s good enough for this gun to be fun to shoot.
Final Verdict
The PM-63C ranks pretty high in the “most-interesting” firearms category. Because I’m a history buff and gun collector, one of the genres/topics I’m most interested in is the Combloc/Eastern Europe. When both history and guns are combined, it’s tough for me to say “no.” And for the PM-63C, I wasn’t able to!
I paid $1,300 through Pioneer Arms’ distributer, Classic Firearms. Some might scoff at the price (“I can get a nice AR for that price!” is the popular refrain), but all my gun-purchase regrets are the guns I didn’t purchase (usually, because I thought the price was too high). For me, $1,300 is higher than I want to pay, but with only 650 of these PM-63Cs in existence, it’s likely the value will go up. I can’t guarantee that it will, but I can guarantee that either way, I’ll probably never get another chance to purchase one.
Pioneer Arms PM-63C Specifications CALIBER: 9x18mm Makarov ACTION TYPE: Semi-auto, blowback, closed bolt FRAME: Steel; Bakelite furniture SLIDE: Steel BARREL: Chrome lined, 5.9 in. TRIGGER: 4.2 lb. (average) SIGHTS: Flip rear sight (75 and 150 meters); blade-style front sight WEIGHT: 3.5 lb. (empty) OVERALL LENGTH: 13.1 in. ACCESSORIES: 2 magazines (15- and 25-round); original canvas holster; cleaning kit MSRP: $1,300 (distributed via ClassicFirearms.com)
For more information on the Pioneer Arms PM-63C, please visit pioneer-pac.com.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the August 2020 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Our 2020 Hunting Buyer's Guide takes a look at standout new products from some of your favorite manufacturers. Each manufacturer is also offering a giveaway every week for the next six weeks. Check back each week for a new giveaway.
Our first giveaway is from Black Hills Ammunition. Together with Gun Digest and RECOIL: Carnivore, Black Hills Ammunition is giving away 500 rounds of Black Hills Gold .308 Win Match 125gr Hornady GMX Ammo. Enter by subscribing to the sponsors' email newsletters.
Advice abounds when it comes to the ‘best' EDC gun. But only you can choose the one you’re going to trust your life to.
One of the most common questions I get is, “What kind of gun do you carry?”
I suppose, without trying to sound conceited, this is because folks want to know what a former cop—who’s trained extensively at Gunsite and tested a wide variety of handguns—might trust his life to. For those reasons, I guess there’s some merit to the question.
However, I firmly believe that if you base your defensive handgun choice on what I or some self-proclaimed expert might carry in their holster, you’re making a mistake. Your defensive handgun needs to fit you, and it needs to be one you can comfortably carry and swiftly and effectively employ.
That’s exactly why I stress the importance of using a drill such as the Forty-Five Drill—a drill I detailed in the January Gun Digest issue—to help you decide which EDC gun you can get along with the best. It doesn’t matter what I like, carry or use; what matters is what works for you.
Over the last 30 or so years, I’ve gone through a bunch of handguns. Maybe a look at my journey might help you in your search. Like me, you might be surprised where you end up.
The EDC Gun Journey Begins
My first handgun was a 4-inch Smith & Wesson Model 66. I was too young to buy it; I had to get my mom to do the paperwork. It was not intended as an EDC gun and, after handling it for a bit, I realized it never would be. It was too damned heavy … and big.
My next handgun was a 5-inch Colt 1911 in 9mm. It worked okay as a carry gun, but I found it too heavy and too big for all-day, everyday carry. It was replaced in 1991 with a Browning BDM.
The BDM was similar in shape and feel to the Browning HiPower and was created to compete in the service trials as the standard-issue pistol for the FBI. Its claim to fame was that it could provide multi-mode (single- and double-action fire) with the flip of a switch. It was also the only defensive handgun I’ve ever owned that, for lack of a better phrase, shot like shit. Groups were horrendous and nowhere near the point of aim. I traded it for a Walther PPK.
This 1950s-era Colt Lightweight Commander, fully customized by Novak’s, was the author’s off-duty gun throughout almost his entire law enforcement career.
I only carried the PPK was only my EDC gun for a short while. It was heavy for its size, the trigger was bad and, for that time, it was underpowered (modern .380 Auto loads are much better than they were in the early 1990s).
