Long on upgrades, Smith & Wesson introduces a gem with the Performance Center M&P9 Shield EZ.
What Are The Pistol's Improvements:
Choice of black, silver and gold accents
Ported barrel
Flat-faced, skeletonized trigger
Aftermarket sights
Tuned action
Smith & Wesson, among others, has struck a chord with those who’ve previously found semi-automatic pistols somewhat inaccessible. Focusing on ways to make manipulating the gun easier, in particular the slide, the company M&P Shield EZ variants have opened the style of handgun to a greater swath of the shooting world. Now established, the 9mm model is getting some out and out upgrades.
Recently introduced, the Smith & Wesson Performance Center M&P9 Shield EZ has the look and performance you expect out of a gun from the company’s custom shop. In addition to some eye-catching finishes, the pistol has a number of other notable improvements, including ported barrel, flat-faced skeletonized trigger, aftermarket sights and a tuned action. As to its looks, you can choose from black, silver and gold accents, which certainly give the gun a unique appearance. And really the extras available in the Performance Center M&P9 Shield EZ won’t run you much more over the standard models, with an MSRP of $588.
What hasn’t changed is what makes the pistol easy to manipulate. Like its predecessor, much of the magic of the pistol is thanks to Smith & Wesson breaking from market logic. Opting for an internal hammer, as opposed to the dominant striker-fired, the company was able to incorporate lighter springs into the gun. This, in turn, means less resistance from the slide and less force required to manipulate it in an effective and efficient manner.
More from Smith & Wesson:
Performance Center M&P9 Shield EZ features easy to rack slide, easy to load magazine and custom upgrades
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Smith & Wesson Inc. today launched the new Performance Center M&P9 Shield EZ, chambered in 9mm and featuring a variety of Performance Center upgrades. Building on the popular M&P9 Shield EZ pistol, the new Performance Center models share the same easy-to-use features found across the entire M&P Shield EZ series, and are further enhanced with premium Performance Center features. The Performance Center M&P9 Shield EZ pistols are available with striking black, silver, and gold accents, and include a ported barrel, flat face trigger, tuned action, and more.
Tony Miele, Sr. Director, New Products and Performance Center, said, “Performance Center has the ability to design and manufacture specialty upgrades normally found in aftermarket work, straight from the factory. With the popularity of the M&P9 Shield EZ, we set out to develop Performance Center versions with porting, a tuned action, aftermarket sights, and more. These new pistols deliver easy-to-use features with the custom upgrades that our customers expect the Performance Center to deliver.”
Built for personal and home protection, the new Performance Center M&P9 Shield EZ pistols are the latest addition to the M&P Shield EZ family and feature an 8+1 round capacity and a 3.8” barrel. The Performance Center M&P9 Shield EZ pistol ships with two 8 round magazines that feature a load assist tab for quick, easy loading, as well as a picatinny-style equipment rail to accommodate accessories. The pistol also features an optimal M&P pistol 18-degree grip angle for a natural point of aim, HI-VIZ® Litewave H3™ sights, and a light, crisp trigger.
For more information on the Performance Center M&P9 Shield EZ, please visit smith-wesson.com.
Want all the goodies that made the G3 among Taurus' most popular pistol, but in a package fit for concealed carry? Meet the shrunk down G3c.
How The Taurus G3c Is Tailored For Carry:
More compact 3.2-inch barrel
Enhanced 3rd generation trigger
Rugged steel front and rear sights
This one was as inevitable as the earth’s rotation. The moment the full-sized Taurus G3 hit the market it was a sure bet sooner or later the gunmaker would follow up with a compact model more in tune with concealed carry. That moment has come.
The newly released Taurus G3c gets pretty close to being a reboot of the foundation of the G line of striker-fired pistols—the G2. However, the economical personal-defense option isn’t a carbon copy. Taurus included a number of improvements it integrated into the original G3 to create what should prove a very competent 9mm.
Most notable is the inclusion of Taurus’ 3rd generation trigger launched in the full-sized pistol. The rub on the design is it has a flatter face to promote a more linear trigger pull, thus improve its accuracy potential. Other tweaks include front cocking serrations, steel front and rear three-dot sights and enhanced grips, read a more ergonomic palm swell. Outside of that, the G3c is fairly close to the G2 variants, particularly in size and weight. All have 3.2-inch barrels, 1.2-inch width and tip the scales at 22 ounces.
The Taurus G3c comes in at a very affordable price point with an MSRP of $305.54 and ships with three magazines—10- or 12-round, you’re choice. If you need to up your firepower, 15- and 17-round magazines are available separately.
More From Taurus:
Bainbridge, GA – Taurus, manufacturer of premium handguns for defense, hunting, and sport shooting, is excited to introduce the newest addition to its G-series line of semi-auto pistols, the G3c.
The new G3c 9mm imbues the innovation and performance established by the full-size G3 9mm polymer-frame, striker-fired pistol introduced last year while continuing the go-to dependability and value of the popular G2 series compact Taurus 9mm handguns. The G3c is a great choice for first time, as well as seasoned shooters.
Building on the proven foundation that has made the Taurus G-series among the most popular personal defense/EDC pistols ever, the G3c advances function, reliability, and durability to the next level, starting with the ergonomic frame. Featuring a skillfully contoured palm swell, highly textured grip panels, memory pads for precise and repeatable finger/hand placement, as well as a sculpted, extended magazine base plate, the G3c offers a glove-like fit for most shooters' hands to promote accuracy, ease of operation, and firearm retention. To assist in tactical mag changes in the event dust or grit prevents the magazine from dropping freely, the G3c mag extension includes easy-grip bevel cuts.
Among its many ergonomic features, the G3c offers the 3rd generation trigger system found in the G3, carefully redesigned with a flat trigger face to concentrate finger pressure on the front of the shoe for a straighter pull. This feature allows for shorter trigger reset as well, to promote the delivery of quicker follow-up shots while minimizing trigger jerk. The exceptionally crisp trigger break reduces shot disturbance for greater downrange accuracy.
To assist in operation for shooters of all hand sizes, the G3c has an upgraded slide design that includes both front and rear serrations. This ensures a more positive grip while manipulating the slide for charging, clearing, and makes press-checks easier in ill-lit or dim conditions. For normal light conditions, a visual chamber indicator replaces the mechanical indicator, reducing parts and streamlining the slide profile.
Durability also factors strongly in the new G3c pistol. The G3c slide is treated with a Tenifer finish to minimize scuffing and maximize corrosion resistance, ultimately reducing friction for smoother operation.
Front and rear sights on the G3c have also been upgraded to all-steel construction to withstand the rigors of daily carry. The rear sight is drift-adjustable and includes serrations to reduce glare and promote faster sight acquisition. The G3c is also upgrade-compatible. The rear dovetail is cut with dimensions that accept common aftermarket sights.
The G3c comes from the factory in 10- or 12-round capacities with three magazines included. Available separately are 15- and 17-round factory magazines available at Taurus.
Part of the G-series legacy is an impressive performance-to-price ratio, the G3c does not disappoint. With an MSRP of $305.74, the G3c delivers comfort, reliability, and performance on par with or exceeding that of compact pistols costing significantly more.
The “cape,” or deflector, is attached to the cross piece—ready to deflect brass and drop it right at your feet.
So, picking up spent cases is a drag, particularly if your AR kicks them all over hell and high water. Which is what makes Kinetic Energy Tools brass deflector an out-and-out godsend.
How This Brass Deflector Cuts Clean-Up Time:
Attaches to a scope or Picatinny rail.
Deflects spent brass straight down in one spot.
Made of heavy-duty, heat-resistant nylon and is durable for thousands of rounds.
Folds up to fit in a range bag.
Some people fuss—even obsess—over AR-15 brass ejection direction and distance. I’m pretty easygoing about which way it goes and how far. Except.
Except when I have to pick it up. My gun club has a “you-shot-it-you-pick-it-up” policy. I know; I wrote the club’s rule book. Literally.
So, there’s your AR brass, strewn all over the range, even when you were standing in one spot. What to do?
Well, there’s the military or CMP gizmo, which is a plastic deflector that clips into the carry handle of your AR.
Oh, wait! No carry handle? And no desire to simply change the direction? And the CMP device is just there to keep from tossing brass on the guy next to you.
Kinetic Energy Tools To The Rescue
The Kinetic Energy Tools (KET) brass deflector is simplicity itself. You take one of the three plastic clips, and you attach the tongue to it. Then, slide the plastic stiffener into the tongue. Clip the assembly onto the top rail of your AR-15. Every AR has a top rail these days, right? Then, you attach the deflector cape onto the clip.
Voilà! Your brass is dropped at your feet. You could, if you were diligent enough, even put a cardboard box at your feet right where the brass drops and have the majority of it fall into the box and save you time.
If you have a scope attached where the clip would go, use one of the two scope clips (one clip is 1 inch; the other is 30mm). The three clips are necessary simply because some people, even though they have a top rail on their receiver, have the rail so crowded with optics that the only place left is on a scope.
The tongue has a length of hook-and-loop fastener on it, and you can adjust just where and at what angle the “cape” (deflector) sticks in place.
Here, you see the KET clip on the top rail, with the attachment panel standing out over the ejection port.
Now, someone will probably get the bright idea of “Let’s stick a bag on there and save the picking up.” Bad idea: The weight of the brass will hamper your aim, and you’ll build bad habits of swaying and compensating for the weight.
Light Bulb Moment
The deflector is made of heavy-duty fabric—what appears to be Cordura nylon—and you can have your brass deflector in any of six colors or color combinations.
There are also two hook-and-loop panels, so you can attach a morale patch, club patch or other extra if you wish to have that look.
The KET Brass Deflector attaches to scopes and Picatinny rails dropping spent brass to the ground by the shooter’s feet. Clean up has never been easier. Get Yours Now
Because it’s lightweight and heat resistant (not that I expect to subject my brass deflector to any significant heat. But it’s nice to know that hot brass won’t be a problem), you can use it until it gets so grubby from powder residue, dirt, grime and mud from the range that you can’t stand to touch it. Remove any patches and just slosh it around in some soapy water, rinse, and leave it in the sun to dry—but don’t leave it where some light-fingered member of your gun club might see it.
When you’re done shooting, pop it off your rifle, fold or wad it up, and stuff it back into your range bag for the next time. The whole combo takes up less space—a lot less—than a 20-round AR-15 magazine.
