Flashbang Holsters entered the market with a unique under bra holster for women, but quickly expanded its line to include more traditional holster options like these excellent “Baby Face” models – for women and men carrying under varying circumstances and risk profiles.
Your life circumstances affect your “risk profile,” which has as much bearing on choosing the best concealed carry holster as which gun you choose to carry.
I get asked a lot of questions about concealed carry holsters, usually focused on comfort and security for the weapon. Those are important attributes but rank below an often overlooked factor of greater importance—your personal risk profile.
If you're an armed professional whose employment requires you to go in harm’s way, the most important variable would probably be speed of presentation. This “high-risk” profile would warrant a Kydex-type holster, worn on the belt on the strong side, with a slight forward tilt.
For most shooters in this risk profile, including a civilian whose life situation places them in a dangerous environment, this is likely the carry method that would facilitate the quickest draw from a standing position.
However, if you are a civilian (male) who is fortunate enough to live in a low risk town but must traverse a bad area on your regular commute to work, the most important variable might be ease of access while seated in the car.
For this application an ankle holster may be the best choice, allowing you to get to the gun quickly while in the car. Car-jacking is usually best resisted from within the car. You can present from the ankle in about one quarter of the time it takes to unclip the seatbelt, get through your cover garment, twist your torso radically and present the gun from a belt holster.
Because ankle holsters usually require a smaller pistol or revolver, when arriving at work it can be discretely transferred from its “driving position” to a jacket pocket without getting out of the car.
For women in this risk profile, a belt carry cross-draw would probably be the quickest presentation but it is less comfortable than an ankle presentation for most people and it requires pants.
If you are fortunate enough to live and work in a relatively safe area and want to be armed “just in case,” then the most important tactical variable is likely comfort. If carry becomes tedious it will soon be discarded out of habit.
When choosing a concealed carry holster, both gun and comfort play obvious roles. But keep your lifestyle and personal risk profile in mind, too—it's critical to getting the best practical fit.
For the most part, an actual PEQ can be a difficult item to procure. Certainly, the mil-spec laser sights can be found floating around here and there on the Internet, but their cost is prohibitive.
As far as replicas are concerned, typically they’re all sizzle and little steak. Sure they look like their military counterparts, but for the most part they add little more than a superficial quality to a rifle.
These drawbacks are, in part, why one of Sightmark’s newest products is a relief. One glimpse at the LoPro Combo is enough to discern it was inspired by what is fixed on our military’s M4s. But upon closer inspection, the multi-functional accessory is more than just a good-looking bobble. It is practical tactical.
The LoPro Combo delivers two popular AR accessories in one compact package, allowing shooters to add a laser sight and flashlight in one fell swoop. And the best part is Sightmark has not scrimped on either device.
The sight is Class IIIA green laser, powerful enough to handle almost any situation that might be thrown at a shooter. It has its place in the daytime with a range of around 50 yards when the sun is out, but it really shines at night reaching out to 600 yards.
The sight is also fully hand adjustable for windage and elevations with 1-inch MOA click adjustments turrets. And the unit is designed to keep its zero not matter how roughly it’s treated.
The LoPro is constructed of high performance thermoplastic that yields a weather resistance rating of IPX6 – that's equivalent to high-seas conditions. The unit is also built for tactical durability, resistant to 1000G’s of maximum recoil.
The laser isn’t the only souped-up aspect of the LoPro with the flashlight boasting plenty of power. The LED flashlight is 220 lumens, more than enough to light up a room or to quickly spot a target. To some, the flashlight is among the most important accessories that can be added to a defensive AR.
The multi-functional laser and flashlight device can be mounted on a Picatinny or Weaver rail and is intended to work on any AR, no matter its setup. It is designed to function either in front of a riflescope, without interference with the field of view, or on the side or bottom of a quad rail.
It has pressure-pad controls, to reduce the chance of fumbling for the on-off switch when it counts. The unit is powered off a 3V Lithium battery, giving the laser 12 hours of life, the flashlight 17 and both devices run in conjunction 4.5.
Given the versatility of the LoPro, the unit checks in at a moderate price. Sightmark sells it for $179.96 on its website and it is also available at a number of other shooting retailers. The drawback of the LoPro is it might not float minimalists' boats. The unit is larger than just a flashlight or lower-powered laser sights. Like all accessories, it will have its fans and those who will turn their noses up.
Certainly, the unit won’t appeal to everyone. But for those looking for a practical PEQ-style device to top off their rifle, the LoPro is one that has the potential to steal the spotlight.
Typically, Kirsten Joy Weiss can be found attempting some pretty wild trick shots on her YouTube channel. But the former college All-American and present member of Team Lapua takes time out of her busy schedule to answer one of the more pressing questions of the day – exactly how many Peeps will a .22LR shoot through?
