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.
Steiner is giving you a one-two punch with the introduction of the TOR-X. At its heart, it’s a pistol-mounted laser, but it also doubles as a training tool through integration with the Mantis system. Designed to fit any pistol with a Picatinny or Weaver rail, the TOR-X features a <5 mW green laser in durable, water-resistant aluminum housing. It offers windage and elevation adjustments for precise aim and is ambidextrous for left- or right-hand use. The Mantis training functionality, accessed via Bluetooth, provides detailed feedback on shooting performance, enhancing both live- and dry-fire practice. The TOR-X simplifies training by combining a laser sight with advanced training capabilities in one EDC-compatible device.
MSRP: $360
Sig Sauer Competition-Ready Romeo3Max-Pro
Developed in collaboration with champion shooter Max Michel, the Sig Sauer Romeo3Max-Pro is a competition-ready open reflex that goes the extra mile. Designed to fit all Sig P320 pistols with a DeltaPoint Pro mounting footprint, the optic features a 31mm distortion-free as-pheric glass lens, a choice of 3-MOA or 8-MOA red-dot reticles, and 15 brightness settings. Its low-profile CNC aluminum housing allows for co-witness with suppressor-height sights. The Romeo3Max-Pro also includes a side-mounted battery tray, 20,000 hours of runtime, IPX-7 waterproofing, and MOTAC and MagneTac activation technologies, making it a versatile choice for competitors and enthusiasts alike. MSRP: $700
PARD Optics Ocelot and Pantera Thermal Scopes
Night vision isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, which is why PARD’s release of its new thermal scopes should grab your attention. The Ocelot and Pantera scopes not only offer the company’s most technically advanced optics to date, they also offer unparalleled resolution. Both models feature a 480×360/20mK resolution, a specification that’s currently unique in the industry. Furthermore, both scopes include models with 35mm and 50mm lenses for a wide and clear view of your target. MSRP: Ocelot & Pantera // $2,500
Primary Arms Optics SLx 1-10×28 SFP Riflescope
Quick and consistent, the SLx 1-10x28mm Second Focal Plane (SFP) riflescope offers a load of features at a relatively affordable price. First off, Primary Arms serves up the LPVO with its ACSS NOVA reticle that delivers red-dot illumination—no matter the conditions. The versatile scope also offers 1-10x magnification, making it suitable for various shooting scenarios from close-quarters to long-range. Alongside the scope, Primary Arms introduced new SLx mounts designed for enhanced rigidity and maintaining zero under demanding conditions. These mounts, like the scope, are both high-performing and affordable, catering to shooters seeking quality and value. MSRP: $550
Sightmark Wraith 4k 4X
Looking to take the next step with your night vision capabilities and add a dedicated NV aiming solution? You might want to give Sightmark a look. The company’s Wraith 4K 4-32×40 digital day/night vision riflescope offers shooters and hunters a complete package to hit their target, no matter the lighting conditions. With its high-resolution 4K (3840×2160) CMOS sensor, the scope delivers clear and crisp images, both day and night. Furthermore, it features a high-resolution 1280×720 display, 4-32x digital magnification, and a built-in LED IR illuminator for enhanced night vision performance. In addition to its impressive optical performance, the Wraith 4K is also packed with features including 10 reticle styles with 9 colors, and a built-in recorder that allows users to capture video footage. MSRP: $500
X-Vision Optics Shadow 100 Digital Night Vision Mini-Viewer
Owning the night usually involves dropping significant coin. X-Vision Optics takes some of the sting out of this with the introduction of its Shadow 100 Digital Night Vision Mini-Viewer. Designed to enhance low- to no-light conditions while offering unmatched portability and durability, the view comes about as competitively priced as you could want. And, X-Vision doesn’t skimp on the optic’s performance: Weighing just under 8 ounces and measuring 5 inches in length, the viewer offers a host of features including 2-8x magnification, a range of 325 yards in the night and 600 yards during the day, photo capabilities, and 32 GB of storage. That’s quite a pack for the size of the device and its price. MSRP: $150
Meprolight MPO PRO-F
Hot as a $2 pistol, closed emitter red-dots have taken the shooting world by storm. And why not? They offer all the advantages of their traditional open counterparts … with the added advantage of a guaranteed clear site picture. Meprolight has whole-heartedly embraced this design with the release of the MPO PRO-F, part of the company’s new MPO family of optics. In addition to an MR footprint, its shielded de-sign and overall 1.8-ounce light weight, the big selling point on the red-dot is its three user-selectable reticles, including plain dot (3 MOA), circle and dot, and circle. This gives a shooter plenty of aiming options to get on target. MSRP: $360
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the November 2024 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Embarking on the hunting trip of a lifetime with two unlikely companions: a 6.5 Creedmoor and a 7mm PRC.
With two teenage girls living under my roof, I get sucked into the occasional game of “would you rather?” It’s not an experience I’d wish upon any grown man, but because I do genuinely enjoy spending time with them (when they’re not trying to maim one another), I’ll play along now and again.
After admitting that I’d rather listen to Rihanna than Taylor Swift—both are forms of cruel and unusual punishment, by the way—I tossed one out to my girls: Would you rather lose an eye or lose a leg? The universal answer was that they’d rather give up a leg than an eye, and I couldn’t agree more: You can always buy a new leg, but seeing … well, seeing is everything. It’s the last of my senses that I’d ever want to part with.
I mention this seemingly pointless bit of information to highlight my perspective when choosing gear for epic hunts: Seeing is everything. And with my wife attending this trip, I wanted to ensure her visual experience was top-notch … with the selfish intention of her falling in love with Africa, thus making a return trip that much more likely when I present that inevitable sales pitch to her.
If the pictures in this article didn’t already spoil the punch line, I chose EOTech scopes for both rifles to make damned sure Mama was happy.
If you Google the company, the slug that pops up right there in the results reads “EOTech: Battle-Proven Optics for Military, Police and Professional Shooters.” They need to get one of their IT guys to get off their butt and update that, because it should read “ … and for hunters and shooters who demand perfection from their riflescopes.”
Yes, EOTech’s foundation is built upon the optics they developed for military and law-enforcement professionals, and it’s clear they learned a lot of cool sh*t along the way … and folded that knowledge into their hunting riflescopes. The viewing experience is exceptional, they track with perfection, and aside from using your rifle as a club to fend off a charging Cape buffalo, you can’t hardly break ’em.
On the Bergara 6.5 Creedmoor, I mounted up the 1-10x28mm Vudu FFP. At the risk of allowing my vanity to show a bit here, I was unsure how much I’d like this riflescope because of its straight-tube design: I once thought scopes without an objective bell always seemed to look … incomplete. And now … well, I gotta eat a pile of crow on this one, and it’s never tasted so sweet.
After 15 days afield with this scope—in terrain foul with gear-scratching rocks and red dust that seeps into cracks (on the gear on my body) that will never come out, the 1-10x28mm Vudu easily lands on my Top 5 list of favorite scopes … and I’ve shot a pile of ’em. There isn’t a single thing about it that I don’t like, and that includes the look.
I expected for the “modified circle-dot” reticle to take some getting used to, but my wife, Molly, easily picked up the rifle and quickly dropped her fallow stag. I might’ve teared up (just a little bit) when the Land Cruiser rolled into camp after her hunt. Unfortunately, not even I can make her smile like that.
I paired the Cascade 7mm PRC with a Vudu X 2-12x40mm EOTech. If I had to pick one to rule them all, the 2-12x configuration is my absolute favorite for all-around hunting: I’ve got an old Nikon on my slug gun (Nikon used to make some outstanding riflescope glass), one on my go-to muzzleloader, and one on a .300 Winchester Magnum—all in the 2-12x. And I like the Vudu X better than all of them.
I handed the rifle to Richard Mann, who writes for Gun Digest and a pile of other notable gun publications—and who came out of his mother’s womb a hard-core cynic. He looked over the scope, then looked through the scope, and said, “I need to get me one of those.”
Launched just within the past 18 months, the Vudu X is EOTech’s magical concoction that blends the company’s innovations with a price tag ($800-ish) that’s as easy to swallow as properly aged elk backstraps. Said another way: I’m not going to take any cheap shots at other brands here, but for what you get in regard to durability, functionality, and glass quality with the Vudu X, you’ll have to pay a minimum of $1,500 for elsewhere.
The scope’s style is best described as souped-up simplicity, with capped turrets and an illuminated duplex reticle—with and without holdover and windage striations.
Oh, yeah: It might sound trivial, but EOTech makes it standard practice to include throw levers on their riflescopes for fast zoom adjustments. I’d personally prefer to never go without one of those ever again.
PS: My philosophy worked, by the way. If I ever go back to Africa without my Molly, it’s unlikely that she’ll be at home when I return. She fell in love with the entire experience (well, minus the 15-hour flight between Atlanta and Johannesburg).
Safari Power
So, I did it: I took two chamberings specifically designed for long-range target work, and I traveled halfway around the world with them … to hunt.
For this trip, I shouldered a Bergara B14 Squared Crest Carbon, chambered in 6.5mm Creedmoor. With a Silencer Central suppressor, the shot experience was so exceptional that my wife genuinely enjoyed sending each round downrange, and she’s not a prolific shooter. The carbon fiber repels dings and scratches, the action seemed to laugh at the challenge of functioning flawlessly while constantly under barrage from red dust … and Bergara barrels are known for stacking bullets on top of one another.
As the author was informed, hunting without a suppressor in 2024 is “ungentlemanly.”
I know it’s uncouth to not bring a wood-and-blued rifle to Africa, but some traditions are meant to be broken.
My bigger critter getter was a CVA Cascade Long Range Hunter 7mm PRC. All CVA firearms are fitted with Bergara barrels (read: outstanding accuracy), and the adjustable cheek piece is mandatory—I add a cheek pad, for elevation and not necessarily comfort—to every rifle without an adjustable comb height.
My only asterisk on the performance of this rifle is the weight. At about 8½ pounds naked, the gun is a little heavy; however, that added weight was definitely nice to have when sending a 170-grain bullet out of the muzzle at nearly 3,000 fps.
Kudu are big but they aren’t particularly tough, and pursuing them is like spot-and-stalk hunting Midwestern whitetails in way more stunning terrain.
Also, it might be worth noting that I was consistently called “ungentlemanly” for running this rifle without a suppressor. But I suppose that’s more on me than the rifle, which does come factory threaded.
Effective Sleeping Pills
Here’s the phrase I use so much that everyone who’s heard it rolls their eyes, but I’m forced to keep using it because so many people don’t listen: The bullet in the chamber will forever be more important than the numbers that are stamped on the outside of the barrel. Read that again if you have to.
“What rifle ya got there, a .30-06? Oh, it’s a .270 Winchester [insert involuntary eye roll]?” Who cares?! You can kill more effectively with the right bullet in a .270 Win. than with the wrong bullet in a .30-06 … or even a .300 Win. Mag., for that matter.
With the right bullets, taking a 6.5 Creedmoor and a 7mm PRC to Africa is a picture-collecting adventure. With the wrong bullets, you’ll be paying for a lot of empty blood trails. Target shooters have the luxury of not needing to worry about terminal ballistics. But to hunters, terminal ballistics are as important as aerial ballistics.