This brass deflector is definitely one of those forehead-smacking, “why-didn’t-I-think-of-this?!” ideas. And, at the price ($33), you’d be wise to get two—not because it’s such a hassle to move it from one rifle to the next, but because you’re going to stuff it into a range bag or a rifle case at the end of the day and probably use a different bag or case for your next trip. In that case, what do you do? Why, you use your backup KET Brass Deflector, of course.
Head-shooting an alligator isn’t the same as shooting a human trying to kill you. Even so, the two have one thing in common: If you place your shots poorly, things tend to get progressively worse.
Proper shot placement is a rather effective at solving complex problems—whether they’re caused by a human or a large and toothy reptile.
Effective self-defense with a handgun encompasses a variety of elements such as reliability, shooter skill, ammunition performance and shot placement. Alligators aren’t included in this list, but they are relevant. No, I’m not suggesting you’ll have to defend your life from an attacking alligator. However, depending on your job description or level of stupidity, it’s a possibility, just not likely.
Alligators are relevant because they are notoriously difficult to kill. The nervous system of this apex predator is extremely advanced, and the species is considered to be more than 150 million years old. If you want to kill one with a firearm—and do it quickly—you have to shoot it in a specific spot. If you can hit that spot, the caliber of your bullet, its design and the cartridge it was fired from matter very little. In fact, alligators are often effectively hunted with .22 Magnum rifles.
I know all this because on several occasions, I’ve hunted alligators with a man who might know more about them than anyone else.
Wayne “Hoho” Brooks lives in Christmas, Florida, and raises and hunts alligators for a living. He learned about ’gators from his father, who was instrumental in early American ’gator farming. When I hunted with Hoho, we cruised the Everglades in an air boat and used compact handguns—.380s and 9mms—that were easy to carry on your person, just like lots of folks who carry for personal protection every day.
This 12-foot-long alligator was taken with a single round of Winchester Silvertip ammunition from a .380 ACP compact handgun. As an African professional hunter friend of mine so often astutely observes, “It’s about the placement of the pin prick, not the swing of the sledgehammer.”
On my first hunt I asked Hoho, “Is this enough gun for ’gators?”
Only if You Can ‘Shoot’
He grinned and replied, “Only if you can shoot.” He did not mean “shoot,” as in your ability to pull the trigger; he meant “shoot,” as in your ability to hit the right spot.
To kill an alligator with a .380, you simply shoot it just behind the rectangular hard plate on top of the head. A bullet from just about anything placed here—in an area about the size of a golf ball—ends all of the excitement immediately.
I’ve probably taken a dozen alligators with .380 and 9mm Winchester Silvertip ammunition, which are not loads most consider to be premium when it comes to personal protection. I’ve also seen several ’gators that were poorly hit become a boat-side fiasco, during which teeth were the only thing you could seem to see or think of.
Modern defensive ammunition for the 380 ACP is very good. No, it won’t compare to the 9mm Luger or larger-caliber cartridges, but with proper shot placement, the desired result will be achieved.
The point of all this isn’t to give you advice on what kind of alligator gun to buy or what kind of ammunition to load in your ’gator-getter. I mention this because if you’re trying to shoot to save your life with a handgun, act as if you’re shooting alligators. By that, I mean: Put the bullet in the right spot!
Putting The Bullet In The Right Spot
When it comes to firearms training, we too often get caught up in ninja-like drills and gyrations on the range. What will matter most is quickly hitting the right spot.
Shooting African buffalo is very similar to shooting alligators or bad guys: Place the first shot poorly, and you’d best hope your life insurance is paid up. Buffalo tend to get, well, pissed off when you shoot them poorly, and they develop an insatiable desire to explain that to you in a very inhospitable manner. Shoot them right, and they run several yards, fall over and die.
Cover Your Six, Get More Personal Defense Info:
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For Personal Defense, You Don’t Want A Custom Glock
Of course, most of the tactical wizards of the world—folks who’ve never seen someone get shot or even seen someone who’s been shot—like to pontificate about how a .45 ACP is so much more effective than a 9mm and how much of an imbecile you must be if you carry a .380 for self-defense. Never mind the fact that a properly placed bullet from a .380 ACP will stop a 300-pound alligator—instantly.
Triangles
Now, I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking all this talk about alligators deals with head/brain shots. Well, you’re 100 percent correct. If you lung-shoot an alligator with just about anything less than suitable for African buffalo, you’ll have what a friend of mine likes to call a “situation.” I’m not suggesting you attempt to shoot an attacker in the head—that’s a damned small moving target that’s not easy to hit when you’re scared as hell. What I am suggesting is that you practice shooting so that when you have to shoot to save your life, you can put the bullets where they belong.
This common self-defense load from Federal for the 9mm Luger will work just fine for personal protection—as long as the shooter does their part with correct shot placement. It works just fine on alligators too.
Where is that? Imagine a triangle that has the two nipples and the junction of the collar bones as its three angles. On the average human, this isosceles triangle has an area of about 24 inches. This area equates to a circle with a diameter of about 5½ inches.
If you can’t regularly—and on demand—put all your shots from whatever distance you’re shooting into a 5-inch circle, you need to spend more time working on the basic fundamentals of marksmanship: sight alignment and trigger control. Ideally, you should be able to put your shots into a circle half that size, because your worst shot in practice will likely be your best in a gunfight. And, you might very well need to execute a head shot as part of a failure drill or because that’s the only target you have.
Simply put, spend more time training to kill alligators. Properly shot placement rather effective at solving complex problems, whether they’re caused by a human goblin or a large and toothy reptile.
If you think engraved guns are things of dusty old trade shops, then you haven't seen what the modern masters are turning out.
This article is an excerpt from The Illustrated History of Firearms, 2nd Edition. From the earliest hand cannons dating back to 1350, to the finest sporting rifles of the 21st Century, this 2nd edition of The Illustrated History of Firearms covers them all. Get Your Copy
Despite the masterpieces of earlier eras, the most beautiful firearms engraving of all time is being done in the modern era. Master artisans still carve beautiful works by hand. The relatively new technique called “bulino” expanded the possibilities of engraving. Bulino uses hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of hand-punched dots of varying diameter and depth to create almost photo-realistic images on metal. Machine or laser-cut engraving has made attractively decorated firearms accessible to the mass market, but the works made with a machine process can never compare to the handwork that created the pieces shown here.
Browning Auto .22 rifle with Old West scenes by Lee Griffiths.
Manrico Torcoli bulino engraving of nudes and big cats on Peter Hofer single-shot rifle.
Giancarlo Pedretti bulino hunting dog scene on Connecticut Shotgun over/under.
Alfredo Bregoili swan & vine engraving on Rizzini side-by-side shotgun.
Engraved guns don't get much more spectacular. Firmo Fracassi bulino engraved Rizzini sshotgun, circa 1989. Fracassi is generally considered the finest bulino engraver in the world.
“Vampire Hunter’s Kit” by Colt Master Engraver Leonardo Francolini, circa1977. Colt Detective Special engraved with bats in the flutes, a cross over the muzzle, and a rampant colt on a coffin. It is in a coffin-shaped case with silver bullets with carved vampire faces, an oiler labeled “Holy Water,” and a wooden stake attachment for the cleaning rod. It has been called “One of the most unusual guns Colt ever made,” and “Francolini’s greatest masterpiece.”
Manrico Torcoli bulino engravings of elephants in the mist engraving on Beretta EEGS double rifle.
Lee Griffiths nautical-themed Bergmann Bayard pistol.
Manrico Torcoli bulino engravings of cape buffalo in the mist engraving on Beretta EEGS double rifle.
Angelo Galeazzi bulino engraving, Beretta Set of Five double shotguns depicting the history of hunting.
Stocked in German beechwood, the Rossi Rio Bravo lever-action rifle offer rimfire fans a class way to pitch .22 LR downrange.
How The Rossi Rio Bravo Measures Up:
Outfitted with 18-inch barrel
Weighs in at a manageable 5.5 pounds
Boasts 15-round tubular magazine
Comes with factory-installed sling swivels
Lever-action rifle and .22 LR—a match made in heaven. If you're honest with yourself the combination and a mountain of plinkable targets might make for nearly the perfect lazy summer afternoon. Rossi arms you up for just such enjoyment with the newest addition to its already healthy lever-action rimfire rifle collection.
Dubbed the Rio Bravo, the 18-inch barreled lever-action rifle is a classy-looking iron, thanks to its German beechwood stock. And it is set up for nearly any task you could ask of a quick-firing rimfire, from pest control to small-game hunting and, of course, drilling bullseyes. It should prove a fast on the target as well, boasting a semi-buckhorn rear sight, which is perhaps only second to a ghost ring in expedients and accurate target transition.
Other notables on the rifle include 15-round tubular magazine, cross-bolt safety and very manageable weight—5.5 pounds. It looks to be a solid iron for youth and those just cutting their teeth on shooting sports, as well as seasoned rimfire aficionados. Plus, it’s priced to move with an MSRP of $347.
More From Rossi:
Bainbridge, GA – Rossi®, manufacturer of specialty rimfire rifles, break-action shotguns, and straight-wall cartridge lever-action and revolver rifles, introduces a new .22 LR long gun called the Rio Bravo.
The Rossi Rio Bravo is based on the company's popular line of R92 lever-action firearms. Featuring a rich German beechwood or rugged black polymer forearm and stock with polished black metal finish, the Rio Bravo brings the traditional rifle experience to the rimfire category.
The hammer-fired rifle is built with a smooth sliding lever action and incorporates a cross-bolt safety system. Up to 15 rounds of .22 LR can be fed into the magazine tube to deliver extended firing sessions between reloading. The Rio Bravo utilizes traditional buckhorn sights on the wood model while the synthetic model will have fiber optic sights and the rear sight can be adjusted for precise zero. For easy carrying in the field, the rifle includes a barrel band sling stud mounted ahead of the front sight and a rear sling stud in the stock.
The Rio Bravo is well-suited for small-game hunting, adventurous target shooting, around-the-farm pest control, and can be used for youth training.
Rio Bravo Specs: Caliber: .22 LR Capacity: 15 rounds Finish: polished black Furniture: German beechwood or black synthetic Action: lever Safety: cross-bolt Barrel Length: 18 in. Overall Length: 36 in. Weight: 5.5 lbs.