Ms. Weiss comes well prepared to see how many of the gooey marshmallow Easter treats it takes to stop a bullet. And when everything is said and done, the results are rather surprising. No bean spilling here, you've got to watch the video.
Bushnell has made a name for itself in the tactical world.
The Kansas manufacturer’s Elite Tactical scopes have won kudos from shooters who aim to knock the X out of targets two counties over. As effective as this line has proven to be, however, there was a glaring hole in it. There was nothing for shooters whose applications were up close and personal, requiring fast and accurate target acquisition.
That has all changed with Bushnell’s newest optic making the Elite Tactical line more useful than every before – no matter the distance at which a shooter needs to hit. The Close Quarters Tactical Sight is the first red-dot sight in the line and with the name Elite Tactical tied to it, it comes with everything a shooter might want out of a low-powered optic.
Like the other Elite Tactical optics, the 1x32mm CQTS is built to tight specs boasting the same professional grade, field-tested standards of the rest of the line. This includes high-end multi-coated lenses for a clear and bright sight picture, housed in a rugged tube ready to absorb the roughest handling.
The fixed-power optic has the sighting features that make it useful in tactical or competitive situations. It has a precise 3 MOA red dot, allowing a tight bead on a target. And the CQTS is set up to handle nearly any environmental conditions with eight brightness setting.
The optic is also engineered to go above and beyond for nighttime applications. The CQTS has three brightness setting specifically designed to work in conjunction with night-vision devices.
Like the rest of the Elite Tactical line, the CQTS is constructed to withstand abuse. It has a durable 30mm tube and features rubber-armored, tethered turret caps. And the sight includes a rugged one-piece cantilever mount and flip-up lens caps to protect the optic during transport.
The optic can also be quickly and easily added to almost any firearm. The CQTS is compatible with both Picatinny rails or Weaver-style bases.
This is not the first red-dot sight Bushnell’s has produced. The CQTS is probably most closely related to the TRS-25 HiRise AR optic. But the new red-dot sight comes in at a bit higher price point than the relatively inexpensive cousin with an MSRP of $349.
If, however, the optic is anything like the rest of the Elite Tactical line it is certain to earn its keep.
Recommended AR-15 Resources
Thinking about buying an AR-15 or decking yours out with all the bells and whistles? Then you need the Gun Digest Book of the AR-15 Series Set! Author and gunsmith Patrick Sweeney gives you an in depth look at the modern sporting rifle, helping you get a grasp on all of the AR's iterations, accessories and advancements. Make sure you get everything you want out of your AR-15 with this series. For more resources on guns, shooting and gun collecting check out GunDigestStore.com.
CCW practitioners have made the Ruger LCP in .380 ACP the top carry handgun at the Lebanon Gun Shop this past winter. But it is not the only concealed carry handgun that has won favor. The Smith & Wesson J Frame .38 revolver has moved quickly, as well.
With the general difficulty in getting many calibers of ammunition, reloading equipment and supplies have gone strong. Hodgdon’s Varget Smokeless Powder has been especially in demand, at $189 per 8-pound jug. Customers have been buying up .223/5.56mm reloading components, especially bullets and primers.
Speaking of which, while the AR surge is over, Lebanon’s owner David Wilson noted customer interest has remained strong in AR platform rifles, just not at “surge” prices. The DPMS Panther Oracle went on sale here for $679, and the rifles are moved out fast.
“What we have seen since the surge in sales ended this summer is a return to more normal seasonal trends,” Wilson said. “However, sales are still about 10-percent higher, month to month, compared to last year.”
Music, banking, games – there's an app for nearly everything. Shooters haven't been left out in the cold. There are plenty of gun apps out there that turn smartphones into nifty shooting, reloading and general gun tools.
It’s no small statement smartphones fill a large role in our lives nowadays.
They have become our entertainment centers, mobile banks and occasionally, well, phones. But do these omnipresent gadgets have a place in the shooting world? You’re dang Skippy they do!
In fact, Google Play and iTunes are chalked full of more gun apps than you can shake a M1A at. There are game calls for hunters, timers for competitive shooters and cadre of other apps for every stripe of gun enthusiast.
The market is crowded, so much so an article about what is available could easily become a directory. Therefore, the following list is hardly exhaustive. It’s more like a few apps I’ve found handy on my iPhone and have passed one big test – they’re free or nearly so.
iStrelok
I got this ballistics calculator when it was still free, but to be honest I would shell out the $4.99 it now costs. The app is not as extensive as other calculators out there, but it has one feature that beats out most – its wind direction adjustment.
The interface is laid out on a clock face, all the shooter has to do is estimate where the wind is coming from relative to their 12 o’clock. It is very intuitive, it is more sensitive to this variable than most calculators and it is easily programed in the field. The app has a bunch of other bells and whistles, but this one feature makes the app one of the most practical and cost effective out there.