Federal has had the Fusion bullet in their lineup for quite a while, and I’ll be the first to stand on an ammo crate and sing the praises of its terminal ballistic accolades. The bonded bullet is a killer, and it’s always shot very accurately. But to fully maximize the aerodynamic proficiencies of the 6.5 Creedmoor afforded by the cartridge’s long ogives, a polymer tip was added to the Fusion just this year, helping it maintain flight stability over longer distances. Plus, the tip helps control expansion upon contact. Think “consistency.”
The 140-grain Fusion Tipped ammunition helped me give truck rides to everything from tiny jackals to a 250-pound warthog … and most importantly, my wife’s fallow. The blood trails were short, and the smiles were big. And, as an aside, I’ve personally seen a moose fall to a 6.5 Creedmoor. Now, I wouldn’t recommend it, but with the right bullet put in the right location, the 6.5 Creed is a meat seeker.
Like the 6.5 Creedmoor, the 7mm PRC quickly set up its reputation as a long-range steel-smacker, but on paper, it’s not so different from the 7mm Remington Magnum, whose field accolades have long been established. But, shooter beware: While the aforementioned 6.5 Creed produces recoil even a lady can love, the recoil on the 7mm PRC has some teeth.
Federal’s Terminal Ascent ammunition turns a 7mm PRC “range rod” into a punchy little death wand. That bullet is efficient at killing animals quickly … with proper placement, of course.
I fed my CVA Cascade 170-grain Terminal Ascent ammo exclusively while in Africa, and although it’s a bit of an oversimplification, it sure felt like all I had to do was point and shoot that setup at game, and it dropped.
A black wildebeest at 157 yards and blue wildebeest at 289 yards, both of which African PH’s refer to as “the poor man’s buffalo” because of their ability to soak up bullets? Both dropped. A giant 300-pound warthog, facing me at 130 yards? Never took a step. A running bull kudu at 100 yards, with a shot that was too far back? Lights out.
All hunting bullets are designed to have a sweet-spot range. For some, if shot into a target too close, they’ll come apart because the bullet is moving so fast. For others, they won’t expand at longer distances because the bullet has slowed down so much. Either situation is detrimental to effective and efficient killing.
Terminal Ascent ammunition was designed to be extremely versatile, holding together up close while still expanding at distance. I’ve seen diagrams promoting expansion out to nearly 1,000 yards: I cannot verify that because I haven’t tested it on animals at that distance, and I don’t ever plan to.
But I can verify, through personal testing between 60 and 450 yards, that these bullets do what the box says they’ll do. It’s great stuff (but it’s a pain in the ass to photograph because the bullets and the brass are nickel-plated).
So, don’t hesitate to take a “range cartridge” afield for your next meat-gathering adventure … but do leave that match ammo at home.
Friends from Afar
Because everyone’s personality is so different, and because I so often can’t stand many individuals whom others adore, I generally refrain from being a match-maker. Too risky.
Friendships form much more quickly in hunting camp than they do in the outside world.
But I’ll stick my neck out a bit and recommend that you call Geoffrey Wayland at Fort Richmond Safaris if a trip to the Dark Continent might be remotely on your radar. Go spend some time on a working cattle farm, listen to his kid’s amateur jokes, over-eat on his wife’s “holy sh*t that’s good” malva pudding … and fall in love with Africa. Find yourself a PH who will take selfies with your phone when you’re not looking.
It’s rare to spend an hour with someone and feel as though you’ve been sharing campfires your entire life. Imagine what that feels like after a 10-day safari.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the December 2024 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Here we check out some of the top options for upgrading your handgun’s iron sights at home.
The era of iron sights is far from over, despite what the red-dot guys are saying. Technology has a pesky way of marching forward, and we are therefore forced to adapt … or fall behind.
That said, the concept that we are firmly in the electronic era when it comes to ways to aim a pistol is a bit distorted. We’re in a great time where there are more ways to customize and make your pistol better, but we also need to realize that this race to the finish line in adapting every single pistol design to use a dot sight is a lofty goal.
Simply put: Some pistols are better off without electronic sights. Let’s address the pros and cons of both, and examine where the iron-sight market is today.
An Objective Look at Iron Sights & Red Dots
We’re currently at an interesting crossroads between technology and tradition. For a while, things just don’t look right until we get used to them: Tactical lever actions, bolt-action chassis rifles, micro red-dots on 1911s … the list goes on.
The fact is, these technologies often develop faster than the market can reason with, and we get some truly horrifying aesthetic nightmares in the short term as people figure out how to best blend lines and create better interfaces.
As an example, when the “tactical” lever action trend started going, there were some disgusting butcheries of what was considered to be a quintessential firearm silhouette. But now, a couple of years later, many of these guns are classy in their own right and have become accepted by the mainstream shooting community. A great example of this can be seen in the clean lines of the Rossi Triple Black rifle line; it’s now common to see threaded barrels and optics rails.
In a recent conversation with a colleague on the training side, he said that, at this point last year, about 10 percent of people came to his classes with a dot sight on their pistols. As of fall 2024, that number is over 50 percent. He says new shooters gravitate to dots, and this results in a much shorter learning curve for them to gain proficiency.
On the other hand, older shooters have a harder time adapting and are more likely to use the irons they are familiar with. I don’t know if any of this is entirely the case for the population at large, but when looking over many manufacturer catalogs, I discovered that optics-ready handguns are about 30 percent of the market as a whole at this point, with many companies having nearly all their pistol models adapted to this technology, such as Sig Sauer.
In this same conversation, my trainer friend got a bit dramatic, saying that iron sights were all but dead, and I couldn’t help but disagree. Hell, non-adjustable sights are still commonly available, especially on small revolvers, which obviously remain relevant to the conversation today. Iron sights are at a point where we understand them very well for what they are.
Smaller carry guns are, of course, better with night sights … if they are applied correctly.
I personally use a variety of sights on my pistols, but most of my modern guns have Trijicon RMR sights on them with a lower 1/3 cowitness for iron sights. I was an early adopter of red-dots on handguns and have had great success with them over time, but there are downsides that do exist.
For example, in darkness I find that iron sights are superior, especially three-dot night sights. Having done a lot of training in after-dark conditions, I don’t like the washout on dots when using white light. If I had to pick between a dot and a light on my gun, I would always take the light. The tiny window of most dot sights doesn’t matter that much on the range or for hunting, but it can get claustrophobic in low light with lots happening. Picking up a little dot after you blast a room with 1,000 lumens can actually be a bit of a challenge, where bold iron sights offer a clear picture and no washout.
I say all that, but I do have both lights and dots on some of my guns. And if you choose to do the same, just make sure you actually practice in the lighting conditions you’re preparing for. Even parking lots can have very bright areas and others that are pitch black. You’d hate to lose a fight because your dot was either too bright or dim. Just things to think about when seconds matter.
Sights Worth A Look
So, what kind of iron sights are of the best use today? I mentioned I like three-dot tritium night sights on my guns. It’s what I grew up with and what I am most used to. Doing a lot of after-dark shooting has made me realize that I don’t actually like these sights with an electronic dot involved. The main reason is that it can create a weird “too much” effect when looking through the lens of the sight. When you’re looking through most electronic dot sights, your eye position relative to the dot is different from looking at the iron sights—in most cases, if you line up the irons the dot “dives” down.
So, when looking at just the dot, the irons appear to be unaligned in your lower vision, creating a field of green dots cluttering up your sight picture.
My ideal irons for a dot-equipped pistol would be plain, non-reflective black, no tritium. My ideal iron sights are low-profile three-dot, but in my experience now I would prefer a green front and orange/yellow rear.
Suppressor height sights, while not that much taller, can appear to be a mile high if you aren’t using a suppressor or co-witnessing them with a dot. If you have no plans to use a dot or can, get them as low as possible to the slide.
Co-witnessed irons are an important secondary aiming feature when using electronic sights. Note the dirty lens from being shot suppressed. Something to keep in mind is that dot sights can get filthy in use … so have good irons.
Sig Sauer
The reason I put Sig Sauer on this list is because, while they aren’t really known for being a leader in the iron sight market, they are one of the few companies that offer night sights as a standard feature on a very large portion of their pistol line.
Traditionally, I bought Sig pistols because it was easy to get them up and running … as in not needing to get additional sights that should have come standard. Not to make this a Glock-versus-Sig paragraph, but every Glock I owned I ditched the basic polymer sights. The long-running joke was that Glock factory sights were “dovetail protectors” for when you installed real sights. It could be argued that the entire success of the aftermarket night sight companies was filling Glock dovetails.
Sig Sauer has great night sights, plain and simple. They are bright and easy to pick up in all lighting conditions. They do sell their excellent XRay3 sights separately, which is great if you want to upgrade an older pistol in your collection.
The way I see it—if you want to make an up-front purchase with as much of the work done for you as possible—Sig’s products are hard to beat. If you want to work on your existing guns, the company also offers complete slides with night sights already installed, making it very easy to get your customized pistol in action.
XS Sights
I have years of experience with XS sights. While I no longer own any Glocks (sorry, I’m a 2011 man now), every small Glock I had I equipped with a set of XS Big Dot sights with illuminated front and small lamp in the rear “sight.” The rear of these sights is more like a wide, low angle that you simply frame the big dot with. It’s very fast up close, but this configuration loses utility the farther out you aim. I really liked these on the Glock 42 and 43.
In addition, XS has enjoyed a long and successful journey with concealed carry pistols, and they were especially popular among people with vision problems and aging eyes. These Big Dot sights are quite accurate if you know how to use them, and at concealed carry distances center mass is about all that matters. I don’t think you’re going to be shooting with these sights to win a medal at the National Matches in pistol marksmanship, but they are smooth, easy to acquire and more than enough for most people who carry for defense.
Revolvers, like this little J-frame, are benefited by a single, bright Big Dot sight for close range.
I like these sights on my J-frame revolvers as well: In that case, it’s just the front sight, the rear sight being non-adjustable and machined into the frame. This has worked for me for years and, again, I’m not going to win any accuracy contest with a double-action only lightweight .357 Mag., but more often than not that’s what’s in my pocket.
Trijicon
We really can’t have a conversation about illuminated sights without talking about Trijicon. I use Trijicon optics on many of my guns and have never had an issue. I’ve used their iron sights on a large number of guns over the years as well, and I’ve always found them to be rugged and reliable.
One of the guns you have probably seen on these pages is my custom suppressed 1911. This gun has been my trusted companion on countless adventures and has taken an impressive amount of large game. The iron sights and accompanying RMR sight base are also Trijicon products, the slide being specially machined for this base. I’ve had these sights on this pistol now for years without incident and they are still bright and easy to see. I prefer to keep my dot off to save battery life in the field; the irons are there, and I know they are just as accurate.
The optics plate on the author’s 1911 is integrated with the rear sight.
Trijicon makes a ton of sights, and I’ve used them on many pistol brands over time. I particularly like that they are continuing to improve their products and offer a large number of variations. As of right now, the company boasts an impressive six product lines in their iron sight category to encompass everything from suppressor height to competition.
Night Fision
In a changing world of technology, not all companies can adapt, but Night Fision is ignoring the whole “irons are dead because of dots” rhetoric and is instead heavily focused on the integration of dots and irons—to the point that they have little iron sight sets that install into the dot body using the same mounting screws.
Many pistol types lose their rear sights when mounting a dot, but Night Fision will not let that happen. In addition, they have an interesting cowitness selector tool on their website to allow you to pick the perfect sight setup to use both your dot and irons effectively. This is unique because it shows that you can stick with what works while not dumping tradition for tech. You can have the best of both worlds without the guesswork.
