Ergonomics and style come together in the new Taylor’s & Company Gunfighter Nickel revolver series.
Gunfighter Nickel Available Models:
.357 MAG | 4.75-Inch
.45 LC | 4.75-Inch
.357 MAG | 5.5-Inch
.45 LC | 5.5-Inch
Pretty enough to be a hung on a wall, Taylor’s & Company’s new Gunfighter Nickel revolver wasn’t made to be a safe queen. Designed with features intended to improve its shootability, the Gunfighter Nickel revolver is also available with Taylor’s tuned action for an even smoother shooting experience. With a choice of two barrel lengths and two calibers, the Gunfighter Nickel revolver should suit your needs whether you’re looking to take it to cowboy action matches or just use it for some classy, old-school home defense.
The heart of the Gunfighter Nickel revolver is in its grip, which is an 1860 Army style grip attached to the revolver’s otherwise 1873 SAA style frame. This is especially ideal for shooters with larger hands, but even those with more average-sized mitts will likely find the Gunfighter Nickel revolver more ergonomic.
Rob Girard, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, had this to say about Taylor’s & Company’s newest revolver:
“The Gunfighter Nickel is a cool addition to our very popular Gunfighter Series. The nickel-plated revolver has a flashy look with its charcoal blue screws and hand polished action not to mention its available with the unique Taylor Tuned action.”
Besides looking handsome, the new Gunfighter's nickel finish should be more corrosion resistant than the blued model as well. Whether you’re interested in the .357 Magnum or the .45 Long Colt variant with either the short or long barrel, the MSRP is $704.46. Any of the models ordered with a custom-tuned action will have an MSRP of $850.71.
For more information on Taylor's & Company, please visit taylorsfirearms.com.
Whether you’re looking to start an aspiring hunter on a full-power shotgun or just a sportsman looking to cut down on shoulder pain, Kick-Eez Junior and Slip-On recoil pads have something to suit your needs.
Kick-Eez Recoil Pad Styles:
Grind-To-Fit
Pre-Fit
Slip-On
Whether it’s hit your radar or not, youth shooting is on the rise. This especially goes for competitive shotgun numbers.
According to data from The National Shooting Sports Foundation and the USA Clay Target League, youth participation rates in hunting and shooting sports improved drastically in 2020 and the trend is projected to continue. Schools and private programs like 4-H have all seen a rising interest in shooting sports over the past few years, and for the sake of the future of American gun culture, this trend should get encouraged as much as possible.
Kick-Eez Junior is sized right to fit on youth shotguns.
One way, especially for youth just cutting their teeth on shooting, is to make it more accessible. And when it comes to smoothbores, there’s no easier—and inexpensive way to do this—than a recoil pad.
Face it, shotguns have a kick to them, one even big guys notice—not to mention a light-framed youngster. But with the addition of a Kick-Eez Junior Recoil Pad or the company’s Slip-on model, nearly any scattergun is accessible.
Kick-Eez Starting Them Off Right
If starting your kid off with a .410 is the equivalent of signing them up for swimming lessons and handing them a 12-gauge is the equivalent of throwing them in the pool, then giving them a 12-gauge equipped with a Kick-Eez recoil pad is equivalent to throwing them in with floaties on. The latter set of examples both provide the novice with a taste of the real experience, but with an added measure of safety or comfort to make it more palatable.
The Slip-On model easily goes on and off any shotgun.
That, essentially is what Kick-Eez Junior and Slip-On recoil pads do. The Junior is a full-time enhancement to a youth shotgun, tailored to and attaching directly to the buttstock of a gun. The nice aspect of this model is that, with Kick-Eez’s spacer system, it also helps modify the length of pull for the perfect fit. While the Slip-On, much as its name suggests, comes on and off at a moment’s notice. A bit more convenient, especially if a youth barrows mom’s or dad’s gun.
Despite their differences, the pads do the same thing—eats recoil. Namely, that’s because both are made from the same material—Sorbothane.
Sorbothane Advantage
Most are saying, what the heck is that? Well, more than a strange name.
Sorbothane is meat-like polymer material developed in the early 1980s that shares some properties with both solids and liquids. It’s like a solid in it maintains its form over time, thus can be made into different products. However, it’s like a liquid when a force acts upon it. Namely, it dissipates energy in all directions, instead of just one.
Kick-Eez sparcers allows you to tailor length of pull for any shooter.