For more information on the Rossi Rio Bravo, please visit rossiusa.com.
Despite other .30-calibers supplanting the .300 Savage in popularity, the efficient cartridge still proves a favorite of hunter for its accuracy and legacy.
What You Need To Know About The .300 Savage:
Ballisticly, very similar to the .30-06 Springfield and .308 Winchester.
Gained popularity with the success of the iconic Savage Model 99.
Winchester, Hornady, Remington and Federal offer this cartridge in commercial loads.
Historical Notes
Developed and introduced by Savage Arms Co. for the Model 99 lever-action rifle in 1920, the .300 Savage was later chambered in Savage’s models 20 and 40 bolt-actions. The .300 Savage was intended as a cartridge that would work through medium-length actions and deliver ballistics similar to the .30-06.
Remington chambered it in the Model 81 autoloader, 760 pump-action and 722 bolt-action. The cartridge achieved considerable popularity, but it has since lost out to the superior .308 Winchester.
The .300 Savage provided fans of lever-actions, pump-actions and semi-autos with performance close enough to the .30-06 to make rifles of this type useful for most American big game.
The original factory load used a 150-grain bullet and matched the original .30-06 sporting load at 2,700 fps. If loaded to original factory pressure levels with IMR4064, it can significantly, but safely, exceed that velocity. It’s not adequate for moose or brown bear, but it is a fine deer and elk cartridge and is a better choice than the .30-30 for deer under any conditions.
The .308 Winchester fulfills the same function as a short-action cartridge and has somewhat more power, so it has gradually replaced the .300 Savage. However, many thousands of .300 Savage rifles are still in use, so the cartridge will continue to be loaded for many more years. In a bolt-action rifle, it’s as accurate as any other .30-caliber. Winchester, Hornady, Remington and Federal offer this ammunition as commercial loads. Smaller concerns, such as HSM and Jamison Brass and Ammunition, also make runs of this load.
Composed of rugged polycarbonate and securable nearly anywhere, the Snap Safe TrekLite keeps your gun under lock and key anywhere you roam.
The Snap Safe TrekLite is large enough to hold a Government model and a spare magazine or two.
OK, you have a CPL (and who doesn’t these days?), but there are still places you can’t go when you are carrying. If you are smart, you keep a laminated card in your car to remind you, Can I go into XYZ? while carrying.
And if you can’t?
Just leaving your sidearm tucked underneath the seat while you “only take a minute” to go into the post office, DMV office or bank is an invitation to disaster. If it’s gone upon your return, you have many headaches, possible liability and perhaps even revocation of your CPL … and that’s if nothing is done with your “missing” firearm.
So, lock it up.
TrekLite Safe
The TrekLite from Snap Safe is just the ticket for that. Instead of a heavy steel box, which can rust if left in the car, you have a rugged polycarbonate-made box that’s not only lockable, it can also be secured to the car.
The box is big enough to hold a 1911 Government model or similar-sized carry gun. So, there’s room for the pistol, the magazine or magazines, a knife and all the stuff you usually carry but isn’t allowed where you are going.
The lid locks with a key that you keep with you. The box is tightly fitted and tough enough so that someone isn’t going to be prying it open without “manly” tools (if someone can get it open bare handed, they probably don’t need a pistol).
A bonus is the anchoring cable. It’s really stout and vinyl coated, and the securing method to the box does not protrude into the box. As a result, you don’t have to worry about your anchor marring your blaster.
To anchor the TrekLite in place, loop the cable around or through something. Then, loop it through itself before attaching it to the TrekLite safe.
Loop the cable around a seat bolster in your car or truck and then through itself. Slip the end into the slot in the box, add your pistol and extras, and lock it. Tuck it out of sight, and it’ll be there when you return.
A quick aside here: Some will advise that you unload the pistol when storing it. Me? I figure the more you’re handling it—simultaneously trying to stay inconspicuous—the greater your chances are of having an accident.
So, my process is to get myself settled, get the box ready and then take a final look around. Then, in an easy, smooth, unremarkable motion, I draw and slide the pistol in and close the lid. When returning to my car, I look to make sure no one is paying attention (it’s remarkable how much you can “disappear” if you don’t draw attention to yourself), and then I unlock, remove and holster my firearm and get on with life.
The standard rule is that you don’t store a loaded firearm in a safe. However, we have to weigh competing harms here. While in a hotel room, at home or visiting friends or relatives, you have plenty of time—and privacy—to unload and store. With a vehicle, the more you’re moving and the more you’re handling, the greater the chances are of being observed … and the greater the chances of an AD/ND.
As a friend of mine is wont to say, “We each have to find our own salvation.” I do it my way. If that doesn’t work for you, then do it your way. I won’t judge.
Speaking of hotel scenarios: The Snap Safe TrekLite works great—provided you make sure the metal thing you’re attaching it to can’t be lifted, moved or disassembled. It would really be too bad to attach it to the bed, only to discover later that simply lifting the box spring allowed the safe and its items to be taken.
The cable attaches to the TrekLite in such a way that it won’t scratch your sidearm.
The Snap Safe TrekLite is also TSA-approved. In this instance, you use the cable looped around the interior struts of your suitcase; that is, the ones for the trolly handle. You might have to make a couple of slices in the lining to gain access. So, lock your pistol in the safe and then secure it inside the suitcase. Proceed normally with airline rigamarole and TSA regulations. Leave it on top of your clothing, in case TSA wants to see it. And keep the key: The regulations require that if the firearm is unlocked for inspection, it must be done in your presence. Don’t hand over the keys.
The best part of the Snap Safe TrekLite—besides weighing only 25 ounces (less than your sidearm might weigh)? It has an MSRP of $28.
Really, you should buy one just because it’s inexpensive; so if you ever need one in the future, you’ll already have it.
For more information on the Snap Safe Treklite safe, please visit snapsafe.com.
Designed for the .50 BMG and featuring an integrated muzzle brake, SureFire's SOCOM50-SPS suppressor does away with a majority of an extreme long-range rifle's recoil and muzzle flash. It also does a number on its report too.
What The SOCOM50-SPS Delivers:
Delivers up to 99 percent flash reduction to conceal the shooter’s location
Significant sound and dust signature reduction
Tight tolerances and bore concentricity result in excellent accuracy
There’s nothing small about the .50 BMG. That goes for its report, recoil and muzzle flash. As they say in the late-night infomercial, “If there was only some way to take care of them all.”
If you tinker in extreme long-range calibers you know there is—a suppressor. Of course, cans large enough to muzzle a .50 BMG aren’t exactly falling off store shelves, which makes SureFire’s latest addition to their lineup so welcome. Boasting some clever engineering, the SOCOM50-SPS should make your massive zip-code-to-zip-code cannon just a tad more manageable.
So, what does SureFire’s device bring to the table that other .50-caliber suppressors don’t? For one, an integrated muzzle brake, which by the company’s numbers whittles away a rifle’s recoil by around 66 percent. Additionally, this design point also does away with 99 percent of the muzzle blast, thus keeping your firing position clandestine. Well, as clandestine as you can get pitching .50 BMG.
SureFire’s new suppressor isn’t chicken scratch, with a healthy $2,950 MSRP. But if you’re the type that shoots .50 BMG for fun or profit, top-shelf prices are nothing new.
More From SureFire:
Fountain Valley, CA—SureFire, LLC, manufacturer of the world’s finest—and most innovative—illumination tools and tactical products, is proud to announce the SOCOM50-SPS suppressor. This innovative suppressor tames the violent recoil, flash and sound of.50-cal precision rifles resulting in immense tactical and health benefits for the shooter.
The SOCOM50-SPS utilizes an integrated muzzle brake which decreases recoil by 66% to greatly reduce impact on the shooter and allow faster follow-up shots. This reduction in recoil occurs all while maintaining muzzle flash reduction by an amazing 99% to conceal the shooter’s location.
The violence of the .50-caliber rifle platform isn’t confined forward of the muzzle. Blast overpressure and acoustic exposure from unsuppressed .50-cal rifles have a substantial negative impact on the end user. Recent testing by the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) has shown the SOCOM50-SPS to virtually eliminate blast overpressure. Additionally, the sound from unsuppressed .50-cal rifles is typically so high that most hearing protection does not provide enough noise reduction to sufficiently protect the shooter from hearing damage. The SureFire SOCOM50-SPS reduces sound at the shooter’s ear by approximately 30 dB, preserving the shooters hearing, aiding their ability to communicate, and increasing their operational performance overall.
The SOCOM50-SPS suppressor mounts to rifles via the SureFire muzzle brake. Together they provide rock-solid attachment in seconds with extremely minimal and consistent point-of-aim/point-of-impact shift for supreme accuracy. Compatible muzzle brakes include the SFMB-TAC50, SFMB-HT1 and SFMB-M107.
SOCOM50-SPS Specs: Caliber: .50 BMG Construction: Stainless Steel Coating: DLC and Cerakote Finish Body Color: Black Diameter: 2.5 in Length: 14.4 in Weight: 86 oz
For more information on the SOCOM50-SPS, please visit surefire.com
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The Suppressor: How Is It Made, It Works And How To Buy One
No reason to settle for off the shelf. Your perfect Magnum Research BFR is one click away. Better yet, it won't break the bank.
Custom revolvers have been a staple of my handgun life, a clear obsession and, well, an expensive habit.
I justify the practice of commissioning revolvers being built by gunsmiths (who charge more by the hour than plumbers) by convincing myself that I want the revolver the way I want it, plain and simple. It’s clearly a form of rationalization, but I’m okay with it … my wife, not so much.
What if I told you there’s another way of getting what amounts to a full-blown custom without the steep price tag and lengthy waits associated with a custom single-action revolver build? Would it pique your interest?
The author’s favorite production grip frame by far is Magnum Research’s interpretation of the Bisley grip. His was fitted with black Micarta—one of the most durable grip materials available to mortal man.
It should. It shifted my focus entirely.
The custom revolver world is an underground subset of hardcore revolver geeks who live and breathe custom-tailored, single-action revolvers from such legendary builders as John Linebaugh, Hamilton Bowen, Jack Huntington, Jim Stroh, Dave Clements, John Gallagher and Alan Harton, to name a few. With these coveted names come long waiting lists, high price tags—and artwork in blued steel and walnut.
