The author takes a look at SDS Imports' Gen 2 and 3 PX-9 and tells you why your shooting diet could use more Turkey.
Many shooters probably think the last thing we need is another polymer-framed, high-capacity, striker-fired pistol that emulates the Glock. It seems like, for the past decade or so, that description fits about every new handgun introduced. As unexciting as new Tupperware guns might be, this is how innovation works; evolution allows for the concept to be maximized.
Admittedly, I’m not a plastic pistol kind of guy. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with them—they’re just not my thing. Still, when I see any handgun that impresses me, I want to share and that’s why the SDS Imports’ PX-9 is being presented here.
Let me first say that the PX-9 is less expensive than most other polymer-frame pistols because it’s manufactured by Tisas in Turkey … where labor and operational costs are less, not because it’s constructed of sub-standard parts by folks who don’t know how to build pistols. The PX-9, or Zigana as it’s known in Turkey, has passed rigorous military trials and is even used by military units, police departments and private security firms around the world.
It was only about six months ago that I was provided a Gen 2 version of this pistol for testing and evaluation. I was very impressed with the sample because of its reliability, how comfortable it was in-hand and all its features. Just last month I received a Gen 3 version of the PX-9, and after lots of rounds downrange in both, I felt obligated to give this pistol its due.
The Gen 3 version of the PX-9, which is imported by SDS Imports, is available in black, desert tan and OD green.
All The Extras
First, let’s address the elephants in the room. One worry with offshore-made handguns is whether there’s a decent selection of holsters. This is a valid concern. What good is a self-defense handgun if you can’t comfortably carry it?
With the PX-9, that’s not an issue. It’ll fit holsters sized for the Springfield Armory XD. Incidentally, though not much to brag about, the Gen 2 comes with a polymer OWB paddle holster, and the Gen 3 comes with a polymer IWB holster. Another concern is the availability of extra magazines. There’s no worry here; PX-9s are designed to work with Sig Sauer P226 magazines.
PX-9 pistols are shipped with two 18-round Sig Sauer P226 magazines.
And finally, as with any out-of-country manufactured firearm, there’s the issue of parts and service. After all, you can’t just put a broken gun in the mail to Turkey. All Tisas-made firearms brought stateside by SDS Imports can be serviced at SDS Imports in Knoxville, Tennessee, because they have parts and qualified engineers on staff there. These engineers have spent time working with Tisas in Turkey where these guns are manufactured, so they know what they’re doing.
For example, the Gen 3 version of this pistol has a slide cut to accept a reflex sight. When I received the pistol for evaluation, I removed this plate, and when reinstalling it I broke the heads off the screws holding it in place. I called SDS Imports, explained the situation and a new slide was delivered to my door the next day. This is great customer service. I installed the new slide, took the pistol to the range and it ran perfectly.
The Gen 3 PX-9 comes standard with an optics-ready cut and plate. The cut will fit the Trijicon RMR.
Features & Design
These are duty-sized pistols that ship with two, 18-round magazines, but they’re not heavy. Unloaded weight is just shy of 25 ounces, which is just a few ounces heavier than a Glock 17.
The Gen 3 version is available in black, desert tan or green, and it comes standard with a fiber-optic front sight and a ledge-style rear sight. They’re fitted with an external extractor, have front and rear grasping grooves on the slide, and the frame has a four-slot accessory rail.
The trigger on the Gen 2 is curved, the trigger on the Gen 3 is straight, and both have the common passive trigger safety. Both can also be had with an ambidextrous manual thumb safety, and the magazine release can be positioned for left- or right-side activation. The PX9 also has visible and tactile, cocked-striker and loaded-chamber indicators.
The Gen 3 version of the PX-9 comes standard with a flat trigger. The Gen 2 has a trigger with a curved face.
One of the most appealing features is the modular grip. The backstrap and side panels are easily removed and can be replaced to perfectly fit this pistol to your hand. Each PX-9 is supplied with six grip panels and three backstraps.
Additionally, these guns are supplied with an extended and beveled, wide-mouth magazine well. It, too, is easy to install and not only helps with speed reloads, but if you have large hands, it also enhances the feel of the grip as well. Though you’d have to have two different-colored PX-9s like I do, you can swap the grip panels, backstraps and magazine wells of different colors to provide a little multicolor flare.
SDS Imports PX-9 Gen 2 and Gen 3 pistols are very reliable and very comfortable to shoot.
I found the PX-9 much more comfortable to shoot than a Glock 17; Glocks tend to uncomfortably impress on the first knuckle of the middle finger on my shooting hand. And I’d rate the PX-9 just as—if not more—comfortable to shoot than the Sig Sauer P320. Accuracy and precision were on par with what you’d expect from a duty-sized defensive handgun. With now close to 1,000 combined rounds out of the Gen 2 and Gen 3, I’ve yet to have a stoppage of any sort … and that’s with a wide range of munitions.
By partnering with Tisas in Turkey, SDS Imports is working to find the ultimate expression of the high-capacity, poly-framed, striker-fired pistol. This is the fifth Turkish-made handgun that’s imported by SDS Imports that I’ve spent a good bit of time with. And while I’m an American-made kind of guy, I’m also one who appreciates good stuff, regardless of where it comes from—especially when the price is right. It’s no small thing that you can pick up a brand-new PX-9 for less than $400!
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the February 2022 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
A discussion on escalation of force and reasonable-use force when it comes to self-defense.
Most people remember the old childhood game called “Rock Paper Scissors.” To play this game, two or more people get together and, on the count of three, either show a fist (rock), a flat hand (paper) or a fist with two fingers extended (scissors). The rules of the game are simple: A rock can smash scissors, scissors can cut paper, and paper can cover rock. If you display one of the three and aren’t smashed, cut or covered by any others, you win.
Well, just a short 60 miles from my house, a real-life game of rock paper scissors took place—this time with a verbal threat, a can of pepper spray, a flare gun and a handgun. It went like this.
First, a man in a Fred Meyer store saw another man shoplifting. Instead of doing the prudent thing and simply alerting a store employee, he decided to take things under control by himself and confront the shoplifter. The shoplifter took exception and started threatening the do-gooder. The do-gooder decided he wouldn’t be threatened in this manner and pulled a can of pepper spray out of his pocket, spraying the shoplifter.
That should’ve ended the confrontation, but instead of crawling off into a cave, the shoplifter pulled out a flare gun and again threatened the do-gooder. At that time, believing he was now the victim of a serious threatened assault, he pulled a handgun, after which the shoplifter ran off to be arrested later for second degree assault. If this was caught on store surveillance cameras, it’d be fun to watch.
Escalation Of Force
And this story brings us to the theme of this month’s column: escalation of force and reasonable use force in self-defense.
Was it reasonable for the do-gooder to confront the shoplifter to begin with? In the state of Washington, a merchant can detain a suspected shoplifter, but not a private citizen—unless the value of the item in question is greater than $750—at which point it would be a felony, and the private citizen may use reasonable force to detain the individual and deliver him or her to a police officer. Only a merchant or one of his or her employees can make a citizen’s arrest for shoplifting if the value of the item is less than $750. For the purposes of this story, we’ll give the do-gooder the benefit of the doubt and place the value over $750.
But when the shoplifter started threatening the do-gooder (he was 17 years younger than the do-gooder), the do-gooder decided to pepper spray the shoplifter. Justified? Probably. And the do-gooder didn’t face any criminal charges from the pepper spraying act.
But we all know a flare gun trumps pepper spray. I also wonder why the pepper spray didn’t work better, because the shoplifter, after being sprayed, still had the physical wherewithal to decide to draw the small gun designed to shoot flares into the air. I don’t know about you, but I’d consider a flare gun capable of causing great bodily injury and even death.
In response to this escalation of force by the shoplifter, the do-gooder—who had a valid license to carry a concealed handgun—drew his lawfully concealed handgun and ended the confrontation. I’m not going to second guess the do-gooder, but perhaps I might’ve shot the guy at that time. Let’s pretend for a moment that did happen and the shoplifter died. The headlines would’ve reported, “Man killed for shoplifting.”
Would the do-gooder have been arrested? Well, it depends on the story the police heard when they arrived. If the do-gooder simply stated, “I want my attorney,” then likely yes, he would’ve been arrested. Hopefully, there were witnesses and the flare gun threat came to light. The police in that jurisdiction likely would’ve released him without charges, as most police in our area are very pro-armed citizen.
But what if there had been no flare gun? What if the shoplifter had simply been physically threatening the do-gooder? I’d predict a very long legal process for the do-gooder who, even while interdicting a crime in progress, would’ve used excessive force by shooting (or frankly, even drawing the handgun and threatening to shoot).
Be The ‘Reasonable Man’
Across the nation, the right to use force in self-defense is tempered by the necessity to only use the degree of force a reasonable and prudent person would use under the circumstances. Each use of force will be analyzed by the reasonable man doctrine.
What would a reasonable and prudent person have done under the same circumstances? And was the force used reasonable under the circumstances? That said, you don’t get to decide what’s reasonable—that’s the role of the jury.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the June 2022 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
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.
