FN FNC: Underappreciated Icon?

September 5, 2024

We discuss the development, design, history and use of the FN FNC, an oft-forgotten Cold War military rifle.

It took years for NATO to agree to standardize on the 7.62x51mm cartridge only for the U.S. to turn around and lobby for the adoption of the 5.56x45mm cartridge instead. This made many European countries in the NATO alliance feel as if the U.S. was trying to force them to buy American equipment, and they weren’t happy about it.

Many of these nations were using 7.62 FN FAL rifles at this point, and while they’re excellent guns, NATO leadership saw the writing on the wall that 5.56 was the next logical progression in cartridge choice.

FN-CAL-RIAC — The FN CAL. Photo: Rock Island Auction Company.

FN had developed the FN CAL (Carabine Automatique Légère), a rifle that was essentially a scaled-down version of the FAL chambered for 5.56 that was designed to replace the FAL, but the CAL fell short of its big brother’s reputation. Part of the design intention for the CAL was to be a cheaper rifle to produce, but it ultimately proved to still be too complicated and expensive among other issues. FN knew that a new design was needed, and by the early 1970s, FN introduced the FNC (Fabrique Nationale Carabine)—the heir apparent to the FN FAL.

For the most part, its reception was crickets. NATO countries did not jump at the chance to adopt the FN FNC.

The FNC was an excellent rifle design, but it never approached the popularity of the FN FAL during its lifetime. By the 1980s when the FNC design was refined and improved, many countries were already looking at more modern rifle designs like bullpups or had simply embraced the M16 platform. Never quite in the right place at the right time, the FN FNC is truly an underappreciated Cold War military rifle.

FN FNC Development

As mentioned, FN’s first attempt at a 5.56 version of the FAL was the CAL, but it ultimately just wasn’t a good design and never really went anywhere other than the sale of a few small batches. Besides some problems with the rifle itself, the goal of this endeavor was to make a gun that was very inexpensive to manufacture. While cheaper and simpler than the FAL, it was still too complicated and expensive to produce.

The story of the FNC really starts in the early 1970s when the French military was interested in a carbine-length rifle chambered in 5.56, and the French were already internally developing the FAMAS to fill that need. The French were open to adopting a foreign design, however, as they had tested the FN CAL in earlier trials. They rejected the CAL, however, and this inspired FN to go back to the drawing board and refine it into the FNC in hopes that they could still get a piece of the military contract pie. The French didn’t end up biting as they adopted the FAMAS instead, but the story doesn’t end there for the FNC.

By 1976, the design had been improved and the new prototype rifle was called the FNC 76. This version took part in some Swedish military trials, but newly discovered issues resulted in FN going back for some further development. By 1980, it was dubbed the FNC 80, and this is essentially the final version of the original FN design.

FN-FNC-stock-folded-RIAC — An FN FNC with its stock folded. Photo: Rock Island Auction Company.

Military Buyers of the FN FNC

The FNC did not experience the widespread NATO adoption that FN hoped for, but it was still a relatively successful product for the company. A few countries purchased rifles outright, and two of those would go on to license production from FN so they could build their own. Indonesia adopted the FNC in 1982, and later the firearms manufacturer PT Pindad licensed the design to produce a modified version called the Pindad SS1. This licensed copy was tweaked for the tropical environments of Indonesia and Indonesian armed forces have relied on the SS1 and the updated SS2 ever since.

In the meantime, the Swedish military conducted trials and adopted a modified FNC design into service in 1986 as the Ak 5. Sweden is the only other country besides Belgium and Indonesia to build the rifles themselves. Belgium, the home of FN Herstal, would also adopt the FNC as a replacement for their aging FN FALs.

swedish-Ak-5 — Sweden's FNC variant, the Ak 5. Photo: Rock Island Auction Company.

Some smaller nations like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tonga, Sri Lanka, El Salvador and others also adopted the FNC, and it continues to see service around the world today.

el-salvador-fnc — An El Salvadorian soldier with his FNC. Photo: Wikipedia.

How The FNC Works

The FNC was designed as a select-fire rifle with a gas-operated long-stroke piston system with a rotating two-lug bolt. Sounds a lot like an AK, doesn’t it? Well, the engineers at FN went with simplicity when designing the FNC and it resulted in some fundamental similarities with the Kalashnikov system. That said, the two designs are still very different and have zero parts compatibility between them.

The FN FNC carbine has a barrel length of 14.3 inches and an overall length of 35.9 inches with the stock extended. One nice feature of the FNC is that the stock folds to the right of the receiver and it can be fired with the stock folded. The overall length of the carbine model with the stock folded is 26.3 inches and it weighs 8.2 pounds. A rifle version with a 17.7-inch barrel was also produced.

As for magazines, the FNC is compatible with STANAG M16 mags, but they’re not entirely identical. While both types of mags will function in both rifles, the FNC does not lock open after the last round is fired so the follower of its magazine has no bolt-hold-open feature like those of M16s/AR-15s.

The FNC’s sights are reminiscent of the FAL and consist of a rear sight with flip apertures, one for 250 meters and the other for 400 meters, and an adjustable post front sight protected by two sturdy wings. The FNC could be equipped with an optic, but it was designed in an era when optics were not the norm on military rifles.

FNC-w-optic-RIAC — An FNC with a scope attached next to its bayonet. Photo: Rock Island Auction Company.

Cost was a large consideration when developing the rifle, hence it is built with less expensive components. The lower receiver is aluminum, similar to an M16, and the upper is stamped steel similar to many other military rifles of the era like the AK. Stamped steel is more cost-effective than machined aluminum, though it does add weight to a design. Despite having a barrel that’s just over 2 inches longer, an M16A1 weighs about 2 pounds less than the rifle variant of the FNC, though that also has to do with their different operating mechanisms.

FNC-selector-RIAC — The FNC's 4-position selector. Photo: Rock Island Auction Company.

Controls on the FNC are similar to the M16. On the right side of the lower receiver is a familiar-looking magazine release button. On the left side is a 4-position fire-selector that allows the user to flip between automatic, 3-round burst, semi-auto and safe. One interesting feature of the FNC is its moving dust cover for the reciprocating charging handle. The spring-loaded dust cover is positioned over the charging handle slot in the upper receiver and as the charging handle moves rearward when cycling, it moves to cover the slot when firing, keeping the internals protected at all times.

FNC-dust-cover-RIAC — Here you can see the dust cover to the left of the charging handle. It moves out of the way when the action is cycled, keeping the system closed at all times. Photo: Rock Island Auction Company.

The FNC’s gas regulator is another good piece of design worth discussing. This is because unlike being located on the gas block on the muzzle-end of the barrel like on most guns with adjustable gas, the FNC’s is instead found on the top of the barrel at the breach end next to the receiver. This allows for the regulator to stay cool to the touch so it can be operated with your fingers after firing enough to heat up the system. The FNC regulator has just two positions, one for normal firing mode and one for adverse mode which directs all the gas into the piston in the event the rifle is fouled and needs more gas to cycle. A gas cut-off lever is also built into the front sight base for launching rifle grenades.

FN-FNC-operator-manual-strip — An image from FN's FNC operator's manual. Notice how its upper and lower receivers mate similarly to an AR, but its bolt carrier is attached to the long-stroke piston like an AK.

The FNC field strips similarly to an M16, with two captured pins holding the upper receiver to the lower receiver, but it also strips a bit like an AK as the bolt carrier/piston assembly is a single component.

Legacy Of The FN FNC

While the FNC has been used in many smaller conflicts across the globe, it never became a notable gun that was very strongly associated with any of them. As a Cold War rifle, it was always overshadowed by AKs, M16s, and battle rifles like the G3 or even the FN FAL that inspired it. Interestingly, the conflict that the FNC may become the most strongly associated with is one that is still ongoing: the Russo-Ukrainian War. This is because Belgium donated a large number of rifles as aid to Ukraine and they’ve been seen in the hands of many Ukrainian soldiers since then. This donation garnered some attention within the gun world and brought the oft-forgotten FNC back to the minds of many shooters.

ukie-fnc — A Ukrainian soldier with an FNC. Photo: mil.gov.ua.

That said, it’s highly likely at this point that the most lasting legacy of the FN FNC will be from Hollywood rather than any real-world conflict. This is because the FNC was prominently used by Al Pacino’s character in the most famous scene of Michael Mann’s iconic heist movie Heat. The film is a must-watch for any gun guy, and it provided some of the best footage of the FNC in action that exists. Is it a rifle that a Los Angeles detective in the 1990s would actually have? Of course not, but the rule of cool trumps realism every time.

Heat-FN-FNC-IMFDB — Al Pacino in Heat (1995) firing an FN FNC carbine. Photo: imfdb.org.

Owning An FNC Today

About 6,000 semi-automatic sporter FNC rifles were imported into the U.S. before the 1989 ban. The importers were Steyr, HOWCO and Gun South, and between them, they brought in a few variants with different barrel lengths and stock configurations.

fixed-stock-FNC-sporter-RIAC — A Steyr-imported semi-auto sporter FN FNC with a fixed stock. Photo: Rock Island Auction Company.

If you want to own an FNC today, be prepared to drop some big bucks. Of the roughly 6,000 rifles imported before 1989, a large number of those were legally converted to transferable machine guns before the registry closed in 1986. This means that of the relatively few that were imported, even fewer of them are still standard semi-auto rifles, resulting in their value going up quite a bit. For a normal, used semi-auto model, online prices are currently hovering at around $7,000. For a transferable machine gun FNC, average prices are closer to $30,000.

The high price of the semi-autos is further explained by another complicating factor: transferable auto sears. To make a long story short, because the upper assembly of the FNC is what’s legally classified as a firearm in the U.S. (as opposed to the lower receiver on an AR), it makes it legally possible to modify an FNC's lower to accept a registered auto sear. On an AR-15, because the lower is legally the firearm, it's been impossible to do this since the registry closed in 1986 as it requires modifying the lower which counts as manufacturing a new machine gun.

S&H Arms realized this before the registry closed in 1986, so they manufactured and registered as many FNC auto sears as physically possible. The result is that there are almost certainly more registered FNC auto sears in the U.S. than FNC rifles themselves. For many years, this meant that the FNC was one of the easiest and most affordable machine guns to acquire post-1986, as all one needed to do was buy a semi-auto FNC alongside one of the abundant registered auto sears and put the two together. This, of course, raised the desirability of semi-auto FNCs along with their prices, and today they’re very expensive regardless of whether you want one as a machine gun host or not.

If you still want to own one but don’t have very deep pockets, don’t despair just yet. At SHOT Show 2024, Pindad of Indonesia had some interesting guns on display, including a semi-auto FNC variant called the SS1-C. For importation reasons it appears that they will legally be pistols and brought in without stocks, but registering one as an SBR would allow you to add one. These are yet to hit U.S. shores and no price has been announced, but if these are successfully imported they’ll almost certainly be less expensive than any of the FN-made guns currently available on the second-hand market. Here’s to hoping that Pindad’s efforts will help bring about a small FNC renaissance in the States. We’ll be eager to review one if they ever become available.

More Classic Military Guns:

Why The Mauser C96 “Broomhandle” Still Looms Large
The Makarov And Other 9x18mm Pistols
Nagant Revolver: Unique Relic From Behind The Iron Curtain
M1917 Enfield: The Unofficial U.S. Service Rifle
Browning Automatic Rifle: The Gun That Changed the Infantry

Walther WMP Review: A Semi-Auto Kit Gun For The 21st Century

Mike Searson

September 4, 2024

We check out the Walther WMP, a versatile and capable semi-auto .22 WMR pistol that has all the makings of an excellent modern kit gun.

Walther has always been an iconic brand, whether you go back to the early 20th century with the PPK or P-38, or fast-forward to the ’90s when James Bond upgraded to the P99. A few years ago, they released the WMP (Walther Magnum Pistol), a semi-automatic .22 WMR (Winchester Magnum Rimfire) pistol, and It’s proving itself to be an accurate and capable handgun in several ways.

One of my favorite rimfire rounds has always been the .22 WMR, otherwise known as the .22 Magnum. When you find a cartridge you love, you typically want to shoot it in as many different firearms as possible. For .22 Magnum, that’s typically bolt-action and lever-action rifles, often paired with an accurate revolver.