Ameriglo
I will say that I do not have as much trigger time with Ameriglo as I do with other brands of night sights, but I do like their suppressor-height sights with a plain rear configuration. I used them for a long time with a suppressed Glock 19X and really liked them, but I ultimately sold the gun when the optic cut models came out.
A notable thing about this company is that they sell an absolutely dizzying amount of variants, and even excellent tools for the installation of their products. The sights I have used from them are very bright. Some sights I have used from other companies are a bit dim by comparison, probably due to not wanting to be overwhelming to the shooter. Ameriglo is the opposite—you would have a hard time not seeing them.
Of note: Some of my shooting buddies have these sights on their pistols with red-dot sights, and yes, they can be a bit much if you are trying to co-witness.
Pay attention to the mounting height of your red-dot if you’re planning to still have access to irons.
Into the Future
At this point, I don’t see iron sights going anywhere. I think that, likewise, we will continue to see a proliferation of electronic sights for pistols … with the biggest issue being too many mounting footprints at a certain point. The market is still expanding, and perhaps down the road we will have a couple dot footprints become dominant. But, until that point, I will just wait and see what happens.
Iron sights, in particular night sights, are better than ever and, while they may not be as flashy as this year’s new enclosed red-dot, they don’t need batteries, which is something we often take for granted.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the December 2024 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
We take a quick look at Canik’s two new 9mm carry pistols, the MC9L and MC9LS.
Canik has just announced two new model variants of its MC9 micro-compact carry pistol, the MC9L and MC9LS. These are less micro than their predecessor, but with the extra mass comes increased capacity and improved ergonomics.
Canik MC9LS.
The Canik MC9L and MC9LS are identical besides their barrel/overall lengths, with the LS version sporting a barrel length of 3.64 inches and the L version sporting a 3.18-inch barrel. As for their differences compared to the original MC9, they both feature standard capacities of 17 rounds and resultant larger grips. The LS variant has a longer sight radius as well due to its longer barrel and slide.
The other features of the MC9L and MC9LC are the same as the standard MC9, including optics-ready slides, interchangeable backstraps and a whole host of included accessories with each gun. Both versions come with two 17-round mags, an IWB holster, 3 backstrap sizes, a speed loader, a pinky rest, a tool kit and a cleaning kit, and it all ships in a hard case. Both models are also available with either a black, FDE or two-tone finish and they’re available now for $499.99.
Here we discuss the best ways to stay calm, cool and collected during a traffic stop while carrying a gun.
About 30 years ago, I met one of my best friends during a traffic stop. The first words he ever said to me were, “I have a gun.” During the next few moments, we sorted out the violation—nothing more than an expired tag—and then we had a long conversation about guns. I’m not saying you’re likely to meet your next best friend on a traffic stop, but I can give you some advice to keep you from having a dreadful experience and possibly ruining the rest of your day.
But first, understand this: I live in West Virginia, which is a constitutional carry state. Here you do not need a permit to carry a concealed handgun or any loaded firearm in your vehicle. However, firearms laws about vehicle transport and notification to law enforcement officers vary. So, you should verify the advice I’m providing with a law enforcement professional or attorney in your jurisdiction.
Patrolman Will McGuire is a police officer in my hometown of Princeton. He’s also a hunter, supporter of the Second Amendment and one of the most talented police marksmen I know. It’s been a few years since I was in uniform and routinely interacting with the citizenry, so I asked Will for his five most important pieces of advice for those of us who are armed and involved in a traffic stop.
About Your Hands
“Keep your hands visible during the officer’s initial approach and roll all windows completely down on the approach side of the vehicle.”
This seems straightforward, but let me add some context: Police officers have been trained to watch your hands; when they can see them, they’re more at ease. Also, not every cop will come to the driver-side window, but they do like to be able to see inside the car as they approach. Don’t be digging around in the glove box, console or anywhere else inside the vehicle during this time. Put your hands on the wheel and leave them there. The police officer will be happy for your consideration and will gladly provide you with ample time to secure your necessary credentials. If you’re digging around in your car like a dog looking for a bone, you’re going to put the officer’s spidey senses on edge.
Full Disclosure
“Quickly and calmly make the officer aware that there is a lawfully possessed firearm present in the vehicle.”
Cops don’t like surprises. If you advise them there’s a gun in your vehicle they’ll not be as startled as they would be if they happen to see it. This could prevent undue agitation, yelling … and the officer from pointing his gun at you. Also, while the disclosure that you’re legally armed does not convince a cop you’ll not shoot him, it does convey a sense of cooperation. When the officer arrives at your car—while keeping your hands on the wheel—simply say something like, “Officer, I have a concealed carry permit and a loaded handgun with me.” Then, tell the officer where the gun is located.
Follow Instructions
“Follow all orders quickly and without discussion or hesitation. The officer might instruct you to step out of the car briefly while he secures your weapon. Do as instructed and the officer will return your weapon—probably unloaded—at the conclusion of the stop.”
One thing I learned during my 13 years on the street is that of all the contacts a police officer has, the traffic stop has the highest probability of going awry. There are several reasons for this, but the main contributing factor is that it’s a common and non-confrontational contact that comes with a high probability of encountering unexpected illegal activity. Aside from drunk drivers who want to circumvent detection, officers routinely run into individuals with felony warrants. If the police officer momentarily secures your weapon, there’s no chance he will assume you’re going for it during the traffic stop.
Cops have a code of conduct to follow during a traffic stop, and drivers—especially those carrying a concealed handgun—should as well.
Also, in this new age of cell phone cameras, there’s a popular trend for drivers to record police interactions and sometimes become argumentative about things like reasonable articulable suspicion and probable cause. You have the right to act in any way you desire, but the police officer is also permitted reasonable action to ensure their safety. The best way to make a traffic stop go bad is to interfere with the officer’s attempts to conduct the stop safely. When it’s all said and done, if you’re unhappy with how the officer treated you, file a complaint or a lawsuit. It’s a hell of a lot safer to fight these things in court than on the street.
License and Registration
“Have your documents up to date and easily accessible. Be sure your carry permit is current and with you.”
Drivers, whether carrying concealed or not, should have their documents readily available to give to an officer conducting a traffic stop.
We’re all guilty of not having our poop grouped properly. We participate in traffic stops so rarely that we neglect to have our registration, insurance and license ready and handy for the officer to review. Just take 5 minutes out of your day tomorrow and get your stuff together. Then, store it in your car where you can easily access it. (If you keep your gun in the glove box or console, don’t keep your papers in the same place.) I like to have a photocopy of my driver’s license and carry permit with my registration and insurance. Sure, the cop will likely ask for the originals, and then allow you to dig them out of your wallet, but you will have provided him—nearly instantly—with all the information he needs.
Keep Cool
“Remain calm, you’re well within your rights to carry your weapon, and a law enforcement officer is the last person to try to prevent you from doing so.”
This is the hardest and one of the most important things of all that you need to do. During a traffic stop, we’re afraid it will cost us money and some of us struggle to deal with the anxiety. The officer will have anxiety, too; traffic stops are terribly dangerous for cops. Calmness is contagious, if you and the cop are both calm, everything will go much smoother. I’d also bet that with most officers—except for the newest and youngest—your calmness and good manners will likely result in a warning for the traffic violation if it was not too serious.
On the other hand, nervous and jittery actions on your part will temper the encounter and can make the meeting uncomfortable. The police officer is doing a job, the easier you make it for him, the better the traffic stop will go for everyone. Don’t act like you have a kilo of cocaine under your seat; smile, be friendly … and you never know what new friend you just might make.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the December 2024 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
We take a quick look at the new CC9 from HK USA, the company’s first micro-compact carry pistol.
The concealed carry market hasn’t been the same since Sig Sauer released the P365 and ushered in a new era of micro-compact 9mm pistols. It seems that every firearms manufacturer around responded by making their own take on the concept, but Heckler & Koch was conspicuously missing from that list. That’s because HK USA has been working on a micro-9 since before this trend even got started and the company has just been taking its time to ensure perfection. Finally ready to go, HK USA just announced the CC9, the company’s first micro-compact carry pistol and the first HK to be entirely built Stateside for the American concealed carry market.
The major details of the HK CC9 are about what you’d expect for a pistol in its class. It’s a polymer-framed striker-fired 9mm with a 10- or 12-round magazine capacity. It has a 3.32-inch barrel, and its overall size is comparable to that of the Sig P365XL. It’s the CC9’s other features that make it more interesting, including the fully ambidextrous magazine release and slide release, the optics-ready slide for direct-mounting anything with an RMSc footprint and the extensive, abusive testing that HK put the guns through to ensure the utmost reliability. The CC9 also has a loaded chamber indicator on its extractor, an accessory rail and both forward and rear slide serrations.
The HK CC9 is available with either two flush-fit 10-round mags or with one 10-round and one 12-round mag with a pinky extension. Both options have an MSRP of $699.
We take a closer look at the iconic LeMat revolver, the Confederate hand cannon of the Civil War.
For the first time in a war, ironclad, steam-propelled warships cruised waterways as armies used railroads to mobilize troops, some armed with repeating small arms. The American Civil War was the first modern conflict that saw the technology from the Industrial Revolution converted into efficient tools of war. The Henry Model 1860 repeating rifle is a prime example of a new weapon used against the battle-proven single-shot, muzzleloading rifles that were the backbone weapons of both the Union and Confederate armies.
Revolvers with six fast shots were common during the war and were employed by cavalry and ground troops on both sides. Colt and Remington were the two main manufacturers building popular and reliable revolvers, but there were other revolver designs available as well. One in particular, the LeMat revolver, became a symbol of the Confederate cause.
Confederate General P.G.T. Beauregard from the great state of Louisiana carried a handsomely engraved LeMat revolver, and other famous Confederate officers such as Braxton Bragg and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson were known for carrying them as well.
The LeMat revolver had a certain panache about it. With sweeping good looks that fit the legendary and colorful personalities making up the Confederate Army’s officer corps, the LeMat had an air of sophistication that set it apart from the other sidearms of its day.
More unusual than it was effective, the double-barrel LeMat revolver offered the user a fistful of firepower. It was a nine-shot black powder percussion revolver combined with a single-shot muzzle-loaded smoothbore shotgun barrel. The LeMat’s shotgun barrel served as the central axis around which the revolver’s nine-shot cylinder rotated.
The LeMat Revolver’s Southern Roots
The LeMat was designed by Frenchman Jean Alexandre LeMat in 1855 and patented in 1856 while he was living in New Orleans. LeMat, like all arms makers, knew that a government contract would be the most lucrative payout for such an unusual revolver. Fortuitously, LeMat’s wife was the cousin of Major P. G. T. Beauregard of the United States Army.
General P. G. T. Beauregard.
The partnership formed by LeMat and Beauregard was pivotal in the LeMat revolver becoming a symbol of the Confederacy. Beauregard espoused the virtues of the LeMat revolver while he was a U.S. Army Major, but the U.S. Army was not interested and never put the LeMat through test trials.
Following Louisiana’s secession from the Union, Beauregard resigned from the U.S. Army to become a brigadier general in the Confederate States Army. After this, the Confederacy ordered 8,000 LeMat revolvers, but the contract was never entirely fulfilled and it’s estimated only about 2,900 were ever produced. Even fewer of those ever successfully made it into Confederate hands.