After I won the West Virginia National Guard State Pistol championship with a Beretta 92, I purchased one, but it, too, had a terrible trigger and was too large for comfortable carry. Nevertheless, the 92 inspired me to purchase a Beretta 85. Although it was another .380, it was one of the easiest-carrying and comfortable-to-shoot pistols I’ve ever owned.
At Work
When I went to work as a correctional officer, I had to provide my own handgun. I picked up a Ruger P90. It was a big pistol, but it was reliable and very accurate (I killed a groundhog with it at a bit past 100 yards). When I became a police officer, I was issued a 4-inch Smith & Wesson 686. It was way too much gun for EDC, and I was fortunate to find an early-model Colt Lightweight Commander in .45 Auto. After I had some work done on it by Novak’s, I carried that pistol for many years. It became the benchmark for what I considered to be a suitable defensive handgun for me: It fit my hand, I could shoot it well, and it was easy to conceal and carry.
At the time, I was also doing a lot of competition shooting, and our department had transitioned to Glocks. The Glock 22 I carried every day on duty was a very reliable sidearm, and so was the 27 that rode on my ankle. However, I never found a Glock—any Glock—comfortable to shoot, and I always struggled with my weak-hand thumb hitting the slide stop. In fact, I removed the slide stops from both of my duty guns. I continued to carry the Lightweight Commander, or at least some similar variant, for many years.
Competition Prize
I won a Browning HiPower in a shooting competition. I had the gun worked on by Robar and got Nighthawk to extend the beavertail to prevent the web-of-the-hand bite that Browning HiPowers are famous for. I carried that pistol until I was introduced to the Wilson Combat EDC X9. Sized like a Glock 19 and with a trigger like a 1911 and the feel and capacity of a HiPower, this seemed like the ultimate EDC gun. I carried—and still carry—the X9 when I needed deep concealment.
The author’s current everyday-carry gun is a full-custom Lightweight Browning HiPower. It’s now discontinued (as are all Browning HiPowers) and is what some would consider an “antique.” Nevertheless, it’s the pistol that provides him with the best balance of concealment, comfort and shootability.
Then, something extraordinary happened: A good friend gave me a fully customized lightweight Browning HiPower that had been worked on by Novak’s. Not only is this pistol rare, it’s also the easiest-to-carry high-capacity pistol I’ve every wrapped my hand around. And, more importantly, it’s reliable, and I shoot it very much better than any other handgun.
That’s quite a long journey to finally end up with a pistol that’s well-used and more than 50 years old. However, the brand, custom work, chambering and model are of no real consequence. What matters is that I get along better with that pistol than with any other.
That, my friends, is how you decide on the EDC gun you’re going to trust your life to and carry every day. Don’t let me—or anyone else—try to convince you there is a best carry gun for everyone.
Here’s some “hillbilly advice” for you: Suggestions are welcome, but EDC guns are a bit like underwear—you need to choose your own.
Nothing is as sweet as the sound of copper-jacketed lead slamming into hardened steel. With a quality AR500 steel target, you’re sure to enjoy this satisfying ping for years to come.
Why You Should Shoot AR500 Steel Targets:
Given their hardness, they are suitable for both rifles and pistols.
For high-volume shooters they are economical, costing less per trigger pull.
Easy to set up, AR500 steel targets offer you an infinite variety of courses of fire.
They’ll last for years if you take care of them.
Three words: Just. Plain. Fun.
Certainly, paper targets have their place. Heck, we’ve all been using them for decades. When zeroing your rifle for hunting season or analyzing the grouping of a new load you’ve worked up, the neat and useful grid of a sighting-in target can prove invaluable. But, over the years, the ol’ shooting-range standby hasn’t proven infallible to the march of progress. If you’re familiar with the sweet sound of copper-jacketed lead striking plate steel, then you already know exactly what I’m talking about.
Over the years, steel targets have become an increasingly popular option when it comes to pitching lead – pistol, rifle or otherwise. And while there are plenty of options on the market, they aren’t all created equal. Given that you’re throwing bits of metal at or close to the speed of sound, you need something capable of withstanding the punishment, while at the same time keeping you safe.
If you’ve done any shopping for steel targets, you’ve most likely heard or seen “AR500” crop up. But what exactly does it mean? Why should you care? And, what role does it play in getting the best steel to pelt away at with your favorite firearm? Let’s find out.