Guess what … that’s the perfect stuff to make recoil pads out of. It’s so effective, in fact, Kick-Eez recoil pads absorb about half the felt recoil from a shot, making the use of a full-power shotgun by a smaller person much more feasible and effective. In the guise of the Junior and Slip-On recoil pads, this can provide the difference between a memorable time behind the trigger or a horrible experience that turns a kid off shooting sports.
It also, potential, offers the youth shooter the chance to begin honing their skills earlier with gauges they’ll most likely use as adults. This is important. After safety, success is the name of the game when it comes to introducing youths to shooting. Nothing is more frustrating to a new shooter than walking away from the range without breaking a clay or a hunt without a bird in hand. If a 12- or 20-gauge is tamed so a novice can use and succeed with it, then all the better in endearing them to the sport.
Kick-Eez Options
In addition to the Kick-Eez Junior and Slip-On recoil pads, the company offers a variety of styles and fits that should suit just about anyone’s needs. Between their grind-to-fit, pre-fit and slip-on styles of pads, they should have a Sorbothane solution that’s compatible with your gun. They come in different shapes and thicknesses too depending on what your intended use. Whether you intend to go hunting with magnum slugs or just bust clays all day long, they have a pad for that.
Kick-Eez offers options for any shooter, from new youth to seasoned hunter.
While the primary demographics likely to benefit from Kick-Eez recoil pads are novices and youths, a 50 percent decrease in felt recoil is something that all of us could appreciate.
Even when shooting light loads out of a heavy gun, after doing it for hours on end one’s shoulder is prone to get sore. That’s why Kick-Eez recoil pads make for an excellent addition to almost any shotgun. They are affordable and don’t modify your gun in any permanent or negative way. A shotgun with a Kick-Eez pad installed will provide a better shooting experience while hunting with hot loads, blasting clays all day or even when helping to encourage youth in your life to take up shooting sports.
Lightweight, rugged and affordable, the new Holosun AEMS optic has innovative features that are sure to appeal to a wide variety of shooters.
Holosun AEMS Features:
Large FOV, Compact And Lightweight Body
Shake Awake System
~50K Hour Battery Life
Dot, Circle Or Circle-Dot Reticle
Available With Red Or Green Reticle
MSRP: $470.58 (Red Reticle)
Most red dot sights on the market today were designed either to be as lightweight and compact as possible or to be durable and provide a better field of view. These qualities are often mutually exclusive, forcing consumers to choose one style over the other depending on their needs. Now, the new Holosun AEMS is attempting to combine these features into a single, do-it-all optic.
Lightweight Yet Rugged
Constructed from 7075 T6 aluminum, the Holosun AEMS manages to weigh only 3.9 ounces without its mounting hardware. That’s less than half as much as what an Eotech XPS3 weighs, but it’s been tested against recoil vibration and other environmental factors to ensure that it can still withstand plenty of abuse in the field. The Holosun AEMS has also been tested against submersion and extreme temperatures and includes a built-in set of plastic lens covers for further protecting the glass viewfinder. The enclosed nature of the AEMS also means that it’s impervious to snow or mud blocking the sight’s emitter.
Compact Yet Usable
The Holosun AEMS has a similar-sized viewing window to an Eotech XPS3, but still manages to come out dimensionally smaller overall. This provides the shooter with the least obstructive field of view possible, enabling quick target acquisition while keeping the weapon compact and maneuverable. While most red dots of a comparable size and weight have much smaller viewing windows, making them more difficult to use, the Holosun AEMS manages to squeeze the FOV of an almost full-sized optic into a compact housing.
Holosun AEMS Options
The new Holosun AEMS is configurable to work with a variety of different setups, platforms and uses. When purchasing an AEMS, the first option one is presented with is the choice between a red or a green reticle. There are pros and cons to each color, and it mostly depends on personal preference, but the green version does have an MSRP of about $35 more. Both versions of the AEMS can switch between three different reticle modes and 12 different brightness settings. The reticle can either be set to a 2-MOA dot, a 65-MOA circle, or both. The optic is powered by a CR2032 battery but also draws ancillary power from the top-mounted solar panel which doubles as a light sensor for automatic brightness adjustment. The auto-adjust and shake-awake features can also be tuned to fit your preferences or disabled completely. With just the dot set to an average brightness setting under normal conditions, the Holosun AEMS can last up to 50,000 hours before needing a new battery.