Sadly, semi-auto rifles and pistols are rarely found chambered in this cartridge, but the Walther WMP is setting out to change that.

Walther WMP Specs:

Type: Semi-auto rimfire pistol
Chambering: .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire
Magazine Capacity: 15
Barrel Length: 4.5 inches
Rifling: 1:16.5; RH twist
Overall Length: 8.2 inches
Trigger Weight: 4.5 pounds
Sights: Optics-ready slide; fixed rear; fiber-optic front
Finish: Matte black
Weight: 27.8 ounces
MSRP: $549
Website: WaltherArms.com

Walther WMP Breakdown

It’s not the first semi-auto firearm to go this route. Many shooters remember AMT’s ill-fated Automag II or Ruger’s attempt at a 10/22 in .22 Magnum. Historically, this cartridge doesn’t play well with others in semi-automatic platforms. However, there are reasons those firearms weren’t successful and why they’re not being made anymore.

Its power factor is such that a simple blowback action will not safely contain the recoil and pressure unless the action is ridiculously heavy. The long, skinny profile and the rim of the cartridge don’t lend themselves inherently to feeding properly or extracting and ejecting consistently, especially when fouling is present.

Walther tackled these challenges in a few interesting ways in order to bring this pistol to market. Firstly, they adapted the styling of the Walther PPQ-M2. There are two sets of ambidextrous magazine releases—a button and a paddle on either side. Unlike most Walther designs, there are no interchangeable backstraps. The magazine makes for a long grip due to the length of the .22 Magnum cartridge.

walther-wmp-field-stripped-disassembled — Walther’s WMP is extremely easy to take apart and reassemble thanks to a takedown lever on the frame.

Its barrel is a bull type and is solid. I was hoping for threads, but no joy there. It may seem futile to suppress .22 Magnum out of a 5-inch-barreled pistol like a .22 LR, but sometimes you just want to take the edge off. Hopefully we see this in the future.

The top of the slide is vented for aesthetics … and to lighten it. You might think it’s porting at first glance, but this isn’t the case. It’s capable of having a red-dot sight mounted should you choose to go that route. Like the rest of Walther’s line, the polymer frame of the WMP is richly textured for a solid and secure grip on the pistol. It’s a handful for sure, but it’s still much slimmer than a Desert Eagle. A five-slot Picatinny rail rounds out the frame for attaching lights, lasers and similar accessories.

wmp-top — The ventilated slide of the Walther WMP may give the illusion of a ported barrel, but is only there for lightening and aesthetic purposes.

The trigger pull is a nice 4 to 4.5 pounds of pressure, and the pistol is hammer-fired instead of striker-fired. I’m told by Walther that this was how they were to engineer the delayed blowback action with just the right combination of spring pressure.

Why .22 WMR?

Walther didn’t make this pistol just because they could. There’s a genuine interest in the .22 Magnum in a semi-auto host. It might be an evolution of the old kit gun concept as a rimfire pistol to keep in the range bag, tackle box or just to tote in the woods for use against raccoons, skunks and coyotes.

The .22 Magnum debuted in 1959 as a more potent rimfire loading than .22 LR. It was primarily intended for use in bolt-action, lever-action, slide-action and single-shot rifles. In the 1960s, manufacturers of single-action (and a few double-action) revolvers began offering interchangeable cylinders for their handguns to accommodate .22 Magnum.

walther-wmp-2 — The grip frame is on the longer side to accommodate the length of the 22 Magnum cartridge

In 1965, the late Bill Jordan wrote in No Second Place Winner that a S&W Airweight in .22 Magnum would be “an ideal backup piece” and called the .22 Magnum a “wicked little cartridge,” more than likely because it matched the ballistics of a .22 LR when fired from a rifle as opposed to the spotty results from a carry pistol.

Unlike the .22 LR, which has a reputation for being dirty, the .22 Magnum runs much cleaner and seems to be loaded to a higher standard. That might be a trade-off: .22 Magnum has always reflected a higher price and, over the years, I’ve had hundreds of .22 LR rounds that never went bang. I cannot recall a failure with a single round of .22 Magnum.

Walther WMP For Self Defense?

At one time, you would’ve been laughed off the instructor circuit for suggesting a rimfire round for self-defense. Sure, it’s always been better than nothing, but for some folks it might be the only option at-hand. Recoil is light and makes it suitable for older people or folks with disabilities, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis or neuropathy in their hands. As times change, ammunition has improved and become more effective.

wmp-sights — The WMP not only has fully ambidextrous controls, but it has two mag releases (button and paddle) on both sides. This gives you four ways to drop a magazine.

This is a key point to make in regard to the .22 Magnum: As companies like Ruger and Smith & Wesson produced full-size revolvers in .22 WMR; other companies like Bond Arms, North American Arms and High Standard made Derringers and mini revolvers with sub-1-inch barrels capable of launching the .22 Magnum. The problem here is that all these guns had much shorter barrels than their long-gun counterparts. Thus, the ammunition was poorly optimized, and while Derringers and revolvers had the reliability factor, much of the potential for power and accuracy was reduced … although you might’ve gotten an impressive fireball display at every range session.

Ammunition companies like Federal and Hornady saw this need and answered the call with new lines like Hornady Critical Defense and Federal Punch. Using improved powders and projectiles, these rounds excelled at penetration, reduced flash and threw 40-grain slugs at 1,300 or 1,800 feet per second. Having 15 rounds on-hand, as you do with the Walther WMP, is a huge advantage over revolvers and Derringers, which limit you to single-digit rounds before having to reload.

WMP At The Range

We took the WMP to the range plenty of times for target work: The accuracy is amazing; it shoots flatter than a .22 LR for a longer distance. At 25 yards, Federal Punch routinely gave a sub-2-inch group. Velocity out of the WMP averaged 1,760 fps.

The Critical Defense was somewhat slower at 1,300 fps and about as accurate. However, the lower velocity means less penetration, and Hornady Critical Defense is intended more as an expanding projectile.

We tried some 30-grain CCI Maxi Mag rounds as well. This ammo wouldn’t be my first choice for a revolver or Derringer, but the WMP is a hammer-fired, delayed blowback semi-automatic, and it needs that extra velocity to cycle the action. Accuracy with the Maxi Mag rounds wasn’t the best, but the velocity was averaging 1,875 fps … and it was throwing some serious flame.

Walther advises against using any of the polymer-tipped ammo, such as V-MAX or any of the lower-powered selections, or snake shot—they will not cycle the action reliably. It certainly fits the bill in this regard, but it has a weak link in the armor here due to the cost of ammunition. While no ammo is truly cheap anymore, .22 Magnum is almost double the cost of its .22 LR counterparts.

Hunting With A WMP

With .22 Magnum, you get more power than the .22 LR and certainly more capacity than any revolver. This doesn’t necessarily translate to success in most hunting situations, as the penetration will ruin the meat on most small game. If your bigger concern is predators around the ranch or barn, such as coyotes, skunks, raccoons, feral dogs and the like, it’ll be more effective at making short work of these types of varmints than a .22 LR will.

Verdict

Walther’s WMR is a solid entry for a semi-automatic pistol in .22 Magnum. It might be more expensive than the competition, such as KelTec’s PMR-30, but it’s a more accurate and better-looking pistol overall. The ability to mount a red-dot is a good one, and there are a number of companies offering leather and Kydex holsters for the WMR.

If you have the misfortune to live in a state that limits your magazine capacity, 10-round magazines are available from Walther, but note they’re still marked as holding 15 rounds even though they are blocked to limit 10.

This is ideally the equivalent of a 21st century kit gun as a semi-auto.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the October 2024 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

More On .22 Magnum:

.22 Magnum: What’s The Use?
.22 Magnum Revolver: 5 Excellent Options For The Hunt
.22 WMR Vs .22 LR: Application Defines This Rimfire Rumble
Best .22 Magnum Rifle Options To Put Pests On Ice
Top .22 Magnum Ammo Options For All Applications

Wilson Combat EDC X9 2.0 Review: Compensated Perfection

Richard A. Mann

September 3, 2024

We hit the range to test out Wilson Combat’s compensated EDC X9 2.0.

Not only is the 1911 pistol iconic, but it’s also a timeless design that’s more popular a century after Colt introduced it than it ever has been. But that doesn’t mean the 1911, with its linked barrel, single-action operation and non-pivoting trigger, hasn’t been improved on.

These improvements—at least for 1911-style pistols chambered in 9mm—go way beyond an enhanced grip and thumb safeties. Wilson Combat’s introduction of the EDC X9 pistol marked a significant shift in the 9mm 1911. In 2017, I declared it the best self-defense pistol ever made. I still believe that.

I also believe the new EDC X9 2.0 is an upgraded version of “best.”

Wilson Combat EDC X9 2.0 w/Compensator Specs:

Chambering: 9mm Luger
Barrel Length: 2.35 Inches
Overall Length: 7.4 Inches
Sight Radius: 5 Inches
Height: 5.25 Inches
Width: 1.4 Inches
Weight: 28.6 Ounces (empty)
Finish: Armor Tuff
Sight: Wilson Combat Concealment Battlesight rear, fiber optic front
Capacity: 15 Rounds
Grips: Black G10 w/starburst pattern
Price: $3,564.95 (as tested) ; $3,307 (base price)
Website: wilsoncombat.com

Pros

An impressively shootable carry pistol
The compensated model allows for faster, more accurate follow-up shots
New grip panel options can provide improved ergonomics

Cons

Very expensive
Compensator can blow gas back at the shooter in certain positions
Compensator adds additional length and weight

The EDC X9

Wilson Combat machines the EDC X9’s slide from 416R stainless steel, with a weight reducing, trimmed down, tri-cut-like top. It comes standard with a Wilson Combat Battlesight rear sight and a fiber-optic front sight. The pistol also utilizes the Wilson Combat Enhanced Reliability System (ERS). This is a proprietary system designed to optimize functioning with the varying power levels of 9mm ammunition. The pistol feeds from a double-stacked magazine, but the EDC X9’s real 1911 innovation was the grip frame, which includes a one-piece backstrap that replaces the common 1911 grip safety.

EDC-X9-2-battelsight — The Wilson Combat Concealment Battlesight is a highly visible but snag-free rear sight.

I was so smitten with the EDC X9 when I evaluated it in 2017, I purchased it immediately. Since then, that pistol has spent a lot of time on my side, and I’ve fired thousands of rounds through it. I’ve also recommended the pistol to several others who ended up purchasing one and loving it just as much as I do. When I’ve let people shoot my EDC X9, the most common reaction is an audible, “Wow!”

EDC X9 2.0 Upgrades

You might say the 2.0 upgrades to the EDC X9 are subtle … but substantive. The EDC X9 2.0 features an all-new solid aluminum X-Frame frame design. This change makes the pistol more versatile because now it offers interchangeable grip panels much like with original 1911 pistols. Wilson Combat currently offers six different grip packages for the EDC X9 2.0, and it comes standard with the Wilson Combat Concealment Battlesight rear sight, and a green or red fiber-optic front sight.

Wilson-Combat-EDC-X9-2-compensator — The compensator option for the EDC X9 2.0 is an expensive upgrade to an existing EDC X9 but an affordable option on a new EDC X9 2.0.

Another notable option is for a compensated barrel: You can add it to an existing EDC X9, or even one of the SFX pistols, but the cost is a bit steep at around $1,800—the retrofit requires a new slide. If you’re ordering a new EDC X9 2.0, the upgrade to a compensated barrel is only $257.95, and the option is available on either a 3.25- or 4.0-inch pistol. The comp does add a bit of length and weight to the pistol. With a comp, the 3.25-inch EDC X9 2.0 essentially becomes the same size as the original 4-inch EDC X9 without a comp.

Wilson-Combat-EDC-X9-2-size-comparison — The 3.25-inch barrel Wilson Combat EDC X9 2.0 with a compensator is nearly identical in size and weight to the 4.0-inch barrel original EDC X9.

You can purchase a base model EDC X9 at various dealers, and some come with what I call standard options, like an accessory rail, a frame-integrated magwell with 18-round magazines, a compensator and an ambi-safety. However, if you order directly from Wilson Combat, the options are almost endless and include a True Zero optics mount, suppressor height sights, short trigger, flat trigger, Tritium front sight, slide engravings and various color options. Of course, Wilson Combat adjusts the price for these additional goodies accordingly.

