If you plan on swapping an AR barrel, you're going to want a reaction rod, and the Otis PRO+ A15 UpLock is one of the best.
I still remember the early days of installing an AR-15 barrel. Trying to clamp everything without crushing anything was a major undertaking. That problem was solved long ago, but Otis, as expected, has some improvements.
The Pro+ A15 UpLock is something you need if you plan on installing or replacing a barrel. It’s a reaction rod, a simple bar to hold the barrel in place.
A quick look: The front is lugged to match the locking lug slots on the barrel extension. Behind that is a bronze bushing with a roll pin stop. At the back, it’s machined with flats, so you can clamp it in the vise.
To use it, simply clamp the rod on your vise, the bigger and stronger the better. Your bench should be big and strong, too, so it doesn’t “walk” around when you do your wrenching.
If you’re installing a barrel, slide the receiver over the rod. If the receiver is a loose fit, take the bronze bushing (collar to the rear) and use it as an insert to keep the receiver in place. Slip the barrel onto the rod, engaging the slot in the lugs. Then, spin the barrel nut down and begin to do the barrel nut tightening mambo.
The bronze bushing is on backward here as a memory aid to check fit each time the rod is used.
Yes, reaction rods are not new, but the Otis rod is well made, and the addition of the bronze bushing is a boon if you must deal with off-spec receivers. If you don’t, it is just as good as it would be not needing the bronze bushing.
I’ve got a rolling cabinet full of various gunsmithing tools, and the Otis is at the front of the drawer, because it’s the one I want handy when needed. You’ll notice the bronze busing in the photo is reversed—not because that’s the way it works, but it acts as a mnemonic for me.
“Bushing back, bushing check” is my mental step to check the rear of the upper receiver opening to see if the bushing is needed. It’s easy enough, once the rod is clamped in place, to slide the bushing off and see if it fits into the receiver.
If it does, I use it. If it doesn’t, I put it on the bench while I fit the barrel. Once done, it goes back onto the rod, reversed, as the memory aid for the next installation.
Some of you might be thinking, “Sweeney is getting old, he needs memory aids.”
Nope.
When the details matter, you want to make sure you have all the details right. Pilots use a checklist for every operation not because they can’t remember, but because it matters to get it right.
I appreciate Otis’ extra effort and want to have that advantage, enough to keep the bronze bushing on the rod and check it each time. If I took it off and left it loose in the drawer, I might just go ahead on a barrel install when the bushing would have helped.
As a tool making and tool using animal, you really should be in the habit of using tools correctly.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the January 2026 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
If you’re an armed citizen, tactical first aid is an essential skill that you can’t afford to ignore.
The timeline that opened Greg Ellifritz’s Tactical First Aid course is something none of us will forget: the 2012 Aurora, Colorado, theater shooting. Seventy people were shot. The first trained medical responders didn’t get to the injured for 27 minutes, because police had to clear the scene first. A person with a massive arterial bleed has only 4 to 5 minutes to live without intervention.
In that moment, one reality became painfully clear: Bystanders were the only medics on scene, and their actions determined who lived and who died.
That sobering timeline reinforced a vital truth for every responsibly armed citizen: When disaster strikes, you are your own first responder. Carrying a firearm is only part of protecting yourself and others. Violence or even everyday accidents produce injuries that no firearm can fix. That’s why medical training and, specifically, tactical first aid must be part of the responsible citizen’s skillset.
What Makes Tactical First Aid Different?
Tactical medicine isn’t a standard CPR or Red Cross course. Ellifritz, a 20-year law enforcement officer and self-defense instructor, explained that tactical first aid happens in unstable, dangerous, often chaotic settings, possibly in the middle of an ongoing threat. You may not have ambulances or medics arriving within minutes. You might have one trail bag, two hands and people rapidly bleeding around you.
In a conventional first aid class, the assumption is a safe environment: scene secured, team response and ambulance in transit. Tactical first aid assumes none of that. You might have to treat casualties before the threat is fully neutralized.
The Grim Reality Is This
If the attacker is still alive, stopping the threat comes first, not treating the wounded.
If the scene is unstable, you might have to treat under fire.
You must triage, decide whom you can help and whom, tragically, you might not be able to.
This mindset shift is difficult even for experienced ER doctors. They admitted they knew the medicine but never considered how to apply it when alone, under stress, with minimal supplies and no hospital support. Tactical training pushes medical skills into the real world where perfection is impossible and improvisation is mandatory.
MARCH: A Battlefield-Proven Priority System
Most of us grew up with ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) as the standard sequence for first aid care, but tactical medicine and research from modern combat shows that ABC doesn’t fit real-world traumatic injuries like gunshots and blast trauma.
Ellifritz taught us MARCH, the protocol used in Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC):
M – Massive bleeding
A – Airway
R – Respiration/chest injuries
C – Circulation/shock prevention
H – Head injury and hypothermia
Why begin with bleeding? Battlefield data reveals that hemorrhage from extremity wounds causes 60 percent of preventable deaths, far more than airway issues. Blood loss kills faster than almost anything else.
Ellifritz put it plainly: “If I have a heart attack, then follow ABCs. But if I’m bleeding from a gunshot, grab a tourniquet first!”
The training made this real. We practiced sustained direct pressure and learned quickly how exhausting it is to press hard enough to stop bleeding for even a few minutes. That is why tourniquets and pressure bandages matter. They aren’t accessories. They are lifelines.
Tools That Save Lives
As we learned the MARCH protocol, it started to become evident what sorts of items should be included in the trauma kit that every armed citizen should carry or at minimum, keep in their vehicle or range bag. The most essential tools include:
CAT or SOF-T tourniquet
Israeli/emergency pressure bandage
Hemostatic gauze (QuikClot or Celox)
Chest seals for sucking chest wounds
Trauma shears, gloves and marker
Students paired up and practiced applying tourniquets on each other. The key lesson: They must be tight—really tight. If it doesn’t hurt at least a little, it isn’t tight enough. It has to be tight enough to stop your distal pulse. Modern tourniquets are safe to leave on for two hours—hopefully long enough to keep someone alive until higher care arrives.
The Israeli bandage was another standout. With coaching, we wrapped simulated arm wounds in 20 to 30, freeing up our hands and attention to address other threats or other victims. These tools are easy to carry, easy to store and proven by thousands of deployments in combat. What’s often missing is training and confidence, the ability to use them under stress.
You’ll Need These Skills More Than Your Gun
Not everyone taking this course imagines themselves in an active shooter scenario, and that’s the point. Tactical medical training applies far beyond gunfights. Car crashes, hunting accidents, power-tool mishaps, chainsaw injuries, storm damage, tornadoes, hiking accidents and range accidents are just a few other possibilities.
Statistics are clear: You’re far more likely to use medical skills to save a life than you are to use a firearm in self-defense.
That fact alone reframes what it means to be “responsibly armed.” The protector mindset isn’t limited to stopping threats. It includes preserving life when something goes wrong. Sometimes helping means drawing a firearm. Other times it means putting your hands on a wound to stop the bleeding fast.
Mindset: You Are the Help
The greatest thing this course imparted wasn’t just skill. It is a mindset. Ellifritz blends practicality with urgency. His message is never paranoid. It’s empowering: We live in a world where help may not come quickly. If no one else is coming, then you are the help.
That mindset shift from bystander to responder is the dividing line between helplessness and preparedness. Tactical first aid training takes you across that line.
It’s not about becoming a medic or replacing EMS. It’s about filling the gap when time matters most, the minutes before professionals arrive. When every second counts, preparation isn’t paranoia, it’s responsibility.
The Responsibility to Preserve Life
Gun owners often emphasize the weight of carrying a firearm. But the duty to preserve life does not end when the threat is stopped. It continues with the ability to treat the injured, whether they’re a victim, an innocent bystander, a loved one … or even yourself.
Ellifritz’s course drove that home powerfully. I plan to train medically just as routinely as I train at the range, and I believe every responsibly armed citizen should do the same.
When tragedy strikes, no one has ever regretted having too much knowledge or too much training, but the opposite, the regret for being unprepared, can be a lifelong burden.