LeMat Revolver Design
The LeMat was a fairly complicated revolver to design and build.
The barrel assembly featured a ramrod lever affixed to its side that allowed the user to load the cylinder. Remember that this is a percussion revolver, so it required loose powder and a round ball to be loaded into its chambers and percussion caps placed on the nipples. A removable ramrod for the muzzle-loading shotgun barrel was housed inside the ramrod lever assembly. A small lever built into the hammer nose or face had two positions for the hammer face, and when upright it ignited the percussion cap to fire each of the nine chambers of the cylinder and when rotated down it would fire the lower shotgun barrel.
The 1856 patent drawing for the LeMat revolver.
Some later variants of the LeMat were produced in different calibers, but the most common models used .42-caliber projectiles for the revolver portion while the smoothbore shotgun barrel was .63-caliber, roughly equivalent to 18 gauge.
The LeMat was a single-action revolver, meaning the hammer needed to be cocked before each shot. Early LeMat models used a pin as the cylinder stop in conjunction with a hand which aligned a chamber with the barrel. As the hammer is cocked, the pin retracts as the hand rotates the cylinder to align a chamber in the cylinder with the barrel. The pin then springs back to lock the cylinder in place before firing. This complicated system was difficult to manufacture and was prone to jamming after being fouled with black powder residue. This part of the design would eventually be changed, but we’ll discuss that more later.
LeMat Production and Rebel Gunrunners
The first prototypes and early-production guns were made by John Krider in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. With the Civil War starting and both sides ratcheting up arms production, LeMat knew he wouldn’t be able to have his revolver built Stateside due to the South’s lack of manufacturing infrastructure, so he took his design to Europe to find a firearms manufacturer that could refine the design and produce the revolvers en masse.
The Belgium gunmaker Auguste Francotte produced a prototype LeMat and some of the early production guns, but full production was moved to Charles Frederic Girard and Son of Paris, France. These production guns will have some Belgian-made parts, which the French maker used to build the finished pistols. There were some LeMat revolvers produced in England as well, but none of the British-built revolvers were imported into the States.
The LeMats did, however, take a curious route to Dixieland via England. The revolvers were made in France and then shipped to England where they received British proof marks. From there the LeMats were slipped through Union naval blockages by gunrunners for the Confederates.
LeMat First and Second Pattern Guns
There are two major variants of the standard LeMat revolver, a First Model or First Pattern and a Second Model or Second Pattern.
The First Model guns have a characteristic trigger guard spur, swiveling lanyard loop, a spring-loaded disassembly lever and a pin system to lock the cylinder in place. Complaints from the field with the First Pattern began to trickle in and were mainly due to manufacturing quality control issues and the pin lockup mechanism. It was a difficult revolver to manufacture.
The Second Model guns show engineering changes that helped ease production time and cost as well as improve reliability. The major differences are the trigger guard does not have a spur, the lanyard loop is fixed, a lever was built into the hammer to more easily rotate the hammer face to its shotgun position, a disassembly plunger pin replaced the takedown latch, and the pin lockup was changed to a simpler wedge solution. The wedge worked similarly to the pin but was simpler to manufacture and more reliable when faced with fouling. Not all of these changes happened at once, so some Second Pattern LeMats still feature the older pin lockup system.
A Second Model LeMat revolver. Notice how the ramrod assembly is now on the left side of the gun. Photo: Rock Island Auction Company.
Perhaps the most distinctive change between the First Model and Second Model is the ramrod assembly which was moved to the left side of the barrel and redesigned to pivot upward rather than downward.
Baby LeMat For The Confederate Navy
A smaller variant of the .42-caliber LeMat was a .32-caliber version developed for the Confederate Navy, commonly referred to as the Baby LeMat. Besides now being in .32-caliber (for the revolver portion), the shotgun portion was also reduced in size to .41-caliber and the barrel length and overall dimensions were shrunken as well. That said, it still had a capacity of 9 bullets in the cylinder plus the one shotgun load in its center barrel. The Confederacy ordered 2,000 Baby LeMats in 1864, but when all was said and done only about 100 were produced and delivered due to production and financial issues. This makes them extremely rare today.
LeMat Revolver In Service
The standard LeMat revolver weighed just over four pounds when loaded and was massive with an almost 7-inch barrel. It featured a blued finish and checkered walnut grips. It used a fixed front post sight and a notch in the hammer as the rear sight, similar to a Colt-style revolver of the day.
The LeMat was not known for having good accuracy, but it made up for it in firepower with its 10-shot capacity. General Beauregard, being LeMat’s partner, is quoted as recommending the revolver for “cavalry acting against Indians or when charging on a square of infantry” when promoting the revolver with U.S. Army brass. As fate would have it, the LeMat found a willing buyer in the Confederacy instead, but some soldiers who used them complained about the gun’s excessive recoil and complicated nature.
During the Civil War, the Confederacy had a shortage of small arms and was buying just about everything they could get their hands on. The LeMat was certainly better than nothing, and it even had some potential advantages over other available handgun options, but in retrospect, it seems that the revolver just wasn’t as useful as its reputation suggests. The gun’s legendary status today comes more from its unique design and its use by interesting historical characters than it does from its practicality as a fighting weapon.
Another issue with the LeMat was its non-standard caliber of .42. Most military revolvers of the day were either .44 or .36 caliber, so LeMat users were forced to produce their own bullets for them. A very small number of LeMats were made in .36 and .44 at the tail-end of the war to address this, but few saw any actual service.
As an aside, the development of the LeMat system continued to some degree during and after the war and resulted in a few other variants being produced. This includes a pinfire model as well as a later centerfire variant that was produced as both a handgun and a carbine.
One might suspect that the legacy of the LeMat revolver would have ended with the connection to the Confederate officers who carried them, but it has not. The iconic LeMat has endured thanks to movies, shows and video games.
A LeMat just made an appearance in the recent film Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, although a non-firing replica was used for filming. A heavily modified version was also wielded by Ed Harris’s character in the TV series Westworld, and an impressively detailed rendition of it is usable in the video game Red Dead Redemption II, as well.
Ed Harris in Westworld holding his character's LeMat. Photo: IMFDB.
Collecting LeMat Revolvers
As with any firearm that holds a fascination with collectors and has low production numbers, LeMat revolvers carry a very high price tag today. Even in rough condition, original Civil War-era guns can easily go for $10,000 or more. If it’s a rarer variant or one with its provenance tied to a famous Confederate general, the price can skyrocket well beyond that.
An early serial number model in very good condition even sold for about $53,000 in 2023. The LeMat carried by “Stonewall” Jackson has never been found, but that would certainly be a very valuable gun if it were ever located and brought to auction.
This means that owning an original LeMat is off the table for everyone except the most serious and wealthy collectors, but thankfully, reproductions from Pietta are available for the rest of us. That said, the repros aren’t cheap either, as MSRPs are around $1,500. Expensive, but far less than you could get any original for, and at least you can shoot these without worrying about damaging a relic.
While Pietta makes great guns, their LeMats are such an accurate copy of the original design that they share some of the same flaws, namely fragility. If you buy one of these to shoot, just keep in mind that it will need to be treated more delicately than other reproduction guns of this era if you don’t want to break it.
A Pietta-made reproduction LeMat.
The LeMat is a very unique gun, and it deserves to be remembered for its role in America’s history if for no other reason than the prominence of some of the men who carried it during such a pivotal period. Even ignoring that, one can’t deny that a revolver with a built-in shotgun is just pretty damn cool.
In a self-defense situation, seconds count. Here we discuss the importance of carrying with a round in the chamber.
As a firearms instructor, one of the most common misconceptions I encounter is the idea that carrying a firearm without a round chambered is a safer option than carrying a firearm with a round in the chamber. This philosophy, often referred to as “Israeli Carry,” might seem logical at first glance.
The logic goes something like this: A firearm without a round in the chamber is safer and less susceptible to a negligent discharge, which is more common than the use of firearms for self-defense. In a dangerous situation, simply draw your weapon, rack the slide and fire.
However, this seemingly simple action can have devastating consequences in a real-world self-defense scenario.
Let’s consider a real-life example.
A video circulating online shows an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldier being attacked in a convenience store. The IDF soldier is standing at the register. You see a man slowly walk up behind the IDF soldier and lunge suddenly toward the IDF soldier, attempting to stab him. A struggle ensues, and the two men go to the ground momentarily before the IDF soldier stands up and draws his sidearm.
Immediately upon drawing the firearm, the IDF soldier fumbles as he racks the slide of the gun to load a cartridge into the chamber. As the attacker begins the stand up, the IDF soldier begins stepping backward as he continues to struggle racking the slide. Luckily, right as the attacker stands up and lunges toward the IDF soldier, the IDF soldier is able to get a round in the chamber and take a shot, stopping the attacker.
There are certainly some lessons to be learned here:
Fractions of a Second Matter
In a life-or-death situation, fractions of a second matter. The time it takes to rack the slide can be the difference between stopping a threat and becoming a victim. This example illustrates this point: Don’t give up valuable time when your life is on the line. Carrying without a round in the chamber is almost like saying, “I’ll put on my seatbelt right before the car crash.” Here, the IDF soldier delivers the shot just in the nick of time, but it could easily have turned out differently.
Modern Firearms Are Incredibly Safe
Thankfully, modern firearms are incredibly safe when carried with a round chambered, provided they are carried with a proper holster. The concept of “Israeli Carry” originated in a time before the widespread adoption of modern, drop-safe semi-automatic pistols. These advancements in firearm design, pioneered after World War II, led firearms experts like Jeff Cooper to advocate for carrying with a round chambered. This practice has since been adopted by countless law enforcement agencies and responsible citizens across the United States. However, the concept of “Israeli Carry” persists in some circles, even though the original reasoning behind it is no longer as relevant with modern firearms.
Training is Paramount
Self-defense situations are inherently stressful, and the ability to perform under pressure is critical. Training goes beyond marksmanship; it teaches you how to manipulate your firearm in various situations and in a safe manner, including clearing malfunctions or firing one-handed. What if you have a malfunction, for instance? You’ll need the skill of clearing the malfunction to be “second nature” so that you clear the malfunction without fumbling around as precious seconds tick away.
Also, remember the concern about negligent discharges as a reason for “Israeli Carry.” If you are trained properly, you won’t put your finger on the trigger until you are ready to shoot, you will always treat the gun as if it were loaded, and you will always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction until ready to use. The proper solution for negligent discharges is training, not carrying the gun in a way that makes it less useful.
Be Prepared to Operate Your Firearm One-Handed
You should be able to manipulate your firearm with one hand, especially in situations where your other hand may be injured or occupied by fending off an attacker. In a self-defense scenario, if your non-dominant hand is occupied with restraining an attacker, holding a child, injured, or otherwise unable to assist, racking the slide becomes significantly more challenging. Of course, many instructors will teach using the rear sights to hook on the edge of your boot, belt or holster, but this is a task that is easier said than done, especially when someone is stabbing you or bashing your head in. This is a technique that takes practice.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, whether you choose to carry with a round in the chamber is up to you. Either way, the decision to carry a firearm is a serious one. If you choose to carry, it’s your responsibility to be prepared to use it safely and effectively when the need arises. Carrying with a round chambered is not about convenience; it’s about maximizing your ability to defend yourself and your loved ones in the split seconds that matter most. By prioritizing proper training and responsible carry practices, you can ensure you are prepared to protect yourself and your loved ones when it matters most.