The AEMS can also be either directly mounted to the weapon or attached by using the included lower 1/3 co-witness mount. An absolute co-witness mount is sold separately. These mounts enable the Holosun AEMS to be right at home on an AR, HK or just about any other long gun.
With a projected release date of early October, the Holosun AEMS is sure to make waves in the red dot world. Innovative due to its large lens size fit inside a compact housing, the AEMS still manages to be durable and affordable. It will enable shooters to reduce their rifle’s weight and clear up rail space while retaining an optic that looks more usable compared to other micro red dots. The Holosun AEMS is undoubtedly about to become one of the most popular optics in its class.
From police ankles to grandma’s purse, the KelTec P32 has been the preferred pocket pistol of many since it was first released.
KelTec P32 Features:
.32 ACP
7-Round Magazine
Double-Action Only
Ultra-High-Impact Polymer Frame
7-Ounces Unloaded
Molded out of what appears to be the same plastic used to make action figures, the KelTec P32 emanates a certain 1990s charm that brings to mind neon-splattered movie theater carpet and paper cups with a wavy blue line across the center. Despite how it looks, the KelTec P32 was an instant classic for the role it was designed for. While the polymer used doesn’t look as sleek as what we’re used to today, it’s high quality, durable and accomplishes one of this pistol’s main goals—being lightweight. Old, all-steel pocket pistols may be compact and work fine when actually being carried in a pocket, but another common carry method used is ankle holster carry. Any cop who used to chase down suspects with a Colt .38 snubby strapped to his ankle will tell you that ounces matter, and that’s where the KelTec P32 shines.
Many Ways To Carry
Many of the KelTec P32’s features make it ideal for deep concealment, especially when weight is a factor. The gun operates by using a short-recoil, locked breach system despite only being chambered for .32 ACP. By choosing this system over direct blowback, the P32 can use lighter recoil springs, resulting in a smoother action. It has an internal hammer and a double-action-only trigger with about a five-pound pull, but KelTec claims that it should be smooth and consistent all the way through. The double-action trigger acts as this gun’s only safety (besides an internal hammer block to make it drop-safe). The lack of a manual safety, external hammer or other controls help keep the KelTec P32 snag-free and extremely simple to operate—all qualities of a good backup piece.
Weighing less than seven ounces unloaded, it’s no wonder why the P32 became so popular for those who carry with an ankle holster, but the gun’s light weight enables more carry methods than just ankle alone. Belly bands, neck-lanyards and other unorthodox techniques that are often thwarted by a gun’s heft suddenly become accessible when the piece only weighs as much as a roll of nickels.
Best In Its Class
As far as polymer-framed .32 ACP pocket pistols go, the KelTec P32 is undoubtedly the best in its class, and not just because it’s the only one in it. Since it was released in 1999 there hasn’t been another pistol quite like the KelTec P32. There are other, metal-framed .32 ACP pocket pistols such as the Seecamp that outclass it in terms of compactness, but there are none that I know of that outclass it in weight. The extra grip size also contributes to better ergonomics and a higher capacity.
KelTec P32 Vs. Seecamp Model 32. Photo: HandgunHero
On one hand, the DAO trigger and tiny sights make the P32 difficult for inexperienced shooters to make hits with, but the low-power round being fired should help compensate. An eight-round capacity also isn’t bad for a pocket pistol with flush-fitting mags, but they even have extended magazines available for sale as spares.
KelTec P32 with extended 10-round magazine and a pocket clip. Photo: Wikipedia
The KelTec P32 may still be the number one choice for a police backup gun more than twenty years after the gun’s release. Its uniquely lightweight and simple operation makes it particularly suited for the role in ways that not every pocket pistol can be. It has a slew of aftermarket accessories available for it and still has a reasonable MSRP of $360, making it an attractive option for anyone looking for a deep concealment piece. The KelTec P32 fills a niche that no other pistol does quite as well, and for that reason this retro-looking chunk of plastic will likely be remembered as a classic for years to come.
New production Hi-Powers are once again available as EAA begins importing the Girsan MC P35.
Girsan MC P35 Features:
9mm, 15+1 Capacity
Single-Action
Ambidextrous Safety
Matte Black Finish
Checkered Synthetic Grips
Ever since Browning discontinued production in 2018, your choices for a Hi-Power have been limited to the secondhand market. Another Turkish-made clone, the Tisas BR9, was available briefly as well but was apparently discontinued due to quality issues. EAA is now attempting to revive this classic John Browning design with a new Turkish clone we’re seeing stateside for the first time—the Girsan MC P35.