Carrying a firearm may help you stop the threat. Carrying medical training may help you save a life. After all, if you can’t avoid the fight, surviving the fight is the next best outcome in any fight.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the January 2026 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
The Colt Commander may not be the best fighting pistol of all time, but it’s Top 5 for sure and one of the most iconic.
After World War II, the U.S. Military wanted a lighter and more compact pistol for officers to carry. So, Colt created a 1911 with a 4.25-inch barrel chambered in 9mm Luger that was built on a lightweight aluminum alloy frame. In 1950, Colt began manufacturing that pistol—known as the Commander—but they also offered it chambered for the .38 Super and the .45 Auto.
Twenty years later, Colt introduced an all-steel version of this shorter-barreled 1911 called the Combat Commander, and they renamed the original alloy-framed gun the Lightweight Commander. When I became a police officer in 1992, a Colt Lightweight Commander chambered in .45 Auto was considered by many professionals to be the premier off-duty/concealed carry gun.
Of course, I had to have one, but finding one like I wanted was not easy. In 1983, Colt added a firing pin safety to all their 1911s, and this made the trigger—for lack of a better word—horrible. I wanted a pre-80 Series Lightweight Commander chambered for the .45 Auto, because, well, back in the ’90s everyone knew you couldn’t stop a bad guy with a 9mm.
My first Commander was the Lightweight model in .45 Auto. I stumbled on it in a local gun shop in 1994. I laid it away, paid for it with overtime money, and then sent it and a lot more overtime money off to Novak’s in Parkersburg, West Virgina, for some custom work. That pistol lived on my side for almost a decade when I was off duty and on some stakeouts. I even used it in local combat pistol matches and won sometimes. I shot it so much that the aluminum alloy frame developed a hairline crack, so I sold it.
I acquired my next Commander a few years later after I’d hung up the badge and had begun writing for gun magazines full time. I’d met the lead pistol smith at Para Ordnance, and he insisted on building me a steel-framed, single-stack Para Commander. I had him fit it with XS Big Dot sights, and I carried it out to Gunsite Academy to take my first 250 Pistol Class. On the first day, an instructor asked what pistol I had. When I told him it was a Para Ordnance, he grimaced, gave me the stink eye and said, “Good luck.” Turns out I didn’t need any luck. The pistol never hiccuped, and I won the man-on-man shoot-off on the last day—even though no one thought it possible with those Big Dot sights.
The author’s custom Para Commander and the Galco rig he used during his first 250 Pistol Class at Gunsite Academy. (2012)
I carried that pistol a lot, too, but I also longed for the much lighter Lightweight model, so I ordered a brand-new one from Colt. Like all new 1911s from Colt back then, it needed some work. I took it to Dove’s Custom Guns in Princeton, West Virginia, and he made the common adjustments that were considered necessary for a 1911 Commander, essentially building a pistol that was almost exactly like—and just as good as—my first lightweight Commander from Novaks.
That pistol and I spent a lot of time together, too. Just like my original Lightweight Commander, it carried like a dream, but I struggled trying to decide if the comfort of the easier carrying Lightweight Commander was better than the softer-shooting steel-framed Commander. Ultimately, I decided I needed both, and I ordered a full custom steel-framed Commander from Nighthawk. Just like the Para Commander and the Colt customized by Jerry Dove, the Nighthawk Commander also had XS Big Dot sights.
The author’s steel-framed Commander built by Nighthawk. (2015)
During this time, the performance gap you see on paper between the .45 Auto and the 9mm Luger cartridge was proving to not be the same performance gap you see in real life. Modern 9mm ammunition performs very well, and the dogma associated with the man-stopping qualities of the .45 Auto was beginning to melt away, as it became apparent shot placement meant more than caliber. In addition to being easy to shoot, the increased capacity of 9mm pistols made them very appealing, and I eventually caved.
I caved, partly because of how much I liked the Browning HiPower, but also because of the new EDC X9 pistol from Wilson Combat. In 2017, I put my Commanders away and either carried an EDC X9 or a Browning HiPower. In fact, I sold every Commander I owned (raising kids is expensive) except for the Para Commander. I kept it because of our time at Gunsite together.
But my appreciation and love for the Commander never waned, and I don’t know how it could. When you trust your life to a particular pistol for so long it almost becomes a part of you.
Two years ago, I was taking a team tactics class at Gunsite Academy and Sheriff Jim Wilson was serving as a guest instructor. Jim is a former Texas sheriff as well as a gun writer; he and I go way back. We’ve been on safaris together in Africa twice, we’ve done a lot of shooting together and, on one occasion down near the Southern border we had to deal with a particularly unwholesome and ornery fellow.
Sheriff Jim Wilson (left) and Richard Mann (right) with the Novak Custom Combat Commander Sheriff Jim gave him. (2023)
The evening before class started, Jim asked me to come by his room. When I got there, he showed me a Colt Commander he’d been carrying for a while. Like my original Lightweight Commander, this pistol had been to Novak’s, and it had all the usual custom tweaks to include the Novak Answer, which is a one-piece backstrap that does away with the 1911 grip safety.
When I went to hand the pistol back to Sheriff Jim, he said, “No, keep it; it’s yours.” You don’t argue with the Sheriff. When I thanked him, he asked, “What you gonna do with it?”
I said, “By God, I’m gonna carry it, sometimes hidden and sometimes for the whole world to see.” I changed out the Novak rear and gold bead front sight for XS Big Dot sights, and sometimes that Combat Commander and I go to town together. Yeah, 42 ounces is a good tug on your belt, but it sure brings back damned good memories.
The author with his Sheriff Jim Wilson/Novak Combat Commander. (2023)
The Colt Commander might not be the best fighting pistol of all time, but it’s Top 5 for sure and one of the most iconic.
I’ve got mine. Do you have yours?
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the January 2026 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Magpul has just announced the EHG RG9 Full-Size grip for the Ruger RXM.
The RXM, a 9mm pistol made collaboratively by Ruger and Magpul, has become what many already consider to be the best Glock-style handgun on the market. Our own testing found the RXM to be incredibly reliable, ergonomic and shootable, and it does all that while remaining competitively priced.
One feature of the RXM that we haven’t seen fully utilized until now is its removable serialized stainless steel Fire Control Insert. Because this insert is the serialized component, it’s the only part that needs to be transferred through an FFL. The idea was that once you have one RXM, you can order the unserialized Magpul frames straight to your door and swap the upper between them to your heart’s content. The first of these additional grip options has finally been announced, a Glock 17-style frame called the EHG RG9 Full-Size.
The new full-size RXM grip has most of the same features as the Compact version that ships with the pistol, including an undercut trigger guard, a magazine release scallop, and aggressive texturing on the front strap, back strap, side panels, and forward index pads. One new feature, however, is that the full-size frame has a flared magwell for faster reloads.
The EHG RG9 Full-Size is currently available in Grey and Black, but FDE and ODG options will be released in the coming weeks as well. Also in the coming weeks, Magpul will be releasing the EHG RG9 Sub-Compact that will provide a Glock 26-size frame for the RXM. The Compact, Full-Size and Sub-Compact variants of the EHG RG9 grip all share an MSRP of $40.
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.
