Ruger has just released two new versions of the LCP MAX that feature a manual safety.
A lot of people only feel comfortable carrying a loaded handgun if it has a manual safety. For those individuals, the Ruger LCP MAX is now an option as the company has just released two new models that feature a manual safety.
Model 13749 features a manual thumb safety on its left side, and model 13754 features the same, as well as a magazine disconnect safety and a loaded chamber indicator on top. Whichever version you choose to go with, both are only available with a matte stainless slide. Their other features are the same as standard Ruger LCP MAX models—a 10+1-round capacity of .380 ACP, 2.8-inch barrels, an adjustable u-notch rear sight and a tritium front sight. In other words, besides the new safety features, they’re identical to the original model.
Also like the originals, both new manual safety LCP MAX models ship with one 10-round mag, a pocket holster and a magazine loader, and have an MSRP of $379.
While they don't get much attention these days, there are a few different .32-caliber cartridges out there that remain far from useless.
A hundred years before anyone thought about a .32 H&R Magnum, Winchester introduced the .32-20 WCF cartridge for their Model 73 lever-action rifle. The year was 1882, the same year Robert Ford shot Jesse James. The .32-20 soon became very popular in a variety of revolvers, especially Colt’s Peacemaker. Elmer Keith even developed an early relationship with the .32-20, shooting cottontails with his granddad and later carrying a 7½ inch Colt in .32-20 while working with a survey crew.
Other 0.32-caliber handgun cartridges, like the .32 Smith & Wesson, .32 Smith & Wesson Long and .32 Colt New Police, were popular with private detectives, cops and target shooters. In 1896, S&W attempted to improve the .32 S&W by lengthening the case by 0.31 inch. The .32 S&W Long was just as anemic as its parent cartridge, but when Teddy Roosevelt was police commissioner of New Your City, he chose Colt’s .32 New Police Revolver as the department’s issue sidearm. Colt’s cartridge was identical to the S&W Long.
Six years later, a 0.32-caliber handgun would make Roosevelt president when McKinley died from complications of his gunshot wound. And, 4 days prior to the assignation, Roosevelt spoke the now famous words, “Speak softly and carry a big stick, and you will go far.” Though it’s doubtful he was talking about a .32.
The bullet from this new .32 H&R Magnum load will not upset/expand on impact, but it will penetrate deeply. It’s intended for targets.
Surprisingly, in 1984, Harrington & Richards teamed with Federal and introduced the .32 H&R Magnum for their five-shot model 504, 532 and 586 revolvers. Charter Arms offered the new .32 in their six-shot, Police Undercover Revolver, and, in 1985, Ruger began chambering it in their SP101 and Single Six revolvers. As expected, 0.32-caliber fans were excited by the new cartridge, and as factory loaded, the .32 H&R essentially duplicated the performance of the .32-20.
However, the story line in gun magazines at the time was that the .32 H&R Magnum would outperform standard .38 Special loads. Maybe that’s true on paper, but actual terminal performance testing showed otherwise. Ultimately, in 2007, when Federal introduced the .327 Federal Magnum, all but .32 H&R Magnum devotees forgot about the first 0.32-caliber cartridge with “magnum” in the name.
Though intended for deer hunting with a lever gun, the .327 HammerDown Federal load can work well for self-defense.
Far from Useless
That does not mean the .32 H&R Magnum is worthless or not good. In fact, with the most modern ammunition, like the brand-new Hydra-Shok Deep load from Federal, it’s a capable self-defense cartridge. I recently tested this just-introduced load in blocks of Clear Ballistics from a 4-inch barreled revolver, and it consistently delivered 12 inches of penetration with an upset diameter of nearly a half inch. That’s better than most .380 Auto loads. The Hydra-Shok Deep .32 H&R Magnum load comes 20 rounds to the box, and with a suggested retail price of $38.99, it will cost you about 2 bucks a pop.
The new Hydra-Shok Deep load from Federal for the .32 H&R Mangum will deliver a foot of penetration and upset with a wide frontal diameter.
Federal introduced another new .32 H&R Magnum load with the 85-grain HST load, but Federal loads this one with an 85-grain JSP bullet. It will generate velocities that are nearly identical to the Hydra-Shok Deep load, but the 85-grain JSP bullet will not deform/expand. It is a great practice load, and if you prefer deep penetration to bullet upset, it will easily drive to depths beyond 16 inches. The 85-grain JSP load will cost you about a dollar a shot; a box has a suggested retail price of $47.99.
When it comes to personal protection with a revolver, the .32 H&R Magnum is not in the same league as the .327 Federal Magnum. The best .32 H&R Magnum loads generate less than half the kinetic energy of good .327 Federal Magnum loads. In fact, some of the best .327 Federal Magnum loads generate more kinetic energy than some well-respected 9mm Luger, .40 S&W and .45 Auto loads. Federal has recently introduced two new .327 Federal Magnum loads, and I tested those right alongside the new .32 H&R Magnum loads.
One of the best self-defense loads for the .327 Federal Magnum is the new 104-grain HST load. It has more than 500 ft-lb of muzzle energy.
The first new .327 load is the 104-grain HST. HST ammunition is some of the best self-defense ammo you can find, and the new .327 load did not disappoint. It penetrated to an ideal depth of 14.5 inches, retained 90 percent of its weight, and the bullets had an average recovered diameter of more than a half inch. Based on terminal performance testing, that is stellar performance, regardless of the cartridge. With a retail price of $41.99 for 20 rounds, Federal is proud of this load—and they should be. It’s one of the best I’ve seen for this cartridge.
In all, I tested four new loads for the .32 H&R Magnum and .327 Federal Magnum, and the last load tested was the one that really got my attention. It is the .327, 127-grain HammerDown load. Federal designed HammerDown ammunition specifically for use in lever action rifles. Federal tempered the bullets to work at longer-than-revolver barrel velocities, and chamfered the forward edge of the case rim for smoother feeding in lever guns. However, you can still shoot this stuff in a revolver, and out of a 4-inch barrel it passed through the 16-inch block of Clear Ballistics. I was only able to recover the bullets because a panel of soft body armor stopped them. That’s fantastic terminal performance for a .32.
I’m confident that, though the new Hydra-Shok Deep load for the .32 H&R Magnum is a practical choice for self-defense, it is not a “big stick.” But I’d bet you that if Roosevelt got to see what the new .327 Federal Magnum loads can do—especially the HammerDown load—he might think it would qualify. Remember, he armed New York cops with the anemic .32 Colt.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the August 2025 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
For those who rely on a .44 Magnum for personal protection, Federal has just added a .44 Magnum HST load to its catalog.
Federal Ammunition has just added a .44 Magnum load to its Personal Defense HST line. Described as a “light magnum” load, it features a cartridge-specific 230-grain hollow-point bullet that was designed to provide excellent expansion and weight retention without overpenetration or excessive recoil. The ammo has an advertised muzzle velocity of 1,085 fps, nickel-plated cases and high-performance sealed primers.
Chris Laack, Product Manager for Federal Handgun Ammunition, said this about the new self-defense revolver load:
This new HST loading addresses customer requests for a Personal Defense® option in 44 Mag, offering more power than a 44 Special load but better control and less overpenetration than a full-magnum hunting load … Its cartridge-specific bullet design best utilizes the magnum power available for defense and has more energy than 10mm Auto and 357 Mag yet with a larger 44 Mag projectile. It is incredible … When matched with the HST bullet design, the 44 Magnum provides the energy to achieve both effective penetration depth and significant hollow-point expansion … This HST does exactly what a great hollow-point bullet should. It provides significant expansion and retained weight while achieving optimized penetration depths in tissue with reduced risk for over-penetration.
Federal .44 Magnum HST is shipping to retailers now and has an MSRP of $55.99 per 20-round box.
Still carry the classy way? Here I go over how to properly take care of your leather holsters.
In the 21st century, a polymer pistol in a plastic holster is the norm. They have excellent retention and have gotten quite comfortable. New manufacturing methods and materials are cheap and accessible. Still, the allure of leather remains, perhaps because humans have been using animal skins longer than we’ve been using language. Heck, our earliest evidence of leather comes from processing tools that date back over 100,000 years.
There has actually been a bit of a resurgence in leather holsters in recent years because of the vast increase in available pistol make and models, natural materials lending themselves better to universal fits. Leather can also be extremely comfortable compared to plastic. But the upsides are also the downsides.
Like us, leather has a lifespan. A high-quality, cared-for leather holster gains a personality all its own — a companion to the pistol that rides inside. Leather comes from something that was once alive, and in a way, continues to live on through its bearer. The skin can stretch alongside your own. The colors shift with exposure to sun, warm skin, and hot barrels. Gun oil and sweat work into the pores, building a bridge between pistol and person — which also means you need to inspect it, care for it, and show a degree of consideration you otherwise wouldn’t with a plastic fantastic.
No one needs a leather holster in the 21st century, just like how they don’t need a mechanical watch, vintage Jeep, or custom pistol. Leather is luxury.
What used to be normal — items made from natural materials handcrafted by humans — now represents extravagance in a world that produces piles of plastic. Yes, this article is a bit romantic. No, I’m not saying throw out your PHLster. But there could be a place for some leather in your life, and if you’re looking for a gift for someone who’s hard to buy for, some of the exotic options outlined here might help.