Wilson-Combat-EDC-X9-2-size-comparison-2

Reliability

If there’s one area where Wilson Combat pistols are generally impeccable, its reliability; they tend to run flawlessly. So, I was a bit surprised that the EDC X9 2.0 comped pistol was initially giving me some problems.

Just to get familiar with the pistol, I began my range time using re-manufactured Wilson Combat 135-grain HBFP ammo at 950 fps. These were light loads, and I was having some cycling issues. Sometimes the slide would capture the empty case in the ejection port—a stove pipe—and sometimes the pistol would fail to feed.

Wilson-Combat-EDC-X9-2-compensated — Ordered direct from Wilson Combat, you can dress the EDC X9 2.0 up just about any way you like. This version has an ambi-safety, suppressor height sights, an integrated magwell and an 18-round magazine, a compensator, and the True Zero optics mount with a Trijicon SRO reflex sight.

I thought the load might have not had enough gas to drive the compensated slide, but I found it hard to accept the fact that a Wilson Combat pistol was out of the box unreliable. I had a little can of Ballistol in my range bag, and thinking a bit of lubrication might help, I gave the pistol a couple squirts.

Afterward, it ran perfectly with everything I put through it, which amounted to an additional 450 rounds using 10 different loads, which included everything from CCI Blazer to Federal HST. After the juicing, the gun never hiccuped.

Precision

I evaluated six loads for record out of the EDC X9 2.0 pistol, and the exercise was more a measure of my marksmanship than a test of how accurately the pistol shot. If I did my part while shooting five-shot groups from a sandbag rest at 10 yards, you could cover every group with a quarter.

Sometimes I didn’t do my part, and a single stray would open the group a bit. The test target supplied with the pistol was a three-shot group fired at 15 yards that measured 0.58 inch. Most of the first three shots I fired for every group were about that size.

Shooting Results

LOAD	MV	SD	ENG	PRECISION
Lehigh Defense 90-grain XD	1,293	18	334	0.97
Wilson Combat 115-grain TACXP +P	1,098	11	308	1.12
CCI 115-grain Blazer FMJ (brass)	1,125	9	323	1.37
Nosler 115-grain ASP JHP	1,081	9	298	1.14
Federal 124-grain HST	1,123	5	347	1.07
Wilson Combat 124-grain XTP HP +P	1,123	16	347	1.31

NOTES: Average muzzle velocity (MV), standard velocity deviation (SD), and muzzle energy (ENG), were established by firing 10 shots over a Caldwell G2 chronograph with the screens positioned 10 feet from the muzzle. Listed precision was established by firing three, five-shot groups with each load from a sandbag rest at 10 yards.

I’m betting the guy who does the accuracy testing for Wilson Combat can shoot better than I can, but I’ll also bet this pistol can shoot better than you can. It comes with a 1.5-inch accuracy guarantee at 25 yards—unfortunately, your humble correspondent does not. I might better represent the precision this pistol is capable of with the two-shot strings I fired after drawing from the holster at 25 yards. More often than not, at that distance I was getting two hits on an 8-inch steel plate in—on average—about 4 seconds.

The Compensated Advantage

Why a compensator? A comp on a pistol reduces muzzle rise by diverting gases upward at the muzzle. In theory, this allows you to make follow-up shots faster. But how much of an advantage is it really?

EDC-X9-2-review-target — While performing the step back drill, the Wilson Combat EDC X9 2.0 (comped) performed better than any open sighted pistol the author has attempted this drill with.

Since I already own an original uncompensated EDC X9, I was able to do some side-by-side comparisons to measure this advantage while also testing the new EDC X9 2.0. I ran both pistols through two of my most-used shooting drills, and to prevent getting too familiar with each pistol during the process, I’d run each drill twice with each pistol … and then switch.

On the Forty-Five Drill, which requires you to draw and fire five shots into a 5-inch circle at 5 yards in less than 5 seconds, I failed to get all five hits four times with each pistol. Overall, it looks like I shot the original EDC X9 better—I got more hits with it—but you must look at the times to get the clear picture.

With the original EDC X9, if I didn’t run the drill in less than 3.0 seconds, I was able to get all my hits. With the comped EDC X9 2.0, I had to keep my times slower than 2.6 seconds to get all my hits. If we look a little deeper, and only compare the clean runs, we find that the EDC X9 2.0 (comped) pistol was 4/10ths of a second—almost 13 percent—faster.

Forty-Five Drill Results:

ATTEMPT	EDC X9 (original)	EDC X9 (original)	EDC X9 2.0 (comped)	EDC X9 2.0 (comped)
	TIME	HITS	TIME	HITS
1	3.28	5	2.99	5
2	3.03	5	2.79	5
3	3.07	5	2.58	3
4	2.79	3	2.62	5
5	2.92	4	2.65	5
6	2.89	4	2.40	2
7	3.14	5	2.59	4
8	3.15	5	2.55	4
9	2.96	4	2.63	5
10	3.07	5	2.65	5
AVERAGES TOTALS:	3.03	45 of 50	2.65	43 of 50

Here you can see how much a compensator can help when you’re trying to get multiple hits as fast as possible.

The Step Back Drill, which you could also call the “hammers,” “double-taps” and “controlled pairs” drill, is more dependent on accuracy than speed. In this drill, you start at 5 yards and draw and hit an 8-inch plate twice. You then “step back” to 10, 15, 20 and 25 yards and repeat the two-shot string at each distance. You also time each segment separately, with the goal of getting 10 hits in less than 20 seconds.

There wasn’t enough difference in the hits and misses to really matter, and though the compensator was less of an advantage, its benefit was still apparent. Average times with the EDC X9 2.0 were three-quarters of a second—about 5 percent—faster. Also, I had six clean runs with the comped pistol and only four with the original EDC X9.

Step Back Drill Results:

ATTEMPT	EDC X9 (original)	EDC X9 (original)	EDC X9 2.0 (comped)	EDC X9 2.0 (comped)
	TIME	HITS	TIME	HITS
1	15.22	8	13.09	8
2	15.79	10	13.99	9
3	16.32	10	14.58	9
4	16.70	10	15.77	10
5	16.12	8	16.30	10
6	14.88	9	16.22	10
7	15.18	9	14.60	10
8	15.55	10	14.77	10
9	15.04	9	14.12	8
10	15.15	9	15.55	10
AVERAGES TOTALS:	15.60	92 of 100	14.90	94 of 100

Though a compensator offers its best advantage during fast-paced high-volume shooting, it’s also beneficial when firing hammers, double-taps or controlled pairs.

The Verdict

I think it’s safe to say that the 3.25-inch comped EDC X9 will let you shoot just as accurately—and measurably faster—than you can with an original 4.0-inch EDC X9. I also think the grip panel upgrade on the 2.0 EDC X9 makes for a better and slightly more comfortable pistol in-hand.

All that said, I’m still not exactly sure how I feel about a compensator on a carry gun. It does add to the length and that gas blowing up your chest near your face is a bit disconcerting when you’re shooting from the retention position.

However, I’m still convinced the EDC X9—original or 2.0—is the best self-defense handgun currently offered by any manufacturer. No doubt, the damned thing is expensive, and you’ll have to decide if its base price of $3,307, and then the additional cost of the compensator, is worth it. That’s a lot of money to spend for a pistol, but reliable, accurate and easy-to-shoot perfection doesn’t come cheap—never has, never will.

Also, knowing you’ve finally found the gun is very comforting. It means you can finally quit shopping and pontificating … and start concentrating on training.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the October 2024 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

More Handgun Reviews:

Beretta 80X Cheetah: Good Kitty Or Damn Pity?
The Bull’s Eye: Taurus 856 Defender T.O.R.O. Review
The Big Snake Is Back: 2021 Colt Anaconda Review
Completely Customizable: Sig P320 Review
Turkish Take On The Czech Classic: SAR 2000 Review

New Guns And Gear September 2024

Gun Digest Editors

September 3, 2024

Looking for a new iron or piece of kit to enhance the one you already own? Check out these 7 new bits of guns and gear to grow your firearms wish list.

The New Guns And Gear:

Bergara B-14 Crest Carbon
Colt CBX Hunter in 6.5 Creedmoor
Taurus Expedition
Rossi Lightweight Carbine
Ruger American Generation II
Federal Ammunition HammerDown .45 Colt
ATN Corp Blaze Seeker Thermal Monocular

Bergara B-14 Crest Carbon

At this point, it’s safe to say the B-14 is a stone-cold classic. Precision, affordability and quality—the rifle is about everything shooters or hunters seek. However, Bergara is upping the ante of its keystone iron with the introduction of a lightweight precision Crest Carbon. Featuring a 100-percent carbon-fiber stock, Bergara’s Cure Carbon Barrel and their proven B-14 action, the rifle is tailored for those deep-woods hunts at 6.2 pounds. It’s also a lights-out shooter, with the Cure barrel offering the exceptional rigidity required for consistent accuracy. Other features include AICS detachable magazines, an omni-directional muzzle brake, a sniper gray Cerakoted finish and six chamberings.
MSRP: $2,100

Colt CBX Hunter in 6.5 Creedmoor

Colt’s history with bolt-action rifles is on-again, off-again. But since being acquired by CZ, the company has made a big push into this niche and continues to tread forward. The latest addition to its stable is a 6.5 Creedmoor chambering of its intriguing sporter: the CBX Hunter. This should prove a match made in heaven, given the original release in .308 Winchester proved very accurate and the 6.5 has more than proven to go the distance. To boot, the rifle has some desirable qualities besides its ability to hit distant targets, including a modular synthetic stock, a very manageable 7-pound weight, a snappy trigger and a silky-smooth action.
MSRP: $999

Taurus Expedition

Who had Taurus hunting rifle on their 2024 bingo card? Likely few people, but the Brazilian company recently released its first foray into this style of firearm with the Expedition. The bolt-action is interesting, smartly built on a 700-series footprint action, allowing easy stock and trigger upgrades. And, Taurus has done a solid job on the former, offering a hybrid precision/hunting synthetic stock with M-Lok bipod attachment points on its wide flat fore, as well as a pistol-style grip. It comes outfitted with a fully adjustable trigger and a spiral-fluted barrel. Available in .308 Winchester and 6.5 Creedmoor, Taurus is ready for the hunt with the Expedition.
MSRP: $985

Rossi Lightweight Carbine

Single-shot rifles aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but with the style of the rifle’s inherent accuracy and nimbleness, it’s easy to see why many fall for them. Rossi has jumped into this end of the market with a wicked little number—its Lightweight Carbine (LWC). Weighing in at just a tick over 5 pounds and boasting a 16.5-inch barrel, the carbine is right-sized to tote along on any adventure. Additionally, the muzzle is threaded, thus suppressor ready. The hammer-fired break-action comes outfitted with a Picatinny optics rail, lightweight polymer stock and a respectable trigger. Available in .350 Legend, .300 Blackout, 5.56 NATO, 6.5 Creedmoor, .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum and 8.6 Blackout, the LWC is chambered for nearly any conceivable hunt.
MSRP: $334

Ruger American Generation II

A generation of new hunters have cut their teeth on the Ruger American Rifle. With some welcome freshening up to the rugged and affordable design in the Gen2 update, it’s likely a fresh group of sportsmen will do the same. The most notable enhancement to the bolt-action is its new ergonomic stock that accommodates a removable comb riser and length-of-pull spacer. Furthermore, Ruger includes a three-position tang safety, threaded barrel with radial muzzle brake, Cerakoted barrel, receiver and bolt handle, adjustable trigger and a factory-installed one-piece Picatinny rail. Ruger plans on releasing the Generation II rifle in a slew of calibers and three configurations—standard, ranch and predator.
MSRP: $729

Federal Ammunition HammerDown .45 Colt

The venerable .45 Colt didn’t blow away with the dusty boulevards of the Old West. It’s alive, kicking and arguably better than ever, thanks in part to the work of companies such as Federal. Focusing on the .45 Colt as a straight-wall hunting option, the ammunition manufacturer recently released the cartridge as part of its HammerDown line of ammo. Tailored for lever-action rifles, the .45 Colt ammo is not only engineered to work flawlessly in this class of rifle’s actions and loading gate but also ballistically. By Federal’s numbers, the 250-grain load has a blistering 1,025 fps muzzle velocity, giving it an excellent operational range on medium game. Plus, the bonded hollow-point bullet guarantees consistent and devastating terminal performance once at the target.
MSRP: $39.99, box of 20

ATN Corp Blaze Seeker Thermal Monocular

Whether seeking out hogs in the twilight or following a blood trail at dusk, hunters need something to cut through the night. At one point, ATN Corp brings thermal imaging to the masses with one of the most economical monoculars presently available: the Blaze Seeker. Budget priced, the optic doesn’t skimp in performance. Its workhorse 256×192 sensor boasts a NETD rating of <35mK, ensuring exceptional sensitivity to temperature variations and delivering unparalleled image quality. Plus, the Blaze Seeker features a built-in rechargeable battery, providing up to 9 hours of operation time along with an external power supply option for extended usage in the field—and the ability to record pictures and video. MSRP: $529

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the September 2024 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Get More Guns And Gear:

New Guns And Gear August 2024
New Guns And Gear June 2024
New Guns And Gear May 2024
New Guns And Gear April 2024
New Guns And Gear March 2024

Hardware Talk: RTS IFAK

Patrick Sweeney

August 30, 2024

We take a quick look at the RTS IFAK, a serious medical kit for serious injuries.