If you don’t already own a pistol-caliber carbine, you need to be asking yourself why not. From range toy to home defense, and from competition shooting to truck guns, large-format AR pistols in 9mm are as fun as they are practical. GForce Arms’ Jawbone is one of the latest models worth considering. The PCC is compatible with 9mm Glock-pattern magazines, features a 5-inch barrel and an Ace of Brace paddle pistol brace. The safety, magazine release and charging handle are all ambidextrous as well, and the M-Lok handguard and full-length Picatinny rail make customization a breeze. MSRP: $439
Warne Vapor Bipod
Everyone wants a rock-solid bipod, but nobody wants to pay the cost that usually accompanies high-quality equipment. That’s why Warne’s new Vapor bipod looks so appealing—it promises excellent rigidity and adjustability all for an affordable price. Featuring an aluminum construction and steel hardware, the Vapor is available with either Picatinny or M-Lok attachment options. It boasts eight height positions over three inches of adjustment and can be locked in 0-, 90- and 180-degree positions. It also features 50 degrees of cant controlled by a tension knob and is compatible with Atlas-style feet. MSRP: $100
Henry Mini Bolt Youth G2 Rifle
Henry has just made training your youngins an even safer and easier process with its new, upgraded Mini Bolt Youth G2 rifle. The small, lightweight single-shot bolt-action in .22 LR boasts a few simple improvements that make it a perfect fit for kids … while giving added control and peace of mind to instructors. Namely, an integrated feed ramp is now built into the receiver, and the cocking knob is exposed. The exposed knob provides instructors with a visual indicator to check the status of the rifle while adding another step to the firing process, helping to slow down training and ensure that every shot is carefully considered. The Mini Bolt Youth G2 features a durable synthetic stock and is available in either classic black or Muddy Girl camo. MSRP: $335
XS Sights S&W Model 1854 M-Lok Handguard
If you’ve been looking to give your S&W Model 1854 lever-action the space cowboy treatment, XS Sights has the solution. The company recently released an M-Lok handguard designed specifically for S&W’s .44 Magnum lever gun, and it’s as functional as it is good-looking. Made out of aircraft-grade aluminum, the handguard is both durable and lightweight, and its 28 slots of M-Lok should provide plenty of attachment points for accessories. Better yet, it ships with all the hardware you need to mount it yourself. MSRP: $248
SDS/Spandau Arms RL Bolt-Action Rifle
In the market for a modern bolt gun with classic styling? Look no further than the Spandau Arms RL. Chambered for .308 Winchester, the bolt-action rifle features a 700-compatible short action design that allows it to use widely available aftermarket components like stocks, triggers and bases. As for modern upgrades out of the box, the Spandau Arms RL boasts an oversized bolt handle, AICS-pattern detachable magazines, a zero-cant Picatinny optics rail, and a threaded 5/8×24 barrel with a muzzle brake. A Turkish walnut stock tops things off to enhance its aesthetic appeal. MSRP: $800
New Nosler Component Bullets
Reloaders rejoice, as Nosler has just announced a whole slew of new component bullets, and the available projectiles should satisfy everyone from rifle hunters to revolver shooters. The new bullets in Nosler’s Solid Base line include 6mm 100-grain SP, 6.5mm 140-grain SP, .270 130-grain SP, 7mm 140-grain SP, .30 150-grain (with cannelure) RN, .30 150-grain SP, and .30 165-grain SP. Three straight-wall calibers are available as well, including .350 Legend (.355) 180-grain SW PP, .400 Legend (.400) 215-grain SW PP, and 45-cal. (.458) 300-grain SW PP. Two ASP JHP bullets were also added—a 125-grain .38 cal. and a 240-grain .44 cal. MSRP: $27-$47, per 50-count box
Viktos Counteract CCW Crossbody Bag
There are a lot of potential benefits to off-body carry, but you need the right bag to do it effectively. Viktos has just launched an excellent new option in the form of the Counteract CCW Crossbody Bag. Designed with a discreet aesthetic in mind to blend in anywhere, the Counteract bag is perfectly sized to accommodate a sub-compact pistol with an optic while providing lightning-fast, customizable access. It has enough space to store other essentials, like a phone and wallet, and it can be attached to a belt or larger pack if cross-body carry isn’t your thing. It’s available in black, gray, blue and Ranger green. MSRP: $70
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the December 2025 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
A quick look at .25 Remington, a cartridge that's been barely hanging on since the 1950s.
The .25 Remington is one of a series of rimless cartridges developed for the Remington Model 8 Autoloading rifle, and then later used in other Remington rifles. It was introduced in 1906. The Remington Model 14 pump action, Model 30 bolt action and Stevens Model 425 lever action also used the .25 Remington.
No rifles have chambered this cartridge since 1942, and the ammunition companies stopped loading it about 1950. Buffalo Arms offers loaded ammunition for this round (AMO25REM).
General Comments
The .25 Remington is nothing more than a rimless version of the .25-35, but it differs slightly in shape. The two are not interchangeable. Since the Remington line of rifles, particularly the Model 30 bolt action, would stand higher pressures than the lever action, it is possible to get slightly better performance out of the .25 Remington. However, the difference is not sufficient to make the rimless version anything but a barely adequate deer cartridge.
It will, however, do for varmints and small to medium game, and deer in a pinch, provided the hunter is a good shot. The .25 Remington is not in the same class as the .250 Savage or the .257 Roberts.
In 2022, Buffalo Arms listed a .25 Remington load in a 117-grain jacketed soft point.
I go hands-on with Mantis’ new TitanX pistol laser trainer to see just how well the dry-fire system can sharpen skills.
In Greek mythology, titans were the deities who ruled before the Olympian gods that we all know such as Zeus, Hades and Thor. The titans were the children of the primordial deities of the earth and sky. However, these days most people think of the word “titan” as it’s defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary: “One that is gigantic in size or power; one that stands out for greatness of achievement.”
Given its moniker, then, Mantis is setting lofty expectations for its new smart laser training pistol, the TitanX. To understand this more deeply, we first need to discuss the value of dry-fire training.
From left to right: the new Mantis TitanX, bone stock Gen 3 Glock 19, and the grandpappy of modern laser trainers from SIRT.
Dry Fire For The Win
You won’t find an instructor, top shooter or institution that doesn’t stress the importance of dry fire—practicing with an unloaded firearm—in learning and improving shooting skills.
Without the concussion and bluster of live fire, dry-fire practice helps you develop everything about your shooting, from fundamentals to advanced skills—at home. Ideally, you’d combine dry and live fire in a comprehensive training plan that feeds on each other in a virtuous loop.
To develop marksmanship fundamentals, practice your stance, grip, sight picture, trigger control (pressing the trigger without disturbing your sights) and follow through.
Work on manipulations like your drawstroke, reloads, and other gun handling. Be smoother and more efficient to gain speed. Keep doing repetitions until it becomes subconscious.
Refine your presentation of your gun so you can draw and present your gun right on target. Do the same with transitions between targets without overshooting them.
The TitanX comes in a handy carrying case.
Concentrate on visual processing—what you see and how you process it. Develop your ability to shoot with both eyes open, lead with your eyes on transitions and dial in what you need to see to get hits on different types of targets.
Practice moving in and out of shooting positions, shooting on the move and working around barricades. There’s lots more that you can work on as well, incorporating a shot timer, one-handed shooting, support side shooting and so on.
However, using an unloaded firearm for dry fire presents some challenges. Notably, you’ll need to manually rack the slide on a semi-auto gun between each shot, unless you have a double-action gun. This makes it difficult to practice multi-shot strings, not to mention disrupting the flow of practice and consuming extra time.
Additionally, there’s no confirmation of your point of impact. You’ll need to call your shots, noting your exact sight picture when you broke your shot—so you can recognize if your aim was true and if you jerked your sights off target. This is an important skill to master, and dry fire will help. But you won’t have verification if you were right when using an unloaded gun.
Most importantly, you must be very disciplined about firearms safety.
Mantis TitanX
Mantis is known for its line of training and diagnostic products and software that help shooters improve their shooting skills.
Their MantisX system uses sensors to record telemetry of your gun’s movements; the app interprets the data to provide a detailed analysis of the mechanics of your technique. You can use it with dry or live fire and track your progress, focusing on wherever elements you prefer. The small MantisX unit attaches to an accessory rail or magazine.
A peek inside the mag well.
Mantis also ventured into the world of lasers with the Blackbeard system, which installs in your rifle and emits a laser pulse with each trigger press, then automatically resets the trigger. The BlackBeardX system adds MantisX functionality to the mix.
The new TitanX takes the next step. It’s a stand-alone smart laser training pistol, available as a replica of a Glock 19, 17, or 45 with plans to develop other models. It incorporates MantisX technology to analyze your mechanics, a laser to indicate your point of impact, and a resetting trigger that feels similar to the real thing, complete with a trigger safety dingus.
The USB-C port for charging.
It’s inert, made of plastic, and completely safe. The overall shape matches the corresponding Glock model; our test unit is a Glock 19 doppelganger, and it fit in all the Glock holsters we had on hand. The TitanX solves the issues associated with using an unloaded gun for dry fire.
The slide is optic-ready, with a cutout that takes RMR or RMSc footprint sights. Thankfully, there are metal threaded inserts for the screws. The iron sights are molded into the slide, so you can’t install your own. On top is a power switch, and on the side is a USB-C port. Near the muzzle are windage and elevation adjustments for the laser.