Form Follows Function
I’m a handgun hunter, and I make no bones about it. Even those pretty custom revolvers of mine get carried in the field and dragged through the mud and inclement weather. That’s why I have them. If they can’t tolerate field conditions, however they are defined, they don’t deserve space in my safe. So, form follows function for me.
The long-framed BFR is equipped with an oversized, counterbored, five-shot cylinder. Originally designed to encapsulate the .45/70 Government, the extra-long cylinder features enough free bore to ramp speeds up to impressive levels.
Enter Magnum Research and the BFR—the “Biggest, Finest Revolver.”
Established in 1999, Magnum Research entered the revolver-building business with the introduction of the BFR, chambered in the old warhorse .45-70 Government. Magnum Research has since redesigned its revolvers; and today, the company produces both long- and short-framed revolvers in a range of calibers to suit just about everyone’s needs. There is no wider assortment of hunting calibers and configurations offered under one roof than that of Magnum Research. There is literally something for everyone and every game animal to walk this earth.
A subsidiary of Kahr Arms, Magnum Research of Minneapolis, Minnesota, offers a whole line of long-framed and short-framed stainless steel, single-action revolvers in both standard caliber/configurations and a plethora of custom Precision Center offerings.
MR Precision Center: Build Your Own
The big news out of Magnum Research’s Precision Center is the Custom BFR website (CustomBFRrevolver.com). This is where the consumer can build his or her very own custom-configured BFR revolver from a host of options from standard catalog calibers, as well as a number of Precision Center-only calibers. This also includes barrel length, barrel type (round or octagonal), fluted or unfluted cylinders, and a number of cool finishes—such as color case hardening and the new-for-this-year black nitride finish.
Magnum Research outfits all its revolvers (custom and production) with LPA’s excellent, fully adjustable rear sight. This feature is moot, because the author equipped his BFR with an optic mounted via the supplied sight base.
Everything is headed up by production and BFR supervisor and master gun builder Brett Pikula, who takes excessive pride in turning out truly fine revolvers for the discriminating consumer. Granted, some of the more eclectic custom features requiring specialized machine work aren’t available from the Precision Center; there is a long enough list of options to make your revolver uniquely yours. Many more options do exist, so we recommend you head over to the website and look for yourself. I am sure you will be able to find something there that will appeal to you.
The Precision Center is busy taking custom customer orders for unique BFR revolvers on a daily basis, and the current wait time is right around four months.
Outfitting the Long-Framed BFR
When the Custom BFR website was launched, I saw my opportunity to outfit a long-framed BFR the way I wanted it.
The new website is a snap to negotiate (CustomBFRrevolver.com). Seen here is the options list from which you build out your custom BFR.
Using the site is a piece of cake. Simply go down the list of options, choose them with a click, and watch the revolver come together. Even someone as computer illiterate as I am had no trouble negotiating the new website. The beauty of it is that not long after submitting my order, I received a call from my FFL! It’s that simple. This site is so easy to use, I fear it’s going to cost me a lot of money in the very near future.
This revolver is to be my do-everything wonder revolver. For that reason, I felt the .460 Smith & Wesson Magnum personifies the term, “Jack of all trades.” I was reluctant to embrace this cartridge when it was first released to the public, because it was saddled with less-than-ideal bullets for big game, with an emphasis on velocity and longer ranges. I was not impressed.
Then, a good friend and hunting partner purchased a BFR in .460 S&W and proceeded to knock down virtually all game—ranging from smallish Texas whitetail up through Cape buffalo and a whole lot in between—with one load. I took notice. When I shot it, the abuse level, when loaded to maximum big-game-wreaking levels, was negligible, to say the very least. Hmm … maybe there’s something to this.
Just like every other piece of this revolver, the fit and function of the loading port gate is precise and easy to manipulate.
Let me note that many justify the purchase of a .460 (of either variant) by citing the flexibility of being able to shoot .45 Colt, .454 Casull and .460 Smith & Wesson through the same firearm without ill effects. It sounds great on paper, but I will say that in my experience, the shorter .45-caliber cartridges tend not to deliver accuracy to their inherent potential. That same free bore that is so useful to the .460 and its long case (1.8 inches) seems to work to the detriment of the shorter-cased .45s. It’s just too long a jump for the bullet. I’m not saying you won’t get acceptable accuracy from shooting cowboy-action-level .45 Colt loads through your BFR or Smith & Wesson; and I didn’t order this large chunk of steel to shoot powder puff loads through it with okay accuracy. These revolvers are capable of amazing accuracy, and they deliver an impressive payload at rather high speeds.
More Details
So, my new custom BFR would be a .460 built on MR’s stretch-framed revolver. I’ve spent time with the 10-inch variant of the stretch-frame, and the balance was poor for anything outside of a situation where a solid rest is available. Any revolver I take to the field absolutely must be able to be shot while standing on my “hind” legs. However, with the 7½-inch barrel, shootability increases exponentially, and it can be shot comfortably offhand. I specified a 7½-inch barrel.
MR’s excellent Bisley grip frame got the nod, because there was nothing commercially available that is better for controlling recoil and mitigating its negative effects. It looks odd—sort of like a banana in shape—but it flat-out works.
Back from getting the black nitride finish applied, the custom .460 BFR is ready to reassemble.
Like all BFRs, this one was equipped with an oversized, counterbored, unfluted, five-shot cylinder. Keep in mind that the length of the cylinder was originally designed to encapsulate the massive (by revolver standards) .45/70 Government. While it seems that a shorter cylinder would be beneficial, the longer free bore of the too-long cylinder seems to work in the .460’s favor, delivering consistently higher velocities than the equivalent X-frame by Smith & Wesson, even when equipped with a longer barrel.
Also like all BFRs, this one has a free-wheeling pawl, making loading and unloading a stress-free exercise: The cylinder will rotate in either direction when the loading gate is open. A locking base pin keeps the cylinder supported in the frame.
The excellent LPA adjustable rear sight was mounted on my custom BFR; it was of no consequence, because I would be taking advantage of the .460 Smith & Wesson Magnum’s long-range prowess by mounting an optic.
‘Darth Vader’ … Plus
As you’ve been able to surmise from the photos, I chose an all-black theme with black nitride covering all of the revolver’s metal, rounded out with black Micarta grips. Think “Darth Vader”—but with a whole lot more attitude and a much louder bark. This thing is downright evil-looking. Black nitride is one tough finish that is nearly impervious to scratching and mishandling. It will make for a great field revolver in virtually all weather conditions.
I intend to drag this piece around the world on a variety of big-game hunts.
It’s a big revolver, but with its 7½-inch barrel, it is surprisingly balanced. I would equip it with a red-dot and scope with Leupold quick-detach rings on the supplied optic base and then switch between them, depending on the hunt and the terrain. The trigger breaks at a creep-less 3 pounds and is as good as any custom I have handled/shot from the top dogs of the custom-revolver-building world.
Testing the BFR
I gathered myriad factory ammunition from Hornady, Buffalo Bore, Federal Premium, Swift and Underwood to test through this beast.
Brett Pikula personally fits, assembles and builds these custom offerings.
Let me say that you will not go unnoticed at your local range. This thing is loud, necessitating doubling up on hearing protection in an attempt to hang on to what hearing I have left (my hearing isn’t nearly as bad as I let on. Don’t tell my wife). The high SAAMI-specified maximum pressure is 65,000 psi, so, like its older sibling, the .454 Casull, it creates a very loud report.
The big BFR delivered laser-like accuracy from nearly every load I ran through it (see the accuracy table at the top of this page). It is rather remarkable—a testament to the quality of the loads that are produced for this high-speed .45-caliber cartridge.
Recoil, as I mentioned previously, wasn’t all that bad. Okay; maybe I’m not the most sensitive fella on the recoil front. However, I can say with certainty that compared to some of my other staples, it really isn’t all that bad. The weight of the BFR absorbs much of the abuse, making it, dare I say, rather pleasant to shoot—except, of course, for the ear-splitting noise levels.
The finished product, reassembled and ready to test-fire, will then get boxed and shipped to the anxious person who ordered it. Turn-around time is quick.
My relationship with my .460 BFR is still in its infancy, but I really like what I have seen thus far. The finish should prove to be tough in the field. The efficacy of the round has already been proven, and the accuracy is undoubtedly promising.
Everything I wanted was obtained via a simple click on the online order form—and I didn’t have to wait years to make noise on my range. So, what’s next? Well, I’ll keep you posted!
Springfield Armory Vickers Tactical Master Class is a fighting 1911, enhanced to give you the edge and priced within nearly any shooter’s budget.
If you have the money, a Vicker’s 1911 proves a fairly good investment. Input from U.S. Army 1st SFOD-Delta combat veteran Larry Vickers, these guns are out-and-out fighters with BBQ-gun good looks. You can thank Wilson Combat’s master manufacturing methods for the latter aspect. Of course, for many, these gems remain little more than glossy-magazine-page daydreams given their price tag.
Perhaps no longer. An interesting partnership has arisen to put Vicker’s designs into more hands. It goes by the name Springfield Armory Vickers Tactical Master Class 1911, though Wilson Combat and Lipsey also play roles in making the .45 ACP come to fruition.
At $1,495, the 5-inch barreled pistol still isn’t chicken scratch, but it falls well within the budget of more shooters than Wilson Combat options with Vicker’s roll mark. Springfield doesn’t skimp either with the Vickers Tactical Master Class. It’s up to snuff, built around a forged steel frame and slide. Furthermore, it boasts a number of other desirable assets including aluminum match-grade trigger, Wilson Combat Bullet Proof hammer and safety, 8-round Vicker’s Duty Magazine, G10 grips and Vicker’s Elite Sights. The sights are especially nice, U-notch night sights that are very intuitive. On one other point, the grips and cocking serrations are pretty unique, both a woven pattern that facilitates an aggressive and positive handle without being uncomfortable.
For the price, the Vickers Tactical Master Class looks to be a tidy and effective package.
More From Springfield:
GENESEO, ILL. (06/08/20) – Developed in concert with retired U.S. Army 1st SFOD-Delta combat veteran Larry Vickers of Vickers Tactical, Springfield Armory® is proud to present the new Vickers Tactical Master Class 1911, a Lipsey’s® Distributor exclusive offering.
Harnessing its decades of 1911 manufacturing experience and the rugged foundation of forged steel major components to deliver a lifetime of service, Springfield Armory brought a lot to the table in developing this new combat-grade pistol. Combine that with the unassailable credentials of Larry Vickers, and you have a .45 ACP pistol ready for any possible contingency.