Classic Design
Development of the Hi-Power started under John Browning and was finished by his assistant at the time, Dieudonné Saive. Browning’s achievements need not be repeated, but Saive was responsible for pioneering the double-stack pistol magazine which would prove to be the heart of the Hi-Power design. He would also go on to design the iconic FAL. The Hi-Power was instantly well-received by its users and its popularity around the globe would only grow in the decades to come.
Many people claim that the Hi-Power is the most ergonomic pistol they’ve ever shot, and many of those who disagree only do so because they prefer pistols that were derived from the Hi-Power like the CZ-75. The requirements driving the Hi Power’s development necessitated that it be accurate, powerful, durable and have a high capacity (for the time). Assuming that the Girsan MC P35 is a decently manufactured reproduction, it should have similar accuracy and reliability as the original. Its capacity has already been improved upon by shipping with modern, flush-fitting 15-round magazines rather than the initial 13-round design. The Girsan MC P35 also includes an ambidextrous safety right out of the box, as well as an improved external extractor and a rounded, no-bite hammer.
One original feature that the Girsan MC P35 retained that could have been left off is the magazine disconnect safety. This was one of the original military requirements for the Hi-Power and was included solely to prevent poorly trained troops from accidentally shooting themselves while cleaning the gun. The inclusion of this device unfortunately means that the trigger is not as good as it could have been without it, and in my opinion, it makes operating the gun more tedious with no real benefit.
Here To Stay
While its popularity may have declined some in recent years, the Hi-Power was one of the most prolific sidearms in the world for several decades. It was the go-to pistol for many American special forces soldiers when working abroad in this time period due to how commonplace the spare parts and magazines were. With the millions of Hi-Powers built and distributed over the decades, it's safe to say that this iconic design isn’t going anywhere. So if you’re considering the Girsan MC P35, parts availability shouldn’t be a concern. Magazines, aftermarket upgrades and accessories like holsters can all still easily be found.
Bigger, heavier and more primitive than most handguns on the market today, the Hi-Power is still an excellent design that one could feel confident trusting their life to. If the Girsan MC P35 proves to be a well-made clone, a pair of wooden grips and a leather shoulder holster would make for one classy CCW setup.
With an MSRP of $528, the Girsan MC P35 looks like a very promising pistol. It’s always nice to see the classics being kept alive. Hopefully this Turkish clone proves to be a faithful reproduction of John Browning’s work and continues to be imported for years to come.
For more on the Girsan MC P35, please visit eaacorp.com.
As many Americans prepare to fill their freezers during the upcoming hunting season, Remington just made the job easier with their new Core-Lokt Tipped bullets.
Currently Available Core-Lokt Tipped Calibers:
.243 Winchester
6.5 Creedmoor
.270 Winchester
.280 Remington
7mm Remington Magnum
.308 Winchester
.30-06 Springfield
.300 WSM
.300 Winchester Magnum
Remington’s classic Core-Lokt bullets have been a top choice for hunters for decades, but sometimes even great things have room for improvement. The updated Remington Core-Lokt Tipped bullets boast improved in-flight accuracy, a higher ballistic coefficient and greater expansion over the original design, making them ideal for bagging game at any distance.
A Better Bullet
The magic of the new Core-Lokt Tipped bullets is all in the tip as the name might suggest. Made of green polymer, the new tip simultaneously improves the bullet’s accuracy and lethality. The improved ballistic coefficient that it provides increases accuracy, especially at longer ranges, while the polymer tip was designed to rapidly expand after hitting its target. Original Core-Lokt marketing from 1939 called it the “deadliest mushroom in the woods” due to its gnarly expansion. This new variety of Remington fungi is even more devastating, creating larger wound channels and imparting more energy when compared to the older design. The same lead core and copper jacket were retained from the original Core-Lokt bullets to ensure the same reliable weight retention and deep penetration that they were known for.
Core-Lokt classic (left) Vs. new Core-Lokt Tipped (right).