Well-known for its derringer-style handguns, it should come as no surprise the Texas concern has a new pocket pistol on the market. What should raise an eyebrow is what it comes chambered in: .45-70 Government. Yes, the hallowed buffalo-hunting cartridge is now available in a 28-ounce hammer-fired pistol Bond Arms has dubbed the Cyclops. The monocular moniker is due to the pistol only having room enough for one of the relatively elephantine straight-walled cartridges—compared to the two-round variations most think of with Bond derringers. The pistol is plenty demure, measuring in at a tick under 7 inches, with a 4.25-inch barrel. Bond has slapped on B6 resin grips and outfitted the pistol with a 7-pound trigger. If your arthritis isn’t already flaring with that description, never fear! Bond plans on releasing .44 Magnum, .454 Casull and .50 AE models in the near future. MSRP: $699
Ruger Super Wrangler
When it comes to sheer shooting pleasure, few things surpass a Single-Action Army revolver. Especially, Ruger’s selection of rimfire variations. Opening the door to more shooters enjoying the classic SAA, the mammoth firearms manufacturer has expanded its affordable Wrangler line with a versatile addition: the Super Wran-gler. Modeled after the company’s Single Six, the aluminum-framed wheelgun is capable of shooting both .22 LR and .22 Winchester Magnum at the flick of the cylin-der, yet it comes at a fraction of the price of the original it’s modeled after. For good measure, and to make certain it lives up to its “Super” modifier, Ruger has also included adjustable rear target sights and a 5.5-inch barrel. Quite a package for the price. MSRP: $329
SAR .357 Magnum SR Revolver
Perhaps best known for economical and pretty dang nice striker- and hammer-fired pistols, SAR USA has gone out of its wheelhouse this year. Yup, that means the Turkish concern has expanded to wheelguns with the introduction of its .357 Magnum SR revolver line. There’s a lot to like in what SAR brings to the table with DA/SA guns—including a competitive price. The gun is available with a 4- or 6-inch barrel, dashing black finish, steel alloy frame and comfortable ergonomics in its synthetic finger groove grips. The gun is on the hefty side at 47 ounces with the 6-inch barrel, and 41 ounces in the 4-inch version. This walks the line for most as a concealed carry piece, but the heft makes shooting the snappy magnum very manageable. MSRP: $549 4-inch barrel, $649 6-inch barrel
CRKT Michael Walker Momentum
A classy gun calls for a classy knife to partner with in its EDC duties. CRKT’s new Michael Walker line has this in spades. Christened the Momentum, the liner lock is based on Walker’s favorite custom creations and crafted to the highest standards. First off, they’re manufactured in Italy by renowned knifemaker LionSteel. Next, they’re the perfect blend of artistry and function—made with materials that not only look good, but perform. There are two versions available, one boasting Böhler M390 blade steel and teal titanium handled with a turquoise dragon scale pattern. The other sports a Rose Damasteel blade complemented by its more subdued dark gray titanium handle and white dragon scale inlay. MSRP: Bohler Blade $275, Damasteel Blade $500
Diamondback Birdshead Sidekick
Perhaps one of Diamondback’s more unique projects in recent years has been expanding into rimfire revolvers. Introduced in 2022, the Sidekick gave shooters an affordable .22 LR/.22 Magnum option in DA/SA wheelguns. The gunmaker struck a chord, because this year it expanded its Sidekick offering to include a petite bird-shead variation. The rounded grip offers more control shot-to-shot, as well as proving very comfortable in most shooters’ hands. Furthermore, Diamondback has shortened the barrel from the original iteration to 3 inches. For some, this might make the revolver an option for concealed carry. If not, it’ll still prove a load of fun at the range. MSRP: $327
Safariland SafariVault Duty Holster
Safariland has been the go-to manufacturer of duty holsters for years, and the company’s new SafariVault line is poised to bring the concept to the next level. With a re-engineered holster body, the line is arguably the strongest option on the market today—tested to withstand 300 pounds of pressure and rated from -50F to 150F. Furthermore, available up to Level IV retention, the hangers are all but imperious to a gun grab, featuring the company’s SLS (Self Locking System) and ALS (Automatic Locking System). Best of all, the holster is compatible with weapon lights, muzzle devices (thanks to its open-muzzle design) and red-dot sights (both open- and closed-emitter designs). If that’s not enough, the holsters also have a magnetic slide guide to aid with holstering, an auto-tension device to remove rattle and a more easily accessible ALS release mechanism. MSRP: Starting at $190
Crossbreed LDS 2.0 Ohai Modular Holster
On-body carry isn’t an option for everyone and might not be the best way for certain individuals. With this in mind, Crossbreed advances the ability to carry in a back-pack, purse or other tote with the introduction of its LDS 2.0 Ohai Modular Holster. The next generation of the original Ohai, the hanger features the tried-and-true Crossbreed leather and Kydex construction. However, the system includes a hook-and-loop backing, allowing it to integrate seamlessly into several off-the-body techniques. This doesn’t simply include luggage outfitted with backers, but options that affix under the desk, in a vehicle or in other handy places. Being modular, it is interchangeable between makes and models and compatible with a number of lights and laser sights. MSRP: $64.95
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the August 2023 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
A closer look at CrossBreed Holsters and how the company strives to create the perfect symbiosis between Kydex and leather.
Many a great designer has created something from nothing. Still, some of the greatest produced great from the good. Such is the case for the late Mark Craighead, founder of CrossBreed Holsters.
In the early 2000s, Craighead tinkered and toiled with handgun holsters, trying to make something work for his shooting style. Leather had its qualities, but so did Kydex. Still, where one worked, the other failed.
So, after years of trying everyone else’s handgun holster ideas, he finally decided to create his own. And, when he did, he did it in about as American a way as there ever was: by taking a trip to Walmart and hijacking his wife’s kitchen to build the first of many hybrid leather-Kydex handgun holsters, maximizing leather’s comfort and durability with the durability and malleability of Kydex.
He made one. Then, his neighbor wanted one. Then, his friends wanted one. Next, he started selling his holsters on eBay, and the rest is, as they like to say, handgun-holster-making history with Mark founding CrossBreed Holsters LLC in 2005.
Holsters, With Purpose
According to his wife, Carol, Mark was often asked about the name CrossBreed Holsters. “He was not ashamed to answer that,” she said. “Although there is some reference to the hybrid holster designs he created, the larger meaning behind his company’s name references the Lord Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross that was made for all mankind.”
On Aug 24, 2012, Mark died unexpectedly. However, long before he left us, he did two things that would virtually guarantee his legacy would live on: He married Carol and founded CrossBreed Holsters.
“My late husband, Mark, founded the business back in 2005 in our kitchen after searching tirelessly to find the perfect holster,” Carol said. “After countless hours of research and adjustments, he finalized the design of our flagship holster, the SuperTuck. Upon Mark’s untimely passing, I had a decision to make: either sell the business that Mark had started, or put all of my energy into making it into the most successful holster company I could. After years of struggles and hardships, I can say that I’m proud of what this company has become.”
Since Mark’s passing, Carol and her family of employees who call CrossBreed Holsters their home have rallied to keep Mark’s dream of making a better handgun holster alive. CrossBreed Holsters, once a company that started in a home, is now a household name in the firearms industry.
Carol has never stopped supporting Mark’s dream.
Mark Craighead, founder of CrossBreed holsters, died on August 24, 2012. At the age of 43, he touched many lives with the success of his business and, in his own way, carried the cross for many of his friends and family.
“Mark was always an incredible advocate of the Second Amendment and personal protection in general,” Carol said. “Between growing up with a father in law enforcement and his time in the military, Mark understood the importance of firearms. Mark instilled that in not only his children but also in me, constantly taking time out of his busy schedule to take us to the range. When Mark passed, I took it upon myself to continue his legacy of support for the Second Amendment and firearm ownership through the business and my journey. Spending time helping others learn the importance of firearm ownership has become a part of my everyday life.”
Still, loyalty and love aren’t enough to keep a business running. Carol learned, adjusted and grew to keep CrossBreed Holsters successful. “With Mark’s untimely passing, I was thrust into something that I had little experience in, which put me in a position of relying on those around me,” Carol said. “Becoming a leader meant not just P&Ls and sales reports, but it meant becoming a trusted ear, a shoulder to cry on and being honest with people even when it was hard to hear.”
Carol hasn’t let Mark or CrossBreed’s global community of handgun holster owners down then or now, and she will be the first one to tell you she couldn’t have done it on her own.
“Mark was the greatest influence I have had coming into the firearms industry,” Carol said. “His passion for the company, his employees and the industry are where I learned how to give as well. I am blessed with several long-term employees. I could not and would not be here without them. Last is the vast amount of people in the industry who, like so many others, have not only mentored me but also have become dear friends.”
CrossBreed Holsters prides itself on reliability, noting that all IWB and OWB must fit comfortably without feeling overly bulky, or putting too much pressure on the body.
CrossBreed Vs. Covid
The past few years have proven especially challenging for Carol and her team at CrossBreed Holsters. While the demand for handgun holsters has skyrocketed, the supplies and logistics necessary to keep up with the handgun ownership surge have plummeted due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, Carol noted that other external influences such as politics, labor costs, manufacturing skills and ever-evolving technologies took their toll on the firearms industry, including CrossBreed Holsters. “All of the listed items have had profound impacts on not only our business but all businesses,” Carol said. “Politics can make or break your year in the firearms industry and is incredibly difficult to plan. COVID-19 has continued to plague manufacturers with increased material costs, increased labor costs and the difficulties of navigating how to keep your employees safe.”
Still, Carol knows what CrossBreed Holsters needs to do to remain successful. “Our goals at CrossBreed remain the same now as they have from the beginning: take care of our customers, take care of our employees and make the finest concealed carry holsters on the market,” she said.
What Carol sees as her company’s strength and most significant area of focus is also where she sees some others fail catastrophically. “The biggest mistake I see other companies make is losing sight of their customers,” Carol said. “When you forget the people that have supported you through the years, you are doomed to fail. We have tried to focus on adjusting our procedures to allow us to continue to produce the highest quality products while absorbing as much of the increased expenses as possible.”
Now, Carol and the CrossBreed Holsters family of employees wants customers to know what they’re getting when they buy from CrossBreed, which now offers a wide variety of handgun holsters and firearms accessories. “We want our customers to feel confident that when they buy a CrossBreed Holster that they are buying a holster designed to be with them for a lifetime,” Carol said. “We want our customers to have confidence in knowing that we are always here with industry-leading customer service and have the utmost confidence in knowing that they have chosen a top-quality holster.”
Since Mark’s passing, CrossBreed has held fast to continuing the quality of holster and culture of company that he created.
Looking forward, Carol sees a promising future for the CrossBreed Holster family. “We are going to become a family of brands dedicated to producing products not only in the firearms industry but adjacent markets as well,” she said. “By focusing on what’s important and empowering my employees, I have incredible confidence that we will be successful in all our goals.”
Shooting suppressed is a daunting proposition, which is why many interested parties shy away from getting a handle on their gun’s report. Initially, it’s the intimate relationship via paperwork you kindle with the Federal Government, suppressors being an NFA device, that turn off potential buyers. Then it’s the cost. Cans themselves run a pretty penny, on top of that Uncle Sam takes his cut (again, thanks NFA).
It all seems a bit much, even for those highly motivated to protect their hearing or maintain the peace while on the hunt. Luckily, there is a fairly cost-effective way to test the waters, to see if suppressors are your bag. Rimfire, in particular, .22 suppressor options abound and are generally quite a bit more affordable than their centerfire cousins. Besides, given the effectiveness of the small-bore cans, few calibers are more fun to suppress. A good suppressor, you almost get into tranquil territory with a .22.
Finding The Best .22 Suppressor
Inevitably the question is raised, what makes a good suppressor? Unfortunately, there’s no simple answer, given – like guns themselves – it's highly subjective. It comes down to what you want out of a can. For some, that means the utmost suppression, no matter a device’s size. Others, it’s noise reduction enough to cut it, without interfering with the manageability of a firearm.
In general, some common considerations should be taken into account to ensure you get what you want, including:
Cost: Given you’ll have a steep tax bill in addition to costs, be certain you can afford what you want.
Suppression: Noise reduction is the whole reason why you’re making the investment.
Durability: It’s not worth the money if it poops out on you after a few hundred rounds.
Maintenance: Rimfires are dirty, you want something that cleans up easily.
Manageable: You want something that isn’t going to put the operation of your gun completely out of whack.
Ultimately, you’ll have to decide what the tradeoffs are when making your final decision. But hopefully, we can clear the air a bit on what the top options are today. Built rock solid, able to make a report nearly non-existent and generally in most shooters price range, these rimfire and .22 suppressor options are among the best. And, perhaps, one is the right choice for you.
.22 Suppressor Options
ODIN Works NAV 22
Modularity, it’s been a boon for both pistols and rifles, why wouldn’t the same hold true for quietmakers? ODIN Works sees it this way, so for its very first venture into the .22 suppressor market whipped up a can equally quiet and versatile. Tubeless, the six-baffle Nav 22 ranges in size from 6.5 to less than 2 inches, conforming to any circumstances you might encounter. Not to mention, it’s a snap to clean as well.
Full-sized, the Nav 22 is no slouch in putting a lid on your rimfire, reducing a .22 LR rifle to around 113 dB and a pistol to 119 dB. As you might well imagine, the fewer baffles, the less suppression, but you gain a more nimbleness in your gun if that’s your goal. Though, full strength it’s not as if the can bogs you down, with the aircraft-grade aluminum/stainless steel suppressor tipping the scales at a mere 4 ounces. Knock it down to size, the Nav 22 is only 2.3 ounces.
Mercifully, ODIN Works has included ample wrench real estate on the end cap to get the suppressor on and off your gun. As expected, it has a standard ½-28 tread pattern, making the can compatible with nearly any rimfire. Additionally, the Nav 22 is available in two colors—sand and black—if matching the finish of your gun is a must.