Bullet Drop
If you’re too cheap to shell out five bucks (I don't blame you), there are still options in ballistics calculators. Bullet Drop – the first calculator I tried – is a solid one. The app is plain vanilla with nothing but numbers for input and output. But the data it churns out is invaluable, giving shooters a fairly detailed ballistic table.
The table goes out to 1000 yards and is broken down in 50-yard increments. The bullet’s path can be expressed in inches, minutes of angle or mils. The table also details velocity, energy and drift. The drawback of the app is inputting variables can be a bit arduous, making it less practical as a field tool.
RCBS Reloading Calculator
Reloading not only allows shooters to keep tight reigns on their ammunition’s performance, but also its costs. RCBS’s Reloading Calculator is wiz at projecting costs for projects. The free app breaks down the expenses of a specific cartridge per 1000, 50, 20 and single rounds.
Certainly, for individuals that turn out few rounds yearly the app might be of marginal utility. But for high-volume reloaders/shooters the calculator is a gem, giving them a quick and simple way to compare and contrast the costs of different components in seconds.
Gun Values by Gun Digest
You didn’t think you’d get away without me talking about Gun Digest’s app, Gun Values by Gun Digest, did you? Well, you thought wrong, because the app is slick. Where else can you find an updated list of gun shows from around the county and a gun values all in one?
The handiest aspect of the app is the ability to search prices on a particular gun while at a show or store. A smartphone is a heck of a lot easier to tote around than the Standard Catalog of Firearms – a couple thousand-page reference. If you love to snoop for the best firearms deals, this app is worth its subscription rate — starting at $4.99.
Free Shot Timer
I wish I could boast that I’m a competitive shooter. Alas, maybe someday. Even without IDPA match involved, there is a lot to be said about having a shot timer. It can be a dynamite tool for general training.
Where I’ve found the Free Shot Timer app the handiest is pistol shooting, adding a layer of pressure. Quickly and accurately placing shots are important defensive skills. This app allows shooters to add exactly this aspect to their training, without investing $100-pluse for a shot timer.
Here are a few apps I’ve yet to try, but seem intriguing.
Gunbroker – App is exactly what it sounds like, the mobile version of the popular online gun auction.
Revolvr – Interesting app that facilitates gun accessory trades and sales.
Concealed Carry 50 State Guide – App gives state-specific information about concealed carry laws, including where your license has reciprocity.
Inteliscope – App turns smartphone into a tactical optic, we've covered the system here and here.
Gunstruction – AR15.com allows you to build an AR from the ground up on your smartphone. Another one of our writers gave it a day in court.
Where to Shoot – NSSF’s app that helps you find the nearest shooting range.
This versatile red dot sight allows hunters to adjust to any conditions, no matter what turkey season throws at them.
Anybody who hunts turkeys understands the venture is far from shooting fish in a barrel.
The jittery nature of the bird alone is enough to send most hunters home empty handed. But even if old Tom is kind enough to let his guard down to come into shooting range, then there is the whole issue of making one of the dicer shots in hunting.
A turkey’s noggin, after all, is about the same size as a baseball. In the heat of battle it doesn’t take much to miss.
TRUGLO aims to tip the scales when it comes to staying on target during turkey season with its newest red dot sight.
The Triton Gobble Stopper is based on the Texas manufacturer’s tactical Triton optics and incorporates many of its features. Perhaps the most striking is its multi-colored reticle.
The optic can cycle through green and red reticles and also comes outfitted with a brightness control. These are important features, taking environmental factors out of play when drawing a bead and making the shot.
The 3 MOA dot on the circle-dot pattern is perfect for turkey hunting. The circle equals 24 inches at 30 yards, allowing the precise delivery of the bulk of shot on target.
The optic is the usual 1x and has a 30mm objective lens, making it a practical choice for low and full light. It comes with a sunshade to eliminate glare, for those birds that might come in during the midday sun. The guts of the sight are housed in a CNC-machined aluminum tube that has been tested to remain true even on the hardest-kicking shotguns.
The optic is fully adjustable for elevation and windage and a 3v 2032 battery powers it. It is also outfitted with extra battery storage, so hunters never have to worry about running out of juice at the moment of truth. And the sight has a weaver-style mount, making it a simple-to-add accessory to any turkey gun.
Similar to most TRUGLO products, the Gobble Stopper comes at a decent price. Most online retailers have it listed in the $80 to $100 range.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking the thrifty price equates to poor merchandise. TRUGLO has won many fans – especially its Triton series – as a cost-effective optic that delivers. That could spell trouble for long beards strutting around this season.
Smith & Wesson Shield semi-auto handguns, in 9mm and .40 caliber, are very much in demand here with concealed carry and self-defense customers, and sell for $449.