Pick Your Poison
The new Remington Core-Lokt Tipped bullets are available in nine different calibers with two of them available in three different loadings, making a grand total of thirteen different varieties to choose from. This spread enables Core-Lokt Tipped bullets to be viable for hunting a wide variety of game with a variety of rifles. All Core-Lokt Tipped calibers come in 20-round boxes and have MSRPs ranging from $41.99 to $61.99.
If you’re one of the many Americans counting the days until deer season, consider stepping your game up with Remington’s new Core-Lokt Tipped hunting bullets.
For more info on Remington ammunition, please visit remington.com.
In response to customer feedback, Riton Optics has upgraded their MPRD and PRD pistol red dots with several modern, competitive features.
3 Tactix MPRD 2 And 3 Tactix PRD 2 New Features:
Shake-Awake
Auto-Brightness Adjustment
Auto-Shutoff
Low Battery Indicator
Two of Riton Optics’ popular pistol red dots have just been upgraded. In danger of getting outpaced by competing designs, Riton has listened to customer feedback and implemented the relevant changes in their newest generation of pistol red dots, the 3 Tactix MPRD 2 and the 3 Tactix PRD 2. The durability and affordability of Riton’s first-generation MPRD and PRD optics are what helped make them a popular choice in the first place, so naturally, the updated versions have retained those attributes as well.
New Features
In the interest of battery life and convenience of use, all good modern pistol red dots feature auto-on and auto-off technology. This is because if you ever need to draw your pistol in a defensive situation, your attacker likely won’t have the patience for you to turn on or adjust your optic. That’s why the updated MPRD 2 and PRD 2 have the technology to automatically turn on after sensing motion, turn off after prolonged rest and automatically adjust dot brightness based on the surrounding light level. These features combined make for optics that are not only easier to use but can potentially go for 40-50,000 hours depending on the model. Both the MPRD 2 and PRD 2 now also indicate when the battery is running low. Whenever it comes time to draw, either of the new Riton sights should be ready to put quick and accurate hits downrange with the help of their 3-MOA dots.
Still Tough
While upgrading their pistol red dot designs, Riton made sure to not compromise on durability. Still constructed from aircraft-grade aluminum, they are water, fog and shockproof. The lenses have also been coated to help protect against water and scratches and to allow for maximum light transmission.
The two optics are very similar but differ in a few key ways. The 3 Tactix MPRD 2 mounts via a Shield footprint and is powered by a single CR2032 battery. The 3 Tactix PRD 2 instead mounts via an RMR footprint and is powered by a CR1632 battery. The MPRD 2 also has a slightly longer potential battery life and was tested to withstand a higher amount of shock. Both optics still share the same price as their first-generation counterparts with a listed MSRP of $299.99. Either model would make an excellent addition to a defensive pistol or AR-15.
Following the recent Russian ammo ban, let’s look back at how a similar situation in the early 1990s led to smuggling, sting operations and the end of Norinco in the United States.
On August 20th, the Biden administration announced new sanctions to be placed on Russia, banning the importation of Russian-made arms and ammunition into the United States. The official reason given for the new sanctions was that they were in response to the Russian government’s alleged poisoning of Alexei Navalny. President Biden’s critics were quick to point out that his recent move to waive sanctions on the Russian company responsible for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline will help the Russian economy far more than this ammo ban could ever hinder it. This has led many to believe that the true reasoning behind the ban was to punish law-abiding American gun owners and not the Russian government.
This would be consistent with promises made since President Biden’s campaign first began. He reaffirmed his position in a June 23rd speech where he said that his administration would be encouraging Congress to pass more gun control but would be pursuing their goals in any way they can, implying the use of means besides legislation. This is not the first time an administration has sidestepped Congress to pursue a gun-control agenda, however. Similar measures were taken by President Clinton in the early 1990s against Chinese arms companies, creating a situation very similar to the one we see today.
Norinco Ban
In 1994 President Clinton decided to extend China’s Most Favored Nation (MFN) trading status, with the notable exception of most arms and ammunition produced by leading Chinese defense conglomerates Norinco and Polytech. Much like Biden’s recent sanctions on Russian arms and ammo, Clinton’s critics pointed out that the harm imposed by the sanctions on the Chinese economy will pale in comparison to the benefits they’ll feel from renewing their MFN status. Unlike Biden’s recent sanctions, President Clinton was at least more transparent about the decision, claiming that it was made not only to punish China’s human rights abuses but also to combat growing crime rates in the United States. Cheap Chinese arms and ammo were reportedly very commonly found in the hands of criminals in this time period, a concern that was present since at least President Bush Sr. banned the importation of “assault rifles” in 1989.