Firearms are dangerous … and that’s why we have them. But we also have “blow-out” kits, right? Right?

A blow-out kit is a first-aid package meant not to deal with sunburn and insect bites, but gunshot wounds and other serious injuries. A specific one I have strapped to my range bag comes from RTS, called the IFAK.

It’s meant to be attached to a soldier’s load-bearing or plate carrier, but it also attaches to a range bag by its MOLLE straps. Inside is a tourniquet (you get to choose from three brands), an Israeli trauma bandage that applies pressure to a wound, hemostatic gauze, more gauze, a chest seal, medical tape, CPR mask, gloves, shears and nasal airway. And this all comes in the pouch, which strips open one-handed.

A long time ago, I took a weeklong tactical medical class that was taught by a retired SF medic and an EMT tech. The kit I built the week after that class had all this in it, plus a Sharpie for writing times and other data on people and bandages. You can add a Sharpie to the RTS IFAK, no problem.

I spend an inordinate amount of time at the range—sometimes by myself and sometimes with another person or a lot of other people. There are always guns present (that’s why we are there, after all) and lots and lots of ammo going downrange. If there’s an accident, the RTS RDP IFAK will let me or someone else treat at least one, and perhaps two or three gunshot wounds. The one-handed opening is easy, if the kit is strapped to a bag or gear. Just grab the top loop, strip the dual zipper down and the whole kit splays open for your access.

RTS-Blowout-Kit-medical — The RTS IFAK stripped open, showing the various products. Open yours up and learn what’s where. Learn how to use the various items. Keep your IFAK with you whenever you’re armed or at the range.

Now, my kit is for me. That should be your first consideration. You have your kit; it’s for you. Mine is mine.

And that other guy? Well, he’s going to get treated from the med bag I have in the car or truck. That was one of the lessons drilled into us in the weeklong class. (Which also involved team live-fire exercises and simulated “You’ve just been shot, what will the team do?” drills.) Nothing personal, but I’m not using my kit on someone else unless I’m related to them. So, you should have your own kit in case the accident involving you happens on a range, where the other guy or guys also had that rule drilled into them.

Now, $170 seems like a lot of money. And it might be. But you can’t buy all the components of the kit for that, and you can’t find a carrier for them plus the contents for anything close to that. (That’s the power of buying in bulk via RTS.) And, you must have the knowledge to use the individual items when, and how, needed.

But the knowledge can be gained, and the gear purchased long before you need them. (Need I point out that there’s no time to learn—or buy—when it happens?) And if you never need them, then that’s good. The money isn’t wasted, because you have peace of mind forever after.

Oh, and if you do plan on having a “first aid” kit just for insect bites, sunburns and minor cuts and scrapes? Assemble it in a separate bag, so you have the two separated. My “owie” bag is a different color—that way there’s no mistake.

Again, as we learned in the class: “The IFAK is for when you might die. If not, do not even think about reaching into mine … or yours.”

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the October 2024 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

Be Prepared:

Should You Be Carrying A Trauma Kit?
Emergency Preparedness Checklist: Everyday Carry Gear
Why You Need A ZipStich In Your Med Kit
How To Make A TSA-Approved Carry-On Emergency Kit
EDC Gear: Rescue Knives Save Lives

Self-Defense: The 21-Foot Principle

Alex Ooley

August 30, 2024

Understanding the relevance of the 21-Foot Principle, often called the 21-Foot Rule, in modern self-defense training.

The 21-Foot Principle, often mistakenly referred to as the “21-Foot Rule,” gained prominence through the work of Dennis Tueller, a police officer with the Salt Lake City Police Department. This principle emerged from Tueller’s informal studies on the potential threat posed by an attacker armed with a knife.

His findings suggested that an able-bodied male could cover approximately 21 feet in a second and a half, which is roughly the same amount of time it takes for a reasonably trained police officer to draw their firearm and discharge a shot. This concept has since become widely known and applied, even within legal circles, despite the misnomer “21-Foot Rule.”

The Origin and Misinterpretation of the 21-Foot Principle

The term “21-Foot Rule” is a bit of a misnomer because it suggests a hard-and-fast rule when, in reality, it’s more of a guideline or principle. Tueller’s research was intended to help officers understand the time frame within which an attacker could become a deadly threat. The crux of the principle is that an attacker could potentially cover 21 feet in the time it takes an officer to draw and fire their weapon. This realization has significant implications for law enforcement and self-defense training, providing a framework for understanding when a threat becomes immediate and unavoidable.

Application and Training

Incorporating the 21-Foot Principle into training helps individuals recognize when they might be in imminent danger. However, it’s essential to understand that the exact distance can vary depending on numerous factors. The principle encourages considering the context of a potential threat, including the attacker’s physical abilities, the presence of obstacles, and whether the attacker is visibly armed.

For example, a knife in-hand is a more immediate threat than a folding knife in a pocket. The “Danger Zone,” as Tueller called it, will also vary based on the skill of the officer or armed citizen. What’s the availability of cover/concealment? What are the avenues for retreat or movement? How quickly can the person draw their firearm? All of these factors, and others, play into the analysis of when an attacker poses a deadly threat.

Legal Considerations and the Totality of Circumstances

When determining the legality of using deadly force, the totality of circumstances is paramount. The actions of the defender are judged based on whether they were reasonable given the immediate threat posed. The challenge lies in the timing: acting too soon might result in a charge for murder, while acting too late could result in serious injury or death. The 21-Foot Principle assists individuals in articulating why they perceive a threat as an immediate threat based on the circumstances, which can be crucial in legal proceedings.

Civilian Vs. Law Enforcement Application

While some argue that the principles applied to law enforcement don’t always extend to non-law enforcement contexts, the core idea remains relevant. In many jurisdictions, if a person is charged with using a knife, the defender might be justified in using deadly force if they can articulate the threat they faced.

The ability to explain why an attacker posed an immediate threat is critical, aligning with Massad Ayoob’s concept of “Can You Articulate” (CYA) the justification for your actions. The CYA theory underscores that it’s not enough to simply act in self-defense. One must also be capable of articulating the reasons for those actions in a clear, logical and legally sound manner. This ability can be crucial in determining the legal outcome of a self-defense incident and protecting oneself from potential legal consequences.

Practical Training and Real-World Application

Hands-on training drills, such as those conducted at Gunsite, Rangemaster, Thunder Ranch, the Firearms Academy of Seattle and other reputable training organizations provide practical insights into the 21-Foot Principle. These drills often involve scenarios where trainees experience firsthand the difficulty of reacting to a fast-moving threat, illustrating how quickly an attacker can close the distance.

The AOJ Triad

Understanding the 21-Foot Principle also involves considering the AOJ triad: Ability, Opportunity and Jeopardy. This framework, often discussed by self-defense expert Ayoob, helps determine the legitimacy of using deadly force.

Ability: Does the attacker have the means (a weapon, physical strength) to cause harm?
Opportunity: Is the attacker close enough to use their means effectively?
Jeopardy: Is there an apparent intent to cause harm, such as verbal threats or aggressive actions?

This triad helps ensure a comprehensive evaluation of the threat, reinforcing the importance of context in making split-second decisions.

Conclusion

The 21-Foot Principle remains a crucial element in defense training, emphasizing the importance of context and rapid response in face-to-face confrontations. While it originated from law enforcement studies, its application extends to non-law enforcement contexts, providing a valuable tool for understanding and articulating the presence of an immediate threat. By considering factors such as the AOJ triad and engaging in practical training exercises, individuals can better prepare themselves for potential encounters and ensure their actions are both reasonable and legally justifiable.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the October 2024 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

More Knowledge For The Armed Citizen:

Carry Law: What Is A Righteous Shooting?
Concealed Carry and the Right to Remain Silent
Tips For Communicating With Police After Shootings
Concealed Carry: After the Shooting
Q&A: Massad Ayoob On Self-Defense

First Look: Springfield Armory 1911 AOS Optics-Ready Pistols

Adam Borisenko

August 29, 2024

Want a 1911 with a red dot? Here we check out Springfield Armory’s new 1911 AOS pistols.

Over 100 years later, the 1911 is still going strong, but that doesn’t mean the guns don’t deserve a little modernization. For those interested in an optics-ready 1911 to mount a red dot on, look no further than Springfield Armory’s new 1911 AOS pistols.

Developed in partnership with Agency Arms, the Agency Optic System (AOS) uses plates to allow for the mounting of a wide variety of different red dots. With the appropriate plate and a 1911 AOS pistol, one can mount optics that feature an RMR, Shield, Delta Point Pro or Docter footprint. The pistols ship with a cover plate that features a rear iron sight, but the optics plates have an iron sight built in as well.

1911 AOS pistols from Springfield Armory currently include the company’s Emissary, Operator and Ronin lines, with each being available in either 9mm or .45 ACP and with a 5- or 4.25-inch barrel. MSRPs range from $967 to $1,378. Further, while each optic plate has a standard price of $130, those who purchase an AOS pistol will be able to buy one at a discounted price of only $49.

Steve Kramer, Springfield Armory’s Vice President of Marketing, said this about the new handguns:

The 1911 is easily the most respected — and proven — pistol in history … With the new 1911 AOS, Springfield Armory is taking a revered 20th-century design and updating it for the 21st century with the ability to accept a wide range of today’s most advanced optics.

For more information, visit springfield-armory.com.

More On 1911s:

The Best 1911s For Carry
The Wilson Combat SFX9
The Wilson Combat Vickers Elite 1911 In 9mm
The 1911 Carry Bantam From SDS Imports
The Taurus 1911 Commander

Ammo Brief: .356 TSW

Gun Digest Editors

August 29, 2024

We take a quick look at .356 TSW, aka .356 Team Smith & Wesson, one weird step-cousin of a cartridge

The .356 TSW centerfire pistol cartridge was designed by Smith & Wesson in 1994 as an IPSC round. The .356 TSW fit into a 9mm magazine, and Smith & Wesson convinced Federal to load it and submit it for SAAMI-spec approval, where it saw promise as a Limited-class competition round.

However, because of a rules change, USPSA didn’t approve it for that class, and there were other rounds that were better choices for Open guns. Smith & Wesson scrapped the project, effectively killing the cartridge. Federal case heads and the box were marked “356 TSW.” The load was a 147-grain FMJ Match product number GM356SW.

Cartridges-of-the-World-16th-edition-550×725 (2) — This is an excerpt from Cartridge's Of The World, available now at GunDigestStore.com.

General Comments

The TSW is simply a slightly longer 9mm case (9×21.5mm), and it uses ordinary 9mm bullets for reloading purposes. To meet IPSC’s major power factor back then, the TSW had to send a 124-grain 9mm bullet at about 1,450 fps. A .356 TSW performs on par with hot 9×21 IPSC loads or full-house .357 Sig loads, but it has an advantage over the .357 Sig.

The Sig cartridge is a bottleneck round, a .40 S&W case necked down to 9mm. The .356 TSW is a straight-walled 9mm casing, thus more .356 rounds can fit into a magazine. The .356 TSW was mainly chambered in 150 Smith & Wesson Model 3566 Performance Center .356 TSW pistols.