“We are extremely proud to have partnered with respected firearms expert and combat veteran Larry Vickers of Vickers Tactical on this exciting new pistol,” says Dennis Reese, CEO of Springfield Armory. “This pistol, which combines Vickers’ tactical expertise with Springfield Armory’s renowned manufacturing skills, delivers a top-tier 1911 for the most serious of applications.”
“I’m pleased with the Vickers Tactical Master Class 1911 and how a real team effort brought it together. Springfield Armory, Lipsey’s, Wilson Combat and I got to work to bring a superb quality pistol to the market at a great price point. I’m proud to be a part of it,” explains Vickers.
Priced at an MSRP of $1,495, the new Vickers Tactical Master Class is designed from the ground up to deliver when it counts. As a Master Class pistol, it features premium grade components and exceptional attention to detail. Featuring a forged carbon steel slide and frame with Springfield’s Black-T® finish and a 5″ forged match-grade stainless steel barrel, this Master Class pistol is designed for intensive round counts and harsh environments.
The slide features the iconic Vickers Tactical logo as well as the Vickers Elite Battle Sight rear matched to a tritium/luminescent front dot. Specialized proprietary slide serrations at the rear ensure reliable and consistent racking of the slide under any condition.
The rugged pistol weighs in at 41.5 oz. with an empty magazine, and has an overall length of 8.6″. The pistol comes packed with two eight-round Vickers Duty Magazines. The rugged green grips are made from G10 and also feature a Vickers Tactical logo. Rounding out the package are a Wilson Combat Tactical single-sided thumb safety and Bullet Proof® Commander Hammer.
Delivering a pistol from a manufacturer that knows how to build a 1911 right and a combat veteran who knows what features it needs, the new Vickers Tactical Master Class is a must-have addition for the collection of any serious handgun shooter.
The Nagant M1895, or plain old Nagant Revolver, has long served the Russian military and is among the most unique handguns from behind the former Iron Curtain.
This seven-shot, 7.62x38mm revolver originally designed in Belgium by Emil Nagant, was adopted by Russia in 1895. It was soon after manufactured under license in Russia and is perhaps the longest lasting surplus military handgun that has spanned Imperial and communist times, right into the current Russian Federated Republic era.
This sturdy revolver is long known for its unique gas seal principle – whereupon rearing back the hammer, or a double-action pull of the trigger, allows the cylinder to move forward into the forcing cone providing a tight gas seal upon ignition. The odd-appearing cartridge has its bullet seated about 3/16 of an inch beneath the case mouth, which also expands during firing, providing an even more complete seal with practically no gas escaping.
Though loading and extraction are very slow and clumsy by today’s standard, the Nagant 1895 remained in service until 2009 with the Russian court bailiff system, and right up to 2014 with the Ukrainian railroad security police. Those that began appearing around 1997 have, for the most part, come from the Ukraine complete with quantities of sealed tins of 1950s to ‘70s Soviet-manufactured surplus ammunition.
At the range, this revolver is far more accurate in the single-action mode, as the heavy double-action pull appears to break at the 25-pound mark, which does nothing for accuracy. These revolvers can be found with both Imperial Russian or Communist “Bolshevik” markings.
Early variants prior to the communist era have Cyrillic markings of the Tula factory on the rear left frame with year of manufacture. From 1929 on they normally have a star on the left frame with a year of production. In World War II-era models made from 1942 to 1945, however, there may be found three different sets of markings on the rear left frame. Most of those imported are in superb condition and appear to have been refinished years earlier, and are often accompanied by a fabric holster and a cleaning rod fitted to loops on the front.
Many of these surplus revolvers are complete with holster and cleaning rod. Note the ammunition pouch that accepts standard 14-round Russian ammunition packs.
For both shooters and collectors, the appearance of handguns long unavailable to the West, have really made an exciting dent in the firearms market in the span of a little over 25 years. It’s a completely new and exciting field of shooting and collecting that has opened up a formerly prohibited area that continues to flourish.
Slick lines and even slicker accuracy, the Sig P210 proves an enduring piece of Swiss engineering.
If you hear the phrase “classic IPSC,” your thoughts will probably drift to a single-stack 1911, most likely a Colt, chambered in .45 ACP. It will not have a red dot sight, it won’t have a compensator, and, if you were active back then, it probably has some funky, hand-cut checkering.
The first IPSC World Shoot was held in 1975, in Zurich. The second and third were each a year later, then the three after that at two-year intervals, until, beginning in 1983, the schedule was changed to every three years. The inaugural World Shoot was won by Ray Chapman, using a 1911 in .45. However, the championships were not won with a .45 again until 1979. In between, in Salzburg, Austria, and Salisbury, Rhodesia, they were won with a 9mm. Heresy. Worse yet were the pistols that were used. In 1977, Dave Westerhout used a Browning Hi-Power, and, in 1976, Jan Foss had used a SIG P210. The IPSC world in the late 1970s was all abuzz, and people were fairly concerned. Not only had 9mms been used to win, but one of them had even been a single-stack!
This is a normal target for the P210, as long as the shooter pays attention and does their part.
Origin Of The Sig 210
The P210 began life before WWII, when the Swiss determined that the M-1900 Lugers they had been using were perhaps not the best military sidearm to be had. In 1900, the Luger was cutting edge, and the .30 Luger cartridge it was chambered in was a real hot number. But, by the late 1920s, it was clearly not up to snuff. So, the Swiss Army embarked on a replacement plan. They liked the technical designs of Charles Petter and licensed the principles of his M1935, which had been adopted by the French. The Swiss wisely adopted the idea, but not the actual French pistol, itself an under-powered little beast. The irony of a Swiss designer developing a French pistol that the Swiss then had to pay to license is a head-scratching one. But I guess Charles wasn’t the first one to find a warmer reception away from home.
Advancing plans for the new gun was slowed with the start of WWII, since the Swiss had bigger problems than replacing useable, albeit less than optimum, sidearms. But the advancement didn’t entirely stop, and, once the war was over, the Swiss proceeded to finish testing and adopting their new pistol. In Swiss service it was known as the Pistole 49, in 9mm Parabellum, .30 Luger, and .22LR. The first and last are obvious choices; the Swiss wanted the 9mm for its greater performance and common availability, while the rimfire made for an inexpensive practice pistol. But 7.65X21? Remember, in the Swiss defense system, every citizen is a member of the defense. Once through basic training, everyone goes home with a rifle and ammo and, when they retire, they generally retain the individual weapons. A family may have four or five generations of smallarms locked in the home armory. When adopted in 1949, the Swiss had a half-century of the .30 Luger ammunition existing as the established standard, and there was probably a large amount of it on hand. Since the difference was a new barrel and recoil spring, why not make it in 7.65?
The magazine well is now beveled, for faster magazine changes. Back in 1949, no one cared about fast mag changes. Now we do, so the P210 has been updated.
The P210 is a single-stack, all-steel 9mm, and the aspects of the Petter design that the Swiss adopted were worth it. The military pistols were clearly products of their time and place. The grips were wood or plastic, and there was a half-rectangle steel bracket on the left side of the frame, with the grip on that side cut away for clearance. Given that the lanyard loop, safety, and slide stop were all on the left side, convenient for right-handed shooters, I have to conclude that no one in the Swiss Confederation is born left-handed. If there was ever a lanyard clipped to the loop, I’m not sure you could comfortably shoot the P210 left-handed.
Below the lanyard loop was the heel clip, the typical European method of retaining magazines. I have long wondered what the horror or fear of magazines falling free is, such that it grips European firearms designers (or buyers) with the need for such a three-handed design. It also had a magazine disconnector, so, when the magazine was out, it was a steel club. The Swiss Army replaced the P210 with the SIG P220, in 1975, but production of the P210 continued until 2005. I can easily imagine that the P210/Pistole 49 continued to be made because people still wanted it.
The extractor is external, but set into the slide and protected from just about everything.
P210-9 Redesign One big reason for this is the gun’s accuracy. However, used P210s couldn’t satisfy the market for highly accurate, beautifully machined pistols, so, SIG Sauer undertook a slight redesign and began making them again. The one we have here is the P210-9, the modern version of the P210, and the improvements have all been for the good.
First up, one aspect of the original that was not all that satisfactory was the shape of the tang. Designed back when handguns were still being fired one-handed, the tang worked fine for a low-thumb, one-handed hold. But the moment you tried to fire it with anything like a modern grip, you would pay the price. I am particularly disadvantaged in this regard, and the original P210, along with a select few other pistols, is one I simply cannot shoot without assistance, as in I have to wear gloves or prepare my hand with duct tape before shooting. If I do not, I will bleed. Not an exaggeration, shooting a P210 can have me bleeding like a stuck pig, in less than a box of ammo. With a pristine P210 going for more than two grand, you can imagine the looks of horror that would create from the owner who so rashly loaned me one. The P210-9 variant, imported by the SIG Sauer folks in New Hampshire, has a re-designed tang. It is now in the same league as a beavertail safety on a custom 1911 and protects the hand from the hammer. I was able to spend a full day shooting the new 210 without fear of bleeding.
The grip screw is a torx type (as is the trigger package screw), so make sure you have one of these (a No.15, specifically), when it comes time to work on your P210.
The new P210 has a proper, American-style magazine catch. Nestled right behind the trigger guard, it allows the magazine to drop free when pushed. And, yes, the magazine does drop free, there being no magazine disconnector in the new pistol.
The grips, since they do not have to accommodate a lanyard loop, are symmetrical, but not interchangeable. They are made of oiled hardwood, and the fit is such that you can remove the grip screw (a torx-headed screw, by the way) and still have little or no fear of losing the grips. In fact, if you aren’t careful, you risk damaging the grips, trying to take them off the frame.
The grip shape, under the grips, makes no concession to hand shape. The front strap is proportioned for your hand, but the rest of the frame is simply a place to hold the magazine. The grips are expected to make the grip fit your hand. That’s a proper bit of engineering.
The grips are tightly fitted, so, even after you remove the screw, you have to wrestle with them. They aren’t fragile, but, if you’re ham-handed, you can damage them.