Remember, when you draw your firearm, it’s because you need it, and you need it right now.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the December 2024 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Here we look at how Dave Matheny of Silencer Shop used his background in technology to hack the suppressor market.
Firearms innovation comes in all sorts of packages. Sometimes, a design with a particular aim, like the 6.5 Creedmoor as a factory-produced long-range round. Other times it's happenstance, like John Browning conceptualizing excess cartridge gas to cycle rounds when observing muzzle blasts pushing grass.
It’s difficult to say where Silencer Shop falls exactly on this spectrum, but the impact of the leading suppressor retailer is undeniable. Over the short course of nearly 15 years, the company has revolutionized the way federal NFA paperwork is processed. It’s streamlined how the Federal Government manages the information waterfalling into its offices. And, perhaps most importantly, it’s done its fair share to popularize and mainstream today’s most voguish gun accessories.
Not bad for a company originally conceptualized as a side hustle by a dude well outside the gun sphere.
Programmed For Success
Dave Matheny likes to talk about computer code. Even more than discussing it, he loves to write it. No surprise for a fellow who dedicated the early part of his career to BIOS and firmware development for such bigwigs as Intel. It’s a winding road from top-shelf geek to sultan of silencer retailing, so, how did the founder and now CEO of Silencer Shop pull it off?
Dave Matheny, founder and CEO of the industry-leading suppressor retailer—Silencer Shop—sits in his kingdom of silence.
To understand that you’ve got to go back to the late 2000s and a hunting trip Matheny took with his son.
“He was born def in one ear, but perfect hearing in the other,” Matheny said. “Taking him out to the blind when he was young was difficult because he was everywhere and always taking off his ear pro. It wasn’t a good situation. I wanted to make sure to protect the hearing he had, so I started looking into suppressors.”
Like so many in the bad old days, Matheny didn’t find the process of procuring a suppressor an enjoyable experience. However, it wasn’t the load of paperwork and $200 tax stamp we think of today that got his goat. It was less-than-prepared retailers.
On his first suppressor purchase, the retailer went out of business after he had finished the usual rigmarole. In the end, Matheny had to chase the merchant down at his storage locker and demand his suppressor—on the last day that it could still be legally transferred to him.
Undeterred, he tried again.
This time it was somewhat different with a solid and established business. However, not all was well. The proprietor had positively no interest in helping Matheny navigate the paperwork. Rejected applications, lengthened wait times and nowhere to turn, after the purchase the programmer knew he could do better for others in his situation.
With an eye toward education and efficiency, Matheny launched a small in-house suppressor retailing business. His initial goal in 2010 was to move 10 cans or so a week, offering an online retail experience that walked the customer through the process and streamlined the paperwork. When the actual numbers were a magnitude larger—$19,000 the first month, doubling every month for six months—Matheny knew he had struck a much richer vein than he expected.
Reluctantly, he bid farewell to code—at least as his full-time gig—moved the business into an official building and was off to the races in 2011. Everything went smoothly until the second term of the Obama presidency.
Cracking The Suppressor Retail Code
In its early days, Silencer Shop succeeded by making suppressor purchases simple. This meant wrangling much of the paperwork and making the most uncomfortable aspect of the process the wait. This was especially true for NFA items purchased as a trust, which didn’t require fingerprints, photos, CLEO (Chief Law Enforcement Officer) clearance or, Matheny discovered, a purchaser’s signature on the 4473 form. You bought a suppressor, formed a trust, sat back until the paperwork cleared then picked up your can.
This all changed in 2016 with Rule 41F. Essentially, this brought a trust’s process of buying a suppressor much more in line with an individual’s experience. In short, everyone named in a trust would need to submit fingerprints and photos; the only good part, CLEO clearance simply became a notification to the official that you were buying an NFA-controlled good.
Even with this concession—good for those in the deepest blue pits of the country—Matheny saw the trouble the ATF rule change could cause.
“It had the potential to kill the industry,” he said.
The barriers to entry and the time invested in getting over them were just too much for average gun owners to conquer. For instance, for those of you who don’t have NFA items, where do you go to get fingerprinted? A tough question for the unanointed to short-barreled rifles and suppressors, and Silencer Shop understood this. Matheny also knew he had a competitive advantage compared to the rest of the suppressor industry—his background in technology.
From this, Silencer Shop’s kiosk system was born.
Silencer Shop’s kiosks revolutionized suppressor buying, giving consumers a streamlined method to submit their federal paperwork.
Essentially, the relatively small piece of digital wizardry is placed in a dealer’s locale and collects and transmits all the information—fingerprints, photos, paperwork—directly to the ATF and gets the ball rolling. Yeah, it didn’t turn back the clock to simpler times, but it made the then-new process much more palatable. It’s a heck of a lot easier getting your wife or buddy to go to a kiosk for an hour to form a trust than it is to beg them for weeks, perhaps months to get their passport photo taken. And as quickly as the G-men tilted the playing field, Matheny leveled it again with his system.
Ingeniously, the kiosk not only allows a buyer a place to fill their paperwork, but also have their photo and fingerprints, as picture above, taken.
He had 300 kiosks in shops the same year as the rule change and those who adopted the technology saw their suppressor sales increase tenfold. With that sort of cut bait in the water, other dealers were quick to bite too. As for the ATF, well, funnily enough, they were pretty accepting of Matheny’s system.
“The sticky point, weirdly, was the digital signature,” he said. “They accepted everything else right off, but it took around 6 to 8 months of pushing to get them to accept the signatures. Looking at it now, it is really funny, given digital signatures for anything are standard.”
Future Shock
At this point, Matheny figures Silencer Shop has 3,000 kiosks nationwide. Maybe it doesn’t quite hit his goal of one within an hour of any buyer, but it’s pretty dang close. He’s helped the ATF streamline their processes, programming and getting the department to adopt the Form 4 bar codes that automatically input the form’s info into the agency’s database. But what does the future hold for one of the most technology-minded companies in the gun world?
While he didn’t let anything slip, Matheny hinted there are innovations on the horizon—there always are at Silencer Shop. However, his concerns when it comes to suppressors, are much more analog. In particular, their acceptance.
“The ASA (American Suppressor Association) did a poll a while back where it found that suppressors have an 80-percent negative response,” Matheny said. “Guns were split something like 50/50, so that gives you an idea of where we stand.”
This is a big hindrance for those—such as Matheny himself—who want to see buying the device no more taxing than purchasing a flashlight. And it will happen, in his opinion, but we’re at the start of a long road.
Some are confused over the legality of suppressors, believing ownership is prohibited in their local. The opposite is true. Suppressors are legal to own in all but eight states.
The biggest issue facing suppressors, from his perspective, is even among the majority of gun owners, they’re somewhat foreign. The hurdles put in front of ownership mean many have never seen a suppressor in person and fewer have shot with one.
Well-meaning as they’ve been, recent efforts to deregulate suppressors are premature and perhaps counterproductive, from Matheny’s perspective. While he’d celebrate if the bureaucratic walls that thwart suppressor ownership came tumbling down, he doesn’t believe the popular will exists to safeguard a clear path to buying the device. Take down the paperwork and he thinks—like a perverse game of whack-a-mole—a different, maybe more onerous barrier of entry will pop up. Perhaps it takes the form of a $500 tax stamp, or a mandated year waiting period to receive a can after buying one or something worse.
“I feel like it will be deregulated eventually, but how soon this happens depends on market growth,” he said. “Once we hit a tipping point, where say half of gun owners own one, they will get deregulated.”
Ownership and familiarity are the only shortcuts to the road of easy suppressor deregulation. To that end, Matheny is doing his part. Silencer Shop and its proprietor’s innovations have done plenty to flatten the bumpy road to buying a silencer. And there is little sign either is even close to finished hacking this firearm niche’s code.
More On Suppressors:
The Suppressor: How They're Made, How They Work, And How To Buy One
Building your dream bolt-action rifle from scratch is much less complicated than it used to be.
If you’ve been paying attention to the bolt gun scene these days, you’ll have noticed there are lots of words and phrases that have started to pop up that you might not be familiar with: pre-fit barrels, RemAge, small shank, large shank … and many more.
The baseline point here is that bolt guns are officially entering the drop-in-ready world, much like how the AR platform did two decades ago. However, much like in the early days when everyone was still figuring out how to work on these guns at home, the modular bolt action is still in its infancy, and there will be something of a learning curve for both consumers and manufacturers.
The Man Behind the Curtain
Bolt-action enthusiasts arrived at a problematic point in the recent past: As the AR market grew and parts became far more available and inexpensive, there was a noted decline in the interest with bolt guns, largely due to a substantially smaller aftermarket that relied on custom options and special knowledge.
Yes, for years bolt gun guys (including myself) bemoaned the time and expense it took to get a “real” rifle shooting well—without turning it completely into a bench gun that weighed more than a dozen pounds.
What we are left with in the bolt gun market is something a bit more practical: Most of the popular cartridges today are ones we’ve had, with a couple newcomers that have made an impression, namely 6.5 PRC. Because not much has changed and the winds still favor 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Win., we see the first builder-focused modular bolt guns centering on popular, common short-action cartridges and their peripheral counterparts like AICS magazines and 700-footprint stocks and triggers.
But, at this time nothing is truly standardized. Here’s the how and why of what’s happening in the bolt gun world.
The Loose Thread
Up until recently, there were only a few methods of installing a bolt-action barrel. One was to send it back to the factory to get replaced. Another was to have the action sent out where a gunsmith would do some special voodoo and install a custom barrel to your action. The third was relatively limited in scope: If you had a Savage rifle, you could find a company making “finished” barrels that you would install yourself using a headspace gauge.
Point being, unless you were a machinist or had the right tools and skills, you were stuck with what you had. Even threaded muzzles were not common a decade ago. I remember taking barrel blanks to my gunsmith to be cut and threaded for my Savage actions back when I was in college, because nothing I wanted was commercially available.
Muzzle threading is common today, probably now the norm. Devices vary quite a bit, but here the author has suppressor mounts installed.
As a result of Savage actions being the only common ones available for garage builders, the Savage small-shank barrel became the chosen barrel of hobby builders. What you need to understand is that these barrels were not headspaced—they had a variable shoulder, known better as the famous Savage barrel nut. While I have the option of using shouldered pre-fit barrels, I still prefer to use what I grew up with, and I like to headspace my barrels manually using a barrel nut. This isn’t necessary today, but the option exists.
The old method of installing a barrel would be much more challenging. Take the example of the golden age of surplus: You probably saw dozens of ads in the early 2000s for “Short-Chambered Large Ring Mauser” barrels in magazines and sports catalogs. These barrels would need to be installed and tightened down. Then, a reamer would need to be used to physically remove metal in the chamber, with the builder checking headspace with gauges constantly. If you messed up, well, tough luck … and you’d had better own a lathe to fix your mistake. This is still how many custom rifle gunsmiths install a barrel on an action.
A Preferred Barrel Blanks Savage-style small-shank barrel with variable shoulder on the left, a Faxon shouldered pre-fit with Remington style thread on the right. These are the two most common types of action threads.