Loading Data and Factory Ballistics

Bullet (GRAINS/TYPE)	POWDER	GRAINS	VELOCITY	ENERGY	SOURCE
147 Federal Match FMJ	FL	FL	1,220	486	Federal GM356SW
124 Winchester FMJ	VV3N37	9.1	1,446	576	IPSC Loads List 2001

Editor's Note: This article is an excerpt of Gun Digest's Cartridge's Of The World.

Raise Your Ammo IQ:

Beyond The 6.5 Creedmoor: The Other 6.5 Cartridges
The Lonesome Story Of The Long-Lost 8mm
Why The .300 H&H Magnum Still Endures
.350 Legend Vs .450 Bushmaster: Does One Win Out For Hunting?

Pros & Cons Of Fanny Pack Concealed Carry

Richard A. Mann

August 28, 2024

If it conceals a gun, you can keep your man card. Here we discuss the pros and cons of fanny pack concealed carry.

The struggle is real: Comfortable everyday carry of a completely concealed handgun can be difficult. It’s not so difficult in the cooler months, when a vest or jacket makes sense, but it’s sure a pain during the summer when temperatures pass the 90-degree mark. I’ve always been an inside the pants (IWB) kind of guy, but during a recent hot weather vacation, I decided to give the fanny pack a try.

Some consider carrying a handgun in a fanny pack as off-body carry, but I think that description better applies to a purse or handbag. With the fanny pack, you’re essentially just strapping on a holster just as you would with a gun belt. The main difference is that you’re carrying in the open but doing so incognito. It’s a very convenient and comfortable method of carry, but as with any carry technique it has its pros and cons.

The Pros

One real advantage is convenience. For instance, we were shopping in one store, and I wanted to try on some clothes. When I stepped into the changing room, it was much easier to deal with the fanny pack than it would’ve been to deal with an IWB holster. Similarly, handing the gun off to your partner—for whatever reason might occur—is so much easier. You might need to step inside a building with a “no guns” warning. Of course, you could ignore the sign and break the law, but with the fanny pack, handing your gun off to your wife or partner for a moment is easy.

Some fanny packs are on the large side, which will allow for you to easily carry other practical items such as your cell phone or wallet, or even more tactical implements like a reload or a tourniquet. If you’re in public and using your fanny pack to access common items like sunglasses, your passport, ChapStick or whatever, it sort of softens the look as well.

Aside from being an extremely comfortable way to carry a concealed handgun, what I really appreciated about the fanny pack is how adaptable it makes you. For example, if you’re playing Putt-Putt golf, you can just rotate the pack to your backside and it’s out of the way. Or, maybe, if you’re playing nine holes while your wife enjoys the spa, you can just unhook the fanny pack and lay it on the dash of the golf cart. Also, if you’re enjoying a playful evening on the beach or some sort of carnival ride with the family, it keeps your handgun hidden and perfectly secure. It also makes trips to the men’s room a bit less complicated.

fanny-pack-concealed-carry — Fanny packs are more in style today than ever, and they’re a solution for concealed carry in very hot climates and in select situations.

The Cons

I think one of the first hurdles a man must overcome with fanny pack carry is how he feels it’ll reflect on his manhood. This, of course, could be a regional thing, but I know that here in the hills of West Virginia, a man wearing a fanny pack might raise an eyebrow or two. If you’re a bit insecure with your masculinity, you might feel awkward with a purse-like thing strapped around your waist.

And, of course, you additionally place yourself in a situation where others might assume you’re carrying a gun. If you’re legally carrying, I’m not sure this is really a bad thing. During our vacation in a state with constitutional carry, I wore my fanny pack every day and never noticed anyone giving me the stink eye. (My wife and I have noticed that in touristy locales, fanny packs are much more common.) In fact, on more than one occasion my wife and I walked by cops on patrol, and they never gave me a second look.

Maybe the biggest problem with the fanny pack carry is that it slows presentation; a fanny pack is just not as fast to draw from as a holster is. To see how much this can slow the draw/engagement process, I conducted a test. Using a Sig P365 and a Barranti Summer Classic IWB holster worn on my strong side hip and hidden under a T-shirt, my average for 10 attempts to draw and get a hit on a torso target at 10 yards was 1.66 seconds. I started the drill with my support hand on my shirt.

I then ran the same drill—starting with my support hand on the pack—using a Galco Fastrax Pac Waistpack. My average engagement time was 1.92 seconds. Granted, I’ve practiced a good deal with the fanny pack, but I’ve been drawing from an IWB strong side holster for most of my life. With the IWB holster, I was about 14 percent faster, though I suspect with additional fanny pack practice, I could probably cut another tenth of a second, or about 4 percent, off my fanny pack draw speed. But I know I’ll never get as fast as I am from a concealed IWB holster.

fanny-pack-concealed-carry-1 — Some might prefer to carry a fanny pack on their shoulder. Regardless of the carry method you choose, practice your presentation on the range.

Training is Key

If you decide you want to sometimes or all the time carry in a fanny pack, you should dedicate a lot of time to becoming familiar with its operation. Train with it on the range. Some fanny packs provide nothing more than a pocket for your handgun to rest inside. Others, like the Galco Fastrax Pac Waistpack, are a bit different. When you unzip this pack, there’s a separate string you can pull that rotates the holster the gun is resting in 45 degrees, from horizontal to vertical. This simplifies the draw stroke … but it’s also a separate and unusual act that must be practiced.

I’m not convinced a fanny-pack carry is the best way to carry a concealed handgun all the time. But after several months working with a fanny pack in extremely hot conditions, I’m positively sure that there are instances when it can be a real asset to your overall self-protection plan.

Yeah, I get it: For a country boy, you might look a bit out of place wearing a purse around your waist or shoulder. On the other hand, a fanny pack can prevent embarrassing carry exposure moments. It’s also a way for you to more comfortably carry when other methods are not so convenient.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the October 2024 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

More Concealed Carry Methods:

What's The Best CCW Holster?
Critical Considerations When Buying A CCW Holster
Top Shoulder Holster Options
Easy Pocket Holster Options
Affordable Holsters For EDC

Fulton Armory M14 Review: War Hero Turned Civilian Sweetheart

Josh Wayner

August 27, 2024

We hit the range to test out the Fulton Armory M14, discuss the rifle’s military history and how it fares in civilian hands today.

The M14 rifle has enjoyed an interesting but largely unknown history. It’s a direct descendant of the famous M1 Garand; however, it has a much more convoluted and harder to understand backstory that may be somewhat different from how you imagine it to be.

The common notion is that the M14 was simply introduced too late, and the world had already moved on to other designs, earning it the title of the “shortest lived” U.S. service rifle … but this is far from the truth, and the story of the rifle is much more complicated.

Today, the finest examples of this rifle come from Fulton Armory, a company doing its best to not only preserve the legacy of these rifles, but to also make them match accurate.

Fulton-Armory-M14-Camp-Perry — The author’s Vortex spotting scope with KDG Optics Hub and Vortex red dot in a Two Vets tripod used for spotting at the matches. It weighs more than the M14 by a wide margin.

M14 History

What we call the M14 today is a simplified term that’s really a mashup of a variety of nearly similar rifles that, due to various legal and technical considerations, aren’t one in the same, but essentially identical for end-use. That word salad is important because the real M14 is classified as a machine gun, and it was ineligible for sale to civilians through the government like the M1 Garand, 1903 Springfield, M1 Carbine and others.

The M14 as we know it today is the civilian model that came about initially as the M1A, a model name Springfield Armory owns and coined. Every M1A is a Springfield Armory commercial rifle, but not all semi-auto M14s are Springfield guns and simply go by whatever designation the company of origin decided on, usually just the simple M14 designation despite not being a true M14 in design.

The entire reason why we have the Springfield M1A and Fulton M14 is the civilian demand for a match rifle otherwise identical to the military M14. The first NFA-compliant non-machine-gun M14 variants were not available until the 1970s.

Fulton-Armory-M14-stock — The Fulton M14 is a beautiful, heirloom-quality rifle that shoots as good as it looks.

The military M14 had a similarly problematic design history in that it was the result of numerous attempts to create a “universal” rifle that essentially doubled as a light machine gun. The need to have full-auto capability was seen as necessary by the military brass, but it was also construed as needing to be light, accurate and in the full-power 7.62 NATO cartridge. The combination of physical elements on the rifle led to a number of issues, namely that it was considered to be impossible to control in full auto, and it heated up enough that it ran into problems.

To compound this, the idea of rifle shooting had changed after the Korean War. The culture of marksmanship so ingrained in American doctrine was seen as obsolete to an extent. The alternatives, however, weren’t promising, and various military groups were hesitant to move to the “area fire” approach that was being researched. Individual marksmanship was always a priority—though the winds of change were favoring the M16, as issue after issue plagued the M14 and its ability to actually reach troops.

Delays and other factors saw the M14 fail to reach high production numbers for more than 2 years after its official adoption, and by this time it had left a sour taste in the mouth of the military and taxpayers who had just produced millions of M1 Garands and carbines without these same problems.

It’s important to know that the 1950s were a hotbed of military experiments and trials designed to bring about the next generation of weapons. The M16 would become the ultimate warning to this mode of progress in that it was initially successful during the early stages of Vietnam, but it quickly ran into issues that caused an unknown number of casualties due to poor materials and lack of maintenance support.

The M14 was a great rifle for its day, with the exception of being fully automatic, a feature that would ultimately be seen as unnecessary and keep the rifle out of civilian hands for the better part of 2 decades until the arrival of the redesigned semi-auto-only M1A in the ’70s. The gun was indeed inadequate in the dense jungle environments in which it was asked to fight—it would’ve been an ideal weapon for the open-ground and forested area fighting in Korea.

M14-stripper-clip-guide — The M14 can, in fact, be loaded into the detachable magazine using stripper clips. Note the lips of the clip guide above the magazine.

The M14 in military hands was, in fact, supplemented by the civilian models into the ’80s and ’90s. Because military stocks fit civilian models and vice versa with some modification, aftermarket and match options became available as competitors sought to get maximum accuracy from their rifles. Of interest is that most of the real developments in M14 accuracy came from the civilian competition side of things when shooters began tinkering with bedding, unifying the upper handguard to the barreled action, and tweaking the lugs and lockup. The civilian M14 was basically born of the desire for match shooting superiority, and its evolutions and modifications can be traced directly to these roots.

M14-flash-hider — The fit and finish on all parts of the Fulton M14 are perfect, down to the flash hider and bayonet lug.

The military M14 never really left U.S. service: It was still used in a variety of roles up until the War on Terror, where it was again called upon for direct action. This became a confusing time for the M14 because its most-recognizable configurations were relatively short-lived, such as the iconic EBR variant. Other rifles would come along and replace it, such as the M110 as a marksman’s rifle, but the M14 somehow kept holding on. These rifles have been spotted in the current war in Ukraine and other hotspots around the world.

The Fulton Armory M14 Service Rifle

Today’s M14 variants are enjoying a bit of a spike in popularity, as the ongoing retro trend has pushed consumers to wood and steel instead of flavor-of-the-day AR and striker pistols. I approached Fulton Armory to discuss doing an M14 build after I had so much success with their M1 Garand restoration. After running through a variety of options, we eventually decided on what we felt people would be most interested in seeing: a purest-form service rifle with only the most necessary upgrades (such as a trigger job). The goal was then for me to fire this rifle in the first Fulton-sponsored McKee Memorial Match during the CMP National Matches at the historic Camp Perry—hallowed ground for all American shooters.

M14-trigger — The trigger on the rifle is a clean, two-stage military type that Fulton cleaned up and made very crisp but match legal.

We agreed to terms in late July 2023, and, in February of 2024, I got sent the first images of my rifle under construction. The finished product was delivered soon after, and I set about getting it sorted for match shooting. The rifle was breathtaking when I opened the box. For those of us who appreciate these sorts of things, this was art. The rifle is what can only be described as the peak form of the M14, devoid of accuracy-robbing, full-auto capability … and with all the combined knowledge of FA’s gunsmiths. When handling this rifle, you’re handling American tradition at its finest.

M14-gas-block — A critical fit area for the M14 is in the gas port/stock junction. Masterful fitting in this part of the rifle is required for best accuracy.