The thumb safety is not what people will expect. Instead of being a lever at the back of the frame, like the 1911, it is a lever in front of the grip. Your thumb can reach it, but, if you haven’t practiced with it, it will be a bit awkward. On the -9, the safety is fitted so as to be easy to move back and forth (or up and down, if you will), and it is only the thickness of the grip panel that makes it a bit of a reach. If you really wanted to use the 210-9 as a competition gun and had to have ready access to the safety, you could carve on the grip to make that possible. You might want to consider doing so to a spare grip set, so you will have the original grips un-molested for the future.
The slide stop is big, hard to miss, and, for me, a bit in the way. My thumb is long enough to reach it in my firing grip, and the slide stop is big enough to bump, if I’m not careful. Of course, on reloads, being big and hard to miss is good, because dropping the slide via the “slingshot” method isn’t easy.
The tang has been raised, extended, and sculpted to protect your hand from the hammer.
The slide on the -9 has fixed sights, with both the front and rear held in transverse dovetails. An interesting detail, laid out in the owner’s manual, is that both the front and rear come in a variety of sizes (denoted with numerical markings), so that, if a particular pistol is off the sights, the blades can be swapped, mixed, and matched until it is dead on. The brother P210 that SIG is importing is the P210 Legend Target, which has an adjustable rear sight.
The 210-9 lacks a barrel bushing; the Swiss are clearly comfortable with the idea of precision machining and keeping the tolerances close enough so that they can produce an accurate pistol without the need of a bushing. Disassembly is easy. Unload and then ease the slide back a quarter-inch or so. Press the slide stop out to the left and, once it’s clear, you can slide the upper assembly off the frame. The recoil spring is a captured unit, and it has an interesting attention to detail—the head of the recoil spring assembly has stamped on it the torque limits of the rod assembly. The “5 Nm” is newton-metres, a measure of torque, which translates to just over 44 pound-inches. In other words, it’s tightened down about the same as a scope mount screw and meant to stay there.
The magazine catch is now in the normal place, behind the trigger guard.
The recoil spring guide rod has a hole in the end, and it is part of what the slide stop shaft passes through. The barrel lugs are like the cam slot of other pistols that you may be more familiar with (no link here), but with a twist. The lugs are made as a pair and widely-spaced (as handgun parts go), so they provide a wide base for the barrel on the slide stop. I have to think that has something to do with the accuracy. The barrel locks into the slide the same way as every other Browning-derived pistol does, with lugs on the barrel engaging slots in the slide.
One aspect of the P210 is obviously contrary to the way things are now done. The rails on the frame are on the inside, while the rails on the slide are on its outside. The idea was to reduce wear and retain accuracy. It also increased potential accuracy, but not due to the inside-outside design. A secondary aspect of the design is that the contact between the slide and rails extends a lot further on the 210 than it does on other pistol designs. Think of it like sight radius: the further apart the sights are, the easier it is to notice aiming errors. On rail contact, the further apart the front and back contact points are, the more aligned the slide and frame will be. I love the 1911, but the P210 has twice the rail length as the Browning. That increases repeatability, which improves accuracy.
The P210 safety pivots under the grip, pushed by the tip of your thumb. It is there so the hammer/sear assembly can be removed as a single unit. Actually, very clever, even if it only blocks the trigger bar.
One of the Petter details included was a hammer/sear assembly that went into or came out of the frame as one piece. No separate hammers, sears, etc. Now, I see this mostly as an organizational advantage. If you are the armorer of a police force or military unit, you can have a set of pistols that are issued to the troops, and you can have, in the armory, a selection of assembled, tested, and sealed units. If someone has a problem or a pistol shows wear, it is perhaps a minute to swap out the old, install a new, and send the owner on their way. No downtime for the officer or pistol, and now you, the armorer, can work on the recalcitrant assembly without someone hanging over your shoulder or having to deal with the paperwork of checking in the busted pistol, issuing a new one, and repeating all that when the repair is done.
But for that, it is a cracking good idea, and, had I a hat, off it would be to the Swiss for having adopted it. For us, however, it doesn’t matter much. The trigger assembly and its removal isn’t mentioned in the owner’s manual (SIG would be very happy if you just left it alone), and unlike the old design, where the assembly was held in with a pin, the -9 has the assembly locked in place by means of a screw up through the tang. Again, it’s a torx, and there’s no need to remove it. If you do, you’re on your own.
The slide and frame are machined from steel billets, given a satin matte surface, and then treated to the SIG Nitron finish. The trigger, safety, hammer, and slide stop are left bright, but not polished to a mirror finish.
The interesting thing—as if all the above was of no interest—is the trigger. We are used to light and crisp, or “combat” and crisp, and the Swiss clearly have a different idea about these things. The trigger is light, but it has take-up, and then it has travel, which, if you aren’t slowly pressing, feeling as you go, feels the same. It’s almost as if it were the world’s shortest double-action PPC trigger. I first felt a trigger like this when test-firing an Stg90, the Swiss military rifle in 5.56. That trigger was light, but with enough travel that you know you’re pulling the trigger. On the -9, this took a bit of dry-firing to get used to, as I found transitioning from “regular” triggers to the P210 trigger to be too much in one range session. When I tried, I ended up nearly perforating my chronograph a few times, as I, too, up the slack on the P210 trigger and shot sooner than anticipated.
But, I’m glad I persisted. I’ve been mentioning accuracy all along, and the P210 is a scary-accurate kind of handgun, a one-inch-groups-at-25-yards kind of handgun. And, unlike some pistols, the P210 did not get picky about what it liked to shoot. Yes, it shot better with some, but the differences were almost immeasurable. I mean, if one ammo groups a quarter-inch larger or smaller than another, can we really say the pistol “prefers” it? That level of accuracy, and that small of a difference, requires several things. First, a Ransom rest, of which mine is on loan and for which I do not have a set of P210 holders. Second, you need a pile of ammo, all of it with the potential for gilt-edged accuracy. And you need the the time to shoot groups, and I mean statistically significant groups, not your basic five-shot groups and not even four consecutive five-shot groups, but real number-crunching efforts like five ten-shot groups with each brand and bullet-weight ammo. This is the kind of shooting that’s a full-time job by itself.
Here you can see the torque spec on the recoil spring assembly, as well as the wide cam lugs of the barrel feet.
So, once I had done the usual group-testing, I amused myself by plinking—on the 100-yard range. Pick an object, something safe to shoot at. Aim, press. OK, it got hit, now what? Pick something smaller. Same results. This handgun is almost scary to shoot, and a little intimidating to own. Imagine owning a handgun and knowing that, if you shoot it at the gun club, everyone knows that any miss, any shot that drops a point is your fault and not the gun’s. A P210 would be brilliant for shooting in a PPC league. Do some experimental reloading, find a load that shoots small groups (won’t be too difficult), hits to the sights, and prepare to have your average rise.
One small obstacle might be magazines. With an MSRP of $72 each, you will want to take really good care of them and not let them get stepped on during the winter indoor leagues and tight range spaces. You certainly don’t want to drop them on concrete with the same abandon you’d jettison a $15 1911 magazine. But, if you can see your way to four or five of them, you’ll have a tack-driving 9mm to shoot.
You can see how long the rail engagement is between the slide and frame. This can only have a good effect on accuracy.
Oh, and those early days of IPSC? After Ross Seyfried won the World Shoot in 1981 with a very plain, by today’s standards, .45 1911, the world changed. Starting with Robbie Leatham, in 1983, the .38 Super was king of the hill. Then, in 1990, the 9X21 gained glory, and that’s the way it has been. There will not be another World Shoot champion using a .45 ACP pistol until 2014. Maybe. Then, the new Single-Stack/Cassic Division will be contested, and the .45 has a chance again—unless someone wants to give it a try with a P210. This one is certainly up to it.
Sig P201 Specs: Type: Hammer-fired semiauto Caliber: 9mm Parabellum Capacity: 8+1 Barrel: 4.7” Overall length: 8.5” Width: 1.3“ Height: 5.6” Weight: 37.4 oz Finish: Nitron Grips: hardwood wrap-around Sights: steel patridge Trigger: single action Price: $2,199 Manufacturer: Sig Sauer
For more information on the Sig P210, please visit sigsauer.com.
Light and able to go the distance, Hornady's new 6mm ARC cartridge adds another arrow to the rifleman's quiver.
How The 6mm ARC Goes The Distance:
Essentially a 6.5 Grendle case necked down to accept 6mm bullets.
Case slightly shortened and shoulder moved back to make it compatible with low-drag bullets, even out of an AR-15.
Low chamber pressure makes it very low recoiling.
Both in velocity and trajectory outperforms 7.62 NATO.
There’s a way to things, generally speaking, even in the ammo world. Not with the 6mm ARC.
Hornady’s announcement of the new cartridge June 3 came with an unusual addendum—it had already been adopted by the Department of Defense. Where and by whom is shrouded in mystery, the breach of protocol isn’t. Unannounced cartridges simply aren’t—or weren’t—picked for military service and are generally surrounded with fanfare as they jockey for their place in the military’s arsenal. Nearly every ammo enthusiast and defense geek enjoy the horse race. So much for that.
As to the role the 6mm ARC fills, it’s an alternative to the long-serving 7.62x51mm NATO. My stars and garters, where’s the fainting couch? Not the 7.62, a cartridge that’s been steady as concrete footings since chambered in late-phase M1 Garands! Except, as Hornady tells it, there’s some solid logic jumping on the smaller bore, lower pressure 6mm ARC’s bandwagon.
The first prong, it extends a soldier’s effective range well past what he or she would be capable of if armed with a rifle chambered 5.56 NATO. In the past, curing the need to reach out was accomplished by moving up from the small-bore round to the 7.62. Expect, to do so meant a larger rifle and heavier load of ammo. This leads to the second prong, the 6mm ARC offers an overall lighter system. Run out of the same pattern rifles as the 5.56, the cartridge reduces a soldier’s burden in the field.
As to the cartridge itself, there’s a lot of familiar parts that go into the 6mm ARC. Essentially, it’s a 6.5 Grendel necked down to accept a 6mm bullet, though there are a few nuanced tweaks that are notable. Namely, the shoulder is pushed back and the case shortened making it compatible with the long, high ballistic coefficient low drag bullets. Additionally, the 6mm ARC proves shootable, with the low-recoil that has made the 6mm a staple in precision shooting competitions for years. This, in part, is thanks to a very low chamber pressure; the cartridge’s maximum is 52,000 pounds per square inch.