With Savage barrels being something of a hobby standard, we later began seeing early custom actions that could use the Savage barrel thread. While not getting too technical, the Savage thread is finer than Remington (the other main thread type, more on that shortly), and it’s debated if it provides better accuracy over a coarser thread. Having used them both long term, I do not think this matters.
Later, Remington 700 owners who wanted the same capabilities as Savage owners began requesting variable shoulder 700 barrels, aptly called RemAge (for Remington/Savage) that used a barrel nut and a Savage nut wrench. Be aware that many companies use their own action threads, so not everything is divided into Camp Savage or Camp Remington … for now.
Today, we’re entering an even more interesting era with factory pre-fits. The two main players in this area are Faxon Firearms and Aero Precision with their respective FX7 and Solus actions. At the time of this writing, you can in fact purchase what amounts to drop-in ready pre-fits for these actions. Simply put the barrel in a barrel vice, spin the action on and insert the action wrench (both companies offer action wrenches—you’ll need them, don’t damage your action being cheap) and give it a good tightening. Don’t use a hammer or Loctite, just a good bit of leverage.
After chucking the barrel in a vice (make sure you get the good ones at Brownells, not from places like Harbor Freight or other generic tool stores), you will need an action-specific wrench to tighten it to the barrel.
And you’re good to go right away; just assemble the rifle like you normally would. While it might surprise you, many custom pre-fit barrels today that use this method have wrench flats on them, enabling you to change barrels in the field. I hope to see this feature on factory pre-fits soon.
Now, the Faxon and Aero receivers do use different barrel threads, but they have a good deal in common relevant to the rest of this article. The Faxon uses the RemAge thread pattern; the Aero uses Savage. There are advantages here on both, but they’re not interchangeable. Faxon RemAge barrels can be used on the 700 short action, so if you are already a Remington fan this would probably make a lot of sense.
Likewise, the Aero Solus can use Savage barrels but it also can share with actions like Zermatt, also featured in this article. These two camps are not enemies, with Faxon even making Savage-thread barrels now. I do think that there may be a change in the winds down the road, and my money is on the Aero/Zermatt-style pre-fit becoming the “standard” barrel that other companies will start offering.
Who knows: In five years, we might have dozens of bolt action barrels available from a bunch of companies … just like we have with AR barrels today.
Finding Common Ground
Other parts have managed to become standardized across the board, unlike barrel thread patterns, although threaded barrels are standard now.
As a shooting community, we like muzzle devices and suppressors, and the ability to choose what’s right for each of us is what it’s all about. For today’s common/popular calibers, we have a handful of muzzle threads, with the most common being 1/2-28 inch for .22 bore and 5/8-24 inch for most things up to .30 caliber—so virtually all hunting and field chamberings.
The bigger you go the less standardized thread patterns become, and many companies thread for what they want. For instance, multiple .45-caliber threads are out there. I personally favor 11/16-24 inch for .450 bores. You really can’t go wrong with many of today’s muzzle accessories, and there are more every day that will suit your new bolt gun build.
A Magpul chassis showing the “700 Footprint.” Any Remington-based action will work in this chassis.
Another area of commonality is stocks. Aftermarket Remington 700 stocks began to take off in the early 2000s, and eventually they spawned an entire market with dozens of different traditional versions, as well as competition and tactical chassis designs. Today, we see that the field for these stocks is populated densely with two footprints: the Remington 700 long action and Remington 700 short action. Many actions today are made to fit these respective screw spacings and dimensions. As a result, virtually all new actions made are designed to work in just about any stock. You have lots of options, and the majority have generous barrel channels to accommodate even the heaviest tubes.
Another thing that has become the standard is the AICS (Accuracy International Chassis System) magazines. These are meant to work in many chassis models and various bottom metals, in particular with another de facto standard: the M5 bottom metal. Magazines used to be proprietary to the manufacturer, but now you aren’t limited to this, and you have high flexibility in the magazine capacity and cartridge. The AICS pattern in short action can be had in everything from special .22 LR mags that can use the full magwell (popular in long range rimfire) up to and including short-action magnums and straight-wall cases like .450 Bushmaster.
Another standardized component is bottom metal. Here are two Hawkins AICS pattern bottom metals, short action on the left, long on the right.
Triggers are the next thing that is largely universal. Most actions today use the Remington 700 trigger assembly. This is a bit of a no-brainer because it’s so easy to install and it’s a self-contained unit, unlike many other types of triggers that are dedicated to their respective actions. There is, therefore, less specialization when a company designs an action, giving them a proven trigger and you the ability to select your own for your end use. I personally use only Timney triggers in my bolt guns. I’ve used these triggers for years and I have come to completely trust them. There are, of course, many fine brands out there, and it’s hard to go wrong.
Timney is the author’s choice in bolt gun triggers.
When it comes to overall size of the rifles, we see that the market is favoring short actions. At the time of this writing, neither Faxon nor Aero lists long-action versions of the FX7 or Solus, but the LA Solus had been announced earlier in the year. Time will tell what other variations arise. Likewise, neither company lists long-action caliber pre-fits or any long-action chambered barrels at all. The short action market will likely continue to dominate the conversation for some time, with long-action builds being of more interest to hunters seeking more powerful cartridges. With great short-action rounds like 6.5 PRC out there that can take most American large game, I can’t speculate on the success of these long actions with their smaller aftermarket.
The Aero Solus (left) and Faxon FX7 (right). These actions are affordable, durable and, above all, easily customized. You’ll need to decide what sort of action threads you want or just get both like me.
The Author’s Tips
I’ve been building out bolt guns since I was 14, and I’ve learned a thing or two about how to do it right. The old guard of bolt guns have essentially been gatekeepers to knowledge and sometimes kept it secret to help give their builds an edge—and a high price tag.
Here’s the thing: Today’s guns and barrels are pretty darn good. I’ve owned factory Savage rifles that shot better than some very high-end precision guns. It’s become far easier to acquire and build accurate rifles today than ever. Off-the-shelf parts are becoming increasingly better, and the need for things like glass bedding and lapped scope rings are just not as necessary today as they once were.
If you want a custom bolt gun built for you, do not let me persuade you from doing so. But in today’s world, you shouldn’t be surprised if someone’s less expensive home build is just as accurate. Even at that, don’t be surprised if a semi-auto gives your bolt gun a run for its money. Times are changing.
Two hunting rifle builds the author uses in the field. These have a large number of interchangeable parts.
It’s also worth noting here that headspacing is one of those things that people get freaked out about. Well, back when headspacing a barrel meant possibly doing it wrong, such as getting chatter in the chamber from the reamer, this was a costly, sweaty-palms proposition. I can tell you honestly that headspacing the old way is hard, but I will also say that you shouldn’t stress about it: These days, headspacing gauges are pretty easy to use and understand. After you do it once with a barrel nut setup, it’s like second nature.
The next pointer I have is on the budget scale. I work with some very high-end products in order to produce the best content for your eyes to delight in, and in that pursuit, I have come to see that many people are very conceited about their brands of choice. I like to look at what is happening with actions, but, in reality, most are more similar than they are different.
See, if we’re working inside the 700 footprint, with 700 triggers, 700 chassis systems, stocks and AICS mags, we’re actually working in a somewhat limited space. I’ve been accused of both being a “snob” and at the same time have had the FX7 and Solus actions I am using here called “budget” actions. That’s BS. Having used many actions, I can readily say that most of them are overpriced for what they offer. Don’t let anyone action-shame you.
Barrels, however, are not something to go cheap on. All things being the same, a high-end barrel will typically shoot better than lower-cost options. But, at the same time, manufacturing technology is so good now that factory pre-fit barrels I have here are all shooting under 1 MOA right out of the box.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the December 2024 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Here we take a quick look at the tiny yet mighty .22 Creedmoor cartridge.
Likely, the development of the 22 Creedmoor began as far back as 2007, when the 6.5 Creedmoor was introduced, and shooters simultaneously had the notion to neck-down the 6.5 Creedmoor case to accept .224-diameter bullets.
Horizon Firearms of College Station, Texas, claims to have been the first rifle commercial maker to chamber the 22 Creedmoor in early 2014. The company has promoted the wildcat cartridge ever since.
Indeed, the development of the 22 Creedmoor sped up in early 2017, when Hornady introduced 6mm Creedmoor factory ammo, making the step down from .243- to .224-diameter bullets in those cases much more manageable. Getting to 22 Creedmoor from 6 Creedmoor is a straightforward pass through a full-length die.
Also, Alpha Munitions and Peterson Cartridge produce factory 22 Creedmoor brass, and Copper Creek Cartridge Co. and Spark Munitions make loaded rounds. The 22 Creedmoor is excellent medicine for predators, and several of the long, heavy bullets are suitable for deer and antelope, where that caliber is legal. A 75-grain 22 Creedmoor, fired in a rifle with a 1:8 twist 24-inch barrel, can achieve an average velocity of 3,450 fps and nearly 1,000 ft-lb of delivered energy at 500 yards.
.22 Creedmoor Loading Data
BULLET (GRAINS/TYPE)
POWDER
GRAINS
VELOCITY
ENERGY
SOURCE
55 V-Max
H4350
41.7
3,817
1,779
Peterson Cartridge
75 Hornady ELD-M
FL
–
3,470
2,039
Copper Creek
80.5 Berger VLD
RL26
41.9
3,323
1,973
Peterson Cartridge
90 Sierra MK
FL
–
3,210
2,071
Copper Creek
95 Sierra HPBT
H1000
40.0
3,012
1,913
Peterson Cartridge
When starting with 6mm Creedmoor brass, you will need to neck it down to produce 22 Creedmoor. The 6 Creedmoor starts out at a neck diameter of approximately 0.271 inch, and a loaded 22 Creedmoor will end up at about 0.254-0.255 inch with Hornady brass. Neck-turning will make it closer to 0.252 inch. You can use a full-length sizing die to go from 6mm to .22 caliber in one step. If you use bushings, you will want to neck down in two steps, starting with a 0.260-inch bushing on the first pass and finishing with a 0.250-inch die.
Savage Arms has just expanded its 110 Magpul Scout line of bolt-action rifles with four new chambering options.
The 110 Magpul Scout was already one of Savage Arms’ most popular bolt-action rifle models, but it’s likely only going to get more popular following the line’s recent addition of four new chamberings available for it. The rifle was previously only available in 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Winchester and 450 Bushmaster, but now shooters will have the option of picking one up in 5.56 NATO, 6mm ARC, .300 BLK and 350 Legend as well. That last one should be especially appealing to anyone looking to hunt in a state with straight-walled cartridge restrictions.
Outside of the new caliber choices, the 110 Magpul Scout is otherwise unchanged. That means the rifles still feature 16.5-inch button-rifled barrels with muzzle brakes, full-length extended scout-style Picatinny rails, adjustable AccuTriggers and compatibility with AICS-style box magazines. They also of course still utilize the Magpul Hunter stock with aluminum bedding, an adjustable length of pull and M-LOK slots on the sides and bottom of the forend.
RJ Contorno, Senior Product Manager at Savage Arms, said this about the new rifle options:
The 110 Magpul Scout has proven to be a top choice in our lineup … With the addition of new calibers, we are confident that this rifle will continue to exceed expectations and deliver exceptional performance for beginners and seasoned shooters alike.
The 110 Magpul Scout, in both old and new chambering options, is available with either a black or FDE stock color and in both right- and left-hand configurations. MSRP is $1,099 for all models.