Optic cut that accommodates RMR and RMSc footprints.
You can attach a weapon-mounted light to the light rail, but note it has an actual Picatinny rail like a Gen 5 Glock versus the “universal” rail on older Glocks.
The dummy magazine is weighted, though you can also insert a real mag in the TitanX. Conversely, you can use the dummy mag in an actual Glock as well; it won’t lock the slide back so you can use it for dry-fire practice with your gun.
With all-plastic construction, the TitanX is lighter than an actual Glock. This keeps costs down but feels a little less realistic. Without a magazine, it weighs 7.9 ounces, versus 21 ounces for a Glock 19. The weighted mag weighs 9.3 ounces, compared to 9.7 ounces for a fully loaded 15-rounder. In total, that’s 17.2 versus 30.7 ounces. However, with the addition of a C&H Precision COMP red-dot sight and a SureFire XC3 weapon light, our TitanX weighs 21.5 ounces, on par with an unloaded Glock 19. We noticed it might be possible to add more weight in the grip plug area. You could also go with a heavier light or even use a frame weight.
The trigger mimics the feel of a real trigger, though it’s not exactly the same. It has take-up, pushing through to the break, and a distinct reset. Our unit broke at just under 4 pounds.
Weapons Free
If you use the TitanX by itself, it functions like a laser training pistol, emitting a short laser burst with each trigger press. But pair it with your smartphone, and you’ll have access to all the wonders of the MantisX app and system.
The MantisX app has various configurations and drills for your training needs. Set the shot timer, par times, shot counts and automatically repeat drills. It can specify and detect starting positions, such as low ready, high ready and holstered. You can select a magazine capacity in some drills, requiring a reload before proceeding.
Sample screenshots from the MantisX app, showing shot times, trace of a drawstroke, and lists of drills and courses.
The sensor tracks movement, showing if you jerked the trigger, moved off target and how you transitioned between targets. It can analyze your drawstroke and movement.
Configure your own drills or run specified drills such as the El Presidente, bill drills, reload drills, and so on. The app also includes full courses focused on marksmanship, tactical, and concealed carry skills.
There’s a wealth of data presented in interesting ways, including timing, movement traces, and scoring. One of the most valuable aspects of the system is “gamifying” the process so that not only is it challenging and fun (thus making you more likely to practice regularly), but you can also track your progress over time.
We used reduced-size targets from the Ben Stoeger Pro Shop to train realistically in more confined spaces. For example, placing a 1/3 scale target at 10 feet in your bedroom is like engaging a full-size target at 10 yards.
One problem with laser trainers and iron sights is the tendency to watch for splash instead of calling your shots with your sight picture. The beauty of using a red-dot sight is that once you zero the laser with your sight, the splash basically disappears from view, especially if you turn up the brightness on your sight.
Elevation and windage adjustments for the laser.
You can also use the TitanX with any laser-based training products or apps. Mantis offers their Laser Academy Training system, which consists of a set of special targets designed to work with an app. The app accesses your smart-phone camera to automatically detect targets, run specified drills and detect the laser splash to mark your impacts.
Between MantisX and the Laser Academy, you can put together a great training regimen and effectively bridge the connection between dry-fire gear and live-fire practice to level up your skills. You can safely leave your dry-fire setup and ready to go at home, so you can easily do regular and frequent practice sessions.
At an MSRP of $199, the TitanX is also affordable compared to other options, with the added bonus of the MantisX sensor technology. Mantis fulfilled its promise with the TitanX—two dry thumbs up.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the January 2026 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Here’s a small peek into some of the fun that went down at CANCON Carolinas this year. If you missed it, we hope to see you next year!
Suppressors are more popular than ever before, but a lot of shooters are still hesitant to take the plunge into ownership. We’re here to change that.
CANCON is the world's largest fully suppressed range day, and this year’s event at the Clinton House Plantation in Clinton, S.C., was bigger and better than ever before. An unprecedented number of shooters cycled through the gates over the weekend to get hands-on experience with the largest variety of cans available at a single event.
Some attendees were there as prospective first-time owners looking to learn, try and buy. Others were seasoned suppressor shooters perusing the newest models to add to their collection. Others were there just for some good old-fashioned American fun, like blasting suppressed machine guns!
If that's not enough for you, CANCON also hosts shooting competitions with amazing prizes, survival classes and purveyors of high-end blades. Oh yeah, did we mention there was a Little Bird helicopter flying around too?
Here’s a small glimpse into what went down at CANCON Carolinas 2025 and what you can expect to see when we’re back next year, May 8-9, 2026:
The Venue
You can’t host the world’s largest suppressed range day without a huge range, and we have the Clinton House Plantation to thank for that. Situated in the beautiful woods of South Carolina, the massive range has enough pistol and rifle lanes to accommodate the dozens of companies that come out with their cans and guns. Plus, a 1,000-yard range and a 1-mile range for those looking to really reach out. With this much room to stretch out in, it means lines stay short even when attendance is at its apex. Result? More shooting and less waiting.
On the flip side, that much shooting requires a lot of ammo. Special thanks to Ammoman for helping to supply the ammo this year!
VIP/Industry Day
If you’re interested in attending CANCON, it’s worth considering going all out and being a VIP. Sponsored by MasterFFL.com, VIP/Industry Day takes place the day before the gates open to the general public on Friday. Besides providing a whole extra day of shooting (with barely any lines, to boot), purchasing a VIP ticket will garner you a gift bag as well. As most already know, there’s more than stickers and swag inside.
This year’s VIP bag was filled to the brim with some very exciting and valuable goodies, including:
If you’d like to get next year’s bag, keep a close eye on when VIP tickets become available; they always sell out fast!
Buying Cans, Guns & Gear
CANCON isn’t just a place to shoot, it’s a place to buy if you choose to do so.
Besides gear, knives, apparel and other goods you can purchase from vendors dotted around the event, you can even get started on a suppressor purchase thanks to companies like T&K Outdoors, an FFL local to the Clinton area. T&K Outdoors’ booth was all set up to take your prints, picture and information to start the Form 4 process on just about any suppressor you’re interested in buying. What’s more, their extremely helpful employees were eager to handhold anyone through the process, something that can admittedly be a bit intimidating for new buyers.
Check out their store in Spartanburg, S.C., if you’re local, or take a look at their website!
Pros Vs. Joes Shooting Competitions
Being a VIP ticket holder isn’t the only way to walk away from CANCON with excellent prizes—regular attendees have the chance to test their mettle and earn some goodies in the Pros Vs. Joes shooting competitions. If you’re willing to put your skills on display in front of a crowd and then manage to outshoot one of our Pros, you’ll walk away with more than an (justifiably) inflated ego.
Watchdog Tactical: Watchdog Tactical Outside the waistband customer holster
Wilson Combat: Complete Target Stand with Scorable Silhouette
Wolfpack Armory: Wolfpack Armory Night Howler & Plan B HUB Mount Set.
This year’s winners were:
11:00 a.m. – Maxim Defense Winner #1: Luke Baxley
11:30 a.m. – Maxim Defense Winner #2: Brian Gregory
1:00 p.m. – Meprolight Red Dot Optic Winner: Steven Bowman
1:30 p.m. – LWRC International 9mm Rifle Winner: Devon Christie
The Proving Grounds
Winning Pros Vs. Joes is one thing, but if you really want to see how your shooting skills hold up to more real-world conditions, then you need to check out The Proving Grounds. They’ll see how well you can shoot after dragging a man-sized dummy 50 yards. Spoiler, probably not as well as you think. Activities like this are crucial to the gun community by not just emphasising the importance of training, but shining a spotlight on it.
The Proving Grounds has been a CANCON staple for years now, and they’ll be at future events as well, but if you can’t wait, consider attending one of the competitions they host around the country.
Going Long With Barrett & Gunwerks
Suppressors aren’t just for carbines and handguns, they’re an excellent addition to long-range precision setups as well. To help demonstrate that, a couple of top-notch manufacturers brought out some rifles that really let attendees stretch their legs.
The Barrett Mile Challenge put a .416 Barrett rifle in shooters’ hands and asked them to shoot at a distance that most haven’t had the chance to before. Even with such a fine tool for the job, not everyone hit the target. Those who did were awarded a special challenge coin minted for this year’s event.