Exotic Leather Holsters
The majority of leather items produced in the United States, holsters or otherwise, come from cows. This isn’t surprising, as cowhide is a byproduct of the beef and dairy industry, and America is the largest producer in the world. Of course, bulls aren’t your only option. Some manufacturers, like Versacarry, use water buffalo even for their mass-produced models. But if you want something truly custom, you may as well go entirely exotic.
Exotics like the stingray and alligator shown here really draw the eye.
Nestled in the western Carolina mountains is Mayhem Leather Company. This family business specializes in handcrafting custom holsters and other leather items, with a rare eye toward artistry. Mayhem Leather Company not only has some standard holster offerings, wallets, and cowboy rigs, but also 1911 grips formed from the likes of ring lizards, peanut spinal stingray, and gators.
In terms of exotic leathers, they offer a variety of options ranging from hippo, hornback alligator, ostrich, python, pirarucu, shark, stingray, and more. No, you won’t find holsters like these at a regular store, just like how you won’t find bespoke pistols at any old gun shop. And it’s guaranteed that no one is going to have a holster that’ll look exactly like the one you have — even if they buy the same make, model, and material.
Hybrid Holsters
We can’t talk about leather holsters without mentioning hybrids. These designs look for the best of both worlds, the comfort of leather with the retention and rigidity of plastic. Several approaches have been taken with assorted levels of success.
The first generation of the hybrid holster, of which there are still some versions, were plastic shells bolted onto leather backers. There can be issues with backers stretching but the shells staying, affecting retention ability, depending on the quality of construction and type of leather used. Another type is a sort of leather cover for Kydex, like a taco wrap. Most recently, it’s been leather holsters with synthetic internal structures for positive retention, and these have been the most promising in terms of looking and feeling like a traditional leather holster.
This DeSantis looks like traditional leather, but there’s a synthetic retention yolk inside that clicks onto the trigger guard.
Fitting Leather Holsters
Your pistol needs to fit snugly inside your holster yet still be ready to pull. This is the ever-present problem with concealed carry, and why that “Kydex click” brings so many so much confidence.
While an inside-the-waistband design can usually have a little more wiggle room because the pistol is pressed between your body and pants by your belt, overall you’re going to want a pistol that fits a little more tightly than you think — that leather is going to stretch with time and use. If it’s too tight, don’t use any saddle soap or other softeners and don’t get it wet. Instead, put your pistol inside a plastic bag, insert it into the holster, and leave it overnight. This will increase the dimensions ever so slightly so it’s just right.
A tight holster can be remedied with a plastic bag, stretching it just a scooch.
Galco Gun Leather sells a product called Draw-EZ to shorten break-in periods, but the very best thing you can do in order to smooth out a leather holster is honest time and repetition.
Care And Inspection
Keep your holster clean. After a long day on the range or running around, a quick wipe down with a clean towel is usually all it needs, but sometimes a little more care is required. The best practice is to only use items recommended by your given maker, lest you weaken the leather by making it too soft. Some light buffing with shoe polish should be A-OK and keep everything looking great. If your holster gets wet, wipe it with a towel, resist the urge to apply heat, and let it dry at room temperature overnight.
Heat and direct sunlight will dry, warp, and crack your leather. Keep your holsters away from windows, sunrooms, and dashboards.
Make damned sure the trigger is properly covered and the leather isn’t soft around the trigger — if the leather is soft enough that the trigger can be pressed through the material, it’s time to retire that holster. Check any retention devices like snaps or attachments like clips for rust.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the August 2025 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Want to upgrade your Glock with a flared magwell? Here we look at the Flarewell Glock magwell flaring device.
Glocks don’t have much flair … and a whole lot of them don’t have any. Despite being functionally perfect, it took quite a while for there to be any flair, and there still isn’t much. What really caught my attention recently was the comment “Gen 5 Glocks have a magwell flare, not much of one, but there are 24 million Gen 1 through Gen 4 Glocks that have none at all.”
The Glock magwell flaring device, the Flarewell, does exactly that. It flares out the magwell opening of your Glock pistol (9mm and 40 frames only) for a faster reload. I know some of you are thinking, “My Glock mags are tapered at the top. That makes reloads fast.”
Yes, but would you turn down faster?
I thought not.
The process is simple and straightforward. Once you have your Glock apart, and the tools arrayed, heat the bottom edge of your Glock frame. Insert the tool and let it latch onto the magazine catch. Then, use the thumbwheel to move the swaging edge into the magazine well opening until you reach the desired amount of flare. The instructions cover it all.
On the back, it lists the magazines the Flarewell is meant to be used in.
The amount of flare you need isn’t great, so take it easy. I can see some heavy-handed users over-flaring because, well, that’s what some people do. Once the polymer cools off it retains the new flared shape, and you are good to go.
Bringing The Heat
As for the heating part, there’s two ways of doing this. One is to use a heat gun, evenly playing it over and around the edge of the magwell opening until it gets hot enough to be moved. The other is to use a hot oil bath. Dip the bottom of the frame into the oil (correct temp, please), and leave it there for a few seconds. Then, pull it out, insert the tool, lock and adjust.
Once the bottom of the frame has been properly heated, you use the thumbwheel to wedge the Flarewell up and flare out the magwell opening of your frame.
One question some might have is if it’s permitted in competition. For that you’ll have to consult the rule book of the particular competition you plan to engage in. I can see some allowing it and others not. And most competitions won’t even notice it—although other competitors might once you start beating them.
The early adopters and clever among the readership might even get a bit of practice in on their own Glocks, and then set up at the gun club some monthly meeting day or match day, offering to flare Glock magwells for a nominal sum. It won’t take too long to recoup your investment in this clever and useful tool.
The investment? It’s $109 for the tool, and shipping is free in the continental United States.
Full disclosure: I’ve known the inventor since we were head-to-head competitors in IPSC in the early days. I don’t have any involvement in this enterprise, but I kinda wish I had—it’s one of those “Why didn’t I think of that?” forehead-slapping ideas. Way to go, Paul.
Now, getting one requires that you be fully conversant in the new digital commerce era. If you have to have it (and I can see a bunch of Glock owners who really do; I have mine), then contact GR9 online. Orders go to [email protected]. You’ll need to have a Venmo account, but once you fork over the digital dollars, your Flarewell tool will be on its way within 24 hours.
Flare on, Glocksters.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the August 2025 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
More Glock Stuff:
Glock 17 Review: How The Full-Sized Striker-Fired Set The Standard
Chiappa has just announced a 10mm chambering option for Rhino 60DS and 30DS revolvers.
If any revolver makes sense to be chambered for 10mm Auto, it’s probably the futuristic and beefy Chiappa Rhino. Thankfully, Chiappa has just announced that the Rhino 60DS and the Rhino 30DS are going to be available chambered for the big centimeter.
Like other Chiappa Rhino revolvers, the new 10mm models fire from the bottom chamber of the cylinder which results in a very low bore axis. This should do a great job of taming the powerful 10mm cartridge’s recoil. For those seeking that power for personal protection, there’s the Rhino 30DS which features a 3-inch barrel and a nickel finish. For those looking for a field gun, there’s the 60DS with a 6-inch barrel and a black finish. The 60DS also features an optics rail and an accessory rail. Both of the 10mm Rhino models have fiber optic front sights and adjustable rear sights as well.
Chiappa has not yet announced a release date or price for the 10mm Rhino models, so keep an eye out for more news if you’re interested.
Can a high-end, custom .22 LR rifle be practical? When it comes to the Parkwest Arms SD-22, I think the answer is yes.
My buddy Frank writes with a Montblanc pen. I once asked him why. “First and foremost, I like nice things,” he said, “Second, I do sales, and when you hand a client a nice pen to sign the contract with, it helps them feel good about the decision because the act of signing is made into a pleasure and a feeling of success.”
There is no limit on who can enjoy luxury items. That’s how I see Parkwest Arms and, in particular, the SD-22 we are looking at in this article. Parkwest’s guns delight the senses. When the new owners started up the company, they hired as many of the experienced craftsmen as they could from the old Dakota Arms. They have since added even more talented people to their team who have the specialized skills to build heirloom-quality guns.
I think most people can sense the value and quality of any product the minute they handle it for the first time. Certainly, when you handle a nice gun, there are things that jump out at you. Beauty tops my list, then the sounds emanating from the gun when you work its solid action. Custom guns should have clean, crisp lines, pleasing to the eye and hand. These are unlike off-the-shelf guns that must be built with an eye toward minimizing costs. There is nothing wrong with that, it is simply a function of the marketplace that some products must be utilitarian. At the same time, the market demands products for the luxury segment.
The SD-22 offers the same silhouette as the SD-76 centerfire rifles, so you can practice like you play. Color casehardening is a classy touch.
If the quality of a firearm alone caused small game to drop dead, the SD-22 would be illegal in all 50 States. This rimfire model was new in 2024. Parkwest treats it with all the love, attention to detail, and care that goes into any of its custom hand-built big game rifles.
Steve Rabakoff, one of the owners at Parkwest, tells me that this model is selling even better than they had hoped. It turns out that gun-lovers like to shoot a lot, and this little 22 LR gives them a premium gun that they can shoot everyday if they desire. Ammo is relatively cheap and available, as opposed to some centerfire ammunition. Plus, it’s quiet, easy to share with the kids or grandkids, and has no recoil. I love the idea of introducing the next generation to the sport with a classic rifle design.