Despite barely receiving a footnote mention in their respective news stories, the effects that these bans had on American gun owners were greater than the impact either had on the Chinese or Russian economies. Even supporters of Clinton’s 1994 decision claimed that it would be a net positive for the Chinese economy and that only Norinco had anything to be worried about. Apparently, many of them were worried, because the ban led some Norinco employees to take drastic measures.
Fallout From The Ban
In December of 1994, a U.S. Customs Agent informed the ATF that a man named Hammond Ku had thousands of Chinese weapons stored in his warehouse in the San Francisco area. This led the ATF to launch what they called Operation Dragonfire, a sting that was ongoing for 18 months and resulted in arrests, weapon seizures and the indictment of Norinco due to their alleged knowledge and participation in the weapons smuggling. Undercover agents posing as organized crime representatives successfully arranged the purchase of 2,000 fully automatic AK rifles, and further deals were in the works to smuggle in rocket launchers and even armored vehicles. Upon Ku’s arrest, he claimed that key Norinco and Chinese government officials were aware of and complicit in the deal, and were apparently only concerned with countering profits lost following Clinton’s sanctions. If there were any chances of Norinco returning to the American market before this, their reckless Hollywoodesque smuggling attempt guaranteed their ban was permanent.
It was China’s massive industrial scale which made the AK a viable and popular platform in the U.S. in the first place. While not the first AK rifles to be imported, they were certainly the cheapest. Through low prices, high availability and abundant and cheap ammunition, Norinco was able to single-handedly raise the AK out of niche commie obscurity and make it a mainstream option for American shooters everywhere. The ban on Chinese rifles was certainly devastating too, but much like today it was the removal of their cheap and plentiful ammunition from the market that had the biggest effect on shooters. Millions of Chinese AKs and SKSs were imported between about 1984 and 1994, leaving many Americans with rifles and nothing to shoot. Thankfully, life finds a way, and shortly after China’s removal from the American arms market the void began to be filled by Russia. Cheap and plentiful Soviet calibers once again lined American store shelves for decades until the most recent round of sanctions were announced, putting us right back at square one.
Disturbing Pattern
If this pattern continues, the ammo void will slowly but surely begin to get filled by a new country like Turkey, only for their arms companies to be sanctioned as well in another decade or two for dishonest political reasons. This all goes to show that Executive Orders and Actions have far too much sway over American gun owners. Many of the things which affect the gun community the greatest are not laws that were voted on and passed by Congress but were decisions made on the Executive level with almost zero chance of being repealed. If this continues, Second Amendment rights and the ability to freely exercise them will continue to be eroded. At least legislation like Clinton’s 1994 Assault Weapons Ban had a sunset which was reached in 2004, but sanctions placed on Chinese and Russian defense conglomerates are in effect permanent. So, it's time to take your last box of Tulammo and place it on the shelf next to your last box of Norinco, let them serve as reminders of what gun owners still have to lose.
Ready for 9mm pistols to .45-70 rifles, the Dead Air Primal may be the new best choice for the one-can-man.
Primal Suppressor Specs:
Rating: .458 Caliber, Energies Up to .338 Lapua
Length: 7.9 Inches
Weight: 16.5 Ounces
Diameter: 1.618 Inches
Mounting Options: Direct Thread, Keymo, Xeno, Pistol Boosters, Tri-Lug
MSRP: $929
For those who already have expansive and diverse arsenals but haven’t dabbled in the world of NFA items yet, it may be difficult to choose which gun you want to suppress first. Dead Air’s answer? Why not all of them. The newly released Dead Air Primal is a .46 caliber suppressor that was optimized for high-pressure rifle cartridges but designed to run on everything down to 9mm pistols. Add in the vast array of mounting possibilities with the Primal, and this may be the only suppressor you'll ever need.
Omnivorous
From 9mm to .45 ACP, and 45-70 to .338 Lapua, like a rabid beast the Primal will eat just about anything you give it.