What Is AR500?
Steel, like most materials, comes in grades. Those familiar with AR-15 builds are particularly cognizant of this, given they want to get not only the best barrel steel possible but also receiver aluminum. Be it for a gun barrel or a blade for your ATV, grading of these metals makes this process much simpler and more straight-forward.
In the case of steel, much of the grading deals with the metal’s composition, its alloy, suitability for certain purposes and machinability. For steel plate, which is the stuff targets are made of, grading has much to do with its toughness. Enter the AR500 designation.
While it might sound like the plate steel is specially designed for America’s favorite rifle, the “AR” in AR500 actually refers to its primary physical property – abrasion resistance. The other half of the grade – 500 – connotates its certified Brinell hardness. Brinell testing is accomplished by impacting the steel plate with ball bearings to determine if it will chip or crack.
In the scheme of AR steel, AR500 is pretty dang tough, resisting denting, chipping and cracking. In addition to steel targets, AR500 is called in for some other rough duty: crushers, rock hammers, grapples, mining equipment and even armor. In short, it’s the perfect stuff to throw bullets at.
While longevity is one reason why AR500 is used in steel targets, there’s a more important factor that makes it preferred. Its toughness keeps its surface uniform, which in terms of shooting ensures a bullet doesn’t go flying somewhere it shouldn’t after impact. If AR500 steel targets deformed or were prone to pockmarks, the chance of a ricochet would increase and, tongue in cheek, they’d be a lot less fun.
As a side benefit, AR500 steel is fairly easy to work with … if you have the right tools. In turn, you the shooter aren’t limited to taking aim at little more than square plates. Peruse AR500 steel targets sometime if you haven’t already, and you’ll see the wealth of options. They're available in every conceivable shape and size – from enormous 16-inch-diameter round gongs to 6-inch-tall prairie dog silhouettes. At this point, the sky is the limit when it comes to styles of AR500 targets.
Why Shoot Steel?
If you’ve been perforating paper for the better part of your life, you might not believe you’ll get any more out of a good slab of AR500. That’s where we politely say, “You’re wrong.”
To start, they’re economical. Yes, you have to invest more on the front end, but with proper care, AR500 targets will last you years. This is especially true if you shoot a lot. Throw enough lead downrange and a good AR500 target can and will eventually run on par with many paper options – particularly the fancier ones.
Furthermore, AR500 targets provide instant feedback – usually. If you place one a country mile, you might have difficulty hearing your bullet’s impact, but that’s generally the only time. Even at 100 to 200 yards, an AR500 target will ring clear enough that you’ll hear your hit.
Honestly, steel targets are more versatile than almost every other type. Buy a number of them, and you can create your own course of fire. Invest in a dueling tree and you have the perfect system for you and a buddy to push each other to the limits.
Finally, they’re just plain fun. Look, everyone loves a tight little cloverleaf printed on paper, but even that pales to the sweet “Ping!” of steel.
Considerations In Buying AR500 Targets
Like a paper target designed to pattern your turkey gun would prove inadequate for long-range work, not every style of AR500 steel target excels for every shooting application. Sure, you might save money by buying a 4-inch round gong, but is that the ideal size when you're working your way up to a 1,000-yard rifle shot? Conversely, do you really need to shell out for a 17-inch tall silhouette if you’re setting up a causal pistol shooting course on your land?
This isn’t to say that a falling popper wouldn’t work as a rifle target – they’re plenty of fun when downrange from an AR. But to get the most enjoyment, you should aim for AR500 targets that work well at the range you anticipate shooting … and with the guns you plan to use.
The other consideration, one that has a direct impact on your wallet, is the thickness of the AR500 target you choose. Thicker is more expensive because you’re buying more AR500 material, but it required with some hard-punching cartridges. If you plan on exclusively running a .22 pistol, a 5/8-inch thick target is a considerable overkill.
Luckily, there are some general industry suggestions for AR500 target thickness based on a bullet’s energy:
Minimum Target Thickness
Energy (ft/lbs.)
¼-inch-thick
300-700
3/8-inch-thick
700-2,100
½-inch-thich
2,100-4,000
5/8-inch-thick
4,000-10,000
As you’ve probably deduced, you don’t necessarily have to shop AR500 targets at the top end of a bullet’s potential energy.