As to performance, the 6mm ARC does a lot with a little. Hornady’s 108-grain ELD Match kicks a bullet 2,750 fps at the muzzle and drops 44.8 inches at 500 yards. Side to side, this is 3-inches less than the company’s 168-grain match .308 round at the same distance. At the same tick, it maintains its velocity better than the .30-caliber, moving 1,971 feet at the 500-yard mark and staying supersonic well past 1,000 yards. Not only is this an advantage for soldiers, but anyone who has a yen to reach out hunting, target shooting, or otherwise.
In addition to the ELD Match round, Hornady is offering two other 6mm ARC ammo options out of the gates, a 105-grain Black BTHP and 103-grain Precision Hunter. On how to launch the new six, eight gunmakers have already signed on to make both bolt-action and AR-15 rifles, including Adams Arms, APF Armory, Barrett, Brownells, Christensen, CMC Triggers, CMMG, GAP, Geissele, Howa, Lantac, Mossberg, NEMO, Noveske, Odin Works, Proof, Radical Firearms, SanTan Tactical, Uintah Precision and Wilson Combat.
Given the shooting world’s penchant for long-range marksmanship as of late, the 6mm ARC certainly adds another arrow to the rifleman’s quiver. At the very least, it reignites the caliber wars.
For more information on the 6mm ARC, please visit hornady.com.
Trigger control is defined as the manipulation of the trigger without disturbing the rifle or the lay of the sights on the target. Most errors when shooting can be attributed to improper manipulation of the trigger. In fact, we are such creatures of habit, we can improperly actuate the trigger over and over yet still manage to group well. This is the most influential point, because we are turning on the machine. Pressing the trigger to the rear starts the process. In most people’s minds it is also the end, which causes them to inadvertently affect the shot placement. We literally beat the bullet out of the bore by moving the rifle and altering the sights off the target. In some cases, the shooters are so relieved at having fired the shot that they immediately disengage from the rifle. This is a bad idea.
Firing Hand Mechanics
The purpose of the firing hand is to manipulate the trigger and hold the rifle into the shoulder pocket. We aren’t gripping it like a handgun, rather holding it straight back to the rear. This requires very little pressure, so we don’t want to have a death grip on it. The shooter should establish a firing position on the stock that starts from the trigger back and not from the stock forward. This is more a mental process than a literal one, as we don’t want people putting their fingers on a live-weapon trigger first. The initial practice should have the shooter visualize the trigger finger before the grip. You can do this during dry practice, which is highly recommended.
Trigger Finger Placement
We want to place the trigger shoe squarely on the pad of the finger, creating a 90-degree angle with the finger and second joint. This will vary slightly from shooter to shooter based on their hands, and type of stock, but the goal should be to get the fingernail to point to 9 o’clock for a right-handed shooter, 3 o’clock for a left-handed shooter. This right-angle position should be there before the trigger is pressed and remain there afterward. Shooters who find their trigger fingers curling or even flying off the shoe, need to work on their trigger control and follow-through.
Look at the trigger finger when placed on the shoe. Is your finger starting and stopping at 3 o’clock (or 9 o’clock for a right-handed shooter) when manipulating the trigger?
When addressing the stock, regardless of the type, we want to make sure the movement of the trigger finger is not touching the stock. In the old days, they called this “dragging wood” for the obvious reasons. If the trigger finger is resting against the stock, you will influence the rifle, which is not good. As our skin moves, it compresses the muscles and pushes our flesh out under the skin creating a lateral movement on the stock.
The trigger finger should be moving like a hinge, straight to the rear using our body mechanics to our advantage. If the fingernail starts at 9 o’clock and ends at 9 o’clock, you can rest assured you are manipulating the trigger straight back to the rear. In many cases, you’ll find the finger is moving much less than it moves if you are incorrectly pressing the trigger shoe.
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The three fingers below the trigger finger should be pressing the stock straight back into the shoulder pocket. The pressure should not be so great to discolor them visually. We want to develop a front-to-back management of the stock, and the thumb should be there to support this front-to-back pressure. It’s not necessary to engage the thumb. Depending on the stock type, many will lay the thumb on the strong side or use it as a reference point on the stock, putting it in an out of the way place. We call this floating the thumb, and it is a perfectly acceptable position as we don’t need our thumb for the task of shooting.
Correcting Trigger Control Errors
Correcting a shooter’s trigger control is our main priority when teaching classes. One of the most common errors in trigger control is variety. We see shooters manipulating the trigger in a different way every single press. No consistency is what we observe.
Press, break and freeze. That is the mantra.
Do not underestimate dry practice. It takes roughly 3,000 repetitions to create a new positive neural pathway and about 9,000 repetitions to fix a bad habit. The worst part about fixing bad habits is those 9,000 new repetitions have to all be exact. When dry firing, you can watch your finger.
It’s OK to dry fire your centerfire rifle. There should be no damage to the system. If you feel uncomfortable doing so, invest in a snap cap to absorb the impact of the firing pin. But it is generally safe to dry fire a centerfire rifle. Dry practice needs to be carried out as if it is a live shot. Sloppy dry practice will instill sloppy fundamentals. Invest in perfect practice. Don’t just sit there snapping the trigger, engage the rifle like your life depends on it. The more you dry practice, the better shooter you will become. For indoor dry practice, consider purchasing an Indoor Optical Training Aid (IOTA) lens device; this allows you to focus your scope indoors at 11 feet.
Given time and opportunity before a shot, always dry fire. Set up your position so, without breaking that position, you can easily reach over and insert a live magazine or load a live round so the actual shot mimics the dry fire. We see shooters all the time dry fire perfectly and then change their hand position or cadence of fire by simply going live.
It’s difficult to make the case that Savage’s new chassis rifle is a big gun—until you get a gander at the price tag. Among the most affordable precision rifles to hit the market, the Axis II Precision could well have an oversized impact on the market. However, while the rifle is affordable, it doesn’t skimp. Savage partnered with well-respected chassis-maker Modular Drive Technologies, mounting the Axis-barreled action in an exclusively designed chassis. The rig’s rigidity makes the long shot come in and boasts plenty of M-Lok slots on the forend to attach your accessories. Outfitted with a 22-inch carbon-steel, button-rifled heavy barrel, this rifle has excellent harmonics. It’s available in six chamberings, including 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Winchester. MSRP: $949
Stoeger Freedom Series P3000 Supreme
Big guns have a place in home defense, especially when you’re talking about a 12-gauge shotgun. Maximizing the bore’s performance and your spending power, Stoeger has introduced one of the most affordable tactical options available. Perhaps the most eye-catching aspect of the Freedom Series P3000 Supreme (aside from its ability to digest 3-inch magnum shells) is its buttstock. A six-position telescoping unit, it features an adjustable cheek rest and folds up for compact storage and transportation. This shotgun comes with a rubberized pistol grip, ghost ring rear sight, integrated sling attachments and a fixed cylinder choke. It weighs 7.3 pounds, so it’s more than enough to protect hearth and home. MSRP: $469, stoegerindustries.com
Henry Lever-Action Axe .410
Uniquely in its own class, the Henry Repeating Arms Lever-Action Axe .410 might lack in overall practically, but it’s one of the most enjoyable guns you’ll ever strip from a scabbard. With a barrel length of just 16 inches, the firearm is extremely nimble, surprisingly controllable and fast on target acquisition. It fires 2½-inch .410 shells and boasts what Henry calls its “Axe Handle” grip. You can work the lever and get her to sing. A side-loading gate also means you can keep it in action, giving you a fast means to top off its five-round tubular magazine. And, because it’s made by Henry, there’s plenty of walnut and blued steel to give this smoothbore a timeless look. MSRP: $970, henryusa.com
Wilson Recon Tactical .350 Legend
Caliber-wise, the .350 Legend might not qualify as big gun fodder, but performance-wise, this ingenious straight-wall cartridge more than falls into this class—especially out of Wilson Combat’s excellent Recon Tactical Rifle. It’s a new chambering to the legendary line, making a hard-hitting legend a practical/tactical option. Decked out with a match-grade barrel, mid-length gas system and two-stage M2 trigger, the 16-inch-barreled rifle is operationally sound and extremely accurate. It’s also long on top-end components, including a lightweight M-Lok rail, BCM Starburst Gunfighter Grip, Roger’s adjustable Super-Stoc, and NP3-coated premium bolt and bolt-carrier group. Weighing a manageable 7 pounds, the flat-top Recon Tactical is agile enough to guard the homestead or put meat on the table. MSRP: $2,250, wilsoncombat.com
Limited-Edition 150th Anniversary .444 Marlin
Celebrating its 150th anniversary, Marlin has introduced limited-edition guns to commemorate the moment. This includes one of Marlin’s most popular big-bore lever-actions: the .444 Marlin. Chambered for the smashing .444 Marlin cartridge, this rifle is long on custom-grade extras that make it an instant classic. Among these are a 24-inch, half-octagon/half-round barrel, an American black walnut stock and Skinner ladder sights. Of course, there’s even more: eye-catching scrollwork and gold inlay, as well as traditional checkering on the stock. The rifle ships in a commemorative box and has its own special serial number. If it’s caught your fancy, don’t wait too long: The limited-edition .444 Marlin will only be around as long as the company’s anniversary. MSRP: $1,899, marlinfirearms.com
Three Affordable Chronograph Options To Check Your Speed
150th Anniversary .444 Marlin 265-Grain Softpoint
If you opt for the commemorative Marlin (and even if you don’t), you need something to send out of that baby. Marlin has you covered. In conjunction with its special-edition, 150th anniversary guns, Marlin has also introduced a limited-edition ammunition line—including a whopper for the .444 Marlin. A 265-grain load, topped with Remington’s softpoint Core-Lokt bullet, this ammo should prove an excellent choice for taking nearly any game. Furthermore, the load has been optimized for top performance out the .444 Marlin’s 1:20-inch-twist barrel. In short, this stuff is accurate. MSRP: $45 (box of 20), marlinfirearms.com
VersaCarry Padded Cobra Sling