Versatility was clearly the goal with the Dead Air Primal, not just between calibers but between platforms as well. By giving the suppressor plenty of internal volume, the Primal can suppress calibers much smaller than its bore size. While optimized for big-bore, high-pressure rounds like .45-70 Gov’t, this suppressor will still get the job done on an AR-15. Because the can utilizes the HUB mounting system, it can be configured to attach to almost all common suppressor mounts. From different direct-thread pitches to flash hider mounts, tri-lugs and pistol boosters, it’s this system that enables the Dead Air Primal to work with so many different weapon platforms. Long gun or pistol, automatic or manual action, big bore or small, the Primal can do it all.
Trade-Offs
Nothing in this world is free, unfortunately, especially when it comes to physics. While the Dead Air Primal certainly can suppress a wide variety of calibers, it only excels with some of them. If your only aim is to make your gun as quiet as possible, for most calibers you can find a more efficient suppressor than the Primal. It was also made of stainless steel to contain large rifle cartridges, so while it can work with a handgun, it will be larger and heavier than most dedicated pistol suppressors need to be.
The Dead Air Primal seems like the perfect fit for someone who has ARs, AKs and HKs in calibers ranging from 9mm to .308, and wants to suppress them all as cheaply and quickly as possible. It may not be the very best at any particular role, but for the cost and hassle of a single tax stamp, it can do quite a lot for its price.
Designed to be used on air rifles to slug guns from up-close or far away, the new Meopta Optika 5 is one versatile package.
Meopta Optika5 2-10×42 PA Features:
2-10 Power Magnification
42mm Objective Lens
Adjustable Parallax From 10 Yards To Infinity
Second Focal Plane Reticle
Two Reticle Options
Good quality riflescopes are often expensive and designed to excel in a very specific role. For those who are not dedicated to a single discipline of long-range shooting, it can be hard to justify purchasing a scope that may only excel in certain specific roles. This is what makes jack-of-all-trade scopes like the new Meopta Optika5 so appealing, with versatility being one of its main selling points. Designed to be used on everything from air rifles and rimfires to muzzleloaders and slug guns at distances ranging from 10 yards to infinity, the Meopta Optika5 is suited for a variety of different jobs.
Nearly Any Task
Optics obviously need to be able to withstand the recoil impulse of whatever firearm they are mounted to, but not every recoil impulse is the same. It’s not just about the raw amount of energy or the caliber of the projectile, but the direction of the impulse as well. That’s why the Meopta Optika5 was designed to not only handle muzzleloaders, slug guns and large-bore centerfires, but spring-piston air rifles with bi-directional recoil as well. This combined with the scope’s 10-yard to infinity parallax means that it could excel at everything from hunting small or large game to winning precision rimfire competitions.
The scope’s single-piece construction from aircraft-grade aluminum should help to ensure that the Meopta Optika5 is durable enough to survive the abuse of a serious hunting expedition, and its hydrophobic lens coatings help protect it from moisture, grease or dirt. The coating also protects against abrasion and allows for maximum light transmission while reducing glare and reflection.
The Meopta Optika5 comes with a choice of two second focal plane reticles, either the Z-Plex or the Z-Plus. MSRP is $349.99 and each scope comes with Meopta’s lifetime warranty.
The Zastava M70 pistol is a bit hefty for a pocket gun, but at their current prices, this little .32 is still a solid option.
Zastava M70 Pistol Specs:
Single-Action
.32 ACP
8-Round Magazine
Similar Size To Walther PPK/s
The nature of pocket pistols relegates them to the role of backup guns, something to have on you more for peace of mind and emergency situations than full-time CCW duty. Because of this, many are hesitant to spend money on something they hardly intend to shoot or only occasionally carry. Many of these guns can tend on the higher side of the price spectrum and collectability, but most people looking to add a pocket pistol to their collection today would prefer to spend as little as possible. For those individuals, there may not be a better option on the market right now than the Zastava M70 pistol.
Production of the M70 pistol began in 1970 at the famous Zastava Arms plant in what was then Yugoslavia. Used by the Yugoslavian police as well as military officers, it was intended to be lighter and more comfortable to carry than the standard service pistol-sized M57s. It stayed in service with these groups for about twenty years until it was replaced by the CZ 99, Zastava’s Sig P226 clone. As with every gun that could be readily found at the time, plenty of Zastava M70 pistols saw use during the conflicts in the Balkans as well.
Design And Features
The Zastava M70 pistol is essentially a scaled-down version of their M57 Tokarev clone. Chambered for the .32 ACP cartridge, it is able to utilize a straight blowback action rather than the Tokarev’s traditional Browning tilting-barrel system. It features a 3.7-inch barrel and a proportionally shorter grip that is just barely large enough to fill an average man’s hand. Like the Tokarev, it is single-action only.