ODIN Works NAV 22 Weight: 4 oz fully assembled, 2.3 oz smallest configuration Length: 6.5″ fully assembled Diameter: 1.5″ Mount: 1/2-28 TPI Materials: Stainless Steel & Aluminum MSRP: $349
Rex Silentium MG22 Extreme Duty
Face it, for all their benefits, suppressors aren’t the cheapest firearms accessories to get into. Unit cost is just the tip of the iceberg, the dreaded tax stamp—a steady $200—is also part of the equation. Given that’s not changing any time soon, an affordable can is well worth a look—especially if you’re dipping your toe into the muzzle device for the first time.
Rex Silentium delivers on this its relatively affordable MG22 Extreme Duty Suppressor. If the .22 suppressor’s daily economical price isn’t enough, well it’s modular too. Honestly, it’s a great deal, particularly since it stands its ground—fully configurable—with most other options on the market. You can expect the suppressor to knock down a rifle to around 116 dB, which is right on the money.
In all, you can set up the Extreme Duty in 9 lengths, tuning it to both the weight and suppression needs for a particular task. To boot, the can is constructed of hardened stainless steel, bringing a measure of durability to the package. Heck, Rex Silentium boasts you don't have to clean it–an offer most rimfire shooters should take a pass on.
Rex Silentium MG22 Extreme Duty Weight: 17 oz fully assembled Length: 6.5 inches fully assembled, each baffle is approximately 0.47″ inch Diameter: N/A Mount: 1/2-28 TPI Materials: Stainless Steel MSRP: $390
HUXWRX RAD 22
Sometimes it's worth sticking to the tried-and-true; on other occasions, it pays off to break from the herd. HUXWRX has gone the latter route with its newest .22 suppressor—the RAD 22. The company has wandered from the norm with its baffle design, which is uniquely contoured to more efficiently reduce noise. How what the company calls “Flow Baffles” do so is a radial groove on the exterior of the components that push expanding gases away from the bore line and the shooter. It does a solid job, cutting down standard .22 ammo report to the 115-119 dB range, depending on barrel length. As an added benefit, the RAD 22 tends to stay a bit cleaner than many other options.
A rugged option, the RAD 22 is fully-auto rated and boasts a titanium tube and 17-4 heat-treated stainless steel baffles. It’s also fairly slim, measuring 1.08-inch in diameter and only adds 5.6-inches of length to a firearm. A down point, it is a tad heavy for its class, tipping the scales at 6.3 ounces. But for what the unit offer that’s not a deal-breaker.
It’s nice to have options. The Q Erector gives you plenty of them. A modular and tubeless suppressor, the device gives you nearly endless configurations to match your application. Need a little something to take the edge off your pistol, slap on one baffle. Stealthiness at a premium out hunting, go the whole hog and screw together the entire stack. The sky—and the 10 baffles—are the limit.
Simple as it is versatile, the Erector comes apart easily for maintenance and modification on the fly. Given it’s tubeless, you also don’t have a ton of parts to deal with. Outside baffles, you only have to keep track of end caps, which streamlines things considerably.
Fully assembled, the Erector is an afterthought, weighing in at 2.6 ounces. You heard that right. Much of this is thanks to the ample use of aluminum; only the blast baffle is stainless steel. Flexible and effective, Q has come up among the most versatile rimfire suppressors around.
Thunder Beast’s 22S-1 was a solid can, but posed its problems. In particular, it was sealed, which made the suppressor a regular pain in the neck to clean. And rest assured, all .22 suppressors need cleaning. Thankfully, the company has resolved this issue with its Model 22 Take Down suppressor.
As its name suggests, it’s user-serviceable, allowing you to disassemble the entire baffle stack to get every smug of carbon out. At the same tick, it produces the ear-pleasing results of its predecessor, knocking most .22’s reports down around the 115 dB neighborhood. Plenty good enough to keep your hearing healthy, especially with a layer of protection.
Solidly built from titanium and stainless steel, and Cerakote finished, the fully-auto rated device is more than ready for field-level abuse. It’s also unobtrusive, at 5.9 ounces, 5.6 inches in length and 1 inch in diameter. Best of all, the Model 22 Take Down falls on the affordable side of rimfire suppressors, making it an excellent choice for newbies or the budget-conscious.
Thunder Beast Model 22 Take Down Weight: 5.9oz Length: 5.6″ Diameter: 1.0″ Finish: High Temperature Cerakote Mount: 1/2-28 TPI Materials: Stainless Steel & Titanium MSRP: $425
Tactical Innovations TAC65
Long in the tooth, the TAC65 continues to wow shooters with its price point and performance. Economical compared to other .22 suppressors, the device does not skimp when it comes to noise reduction, functionality and ease of maintenance. To the meat and potatoes of the six two-stage K baffle suppressor, it cuts the report of a .22LR an average of 38.5dB. In most cases, this means both pistol and rifle noise is reduced to the level where, with hearing protection, it’s nearly unnoticeable.
Slime and light, the aluminum suppressor is nearly unobtrusive on most firearms. This is a bit of an overstatement – of course, you’ll know there’s a 5-inch tube protruding from the muzzle of your gun. Yet, at 4.1 ounces it does little to tip even compact .22s out of balance. Furthermore, its 1.085-inch diameter, it’s low enough most guns’ factory sights remain usable. Completely user-serviceable, the TAC65 can go years and hundreds of rounds before it requires factory support.
Nothing less than a top performance is expected with an Advanced Armaments Corp. can, and the Halcyon doesn’t fall short. Built to brick outhouse specs, the device is full-auto rated for .22 LR, and in semi-auto can handle hard-hitting .17HMR, .22 Mag and 5.7x28mm as well.
Much of the magic is in the suppressor’s materials. A titanium tube and shielded titatnium K baffles not only make the Halcyon impervious to rough handling, but also do a heck of a job on a gun’s report. On average, expect around 42dB of noise reduction – among the top performers on this list.
Despite heftier construction, AAC still cooked up a very manageable .22 suppressor, made even better by its modularity. The unit is capable of being used in either full or compact configurations, weighing either 4.5 ounces or 6.4 ounces, respectively. It has a 1-inch diameter tube and a length of either 3.41 or 5.8 inches.
Simple and quiet, who can argue with that? Not most .22 shooters who turn to SilencerCo’s expert design and nearly flawless manufacturing of the Sparrow suppressor. Constructed of stainless steel, the rugged rimfire can is a jack-of-all-trades, reducing the sound signature of every small fry – rimfire or otherwise. Rated up to FN 5.7x28mm, the suppressor can knock down a .22LR’s report to a relatively inconspicuous 112dB.
The 5-inch long Sparrow cuts a low profile, only a little over an inch in diameter. In turn, the .22 suppressor is a mount-and-shoot affair for most guns, not requiring high-rise sights to get on target. Slim as it is, the can trails its compatriots in one respect – weight. At 6.6 ounces, it is among the heavier options out there – a price is paid for sturdy materials. Yet, once mounted and a shooter acclimated, it shouldn’t prove overwhelming.
Easy to maintain, the Sparrow is a bit different than other .22 option. A monolithic core is reached by separating two half-tubes. Different and requiring some study, nevertheless it’s not the riddle of the Sphinx.
The Mask isn’t exactly a budget .22 suppressor. Yet, for the engineering and materials in the can you’d expect to pay twice the price. Optimized baffles, titanium, stainless steel, Dead Air Armament went the whole nine yards to produce arguably one of the best high-performance values out there.
While there are many intriguing points, the most eye-catching is the suppressor's efficient K-baffle design. Called a “compressed-K” configuration, the stack is designed to keep all fouling – carbon and otherwise – in the eight baffles themselves. Anyone who’s broken down a rimfire suppressor already knows the advantage, cutting down routine maintenance to a fraction of the time of comparable options. The heavy-duty materials also do a number on a gun’s report, toning it down to around 115dB, depending on the round fired.
Again, stainless steel baffles mean the Mask tips the scales a bit more than some, weighing in at 6.6 ounces. However, at 5.1 inches in length and 1 inch in diameter, it is slender and dexterous. As far as high-end rimfire suppressors go, the Mask hushes up most of its competition.
A relatively new player in suppressors, SIG Sauer nonetheless has already left its mark on the market. Case in point, the SRD22X. The multi-caliber suppressor is made field tough and makes the likes of .22LR spooky quite.
A titanium tube and stainless steel baffles are at the heart of the matter. In addition to standing up to the most rigorous use, the combination of materials can quiet most .22 rounds down to 110dB. That’s tranquil in terms of gunfire.
Despite the denser baffle material, the SRD22X remains relatively light, right around 5 ounces. This is due to SIG milling the stack extraordinarily thin to remove excess material. A sealed M baffle design, the stack catch much of the muck that comes out of the end of a rimfire, making clean up a cinch. A hair longer than many .22 suppressor options – 5.8 inches – the device is still slim and won’t interfere with a sighting system – pistol or rifle. At the expensive end, the SRD22X more than gives you your money’s worth.
A review of the Bradshaw BRSS, a rifle that offers a new twist on the bespoke Hoenig rotary action.
When walking the aisles of the Dallas Safari Club Convention, I always enjoy seeing the handiwork of those bespoke rifle makers and smaller rifle shops. While SHOT Show has a huge selection of firearms, ranging from airguns to the latest high-tech black rifles, the DSC Convention is geared more toward hunters. If you want to hold the finest double rifle or a rifle made specifically for the most rugged terrain on earth, it’ll be at DSC.
Bradshaw Gun & Rifle is renowned for rising-block single-shot and double rifles, as well as the side lever falling-block designs. But after catching up a bit, I spied a unique rifle among Bradshaw’s better-known stuff, one with a perfectly round receiver; I was immediately intrigued. “This is my take on the Hoenig-style rifle, but this one is a single-shot,” he said.
The Bradshaw BRSS single-shot is a unique rotary action, based on the Hoenig double-barrel rifle. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
What Bradshaw handed me was one of the lightest and most well-balanced stalking rifles I’ve ever handled. With its cylindrical action, the BRSS sits so comfortably in the hand when carried that it hardly feels like a firearm. There are no squared metal edges on the receiver, and the way Bradshaw has stocked the rifle, the weight belies the length of the gun.
I politely asked Bradshaw if he’d send one out for review, as I was drooling at the thought of spending some time with this rifle. Bradshaw obliged, sending out a handsomely adorned example, chambered in 7x57R, a perfect all-around choice for a single-shot.
Twist and shout! The Bradshaw BRSS action is opened by rotating the butt 90 degrees to the left, and then pulling rearward. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
I Thought ‘Rotary’ Was A Telephone
In order to safely seal the breech of a centerfire rifle and still successfully handle the pressures generated during the firing of the cartridge, several different methods have been employed over the past 150 years. For many of the single-shot designs, a break-action with a locking lever is common, as is the very strong falling block, which uses a lever to raise and lower a large block of steel to seal the breech. For repeating rifles like the common bolt-action (or “turnbolt,” as it’s called across the pond), a strong steel bolt with extended lugs is run into a raceway and turned at 50 to 90 degrees, locking the bolt closed.
The rotary action—slightly oval in cross-section—used in the Bradshaw BRSS is, upon examination, a sort of enlarged version of the bolt-action theory. Simply put, the rifle comes in two parts, with the butt end having what you could consider functioning as the bolt face, and the forend having the receiver and extractor. With the butt rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise, a hinged, protruding “key” on the butt end is inserted into a cutout in the face of the forend, and the entire butt is pushed forward until the lugs of the rear slide into the raceways of the fore. Once inserted, the butt portion is then rotated 90 degrees clockwise, locking the action.