If you shoot, say, a 180-grain .30-06 round that leaves the muzzle at a middling 2,500 fps, at a few feet beyond 100 yards its energy is safe for a 3/8-inch thick target. On the other hand, it would not be advisable to throw a hot 162-grain 7mm Rem. Mag. round moving 3,200 fps at the target at the same distance. You either have to move the 3/8-inch target out to 200 yards to maintain its integrity or move up to a thicker, ½-inch target.
Safely Shooting AR500 Targets
Using AR500 targets isn’t exactly rocket science. At the same tick, there are certain precautions you must take to protect them and yourself.
The easiest part is buying a reputable brand you can trust. Birchwood Casey, among others, makes solid choices. They are built with longevity and safety in mind. Next up, you need to make sure the target is AR500 or the next level up in hardness AR550. Anything below this – AR400, etc. – is too soft and can yield unpredictable results.
A high-quality target is only one part of the equation: Using it properly is the other.
Always – I repeat, ALWAYS – follow the manufacturer’s instructions on setting up your steel target. They specify how close is safe for the type of firearm you’re shooting, as well as how to properly angle the target so the remain fragments of the bullet are safely deflected. You shouldn’t veer from these standards; the manufacturers have set them up to keep you safe and sound.
You must also use proper ammo. In particular, steel-core bullets are a no-no, as are solid copper. These projectiles can damage your target or, even more dangerous, penetrate it.
AR500 steel targets are designed to work with copper-jacketed lead and frangible bullets, so it’s smart to keep it that way. Thankfully, there’s a wealth of this ammo to shoot.
Finally, you need to get into a regular maintenance routine with your AR500 targets. Now, don’t clench your teeth: It isn’t much. Mainly, you want to inspect them before each use to ensure the surface is uniform and hasn’t developed any inconsistency that could result in a dangerous ricochet.
Furthermore, you should get into the habit of painting your target after every use. Even something as tough as AR500 has its weaknesses, and like all steel, without a proper coating it will rust over time. Besides, a quick hit with the rattle can makes it all the easier to see where you’re connecting, particularly at distance.
Parting Shot
Investing in solid AR500 targets might seem a bit pricy, especially compared to a stack of the regular old paper variety. But they’ll pay you back the first time you send a round flying. Beyond economics, AR500 targets are solid training tools, known for their longevity and ongoing ability to provide just plain fun. Above all … “Ping!”
Try it: You’ll instantly know what we mean.
Suggested AR500 Steel Target
World of Targets 10-inch AR500 Gong
A must-have for any shooter is a gong. Perfect for setting up a backyard shooting (if you don’t live in town) or taking on the road to your favorite shooting spot, these simple steel plates are as versatile as they come.
Plain as it is enjoyable, Birchwood Casey’s 10-inch gong is ideal. The AR500 target is 3/8-inch thick, in turn, it can stand up to both pistol and rifle fire. Additionally, it is right-sized for almost any range. It’s not too big for close quarters handgun work and not too small for some distance fire with your rifle. Plus, if you take care of it right, you’ll get nearly a lifetime out of this workhorse. The only question remaining is how many you’ll add to your collection.
Surplus AR500 Silhouette Target Package
Live near public lands or have enough space on your own parcel, a steel silhouette target is an ideal choice for self-defense training. They take a licking and keep on ticking. And few manufacturers turn out a better product than Shoot Steel.
Made from high-quality 3/8-inch AR500 plate steel, the company’s 12”x20” static silhouette package is perfect to get you training out of the box. In addition to the target proper, the setup comes with a sturdy stand and mounting hardware. All you need to provide is a 2×4 piece of lumber.
In addition to lasting nearly a lifetime, the A500 silhouette is a training enhancement. Not only does it give you visual feedback, but also auditory with that sweet ‘Ping’.
High Caliber AR500 Animal Silhouette Targets
Hey, no reason why pistoleers should have all the fun. Hunter can benefit from steel targets as well, and there is no better choice than High Caliber AR500 game silhouettes. Available in a variety of game animals—from prairie dogs to deer, even bigfoot—the targets are ideal for sharpening your skills to fill your tag.
Thicker—a full 1/2 -inch of AR500 plate steel—the targets absorb the impact from most high-power hunting rifles, of course at appropriate distances. And available in different sizes, the range doesn’t isn't such a constraint on getting a true-to-life shooting experience.