The Sig P238 and P938 are strong movers, too.
“We sell the Sigs as fast as we get them in,” Center Target Sports owner Ed Santos said. The P238 commands $535, the P938 $689.
For accessories, Center Target Sports has seen a great interest in low-powered optics. The AimPoint PRO and T1 Micro red dot sights are very popular, especially with AR shooters, who are always happy to gobble up quality tactical optics.
The only real items that customers are shying away from, Santos said, are long guns and handguns chambered in .22 rimfire. For the fans of the rimfire, there is a fairly obvious reason behind the customers' aversion to the caliber.
“The lack of rimfire ammo is to blame for that, in our opinion,” he said
Cincinnati, Ohio (April 2, 2014) – Gun Digest Shooter’s Guide to the AR-15, authored by firearms expert and noted author Richard A. Mann, cuts through the clutter and offers readers a user-friendly look at today’s most popular modern sporting rifle.
This latest entry in Gun Digest Books’ Shooter’s Guide series helps AR-15 owners understand and appreciate the complexity of this versatile firearm.
Supported by hundreds of photos, Mann delivers an explanation of the AR platform, shares the wide range of AR-15 applications available, offers tips on accuracy and ammunition, and much more. Novices and experienced shooters alike will all find something to learn in Mann’s Gun Digest Shooter’s Guide to the AR-15.
About Gun Digest Gun Digest is the world’s foremost authority on guns in print and online. In addition to Gun Digest the Magazine, the brand’s portfolio includes the Gun Digest Books line, Standard Catalog of Firearms, the GunDigest.com online community, and ecommerce specialty store, www.gundigeststore.com. For more information, visit gundigest.com, the Gun Digest Facebook page, www.facebook.com/gundigest, or follow on Twitter @gundigest. Gun Digest is an imprint of Gun Digest Media.
Kris W. Jacob — Bullseye USA, Inc., stores in Castro Valley and Marin, Calif., and Gardnerville, Nev.
At Bullseye’s three retail locations, women have made up 51 percent of the new customer base, noted company president Kris Jacob this past December. And they have made up over half the students in the various firearms classes this FFL offers.
For most of these women shooters, personal defense has been the focus, and at the Nevada store Ruger LCP’s and Smith & Wesson Shields have been very popular.
Not so at Bullseye’s two California locations, as neither of these models is on the California list of “approved handguns,” and therefore can’t be sold in the state.
Here, self-defense oriented customers have tended to buy full-sized Glock 17 and 19’s, as well as Smith & Wesson M&P’s.
Waterfowl and upland hunters at the California stores are especially interested in the Beretta A400 semi-automatic shotgun, not in the least put off by a price tag of between $1,700 and $1,900. “They’re even trading in their old shotguns to be able to get the Beretta,” Jacob said.
It doesn’t matter if you holster a striker-fire polymer or a good old single-action 1911, there are skills that translate over the entire spectrum of semi-automatic pistols and are musts to learn. Tiger McKee goes over a good cross section of these important pistol manipulations in this video.
The founder of the Shootrite Firearms Academy in Alabama touches on the finer points of loading, reloading and dealing with malfunctions with a semi-auto. The pistol training might seem basic, but these skills are among the most vital for those who shoot and carry this style of firearm.
These are fundamentals everybody should aim at mastering and plan on working into their regular pistol training regime. The great thing is everything McKee covers can be done away from the shooting range. Though, it would be advisable to invest in some snap caps if you plan on going over these at home, just to add an extra layer of safety.
Whether you are a newbie building your skill sets or a veteran looking for a refresher, this video has some solid information. Either way, you’d better get ready to keep up. McKee is on rapid fire in this video, packing a lot of training into 3-minutes.
Before you take a trip across state lines, heed this key advice on concealed carry reciprocity before you encounter the police.
Reader “allendavis58” asked about concealed carry reciprocity. (“Reciprocity” refers to certain states that may recognize the concealed carry permits issued by other states.)
Here's some practical advice from my perspective as a retired cop.
Imagine yourself getting “made” [Someone notices your concealed gun. – Editor] in a state that is not the one that issued your permit. The cops are called. The officer asks you for your CCW permit and says, “I don’t know if this is valid here.”
“But they told me it was when I got it,” you say. “And I checked it on the Internet.”
Most cops couldn’t care less about what is legal in your state of residence. And you need to presume that many cops will not know if your out-of-state permit is valid in their jurisdiction. Do not expect that they have some magic “list” in their patrol car for a ready reference.
Getting a definitive answer on the validity of your permit may take only minutes or it may take a lot longer. Whether you are detained until that is reconciled or let go with an admonition would probably be considered within the realm of “officer discretion” in most areas.