Photo: Massaro Media Group.
After the rifle has been fired, the butt is again rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise and pulled slightly rearward to open the action. The hinge in the key allows the open action to be tilted just enough to remove the spent case (or cartridge in the case of unloading). The breech face and keyed arm has a cocking cam that pushes the striker into cocked position when the action is opened. The BRSS has small lug in the key that pulls the extractor rearward, so the cartridge/case may be removed by hand, as there is no ejector. The firearm has a small top lever that functions as the safety; when swung to the left, the rifle is on safe, and when swung to the right, it may be fired.
Built For The Stalk
The concept of a single-shot rifle evokes a different mindset. Though I firmly believe making the first shot count with any rifle is paramount, when you carry a single-shot … it seems to change the game a bit.
With a single-shot rifle, there is no magazine to add length to the gun, so the overall package can and will be both shorter and lighter. Combine that fact with the slim and sleek barrel contour Bradshaw has chosen for the 7x57R—I measured the barrel diameter at 0.622 inch at the midpoint and 0.520 inch at the muzzle—and the lack of weight should be readily apparent.
But, in addition to slender metalwork, Bradshaw stocked the rifle perfectly. This is no corpulent, cookie-cutter stock design that betrays the scheme of the barreled action. No, this is a svelte stock design with a splinter forend, a rear stock featuring a thin, open wrist, shadow-line cheekpiece and a 14½-inch length-of-pull that fits me perfectly. Bradshaw has balanced the lightweight barreled action with a stock that gives only what the shooter needs—and not a toothpick’s worth of wood more. It’s very refreshing to find a gunmaker who knows what to take off a stock, rather than leaving too much.
Photo: Massaro Media Group.
The butt culminates in a classic red recoil pad, fitted properly to the figured walnut stock. And what a figure it has! It’s the type of stock that you could stare at for hours, getting lost in the figure and three-dimensional aspects of the premium walnut. Checkered exquisitely fore and aft with classy lines and angles, Bradshaw has a stock worthy of note. There’s a round rear sling swivel stud on the rear stock, and a barrel band sling swivel stud just ahead of the forend tip.
The BRSS is equipped with iron sights—a fine brass bead front sight and a 140-degree-wide V rear sight—in addition to offering the option for a scope. The rear portion of the rear sight island serves as one of the scope ring bases, and a second is affixed atop of the forward portion of the cylindrical action, keeping the scope on the front half of the rifle. Bradshaw installed Talley bases so the rifle could be scoped.
How It Came To Be
I asked Bradshaw for the story of the development of his unique twist on an already unique design, and he gladly obliged:
“The story really starts with a string of failures … struggling for over five years with designing and manufacturing falling block double rifles,” Bradshaw said. “I lost count of how many versions I designed and tested, but it was more than I care to recall. The end result was an over-complicated, bulky and ‘not-so-fun-to-manufacture’ action. I made several serviceable falling block doubles, but they were never the rifle I had envisioned as my ideal.
The cylindrical action—actually slightly oval in cross-section—carries wonderfully in the hand and is surely visually appealing. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
“I came across Ron Spomer’s article on the Hoenig rotary action and immediately searched Google Patents to get an understanding of how the action works,” added Bradshaw. “This all took place in 2016 and 2017. I noticed Mr. Hoenig’s patent expired in 2015 and decided I would like to try to build a rotary action for my own use—but as single shot and not a double rifle, as Mr. Hoenig typically made. I set about turning an action on my lathe, and an idea hit me: What George Hoenig did by condensing a bolt action into his rotary action, I could do with turning a falling block into my rising-block action. Two weeks later, I had a prototype rising-block single-shot action. The next four years were devoted to perfecting and marketing my rising-block singles and double rifles.”
“Fast-forward to the fall of 2020, and the acquisition of a CNC lathe,” continued Bradshaw. “I decided to revisit the rotary actions. I started with building a prototype SXS rotary action, which I didn’t care for. It was a little bulky for my taste and cumbersome to reload compared to my rising-block doubles. Focusing on the rotary action single-shots, they developed into something I very much enjoy. I carried and hunted with the prototype chambered in 7x65R for two years. Many hogs and coyotes have been taken with the rifle, but its shining attribute is how easily it carries in the field, and how easily it breaks down for travel. The action being oval instead of completely round sets the single-shot version apart, in my opinion.”
The BRSS comes in a tasty case with compartments to hold the rifle’s parts when disassembled, as well as a riflescope. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
“I did change a couple of features from Mr. Hoenig’s original design,” admitted Bradshaw. “The first is the safety, which isn’t a drastic departure. Though it operates in a similar fashion to the original design, I just changed it from a horizontal arrangement to vertical. The second change was to the link that connects the rotating breech to the barrel ring. Mr. Hoenig designed the link with a spring-loaded latch. With the action open, pulling the extractor out from the extracted position disengages the link latch, allowing the receiver and barrels to be separated. It was one more part to make, fit, time and tune. I went with a more simplified ‘keyed dowel’ arrangement that requires less work to manufacture, yet it offers every bit of the function and simplicity of the overall design. I also changed the length of the hinge of the rotating breech and link, providing a stop to limit how much the action gaps open for extracting and reloading.”
“My design philosophy is to build actions as simple as possible, with an absolute economy of parts, and to build those parts very robustly to ensure strength and longevity,” said Bradshaw. “I also put a huge emphasis on building sleek, low profile, good handling and shootable rifles. The rotary action, and my rising-block actions, both fit all of the above criteria. It’s a good place to be as a designer and manufacturer.”
Mr. Bradshaw, I couldn’t agree more.
A Classic Cartridge
The 7×57 Mauser hearkens back to the 19th century, being developed by Peter Paul Mauser in 1892 and adopted as Spain’s military cartridge in 1893. It would be this cartridge in the Spanish-American War that’d serve as the inspiration for the U.S. Army to ultimately develop the .30-06 Springfield. Like so many cartridges of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the rimless cartridges were offered in a rimmed variant for single and double rifles; the 7x57mm Mauser was no exception.
The 7x57R is no more and no less than a rimmed variant of the time-tested 7×57 Mauser, fully capable of filling the all-around hunting role. These 173-grain slugs printed three-shot groups measuring 1.2 inches and cut neat little paper-punch holes in the target. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
Dubbed the 7x57R (R for rimmed), it’s identical in dimension and performance to the rimless variety, except for the base and rim. While nowhere near as popular as the rimless version, it remains a sound choice for all-around hunting. For test ammo, I used Sellier & Bellot’s 173-grain load, at a muzzle velocity of 2,379 fps. The late 19th century formula of heavy-for-caliber bullets at a moderate muzzle velocity worked just fine then, and it will do the same in the early 21st century. Boxer primed, these cartridges are fully reloadable.
Home On The Range
To test the accuracy of this lightweight wonder, I mounted a Leupold VX-6HD 1-6x24mm scope in Talley 30mm rings, and I set up the 100-yard target. The first thing I noted was the smooth trigger pull (according to my Lyman digital trigger scale, it broke consistently at 3 pounds, 4 ounces) with just a bit of creep and almost no overtravel. Recoil was more than manageable.
At the bench, the lightweight BRSS exhibited a fair amount of muzzle jump, but the recoil of the 7x57R was more than manageable. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
As you might expect with a rifle that tips the scales at 5 pounds, 11 ounces—unscoped—and with a pencil-thin barrel, there was an appreciable amount of muzzle jump. While my first thought was that getting back on target quickly might be an issue, that thought faded when I realized I had to bring the rifle off my shoulder to reload it anyway, so that was no issue.
Because of the thin barrel—which heats up quickly—I limited groups to three shots, and the Bradshaw BRSS consistently put three of those 173-grain slugs into a group measuring 1.2 inches (again, on that 100-yard target). I’m certain that this rifle would benefit from a custom handload, but for a factory load, that’s plenty accurate enough for hunting purposes.
The Wrap
There’s a demand for heirloom-quality rifles—and looking for such a rifle made in the USA is a daunting task. The Bradshaw BRSS fits the bill perfectly; it’s a gentleman’s rifle, worthy of passing on to your children and built to last several lifetimes. This is no cookie-cutter rifle, and it will assuredly stand out in the crowd.
Bradshaw spared no expense on the rifle I tested, save gold inlays; the color case hardening, scroll engraving, hand-cut checkering and fine stock lines all scream “bespoke rifle.” This gun starts at $7,500; in the configuration pictured here in this article, it’s $9,500. I can only imagine the amount of time it takes one pair of hands to complete this rifle—you’re getting a functional piece of art, so keep that in mind when considering the price.
The test rifle had an amazing piece of walnut, hand-worked to the point where I’d get lost just looking at it. The rifle has balance, handsome lines and exudes craftsmanship. The action, which may seem foreign at first, quickly becomes natural. I can only imagine how pleasant it would be to carry this lightweight rifle in the African heat when on the tracks of eland or kudu. The compact design would be right at home in a leopard blind—where you only get one shot—or when sitting on a bear bait. Though I might have concerns about scratching it up in the deer woods, I can’t imagine a nicer choice for still hunting whitetails.
The Bradshaw BRSS offers an extractor, but not an ejector. Since it’s only offered in rimmed cartridges, it’s no problem to take a spent case from the chamber. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
Bradshaw offers the BRSS in any rimmed cartridge, from .22 Hornet to 9.3x74R, so there are plenty of excellent options. I wonder what a .300 H&H Flanged might feel like in this gun, and if you wanted something completely unique, you could inquire about the possibility of a .350 Rigby No. 2 or a .333 Jeffery Flanged. Bespoke is, after all, bespoke.
I truly enjoyed my time with the Bradshaw BRSS and was saddened to see it head back to Bradshaw’s shop. Maybe one day I’ll have one of my own, but for now, you and I both can feed our daydreams at BradshawGunAndRifle.com.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the July 2023 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Trijicon has just announced two new pistol red dot sights, the RCR and the RMR HD.
Despite being a frontrunner in the pistol red dot market, Trijicon doesn’t release new models all that often. So, when the company does have something to unveil, it’s all the more exciting. That’s twice as true today as Trijicon has just announced two new pistol red dots, the RCR and the RMR HD.
Trijicon RCR.
The RCR, or Ruggedized Closed Reflex, is a closed emitter optic that mounts via Trijicon’s RMR footprint. Designed to be durable enough for serious military and law enforcement use, the RCR is built using 7075-T6 aluminum and is waterproof to 66 feet. It features 10 brightness settings (three for night vision and one “super bright”), has a 3.25-MOA red dot and should be able to co-witness any iron sights that are compatible with the original RMR.
A final feature worth mentioning, and one that Trijicon fans have been requesting for a while, is a top-load battery compartment. With it, there’s no need to re-zero the optic after changing its CR2032 battery, although Trijicon says that the RCR can run continuously for six years at brightness setting 5. MSRP is $849.
Trijicon RMR HD.
While it has the same footprint and general profile as the original RMR, the most apparent change present on the RMR HD is its larger window. This will make it easier to find the dot when presenting the pistol and allows for a better view of one’s target. It also features 9 brightness settings (three for night vision and one “super bright”), and they can either be selected manually or automatically by the optic’s light sensor.
As for the reticle, there are two models available, one featuring a 3.5-MOA dot and the other with a 1-MOA dot. Regardless of which you choose, both can also toggle between a dot-only reticle and a 55-MOA segmented circle/dot reticle. The RMR HD now features a top-load battery as well, and Trijicon says that its CR2032 battery can power it continuously for over three years at brightness setting 5. MSRP is also $849 for both variants.