Meanwhile, at the humble 1,000-yard range, Gunwerks was showing shooters just how achievable these extreme ranges can be with the right equipment. In this case, that equipment wasn’t just an extremely accurate Gunwerks rifle, but one equipped with the company’s Revic Radikl Smart Rifle Scope with integrated ballistics.
OFFGRID Basecamp
If you need a breather from all the suppressed shooting, what better way to spend it than by improving your survival skills? That’s what OFFGRID Basecamp provides at CANCON.
Inside OFFGRID’s tent, instructors, authors and manufacturers congregated to teach attendees crucial survival skills by drawing on their real-world experiences.
Gorilla Medical was there to teach about treating gunshot wounds, Tactical Rifleman had carbine drills to run and Mountain Readiness offered valuable insights into preparedness strategies. Alan Kay, winner of the first season of Alone, was also there to provide wilderness survival advice in conjunction with Knives By Hand.
BLADE Show Tactical Knife Show
Another small reprieve from shooting found at CANCON is the BLADE Show Tactical Knife Show. Fans of edged weapons and tools will be spoiled for choice—whether they’re looking to buy or just browse and chat with manufacturers from top brands like Stroup Knives, Krein Knives, Heretic Knives and Spartan Blades.
If you like what you see here, know that it’s just a taste of what you could experience at BLADE Show Atlanta, the world’s largest knife show.
Attending Future CANCONs
We host two CANCON events per year, one on the East Coast and one on the West Coast. If you’re interested in attending either, or both, make sure to keep an eye out for CANCON 2026 tickets on the event website here: canconevent.com. We hope to see you there!
Looking to upgrade your FN SCAR? Check out the new stock and brace options from Kinetic Development Group.
The FN SCAR may have been discontinued recently, but that doesn’t mean aftermarket FN SCAR parts need to be discontinued as well. There are a lot of SCARs out there, and people still want to modify them with new furniture and accessories. One of the latest options is a new stock and pistol brace from Kinetic Development Group.
Made in collaboration with Haga Defense and A3 Industries, the new furniture was designed to be ultimately modular, durable and precise. Regardless of which version you get, they feature a 7075-T6 aluminum, 17-4 stainless steel and high-strength polymer construction. They’re foldable, too, with steel hinges for maximum durability, and they lock in both the open and closed positions. The brace and stock also feature seven positions of adjustment, so you should be able to achieve the perfect fit regardless of your size or the gear you’re wearing. For getting behind your sights, there’s also a cheek riser with three positions of height adjustment.
Chris Bardugone, Director of Sales & Marketing at Kinetic Development Group, said this about the new SCAR accessories:
The FN SCAR platform has always been an industry benchmark, and we wanted to give owners the same level of innovation and refinement that KDG is known for … This launch with OpticsPlanet represents more than just a new product — it’s a way for us to get premium, USA-made upgrades directly into the hands of shooters who demand the best.
The KDG FN SCAR stock and brace are made in America and exclusively available at OpticsPlanet.com and KineticDG.com. MSRP is $385 and both are available in either black or FDE.
Superior gas management: How the Gemtech Neutron Direct Thread balances sound, weight, backpressure and price.
As suppressor manufacturers go, few are as long in tooth as Gemtech. Nearly 50 years of banging out hush tubes, the concern is a grand old man in a niche where a couple of years in the game is mature.
The wisdom of Gemtech’s years shows in the innovation it’s brought to market every decade. One of those most certainly is the do-all Neutron 7.62mm. Among the company’s cornerstone devices, the .30-caliber suppressor kicked a toehold as among the most rugged, dependable and versatile suppressors available. Creeping up on a half a decade of service, it has maintained this distinction.
Yet, Gemtech apparently couldn’t leave well enough alone with the Neutron. Thankfully, this isn’t a story of striving for the great getting in the way of the already-proven good. It’s simply a tale of the manufacturer opening its top-notch can to more shooters. Who can complain about that?
Gemtech Neutron 7.62 Direct Thread Specs
Width: 1.64 Inches Length: 6.6 Inches Weight: 16.1 Ounces Caliber: .30 Cal. Mount Type: 5/8×24 Direct Thread Color/Finish: Black Tube Material: Stainless Steel ; Titanium HUB Compatible?: Yes MSRP: $710
Pros
Solid Backpressure Mitigation
Flash Suppression
Increased Affordability
Cons
Hefty
Neutron’s Direct Take
The modification of the Neutron is extremely simple; GemTech has now made it a direct-thread suppressor. For anyone paying even passing attention to this end of the industry, this should come as no surprise. As the market has matured, direct thread has become the standard.
This doesn’t mean Quick Detach (QD) systems are a thing of the past, such as Gemtech’s Elite Tapered Mount—the Neutron’s former attachment method. Far from it.
Now running a HUB direct thread mount, the Neutron is lighter and cheaper.
QD mounts are legion and handy as ever for those who need to mount and dismount their cans quickly. However, with suppressor manufacturers moving to a standardized Hybrid Universal Base (HUB), which serves as a universal mounting interface, it makes more sense to initially offer a can as a direct thread for a host of reasons.
In the case of the Neutron, going this route has positively affected its price and weight.
As a direct thread, the suppressor is a hair over 2 ounces lighter than the EMT version, weighing in at 16.1 ounces. That’s still hefty—it is primarily 17-4PH stainless steel with a little 6AL4V titanium thrown in, after all. Yet, this subtle shaving of weight generally makes it more manageable on a rifle, particularly those with barrels of 16 inches or more. SBRs, the Neutrons’ diet won’t be as notable.
Nice as this is, where shooters really feel the impact on the Neutron’s switch to direct thread is on their wallets. The price of the can has dropped nearly $150 since moving away from the EMT system.
Excellent cost savings, this should go a long way to entice those who use QD mounts, as the savings are the better part of the price of retrofitting the can to your chosen system. Other shooters, it simply makes the dang thing more affordable, pushing it nearly into the budget zone.
A nice bonus on the can, Gemtech throws in a dandy carrying case.
Neutron Build
On the surface, the Neutron appears to be your standard welded suppressor. But there are some wrinkles to its design, helping it do its job better than some other options in its class.
Gemtech runs what it calls stepped baffles in the suppressor, concentric steps along each of the can’s six baffles. The steps slow down the expanding gas and reduce pressure, thus dampening the report of a shot. Gimmick or genuine article, the can does a number on the report—particularly for a compact 6.6-inch suppressor.
There are quieter cans on the market, but the full-auto rated Neutron is stalwart enough to make the Stag Pursuit 6.5 Creedmoor and Ruger American Rifle Gen II in 7mm PRC I ran it on comfortable to the naked ear. Plus, it has some aces up its sleeve compared to suppressors that tone down more decibels. In particular, for a can that isn’t a true flow-through system, the Neutron does one heck of a job on backpressure.
Face it, getting gassed after every trigger pull is the downside of shooting suppressed. Yet it was virtually eliminated in the Gemtech can, thanks to an interlocking baffle design that creates chambers and channels directing lingering gases towards the endcap. A series of ports then slowly releases the gases toward the muzzle and not your face.
And don’t start wringing your hands over muzzle flash with this design. The Neutron’s GM-S1 endcap is designed to act as a flash hider, so your position at twilight—not to mention your line of sight—isn’t compromised.
Overall Take On The Neutron
Hitting the sweet spot on suppressors is a dicey proposition. Tweak one to relieve back pressure, and you’ve got a device that has more in common with a brake than a suppressor. Amp up the noise suppression; you’ve got a face full of gas. The Neutron walks a fine line and provides a grand compromise on all these facets.
Interestingly, the endcap of the suppressor works as a flash hider, minimizing muzzle flash.
The Gemtech option held its own in all respects important in suppressors in my testing. It was light enough to remain maneuverable on a hunting rifle. Its sound suppression is solid enough to make even new-wave magnums less taxing. And in all cases, it kept gas at bay. If there were any nits I had to pick, the Neutron is heavier than I’d prefer, but only marginally so.
To be sure, there are lighter and quieter suppressors and ones with less back pressure. But there are a few tying these assets into one tidy package, like the Neutron. And with the switch to exclusively direct thread, the suppressor is open to more shooters.