Rabakoff wanted me to see one of the new rimfire rifles they were releasing. He was clearly enthused by this project, not just because it’s his company, but because they are offering something unique. The SD-22 is not your grandpa’s .22; unless grandpa had a professional gunmaker for a buddy and got him to build a rifle to match his favorite hunting rifle. We are talking about an adult-sized gun, weighing 7.5 pounds, 41 inches in overall length, with a 23-inch barrel standard.
Note the nicely executed skeleton buttplate with a widow’s peak. It looks like the wood grew around it.
An alternative is to switch from a wood stock to synthetic, this drops about one pound from the rifle’s weight. If you are getting ready for a sheep hunt and want a training rifle, this lighter version could be your ticket. Personally, I will not be doing any mountain climbing, so I prefer the beauty of a wood stock.
My grumpy old gunsmith friend Mike Harmon saw this rifle when it came out of the case, and said, “I want to shoot that!” Gunsmiths are notorious for being jaded. They get to handle a wide variety of guns while they ply their trade. So, when gunsmiths get excited about a gun, you know it is something special.
Grumpy and I are both suckers for a nice piece of walnut, and the SD-22 that I received for testing played directly to our weakness—beautiful contrasting colors and copious fiddleback figure. The hand-rubbed oil finish enhanced the figure nicely, giving it the depth it deserves. We stepped out into the sunlight to get the full effect. The light reflecting from the wood provides quite a show, giving the stock depth and character. There is a warmth to wood that no synthetic stock can ever provide (sorry, you will never change my mind). This was a gun I knew would be a pleasure to take to the range or the field.
Howell-style sling swivels and a contrasting tip are two options you can choose on Parkwest’s SD-22 rimfire.
Not all that far in the past, we shooters were all hoarding 22 LR ammunition. At least one good thing came about from that shortage: I now have a broad collection of different brands of .22 LR. Where I live in Northwest Montana, ammunition availability during the shortage was totally random. As a result, I have a little bit of many different brands in my reserves. I went to the cupboard and pulled out a selection of ammo for our accuracy tests.
With my arbitrary collection of ammo, it was off to the range to see what this fine rifle was capable of. I’m lucky to have an indoor range in my locale, membership gets you a security code and 24-hour a day shooting privileges. Uniform temperatures and an utter lack of wind make shooting for accuracy a much easier process. I set up on the 50-foot range to do my testing. Each group shown here is five shots.
First, I loaded the magazine with five rounds and shot a group just to see where the scope was hitting and to foul the barrel. With that warm-up group out of the way, I set about collecting groups for the assorted ammunition that I had brought to the bench. All brands produced good minute-of-squirrel accuracy, some much better. The Winchester Wildcat ammo has a 40-grain lead round-nose bullet. The Standard velocity I had is some old “white box” Olin/Winchester and for all the world looks like the same bullet that was loaded in the Wildcat ammo. CCI Mini-Mags use a 36-grain hollow-point with a copper wash.
Parkwest shipped the rifle to me with a Leupold VX Freedom 3-9×40 Rimfire MOA mounted and bore-sighted—an excellent choice for a gun that is intended to have the profile of an American classic hunting rifle. It provided plenty of magnification for a .22 and the glass was clear as you would expect from Leupold. Of course, Parkwest will help you with any optic you prefer on your rifle.
Admiring the SD-22’s details makes the author think of warm evenings by the fire with a good dog sleeping nearby, and great memories of the days afield.
The Armscor ammo was a 36-grain hollow-point coated bullet. Aguila is loaded with a 40-grain round-nose copper-plated projectile. Finally, the Federal Champion bulk ammo bullet was a 36-grain hollow-point, copper-plated. To be fair, the flyer from the Federal ammo could easily have been a result of switching ammo without a fouling shot, as it was the first shot fired with that load. Or it could be old eyes. Either way, the squirrel would still be dead.
Impressions From The Range
A pleasant surprise, it was better than expected; yes, I am gushing. Fun, enjoyable and satisfying. I have shot an untold number of rimfire rifles over the years. I couldn’t even guess at how much .22 ammo I have burned over the decades. This rifle ranks as one of the most accurate sporting .22s I have ever shot. More than that, it was special, and memorable; I don’t say that sort of thing about guns very often.
Hand checkering on the stock is clean and sharp with two panels on the grip and a wraparound pattern on the forend. The wood color and figure shows through the checkering so that the checkering only adds to the rifle’s attractive look—as well-executed checkering should do. In addition, the bolt handle had a nice three-panel metal checkering to match the stock, and yes, there are other options for the bolt handle, so you can make it your own.
Parkwest lists the chamber for the SD-22 as a Bentz, this is typically a popular match chamber for semi-auto guns. Over time, it has become popular in other guns as well. The Bentz chamber falls between the SAAMI Match and SAAMI Sporting chambers for .22 LR. I suspect that Parkwest selected it because it is more versatile than a match chamber and will work with a broader selection of ammo. Match chambers are shorter than the average sporting chamber for .22 LR, but the Bentz chamber features a long-tapered throat compared to most rimfire ones. This chamber is well known for producing excellent accuracy with a wide range of ammunition brands and types. Obviously, Parkwest made a good choice based on our results.
The SD-22 comes with a ½-MOA guarantee for accuracy and is delivered with a target from the factory. Clearly, all my groups met that standard, some by a large margin. Several of my groups were just over 0.250 inch or 50 percent better than promised. I’m betting there is an even better ammo out there; I just ran out of time at the range.
Actions for the SD-22 are available for right- or left-handed shooters. Standard in chromoly (blue) steel, each rifle is supplied with two five-round magazines. That second magazine is a nice thing to have with any gun. For reliable feeding and ejection, the bolt is designed with dual extractors. The gun fed flawlessly with all the ammo we tried. The standard rifle comes with a XXX Claro walnut stock, solid steel grip cap, and ½-inch recoil pad to add to the classic look of the rifle.
Several of the custom touches include a steel buttplate, skeleton grip cap, Howell swivels, and the cheekpiece and checkering.
Avid shooters will tell you that much of the accuracy potential in a rifle comes from a quality trigger, so Parkwest added a TriggerTech adjustable trigger standard, as well. I appreciated the fine single-stage trigger on the test gun set to about 2 pounds. The release was crisp and repeatable with no perceptible creep.
That seems like an extensive list of features, and it is. Still, Parkwest offers a long list of custom options so you can have exactly what you desire. It’s not likely you will ever see two SD-22 rifles that look alike, unless of course you ordered them to match.
The rifle I tested had many optional features and did a great job of showing off what the experts at Parkwest Arms are capable of. The metal is all hand polished, the standard model is blued, but can be ordered in numerous finish types, including Cerakote or slow rust blue. Note that our test gun had a color-cased receiver and scope mounts along with premium polished bluing on the rest of the gun. The color case is well done; preparation is the key when performing color casehardening. The degree of polish applied to the metal can greatly enhance the resulting colors from the process.
The iron sights on my test gun were also upgraded. The rear sight was mounted on a quarter-rib and a banded front sight completed the set. “Practice like you play.” If I was getting ready for a plains game hunt, practicing with the same sights on my .22 would not be a bad thing.
The banded ramp front sight matches up with the express rear sight mounted on a quarter rib.
Parkwest Arms offers you a particular touch that only a true custom gunmaker can offer, a personalized serial number to make your rifle fully unique. FDZ are my initials; I am thinking of ordering “Fudzy” as my serial number, it’s a nickname of sorts. That way I can tell my grandson, “Shhh, be werwy, werwy quiet, we are hunting wabbits.” It would be worth it just to see the eye roll.
On its website, Parkwest has a build-your-own-rifle feature that allows you to stroll through all the options. Items you can customize include the wood grade, contrasting forend tip, checkering, different types of sling swivels, or cross bolts. We are not done yet; recoil pads, buttplates (solid or skeleton), tip and toe plates, and just as many choices for grip caps. On top of that, you can add engraving, as simple or extensive as you like. In short, you can make it a dream rifle with the features that you want.
Why?
If you must ask … I guess I did a poor job of explaining what the experience of handling a well-executed product like the SD-22 is really like. To be as direct as possible, it is a beautiful handmade rifle of the highest quality, and completely tailored to your personal taste. So, why not?
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the July 2025 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
I hit the range to test the AP5SD, Century Arms/MKE’s clone of the famous H&K MP5SD.
Talk about getting your head spun.
I was very excited When I heard rumors about Century Arms importing a new MP5SD-style pistol from MKE in Turkey. Then, I listened to some further details and was disappointed. Then I got one, and my opinion did a complete 180.
Allow me to explain why.
MKE AP5SD Specs:
Country of Origin: Turkey Cartridge: 9x19mm Parabellum Action: Roller-lock delayed blowback Barrel Length: 5.75 Inches Weight: 6.7 Pounds Overall Length (From brace to end of handguard): 19 Inches (collapsed) ; 24.25 Inches (extended) Muzzle: 1/2×28 threads and tri-lug Muzzle Device: Removable faux suppressor Capacity: 30 Sights: Rotating diopter drum (rear) ; Hooded post (front) MSRP: $1,800 (braced model)
Pros
Very soft shooter
Excellent suppressor host
Reliable
Cons
Worse ergonomics than an AR
Slow reloads
Relatively heavy
H&K MP5SD Vs. MKE AP5SD
If you’re not familiar with the original H&K MP5SD, it’s an integrally suppressed variant of the company’s iconic MP5 9mm submachine gun introduced in the mid-1970s. What makes it so special isn’t that it features a suppressor shrouded underneath a purpose-built handguard, it’s that its barrel is ported.