But there is one important thing you can do to make it easier for cops where you travel to send you on your way with a handshake and a smile: Get a citation that documents the reciprocity agreement between your home state and the state in which you're traveling.
A reciprocity agreement is going to be documented somewhere. It may be in state criminal law or in your state's Department of Justice rules and regulations.
When you get your permit, be firm that you need a “citation” that documents the reciprocity in the state you will be traveling through.
If you already have your permit, get back in touch with your instructor and ask them to help you find the necessary citations. If the vendor that issues your permit claims multi-state validity as a sales point, the burden of proof is on them to provide citations. Confirm this before you take the class.
Now imagine you are back in the situation described above. If any question exists about reciprocity you tell the officer, “The citation for reciprocity in (state) is DOJ policy 162-(a) 12.” This gives the officer something easy to check and may—I say again “may”—get you a smile and a “No worries, buddy” send off without even doing the check.
We always need to remember that the most important law is the law of necessity. You do what you gotta do.
Just be sure you get a citation for each non-resident state you plan to travel in, even if you have to pay an attorney to research it for you.
Chambered for NAA’s proprietary bottleneck cartridges, these souped-up pocket pistols can be upgraded with a variety of custom features.
North American Arms (NAA) has been providing some of the smallest concealed-carry firearms available since 1971. Their .22 Short, .22 Long Rifle and .22 Magnum Mini revolvers are some of the few handguns available that can be rightfully described as tiny. In 1997, the company expanded their line-up to include a series of stainless steel semi-autos.
Dubbed the Guardian, this pocket pistol is of a fixed barrel, direct-blowback operated design based on the Seecamp .32 ACP. The first version was the Seecamp-sized small-frame .32 ACP. As the popularity of the pistol grew, North American Arms developed a slightly larger version of the platform designed to fire .380 ACP.
Bottling the Pocket Rocket
The Guardians’ rudimentary standard sights (left) can be upgraded with Gutter Snipe, Novak or XS night sight systems. Author Photo
Recognizing that one of the primary limitations of pocket pistols is the small cartridges they employ, NAA teamed up with Corbon Ammunition to develop and standardize two bottleneck pistol cartridges in order to enhance the Guardians’ stopping power.
For the smaller .32 ACP-sized frames, they produced the .25 NAA that was inspired by the 25/32 JBW wildcat cartridge originally conceived by gun writer J.B. Wood. The cartridge consists of a standard .32 ACP case necked down to hold a .251-caliber slug.
\In other words, the bullet of a .25 ACP is launched by the powder charge of a .32 ACP. The result is a significant boost in velocity. Corbon’s .25 NAA 50-grain full-metal jacket loads leave the Guardian barrel with an average speed of 1,050 fps generating 122 foot-pounds of energy, while the 35-grain jacketed hollow points travel at around 1,200 fps, also with 122 foot-pounds of energy.
Using the same bottleneck approach, the .32 NAA cartridge was developed for the larger Guardian frame.
A standard .380 ACP cartridge case was necked down to hold a .32-caliber bullet. Corbon’s 71-grain full-metal jacket load yields around 1,000 fps and 158 foot-pounds of energy and the 60-grain jacketed hollow point round runs at 1,200 fps with 192 foot-pounds of energy.
Recently, Hornady introduced a new .32 NAA load topped with an 80-grain FTX bullet, which flies at an average of 1,000 fps with 178 foot-pounds of energy. Although the NAA bottleneck cartridges will not outperform larger cartridges, such as the 9mm, they do exceed the power levels of many standard .32 ACP and .380 ACP loads.
NAA Guardian Features
The Guardian .25 NAA and .32 NAA pistols feature an all-stainless-steel construction assembled with excellent fit and finish. All of the components are constructed of 17-4 ph stainless steel using various methods.
The slide is machined from a 17-4 ph billet, the frame is investment cast and all of the small parts (hammer, trigger, magazine release) are produced using Metal-Injected Molding (MIM). The only polymer to be found on these pistols is in the black pebble-textured grip panels and the magazine base plates.
Hornady knew they could develop a top-notch round for the little pistol, so they have started shipping a .32 NAA round loaded with an 80-grain FTX bullet that travels at 1,000 fps and produces 178 foot-pounds of energy. Testing this new load in the Guardian showed it to be reliable and accurate.
The all-steel construction does make the Guardian a little heavier than some of their competitors, but the guns are exceptionally reliable, sturdy and resistant to the corrosive conditions commonly found with pocket carry.
Standard Guardians arrive from the factory with fixed sights and two six-round stainless steel magazines, one with a flat base plate and the other with a finger extension.
The exposed hammer of the double-action-only firing mechanism provides second-strike capability in case of a hard primer. The external safety system is the same as that found on a double-action revolver. In other words, there are no levers, switches or buttons to fuss with, just the long and heavy 10-pound stroke of the double-action-only trigger.