There’s a reason Gemtech has remained in the suppressor game for so long. The Neutron Direct Thread shows why.
Walther has temporarily halted PPK, PPK/S and PP pistol production as the line begins a modernization journey.
James Bond fans, wannabe spies and historical German firearm enthusiasts all have reason to despair, as Walther has just halted production of PPK, PPK/S and PP pistols. The good news is it’s not going to be forever, as the company is embarking on a modernization process for the line and will reintroduce them once they are ready.
Walther says that the reengineering and modernization program will be a “multi-year” affair, so don’t expect to see the updated pistols until 2028 at least, and possibly even later than that. What the changes will exactly entail isn’t known, but Walther did say this about the new project:
This initiative aims to enhance performance, integrate advanced manufacturing technologies, and elevate the user experience—all while preserving the iconic look, feel, and spirit that have defined these pistols for generations.
Tyler Weigel, VP of Sales at Walther Arms, said this about the modernization endeavor:
This is not the end of the PPK story … It’s the beginning of a new chapter. Our goal is to honor the heritage of these iconic firearms by bringing them into the future without compromising what made them classics.
Those in the market for a Walther PPK, PPK/S or PP should check around and grab one before remaining stocks dry up, or prepare themselves to pay possibly inflated prices on the secondhand market for a used model. Until then, we’ll be eagerly awaiting the release of the updated models to see what changes they feature and how they will affect their performance.
I’ve owned a lot of great guns, but none are more dear to my heart than a practical, old Remington 700 named Elvira.
It wasn’t love at first sight but a relationship that was born of necessity. I was never a fan of synthetic stock stainless, rifles even though I owned one for my “truck gun.” I considered myself old school, preferring the feel of a nice walnut stock and the luster of a quality blued finish. The previous deer season had left me reconsidering those values. Five straight days of torrential rain spent on an open stand trying to keep my rifle somewhat protected, then wiping it down every night trying to keep rust from setting in and worrying that the wood stock was going to be damaged was enough. I made it through the season without the rifle being harmed but decided that I would start the search for a rifle that I could use during inclement weather without as much worry.
As happens most years, shortly after modern firearms season for Whitetail Deer here in Kentucky, used deer rifles started showing up for sale. A friend of mine who often took advantage of these bargains called me and told me that he had something that I might like. He knew my taste in rifles and had a beautiful walnut and blue Remington 700 in 7mm Remington Ultra Magnum that he thought I might like. While looking at it I noticed a synthetic stainless rifle laying in the back seat of his truck. Remembering my previous season, I asked about it. It turned out to be a Remington 700 BDL SS. He told me it was chambered in 7mm Weatherby Magnum and he figured that he was stuck with it because of the high price of ammo. After a little painful deliberation, I went with the stainless one knowing that the ammo would be expensive for either, and I couldn’t afford both. The 7mm Weatherby came home with me. The rifle came with a cheap scope and half a box of ammo.
The Remington 700 BDL SS rifles were produced from 1993 through 2005, but Remington only chambered the 7mm Weatherby round from 1991 through 1995. Photo: JD Photography.
Before firing it, I removed the scope and put on a new Leupold Vari X III 4.5x14x50. I paid more for the scope than I did the rifle, but it was a good investment, because it has performed flawlessly ever since.
The ammunition was Hornady Custom 154-grain, and it shot under 1-inch groups, with two shots touching and one flyer. J.J. Reich from Vista Outdoor came down to turkey hunt with us and brought me some Federal Premium ammo loaded with Nosler 150 gr bullets that did the same thing. Under one inch should be good enough for a rifle that was only going to be used in inclement weather, right? You would think so, but that flyer and the cost of the 7mm Weatherby Magnum ammo drove me to start down what would become a very long and rewarding road of reloading. I had been wanting to try my hand at reloading for a long time, and this pushed me over the edge.
Armed with a good source of brass and a new love of reloading I went to work in an attempt to get rid of the flyer. Shortly into load development and after wearing the phone out calling my reloading mentor Paul Johnson, the new rifle was shooting groups under 1/2 inch with no pesky flyer. A load of 66 grains of IMR 4350 ignited by a Remington 9 ½ M primer pushing a Hornady 154-grain SST bullet produced a group of 0.306 inch.
7mm Weatherby cartridge built with Hornady brass, Hornady 154gr SST bullet, 66 grains of IMR 4350 powder and ignited by a Remington 91/2 M primer. Photo: JD Photography.
Daniel Boone carried a rifle he named “Ticklicker” because he claimed that he could shoot the tick from a bear’s nose. Davey Crockett carried a Flintlock that he called “Old Betsy”. The second year I hunted with this rifle right at the last minute of shooting light I killed a beautiful 15-point buck. Someone asked me what I shot that buck with. I jokingly replied “Elvira, The Mistress of The Darkness”. The nickname stuck, and she has been known by that name ever since.
Thanks to the Leupold Vari X III this buck fell victim to Elvira less than a minute after legal shooting light at 279 yds, while trying to slip out of the field before daylight. Photo: JD Photography.
Elvira has accounted for 18 bucks, and the number keeps growing. I killed my largest buck to date with her, a 13-pointer that scored 168 B&C, and numerous others. Many of them are more memorable than the biggest ones. In 2018, I was hunting by myself when a beautiful 9-pointer walked into the field about 600 yards away and made his way to a cedar tree, which he thrashed. He came a little closer and began feeding at around 400 yards. I steadied Elvira and waited for him to come closer, thinking how much the bullet would drop at that range and where I should hold (I still haven’t replaced the Vari-X III with a scope that you just dial up the range.)
It became apparent that he had no intention of coming any closer, so I steadied the horizontal crosshair level with the top of his back and the vertical one at the back edge of his front leg. I took a deep breath and squeezed Elvira’s trigger. I was back on target by the time the bullet made impact and watched him roll and run. He made it about 50 yards.
This Buck walked into the field at 209 yds from the author and Elvira’s stand a little after 8 am one morning, that was as far as he walked. Photo: JD Photography.
I’ve lost count of the coyotes that I have taken over the years with Elvira. Some folks believe that shooting coyotes during deer season will scare off the deer, but I haven’t found that to true. Song dogs are detrimental to the turkey population and are rough on young fawn, so any coyote that presents itself as a target gets a taste of one of Steve Hornady’s SST bullets courtesy of Elvira. While they might not be designed to perform as a varmint bullet, the coyotes will never complain if I can do my part. Last year, Elvira and I killed seven coyotes during the firearm season.
In 2010, Mark Six, founder of Greens Run Game Calls, was turkey hunting with us when he found out that he had been drawn for a Kentucky cow elk tag. At the time, Mark didn’t own a rifle that met the requirements to elk hunt in Kentucky and had no idea where to hunt. I knew some folks that would allow us hunting access and offered the use of Elvira. Since it was a cow only permit and Mark wanted it to eat, we had discussed it and decided that if the opportunity was presented, he would try to harvest a midsized cow that wouldn’t be too old or tough.
Opening morning found us easing along an old trail on a reclaimed mountaintop removal surface mine. As we rounded a corner, we were face to face with a small herd of cow elk standing about 40 yards above us. One of them looked to be twice the size of the rest and was wearing a tracking collar. Mark quickly raised Elvira to his shoulder and pulled the trigger. The elk stood on her back feet, took 9 steps backward and fell with all four feet in the air. I accused him of killing the grandmother of all Kentucky elk. Mark decided then and there that Elvira was a “Stone Cold Killer”.
In 2010 Mark Six, Owner of Green’s Run Calls used Elvira for a Kentucky Elk hunt. Photo: JD Photography.
While still hunting nearly 10 years ago, my little brother took a nasty fall landing on his scope. A test shot revealed that his scope wasn’t hitting anywhere near his point of aim. Since Elvira and I had tagged out I let him take her hunting. The result was a nice 8-point buck on the ground at a little over 200 yards—his farthest kill then, and Elvira had another admirer.
Steven Asher—m my wife and I call “Stepson, even though he is no relation to us—had a similar experience where a huge bodied mature 8-pointer collapsed in his tracks. The immediate collapse of the buck and ease of felt recoil added him to the long list of people wanting to be the recipient of Elvira in my will.