These ports vent off gas to reduce the muzzle velocity of standard-spec 9mm NATO ball ammunition to subsonic levels. The advantage of this is that, unlike most other suppressed 9mm SMGs that require special subsonic ammo to be as quiet as possible, the MP5SD could use just about any ammo and do the same thing. That’s a neat trick.
In turn, when the AP5SD was announced, a lot of shooters were hopeful the Turkish clone would come with the proper ported barrel. As it turned out, it didn’t.
Given this, many early purchasers scrambled to find companies to convert them to true SDs. I considered doing the same, but after further research, I concluded not only that it wasn’t worth the effort, but that the AP5SD is likely the superior configuration for most American shooters today.
Portless
While original ported MP5SDs are still very cool, the design has distinct disadvantages. Namely, it will only function with a special SD-style suppressor. Plus, from what I’ve heard, this configuration gets very dirty very fast.
The AP5SD, on the other hand, features a normal 5.75-inch barrel. That’s about the same length as the AP5-P (MKE’s clone of the MP5K-PDW) and the end of the muzzle is recessed about 1.5 inches inside the handguard. Topped off with both a 1/2×28 threaded muzzle and a tri-lug, the result is that you can install any standard 9mm suppressor that will fit inside the handguard and it will give the appearance of being a true MP5SD (though some suppressors will look more like the original than others).
The AP5SD comes with a faux suppressor installed that looks the part. Let’s not kid ourselves, though, if you’re buying one of these, you’re going to put a real suppressor on it.
The AP5SD's included faux suppressor. It attaches via the 1/2×28 threads and doubles as a thread protector.
That all said, this is why I think the AP5SD's configuration is better than the MP5SD-style ported barrel–you have a wider variety of suppressors options, a cleaner system and better ammo choices. As civilians, we do not exist within a military supply chain–we can simply buy subsonic ammo when we wish to shoot subsonic.
Another downside of the MP5SD, its porting always reduces a bullet’s velocity, like it or not. Sometimes, faster and louder is better. The AP5SD gives you this control.
Originality is cool, especially for collectors of military small arms, but I’m convinced that for the average American shooter the AP5SD is perfectly designed.
Setting Up The AP5SD
The AP5SD is available with or without a Magpul MP BSL brace. If you order the braced model, it will still come with the original end cap with a Picatinny rail and a sling loop. Two mags, a cleaning kit, a sling and an optics rail are included, all shipped in a hard case to round out the package.
My setup was as follows: Leapers’ new UTG Pro Claw Mount, Aimpoint PRO, UTG Pro M-LOK Light Mount and a Streamlight ProTac Rail Mount HP-X Pro. Shout-out to HKParts for supplying the mounts and other accessories like their dual magazine clamp. The sling is a Vickers SMG sling, a slightly lighter version of my favorite carbine sling.
The most important accessory for the AP5SD was a suppressor. I used a Rugged Obsidian45 on a tri-lug mount for this test, however, I have an Omega 36M on the way that will be this gun's dedicated can.
Finally, the ammo—I was primarily shooting HSL 147-grain subsonics. It’s remanufactured ammunition, but has so far proven very reliable for me.
On The Range With The AP5SD
I initially put a couple of mags through it with the faux suppressor just to try it out. It shot just fine, but this gun needed the real deal.
With the Obsidian45 installed, it finally felt right. MP5s are already known for being incredibly soft-shooting, but with a suppressor, the AP5SD felt like a BB gun. With the subsonic ammo, it was about as quiet as one, too. While shooting this without ear pro was a pleasant experience, it’s still a good idea to wear them. Hearing damage can be gradual and sneaky.
Needless to say, the AP5SD is an amazing shooter. As a suppressed semi-auto MP5 clone it handles exactly as you’d expect. There’s a reason why the MP5's reputation precedes it and why so many armed professionals around the globe have favored it for decades.
Regarding reliability, I experienced two failures to extract in the first 100 rounds but otherwise had smooth sailing for the next 400 or so. I’ll chalk those up to break-in.
People have mixed opinions about the MP5 diopter iron sights, but I’m a fan. That said, with the Magpul brace installed, I found it hard to get behind them. The brace is comfortable enough to shoot with, but I found it much easier to aim with a tall red dot installed on a riser.
With the Aimpoint PRO, it was effortless to make hits. The lack of recoil means the point of aim stays solid, making follow-up shots a breeze. Even at 100 yards, it was relatively easy to ring a half-size steel silhouette. Of course, guns like this are designed for closer-range work, and that’s where the AP5SD truly shone.
While practicing target transitions on an array of steel plates, my only complaint was a very common one of semi-auto MP5s—I wished it could go faster.
All MP5 triggers are known for being long and mushy, but it’s not as big of a deal for full-auto models. Those of us stuck with semis can try to squeeze that trigger as fast as possible, all we want, but it will never be as fast as what you can do with even a standard AR-15 trigger. The AP5SD’s safety, again like any MP5 safety, also doesn’t hold a candle to the AR’s ergonomics. While it may not be the fastest or easiest to use by modern standards, the replica 4-position pictogram ambi lower does look really damn cool. A trade some will be happy to make.
Parting Shot
I’m absolutely in love with the AP5SD. It’s my first 9mm roller-lock, and I already feel a growing itch to get one of MKE’s other MP5 clones.
All of my complaints with this gun are either endemic to the MP5 design or are minor nitpicks.
As for the nitpicks, the rubber handguard came with some molding artifacts along the seam. You can clean these up yourself with a knife if they bother you, but it would have been nice if they did a better job removing those at the factory.
Also, while I always like getting extra goodies along with a new gun, the included sling and optics mount aren’t of great quality. I’d recommend not messing with them and just buying better aftermarket replacements. Finally, if you want to attach a suppressor via a tri-lug, it’s a good idea to install a thread protector first for a tighter fit. If there’s one thing I wish the AP5SD came with, it’s a thread protector.
All the other weak spots of this gun are just because it’s an MP5 clone. Namely, the trigger and safety. Thankfully, however, companies are now making MP5 lowers that can take AR-15 triggers, safeties and pistol grips. Being able to shoot the AP5SD faster will be worth sacrificing some classic aesthetics for me, so I plan on trying one of those next.
As most already know, the MP5 reload process is also much slower than an AR’s. A positive aspect of that is it results in the very fun and iconic HK slap, but you should consider that you’ll need to learn a new, slower and more complicated manual of arms before buying your first MP5-style gun.
The AP5SD being reloaded. Notice the bolt has been manually locked back before a new magazine can be inserted.
So, should you get an MKE AP5SD? That depends on what you’re after. If you want the fastest, most tactical 9mm PCC available today, the MP5 isn’t the platform for you. If you want an MP5 but want to be able to modernize it as much as possible, the AP5SD specifically isn’t for you, but a standard AP5 or AP5-P would be what to look at.
If, however, you’re like me and have drooled over the MP5SD since you first saw one in a movie as a kid, there’s no easier way to own one than with the AP5SD. And as you can see with mine, modernizing it with an optic and light is possible. Despite being a bit retro, this still feels like a supremely practical gun to me. With how quiet, compact and easy to shoot this is, I think it will be spending a lot of time next to my bed.
Palmetto State Armory
$1,667
Battlehawk Armory
$1,700
MP5 FAQ
What MP5 Do Navy SEALs Use?
The Charlie Sheen film Navy SEALs famously depicts SEALs using the integrally suppressed MP5SD, but the team in real life also uses standard MP5s and compact MP5Ks. It all depends what the mission calls for.
Why Did SWAT Stop Using The MP5?
People commonly think that SWAT teams around the country have completely stopped using MP5s, but that's not true. They have been largely replaced by various types of 5.56 AR-15s, but many departments still have MP5s in their inventory that can be taken out for a mission if so desired. Some poorer departments may still use them purely out of necessity, but some SWAT team members with the option will still take an MP5 over an AR due to personal preference. For proof, take a look at recent Annual Military Equipment Reports published by departments in California, you'll see the MP5 mentioned in plenty of them.
Is A 9mm Carbine Good For Home Defense?
Yes, 9mm carbines (either in the form of an SBR or a braced pistol) make excellent home defense weapons and are a popular choice. They're small, easy to shoot, pack plenty of punch at close range and can use subsonic defensive ammunition in conjunction with a suppressor to save your hearing. That said, living situations vary, and factors like overpenetration could make a 9mm carbine a less desirable option compared to something else.
What Is The Point Of A 9mm Carbine?
As mentioned, 9mm carbines like an MP5 clone can make for excellent home defense guns. They're tons of fun to shoot too, so they make for great range toys and are often used in competition as well. 9mm is also cheaper than .223/5.56 ammo, so you can spend more time plinking or training for less money.