But there’s no reason to stick with an out-of-the-box Guardian if you have something else in mind. The company provides their customers with a variety of pistol upgrades through their in-house custom shop. New guns can be built from scratch with the features you want or existing pistols can be sent back to the factory for most of the alterations they offer.
The .25 NAA provided for this review was topped with an excellent set of 3-Dot Novak night sights, and the polymer grip panels were traded out for a set of smooth Hogue Coco Bolo grip panels. The grip frame of this pistol is quite short, with only enough room for a one-finger grip, so the .55-inch-thick wood grips can make the diminutive pistol easier to hold.
The .32 NAA factory sights were replaced by an easy to see XS Big Dot sight set featuring a .16-diameter white epoxy dot front sight with a tritium night sight insert. The grips were replaced with a Crimson Trace LG-441 laser grip, which arrives pre-sighted out to 50 feet.
The grip frames of both test pistols were enhanced with random-pattern stippling applied to the front strap, back strap and the front of the rounded trigger guard.
And because these pistols were ordered from the factory, North American Arms surprised us by adding one of their most popular custom features, namely custom serial numbers. By following a few simple company guidelines, information like nicknames, badge numbers or important dates can all be serialized into the gun. This can make a pistol that is gift for a loved one (or for yourself) truly a one-of-a-kind item.
At The Range
Mastering the Guardian bottleneck cartridge pistols will require the same kind of practice and patience needed to learn the operations of any souped-up pocket pistol.
Small semi-autos with an abbreviated grip frame and a reduced sight radius always require practice. If you are used to shooting double-action revolvers, the long, smooth, 10-pound pull of the double-action-only trigger will feel familiar and will be relatively easy to learn. If you’re a fan of light or single-action triggers, or if you’re new to shooting handguns, then the trigger work will require more practice.
The Guardians tested in this story were made especially for this review with custom Gun Digest serial numbers. Custom serial numbers make these guns a true one-of-a-kind gift.
The .25 NAA produced a relatively mild level of felt recoil, especially for having a short, one-finger grip. On the other hand, the .32 NAA’s recoil was on par with an Airweight J-Frame .38 Special loaded with defense-grade ammunition. In other words, it had plenty of pep but it was not painful to work with.
The Guardians are intended for close-range defensive applications and so formal accuracy testing consisted of firing five five-shot groups from a bench rest into targets set at 7 yards. Pistols of this size are not generally expected to produce tight groups.
However, the Guardians demonstrated top-notch accuracy for up-close and personal protection. The .25 NAA produced group averages between 1.51 to 1.77 inches, while the .32 NAA kept its groups hovering between 1.53 to 1.71 inches in size. Off the bench, it was easy to keep all shots center of mass at 7 yards during defensive drills. Both pistols functioned flawlessly with all of the loads tested.
Why Choose a Guardian?
With so many makes, models and caliber options in pocket pistols to choose from these days, why do the North American Arms Guardian pistols in .25 NAA and .32 NAA warrant consideration?
The Guardians have a proven design with a track record for durability. The all-stainless-steel construction of the pistols can hold up to the rigors of daily carry.
Some pocket rockets demonstrate a tendency to jam, so it’s important to know the pistol and caliber combination that’s in place as a last line of defense is going to work when called upon. Lastly, the bottleneck Guardians feed reliably and generate a significant boost in stopping power when compared to the other cartridges in their size class.
During load development, the Loki Weapons System Patrol Rifle in 300 BLK was fitted with a Leupold Mark 4 6.5-20x ER/T variable to wring out its sub-MOA capabilities.
The 300 AAC Blackout has both military and law enforcement applications and a growing legion of civilian fans to boot.
The Smith & Wesson Model M&P15 – 300 Whisper also chambers .300 BLK.
Advanced Armament Corp. (AAC) and Remington developed the 300 Blackout System to launch .30-caliber projectiles from the AR platform without reduction in magazine capacity, while maintaining compatibility with the AR-15’s standard bolt.
Remington received Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Institute (SAAMI) acceptance of the new cartridge in June 2010. AAC officially designated it as the 300 AAC Blackout, or the 300 BLK. The metric designation is 7.62x35mm.
With subsonic cartridges, the 300 BLK produces a low sound signature when suppressed, and the development of 100- to 150-grain full-speed ammunition matches the ballistics of the 7.62x39mm AK. When fired from a 9-inch barrel, the 300 BLK produces more muzzle energy than a 5.56mm M855 round fired from a 16-inch rifle barrel.
The first priority of the 300 BLK was to utilize the existing inventory of 5.56mm NATO magazines while retaining their full capacity. Next, AAC wanted to create the optimal platform for sound and flash suppressed fire.