Primary Arms Optics has just announced a new red dot and two new riflescopes as a part of its Odyssey Part 2 event.
Primary Arms Optics launched this year’s new products as a part of its Odyssey 2023 event, but the company has just announced Odyssey 2023 Part 2 to mark the release of three more optic models. The new lineup includes a red dot sight as well as two rifle scopes.
The first new Primary Arms rifle scope is a second-generation version of the SLx 3-18x50mm FFP. Compared to the original model of the popular scope, the SLx 3-18x50mm FFP Gen 2 features improved clarity, definition and general optical performance. The turrets have been upgraded as well, and the scope will be available with either the ACSS Athena BPR MIL, ACSS Apollo 6.5CM or ACSS Apollo .308 reticle. The SLx 3-18x50mm FFP is available for pre-order now, will be available in October and has an MSRP of $499.99.
SLx 3-18x50mm FFP Gen 2.
The second optic in the Odyssey Part 2 lineup is just a new color option for the popular PLx 1-8x24mm FFP Compact Rifle Scope. A best-seller for Primary Arms since it launched in 2022, this small and versatile LPVO is now available with an FDE finish. The new version is available now in limited numbers, is offered with either an ACSS Raptor M8 Yards or an ACSS Griffin MIL M8 reticle and has an MSRP of $1,499.99.
PLx 1-8x24mm FFP Compact Rifle Scope.
Optic number three is the Classic Series RD-25 red dot, and Primary Arms says that it was designed to be rugged, reliable and affordable. While nothing fancy, if Primary Arms’ claims hold, it seems to be a solid optic for its price of $129.99. Available now, the Classic Series RD-25 features a 25mm aperture, a 3-MOA dot reticle and it comes with a QD mount.
Some issues and fixes for when it comes to dealing with the bearing surface of today’s longer bullets.
There’s a marked change in progress in the rifle bullet industry, and one that’s not going away. Our bullets are growing longer, ogives are flattening out, and the notable shift away from lead-core designs has our traditional bullet weights growing in length. The higher ballistic coefficient of the longer bullet is so important to long-range shooters that entire families of cartridges have been designed around the bullet instead of vice versa.
For the reloader, all of this can pose some issues, in both the practical application of these bullets as well as the choice of bullet weight/type for your given cartridge. The bearing surface of these longer bullets can often generate problems and challenges for the reloader, so let’s look at some issues and some fixes when it comes to loading the longer bullets.
Our modern bullets are growing longer, and nothing can stop them. As reloaders, we must adapt. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
The Long Game
My first experience with longer bullets and bearing surface came with the first iteration of the Barnes X bullets. I loved the concept—the idea of monometal construction with no different parts to separate—but the bullets simply didn’t group well in any of my rifles, and the copper fouling was hellacious. The load data I was using wasn’t working out either, and I couldn’t figure out why.
I felt some relief knowing it wasn’t just me, because Barnes introduced the TSX, or Triple Shock X bullet. The revised bullet has three grooves cut into the shank in order to reduce bearing surface; consequently, this also reduces pressure and copper fouling. In addition to radically improving the accuracy of the Barnes line—and restoring my faith in the product—the pressures generated dropped significantly, and the load data changed accordingly. I’ve found that the monometal bullets of the last decade or so actually perform better with powders on the faster side of the range for a particular cartridge, which bring the pressures back up for a more consistent velocity.
California has passed laws prohibiting the use of lead and lead-core bullets in the hunting fields, so the use of copper/copper alloy projectiles is required, and that has certainly had an effect on the market’s use of that style of bullet. In fact, nearly all of the major bullet manufacturers offer a lead-free projectile in their lineup, with more models popping up each year.
Looking at the pleasures and pitfalls of the monometals, you’ll find that the lighter material results in a longer bullet when compared to the lead-core counterparts. This moves the center of gravity rearward and can compromise bullet stability in certain instances. Where the majority of the 6.5mm cartridges work wonderfully with a 140-grain lead core spitzer bullet and a round-nose 160-grain lead-core bullet, the most common twist rates won’t stabilize a 140-grain copper alloy spitzer bullet; hence, the popularity of the 129- and 130-grain monometal designs in that caliber.
Generally speaking, with the common twist rates, the heaviest bullet weights for a given caliber won’t be stabilized if that projectile is lead-free. But that’s alright, because the terminal performance is usually such that the hunter can actually drop down in weight without being overly concerned.
For example, a 180-grain bullet has long been the common choice for the various .300 Magnums, but you can surely see similar terminal performance from a monometal 165-grain choice. The 130-grain 6.5mm bullet doesn’t give up an awful lot in comparison to a lead-core 140-grain slug, and a 250- or 270-grain monometal bullet in a .375 H&H or .375 Ruger has no flies on it.
Profiles And Data
Modern lead-core bullets designed for long-range hunting can have radically different profiles in comparison to the flat-based spitzer bullets, and they might require a different set of load data. For example, if you were to compare a 200-grain Nosler Partition and a 200-grain Federal Terminal Ascent, you’ll see that the classic Partition design has much more bearing surface than the sleek Terminal Ascent with its longer ogive and boat-tail. A specific data set should be used for each bullet, as the Partition will most likely reach its pressure peak at a lower charge rate than the Terminal Ascent.
Hornady’s ELD-X and ELD Match, Federal’s Terminal Ascent, Berger VLD and Hybrid bullets, Sierra MatchKings and Tipped MatchKings are all examples of bullets with a unique bearing surface when compared to traditionally shaped projectiles. Many reloading manuals will include separate data for this type of bullet, though they’re sometimes lumped together by weight.
The 205-grain .30-caliber Berger Elite Hunter has a long, sleek ogive; in the .300 Winchester Magnum, the reloader might have to address the cartridge overall length. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
I’ve also found that the true accuracy potential of these higher B.C. bullets may not be realized at 100 yards, where so many of us reloaders do our accuracy testing. They require a bit of time to “settle down,” and when you measure group sizes in MOA, the 300-yard target may tell a different tale than does the 100-yard target. I’ll also say that those bullets with the severe boat-tail are happier with consistent velocity figures and are prone to be affected by variations in velocity more than their flat-based cousins.
Additional Tips
One caveat about loading these long, sleek bullets: a regular seating plug may damage the meplat, defeating the entire purpose of using these bullets in the first place. Check your seating plug and, if need be, check with the manufacturer to purchase a “VLD” seating plug; it’ll be a game-changer.
Additionally, some of these bullets will pose a challenge when trying to adhere to the prescribed cartridge overall length (C.O.L.); you may find that the case mouth is sitting on the bullet’s ogive instead of the shank. That situation is unacceptable, so you’ll be forced to either seat that bullet out to where the case mouth is on the shank with a longer C.O.L. or choose a different design. If you choose to exceed the published C.O.L. value, you’ll need to make sure that the projectile isn’t going to contact the lands of your rifle (which will generate dangerous pressures).
Also, the longer cartridge length may prevent the cartridge from seating in the rifle’s magazine; what you’ll end up with is a single-feed rifle. Simply put, I don’t feel that the cartridge designers of a half-century ago or more could envision the bullets of the 21st century and the advancements in powder, barrels and optics. Our modern cartridge designs are looking at the bullet geometry first and cartridge length second.
The reloader can take full advantage of these new bullet designs, to a certain point: Attempting to stuff them in a cartridge that just isn’t suited to that bullet profile seems counterintuitive. Part of reloading is knowing the limitations of each design, and staying within safe parameters and that includes using a bullet design that mates up to your rifle’s magazine and throat with causing a potentially dangerous situation.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the May 2022 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
The author discusses what linear compensators are, what they do, if you should get one and the 7 best models to consider.
In a nutshell, linear compensators differ from traditional compensators by directing gases forward rather than radially. Like any muzzle device, linear compensators have a place and purpose, but there is also a great deal of myth, lore and misleading marketing that surrounds them.
With that in mind, we’ll be going over exactly what a linear compensator does, how well one would suit your needs and finally the best models to buy.
What Does A Linear Compensator Do?
Compensators direct gases in a specific direction to achieve a beneficial effect. Typical compensators direct gas upwards and/or to the sides of the muzzle, keeping it from rising or listing laterally under recoil.
This lets the shooter get back on target sooner and therefore get faster split times.
Linear compensators, however, direct those gases forward in a straight line to the target. Precisely how depends on the design of the individual device, but the gist is that the gas chamber(s) of the muzzle device direct the gas in the barrel in the same direction as the projectile.
Rather than attempting to mitigate muzzle rise or recoil impulse, linear compensators are designed to force all muzzle blast and gas exhaust forward of the muzzle. The goal of this has nothing to do with split times and is instead focused on minimizing the potentially disorienting effects of excessive muzzle blast.
Despite this, there are some misconceptions about linear comps. Some swear that they reduce felt recoil, but even if true, the effects would still pale in comparison to a muzzle device designed specifically for recoil reduction.
Others think that they decrease sound or act as some sort of ersatz suppressor, but online testing has revealed that to not really be true. When measured at the shooter’s ear, the best result was on a 9mm PCC that saw a reduction of about 7 to 9 dB. Most other calibers and platforms were only reduced by less than 5 dB, and usually only by 1 or 2. This shows that the efficacy of linear compensators does vary somewhat between calibers and platforms, but none of them make a gun quiet enough for it to really be noticeable. Additionally, linear comps cannot be expressly designed to reduce noise as that would legally classify them as silencers. Any attenuation they sometimes provide is therefore more of a happy accident.
This means that linear compensators are not ideal for home defense setups, despite what some have been led to believe. Any noise over 130 dB indoors is going to be traumatic, so if sound reduction is your goal, you’re still going to need a real suppressor.
So, if they don’t mitigate recoil, and they only minimally hush up the gun, what are linear compensators actually good for?
When You Want To Use A Linear Compensator
What a linear compensator will excel at is directing muzzle blast and concussion almost exclusively downrange.
That makes them beneficial if you're trying to keep anything or anyone to your side from getting concussed by your muzzle blast. Whether you’re just plinking at the range, competing in a rifle match or doing CQB training, this can be extremely useful and courteous to anyone to your left or right. This is doubly true for rifles with short barrels which are notorious for having excessive muzzle blast. For most gun owners and shooters, the range is going to be the best use case, and it is in that role that they absolutely shine.
That said, they're also good accessories for a light machine gun if you happen to have one. After all, that's really what the cone devices on MG-42s and Brens are!
Types Of Linear Compensators
There's not much to know about the design features, as the differences between many models are almost entirely aesthetic.
Simply put, they’re metal shrouds that attach to the end of a barrel. Muzzle devices of this general design have been in use for almost a century and haven't changed much.
However, there are some design features to watch for depending on your intended application.
Some linear compensators are shrouds intended to work with other muzzle devices, such as sliding over a muzzle brake or compensator to convert it into a linear comp. This may be handy if you want to switch to a brake or traditional compensator or remove the linear comp to attach a suppressor.
Some are designed to fit inside the handguard of an AR, in case you want to enclose as much of the barrel as possible.
Some are also bigger than others, which means even more of the muzzle blast is directed downrange. This may be desirable for a gun that has a lot of flash and concussion.
Aside from that, look for sturdy materials, caliber compatibility and whether it fits your thread pitch.
So, what would be some good picks for a linear compensator? Here are some excellent examples that would be worth looking into.
The 7 Best Linear Compensators
Kaw Valley Precision Linear Comp
The Kaw Valley Precision Linear Comp is one of the most popular examples on the market, is available in multiple calibers and thread pitches (from .223 to .450 Bushmaster/.458 SOCOM and PCCs from 9mm to .45 ACP), fits a lot of different applications (including under most handguards) and is very affordable.