In a technical sense, this is a commercial M14 semi-auto variant with a receiver that meets USGI material and heat-treat specs. The parts are all as close to USGI as possible; in fact, some parts might actually be original. The barrel is a 22-inch chrome-lined .308 Win./7.62 NATO Criterion with a 1:12 twist. The stock is hand-fitted, a beautiful walnut in GI contour. The rifle arrived with a green canvas sling and one magazine. I contacted Check-Mate for additional new M14 magazines, and they sent me a variety in capacities from five to 25 rounds. Reliability with these mags in the FA M14 has been flawless with any ammo I’ve shot.

I took the rifle to the range and didn’t bother with bench accuracy testing—because I wouldn’t be firing it from the bench. Rather, I went straight to the old book of knowledge and set up a 200-yard target and my spotting scope, and I slung up with my coat. The old timers will tell you to center the rear sight on the centerline, bottom out the rear and count up 10 clicks to 200 yards … and hold “lollipop” with the bottom edge of the black center resting on the tip of the front sight. So that’s what I did.

M14-rear-sight — The rear sight is very similar to that of the M1 Garand, but it’s configured slightly differently to account for the 7.62 NATO cartridge.

I proceeded to fire Black Hills 168-grain BTHP Match, Hornady 168-grain AMAX Match and Federal 175-grain Gold Medal Match ammunition. All of these match loads were punching 10 and X rings at this distance, my best groups were all effectively the same in this competition setting, averaging 1.5 MOA (3 inches for 10 shots at 200 yards prone with sling and coat). After the initial break-in, I was very satisfied with this and did some bench testing at 100 yards with the same loads using iron sights, and it came in roughly the same, if not better, but my eyes are only so good.

Camp-Perry-Match-M14-2 — All variations of M14 were present on the line at the McKee match.

The Hornady load produced the best general results at 100 and 200 yards by a narrow margin and seemed to hover closer to 1 MOA, which is tighter than the width of the front sight itself. Offhand practice with the rifle was easy thanks to its low recoil. Bear in mind here that while I’m not close to the best by any stretch, I have shot CMP with iron sights for 20 years and have a good sense of how to get accuracy with them. It’s a skill, but today’s shooters will probably get better results now that optics are legal for Unlimited class at Camp Perry.

Camp-Perry-Match-M14 — A competitor takes aim at the McKee Memorial Match at Camp Perry.

As far as a rifle like this goes, it’s just about perfection. I have two rifles built by Fulton Armory, and I’ll never part with them—they’re just that good. Not everyone wants to fork over the cash for a rifle like this, but in my experience as a 2-decade service rifle competitor, I’d say there’s simply no better option that so closely approximates not just what was used by the military, but also the civilian rifles that have kept interest in the M14 alive for over a half-century. You’ll end up paying more on top of another M14 variant just to get it close to the accuracy and reliability that the Fulton M14 arrives with out of the box.

McKee Memorial Match at Camp Perry

The M14 has a long history at Camp Perry, the mecca of traditional marksmanship in America. The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) runs things at Camp Perry, and the site has been the home of the National Matches for more than a century. Some of the most storied names in shooting history have graced these sacred grounds along the northern Ohio shore.

The M14 Heritage Match was held on Saturday, August 3, 2024, the day before I sat down to pen this article, meaning the experience is as fresh in my mind as it can be. While the M14 match has been fired for a while at Perry, this is the first year Fulton Armory is the new sponsor—the notable expertise and changes brought about by Fulton have been much needed. The inaugural match is named in honor of Clint McKee, the founder of Fulton Armory and highly respected figure in the rifle community.

Fulton-Armory-crew — The author (center, stupid grin) with the Fulton Armory team at Camp Perry.

I met with the Fulton crew throughout the day and was even paired as a shooting partner to well-known expert marksman Brian Williams. Needless to say, Williams schooled me completely, but that was to be expected. I shot the Fulton rifle in the match using factory Hornady loads and did well at 300 yards for the four-position, 45-round match. My game was about on par with my past scores, except in the rapid-fire sitting portion where I didn’t fare well and had two misses due to my lack of experience in firing in that position.

Life is long and I took this as an opportunity to live and learn. The Fulton rifle, of course, was more accurate than I was, but the moral of the story here is that you can, in fact, be quite competitive using a standard Fulton build and factory match ammo.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the October 2024 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

More Classic Military Rifles:

The FN-49: The FN FAL's Grandather
New Production DSA FALs
Roller-Locks Go Mainstream: The CETME Model 58
The H&K G3 :The Most Successful Battle Rifle
What To Know When Buying A G3

Silencer Central BANISH Speed K Ti Review: Tiny Sound Slammer

David Lane

August 26, 2024

We hit the range to test out Silencer Central's fun-sized BANISH Speed K Ti suppressor.

Suppressors are amazing and something everyone loves. But one of the shortcomings is they make your gun longer and can be awkward. K cans are shorter than normal, but they offer less sound suppression.

What if we can have the best of both worlds? Short, good suppression, and let’s make it lightweight just for funzies.

Enter the Silencer Central Banish Speed K Ti!

Only 4-inches long, about half the weight of most suppressors, and has top-tier performance.

Silencer Central Banish Speed K Ti Specs:

Length: 4 In.
Diameter: 2 In.
Weight: 8.6 Oz.
Material: Titanium
Thread Pitch: Various Direct Mounts
Caliber: .223 / 5.56
Caliber Range: .17 To 5.56
Sound Reduction: 20.6 dB
Self-Service: No
Full-Auto Rated: No
Color: Black
Finish: Cerakote
Mount Style: Industry Standard Hub Mount
Lifetime Warranty: Yes

Pros

Very small and light, doesn't add much extra length to a gun
Titanium is light, but not as strong as Inconel

Cons

Not “Hollywood” quiet
Pricey, but you get what you pay for

The Short Version

Silencer Centrel’s original Banish Speed K came about as a collaboration between SC and Federal Ammunition and was designed for law enforcement. In fact, for a while there the Banish Speed K was only available to LEO.

The idea is simple, a small can that cuts enough of the noise and concussion down to be useful while still maintaining an ultra-compact footprint so that it doesn’t turn a carbine into a pike.

The Banish Speed K Ti features a controlled- flow technology, which forces the gas forward through the suppressor. That's important with such a short profile.

One of the main problems K cans often have is that there just isn’t enough volume to do the job. As one wise man once put it, suppressors are like engines. There is no replacement for displacement. But making a can longer means it becomes less handy in CQB. Silencer Central solved the problem by going fat instead of long.

While only 4-inches long, the Banish Speed K is a chonky 2” thick. Compared to other 5.56 cans that are about 1.5-inches thick, it’s easy to tell who the thicc boy is.

This newest version of the Banish Speed K is the exact same suppressor as before, except the Ti version is fully 3D printed from Titanium. Why does that matter? Weight.

The original Banish Speed K is 14.1-ounces while the new Titanium version is only 8.6-ounces. While the original wasn’t super heavy by suppressor standards, using Titanium cuts about 40% off the weight and makes a huge difference in how the can feels and moves.

silencer-central-banish-speed-k-ti-review

Downside of the Ti is that it is technically less resilient than the original Inconel design. That said, Titanium is still an outstanding material and this can will last a long, long, LONG time.

On The Range

This can is small. And light. It’s almost easy to forget that the can is even on a rifle it is so small and lightweight. Embracing how small and light this can is, it was directly threaded onto a Palmetto State Armory 10.5” JAKL pistol. In my book, this is an almost perfect application for it because it’s small, light, and the brace folds out of the way for storage.

The Speed K Ti is not “Hollywood quiet,” but it's ideal for close-quarters sound suppression on a home-defense gun.

Tone for the can sounds good, it doesn’t hurt your ears and isn’t annoying to hear.

Rated at 20.9dB, this isn’t a whisper-quiet suppressor—but it’s not designed to be either. Everything is a trade off and since this can is a beefed up K size can, the suppression it gives matches.

20.9 dB is just enough to knock down an AR-15 into the probably hearing-safe range. You won’t go deaf in a single mag, but you won’t be able to hear butterfly farts afterward either.

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For a can that is designed around CQB/home defense, predator control, etc. this is a pretty fair trade. It isn’t Hollywood quiet, but it is quiet enough that when you need to rip a mag with no ear pro on because you’re defending your home from robbers or saving your animals from something big and harry with teeth and claws, you can still hear afterward.

Shooting the Banish Speed K Ti is a total joy. The can is so small and light that it makes range time a breeze. Drills and training are shockingly quick and snappy because the gun feels like a normal gun instead of having a huge heavy weight on the end slowing how it swings.

The Banish Speed K Ti also features “Controlled-flow technology” meaning the gases vent forward through the can. The backpressure of this is crazy low, even on a normal AR-15 instead of the long-stroke piston JAKL this one is mounted on.

A shorter can will not offer the same sound suppression as will a longer can. But, sometimes, a short suppressor is much more practical on certain setups.

It isn’t often that I make something a part of my home defense setup, but the Banish Speed K Ti has earned a spot in record time. It’s honestly a no-brainer.

Loose Rounds

MSRP is $1,400 for the Ti version and $1,200 for the Inconel. Sure, that’s not cheap. But the performance is worth it if you’re looking to have the best you can get.

Personally, I think the Ti is worth the extra couple of bens. Almost half the weight of Inconel is very noticeable and makes for an outstanding suppressor.

More On Suppressors:

The Suppressor: How They're Made, How They Work, And How To Buy One
Best AR-15 Suppressor Options For A Quiet Advantage
Handgun Gear: Best 9mm Suppressor Choices
The Sig MODX-45 Modular Suppressor
Best .22 Suppressor Choices To Mute Your Plinker

First Look: Century Arms CA-3

Adam Borisenko

August 23, 2024

Century Arms has just released the CA-3, a 7.62x51mm NATO G3 rifle built using original surplus and new-production parts.

Battle rifle enthusiasts continue to debate over what the best platform is, and they don’t seem any closer to reaching an answer today than they did years ago. Whatever side of the argument you find yourself on, having more options on the market is something that everyone should appreciate. The latest is one that will appeal to the roller-delayed blowback camp, and it’s called the Century Arms CA-3.

Chambered for 7.62x51mm NATO, the CA-3 is essentially a rebuilt H&K G3-pattern rifle made using surplus military parts from Portugal alongside new-production American-made parts from PTR. Interestingly, PTR bought its G3 tooling from FMP in Portugal back in the day, so in a way all parts on the CA-3 were presumably made on the same machines albeit in different decades and under different management. When the rifle was announced at SHOT Show 2024 a Century rep said that the company purchased all the remaining stock of G3 rifles from the Portuguese Army, so their supply of surplus kits will hopefully last quite a while.

Otherwise, the CA-3 is about what you would expect of a rebuilt G3. It features original surplus furniture, sights, trigger group, bolt and carrier, and a PTR-made receiver, barrel, trunnion, flash hider, charging handle, hammer and sear. Each rifle ships with one 20-round magazine and the barrels are threaded 5/8×24.

MSRP for the Century Arms CA-3 is $999.99 and they’re available now.

For more information, visit centuryarms.com.

More On Battle Rifles:

The FN-49: The FN FAL's Grandather
New Production DSA FALs
Classic Battle Rifle Imports From Springfield Armory
The M1 Garand: America's Original Battle Rifle
The M14

22 Nosler Overview: Ballistics And Beyond

Robert Sadowski

August 23, 2024

We take a look at the 22 Nosler cartridge and discuss its ballistic properties, practical applications and whether it still has a place today.

The idea behind 22 Nosler was to develop the most powerful .22-caliber centerfire cartridge compatible with the AR-15 platform. It was designed to be so compatible, in fact, that all an AR-15 owner needed to do was swap the barrel (or entire upper receiver) and magazine and they would be good to go. When it was introduced, my initial thoughts on the 22 Nosler cartridge were that it was a solution looking for a problem, but that was before I shot it.

Turns out, the 22 Nosler is noticeably ballistically superior to .223 Rem./5.56x45mm NATO, and it’s both flatter shooting and harder hitting. The 22 Nosler approaches the performance of the storied .22-250 Remington cartridge while being compatible with the AR-15 platform, and that alone is impressive. But—there is always a but.