The Japanese Nambu pistol has a reputation for being one of the worst sidearms of WWII, but is it as bad as everyone says?
At the turn of the 20th century, Japan’s history of making firearms paled in comparison to that of the West. The closest thing to a contemporary service sidearm Japan had developed at this point was the Type 26 revolver in 1893. It was an amalgamation of other revolver designs from Europe and the U.S.
Developing the first semi-automatic pistol for the Japanese military was a daunting task, and it was assigned to Kijirō Nambu.
Nambu had previously worked under the Japanese firearms designer Nariakira Arisaka developing the Type 30 rifle, and it took him five years to design his semi-auto pistol.
The pistol he developed in 1902 was a locked-breech, recoil-operated design chambered in an 8mm cartridge. It spawned a series of military-grade sidearms that took his name and were used by the Japanese Navy and Army starting during the Russo-Japanese War through World War II as well as afterward in smaller conflicts.
While semi-automatic pistols made by companies like FN and Mauser at that time were proven and effective weapons, the Nambu pistol was at best a runner-up. Justly or unjustly it was burdened with the reputation of being an odd-functioning gun chambered for an anemic caliber.
If it weren't for American GIs in the Pacific lusting after the Nambu as a war souvenir, the Japanese pistol would probably have been long forgotten.
First Successful Japanese Semi-Auto Pistol
With its design finalized in 1902, the original Nambu was one of the earliest successful semi-automatic pistol designs ever, which is noteworthy. However, the performance of European- and American-designed pistols overshadowed it.
There were three major variants of the Nambu pistol—the Type A, the Type B and the Type 14, the last of which is the most common and most produced variant. Most Nambu pistols were chambered for 8x22mm Nambu, a rimless bottleneck cartridge developed for the Nambu but also used in the Type 100 submachine gun by the Japanese military.
Both the pistol and the caliber earned a poor reputation. The Nambu was difficult and tricky to reload and the 8x22mm cartridge was less powerful than other common handgun calibers of the time such as 9x19mm Luger and 7.63x25mm Mauser.
The first version of the Nambu is known as the Type A. This pistol design was completed in 1902 and produced from 1903 to 1906. As it's the original model, it's referred to as the Grandpa Nambu by collectors. On the outside, the look of the Type A has similarities to the P08 Luger due to the swept-back grip and skinny, protruding barrel, but the two pistols are very different mechanically.
The Type A, like all Nambu variants chambered for 8mm, is a recoil-operated, locked-breech, semi-automatic pistol with a detachable 8-round magazine. The sights consist of an adjustable tangent-style rear sight that goes out to 500 meters and a blade front sight.
That’s wishful thinking for the 8mm Nambu round at best, as part of the Nambu’s poor reputation comes from the 8x22mm Nambu cartridge.
The round featured a 102-grain FMJ bullet traveling at about 960 fps with a bit over 200 foot-pounds of energy which is slightly less powerful than .380 Auto. Compared to the 9x19mm Luger and some of the other common pistol cartridges used in WWII, 8mm Nambu is definitely on the weak side.
The rear backstrap of the Type A also had a slot for attaching a wooden stock that doubled as a holster, similar to the Broomhandle Mauser, and there was a fixed lanyard loop on the back of the frame. Production ended in 1906 when an improved model was introduced.
That improved model was called the Type A Modified, or “Papa” Nambu variant. The trigger guard was enlarged for use with gloved hands, the stock slot was removed and a swiveling lanyard loop was added. The pistol’s magazine geometry also changed as well as the material used for the baseplates, and the magazines are not interchangeable between the Grandpa and Papa Nambus.
In this time period, officers in the Japanese military were required to purchase their own sidearms, and both variants of Type A Nambu were used despite neither model being officially adopted by the Japanese Army. As far as official adoption goes, only the Japanese Navy would select the Papa variant for standard issue.
The “Baby” Nambu
The Type B Nambu is a scaled-down version of the Type A and is referred to by collectors as the Baby Nambu. This gun is sized to fit in a pocket but was mostly used as a badge of rank within the Japanese military.
The Type B operated the same way as the larger versions of the Nambu, but the Type B was chambered for 7x20mm Nambu, a smaller cartridge than the 8x22mm Nambu, and it used a 7-round magazine.
This round was even more anemic, as it fired a 56-grain bullet at somewhere between 800 and 1,000 fps from its 3.25-inch barrel. For context, that’s even less powerful than .32 ACP, but not by a huge margin. Production spanned from 1903 to 1929 where about 6,000 are estimated to have been made.
As recoil-operated pistols, when a Nambu is fired the barrel assembly reciprocates backwards to unlock the bolt, then the bolt continues back to eject the case, reset the striker and load a fresh round. This system is similar to a Mauser C96 broom handle. The guide rod and recoil spring are housed in a small tube on the left side of the frame and a large knob at the back of the bolt is used to retract and cock the pistol.
A left side of the Type B “Baby” Nambu pistol. Notice the round horizontal tube protruding from the top part of the frame, this is where the recoil spring and guide rod are housed. Photo: Rock Island Auction Company.
The bolt locks back on an empty magazine, but when the magazine is removed the bolt flies forward. There was no bolt hold open feature which made reloading the Nambu a bit tricky. The magazine release is a button just behind the trigger, similar to modern pistols.
There is also a grip safety on the front strap that when squeezed allows the pistol to fire. Further, neither variant of the Type A nor the Type B featured a manual safety of any kind and only relied on the grip safety.
Type 14 Nambu
Introduced in 1925, the Type 14 is the most common Nambu variant and is an evolution of the Type A. The name stems from the fact that it was designed in the 14th year of the Taishō era according to the Japanese calendar of the time.
The design was primarily tweaked with the intention of reducing production costs and time. As for its ammunition, the Type 14 was chambered for the same 8x22m Nambu cartridge as the earlier Type A guns.
The Type 14 Nambu had a 4.7-inch barrel and wood grips with distinctive horizontal serrations. The most obvious difference between the Type A and B models and the Type 14 is that the Type 14 employed a pair of recoil springs built into the sides of the bolt, replacing the single recoil spring located on the side of the frame on the Type A and B guns. Besides this, the Type 14's short-recoil operation was fundamentally the same as that of its predecessors.
The Type 14 also introduced a manual safety located on the left side of the pistol above the trigger, although it was very unergonomic as it required the shooter to use their support hand to operate it. The safety rotates a whopping 180 degrees, and this is one of the design quirks of the Nambu pistol that aided in sullying its reputation since the safety was neither easy nor quick to engage or disengage.
Most European and American pistol designs of the time already had safeties that could be operated with the thumb of the firing hand. The grip safety was also omitted on the Type 14.
A magazine safety was also incorporated into the design preventing the trigger from being pulled without a magazine inserted. Like the earlier models, the Type 14 also had no independent bolt-hold-open device and would only lock open with an empty magazine inserted.
The Type 14 was officially adopted by the Japanese military and issued to non-commissioned officers. Officers were responsible for purchasing their own pistols.
While the guns produced before the end of WWII showed excellent workmanship, as conditions worsened in Japan, so did the fit and finish of the firearms they made.
If the Nambu has an Achilles heel, it’s the fragile firing pins. Type 14 guns were issued with a spare firing pin since a small tab could easily shear off when dry firing or in actual use. A gun issued with spare parts does not promote confidence.
Although officers still had to pay for their own pistols, the Type 14 was adopted by the Japanese military as the official sidearm following its introduction. Production ceased in 1945 upon Japan’s defeat and it’s believed that about 400,000 were made in total.
The loss of official records and the widespread phenomenon of officers destroying them before surrendering them to Americans makes that a hard figure to know for certain.
Collecting Nambu Pistols
Just as the Luger was a coveted prize in the European theater of WWII, so too was the Nambu in the Pacific. Americans love their war trophies (who doesn’t), and GIs fighting in the East were eager to get their hands on the exotic, foreign pistol.
It doesn’t appear any Nambu variant was ever imported commercially into the U.S., so the examples that exist on the collector’s market here are all GI bringbacks from the war. This makes them quite rare, and they’re only getting rarer and more expensive.
While there are likely still examples sitting in family safes around the country as heirlooms in memory of grandpa, there aren’t enough that their introduction to the collector’s market would tip the scales in your favor as a buyer. If you want to buy one, sooner is better than later. That’s just the way military surplus goes.
A happy American GI posing with his captured Type 14 Nambu.
Nambu Pistol Prices
We won’t get into the nitty gritty of pricing here, as it can vary a lot based on condition, production year and the exact model in question, but all Nambu pistols are now quite expensive.
The Type 14, the most common variant, tends to start at around $1,000 these days for one in OK condition. In nicer condition Type 14s only go up from there, and rarer models like the Baby Nambu can easily demand $5,000 or more. That said, if you buy one, you can thankfully still shoot it if you desire to as a few companies like Steinel thankfully offer ammo for them.
Does The Nambu Deserve Its Reputation?
At the time the Nambu was first produced, Japan’s firearm industry was far behind Europe and the U.S. The fact that the Nambu was Japan’s first semi-automatic pistol (as well as being among the earliest semi-auto pistols ever) and that it worked as designed is a major accomplishment.
We all agree that the 8mm Nambu cartridge is anemic at best, but keep in mind that military handguns of the time primarily served as a signifier of rank for officers and were only really used as an emergency defensive weapon. Many European military handguns of the same era were chambered for .380 Auto or .32 Auto and both Axis and Allied officers carried handguns chambered for these.
If the Nambu is severely lacking in any department, its ergonomics and user-friendliness.
Despite its poor reputation, the Nambu is not without its strong points. Bill Ruger borrowed elements from the Type 14 to create the Ruger Standard .22 LR in 1949 which went on to become one of the most popular semi-auto rimfire pistols ever produced. Because of this, the Nambu still lives on today in the Ruger Mark IV.
The quirks of the Nambu like its awkward manual safety and lack of a slide stop made the gun more difficult to run compared to other handguns of the time, but I’d say that the Nambu’s reputation is worse than it really deserves. Its cartridge was definitely lackluster, and it had several ergonomic issues and oddities about it, but considering that the basic design was invented in 1902 and that Japan had no real history of making modern guns, their successful development of a functioning semi-auto pistol deserves a lot of respect.
More Classic Military Guns:
Why The Mauser C96 “Broomhandle” Still Looms Large
Palmetto State Armory has just added several .300 BLK options to its line of Krinkov AK pistols.
Everybody seems to want a Krinkov. Officially known as the AKS-74U, the little Soviet personal defense weapon was originally chambered for 5.45x39mm, but imported commercial options are now very scarce as well as the parts kits that are used to manufacture them domestically. PSA has thankfully answered the call with its Krinkov series of AK pistols. Originally released earlier this year chambered for 5.56x45mm NATO, the company has just expanded the line with the addition of .300 BLK models.
Known for excellent performance out of shorter barrels, .300 BLK is a perfect match for the Krinkov’s 8.4-inch pipe. Even more impressive, however, is a change that PSA made under the hood. By using an AR-style gas block instead of a traditional AK-style one, the company was able to move the gas port closer to the chamber. This increases the dwell time and helps to ensure more reliable function with both supersonic and subsonic ammunition, all without using an adjustable gas block. The only downside of this is that the .300 BLK Krinkovs will only function with their included, proprietary gas tubes.