More Classic Guns:
Why The Mauser C96 “Broomhandle” Still Looms Large
A quick look at the new Weatherby Vanguard Black Hills, a rifle designed to deliver utmost precision in harsh environments.
Named after the rugged Black Hills of South Dakota, the new Weatherby Vanguard Black Hills rifle was built with tough environments in mind. If you require precision on difficult hunts, this model seems quite worthy of consideration.
Featuring a cold hammer-forged barrel with either a #2 or #3 contour, a Vanguard action and a match-grade two-stage trigger, Weatherby guarantees that the Vanguard Black Hills is capable of sub-MOA accuracy out of the box (.99” or less 3-shot group at 100 yards with Weatherby factory or premium ammunition). Barrel lengths range between 20 and 26 inches depending on the caliber. The rifle also has a three-position safety, an integral recoil lug and a hand-painted Monte Carlo synthetic stock.
Other features of the Vanguard Black Hills include a Peak 44 Picatinny JRAIL for optics, a Peak 44 Arca/Pic Adapter on the forend for accessories like bipods and a threaded muzzle for suppressors or brakes. Every caliber variant ships with an Accubrake ST except for the 350 Legend model. The full list of available calibers includes .22-250 Remington, .223 Remington, .243 Winchester, .25-06 Remington, .257 Weatherby Magnum, .30-06 Springfield, .300 Weatherby Magnum, .300 Winchester, .308 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum, 7mm Remington, 7mm-08 Remington, 350 Legend and 7mm PRC.
The Weatherby Vanguard Black Hills has an MSRP of $769 and is available now.
BANISH recently announced the BANISH 30-V2, an updated version of the original BANISH 30 that’s better in every way.
The original BANISH 30 is a good suppressor, but there’s always room for improvement. So, the company set out to do just that with the new and improved BANISH 30-V2. Namely, it now features the industry-standard HUB mount and is shorter, lighter and even quieter than the first version.
How does it accomplish all that? The BANISH 30-V2 features a full titanium construction. That allows it to be 1.8 ounces lighter than the original. Presumably thanks to an improved internal design, the suppressor also manages to be 0.8 inches shorter while being quieter as well. When tested with a .308 rifle, the BANISH 30-V2 had a maximum average decibel reduction of 34.5 dB. It’s rated for .17 HMR through .300 Weatherby Magnum, and like the original, it’s modular as well. This allows you to run it in either an 11-baffle, 8.17-inch-long configuration or an 8-baffle, 6.4-inch configuration.
Lukas VanLaecken, Director of Engineering for BANISH Suppressors, said this about the new can:
The Banish 30-V2 builds upon the great performance of the Banish 30 while keeping it modular and serviceable, giving shooters the choice on overall size and sound performance … The new design reduces the overall length by 0.8 in. and weight by 1.8 oz. while improving performance for an overall quieter shooting experience. The addition of a HUB mount system offers more options and ease of use with multiple mounting systems and firearm configurations.
Each BANISH 30-V2 comes with a 5/8×24 direct-thread mount and they can be ordered with either a black or tan finish. They’re available now and have an MSRP of $999.
Two of my favorite cartridges, .270 Winchester and .300 Holland & Holland Magnum, have just celebrated their centennial birthday.
Maintaining popularity for more than a century is quite the accomplishment in the cartridge world. For every one of the “classics” that have made that mark, there are several that fell out of vogue, and many others that have disappeared altogether.
Sure, the .30-06 Springfield, .45-70 Government, .45 ACP, 9mm Luger, .22 Long Rifle and .30-30 Winchester have all made that mark, but the .30-40 Krag, .38-55 Winchester, .300 Savage and .22 Short have lost much of their following of late. And while much of the cartridge market seems to be a popularity contest, a cartridge has to have something substantial to offer to maintain any sort of popularity for more than a century … especially considering the recent advancements in powder and bullet technologies.
Celebrating their 100th trip around the sun this year are two classic cartridges: the .270 Winchester and the .300 Holland & Holland Magnum. One is an undeniable success story that remains a highly popular choice among big game hunters, and the other has a provenance that cannot be denied, even if other cartridges have pushed it out of the limelight.
.270 Winchester
The .270 Winchester was a great choice a century ago, but premium bullets like the Nosler Partition make its performance even better. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
Starting with the more popular of the two—Winchester’s famous .270—you’ll find the most popular of the offspring of the .30-06 Springfield. Or, since we are delving into the history of the birthday cartridges, we might more properly say the offspring of the .30-03 Springfield, which came a bit earlier and has a case length just a bit longer than its much more popular sibling.
The .270 Winchester retains the .30-03 Springfield’s 2.54-inch case length, and the 17½-degree shoulder to handle the headspacing. It has the 0.473-inch case head diameter, which was carried over from the Mauser cartridges and fits perfectly in any long-action receiver.
It might be difficult to come up with a better combination for whitetail deer than a Nosler Ballistic Tip and the .270 Winchester. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
Exactly where the .277-inch bore diameter came from is, sadly, lost to history. Some say it was an attempt to bridge the gap between the 6.5mm and 7mm bores, without using a metric denomination; others feel it might have been adopted from the groove diameter of the 7mm/275 Rigby. But, as far as I know, there is no definitive answer. In all my research, it seems that Winchester pulled 0.277 inch out of the air, much like they did with the 0.338-inch bullets of the .33 Winchester, and as Rigby did with their now-famous 0.416-inch bore.
Nonetheless, 1925 saw the release of the new Winchester Model 54 bolt-action rifle, chambered for the newfangled .270 Winchester. While it certainly possessed the velocity that would become so popular over the coming decades, rifle optics weren’t in vogue in that era, and the Model 54 was designed and stocked for iron sights.
Offering an enhanced velocity level in comparison to the majority of the most popular cartridges in 1925, the .270 Winchester offered bullet weights between 100 grains—a sound choice for the larger furbearers and all varmints—and 150 grains, which was considered suitable for an all-around big-game bullet. The 130-grain bullets performed wonderfully on whitetail deer, wild sheep, pronghorn antelope and black bear, while those 140- and 150-grain slugs were employed against moose, elk and other large game.
The .270 Win. Got Jacked
One would think that the flexibility and popularity of the .30-06 Springfield might have killed the .270 Winchester before it even got out of the gate, as the 150-grain ammo was stellar on lighter big- game species, and those massive 220-grain round-nose bullets would neatly handle even the heavyweight coastal bears of Alaska. But Professor Jack O’Connor embraced the fledgling cartridge, taking in from the deserts of Arizona and Mexico to the wilds of Canada, and most places in between. His writings in Outdoor Life—in an era where the opinion of a gun writer carried more weight than it seems to today—propelled Winchester’s cartridge into the annals of history, and O’Connor seemed to guarantee the future success of the cartridge.
For the handloaders, a .270 Winchester and a 130-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip makes affordable and highly potent whitetail medicine. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
Making good use of the original 130-grain load—with a muzzle velocity of 3,160 fps—O’Connor waxed poetically about the cartridge, ushering in the era of speed, in complete opposition to the heavy-and-slow mentality of the era. Readers followed suit, and it turned out that the .270 Winchester made one helluva whitetail cartridge. The rest is essentially history, because the generation of O’Connor readers took the torch and ran with it. Because it was so popular, it was readily available, and because it was readily available, it remained highly popular.
Truth is, the cartridge is a sound balance of velocity, striking energy and manageable recoil. The .270 Winchester has the attributes desirable for both Eastern deer hunters and Western hunters after mule deer, pronghorn and, yes, despite so many arguments, bull elk. As the cartridge aged, bullet technology only improved the capabilities of the cartridge, and today—in spite of the developments in cartridge, bullet, and optic technology—it still works just fine.
Despite a couple attempts at dethroning the king— namely in the .270 Weatherby Magnum and .270 Winchester Short Magnum—the only real threat to the .270 Winchester is the 6.8 Western, which employs a faster twist rate to utilize bullets heavier than those normally associated with the .277-inch bore.
And, although I’m a big fan of new cartridges, I don’t think the .270 Winchester will ever be unseated.
.300 H&H Magnum
Whether on the African plains, the deep woods of the Northeast or the Rocky Mountains, the .300 H&H is right at home. It makes a great all-around rifle chambering. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
Crossing the “pond,” the prestigious London firm of Holland & Holland announced the arrival of the .300 Holland & Holland Belted Magnum—the Super 30—in 1925. The fourth in the H&H line of belted cases—following the .375 Velopex, the .375 H&H Belted Magnum and the .275 H&H Belted Magnum—it mated the successful .375 H&H Magnum case with the .30-caliber bullets of the .30-40 Krag and .30-06 Springfield.
The first commercially successful .300 Magnum, H&H’s cartridge used the 2.85-inch case and 3.60-inch overall length of the .375 H&H Magnum, best housed in a magnum-length receiver. Factory ammunition saw a 180-grain bullet sent at a muzzle velocity of right around 2,700 fps—seemingly loaded down to the level of the .30-06 Springfield in anticipation of the effects of the heat of the tropics on Cordite—but handloaders could easily beat that figure.