Another objective was to create compatible supersonic ammo that matches 7.62x39mm ballistics. The 300 BLK also provides the ability to penetrate barriers with high-mass projectiles. Providing all of these capabilities in a lightweight, durable, low recoiling package was what it took to meet the project’s objectives.
A standard M4 bolt is used for the new cartridge, and it matches or exceeds M4 endurance and durability. Compared with 5.56, a 7.62×39 or a 6.8 SPC, the BLK has reduced muzzle flash and “gasses” the shooter less.
When fired from a 9-inch barrel, the 300 BLK produces more devastating terminal effect than a 5.56, and on par with the 7.62×39 or 6.8 SPC.
Increasing Rate Of Fire
Installing a suppressor on a weapon typically increases the rate of fire. When comparing a suppressed to a non-suppressed 10-inch barreled 300 BLK AR to a 10-inch 5.56mm AR, the 300 BLK is a winner.
The average rate of fire for a 5.56 increases 34 percent, from an average rate of fire of 737 rounds per minute (RPM) to 985 RPM when suppressed. A supersonic load in the 300 BLK increases 18 percent, from 821 RPM to 970 RPM. Firing subsonic 300 BLK loads only upped the rate of fire 5 percent, from 746 RPM to 780 RPM.
Additional testing by AAC revealed that the 300 BLK has a point-of-impact shift with and without a suppressor of 1.3 MOA at 100 meters supersonic, and 2.4 MOA subsonic. On the endurance side of the equation, the mean number of rounds between stoppage was 738 rounds for the 5.56, and 640 rounds for the 300 BLK. Barrel life for a 5.56mm is typically about 9,000 rounds, whereas the 300 BLK has passed 30,000 rounds and continues to climb.
When comparing a 9-inch 300 BLK M4 PDW to an MP5-SD3, it really excels. The MP-5 weighs 7.9 pounds, and the 300 BLK PDW weighs 7 pounds when configured with a CTR stock, an H2 buffer and an AAC 762 SDN-6 suppressor with no magazine or sights. The compact length for the MP5 is 26.4 inches, and 31.7 inches with stock extended.
An M4 with stock collapsed and no supressor measures 25.75 inches, and 34.25 inches with a CTR stock extended and suppressor attached. Firepower is where the 300 BLK really excels. The MP-5 fires a 115-grain bullet at 900 fps, whereas the 300 BLK PDW firing a 220-grain bullet at 1,000 fps produces 129 percent more energy at the muzzle and even more down range.
“When people want to shoot suppressed, the MP5-SD3 has become obsolete because it can’t shoot through barriers; from armor, to wall board or windshields,” said Robert Silvers, director of research and development at AAC. “That’s why H&K came out with the MP-7A1, but you can’t make that gun quiet. You can keep an M-4 Blackout quiet, and it penetrates well. And, it makes a good home defense weapon, too. It has more energy than an M4 with a 16-inch barrel, and for people who want to hunt with their AR, it satisfies that, too. The Blackout is extremely versatile and can handle bullets from 110 grains to 240 grains.”
Shooting the 300 BLK
The basic difference between the 300 BLK chamber and the .300 Whisper or .300 Fireball is the length of the throat. The 300 BLK is slightly longer. One of the quirks of the .300 Whisper is the variation in brass thickness among the many makes of 5.56mm ammunition. The 300 BLK’s longer throat mitigates the issue.
When I asked Silvers about the longer throat in the 300 BLK, he said, “The people that don’t like the longer throat seem to always bring that up. We get good results from a test barrel. We shot 10 five-round groups that came in under .85-inch.”
The 300 BLK is a short-range round. When it is zeroed at 100 yards, the 300 BLK, loaded with a sub-sonic 220-grain Sierra Match King, drops nearly three feet when it passes the 200-yard mark. The same zero with a 125-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip bullet traveling at 2,200 fps will drop approximately 7.3 inches at 200 yards.
Since Remington hadn’t shipped any 300 BLK ammo prior to my initial testing, I spent some time forming Lake City mil-surp brass with a Redding 300/221 Fireball trim die. I scrounged some .221 Remington Fireball brass, too, for reforming. When I ran across Brad’s Warehouse (bradswarehouse.com) as a source for 300 BLK cases, I jumped on 1,000.
Just as this article was about wrapped up, AAC shipped me an excellent supply of primed Remington 300 BLK cases, too.
My initial loads were educated guesses to determine velocities. Serious accuracy loading would come later. Cases were primed with CCI 400, Federal Small Rifle Benchrest or Winchester Small Rifle primers. I loaded H110, Accurate 1680 or Reloader No. 7 powder for initial testing. An AAC .30-caliber Cyclone suppressor was used for all testing.