In addition to longevity, like other steel targets, High Caliber game silhouettes offer instant feedback. Plus, they’re a heck of a lot more fun than just plinking away at a grid target just before the season.
Magnum Targets 1/2 Scale IHMSA/NRA Metallic Silhouette Targets
No joke, Metallic Silhouette Shooting is a real bear. Hey, you try hitting a 28-inch tall chicken silhouette at 200 yards with a large-bore handgun. Yet, you needn’t drive yourself mad in competition to enjoy the classic targets used in International Handgun Metallic Shooting Association (IHMSA) matches.
Available in a single bundle, half-scale versions of the official targets are perfect for hours of pistol and rifle shooting fun. Yes, these are 3/8-inch thick AR500 steel, but at the right distance can endure rifle fire. But the stands are fine enough they’ll knock over with a .22 LR.
The IHMSA targets—chicken, turkey, bore and ram—are also great options for first-time shooters. Not only are they challenging to connect with, but offer a great amount of satisfaction when they tumble over. What could be better for a novice marksman?
With excellent lines and accuracy to boot, Kimber’s new 4-inch K6s Target has speed and performance worth bragging about.
What The K6s Target Brings To The Table:
Despite boasting a 4-inch barrel, the revolver comes in at a very manageable 25.5 ounces unloaded.
A slab-sided cylinder keeps the gun's width at 1.39-inches.
A fully-adjustable target rear sight allows shooters to dial in the handgun.
Dovetailed in, the rear sight can be swapped for Kimber's low-rise combat sight.
All stainless steel, the gun proves quite fetching.
Concealed carry calls the handgun market’s tune. So (a surprise to no one), when Kimber jumped into the revolver game four years ago, that’s exactly what it blueprinted and milled out. The K6s, in its original iterations (all eight of them the first couple of years), wasn’t good for much more … unless the Marquis de Sade in you revels banging away with a double-action-only knuckle-buster.
Yet, Kimber’s snubbies struck a chord, offering something a bit different than what pocket gun aficionados have seen in a spell: style, effectiveness and, above all, cold, hard steel.
The company also served up something else—the perfect platform to mature an entire revolver line. For all intents and purposes, that happened this year.
Creeping along, Kimber has grown the K6s line in number and stature, culminating in the company’s first full-sized wheelgun. But, don’t turn a jaundiced eye toward the 4-inch DASA Target as just another clone of the K-frame archetype. Whereas those .357 Magnums are the “muscle cars” of revolver-dom, Kimber’s big wheelie is a “roadster”; agile, quick and, yes, dashing. What’s more, it’s something to brag about.
Built for Speed … Among Other Things
Knock or compliment, early K6s iterations were notable hefty revolvers. A stainless steel frame, cylinder and barrel endow this attribute, but less so as the K6s has grown in size. Through the addition of a hammer and longer barrels, the frame and six-round cylinder have remained essentially the same. In turn, the revolver has grown bigger; but, relative to the rest of its class, the K6s Target is comparably small.
Unique barrel geometry simultaneously keeps the target slim and the weight of the gun forward.
Don’t take my word for it; measure it up against similar makes and models—say, the Smith & Wesson Model 19 and Colt Python. Booking at 25.5 ounces, the 4-inch Target is a full 12 ounces lighter than the Model 19. The Python is a full pound less. That’s substantial and quite a bit less burdensome on the hip. Add on that it’s also slimmer (1.39-inch width) and shorter (5.25-inch height), and this is a revolver that’s got the edge in a number of ways. Not only does it prove much more nimble—an advantage in a match for certain—but it’s also a better candidate for an on-person defense option. Concealed carry? Is he serious? Quite, and so is Kimber.
It’s evident, with the gunmaker smoothing every sharp edge to remove any snag point and flatten the surfaces that keep it pressed tightly to your profile. Need more proof? Well, the Target was released in tandem with the K6s Combat, an optimized defensive model with low-rise sights and finger groove grips. Either, however, is more than up to the job as a carry piece—and not just outside the waistband, if you know how to do it right.
Going big, or at least larger, is an advantage pistol-makers figured out awhile ago. Many in the ubiquitous striker-fired market reined back their subcompact catalog, emphasizing their 4- and 4.5-inch compact models. It’s not a ton more gun to tote, and its benefits are legion. A longer sight radius, less muzzle rise and better accuracy all make sense in that light—a similar ethos that the K6s brings to the revolver game.