Frankly, unless you have a very specific need that it doesn't satisfy, this is the no-brainer linear comp to get. MSRP is $54.95 for the basic 2-inch model.
Griffin Armament Taper Mount Linear Compensator
Griffin Armament manufactures several rifle accessories including suppressors and muzzle devices. The Taper Mount Linear Compensator fits into their product architecture as a linear comp, but with external threads for mounting select Griffin Armament Taper Mount suppressors.
It's offered in 1/2×28 for 5.56/.223 and 5/8×24 thread pitches for 6.5mm and 7.62mm calibers. A pinhole is included for pinning and welding, and a thread protector is available from them in case you want one. MSRP is $104.95, but they can be found a little cheaper through some retailers.
TacFire Linear Compensator
If you wanted a no-frills linear comp that's as budget-friendly as can be, the TacFire Linear Compensator is your best bet. A similar design to the Kaw Valley Linear Compensator, it's available in multiple calibers and a few different finishes, easily slim enough to fit under most handguards.
They can be found for as little as $20 if you catch them on sale.
SureFire Warden Blast Regulator
The SureFire Warden Blast Regulator is a slip-on blast can/linear compensator that works with any SureFire SOCOM muzzle device. It slides on and locks in place, with a release button to take it off if you want and shoot without it or install a SureFire SOCOM suppressor.
It does require buying into SureFire's muzzle device system, but it also provides a lot of versatility as long as you want to use the company’s suppressors too. MSRP for the Warden is $250.
CMMG Zeroed Linear Compensator
If you want simple and low-profile, the CMMG Zeroed Linear Compensator is just that. It's small, but it works. Caliber options include 7.62, 5.56, 9mm and .45 ACP, but all models are only about 1.5 inches long. Simple, slim and sinister.
MSRP is $75, but it can often be found for a bit less.
Lantac Stingray Non Linear Compensator
The Lantac Stingray is a little different as it uses an advanced gas flow design to function as both a blow-forward brake and compensator. The Stingray does this by using threaded channels and vent ports that vent some gas upward as well as forward. This allows it to act as a brake as well as a linear compensator.
The only drawbacks are the lack of additional thread pitch and caliber options (1/2×28 and 5.56mm only) and the cost given its MSRP of $185.
KAK Industries Flash Can
The other slam-dunk, no-brainer option in linear compensators is the KAK Industry Flash Can, a no-nonsense linear comp/blow-forward device. It's offered in multiple lengths and styles (long, short, micro, fluted and not, slim and not) and various thread pitches/calibers.
They're simple, easy to install, durable and very affordable, with MSRPs starting under $30 for some models. The most you'll spend is $40.
A closer look at AG Composites and how the company builds some of the finest composite rifle stocks available.
For decades, some scoffed at the Deep South as a hub for world-class technology, but they weren’t paying attention. Alabama, and especially the intellectual lightning rod city of Huntsville—headlined by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center—is home to some of the world’s most advanced scientific and engineering minds.
Brothers Matt and Dave Tandy are two such minds. Together, the military veterans parlayed their love for shooting sports with an aerospace engineering background into one of the world’s most innovative rifle stock companies—AG Composites—a grand feat that should be taken lightly … very lightly.
AG Composites doesn’t just make composite stocks; they make incredibly light and remarkably durable composite stocks that, on average, weigh as little as 25 ounces in their AG Privateer line. Their heavyweight stock, the AG Carbon K2 Adjustable, averages 45 ounces. Again, those are just the averages. They can—and do—make lighter ones.
But why stocks?
“Back in the summer of 2013, a Marine friend suggested that Dave, now the current president of AG Composites, craft his own carbon-fiber M1A stock,” said Matt. “He took this challenge and designed his first stock. It was a successful failure [in] that it taught him a lot about the stock-making process. His next design, however, was a much more functional stock. The passion for design and improvement was instilled. We’ve always enjoyed shooting and hunting, and as military veterans with entrepreneur spirits, those first two stocks were the seeds that led to starting the company and getting involved in the industry.”
Still, making a good stock doesn’t always mean you should start your own stock business. So, why did the Tandy brothers take the next step and choose to start a business in the firearms industry?
“We saw an opportunity, as stock delivery lead times were extraordinarily long and carbon-fiber products were becoming a highly sought-after component,” Matt said. “Our knowledge and experience with the newest materials, high-quality designs and delivery times that were being measured in weeks, not months, gave us an edge over the competition out of the gate.”
Though new to the industry, the Tandy brothers had several vital attributes to help them move quickly and successfully in the firearms stock manufacturing market.
AG Composite stocks are inletted for Remington 700 actions and Remington clones, such as Defiance, Kelbly, Stiller, Lone Peak and Impact. In addition to manufacturing AG Composites stocks that are used by many custom gun builders and companies like Remington, they make private-labeled products for Kimber, Barrett, Weatherby, Bergara, Alamo Precision, Mesa Precision Arms and others.
Service With Speed
“What makes us unique is, as former officers in the military, having leadership skills and a high level of organization keeps us focused on quality, customer service and on-time delivery times,” continued Matt. “With those skills, along with our aerospace engineer background and a track record of starting successful businesses, we strive for perfection in both our products and our customer service. We continue to set the bar higher for ourselves because we know that is good for our customers and good for business.”
AG Composites outlines its stock manufacturing process into four key categories: design, materials, manufacturing and quality control. “When someone buys our product, they are getting a premier rifle stock that will last a lifetime and perform in any hunting or shooting environment,” Matt said.
Here’s how AG Composites break down these four key categories:
Design
AG Composites uses modern design software to create computer-aided design (CAD) models of every stock manufactured. AG Composites’ design engineers bring their aerospace industry CAD modeling experience to every stock. CAD modeling has many advantages to include:
• Rapid exploration of many design concepts
• Precise modeling of stock inletting and compatibility with popular barrel contours, actions and bottom metal
• Modeling of mold tooling and machining fixtures
Materials
AG Composites uses the highest-quality carbon fiber, epoxy and paint products to manufacture its premium line of composite rifle stocks. The end result is an extremely lightweight, yet extremely rugged, product designed around the needs of the shooter.
Manufacturing
Proprietary manufacturing processes are the secret sauce behind AG’s ability to produce best-in-class stocks with delivery times that are a fraction of our competitors.
Quality Control
Consistency, efficiency, cost control and frequent quality control checks are the primary drivers of each step of the manufacturing process. Automation is used wherever possible, starting with the high-precision cutting table used to cut every piece of carbon-fiber material in AG Composite stocks.
But building an excellent product is only one piece of the puzzle, and AG puts as much precision into its business philosophies as it does the stocks that hit the market.
“We built our brand based on quality, timely delivery and great customer service,” said Matt. “As a company, we have created an environment where employees are valued and have a vested interest in seeing their team and the overall company succeed. We teach our employees and lead by example and to have a servant’s heart. We serve our customers well and do what we say we’re going to do.”
In that same spirit, AG Composites knows its customers are more than a revenue source; they consider them the best and most influential mentors in the hunting and shooting business.
“Working with and listening to some great gun builders, rifle manufacturers and individual hunters have helped keep ourselves and our products on the cutting edge,” Matt said.
Family Through It All
Success didn’t come without a struggle—the Tandy brothers are brothers, after all.
“As brothers with different skill sets, this can be a good thing but also, at times, cause friction,” Matt admitted. “In the early days of starting the company, we would clash occasionally, but we quickly learned to utilize our best talents and work in tandem as a team, because at the end of the day, our business goals were aligned. After our first SHOT Show in 2016, we learned that rifle stocks had the greatest opportunity.”
The brothers paid very close attention to industry success and failures, like any successful business should. One of the things they learned not to do was try to be something they’re not.
Long-range shooters and hunters have come to trust AG Composites stocks for the most difficult and rarest opportunities in the world.
“So many companies try to be everything to everyone,” Matt said. “This can cause a company to be inefficient, resulting in poor products and bad service. We decided to focus our efforts on carbon-fiber rifle stocks because they’re lightweight, rigid and accurate. This is our area of expertise. We can proudly stand behind each one of our products with certainty.”
Over the past few years, AG Composites, like the rest of the firearms industry, has had to deal with more than their fair share of business-building curveballs like government leadership change, economic uncertainty and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Obstacles aside, AG Composites knows who they are.
“We are already known among thousands of customers around the world because we can be delivered in weeks, not months,” Matt said. “We will continue to expand our brand by investing in technology and high-quality employees. This will provide our current and future customers with quality products and top-notch customer service.”
And, AG Composites knows who they want to be as well.
“Our company is just hitting our stride,” Matt said. “We still have a lot of customers to reach and show them why AG Composites is the right choice for a high-end, carbon-fiber rifle stock. We will also continue to look for opportunities that make business sense and fit into our area of expertise.”
Debunking the flawed “shoot ‘em to the ground” concept when it comes to using lethal force for self-defense.
About 15 or so years ago, the concept of “shooting the person to the ground” came into vogue, and while many instructors gave the idea up when the ammo crunch hit, I still know a few who hang onto that ill-conceived idea. Let me tell you why that advice is, in my opinion, ill conceived.
Tactical Considerations
First, it’s not really tactically sound for a couple of reasons. Assuming your life is in grave, immediate danger (meaning you need to stop the individual as quickly as possible), would a single or perhaps two well-aimed shots into the upper thoracic cavity (heart, spine or arteries to the brain) be more likely to put the individual out of commission quicker than a half a dozen randomly placed shots? An argument can be made for either proposition, though the one or two well-placed shots will do it quicker.
Drawing and firing one well-placed shot will take less than 2 seconds for most well-trained armed citizens. For two shots, add a half-second for a total of 2.5 seconds. If you were able to anticipate the need to shoot and had the gun in your hand, then cut a second off the time. Can’t do it in 1.5 to 2.5 seconds? Then it’s time to go to a reputable school and learn that skill.
On the other hand, if you shoot six (or more) shots rapid fire, you can still accomplish that in the same time. But what are your chances of making a stopping hit? Probably less than one or two well-aimed shots. Don’t believe me? Go to the range with a buddy and a timer and give it a try. You might be surprised. What we’re looking for are shots within a 5- or 6-inch circle on target. Start at 5 yards and then give it a try at 7.
The next tactical issue pertains to potential additional attackers. Depending on the number of rounds in the gun, you might just run out of ammo before you can deal with the second and/or third subjects.
Legal Considerations Of Lethal Force
There are two other considerations, both legal ones, that make the rapid-fire volley of shots until they’re on the ground really bad advice. You see, you’re responsible for all the bullets you fire, not just the ones that hit the intended target. If you miss with one or two shots, where are those slugs going to land? Hopefully not in an innocent bystander.
Then, there’s the consideration of the shots that do hit the target. Are they all going to be in the front of the subject and at an angle that shows he or she was attacking you? Or, will one or two find their way into the back or side, at which time there’s a difficult argument to make your life was in danger when those shots fired. This can be diffused, but it’ll take expert testimony and a judge who understands the issue. I’ve worked on several cases where this was an issue … with mixed results.
Lastly, the “shoot ’em to the ground” advice will very likely result in a murder or manslaughter prosecution because every shot fired will be accompanied with a use-of-force analysis. Perhaps the first two to three shots were deemed necessary, but a prosecutor, especially one on the more progressive side of the prosecutorial scale, might decide to prosecute because he or she believed the last couple weren’t necessary.