Holland’s Super 30 is immediately recognizable, with its signature belt of brass and slight, sloping shoulder. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
The .300 H&H, like the .375 H&H, was picked up by Winchester, Western, Peters and other ammunition companies, with Winchester and Remington offering American-made rifles. In fact, in 1936 Winchester offered the .300 H&H Magnum in the initial release of the Model 70, and Remington’s 722 was embraced by many hunters as well. Ben Comfort used the cartridge to win the Wimbledon Cup—the Camp Perry 1,000-yard shooting competition—with a custom Griffin & Howe Remington 30-S rifle, proving the capabilities of the belted beast.
In the hunting fields, many successful reports drew attention to the magnum—whether or not that was a placebo effect—and the three initial loads featuring 150-, 180- and 220-grain bullets covered nearly all the bases in the big-game world, save the true heavyweights. As powder technology improved, the .300 H&H just got better, with ammunition seeing the 180-grain slugs pushed to a muzzle velocity between 2,850 fps and 2,950 fps in modern ammo. The slight 8½-degree shoulder allows the cartridge to feed ever so smoothly, while the belt of brass just north of the extractor groove handles the headspacing duties.
With factory ammunition choices quite limited these days, handloading for the .300 H&H sure makes sense. The author’s rifle is fond of these Northern Precision 200-grain spitzer boat-tails. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
For those who might be recoil sensitive, yet are interested in magnum-level performance, the .300 H&H makes a fantastic choice for a hunting cartridge. I have found that, among the myriad choices of .300 magnums, the ,300 H&H is among the easiest on the shoulder, yet offers solid field performance. Yes, John Nosler was carrying this cartridge when the 1940s bullet technology let him down hard on a Canadian bull moose, but modern bullets have done nothing but help the century-old cartridge. I have taken the .300 H&H Magnum across the pond on a couple of safaris, not to mention hunting here in the United States; it has been good to me in a number of different scenarios. From whitetail deer in my native New York, to Hartmann’s mountain zebra, red hartebeest and eland in Africa, the cartridge has yet to let me down.
The author took this respectable red hartebeest bull at 250 yards in central Namibia, putting him down with a single shot from the .300 H&H Magnum. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
I’ve had a couple of rifles chambered for the excellent cartridge, including a 1959-vintage Colt Coltsman bolt gun, which my wife used to take a great blue wildebeest bull, and my current love, a mid-1980s Winchester 70 push-feed with one of the most beautiful pieces of flamed walnut I’ve ever encountered in a factory stock. The latter rifle prefers bullets with lots of bearing surface and will put three Nosler AccuBond 200-grain bullets into ¾-inch groups all the livelong day.
The Athletic Younger Brother
Marketing being a funny thing, Winchester’s own .300 Magnum is what pushed the H&H design out of the limelight. The shorter case of the .300 Winchester Magnum allowed it to be housed in a budget-friendly long-action receiver, while the ballistics of the younger case actually bettered those of the .300 H&H.
In spite of the large number of modern .300 magnums that have come to light in the past quarter century, the .300 H&H Magnum still has that “cool” factor; whenever I pull mine out at a range session or on a hunt, guys look on wide-eyed. I’ve had more than one African Professional Hunter ask to shoot my rifle or beg a cartridge for their collection. Does it make financial sense, being a rarity these days? Probably not, but there are no flies on the ballistic formula, and I will happily attest to the fact that no animal has ever been able to determine whether I was carrying a .300 H&H or a .300 Winchester.
The slight shoulder, the long, tapered case and the history that comes attached to Holland’s little gem all combine to offer an undeniable classic rifle experience, harkening back to an era when “300 Magnum” was inscribed on the barrel, and shooters knew it was a .300 H&H Magnum, as there was no commercial offering before 1963.
The author’s current .300 H&H rifle: a mid-1980s Winchester push-feed Model 70, gifted to him by a friend, and it’s become one of his favorites. Photo: Massaro Media Group.
Whether loaded with modern polymer-tipped boat-tails or a good old round-nosed thumper of a bullet, the .300 H&H is equally at home in the woods of the East in pursuit of whitetails or black bear, as it is on an elk hunt in the Rockies, or in a leopard blind in the Zimbabwean lowveld.
With modern factory ammunition choices being limited, handloading is assuredly the way to keep your .300 H&H properly fed. It seems to be a forgiving cartridge, as you can use a good number of common propellants, and the choices of component bullets are nearly limitless. Grab a good set of dies and source enough brass to keep yourself in business, and you can hunt the rest of your days with a .300 H&H Magnum. I like a 180- or 200-grain bullet for most applications, though the .300 H&H Magnum will handle the 150-grain bullets very well, unlike many other .300 magnum cases.
Time Marches On
So, with all the progress we’ve made over the last century in case, powder and bullet technology, why in the world would a new hunter even consider one of these centennial cartridges? Well, both possess the attributes that any hunter would appreciate, giving a blend of usable features, and both have the pedigree to create that inexorable tie to the past that hunters crave so much.
And, frankly, both of these work—at normal hunting ranges—just as well as anything that has come along in the century since they were introduced. Neither was designed for dedicated target cartridge, though both have the capability to deliver fine accuracy.
Happy 100th birthday to the .270 Winchester and .300 H&H Magnum … and to many happy returns.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the July 2025 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Laser Ammo has just added a 2011 model to its lineup of laser training pistols based on an AW Custom HX26 Compact Hi-CAPA recoil pistol.
The more you can train with your handgun the better, but bullets are expensive and going to the range takes time. Solution? Laser trainer pistols that allow you to hone your skills at home. Laser Ammo has an extensive catalog of different models, but the company has just added a 2011 as well to meet the demand for this increasingly popular pistol model.
Like Laser Ammo’s other recoiling training guns, they built it by converting an airsoft gun, in the case of the 2011 they used an AW Custom HX26 Compact Hi-CAPA recoil pistol. Powered by green gas, the pistol’s slide recoils when fired. Combined with the full-metal construction, this is about as close as you can get to the feel of firing a real 2011 without gunpowder involved. It’s designed for use with either Smokeless Range or Laser Ammo reactive targets, is available with a red or infrared laser and is adjustable for both windage and elevation so you can ensure that your laser training will translate to shooting your real 2011.
The 2011 laser trainer appears to be optics-ready, but neither Laser Ammo nor AW Custom specify what footprint the mount is. However, the pistol does have an accessory rail and a flared magwell for quicker reloads.
Patrick McMahon, a member of Laser Ammo’s Mil/LE sales team and the head of Laser Ammo’s competition division said this about the new 2011:
After checking various other 2011-style firearms, Laser Ammo chose the HX26 “Match King” specifically, as it was decidedly the best fit for our customer's needs … The 2011 is a popular gun with competition shooters, as it is red dot ready. The gun delivers an unmatched level of realism when combined with our advanced training solutions. We believe it will exceed the expectations of serious shooters seeking reliable, high-quality training tools and will prove to be the top-tier choice on the market.
The Laser Ammo 2011 training pistol has an MSRP of $440 and is available now.
Recoil Offgrid Undisclosed is a one-of-a-kind immersive event designed to test the participants limits of preparedness, tactical knowledge, and problem-solving under high-pressure scenarios.
Training is Valuable, Experience is Better
Having the access to some of the most respected elite trainers the community during a training single event presents an incredible opportunity for any preparedness enthusiast, but putting that training to the test truly solidifies the lessons!
Undisclosed takes the typical training-followed-by-practice method to the next level by plunging participants into a dynamic, evolving narrative that challenges them to apply what they've learned in a high-stakes, real-world scenario that takes place across several days. From the moment they arrive, participants will have no idea what to expect.
Expect the Unexpected
Undisclosed challenges participants to not just use what the skills they learned but also plan, act, and react to an ever evolving scenario packed with all the obstacles that can occur in a real life clandestine mission.
Nothing about Undisclosed will be easy. Participants will face unknown terrain, unpredictable weather conditions, the heat of the day, and the darkness of night to accomplish their goals and that is just the beginning! Participants will be pushed to their limits throughout the scenario. testing not just their hard earned skills but their ability to work as a team, make critical decisions under pressure, and properly execute tactical operations – and failure will have consequences!
The Details are Undisclosed
We have provided a vague description of what to expect at Recoil Offgrid Undisclosed, and that is all you will get until after the event! Not even the chosen participants will have full awareness of the itinerary or when the training ends and the scenario begins.
Every element of Undisclosed including the location, training professionals, support personnel, and equipment has been carefully selected and vetted by our team to not just convey valuable skills, but also provide the most immersive and memorable training experience the participant's will ever have!
Skills Are Not the Only Reward
Developing valuable skills that can save your life in a real world emergency and participating in a unique scenario with some industry elites is a reward in itself, but there is more! All participants will have their activities featured here at Recoil Offgrid and through our other magazines, social media channels, and video platforms.
Participants will also get their hands on some of the hottest gear from top industry brands, and their may even be some rewards for exceptional performances – but as expected those details are undisclosed!
Your Mission is Undisclosed
The high-level nature of Undisclosed results in an extremely limited participant spots and the competition for selection will be fierce. If you are ready to join the elite and face the unknown, check the link below and apply. Even if you are not selected for this mission there will be opportunities to participate in future Undisclosed Events.
I hit the range with a Diamondback SDR in .357 Magnum to see how the Self-Defense Revolver really handles.
Diamondback has been in the manufacturing space for decades and producing their own firearms since 2009. A believer in American production, Diamondback Firearms brings groundbreaking designs to market (a 5.7mm PDW, the DB57, was featured on the cover of sister pub RECOIL Magazine Issue 53) in quantity and at prices people can afford.