Barrel, Cylinder … And Plenty of Them
Nevertheless, not everything about the 4-inch K6s is slight. The gun has both a substantial barrel and cylinder; yet, through some clever geometry, Kimber has kept both slender and manageable.
First, the barrel. It’s a single piece of stainless steel shaped like an inverse teardrop. The narrow bottom runs the length of the bore, creating a shroud for the ejector rod at its aft. At once, this design puts more material desirably toward the muzzle, thereby giving the gun leverage against muzzle rise. At the same tick, the profile remains trim enough to practically disappear on your person. As an added benefit, the barrel makes for an exceedingly smooth draw and re-holster—cutting like a knife in and out of your hanger.
The gun’s push-button cylinder release is quick and intuitive. Also note the flat sides of the cylinder: They keep the K6s slim yet give it some heft. The ejection rod isn’t full length, pushing .357 cartridges out about three-quarters of the way (bone up on your stress reloads!).
The cylinder is equally an oxymoron. A matter of physics, it’s as beefy as any other .357 Magnums, yet it cuts a leaner contour, thanks to how Kimber removes material. Fluting is out; slab-siding the cylinder is the order of the day. It’s an ingenious system.
Kimber situates the flat sides between the chambers so that where the cylinder needs the steel to withstand magnum pressure, it has it. The rest is milled away, making it a mere suggestion when concealed.
This combination does change the fulcrum of the K6s compared to similar revolvers I’ve shot, but not drastically so. The center of gravity is before the trigger, as opposed to behind. This actually balances it better in your hand—while leaving enough material forward to prevent it from becoming a beast when shooting hot loads.
In Control
With a self-defense pedigree, Kimber aimed at intuitiveness with the K6s from the start and carries it over to the Target. Its push-button cylinder release is especially welcome, making reloads fast when the situation calls for it. However, the gun doesn’t boast a full-length ejector rod. This is a point of contention for some (I personally prefer one), but perhaps a minor one, given that most emergency reloads involve tilting the rear of the cylinder groundward. Gravity helps make up the deficit.
The hammer spur is high—fractions of an inch below the rear sight when down. This is, I’m sure, a function of the gun evolving from a “carry” concept. Yet, it’s still within reach to cock the Target into single-action mode quickly with either thumb. It also has plenty of real estate to apply leverage. Additionally, Kimber includes a very positive conical pattern on the spur, which, with even minimal thumb flesh, is aggressive enough to ensure cocking.
A fully adjustable target rear sight allows the shooter to dial in the K6s. However, dovetailed in and a gutter at Target’s frame means the gun is compatible with Kimber’s low-rise combat sights.
The reward for doing so is an exceptional single-action trigger—which might be the highlight of the whole K6s setup. Kimber has won kudos far and wide for its early revolvers’ double-action trigger pull. I’ll attest to that as a result of my time with the Target and snubbie K6s models, it’s excellent. Yes, it’s long and heavy (around 10 pounds), but it’s also smooth as silk and stageable if you so desire.
As nice as it is, it pales to the revolver’s single action. Tripping at the low end of 3 pounds, it’s the nearest thing to a hair trigger you’ll get out of a production revolver. And, as you’d expect, it does wonders on upping the revolver’s overall accuracy potential.
Hand-Eye Coordination
What makes the Target model the “Target model” is its sights and grips. As you might have gathered, the sights are target sights with a fully adjustable rear for windage and elevation. Here, Kimber has textured the rear of the plate to flatten it and ensure no glare. Up front is a steep ramp front sight with a bold-orange fiber-optic pipe that really catches and keeps the eye. Conveniently, both are replaceable—the rear is dovetailed into the frame, and the front is pinned to the barrel. And Kimber does have a selection of sight upgrades, including night combat sights.
As to the K6s Target’s grips, they’re a rich walnut with a satin finish and ample diamond checkering. Combined with contours on the rear of the frame, they provide a fairly positive grip and excellent access to the controls. You can get a solid high grip with the layout, thanks to an undercut trigger guard (which, incidentally, is large enough to comfortably run with gloves). And, while the grips run on the small side, even for a guy with medium-sized hands such as myself, they won’t muddle up a traditional two-handed grip.