As for the model variants currently available, PSA is offering the .300 BLK Krinkov in a few different configurations. MSRP starts at $1,049.99 for the “SBR-ready” model that has no pistol brace and classic wood furniture, and MSRP is $1,199.99 for the classic wood furniture models that come with folding triangle pistol braces. For a few rubles more, you could also get one of the two tactical options that feature either a railed JMAC forend or the SureShot MK3 Krink Chassis, both of which also include a triangle pistol brace. Further, all models are ready to accept a proper 4.5mm folding stock if you’d like to go the SBR route.
Charter Arms has just announced the Mag Pug Combo, part of the company’s new Double Dog revolver series.
Charter Arms has just launched its new Double Dog revolver series, starting with the release of two variants of the Mag Pug Combo revolver. The wheel guns are defined by their versatility, as each will ship with two interchangeable cylinders that allow the user to swap between .357 Magnum and 9x19mm Luger chamberings.
The Mag Pug Combo combines the company’s Mag Pug and Pit Bull lines, resulting in a 5-shot revolver that can fire both .357 and 9mm with nothing more than a cylinder swap. The guns feature double-action/single-action triggers and are available with either a 2.2- or 4.4-inch barrel as well as either a stainless steel or black finish. Further, the barrels of all variants are ported to help mitigate recoil. The 2.2-inch model features a classic walnut grip and standard snub-nose revolver fixed iron sights, and the 4.4-inch model features a Backpacker walnut grip and an adjustable rear sight.
Nick Ecker, Owner, President and CEO of Charter Arms, said this about the new revolvers:
We couldn’t be happier see this project come to life … We knew once it came off the production line, it surpassed all our expectations. The caliber flexibility is ideal for concealed carry, home protection and well-suited for the range.
The Mag Pug Combo revolvers are available now. The snub-nose variants have an MSRP of $637 and the 4.4-inch models have an MSRP of $659.
Bear Creek Arsenal makes good guns at a good price, so here we test out the BC-15 RSCH, BC-201 and BC-101 Grizzly.
I’ve been assessing and writing about guns for more than a quarter century, and it’s rare I receive a gun to test and am genuinely surprised with the results. But a couple months ago Bear Creek Arsenal (BCA) reached out and asked if I would like to review one of their AR-15s. I agreed, but based on the rifle’s suggested retail price, I didn’t expect much. Boy, was I surprised. I was so impressed I asked BCA if I could review some of their other firearms. They agreed and sent me one of their .22 rifles and a 9mm pistol, and here’s a look at all three of the BCA firearms I have experience with. But first, what about the company that makes these affordable guns?
About Bear Creek Arsenal
In 2013, Eugene Moore, a Navy SeaBee veteran started Bear Creek Arsenal. It’s a family owned and operated business, and it has since seen remarkable expansion. Over the past decade, they’ve continually added new CNC machines, and the manufacturing facility, which is all under one roof, now covers 340,000 square feet. Bear Creek Arsenal’s philosophy is that every American should be able to own premium firearms, while not stressing over being able to afford them. They use the finest machining methods and most modern technology to provide some of the most competitively priced AR rifles in the industry.
The author tested these three American-made firearms from Bear Creek Arsenal and was impressed with their performance.
BCA manufactures all key firearm components in-house, and they sell directly to the customer, cutting out the distributor. They use top-of-the-line shipping and warehouse management processes and technologies to achieve excellent turnaround times, and this is all done to pass along the most savings possible to the customer. In keeping with BCA’s American work ethic, they back all their products with the “Bear Den Guarantee,” which is a limited lifetime warranty. The Moore family also believes in giving back to the community and helping law enforcement, charities and building communities.
Currently, BCA offers firearms available for 26 different cartridges, ranging from .17 HMR, up through the 8.6 Blackout and ending up with the .458 SOCOM. This includes AR-15 and AR-10 (BC-10 and BC-15) style rifles, and the BC-8 Huntmaster semi-auto AR-patterned rifle, which is available in .30-06 Springfield, .270 Winchester and .300 Winchester Magnum. BCA also manufactures pistol-caliber carbines chambered in 9mm, 10mm and .45 Auto, as well as polymer-framed pistols, a 1911 and semi-automatic .22 LR and .22 Magnum rifles. BCA will soon be adding new lever-action and bolt-action rifles on the AR platform.
Bear Creek Arsenal BC-15 RSCH
The Bear Creek Arsenal BC-15 in 6mm ARC is a great shooting AR-15 pattern rifle and it has the advantage of a right-side charging handle.
The typical BCA AR-15 is a mil-spec-style AR that comes in various configurations. The main difference with the BCA BC-15 AR that I reviewed is its right-side charging handle (RSCH). With this AR, the upper receiver and bolt carrier are a bit different. It will still fit a mil-spec AR-15 lower receiver, but the upper is void of the conventional T-handle charging handle and the ejection port is also different to work with the RSCH, which allows you to easily operate the rifle’s action while it’s on your shoulder.
The test rifle was chambered for the 6mm ARC cartridge, and it has a 24-inch, heavy and fluted, 416R stainless steel barrel, with the muzzle threaded at 5/8×24, and a proprietary BCA flash hider installed from the factory. It also has a rifle-length gas system and a non-adjustable gas block that’s concealed inside an aluminum BCA 15-inch M-Lok handguard. The rifle doesn’t come with a magazine or a thread protector for the muzzle, and the trigger is mil-spec.
The right-side charging handle on the BC-15 sets it apart, and it makes the rifle more user friendly.
The first round fired from the rifle failed to eject, but after that it ran perfectly without a single hiccup, with and without a Silencer Central Banish Backcountry suppressor installed. The first load I evaluated was the 105-grain BTSP Hornady Black load, and it averaged about 1.25 inches—about what you’d expect from a less than $600 AR-15 with a not-so-great mil-spec trigger. The next load was the ELD-X load, and it averaged right at an inch, and the Hornady Match load averaged less than three-quarters of an inch. That’s near MOA AR-15 performance for less than 600 bucks!
BC-15 RSCH SPECS:
SKU: CR9001N-6MMARHB2418SSF-15M3 CHAMBERING: 6mm ARC WEIGHT: 9.2 pounds CAPACITY: AR-15 pattern 6.5 Grendel magazines (magazine not provided) BARREL: 416R stainless steel, 24 inches with 1:8 twist, threaded at 5/8×24 SIGHTS: None RECEIVER: 7075-T6 aluminum with integral rail HANDGUARD: 15-inch M-Lok with rail STOCK: 6-position adjustable MSRP: $596.99
Bear Creek Arsenal BC-201
The BCA BC-201 rifle is a copy of the famous Ruger 10/22.
The BC-201 is really just a copy of the most famous .22 rifle of all time—the Ruger 10/22. It features a 416R stainless steel (match grade) barrel and an over-molded Hogue stock. The barrel has a .920 diameter and 11-degree target crown and interestingly, the 7075 T6 aluminum receiver has an integrated Picatinny rail for easy scope mounting. The BC-201 feeds from factory Ruger 10/22 magazines and one comes with the rifle. As you might guess, the rifle is compatible with aftermarket Ruger 10/22 components as well.
BCA’s BC-201 rimfire rifle comes with a right-side charging handle that’s similar to the one used on their BC-15, AR-15 patterned rifles.
This rifle ran perfectly with every .22 LR load I tried, but it proved to be a bit finicky when it came to precision on target. Most of the loads I tested printed five-shot groups at 50 yards from a sandbag rest in the 1.25- to 1.75-inch range. That’s not stellar but it’s also not uncommon performance for an affordable .22 rimfire rifle. However, the rifle absolutely loved the CCI Green Tag load. I fired 10 groups with this load and the largest measured just shy of an inch, and most were closer to the half-inch mark. CCI’s MiniMag load also shot reasonably well, averaging just a tad more than an inch at 50 yards.
BC-201 SPECS:
SKU: CR8996-SCH22LHB16116SSUT CHAMBERING: .22 long rifle WEIGHT: 6.5 pounds CAPACITY: 10-round detachable Ruger 10/22 magazine (ships with one magazine) BARREL: 416R stainless steel, 16 inches with 1:16 twist, 11-degree crown SIGHTS: None RECEIVER: 7075-T6 aluminum with integral rail Stock: Hogue Overmold Ghillie Green MSRP: $345
Bear Creek Arsenal BC-101 Grizzly
Though there was an issue with a slightly bent slide stop out of the box, once replaced, the BCA Grizzly pistol functioned perfectly.
This polymer-framed 9mm pistol is essentially a Glock 17 Gen 3 clone. But there are some differences. The slide has window cuts on the sides and top, and the frame has a slightly different shape and feel, and very comfortable and attractive “Bear fur” stippling on the slides, front and rear. The pistol also comes out of the box with photoluminescent night sights and an optics cut for an RMR. BCA offers several versions, but they all cost the same. The base gun is as I described, and then there are models with either a gold titanium or stainless Nitride, threaded or unthreaded barrel. And finally, there’s the pistol I evaluated, which has a black Nitride threaded barrel.
With the rise in suppressor popularity has come a rise in suppressor-ready pistols. The Grizzly is no exception.
Test-firing started on the bench and the pistol proved to be a tack driver with just about every load I tried. However, I had some issues with the slide locking back before the magazine was empty and then not wanting to release by hand. I had to put my Glock armorer’s hat on, and a full disassembly revealed the slide lock was just slightly bent. I ordered a new slide stop for a Glock 17 for $9.99, and it solved the issue.
The BCA Grizzly pistol comes out of the box with a slide that’s cut to accept an RMR.
I shot this pistol just as well as I shoot my G17, and the trigger was just as good as any factory Gen 3 Glock I’ve fired. I liked the pistol so much that I installed a Trijicon RMR and a set of suppressor height sights from XS Sights. (Sight removal and installation was very easy using the XS Sights In-Line Sight Pusher Kit.) With the reflex sight and XS sights installed, I continued to shoot the hell out of this pistol with and without my Silencer Central Banish 45 suppressor. Those in the hunt for a polymer-framed 9mm should for sure give this gun a serious look.
SKU: CGP101-91917SSBCFTH-TCWC2MPOLY CHAMBERING: 9mm Luger WEIGHT: 22.88 ounces CAPACITY: 17+1 detachable Glock 17 magazines (includes two) BARREL: 4150 chrome moly vanadium, 5 inches with 1:16 twist, threaded at 1/2×28 SIGHTS: Photoluminescent/three-dot with optics cut for RMR FRAME: Black polymer MSRP: $295
The Bear Creek Advantage
I wouldn’t say the guns from BCA are the best American-made guns you can buy. But let me be clear about something, with a Bear Creek Arsenal gun you’ll definitely get your money’s worth. The BC-15 I evaluated was completely reliable and shot great. The BC 201, while a bit finicky when it came to the ammo it liked, was flawlessly reliable. And, after I replaced the bent slide stop—a part that cost me $9.99—on the BC-101 Glock clone, that pistol ran to perfection with every load tried, with and without a suppressor.
As a final note, I’ll leave you with this. The suggested retail price for all three of these BCA guns—not counting the tax man’s cut—is only $1,236.99, which works out to only about $413 per gun. To put that in perspective, three similar guns from Ruger, including an AR-556 MPR, a Ruger American Pistol and a Ruger 10/22, would set you back nearly twice as much. Right now, money is tight and if you’re looking for a new American-made gun, you might want to start your search at Bear Creek Arsenal. Looking is even less expensive—it’s free.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the November 2024 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
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