Diamondback started their revolver journey a couple years ago with what many would consider a toy: the Sidekick series of .22 wheel guns. Instead of six rounds, they take nine. Instead of one caliber, they come with two cylinders (.22 LR and .22 WMR).
The folks at Diamondback took some lessons learned there to bring us their latest: the Self-Defense Revolver (SDR)
The cylinder disconnect is just above and forward of the trigger. It’s easy and you’ll never hit it by accident.
In late 2021, lead designers Stuart Braudrick and Dave McCabe began sketching out their self-defense revolver concept. The SDR idea emerged from collaborative brainstorming; inspired by traditional wheel guns, but enhanced by modern innovation for performance and aesthetics. Since those early days, many team members at Diamondback have contributed to the refinement and success of the SDR.
The Diamondback SDR you see on these pages is technically a preproduction, but only just technically. There are no anticipated changes between our example and the one on the shelf in your local shop; the difference mostly comes down to ours not coming with a manual.
Firearms manufacturers often use code words. “Tactical” means that it comes in matte black or baby poop brown. Marketed to women? Shrink it and pink it. Self-defense? Ugly or unrefined, but with claimed reliability. The SDR has self-defense right in the name, but it’s far from crude.
The OEM fiber-optic sights are bright, eye-catching, and easy to track under recoil.
What is the Diamondback SDR? A gun that looks like a classic Smith & Wesson J-frame in the hand. But instead of five shots, there are six. Instead of .38 Special, it’s .357 Magnum. Instead of a basic blade sight, there are dovetailed fiber-optics.
The stainless-steel is smooth, beautiful, and highly polished (enough to make taking pictures of it a pain!). And it’s all finished off with a Diamondback-marked Hogue rubberized grip.
But if you don’t like Hogue, no worries. The Diamondback SDR is compatible with J-frame grips so you go as classy or as trashy as you’d like.
The SDR accepts J-frame grips but the OEM Hogue is very nice.
Trigger
The universal comment of the SDR while on the range was about how excellent the trigger is. Diamondback describes the trigger as match grade, but that’s underselling it—it’s downright indulgent. The trigger doesn’t stack; there’s no sudden weight increase at the end.
However, you can feel a “stop” before the break, not unlike a good Smith & Wesson trigger. It’s immediately recognizable and consistent. All told, the double-action pull is a smooth 10 pounds. If you thumb the hammer back for a single-action shot, you’re gifted with an extremely short (measured in the hundredths of an inch) pull that breaks just a hair under 3 pounds. The SDR might just be the best factory snubby trigger out of the box. You can do better, but you’ll have to go custom to do it.
Controls
One of the nice parts about developing something new is that you get to make some decisions. Controls can be a funny thing, and a great many debates have been had about push-versus-pull cylinder releases. Diamondback said screw those, and instead of copying Smith or Colt, we commend Diamondback for aping Ruger’s push-button release.
The cylinder release is a simple push button and very smooth.
But there’s another curious button on the right side, just above and forward of the trigger. This one is for removing the cylinder entirely, a trick Diamondback learned with their Sidekick. While someday Diamondback may sell spare cylinders (we had visions of using them for rapid reloads just like on some 19th century single-actions), this is mostly for ease of cleaning and other maintenance.
As a nice note, with the cylinder not in place (either for reloading or removed), both the trigger and hammer lock up.
Caliber
The .357 Magnum was developed in the early 20th century essentially as a hot-rodded .38 Special. Because the newer .357 has more ass than the parent cartridge, the brass gained an extra eighth of an inch to prevent chambering in older guns. By nature of design, ammunition fired from revolvers performs under their potential; a great deal of gas escapes in the gap between the cylinder and barrel (and also the reason why revolvers, unless modified very particularly, are terrible with silencers).
To really see the advantages of .357 Magnum over .38 Special from a revolver, you need a barrel length of 4 inches or more. Or put another way, a barrel twice as long as the SDR. Granted, more is still more—but along with that marginal velocity increase from a short barrel, the flash and felt recoil also ramp up considerably.
While the typical plan for a .357 revolver is to practice with .38 Special and carry the Magnum, here it’s probably best to carry a stout .38 +P round instead (but keep some .357 on-hand for range time with friends).
One of the advantages of revolvers in general is that the ammunition selection doesn’t matter as much in terms of function of the firearm. You can feed it everything from underpowered shotshells to supercharged magnums without complaint.
Diamondback SDR Holsters & Accessories
Holsters are a continual problem for new guns in general, but frankly it’s not so bad when it comes to revolvers. While you might get the Diamondback SDR into a Kydex or other thermoplastic holster mean for a five-shot .38 Special, you can definitely get one inside the great many leather options out there.
And even still, while we wouldn’t be the first ones to advocate for a clip-type holster for a semi-auto, it can be a different story when it comes to revolvers. While the trigger on the Diamondback SDR is incredibly smooth, it still takes a double-digit pull and a considerable amount of travel to touch it off when in double-action mode. Which is to say, these guns are much safer (rather than “safe”) than striker-fires inside the pants, purse or pocket even if the trigger ends up exposed.
While the SDR fits a great many things intended for the J-frame, the ClipDraw itself isn’t one of them because of dissimilar screw placement (though they have a universal with 3M adhesive—which might be worthwhile if you prep it properly). As the SDR accepts J-frame grips, other options include the DeSantis ClipGrip and the Barami Hip-Grip.
A universal Clip-Draw works with the SDR but certainly isn’t aesthetic.
No, there are no provisions for weapon-mounted lights on this one. But yes, you can still get one in the form of weird grips like the Hyskore. Laser grips like Crimson Trace will also work but you may have to look elsewhere for ones that bolt to the frame.
If you’re not a fan of the fiber-optic sights, Diamondback has already been working with some aftermarket companies to increase your options. A little MRDS would be hot fire, and it certainly wouldn’t be difficult to make an adapter.
HKS DS-A speedloaders work great, and of course speed strips can be used too.
In terms of reloads, we know the cylinder swap is out (for now) but you still got options. You can use flat speed strips, which are great in the pocket but universally slow. For speedloaders, the HKS DS-A is compatible, as is the 5 Star D6-357/38, and the Speed Beez for the Kimber K6. Undoubtedly more as well, but these we can confirm.
The Future & Loose Rounds
The Diamondback SDR meets or exceeds everything you’d ask for in a snubby. There’s just something about a nice revolver, done right. The polished stainless steel of the SDR enhances the je ne sais quoi, and even the black rubberized grips in lieu of hardwood seem perfectly in place.
It’d be really great to see a factory dot option in the future, or at the very least an adapter. This gun is practically begging for a bobbed or concealed hammer model, especially with the slick-smooth double-action trigger. And although they don’t see as much use in the 21st century, an SDR with a barrel long enough to take advantage of .357 ballistics would be welcome, at least for those who want to play space-cowboy-future-Dirty-Harry, or the hunters among us.
When we asked about these features, Diamondback told us, “All of these are potentials. We are committed to making a name for ourselves in the revolver world, first with the Sidekick two years ago, and now with the SDR. We have no plans to stop.”
No plans to stop? Hot damn—we’re here for it.
Pros
Amazing trigger
Good Ruger-style cylinder release
An overall well-made revolver
Cons
Not optics-ready
No bobbed hammer option
No long barrel options
Diamondback SDR Deals
Midway USA
$648
Battlehawk Armory
$684
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the August 2024 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
FALCO Holsters has just upgraded its G122 Sling Bag to make it even easier to draw a concealed handgun.
We’ve discussed the benefits of fanny pack carry before, but the reality is that a lot of guys just don’t want to be seen wearing a fanny pack. For many, a decent alternative for off-body carry may be the sling bag. FALCO Holsters offers the G122 Sling Bag designed just for that purpose, and the company has just upgraded it based on user feedback.
Comfortable, discreet and available in multiple colors, the G122 Sling Bag has been made larger to accommodate a wider variety of handguns and facilitate an easier draw. Compared to the original, the firearm compartment is 1.18 inches wider, and the two zippered front pockets have been made significantly bigger as well for carrying everyday items. Other features worth mentioning include the bag and strap’s anti-slip rubber lining, the removable elastic holster that can accommodate guns with lights or lasers and MOLLE on the front for attaching additional gear.
Robert Kovac, CEO of FALCO Holsters, said this about the improved sling bag:
At FALCO, we constantly refine our designs to improve the daily carry experience of our customers … Sometimes that means upgrading a proven concealed carry bag, and other times it means developing entirely new innovations such as our carbon fiber or 3D-printed holsters. In every case, the goal is the same: to bring practical value to the people who trust us with their protection. That’s why we listened, refined, and relaunched the G122 with purpose, and without increasing the cost.
The upgraded FALCO G122 Sling Bag is available now and has an MSRP of $130.
What are the most popular firearms of all time? Here we discuss the guns that went platinum.
The boss asked me, “How about a musing on the most popular firearms of all time? Or the past century?”
OK, I’m game … but we have to have some rules here.
I mean, if we’re going to go simply by the number made, then the 1898 Mauser and the AK-47 are the tops of the top. But they were made in such volume because governments bought them. Popular had little to do with it.
So, “popular” in that they were something that people reached into their pockets and pulled out their own cash to buy is what we’re looking for here.