Testing AR Platforms
To learn more about the 300 BLK, I tested three AR platforms. I got in touch with AAC and received one of the first barrels available, along with a low-profile carbine-length gas block and gas tube. To build a complete upper receiver suitable for testing, I had Anderson Manufacturing, from Hebron, Ky., mate the AAC barrel with one of their quality upper receivers and hand guards.
AAC’s 300 Blackout AR-15 barrels are 4159 chrome-molybdenum vanadium steel with a 1:8 twist. They utilize a standard M4 barrel extension, and have a high-reliability self-loading specific chamber. The chamber dimensions are slightly larger than found on bolt guns to increase reliability.
Their barrels are treated with proprietary nitride surface treatment on the barrel and extension assembly to give up to a 60 percent longer barrel life than chrome plating the barrel. The treatment improves corrosion resistance, reduces friction and improves accuracy issues, like hard chroming the barrel and creating coating thickness variations. The muzzle is threaded 5/8 24 TPI and comes with a thread protector.
At the range, I attached the AAC/Anderson Manufacturing upper to a Bushmaster lower fitted with an AR Gold trigger, and was ready to send rounds down range. Using a Leupold 6.5-20x Mark 4 scope, I shot several five-shot subsonic 100-yard groups.
The average for 12 groups fired was a hair under 2 inches, with two groups measuring sub MOA. Hornady’s 208-grain AMax, Sierra’s 210- and 220-grain Match Kings all shoot well in subsonic loads.
Another carbine tested was a Loki Weapons System Patrol Rifle. In short, this rig is comprised of Loki’s billet upper and lower, an Ergo F93 Pro adjustable stock and Loki’s forend and adjustable gas block set at the carbine position on a 16-inch Satern barrel.
I fired a hodge-podge of reloads trying to find the performers, just as I had done with other rigs. I even tried two Corbon .300 Whisper factory loads. No matter what I threw at it, this rig performed well.
The average of all five-shot groups measured 1.7 MOA. I shot one .753-inch group with a 220-grain Sierra Match King on top of 10.8 grains of A1680. Corbon’s 220-grain SMK subsonic load also shot a .783-inch group. Corbon’s 125-grain .300 Whisper load averaged less than MOA, with the smallest .811-inch.
Today, Hornady has joined the .300 BLK fray with their .300 Whisper loads. These function well in weapons marked 300 BLK or .300 Whisper.
Although I’ve always enjoyed shooting the .300 Whisper, or the .300 Fireball, the new 300 BLK designation is sure to shine some new light on this interesting cartridge. It’s certainly has attracted significant consumer acceptance.
If there is one complaint that tops all others when it comes to inside the waistband holsters it's comfort.
Anybody who conceal carries is certain to have that drawer or cabinet filled with that type of holster, ones that poked them in the side, never broke in correctly or just didn’t feel right. But a new kid on the block believes it’s found the trick in providing comfort and performance when it comes to IWB carry.
At first glance, Kinetic Concealment appears to offer just another hybrid holster. But at closer inspection, the Tennessee-based company has added a material into the mix that could rub wearers the right way – neoprene.
The holster is backed with the synthetic rubber, which is then covered with a sheet of nylon fabric. The idea is to provide a softer intermediary between the body and the holster, instead of exposing the wearer to they typically stiff, coarse leather backing.
The company points out the neoprene can be used in conjunction with an undershirt, but also can be carried comfortably against the skin. This certainly has the potential to open up wardrobe options, especially in the more hot and humid corners of the country.
The company also touts neoprene's ability to provide better protection for the gun. The rubber creates a barrier between the wearer and their sidearm, instead of allowing to baste on a long day of carrying.
The rest of the holster is made of materials familiar to most people who carry – leather and Kydex. These have been the staples of hybrid holsters for some time, but Kinetic Concealment has incorporated some features with these old standbys that are certain to catch the eye.
Instead of riveting the Kydex holster to the leather backing, it is screwed into place and has the option to be raised and lowered. As Kinetic Concealment puts it, the Kydex can be set at a “high-ride” or “low-ride” in relation to the waistband. The added benefit to screwing in the Kydex is it also allows for a certain amount of tension adjustment.
Like the neoprene, this feature appears to give greater wardrobe options, helping the holster adapt to clothing. Add in that it has adjustable belt loops that can be set to three different cants, the holster seems like it aim for versatility as much as it does comfort.
The system uses Chicago-style screws, which lie relatively flush and look to cause little wear on clothing. The company offers the holster in both left- and right-hand models. And it comes in fits for almost every major semi-automatic handgun on the market.
Kinetic Concealment’s IWB holster is near the high end of hybrid market, retailing for $76.95 on its website. But if the holster's comfort and versatility work as advertised it could save money in the long run, not to mention drawer space.
Looking to go armed, but are stuck in the weeds as to what to arm yourself with? Here are 20 excellent concealed carry gun options that will keep you on the defensive.