Quick Info

	22 Nosler
Parent Case	N/A
Bullet Diameter	.2245 in.
Neck Diameter	.255 in.
Shoulder Diameter	.400 in.
Base Diameter	.4207 in.
Rim Diameter	.378 in.
Case Length	1.760 in.
COL	2.260 in.
Case Capacity	34.2 gr H2O
Maximum Pressure (SAAMI)	55,000 psi

Pros

Ballistically superior cartridge to .223 Remington/5.56x45mm NATO
Designed to be used in standard .223 AR-15s with only a barrel and magazine swap
Still a great varmint round

Cons

Ammunition is only made by Nosler and is comparatively expensive and harder to find
Other ballistically similar rounds exist that are less expensive and more available
Complete guns and 22 Nosler conversion uppers are getting harder to find

22 Nosler Design

The 22 Nosler was introduced in 2017 and at first glance, it looks like a fat .223 Remington. Unlike many cartridges designed for the AR-15 platform, the 22 Nosler does not use a parent case. The case is proprietary and can’t be formed from another case. The case measures 1.760 inches in length, which is the same as the .223 Rem., but it's girthier. The 22 Nosler has a 0.378-inch case diameter compared to .223 which has a case diameter of 0.354 inches. That translates to about 25 percent more case capacity. More case capacity means more powder, and more powder means increased velocity, flatter trajectory, less wind deflection and more energy.

22-nosler-vs-223-rem — The 22 Nosler (left) and the .224 Valkyrie (right) both offer substantial long-range performance over the .223 Remington.

The 22 Nosler uses a rebated rim, meaning the rim diameter is less than the case diameter. The rebated rim of the 22 Nosler is the same size as the rim of a .223 Rem./5.56x45mm NATO cartridge and is therefore compatible with a standard AR-15 bolt face.

The case taper and diameter of 22 Nosler look similar to another AR-15 cartridge, the 6.8 Remington SPC, and that likely wasn’t an accident. Since 6.8 Rem. SPC predates Nosler’s round by about 15 years, it made sense for Nosler to design its cartridge in a way that would allow compatibility with existing 6.8 magazines. Why reinvent the wheel? Besides the barrel, the magazine is the only other component you need replace to convert a standard AR-15 to 22 Nosler.

Noveske-22-Nosler-AR — A now-discontinued Noveske 22 Nosler AR with a 6.8 magazine.

Practical Applications

Both competitive shooters and varmint hunters benefit from the 22 Nosler. Faster, flatter, and farther is the mantra of both pursuits, and the 22 Nosler delivers that handily. While a competitor doesn’t care about downrange energy because all they are doing is punching holes in paper or ringing steel, varmint hunters will enjoy the extra energy the round offers over the .223 Rem./5.56x45mm NATO. Recoil is mild and not significantly greater than the recoil from the .223/5.56.

22 Nosler Ballistics

22 Nosler barrels use a 1:8-inch twist rate which means they can stabilize bullet weights up to 85 grains at the top end. Typical bullet weights are 53-, 55-, 70-, 77-, and 80-grain. Because 22 Nosler was primarily designed for used in .223/5.56 AR-15s, hence taking that round’s place, that’s what makes the most sense to compare it to. This will help you gauge whether the improved ballistics provided by the conversion are great enough to justify doing it, though that of course also depends on what you intend on using it for. All tables were made using ShootersCalculator with a 200-yard zero, a 1.5-inch sight height, no corrections for atmosphere and a 10 mph 90-degree crosswind.

We’ll start on the lighter end by comparing a 22 Nosler varmint load with some of Nosler’s .223 Rem. varmint ammo, both featuring a 53-grain Varmageddon bullet with a G1 BC of .303:

Out to 300 yards, there is not much difference between the two besides the 22 Nosler having a bit more energy. As the bullets pass 300 yards and approach 500 yards, their difference in energy starts to become less substantial while differences in drop and velocity start to become more apparent.

At 500 yards, the 22 Nosler drops 34.9 inches and retains a velocity of 1,960 fps and 452 foot-pounds of energy while the .223 Rem. drops 37.4 inches with a velocity of 1,891 fps and 421 foot-pounds of energy. Comparing the two, 22 Nosler has a mere 2.5 fewer inches of drop, about 3.5 percent more velocity and about 7 percent more energy. To me, those are yawn-inducing numbers.

However, the 22 Nosler starts to become more interesting when looking at heavier bullets for target shooting. Here’s a comparison between Nosler’s 77-grain loads of each cartridge, both featuring bullets with a G1 BC of .34:

Muzzle velocity is 2,950 fps from the 22 Nosler and 2,600 fps with the .223 Rem. That’s an impressive 350 fps advantage for the 22 Nosler right off the bat. Using the same 500-yard benchmark we used with the varmint loads, the 22 Nosler drops 46.9 inches while the .223 Rem. drops 62.9 inches. The .223 Rem. also drops energy like it's shedding weight on a keto diet with 1,487 foot-pounds of energy compared to the 22 Nosler’s 1,734 foot-pounds. With this load, it’s clear that the 22 Nosler has a distinct advantage over the .223 Rem.

After 22 Nosler’s introduction, it’s no surprise that other companies followed suit with similar designs. One such cartridge was Federal’s .224 Valkyrie. Like 22 Nosler, .224 Valkyrie was developed with the intention of creating an AR-15-compatible round with increased velocity and performance over that of .223/5.56. However, it was primarily designed to achieve this with 90-grain bullets instead. While the 22 Nosler makes it easier for AR-15 enthusiasts to swap calibers, the .224 Valkyrie requires a different BCG as part of the conversion process.

The 22 Nosler (left) and the .224 Valkyrie (right) both offer substantial long-range performance over the .223 Remington. However, neither can keep pace with the 6mm ARC. — The 22 Nosler (left) and the .224 Valkyrie (right).

To compare these two, we’ll again start on the lighter end of bullet weights. Here’s a table for a 55-gain 22 Nosler load (G1 BC of .267) versus a 60-grain load of .224 Valkyrie (G1 BC of .265):

Looking at the data, the 22 Nosler edged out the .224 Valkyrie in velocity by 200 fps at the muzzle. At 500 yards, the 22 Nosler dropped 36.8 inches and retained 409 foot-pounds of energy with a velocity of 1,830 fps. The .224 Valkyrie dropped 42.5 inches and held on to 380 foot-pounds while petering out to 1,689 fps. The differences aren’t drastic, but they are real, and 22 Nosler is clearly the winner between these two loads. Enough to make a difference when varmint hunting? That’s up to you.

Now let’s compare two target loads:

Comparing data from a 22 Nosler 85-grain RDF bullet (G1 BC of .498) against a 90-grain BTHP of .224 Valkyrie (G1 BC of .563), the 22 Nosler has only 50 fps more velocity than the .224 Valkyrie at the muzzle, but what’s interesting is at 500 yards the calibers are nearly neck and neck. The 22 Nosler drops 45.9 inches, has a velocity of 1,917 fps and retains 693 foot-pounds of energy, while the .224 Valkyrie drops 45.8 inches, has a velocity of 1,962 fps and 770 foot-pounds of energy. The only real advantage of .224 Valkyrie here is its greater energy, but that only starts to become noticeable at between 400 and 500 yards. Those are some pretty long ranges for varmint hunting, but having 80 or so foot-pounds more of energy could be beneficial for larger small game like coyotes. Outside of that, as the data shows, the differences between the two are pretty negligible.

22 Nosler Ammo

Currently, Nosler is the only factory source of 22 Nosler ammunition, so the cost is higher than if multiple manufacturers were producing it. That said, the eight loads offered by the company spread across five different bullet weights should cover most bases from hunting to target shooting.

Current 22 Nosler ammo prices obtained from AmmoSeek show an average of about 95 cents per round on the low end to about $1.50 per round for heavier target ammo. Meanwhile, the low end of .224 Valkyrie ammo is sitting at about 65 cents per round and about $1.15 per round for 90-grain target ammo. When it comes to .223/5.56 ammo, quality and price can vary quite a bit, but even good 77-grain target ammo is available for significantly cheaper than what 22 Nosler runs per shot. There’s also availability to consider, and .223/5.56 is far easier to find for sale and has a wider variety of loads and manufacturers to choose from.

The ballistic data clearly showed certain areas where 22 Nosler has an advantage over .223/5.56 as well as .224 Valkyrie, but the question is whether or not the differences are significant enough to justify its greater cost per round. That’s up to you, but the frugal Yankee in me tends to opt for the simple, tried-and-true .223 Remington.

22 Nosler Rifles

Factory rifles chambered in 22 Nosler are expensive and there aren’t many models to choose from. If you wanted a bolt-action, Nosler chambers its Model 21 for it, but that somewhat defeats the purpose behind the cartridge since it was designed for use in ARs. The Model 21 is also very expensive. For AR-15-style rifles in 22 Nosler, Wilson Combat offers its Tactical Hunter model for about $2,500.

wilson-combat-22-nosler-AR — The Wilson Combat Tactical Hunter in 22 Nosler.

Really, as a cartridge designed for use in AR-15s with a replaced barrel and magazine, getting a 22 Nosler upper to use with an existing lower and BCG makes the most sense. However, White Oak Armament appears to be the only manufacturer that’s still offering any. A few others have made 22 Nosler uppers in the past, but all appear to be out of stock or discontinued at the time of this writing. That should give you a hint as to the future of this cartridge.

22 Nosler's Future

The 22 Nosler broke ground as a fast, powerful .22-caliber centerfire round compatible with the AR-15 platform, and it deserves credit for that. While it appeared to have some very good potential when it was released in 2017, the writing seems to be on the wall that it’s going to go the way of the dodo. While it has impressive ballistics and the advantage of being compatible with standard .223/5.56 bolts, the current cost and availability of ammo and rifles/uppers mean that it just doesn’t make that much sense to get into today.

The reality is that in the current market, other options such as .224 Valkyrie and 22 ARC offer about the same practical performance if you wanted an AR-style varmint rifle. And when it comes to bolt-action varmint rifles, there are obviously many other excellent cartridges to choose from.

There’s nothing wrong with 22 Nosler, in fact it still performs great, and if you already own the rifle it should serve as a very useful companion on many more hunts. If you’re looking to get into a new, juiced-up varmint cartridge, however, it’s time to consider something else.

Raise Your Ammo IQ:

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Custom Thompson Center Contender Review: One Piece At A Time

Mike Searson

August 22, 2024

We pieced together a custom Thompson Center Contender carbine, so let’s take a look at the build process, the parts used and assess the final product.

Even a very brief look at a rifle beyond my financial means fueled my desire to build one close to it. The rifle in question was a custom one-off falling-block rifle made in Europe. It was chambered in .22 Hornet and had magnificent case colors adorning the frame. Marketed as a gentleman’s rifle for fox hunting, it was going to be sold at the Safari Club International annual hunter’s show in Reno, Nevada, for a few bills higher than a Rolex Presidential model.

The seeds were sown, and visions of a case-hardened Thompson Center Contender came to mind with a fancy stock and a Leupold scope. With a spare old-model first-generation frame gathering dust in the safe and a Leupold scope sitting around, the only things needed to finish this project were a barrel, rings and an attractive stock. And someone willing to apply the color case-hardening. Challenge accepted!

Thompson-Center-Contender-left — When this rifle finally came together, its looks and utility in .223 Remington eclipsed the original custom rifle that inspired it.

Thompson Center History

When it was first rolled out in 1967, the Thompson Center Contender was mostly a novelty. The barrels were all below 10 inches in length, octagonal in shape and mostly represented the lower end of the power spectrum (.22 Jet, .22 LR, .38 Special, etc.). They were accurate, but not particularly useful beyond the firing line at the local outdoor range.

By the 1970s, the barrels took on a round shape and were offered in rifle calibers such as .223 Remington, .30-30 Winchester, .35 Remington and .45-70. Magnum handgun calibers, such as .357 Magnum, .41 Magnum, .44 Magnum, .357 Maximum and .45 Winchester Magnum followed, and the Contender was reborn as a highly accurate long-distance pistol for metallic silhouette shooting and as a suitable hunting arm in either rifle or pistol configuration. Thompson Center even made a variant in .45 Colt/410 shotgun with a rifled barrel and removable choke tube, some complete with a ventilated rib and brass bead front sight.