I used to work on radio broadcasting, where I first heard the “went platinum” term. That meant 1 million albums and 2 million singles. (There were other limits back in the old days, but the first million-seller was Glenn Miller. Yes, that Glenn Miller.)
So, million-selling firearms that people paid for with their own money. And if not a million, then a whole heck of a lot.
Remington 700
The Remington 700 is a simple manufacturing item, and it can be improved to the point where it is almost a different firearm.
The Remington 700 was an engineering marvel when it came out. Gone was the forged receiver that required a day’s worth of machining operations to craft—instead, a seamless steel tube, broached for rails and locking lugs, and threaded for a barrel. The recoil lug is simply a plate trapped between the screwed-in barrel and the receiver. Not only was it inexpensive to manufacture, but it proved to be eminently suited to “blueprinting.” This is where someone with precision machine tools makes butting shoulders square, threads concentric, locking lugs perfectly mating and everything that moves, smooth.
Made in the millions (5 at last count), it’s so popular that new, ultra-precision rifles are quick to mention “700 pattern” in the bolt and receiver.
Glock
The Glock, in all its variants, has been made for 45 years, and more than 20 million of them are to be found.
The Glock 17 started it, and the ease of production and low cost meant the Glock was going to be popular—so popular that it seems there is an entire industry devoted to making a close that is better. (And some, perhaps many, are.) Fiercely opaque about many things, the Glock company doesn’t shout out sales figures, but the import numbers have to be recorded by Federal regulation, and the serial numbers give a lot a way as well.
Starting with AAA001, that pattern alone meant they had made 1.7 million by the time they had to change the serial number pattern. Travel anywhere in the world, see a holstered pistol on a police officer, and it’s likely a Glock. Last I checked, it’s something on the order of 20 million.
1911
The 1911 and the 1911A1 have been so popular that the production lines have never stopped. And the number of makers has only increased. A 1911 is a forever tool.
Yes, the government bought a bunch, but then we bought those from the government. The 1911 has been in continual production since it was adopted in 1911, and in the past few decades, there have been more makers of this design than ever before.
So great is the demand that there are manufacturers in Turkey, the Philippines and elsewhere that are making and shipping them to the United States. If you can find a gun shop that doesn’t have a 1911 in the display case made by someone, you have to wonder what they do sell. Ten million? Not unreasonable.
Mossberg 500
The Mossberg 500 has evolved into the 590, and has been bought by the military because a good shotgun is always a useful tool.
Starting in 1961, the Mossberg 500 offered advances and advantages not seen before, like the aluminum receiver and the safety on the tang, equally usable by both right- and left-handed shooters. The bolt locks to the barrel extension, so the receiver does not take any of the force of combustion, so it can be aluminum.
And barrels can readily be swapped. Add in the lower cost than the competitors of the time, and it is no wonder Mossberg was a hit, then and now. Then, they were adopted by the U.S. military, and the 500 just kept evolving. Last I heard, more than 12 million have been made … and more are pouring out.
Ruger 10/22
The Ruger 10/22 is so common that you can even build one from parts, none of which were made by Ruger.
Before the Ruger 10/22, .22 LR semi-autos were finicky, hard to clean, not particularly accurate, and could not be serviced by the owner. The 10/22 changed all that. The rotary magazine made feeding ultra-reliable. The ease of disassembly and cleaning meant even more reliability. And once aftermarket makers figured things out, swapping stocks, barrels and triggers became a winter hobby.
From a short-range plinker, the .22 LR rifle could become a long-range target rifle. I’ve spent more than one afternoon tagging steel plates at 200 and 300 yards. The platform is so popular that you can now buy all of the parts, none made by Ruger, and assemble your own 10/22. Over 6 million served.
Remington 870
The Remington 870 is ultra-reliable. The author has won more than his fair share of loot in various competitions in the decades since he acquired it.
There was a time when “pump shotgun” meant “Remington 870.” Before the 870, a spare barrel also had to have the hardware for attaching it to the receiver as part of the swap. That meant extra expense. By locking the bolt to the barrel extension, Remington took forces off of the receiver and could make the barrel swap easier and less expensive.
From riot to Trap, with rib and bead or rifle sights, you could change your 870 almost daily. No wonder they’ve sold (well before bankruptcy, anyway) 11 million of them.
Ruger Standard
The Ruger MkIV, the latest iteration of the Standard that began it all in 1949.
Now up to the Mk IV, the Ruger pistol was the firearm that made Ruger. Another marvel of engineering efficiency and insight, the Ruger Standard was a Colt killer, a High Standard replacement, and a high-enough bar to future competitors that trying to compete is not an easy task. You can’t just offer up your take on a .22 LR pistol, and expect prospective buyers to not compare it to the Ruger MkIV next to it in the case. Now, the earlier models had a reassembly trick that was aggravating, but the MkIV solved that. And since it was introduced in 1949, Ruger has made over 3 million of them.
S&W K Frame
The S&W K Frame, this a Model 14, has been around since 1898 and deservedly so.
The K Frame has been with us since 1898, when S&W unveiled it in .32-20. The next year they added their own cartridge, the .38 S&W Special. The pair have been with us ever since. A K Frame made today, while some parts won’t fully interchange, is so much so the same as the first ones made that a pistolsmith who was working in the first Roosevelt era could work on one made yesterday and not be at all out of sync.
The K Frame is perfectly sized for the .38, and it’s an ergonomic marvel. If someone has the hand size big enough to handle a firearm at all, and the strength to handle a cartridge at all, they can handle the K Frame in .38 Special. Once fully adopted by police officers and departments (right after The Great War) it went on to serve for the next 7 decades without being seriously challenged. As a result, there have been some 6 million of them made … and S&W is still making them.
Remington 1100
Before the Remington 1100, auto shotguns were not common. Oh, the Browning Auto 5 was well-known, but it was expensive, it still hammered you in use, and it required some special maintenance in order to work well and not beat itself up. The 1100? Soft-shooting. And, like the 870, it was easy to swap barrels. The 1100 soon ruled the skeet and trap fields, and it was so common in duck and geese blinds that to show up with something else was to require explanations.
As a gunsmith, I could count on the time between Labor Day and Opening Day as “1100 time.” They would pour in, needing cleaning, rust removal, parts replacement and cracked wood repairs. Not because they were particularly fragile, but because there were so many, and they often led hard lives. Many were simply stashed away in the closet after duck season, and the next summer emerged needing work.
As to the volume, Remington made more than 4 million of them, and none of them seemed to ever be kept as safe queens. They all got used, and I felt at times as if I had worked on half of them.
AR-15
You thought I had forgotten this one, didn’t you?
Before the end of the 20th century, production wasn’t all that great, because we were still in the blued steel and walnut era … and not yet fully into the “ban all gun” era. Once it became clear that those who wanted guns gone wanted them all gone, starting with the AR-15, sales took off. (If you want to sell something to Americans, tell them they can’t have it, or someone wants to take it away.)
Since then, it seemed like each year was a new record-breaking production year. It’s not easy to pin down, but I’ve seen estimates as high as 25 million. And not a single one of those was made for government use, or paid for by the government. Each one was paid for with hard-earned cash by a U.S. citizen. So, winner and still champion, is the AR-15.
Others
Now there are some that deserve to be mentioned even though they don’t quite meet our rules. (Hey, I have to draw the line someplace.)
Luger
The Luger, while iconic, is an almost all a military-made product, and while there is lust, it isn’t a big seller.
Yes, this is iconic. There were 3 million made, but the vast majority of them were made for military use. Those that shooters here own were bring-backs, souvenirs and collectibles. No one uses them in target competition. No one uses them in practical shooting matches. No one selects a Luger to use as a daily-carry pistol, or as a home-defense pistol. Oh, I’m sure there are some being used that way, but that’s not the norm.
Many look longingly at a Luger, perhaps even lustfully. But few break out their wallet and buy one.
Browning Hi-Power
The Browning Hi Power is sought-after, but hasn’t quite gotten the love that so many other firearms received.
Another lustfully desired pistol, but not one that has been all that common, actually. The last of the John Browning designs, brought to fruition by Saive, suffered by comparison to the 1911. For a long time 9mm ammo wasn’t a first choice, and the Browning Hi-Power was only a 9mm.
Estimates of production are all over the map: A million-plus by FN in Belgium. But then there were the Inglis pistols, and the Indian Army made truckloads of them. Now, the Turkish firearms makers are offering better-than-ever BHPs, with harder steel and tighter tolerances than the classic FNs. This one is in an in-between status. Classic like the Luger, but with increased production and interest, it could make the leap up to the big list with the others.
Don’t Forget Military Guns
And what about the military-production firearms? The numbers are impressive, even a bit staggering. And also broad estimates, due to secrecy and wartime losses. So, the 1898 Mauser, in all its variants, numbers something like 30 to 40 million.
The AK-47, depending on who you believe, numbers more than 40 million, and perhaps more than 100 million. (No wonder you can’t turn over a rock without finding an AK buried under it.) Mosin-Nagant? Easily more than 30 million.
The M16 lifetime production run is closing in on 20 million, and that doesn’t include the AR-15. Also: Lee-Enfield, FAL, G3, Arisakas and Garands … all in the millions each.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the July 2025 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
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.