While hunting alone a few years ago a small two-year-old 8 point was chasing does and I was enjoying the show. When he stopped about 60 yards in front of me, I placed the crosshairs on his shoulder and eased the rifle down. I had no reason to kill him, because I knew there were better bucks on the farm. He stopped again and turned at the perfect angle to take out the far shoulder at a little over 100 yards. I settled the crosshairs, then took my finger off the trigger and told Elvira “That would be a pie shot, but you don’t want to kill him”. The next time he stopped he was at 250 yards facing me head on. Elvira had already placed the crosshairs of the Leupold dead center on his chest. Once again, I convinced her not to shoot. I told her what a mess the 154 grain SST bullet would make at that angle, and besides, we really didn’t want to kill that buck.
He then turned, quartering slightly away, and Elvira didn’t wait for any of my excuses. The little buck crumpled in his tracks. My cousin Henley McIntosh the local County Attorney asked me why I killed such a young deer. I told him my story, and he laughingly replied, “You should have checked it in under Elvira’s name, everybody knows how she is!”.
Our local Sportsman’s Club holds a “Deer Rifle Match” once a year. The rules require that the rifle must be legal to hunt with in Kentucky but cannot be a heavy barreled rifle. You generally see light barreled 22-250, 223 243, and of course 6.5 Creedmoor rifles there. I took Elvira for one year just to see how she could stack up. While we didn’t win the match, we finished in a very respectable 3rd place.
I have several other rifles that I am fond of. Trying to satisfy my addiction to reloading I built loads for several rifles that I could hunt with. I have a 7mm Remington Magnum that will shoot groups under one quarter inch. There are rifles in 6.5 Grendel, 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08, 6.8 Western, 270 Winchester, 25-06 Remington, 260 Remington, all that will outshoot Elvira (don’t tell her I said that). Most of these are easier to find factory ammo for. Some of these rifles have newer scopes, which have the capability of dialing up for longer ranges. Some are stainless while others have Cerakote. There is no valid reason that they shouldn’t be taken to the deer stand each fall.
The author and Elvira on the farm where she does most of her hunting now-a farm that has been in the family since Revolutionary War Land Grants. Photo: JD Photography.
Over the years I have bought newer scopes, some with illuminated reticles, a couple of Leupolds with the CDS system that would eliminate the need to figure out where to hold at longer ranges, but I just can’t seem to make myself try to fix what isn’t broken. A few years ago, a friend of mine offered to “Dip” Elvira with a camouflage covering, but since she is a fairly uncommon rifle I declined his offer, thinking it might adversely affect her value. My wife laughed at my response, saying, “Like you would ever sell Elvira”.
Every year when deer season rolls around, I look over the current residents of the vault, consider the weather conditions along with where I plan to hunt, and after careful consideration, I pick up Elvira and head to the stand.
The value of a rifle depends on a lot of variables. Brand, caliber, scope, condition, rarity, and others, but sometimes a rifle’s value depends on how badly the prospective buyer wants it or the current owner’s willingness to sell. Even though Elvira is probably a low production model based on her chambering, I doubt that she would be considered rare or highly collectible. Being chambered in an obscure caliber could either raise her value because of rarity or lower it because of the high price of the ammo as well as difficulty in finding it.
The primary factor that affects the old Remington’s value is the determination of the current owner to keep it. My wife often refers to Elvira as “The other woman in our marriage”. I have threatened to have Elvira buried with me, but that would be senseless because I am sure someone would dig me up to get her. There is an old mountain saying that “Every man is entitled to one good gun, one good dog, and one good woman”. Living in this politically correct age we won’t discuss the woman, and I have had more than one good dog.
When it comes to guns, I have had more than one good one, but if I had to pick only one, that is an easy answer for me. My wife, most of my family members and probably at least twenty or thirty of my friends could quickly answer the question for you. Elvira!
Benelli has just announced the M4 EXT, the ultimate version of the iconic semi-auto 12-gauge straight from the factory.
The Benelli M4 is widely considered to be the best combat shotgun of all time. Used by military and police units across the globe since its introduction in the late 90s, the Italian semi-auto 12-gauge has garnered an excellent reputation for rugged reliability thanks primarily to its ARGO (auto-regulating gas-operated) gas system. Commercial versions have been available in the U.S. for a while now, but they came from the factory lacking some important features, and upgrading them with aftermarket parts could potentially run afoul of 922R compliance regarding imported firearms. Thankfully, that’s all now behind us, as Benelli has just announced the M4 EXT.
The biggest and most important upgrade of the Benelli M4 EXT is its full-capacity 7-round magazine tube as opposed to the usual 5-round tube. It also comes with the proper 5-position collapsible stock instead of the fixed-stock lookalike that came on some of the older commercial M4 models. The stock features a QD sling mount, too. Another small upgrade that makes a big difference is the new oversized bolt release that enables faster operation, even while wearing gloves.
The rest of the M4 EXT is the same as the older models, but that’s a good thing. It means it features the same proven ARGO gas system, handy 18.5-inch barrel length, quick-acquisition ghost-ring sights and comes with a Picatinny rail for mounting optics.
Bret Maffet, Senior Product Manager at Benelli, said this about the new shotgun:
Consumers weren’t asking us to reinvent the legendary M4…they were simply asking us to unleash it. Now we have
The new Benelli M4 EXT is available with either a Black Multicam, Titanium Cerakote or FDE Cerakote finish and has an MSRP of $2,600.
Harrington & Richardson has just announced the CLET 9mm AR, a tribute to the iconic Colt SMG DEA model.
In the 1980s, the MP5 was still the gold standard of police and military submachine guns, and Colt wanted a piece of the pie. This resulted in the Colt 9mm SMG which boasted a familiar manual of arms and some parts compatibility with standard AR-15s. The plan didn’t go as well as Colt had hoped, with most SMG users opting to stick with the venerable MP5, but it did result in a few very interesting designs that were adopted and used by a handful of different departments. Possibly the coolest variant was used by the Drug Enforcement Agency and became known as the DEA model, and PSA/Harrington & Richardson just announced a 9mm AR pistol model inspired by it called the CLET.
CLET stands for “Clandestine Laboratory Eradication Team”, likely a homage to the meth lab raids that DEA agents used their SMGs for. Besides being select-fire, the real DEA model Colt SMGs sported an integral suppressor underneath their full-length round M16 handguards. Unfortunately, the H&R CLET is neither select-fire nor suppressed, but it does do a great job of looking the part. Practically speaking, the longer handguard does at least provide more grip real estate than the standard 635 or DOE 9mm AR models (both of which H&R also makes clones of). You also get better ballistics with the CLET, as the longer handguard is hiding a 13-inch barrel. The muzzle is threaded 5/8×24 and comes equipped with a handguard support cap. As a pistol, the CLET ships with H&R’s retro brace, and it feeds from 32- or 20-round Colt-pattern 9mm magazines.
While it’s understandable that the CLET ships as a non-NFA item, it will be very exciting to see if any enterprising gunsmiths can use it as a host to make a true integrally suppressed clone of the original DEA model. PSA is offering the H&R CLET as either a complete pistol (MSRP $1,150) or a standalone upper (MSRP $700) in both standard and BLEM condition grades.
A look back on the Smith & Wesson Model 52, a classic dedicated target pistol in .38 Special.
Sometime back in the early 1990s, my shooting mentor and boss at Ranger Ammunition, Rob Virkus, introduced me to what may still very well be my most favored target pistol of all time: the Smith & Wesson Model 52-2.
Rob and I used to shoot weekly at the Tampa Police Range after delivering their orders of several thousand rounds of ammo. I always had either my 1911s or Magnum revolvers with me, because I was young and poor, but Rob was a master-class shooter of anything with a trigger … and 20 years my senior. He always had something special in his range bag that would get me further into the world of shooting and reloading.
One weekend he showed me what looked like a long-barreled Smith & Wesson Model 39 with walnut grips and amazing target sights.
“Oh, is that another 9mm?” I said and chuckled.
“No, this is a pistol that will change your life. It’s a 38 Wadcutter,” he said.
“Like a Desert Eagle?” I asked. At the time, I was thinking, rimmed cartridges in a semi-auto with the more familiar semi-wadcutter rounds I’d shoot in my .357.