Dropping the Hammer
For my range exercise, I ran four different rounds through the K6s Target, striving for a cross-section of target and defensive ammunition. Given that the gun is more than fit for either, it seemed fair to go this route. The choices included 158-grain Speer Gold Dot, 130-grain Federal HST in .38 Special +P, 125-grain Sig Elite Performance FMJ and 110-grain Winchester white box JHP.
No matter what the gun grazed on, it didn’t disappoint. Across the board, the 4-inch K6s produced the results you’d expect from a gun in this class, with no group average exceeding 2.5 inches when shooting at 25 yards off a fixed rest in single-action mode. It particularly shined with the Winchester ammo, which produced the best single group at of the day—1.6 inches—and the best overall average, at 1.8 inches.
Running the gun closer in free fire, the double-action trigger lived up to my expectations from dry-firing and previous encounters with other K6s snubbies. Especially with lighter to moderate loads, I could run the gun fast and accurately—a tribute, in part, to the excellent sights Kimber has mounted on the gun. This, in my book, further heartened my belief that the K6s has the chops as a well-equipped self-defense gun.
One concern I had heading out was the lack of texture in the sight radius, given the stainless steel construction. This was unfounded: The frame’s satin finish was more than enough to dissuade any glare, even on a cloudless, bluebird day. Overall, the grips were the only hang-up for me.
As mentioned earlier in this article, they were slimmer than I prefer—a fact backed up when I shot some of the hotter and heavy ammo. However, I don’t believe this is a deal-breaker; it’s simply more of a personal preference.
Parting Shot
Bringing a full revolver lineup to fruition, Kimber has done a great service to the gun-shooting world … for a price ($989 MSRP). Is the gun worth that? Yes: I very much think so. Bringing it to this point with a full-sized revolver fit for concealed carry is a boon for the armed citizen.
Apex Tactical Specialties allows you to go long with the FN 509 with its new LongSlide upgrade.
How The LongSlide Enhance The 509:
Outfits the pistol with a 5-inch barrel.
Premium internal parts, including barrel, extractor and striker.
Optics ready and compatible with all RMR-pattern sights.
Busy as ever, at this point FN USA has turned out a 509 for every occasion. Well, almost. Have a hankering for some sweet, sweet long-slide action from the polymer-frame striker-fired you’re plum out of luck. Despite the pistol’s admirable trigger and on-the-mark accuracy, FN hasn’t seen fit to turn out a supersized configuration, though they have for other models … ahem, the FNS.
No need to aimlessly twiddle your thumbs waiting for FN to go long, however, since Apex Tactical Specialties have done it for them. The Arizona aftermarket parts specialist unveiled its much anticipated 509 LongSlide this week and the upgrade certainly appears to have been worth the wait. Though interested parties will have their wallets considerably lightened extending their FN pistol, the base price for the Apex Tactical Specialties component is $600. But there’s plenty of bang for the buck in the LongSlide.
First things first, what you essentially get with the Apex component is a fully-assembled 5-inch slide (with barrel) compatible with all variations of the 9mm pistol. From there, the LongSlide boasts several impressive design points that should optimize the elongated element once on the frame. Most notable, at least at first blush, are the slide cuts, meant to reduce the mass of the slide to mimic the factory iteration. But there are some nuances as well, including a topside cut that makes the LongSlide compatible with all RMR pattern optics and very positive chevron-shaped cocking serration fore and aft.
Apex Tactical Specialties extends its engineering prowess to the internals, using top-shelf, in-house parts. These include the company’s Heavy Duty Striker, the Apex Failure Resistant Extractor and premium hammer-forged 9mm barrel with a 1:10” twist rate. A nice touch, customers can select between a standard length 5.00” barrel or a 1/2-28 threaded barrel with thread protector and captive O-ring. Also up to the shooter are sights, with a choice between standard height XS 3-Dot night sights or suppressor height sights (black/black). Finally, you can choose between either a black Melonite or stainless steel finish.
At the time of writing, Apex Tactical Specialties was taking pre-orders on the 509 LongSlide and expect to deliver within three or four weeks.
For more information on the Apex Tactical Specialties LongSlide, please visit apextactical.com.
Looking to go armed, but are stuck in the weeds as to what to arm yourself with? Here are 20 excellent concealed carry gun options that will keep you on the defensive.