I recently worked on a case where the defendant fired 10 shots, nine of those striking the deceased. It was determined that the second-to-the-last shot fired was an instantly fatal shot, although others may have been fatal within a short period of time. But a shot into the brain was the one that sealed the defendant’s fate and was completely unnecessary, as the instant perceived threat to the defendant had stopped.
Train With Purpose
Additionally, there’s the axiom that you’ll perform as you train. If your training primarily consists of multiple shot volleys, then it’s likely you’ll do just that when you respond under stress. We see it all the time in competition shooting, where the shooter is used to firing two shots at each target, and when the time comes when only one shot is required, many times he or she fires two anyway.
Vary your training so the only programed response to live threatening events is the draw stroke. How many shots you fire must then be determined by the particular event and while that might just take a moment longer, it’s a moment that’ll very likely prevent you from a long prison term.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the May 2022 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Modifying your Glock to look good on social media isn’t hard—but carefully choosing what modifications you make that enhance your Glock’s performance while retaining factory reliability is a lot harder. With a sea of choices, separating the high-quality parts that enhance your pistol from those that are nothing more than tinsel can be a challenge.
A Glock 19 C makes a great concealed carry gun with a few enhancements that help it perform like a much larger one with a compensator.
Just because you can find high-quality parts that can tailor your pistol to fit whatever role you use your Glock doesn’t mean that Glock Perfection needs perfection. In stock form, the Glock is probably the single best duty pistol ever produced and is more than capable of nearly every handgun owner worldwide.
Even though your pistol is fine, there are some good reasons to modify it. The question is, what are the most beneficial modifications to make? After shooting more than a quarter-million rounds through Glocks—ranging from entirely stock to the highly modified ATEi space blasters—most have taught me that some Glock upgrades are worth their weight in gold … but others can make the pistol worse.
Function Over Form
Sure, that awesome slide you found on eBay might net you bazillions of followers on The Gram, but will it transform you into a paper-shredding shoot-bot with an odd penchant for skinny jeans? No, it probably won’t.
Just because a Glock isn’t focused on function doesn’t mean that it’s wrong; aesthetically focused builds have a place in the world. That said, generic Glock upgrades purchased on Wish.com isn’t OK if you intend to use that gun in a defensive role.
Being put in the position to use a firearm defensively sucks enough; think of how much more it would suck if that AliExpress trigger kit failed and the gun didn’t go bang.
Buying Skill
Despite what the internet tells you, a new trigger or barrel on your Glock isn’t going to make you a better shooter. The truth is, most modifications actually mask your shortcomings as a shooter, and you can’t buy skill.
Most shooters see improvement as a result of two factors: mechanical advantage and psychological impact. Mechanical advantage is a pretty simple concept; sometimes, the part makes the system work more efficiently. Making the pistol better was the intention, but be careful not to ignore the things you need to work on as a shooter.
The psychological impact is harder to spot and can fool you into thinking that a part held you back. Yes, the trigger feels crisper and shorter—you might even shoot marginally better with the new trigger installed. Truth is, you shoot the same as you did before: Skill-building takes work, not parts.
Quality Glock Parts
If there’s one lesson I’ve learned as a shooter that I could pass on to every new gun owner, it would be to buy quality the first time. Purchasing a copy of an established product or a bargain product that’s supposed to do the same job as the brand-name one often comes with hidden costs attached.
Cheap red-dot sights will fail, cheap iron sights can damage your slide’s sight dovetails, and inexpensive triggers can cause a gun to fire unintentionally. Even something as trivial as aftermarket metal frame pins can wallow out the holes in the frame and ruin your gun entirely.
If you’ve had parts that the internet has labeled “jUsT aS gUd” fail and are forced to buy a replacement, the more expensive brand might have cost you less money in the long run.
Glock Upgrades That Affect Reliability
Aftermarket recoil springs
Aftermarket striker springs
Non-Glock strikers
Non-Glock spring cups
Gen 1-4 barrels in Gen 5 guns
Aftermarket frame pins
Aftermarket minus connectors
Best Glock Upgrades
Sights
It should go without saying that replacing the plastic dovetail protectors with some proper sights will improve the overall shooting experience. You can shoot a Glock effectively with stock sights, but do you want to if there are better options?
Upgrading your OEM plastic sights to fibers is a worthy investment. Choose adjustable if your budget can handle it.
For iron sights, adjustable sights are the way to go so you can tailor your sights to ammunition changes. Dawson Precision makes some of the best ones out there. My recommendation is the all-black rear with a fiber-optic front sight, a reasonably fast setup with just about the most precision you can get out of irons.
Of course, the ideal solution is to add a red dot to your pistol. Regardless of the way you want to look at it, a red-dot is going to offer you a more precise aiming system without sacrificing speed or durability. If you don’t own a MOS slide, calling a shop like ATEi to get your slide milled for an optic is a great solution.
Grip
One of the weak points of Gen 3 and older Glocks is the lack of effective texture on the pistol sides. Glock did listen to the end-user and brought the RTF2 and RTF3 textures to market, but the aftermarket was already melting more aggressive patterns into grips with wood burners.
Pro Stipplers, like Great Lakes Custom Works (bottom) or TXT Custom Gun Works (top), can enhance the pistol’s grip to be better—without the risk of ruining a frame.
Since this practice started, stipple work has evolved with shops like Great Lake Custom Works offering grip packages that change the way the gun feels by offering finger grove removal, deeper trigger guard undercuts and index points that act as a makeshift gas pedal.
Being able to tailor your pistol to the level of texture that fits your needs best isn’t a parlor trick to be ignored; it has a considerable effect on the shooting experience. Having a top-tier shop like Great Lakes or TXT Custom gun works can set you back a couple of hundred dollars, but removing the chance of a ruined frame is well worth it.
That isn’t to say that you can’t do a reasonable functional job at home with an OT Defense DIY Stipple Kit; take care not to warp the magwell or remove too much material with a Dremel tool. If you’re intent on doing it yourself, take your time and go slow.
Trigger
Choosing a trigger isn’t as simple as buying the one with the coolest colors, the best marketing or even the lighter trigger pull weight. My goal with trigger changes isn’t to reduce pull weight or shorten reset distance—it’s to reduce the trigger reach.
The distance from the backstrap to the trigger face, or trigger reach, will do a lot to improve the shooting experience if you select the right one. Yes, the OEM trigger works fine, but switching to a flat-face trigger can help those with shorter fingers get a proper grip on the gun without doing weird things with their grip. Remember, the Glock is a double-action pistol, and the trigger finger should be deeper in the trigger guard … just like you shoot a double-action revolver.
If you have shorter fingers, you might look at the Overwatch Precision DAT V2 or TAC triggers, TangoDown’s Vickers trigger or Agency Arms' trigger, which is the best of the bunch, in my opinion. Those with longer fingers might look at the Apex Tactical trigger or even stick with the OEM trigger and install a minus connector to get the pull into the 5-pound range.
Controls
Upgraded controls are generally the next thing that I recommend addressing if you find the stock ones aren’t cutting the mustard. Gen 4 and Gen 5 pistols are pretty good right out of the box; you might want to think about an enhanced slide release, though. Gen 3 pistols are another matter and probably would benefit from a magazine release that makes it easier for those with shorter fingers to hit the button.
A TangoDown Vickers Tactical mag release is perfect for speeding up your reloads.
For slide releases, the raised and rearward swept Kagwerks slide release is the one that I choose for my guns because it allows me to adopt an extremely high grip on the pistol and still have the slide release function as intended. TangoDown’s Vickers release is also a great one, but it can suffer failure to lock back with a high enough grip.
When looking for a new slide release, avoid metal ones when using OEM Glock magazines. The metal release will deform the mag catch cutout and eventually cause a malfunction by allowing the mag to slip out of place during recoil. The OEM extended release are good options, as is the Vickers magazine release.
Plug
A plug that fills the void in the back of the grip, affectionately called a “buttplug,” does more than prevent dust and debris from making its way into the gun. If you select the right one, it will fill out the rear of the magwell and prevent the rim of a case from snagging during a reload.
Either a Glock plug or a magazine well removes that empty cavity in the rear that can catch during your reload.
Think of it like a magwell, just without the bulk. There are some low-profile magwells out there that are worth a look if you can conceal them, but sometimes a magwell like the Raven Concealment Freya is a bit too hard to conceal in some clothing. At less than $10 online, this is a low-cost Glock upgrade that has tangible benefits. Why not, right?
Barrel
Nearly last on the list is a barrel, and for a good reason. The only time a barrel upgrade makes sense is if you need a threaded barrel to add a compensator or suppressor, you’re putting a slide together from parts bought separately or you’ve damaged your original barrel.
Stock barrels are surprisingly accurate, and you don’t need a flashy barrel to shoot well.
You probably aren’t anywhere near shooting better than your OEM barrel can perform; why not spend the money on something that will improve your shooting like any of the other mods mentioned so far? Now, if you’re one of the few shooters capable of shooting under 3-inch groups offhand at 25 yards, replace the barrel with a high-quality one from KKM Precision or another company that produces barrels of similar quality—and try to tighten things up a bit more.
As for most shooters, the 5-yard target isn’t going to look much better by swapping the barrel out.
Remember how I said you couldn’t buy skill? The Mantis X10 Elite is almost like buying skill, the only difference is you need to put in the work with high-quality dry-fire practice. I know, a Mantis isn’t exactly a bolt-on Glock upgrade.
For those unfamiliar with the Mantis, it’s a small box that contains a bunch of sensors you can slide onto your light rail. Once you pair the sensor to your phone through Bluetooth, any movement the pistol makes will be relayed to the app on your phone, which you can then use to identify why you’re shooting low left with your Glock. At roughly the cost of a pre-Covid case of 9mm or less, a Mantis offers more benefit to the dollar than anything else.
The top-of-the-line Mantis X10 Elite even allows you to gather data on live-fire practice, what the pistol is doing in recoil and fine-tuning your draw. If you’re serious about getting more out of your Glock (or any pistol, for that matter), one of the Mantis models should be on your shopping or Christmas list.
It shouldn’t have to be said that you don’t need any of these things (except the Mantis) to shoot better; they make the pistol work better for your physiology. Use your head and think critically about what mods you perform on your pistol, and you can’t go wrong.
As long as you modify your pistol with high-quality parts that you can explain why you chose, the pistol will be better suited to your needs.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the December 2020 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Springfield Armory has just announced the Model 2020 Rimfire, adding .22 LR to the available chambering options of the bolt-action rifle series.
Springfield Armory is continuing to expand its Model 2020 bolt-action rifle series, this time with the announcement of the Model 2020 Rimfire line. Chambered for .22 LR, the new rifles are currently being offered in six different configurations including two synthetic-stocked Target models and four wood-stocked Classic models.
The Model 2020 Rimfire features a chromed bolt, dual cocking cams and a 60-degree bolt throw to ensure the action is smooth and easy to use. The rifles feature 20-inch, free-floated barrels, and the models that sport synthetic furniture are given threaded muzzles as well. Other noteworthy details include the rifles’ 10-round Ruger 10/22-pattern magazines, dual sling swivels and rubber recoil pads, although the 13.45-inch length of pull is nonadjustable. The 2020 Rimfire also comes standard with an adjustable trigger, but it can be replaced with any Remington 700-pattern trigger.
Steve Kramer, Vice President of Marketing for Springfield Armory, said this about the new rifles:
The appeal of a well-made rimfire rifle speaks to practically every shooting enthusiast … The new bolt-action Model 2020 Rimfire line chambered in .22 LR provides just that, with a wide selection of models offering something for every shooter — from suppressor-ready Target Models to Classic Models with beautiful walnut stocks.