Big guns generally have a big problem: weight. VersaCarry removes this burden with its premium Padded Cobra Sling. More than good-looking gun leather, this rifle sling is designed to evenly distribute the weight of a firearm. It also provides cushioning so the strap doesn’t bite into your shoulder. Handcrafted from water buffalo hide and reinforced at load-bearing points, this sling is up to the toughest field conditions, and it’s made to last a lifetime. You’ll be glad you have the Padded Cobra Sling every time you hit the field. MSRP: $80, versacarry.com
Galco FasTrax PAC Elite Waist Pack Holster
Waist packs might not be every armed citizen’s cup of tea, but they certainly have a place in the pantheon. Particularly with how Galco has rethought the implement. Utilizing an innovative pivoting holster and an external activation cord, the FastTrax Elite Waist Pack Holster is fast and convenient. The cord opens the pack in the wink of an eye, while the holster consistently presents your piece, so you aren’t left fishing around. Miles away from the way old waist packs worked. Made of soft leather and Galco’s Comfort Cloth, the pack is an excellent option for active types that find it a challenge to carry on-body. MSRP: $99, galcogunleather.com
CZ Shadow 2 SA
A CZ Shadow 2 with a single-action trigger? Sign me and about anyone else who cherishes speed, accuracy and capacity. The renowned Czech-American manufacture recently expanded its line with exactly this model, aptly named the Shadow 2 SA. CZ has baked everything about the original pistol—from 17-round double-stack magazine to trademark blue aluminum grips and CZ ergonomics—into the new iteration. Only this one comes with a featherlight trigger that breaks like thin ice, especially compared to the first pull of the older DA/SA Shadow 2. Given its snappy trip, the Shadow 2 SA should prove an excellent option for a full-fledged competitive match or simple precision plinking. MSRP: $1,349, cz-usa.com
Ruger PC Charger Pistol
Arguably the perfect gun to pair with your PC Carbine, the band new PC Charger Pistol has everything its big brother has … and more. To the more, the 6.5-inch barreled pistol most certainly is more nimble and convenient to tote around, perhaps the ideal backpack guns. To the fine point of the 9mm, like the carbine it also feeds off SR and Security-9 magazines, as well as Glock, giving it plenty of versatility. Furthermore, it has the same dead-blow blow-back system as the long gun, making it a real smooth shooter. A tungsten weight at the back of the bolt reduces recoil and shorten bolt travel, helping eliminate muzzle rise and picking up its shot-to-shot pace. It’s a wicked little devil and a great partner for Ruger’s popular carbine. MSRP: $799, ruger.com
MTM In-Safe Handgun Cases
At first blush, handgun cases designed for a gun safe sound self-defeating. But take a second and look at your vault and think if some sort of organization system might be warranted. If you’re like most gun owners, the answer is most likely yes. This is exactly what MTM offers in these handy polymer cases. Stackable and lockable, they keep your pistols and revolvers in perfect order until you need them. At the same tick, they save on precious safe space. With closed-cell foam padding at the bottom, they also ensure the integrity of your guns over the long haul. Best of all, the cases are sold in packs of three, so you can get your handguns—all of them—in order right off the bat. MSRP: $16.95, 3-pack of 9-inch cases; $18.95, 3-pack of 12-inch cases; mtmcase-gard.com
FN 503 Slim
Spreading like a prairie fire, slimline pistols optimized for concealed carry have become among the dominant styles of defensive weapons. Now FN is in this game. Purpose-built for on-body defense, the 503 Slim is perfectly proportioned to comfortable stay under wraps. Much of this is thanks to its 1.1-inch width, but FN didn’t stop with the pistol’s overall proportions. The gunmaker also outfitted the 6+1 (8+1 extended mag) 503 Slim with low-profile, snag-free three-dot iron sights and a minuscule 4.6-inch height. FN didn’t compromise performance for convenience, giving the 3.1-inch barreled pistol a very crisp 5-pound trigger and a very aggressive grip texture, so you maintain control. The single-stack 9mm is more than ready to be your next everyday carry piece. MSRP: $549, fnamerica.com
Zeiss Precision Rings
A precision rifle and precision scope require another element to live up to its full potential—precision rings. Look no further than Zeiss to fill this role. More than familiar with the needs of high-quality optics, the German manufacturer has introduced six new rings to its Precision Ring line. The new offerings include two 30mm ring heights along with four 34mm options.Like the original, the new precision rings are sleek, lightweight and Mil-Spec grade, yet up to the most rugged environments and include some pretty dandy extras. Some of these include an integral recoil lug and anti-cant bubble level. MSRP: Starting at $179, zeiss.com
MDT Crossover (XRS) Chassis
Outside of pure long-range match work, rifle chassis are becoming more flexible. Modular Driven Technologies (MDT) looks this direction with its XRS chassis. At its heart are the same rigid aluminum, monolithic receiver and V-block bedding. But on the outside is a polymer skin, keeping the system light and rugged. The chassis features an adjustable length-of-pull spacer system with 2 inches of play, as well as comb rise. The 12.5-inch forearm has ample M-Lok slots for the easy addition of accessories. And, of course, the system is fully compatible with ACIS magazines. Nice package for a do-all system. Currently available for Remington 700 short action with Rem783 SA; Tikka, Savage, and Howa 1500 short action variants soon to come. MSRP: $99.95, mdttac.com
Sako S20
The Sako S20 tactical stock configuration.
Shooting at one rifle to do it all, Sako has come up with an ingenious new system with its S20. Billed as the first true cross-over bolt-action, the rifle lives up to its moniker adapting to both precision and hunting applications. Sound like a stretch, but more than doable with an interchangeable chassis stock system. A thumbhole version it’s the perfect configuration when you’re heading out to put meat on the table; then slap on the sniper-precision stock when you’re looking to ring steel a mile out. Inside the S20 stock is an aircraft-grade aluminum chassis that carries all the recoil forces. The durable structure of the frame has been carefully designed for maximum stiffness to increase accuracy and robustness. Available in eight calibers, the S20 is made to do about anything. MSRP: TBA, sako.fi
TriStar Trinity Over/Under Shotguns
Think a sharp-looking and shooting over/under is out of your price range? Think again. TriStar’s newly minted Trinity line delivers both beauty and function to every smoothbore aficionado, no matter the size of their pocketbook. Right off the tick, it not only comes with eye-catching engraving, but also 24K gold inlay, which gives the Turkish-made 12-gauge an heirloom look. Topping this off is a rich stick of walnut, semi-gloss finished. Yet it’s more than just a looker, with the 3-inch chambered O/U featuring a solid frame, self-adjusting locking lugs, top tang safety selector and safety and steel mono-block barrels. The gun comes with 5 interchangeable Beretta/Benelli Mobil style choke tubes (SK, IC, M, IM, F), choke box and choke wrench. MSRP: $685, tristararms.com
Leica Amplus 6 Riflescope Series
Nearly without peer, Leica is no stranger to producing top-performing riflescopes. Though, recently, the German optics maker might have outdone itself. Its new Amplus 6’s features are designed to get you on target, no matter your application, deliver unparalleled clarity and accuracy. Chief among its assets, 6x zoom, which brings your target up-close and person, allowing you to precisely place your shots. This is complemented by a sharp illuminated dot and large exit pupil, giving you not only a clear mark of where you’ll place your bullet, but the ability to quickly transition targets. Available in 1-4x24mm up to 3-8x44mm, the line has an option for every potential shooting situation. MSRP: Starting at $1,199, leica-camera.com
CITADEL BOSS 25 12ga.
With performance as wicked as its looks, the BOSS25 is in charge. A creation of Citadel (imported by Legacy Sports), the 12-gauge is based on the popular AR-15 rifle making it an ideal and familiar choice for competition or self-defense. Capable of chambering 3-inch 12-gauge shells, the magazine-fed shotgun also has plenty of versatility and is long in features. Some of the more notable include an 18.75-inch chrome-lined barrel, muzzle brake, textured grip fore-end, fully adjustable folding sights and top-Picatinny Rail for the addition of an optic. Weighing in at 8-pounds, it’s no lightweight, but proves a fairly manageable shooter. MSRP: $579, legacysports.com
Dan Wesson Vigil 1911 Series
Dan Wesson pistols are many things … inexpensive isn’t one of them. Though, the custom gunmaker is pushing to get more of their excellent 1911s into more shooters’ hands with the introduction of the Vigil Series. An entry-level option, the aluminum-frame pistols come in well below most of the Wesson’s other lines, yet offers the company’s trade-mark performance. Lightweight, the Vigil Government Model, for instance, comes in nearly 6-ounces lighter than comparably-sized pistols, and has a slew of other features. Beveled magazine well, carry bevel treatment, undercut trigger guards and hand-polished flats all come standard. As does an extremely crisp, creep-free Dan Wesson trigger, set at 3.5 to 5 pounds. Available in Government, Commander and CCO (compact) models, in both 9mm and .45 ACP, there’s a Vigil for every shooter. MSRP: $1,298, danwessonfirearms.com
Stoeger STR-9 Compact
Glock performance at a fraction of the price, Stoeger pulled off quite a coup with the STR-9. Now, the gunmaker is aiming to continue to capitalize off its dandy striker-fired with the introduction of a made-to-carry iteration. With a 3.8-inch barrel, 6.9-inch overall length and 24-ounces in weight, the STR-9 Compact is certain to prove popular with those shooting at an affordable carry piece. While its price is rock-bottom, Stoeger has skimped on the STR-9. The 10+1 capacity 9mm (13+1 extend), outfitting it with sturdy three-dot iron sights, with the option to upgrade to Tritium night sights for a bit extra money. Like the original, the compact has a snappy trigger and easy-to-manipulate slide, thanks to aggressive cocking serrations. MSRP: $329, stoegerindustries.com
RRA LAR-15M .450 Bushmaster
While there have been advancements in straight-walled cartridges, when it comes to hunting—particularly with an AR-15—the .450 Bushmaster still reigns supreme. Rock River Arms (RRA) now gives you the perfect way to launch the behemoth. Offering 1-MOA accuracy at 100 yards, the LAR-15M, is the perfect option for hunting season or if you’re simply looking for a precise large-bore rifle. RRA delivers this down-range performance through a top-end build, which includes a 16-inch stainless-steel, cryo-treated barrel. It enhances the system with a high-performance proprietary two-stage trigger and six-position Operator CAR stock. Topping it off is a lightweight, free-floated handguard with plenty of M-Lok real estate so you can add your must-have accessories. The LAR-15M is the whole package and a little bit more. MSRP: $1,100, rockriverarms.com
The article originally appeared in the May and Shooter Guide 2019 issues of Gun Digest the Magazine.
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.