TC-pistol-barrels — With .45-70, 410/45 Colt and, of course, .223 Remington barrel set; you have a versatile system that works well anywhere with a Contender pistol frame.

Part of the beauty of a Contender is that you can change calibers in a matter of minutes. Remove the forend with a screwdriver, pop out the hinge pin, remove the barrel, install the new one, replace the hinge pin and the forend … and you’re done. There’s no need to fit, check headspace or set cylinder gap. Additionally, there’s no need to re-sight the Contender, as the sights or optics are mounted on the barrel. Your zero is always maintained.

Because there’s a 52-year manufacturing period with small changes here and there, some older barrel-and-frame combinations might require fitting. This has mostly been eliminated with the newest incarnation of the Contender, known as the G2 frame, that debuted in 1998. However, even the most accurate barrels and custom frames can still be a bit tight fitting. The biggest complaint, outside of being a single-shot firearm, is having to slap the barrel down to get it to break open at times with the older models. The older models, however, do have a better trigger than the G2.

T-C-pistol-1 — The Contender is not the wrist-breaker that it’s falsely made out to be. The .45-70 in a 14- or 16-inch barrel feels more like a hot .44 Magnum than an express rifle cartridge due to the ergonomics.

Although mostly known as single-shot pistols, rifle-length barrels and a buttstock can be attached to the Contender to give the shooter a single-shot rifle.

As a matter of fact, the Thompson Center Arms company offered a kit, including a 21-inch rifle barrel, a 10-inch pistol barrel, a pistol grip and a buttstock back in the 1980s. The ATF brought the charge that such a kit was a potential National Firearms Act weapon because a shooter could attach a buttstock to a Contender with a short barrel.

The Supreme Court held that a short-barreled rifle “actually must be assembled” in order to be “made” within the NFA’s definition. This is one of the few firearms where you can legally go from rifle to pistol and back again.

Contender-pistol — For years, the author relied on T/C Contender pistols for hunting, hiking and metallic silhouette shooting.

Smith & Wesson purchased Thompson Center Arms in 2007, pretty much for the company’s barrel-making capabilities. In the 15 years since then, very few Contenders and Encores have been released, and their caliber selection and barrel lengths dwindled from more than 100 combinations to less than a dozen.

Piecing Together The Custom Thompson Center Contender:

The Frame

As stated previously, several generations of frames can be identified by the side plates, hammer and, of course, the serial number. The frame in question came in from an estate sale. The hammer is semi-skeletonized on the spur, with a lever allowing the shooter to switch between centerfire and rimfire. The side plate bears the machined engraving of a crouching mountain lion. This was Thompson Center Arms’ logo for decades.

Finding a suitable barrel was a bit of a challenge. The G2 barrels aren’t backward compatible with the old frames, and the older barrels seem to be commanding a premium due to their scarcity. An online auction site revealed a 21-inch barrel chambered in 223 Remington and seemed perfect for this purpose. Best of all, the price was a mere $150.

Unfortunately, the barrel tended to stick after firing. It often took the use of a heavy rubber mallet to disengage it. This was something that would have to be looked into when it went out for color-case hardening.

Furniture

There’s nothing wrong with factory forends, stocks and grips from T/C Arms. While the synthetics always feel a bit flimsy, the walnut is actually very well done. The only problem seems to be availability and, of course, now “vintage” parts costing a premium.

There are other alternatives, though.

Thompson-Center-Contender-right — The Boyds Gun Stocks thumbhole stock is probably the best direction that could’ve happened to make a true custom rifle. Plus, the right combination of color-case hardening and woodgrain made this dream rifle come to life.

Boyds Gun Stocks produces amazingly beautiful stocks in walnut and a variety of laminates. I went with one of the Sterling Thumbhole Stocks in a Nutmeg pattern, which resembles a handsome hardwood—even though it’s laminated. Fitting furniture can be a bit tricky, as we’re considering at least three different frame generations and an almost infinite configuration of barrels. An extended stock bolt and forend screw were sourced from Ace Hardware and, before it was refinished, a working rifle was ready for initial testing.

The buttstock and forend came with sling swivel studs installed at the factory. A Harris bipod can be mounted to the forend if you want to shoot from the bench.

Optics

Knowing that the frame would be case-hardened, rings in a similar color were needed. The choice was Talley for a set of 1-inch rings and a base. The base was black, but the rings recalled the case colors of a prewar Colt Single Action Army. Instead of traditional vertical caps, these screws mount through the side.

The scope in question was a low-powered variable optic in the form of a Leupold Vari-X III, in 1.75×6 power with a tall target turret, allowing for adjustments at 1/8 MOA with each click. Its 1-inch tube fit the rings perfectly, and the 32mm objective allows for plenty of light transmission.

.223 Remington

This has always been one of the most popular choices for the Thompson Center Contender pistol. It’s an outstanding varmint round and a bit more affordable and versatile than the .22 Hornet on the original rifle that inspired this build.

Accuracy out of this rifle is nothing short of phenomenal. You can truly build a sub-MOA rifle (or pistol) with a Contender in most cases. This has to do with the 1.5-pound trigger, limited moving parts during the firing sequence, and a completely sealed action (which can make for the quietest suppressor host), and you get the full power of the cartridge every time. There’s no loss of gas or power bleed-off whatsoever.

Gunsmithing The Contender

Color-case hardening is an art, and it’s associated with some pretty hazardous chemicals to get it correct. Case hardening stems from the mid-19th century, when metals weren’t the greatest, and a heat treatment was needed to make the firearm or tool stronger. It has an attractive color to some shooters and is mostly for decorative purposes now.

Bobby Tyler is a master gunsmith who works his magic with case coloring on everything from derringers and revolvers, to Sharps rifles and Contenders. He vowed to also fit the barrel to the action better as well as anything else that came up.

It turned out that the hammer cracked on this frame at some point between the last shooting session and when the gun was being taken apart for refinishing. Sourcing an original hammer took quite some time and added another $150 to the build that wasn’t anticipated—such is the way with rebuilds and restorations.

The rifle came back completely unrecognizable … but in a good way. Tyler refinished the basic black scope mount in addition to the frame, and it couldn’t have been done better.

Thompson-Center-Contender-open — These rings were chosen for this build due to Talley’s reputation for strength and the gorgeous case-hardened colors to match the finish of the Contender Carbine.

In a sense, it works on a very similar principle to the original falling block rifle that inspired this build. Technically, it’s just a single-action single-shot. Yet Tyler’s refinishing, Boyds’ furniture and the Talley rings with a Leupold Vari-X lend an air of old-world aristocracy to a very utilitarian and American-made rifle.

This was a fun build that took a couple of years to complete from start to finish. Part of that may have been supply chain issues, waiting on the services of the right gunsmith and finding a replacement hammer, but it was well worth it. The total cost of this project was a little under $1,700, about one-fifth of the price of the rifle that inspired this build.

The best thing about a Contender build is that the options are virtually endless. At one time, you could find just short of 100 calibers among factory offerings, custom shop models and, of course, wildcats. To do it these days on some of the more exotic calibers might take a bit of scrounging and searching gun shows, gun shops, estate sales and online auctions, but you can truly build a one-of-a-kind rifle or pistol if an extremely accurate single shot is what trips your trigger.

Custom Thompson Center Contender Build & Pricing:

Contender Frame: $200
Boyds Gun Stocks Nutmeg Stock & Forend: $160
21-inch Barrel: $150
Talley Case-hardened Scope Rings: $220
Talley Base: $60
Leupold Scope: $350
Refinishing: $350
Gunsmithing: $75
Replacement Hammer: $150

Sources:

Thompson/Center Arms: TCarms.com
Boyds Gun Stocks: BoydsGunstocks.com
Leupold: Leupold.com
Talley Rings: TalleyScopeRings.com
Tyler Gun Works: TylerGunWorks.com

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the September 2022 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.

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Ammo Brief: .30-40 Krag

Gun Digest Editors

August 21, 2024

A quick look at .30-40 Krag, or .30 U.S. Army, America’s first small-bore military cartridge.

The .30 U.S. Army, or .30-40 Krag—the first United States small-bore military cartridge—was adopted in 1892.

The Winchester high-wall single-shot was the first commercial rifle in the United States produced for a small-bore smokeless-powder cartridge. This happened when the .30-40 Krag was added to the available chamberings in 1893. The Remington-Lee bolt action, Remington rolling block, and Winchester Model 95 lever action and high-wall single-shot were the first commercial sporting rifles to offer this chambering. No commercial rifles used the cartridge from 1936 to 1973. From 1973 until 1977, the Ruger No. 3 single-shot was chambered for the .30-40 Krag, thus stimulating a renewed interest in the cartridge.

General Comments

The .30-40 Krag—.30-caliber/40 grains of the original smokeless-powder load—has retained its popularity, primarily because large numbers of fine sporting conversions of the Krag military rifles and carbines chambered for it are still in use. Although not quite as powerful as either the .30-06 or the .308 Winchester, the .30-40 is well suited for use on North American big game. The Krag earned its reputation with the 220-grain loading, but it can be loaded to great advantage with lighter bullets for smaller species.

Interestingly, most authorities consider the 1895 Winchester chambering to be safe with loads at a somewhat higher pressure than the Krag rifle. However, both actions have limitations, and one should be particularly circumspect in this regard.

Bountiful loading data can be found in current manuals. The .30-40 is the basis of an entire genre of powerful Ackley Improved chamberings particularly suited to strong single-shot rifles. The 180-grain bullet is the dominant offering, but 150-, 165- and 220-grain loads can be found online.

.30-40 Krag Loading Data and Factory Ballistics

BULLET	POWDER	GRAINS	VELOCITY	ENERGY	SOURCE
100 SP	H322	45	3,000	1,999	Speer
110 SP	IMR4320	47	2,700	1,781	Sierra, Speer
125 SP	IMR4895	44.5	2,600	1,877	Sierra
130 SP	IMR4064	44.5	2,900	2,428	Hornady, Speer
150 SP	IMR4895	40	2,400	1,919	Nosler, Sierra
165 SP	IMR4350	47	2,500	2,290	Hornady, Nosler, Sierra
180 SP	IMR4350	46	2,450	2,400	Nosler, Sierra, Speer
180 SP	IMR4895	39	2,200	1,935	Sierra
200 SP	IMR3031	34	2,100	1,959	Nosler, Speer, Sierra
220 SP	IMR4350	42	2,100	2,155	Hornady, Speer, Nosler
180 JSP	FL	—	2,430	2,360	Remington 28345
220 RNSP	FL	—	2,046	2,044	Buffalo Arms AMO3040KRAG2

Editor's Note: This article is an excerpt of Gun Digest's Cartridge's Of The World.

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First Look: CZ P-09 NOCTURNE Pistols

Adam Borisenko

August 20, 2024

CZ has just announced the CZ P-09 NOCTURNE pistol line, featuring optics-ready slides, luminescent sights and improved ergonomics.

CZ has just updated its popular P-07 and P-09 pistols with the P-09 NOCTURNE line. The series features both a full-size (P-09 F NOCTURNE) and a compact (P-09 C NOCTURNE) model and they sport several improvements over their predecessors.

The heart of the CZ P-09 NOCTURNE is unchanged, as the new pistols still have rugged polymer frames, DA/SA triggers and 9mm double-stack magazines. They also still feature three sizes of interchangeable backstraps, an accessory rail and ambidextrous safety/decock levers. Where the NOCTURNE handguns depart from the old design mostly has to do with their ergonomics and sights.

Not only do the NOCTURNE pistols feature an improved texture pattern, but there’s more of it incorporated throughout the frame to help ensure a secure grip. They also feature enhanced front cocking serrations and a redesigned slide stop and safety lever. The optics-ready slide design has also been improved as it now allows for direct-mounting red dots with a Shield RMS or Holosun K footprint, and each pistol sports luminescent 3-dot iron sights as well.

The full-size model has a standard magazine capacity of 19 rounds and the compact model has a capacity of 15 rounds, but both are available with 10-round mags as well. All NOCTURNE variants share an MSRP of $549 and are available now.

For more information, visit cz-usa.com.

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We pieced together a custom Thompson Center Contender carbine, so let’s take a look at the build process, the parts used and assess the final product.

Thompson Center History

Piecing Together The Custom Thompson Center Contender:

The Frame