The synthetic-stocked models can be had in either black or sage, with MSRPs of $434 and $499, respectively. The wood-stocked models are offered in four different grades of Turkish walnut with a satin finish, and MSRPs range from $529 to $1,099.
Hi-capacity 9mm pistols are popular right now, but they pale in power compared to the potential of a self-defense revolver.
In my heart, I’m a revolver guy. In a recent conversation with some industry friends, we began talking about my affinity and their opinions regarding wheelguns. They made an effort to gently let me know that they were dissatisfied with my previous inclusion of revolvers in my content, to the point where people may in fact be influenced to make a poor choice in self-defense gun.
Oddly enough, revolvers are, in their mind, not something I should be promoting due to the nature of violence in today’s world. The only tip or trick was to simply ditch revolvers in general, my advice on the topic being only to pander to rustics set in the past.
One stated if it weren’t for nostalgia, there’d be simply no reason to make them at all in the modern day, comparing them to vintage dial phones and horse-drawn carriages. Replicas and the like are just toys with no real-world use; any opinion to the contrary is just wishful thinking.
“Josh, you’re never going to be an Elmer Keith, and you should realize that by the time he wrote his works he was also behind the times.” One stated, “You’re telling people it’s alright to start at a severe disadvantage and make the best of it. It’s not right.”
Ethical concerns are something that we often face as writers; people listen to us, and you very well may spend hard-earned money after reading an article. Honesty is something that we in this job must have because, at the end of that line of thinking is a life potentially being taken, be it a bad guy or a game animal. The standard on which many writers opt to work with is often “just don’t make the advertisers mad,” and simply review a gun or ammo in the context of data only.
Objectively speaking, this is fine and allows the reader to draw their own conclusions on whatever product that may be. However, when the reality sets in, especially in self-defense topics, there needs to be the realistic nod to the fact that we’re talking about doing whatever it takes to defend ourselves.
Revolvers come in many shapes and sizes, but all generally peaked technologically in the late 1800s. The Taylor’s Russian (a S&W No. 3 Schofield variant) in .44 Russian is very accurate and fire 240-grain Keith bullets at 850 fps, which is plenty of power inside 75 yards on game. The modern Smith .38 SPL is like a baby brother, but still packs plenty of punch with 158-grain hardcast bullets at 1,000 fps.
Dissecting The Dilution
There you have some excellent advice on shotguns for home defense from someone who is considered a master in the art. However, the last bit of advice Hartman provided may be the most important: “Once you figure out your defensive shotgun, the defensive mindset is next. The gun is useless to you if you don’t perceive the threat. Don’t get caught in condition white!
I lament this not because I want to see gore in magazines, but because I think people need to have respect for what bullets really do when they hit flesh and bone. Likewise, I think they need to find respect for what they consider toys or fun playthings. A revolver may lack capacity, but I find it incredulous that one would dismiss an entire category of gun as a liability when, in reality, a revolver is a tremendously lethal weapon.
Sanitized media and unrealistic training are the sole culprits in the idea that a revolver is an antique. Some classes I’ve attended that are supposed to be self-defense instruction have even gone so far as to ban revolvers and won’t teach them. Yet, the same classes want you to have a dolled-up nine, OWB holster, three extra mags and often more stuff on your person. You absolutely don’t need a modern 22+1 9mm with a red-dot, suppressor and light to survive a fight.
Semi-autos, like the Glock 19 here, are very common and represent excellent capacity and accuracy. Is it always a better choice over other guns such as the Scandium frame hammerless Smith? Certainly, it’s more versatile in general use, but each of these guns has valid strong points and weaknesses to consider.
What you do need is a deep appreciation for what type of damage can be done by someone intent to harm—and what sort of harm you can do in return. If the instructor is making you train with stuff you aren’t going to carry at all times, you’re wasting your money. If an instructor won’t teach revolvers, they’re ignoring reality entirely. Pretending a category of weapon isn’t relevant because we have guns that hold more bullets is a sure way to get people killed.
What strikes me hardest about this entire situation is that it has led people to imagine that a .357 Magnum, with six rounds of 158-grain hardcast is a relic, yet I doubt a single person on earth would want to be within 1,000 yards of someone armed with one intent to do harm. Capacity isn’t the be-all and end-all for winning a fight, and I wish instructors would realize that by focusing on the realism of fleeing a fight or hiding. I’d love it if there was a class that took place in public places with fake guns, dealing solely with finding cover and escaping.
Beyond Capacity
There’s a preponderance of evidence that the modern revolver is a lethal instrument, offering serious advantages in close combat. The modern revolver came about with the Colt Single Action Army in the 1870s; everything else in the revolver world is basically there to address its perceived shortcomings. While slow to load and unload by today’s standards, the single-action revolver is as deadly as they come, very fast and very accurate.
Capacity notwithstanding, the .45 Colt, to this day, is a fearsomely powerful round and has sent scores of people and animals into the afterlife. I developed a 255-grain SWC Keith load that, from a 4¾-inch Colt, passed completely through three 16-inch FBI blocks end-to-end at 10 yards. At 25 yards, it also passed completely through.
Modern revolvers can fire a wide variety of popular ammo, including such rounds as 9mm, 10mm and .45 ACP in addition to mainstays like .45 Colt, .357 Mag, .38 Special and the .44 family comprising .44 Russian, Special and Magnum.
Modern cowboy loads are weaker as a rule, usually humming along at about 700 fps, and even these, such as the BHA 250-grain RNFP, will go clean through two blocks with ease. Keith wrote in his books about hunting with the .45 Colt and its ability to penetrate game at distance, himself shooting a large mountain goat with a 5½-inch Colt at long distance and having his bullets pass completely through for each shot on that tough beast.
Hardcast bullets are a major advantage in revolvers, allowing profiles semi-autos simply can’t feed. Among these are the cylindrical “man stopper” bullets and Keith semi-wadcutters. These bullet profiles are extraordinary in their ability to not just penetrate organic material, but they do substantially more damage than virtually any other bullet type.
A deer I shot with a .45-caliber Keith bullet looked like it had been crushed internally, whereas one I shot only days earlier with a 6.5 Creedmoor looked as if it had just been poked with a rapier. There’s much to be said of this bullet type; even in .38 Special, it offers penetration of material and flesh that can’t be readily matched by any jacketed loads of which I’m aware.
The Utilitarian Approach
Revolvers aren’t more reliable than modern semi-autos in a broad context. They have their own issues; however, they offer substantial advantages in close-range encounters and greater overall precision and power at distance.
There’s something of a bell curve when it comes to revolvers. For instance, if I knew I was going to grapple with someone and the gun would be pressed into clothing, I’d hands-down take a Smith J-frame, Ruger LCR or Colt Cobra. Force-on-force training is an eye-opener in this respect and, while they’re not useless, a semi-auto can be somewhat easily disabled if a bad guy grabs it. It can quickly turn to a single shot if the mag release is bumped. Malfunctions are an inevitability if wrestling with a semi-auto, whereas with a revolver, they’re far less frequent due to the lack of moving parts.
Moon clips like this aid in fast reloading for some revolver types. Using these isn’t as easy as a magazine in a semiautomatic, but it’s very fast and nearly foolproof.
For ranges from 15 to 25 yards, I’d take a high-capacity 9mm every time. At 25 to 50 yards, I like the 1911, but at ranges overlapping 25 to 150 yards, I’d certainly want a heavy-loaded .357 Mag or 255-grain .45 Colt. Hit likelihood drops rapidly with semi-autos at distance, and even red-dots don’t extend useful range by much compared to irons. If it’s at extreme close range or at long range, I’d prefer a revolver virtually every day. That median stretch is where the semi-auto excels—though capacity advantage comes at a reduction in power as ranges increase.
Why would it matter to be able to make shots at 150 yards? For personal defense, it’s a moot point … but it does speak to the power of a revolver. However, in a field environment, often while I travel for hunting, I don’t carry three separate handguns on me, usually just one that fits my requirements. I like to know that my pistol can substitute a rifle at close to medium range.
Carrying revolvers has never been easier. Concealed-carry holsters exist for virtually all models now, including classics like the Colt SAA. Products like the Mernickle holster here allow a fast draw and proper angle on the belt to utilize it one-handed.
Hitting a 10-inch plate at 150 yards isn’t that hard with a good revolver and some practice. The 255-grain .45 Colt at 1,000 fps only loses about 120 fps from the muzzle to 150 yards. That means it’s still more powerful than a 230-grain .45 ACP point blank. Folks don’t realize that with most 5½- to 7½-inch Colts zeroed for 25 yards, you can just hold high on the shoulder of a deer at 100 yards; it drops less than a foot at that range.
The reliability of revolvers is much more than just going bang every time; their utility, power and extended range accuracy are some things semi-autos have a hard time matching. Even the best 1911s I’ve used are limited in power compared to a revolver, whether in a home-defense situation or in the field.
The 10mm Auto and .45 ACP each have a realistic maximum range of 50 yards on deer—due to the restrictions of their magazine lengths and operating pressures necessary for reliable function. I’ve used them all extensively and 10mm and .45 ACP drop deer just about the same, but both are minuscule in power when compared to the .45 Colt and .357 Mag. in real-world use. And we haven’t even addressed the .44 Special and .44 Magnum, never mind the .44 Russian.
Loading revolvers varies by type. Some are slow, while others about as fast as semi-autos … with practice.
Timeless Protection
So, I stand fast to my beliefs that a revolver isn’t a useless tool, nor is it irrelevant in today’s defensive situations. If you’re a hand-loader, the revolver is your best friend, much like the bolt-action rifle. Not only are you afforded a wide range of pressure options, you’re also not limited to bullet profile.
The utility of a revolver in self-defense is subject to the individual encounter, and I’m a believer in its close-range superiority in a life-and-death struggle. The intent to use it lethally, be it in self-defense or in the field, has nothing to do with how many bullets you carry and how many you can fire. I don’t think it’s unethical and wrong to promote the use of what some consider antiquated technology any more than I find it unethical to voluntarily reduce power in favor of capacity.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the April 2022 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Smith & Wesson has just released the next gun that uses its TEMPO barrel system, the M&P22 Magnum in .22 WMR.
Smith & Wesson debuted its new TEMPO barrel system at SHOT 2023 when it announced the M&P 5.7, but another pistol was just released that will utilize it as well. Called the M&P22 Magnum, it’s chambered for .22 WMR and features a 30-round capacity.
The M&P22 Magnum has a full-size polymer frame, a 4.35-inch stainless steel barrel and an internal hammer-fired design. The TEMPO gas-operated barrel system doesn’t allow the gun to unlock until the bullet has passed the gas port, theoretically improving performance and reliability. Furthermore, it sports an impressive capacity of 30 rounds and ships with two magazines.
John Myles, Senior Manager of New Products at Smith & Wesson, said this about the new pistol:
The M&P22 MAGNUM combines the best features of our internal hammer fire control system with the patented TEMPO barrel design, creating a smooth operating experience for the shooter. The 22 WMR is a versatile and field-savvy cartridge that has been a legacy among American shooters, hunters, and trappers for decades. Smith & Wesson is proud to offer a new pistol that further supports the use of this cartridge outdoors or on the range.
Other notable features include its green fiber optic front sight, optics-ready slide and accessory rail. It also has an ambidextrous slide stop and thumb safety as well as a flat-faced trigger. The M&P22 Magnum has an MSRP of $649 and it’s available now.
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.