This time Rob laughed at me and said, “Not exactly.”
He showed me the ammunition, which at first glance looked like empty cases, but were 148-grain hollow-based wadcutters, seated flush with the mouth of the case and a crimp so light that you could almost see space between the bullet and the case walls. Loaded with 2.8 grains of Bullseye, the muzzle velocity was about 735 fps.
The trigger on this pistol was pure excellence. It simply broke like a glass rod with about 2.5 pounds of pressure. The sights are highly visible and minutely adjustable, and after shooting it for 30 minutes or so, I was printing one-hole groups at 30 yards and wondering out loud, “What if you upped this to a +P? It would be the perfect home-defense load. SWAT guys could use it as an entry gun and …”
“Whoa! I’m gonna stop you right there, partner,” said Rob, as he brought me back to reality. “You must load them so there’s just enough energy to throw that slide back and then chamber the next round. This isn’t a fighting pistol like your 1911. This is a target pistol for Bullseye matches and as a training aid to build confidence in new shooters learning how to shoot a semi-auto.”
I was thinking that all I had to do was call Smith & Wesson, or one of the distributors, and order one. Um, no. Unfortunately for me, this story took place in the spring of 1993—and although they had just gotten more expensive because a year earlier, the 30-year-old machinery used to produce the Model 52 was showing signs of age and was starting to fail—Smith & Wesson decided against replacing it, and the handgun was discontinued.
Regardless, I knew I had to have one. I have been lucky enough to own two, but it was a long, hard road.
It’s unfortunate that the machinery used to build the S&W Model 52 fell into disrepair. These pistols still perform well as a target gun.
Smith & Wesson Model 52 Specs
Caliber: .38 Special (Midrange Wadcutter) Action: Single Action Only (SAO) Finish: Blue Stocks: Walnut Magazine Capacity: 5 Barrel Length: 5 Inches Slide Length: 8.5 Inches Weight: 40 Ounces
History of the Model 52
Smith & Wesson introduced the Model 52 as a match-grade target pistol based on the company’s popular 9mm, the Model 39. It was chambered in .38 Special high-brass wadcutter (HBWC) only for the sport of Centerfire Bullseye shooting.
The original Model 52 used the same trigger mechanism of the Model 39, with the double-action function selectable via a simple frame-mounted setscrew, allowing the pistol to be fired in either single-action only or in double-action mode, depending on how you adjusted the screw.
Two years later, in 1963, S&W released the Model 52-1 with a newly developed single-action trigger and manufactured this model until 1970, when it was replaced by the Model 52-2. This version sported an improved extractor and may have been the perfect version of this now iconic pistol. As previously mentioned, within 30 years it’d enter the history books as an out-of-production pistol.
Smith & Wesson’s Model 52 series has a classic and iconic look about it … one that will never go out of style.
The Finer Points
The S&W Model 52 is a standard semi-automatic pistol not unlike the 1911, Browning Hi Power and S&W’s pre-plastic-framed pistols like the Sigma or M&P series. As stated, it’s a specialized target pistol made for Centerfire Bullseye competitions. The sport doesn’t get much publicity lately, but in its heyday, custom 1911s and specialized semi-autos like the Model 52 dominated.
The finish is a classic, high-polished blue, like many S&W pistols came from the factory for decades. The top strap has a matte finish to reduce glare, and the sights are highly visible with a tall front blade and a micro adjustable rear. It’s not uncommon for shooters to blacken them with a smudge pot or carbide lamp in order to obtain a crisp sight picture.
The front sight is tall to allow the shooter to reach out at distance to punch holes in paper.
The slide-mounted safety blocks the firing pin, but it allows a full trigger press. This ensures that the shooter can dry-fire without striking the firing pin and not needing the use of snap caps or dummy rounds. As was common with Smith & Wesson semi-auto pistols, there’s a magazine disconnect that’ll prevent firing when the magazine is removed.
Factory grips were checkered walnut, but some shooters would switch them with S&W Model 39 Pachmayr grips. Its barrel bushing is adjustable, but admittedly, the bushing isn’t the greatest in the world, and a special wrench is needed to adjust it. If you’re looking to buy a Model 52, make sure this wrench is included: They’re not that hard to find, nor that expensive, but it shows the owner took care of the pistol.
The only other factory accessory was a weight that could be attached to the bottom of the dustcover by means of a set screw. Original factory weights are marked “S&W,” but aftermarket weights were not. Spare magazines are north of $125 … when you can find them.
The Model 52’s five-round magazine sells for insanely high aftermarket prices these days, edging closer to $200 each.
This One is Mine
As a young veteran making ammunition for a living, I didn’t have a whole lot of spending money to buy any gun I wanted. I would comb pawn shops and gun shops looking for deals in the days before the internet … when you still could score things at a great price. I found an original Model 52 (no dash), and while it might not have been a classic like Rob’s, I loved it.
Unfortunately, a calamity struck my life a few years later where I had to sell off the bulk of my small collection and move to an area with better job opportunities. In the midst of the Draconian Clinton Assault Weapon Ban, certain guns that I thought could be easily replaced, like my beloved Model 52, had to go. As I passed it off to a collector who paid me more than what I paid for it, I vowed I would get another.
A few years went by and I was more focused on rebuilding my life and family than rebuilding my lost collection, but by 2001, I was doing better than I ever had with a great job and had the funds to purchase a Model 52. The only problem was, I was now in California and “the roster” had just been put in place.
For those of you in Free America, that year California decided to impose strict regulations regarding the sale and transfer of handguns. If a handgun wasn’t listed on the roster, it could only be purchased from another individual through an FFL. It might’ve been easier a few years later when they allowed an exemption for Olympic target pistols, but at that time, there was no exemption. That meant, the seller and I would have to meet at a gun shop and perform the transfer in person.
After 8 months of searching and having people trying to find me a Model 52, one turned up, and—most importantly—the dealer was willing to broker the transaction and the price was decent. The problem was he was in Southern California, and I was in the north about 500 miles away. On top of that, California has a 10-day waiting period, meaning I had to drive 1,000 miles round trip to buy it, then 10 days later repeat the process to pick it up. Once it was in my possession, it was a constant range companion for years.
A Picky Eater
Making your own ammunition is the best way to go on these, as accuracy for each pistol tends to be load dependent. At one time, I found this pistol cheaper to shoot than .22 LR. It uses very little powder and a cheap, soft lead swaged bullet. Swaged bullets are typically better for this pistol than cast. You might find a local commercial loader offering plated or jacketed bullets, but they generally don’t fare well in the Model 52. The plated bullets can work with the right load data, but the jacketed bullets have never performed well for me.
The trigger breaks at 1.74 pounds, and with my ammunition, I guarantee any student who fires it that they will hit the 9 ring at 25 yards with one hand if they have their basic fundamentals down.
Even though it has no practical purpose for hunting, home defense, 3-gun or any “real world use,” it’ll most likely be the last pistol that ever leaves my collection. It’s an accurate and reliable shooter. It excels at everything you could want in a dedicated target pistol: punching holes in paper.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the October 2024 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Smith & Wesson has just announced two new Davidson’s Exclusive .32 H&R Magnum J-Frame revolver models.
The world needs more .32-caliber revolvers, but thankfully, Smith & Wesson has just added two new options in the form of the Davidson’s Exclusive Model 432 and Model 632, both J-Frames chambered for .32 H&R Magnum. The two wheelguns are functionally the same besides their finish colors, with the 432 sporting a black-anodized aluminum matte finish and the 632 featuring a matte silver finish.
Designed with concealed carry and self-defense in mind, these DAO J-Frames feature a 6-round capacity, a 1.88-inch stainless-steel barrel and a weight of just 14.7 ounces. As for their irons, the revolvers come with a precision-regulated gold bead front sight and an integrated U-notch rear sight for fast acquisition. Other upgrades include an enhanced internals Endurance Package, chamfered charge holes for easier loading and a textured synthetic boot grip for improved ergonomics.
Don’t forget, one major advantage of .32-caliber revolvers is their ammo versatility. These two Smith & Wessons should be able to fire .32 Long and .32 Short in addition to their official chambering of .32 H&R Magnum.
The Davidson’s Exclusive S&W Model 632 and Model 432 are both available now and share an MSRP of $670.
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.