Unlike many other imported Commbloc pistols, the Zastava M70 was originally designed with a manual safety. This means that there is no need for one to be haphazardly added for legal importation into the United States like is necessary with most standard Tokarev designs. While the safety’s two positions have quite a bit of travel distance between them, they are oriented in the ideal way so that flicking it forward readies it to fire. It feeds from 8-round magazines but can be carried cocked and locked with a ninth in the chamber.
The Zastava M70 is very similar in size to the Walther PPK/s, only having a slightly longer barrel and weighing a few ounces more. The extra weight and bulk certainly aren’t ideal traits for a pocket pistol, but the added weight and all-steel construction should make for a very durable piece with little felt recoil—an advantage if you ever actually need to use it.
Zastava M70 Pistol Vs Walther PPK/s. Photo: HandgunHero
Something to keep in mind about the M70 while shopping for one is that many of the imported versions come with a non-original rear sight. From the factory, these pistols have a very basic rear notch sight, but for importation reasons many are brought in with a ridiculous and unusable “sporter” sight. Made of black plastic and about twice as high as they should be, if the pistol you buy has one of these it should immediately be replaced. Unfortunately, it’s not easy to find original surplus M70 pistol sights for sale, but there are other options. Guides can be found online showing how to modify a standard M57 rear sight to fit an M70, and there are also aftermarket 3-dot fiber optic sights available from Optik Arms in Bosnia. Considering that the latter of those costs about 25% as much as the pistol itself, ideally you should try and buy an M70 that still has its original irons.
Zastava M70 pistols can still easily be found for less than $200, making them an excellent choice for those on a budget. For the money, they are pretty nice guns. While a bit on the chunkier side, M70s are still small enough to be comfortably carried in a jacket pocket, and the extra heft should make them more enjoyable to shoot than most other pocket pistols of this size. For those who have been hunting for a cheap backup gun that offers much of the utility of a Walther PPK at less than a quarter of the price, the Zastava M70 pistol is still a solid option.
Not all rimfire ammo is created equal. We test and evaluate .22 LR, .22 Magnum, .17 HMR and .17 Winchester Super Mag factory ammunition so you can pick the right load for your needs.
With regard to the terminal performance of centerfire rifle and handgun ammunition, the written word has probably used up enough paper to deforest a national park. Not only is it a favorite topic for gun writers to pontificate on, it fuels a lot of gun counter conversations and campfire arguments. Why isn’t there the same interest in the terminal performance of rimfire ammunition?
I think this is partly because a lot of critters shot with rimfire ammunition are relatively small, not life threatening or not considered a trophy, at least in the same sense a mature mule deer buck might be. Proportionally and for what it’s worth, the power-to-game-weight ratio is very similar between centerfire and rimfire cartridges, with a maximum practical limit of about 2 to 2.5 ft-lb of energy for every pound of game weight. Put another way and in the vaguest of terms, if a 1,000-pound animal—a moose—is considered the maximum practical limit for the .308 Winchester, then a 40-pound animal—a large coyote—would be a reasonable maximum limit for a .22 LR.
The point is that if the terminal performance of a bullet matters with a 308 Winchester, then it matters just as much with a .22 LR. And, it matters whether you’re shooting a fox squirrel for supper, a raccoon in your trash can or a coyote in your chicken coop. What might surprise you is how different various rimfire loads perform. It’s a good idea to know what the bullet you’re shooting will do when it hits a bobcat or a bad guy.
.22 Long Rifle
Used most often for plinking and target shooting, the .22 LR is the premier small-game cartridge. It has fed families and made marksmen. Benchrest shooting legend Walt Berger told me about growing up and hunting groundhogs on a neighbor’s farm. The farmer would pay him 10 cents for every groundhog he killed. Walt would save half the money and buy a few rounds of .22 LR with the rest. In those days, you could buy .22 LR ammo by the single cartridge.
Shockingly, Remington’s CBee22 load expands very well, even though velocities are subsonic. Accuracy can be good to poor, depending on your rifle. Don’t expect 100 percent reliability in semi-automatics.
The .22 LR can be effective on larger critters like coyotes and some even rely on it for personal protection. Poachers even use the .22 LR on game animals as large as deer. I don’t support poaching, and I don’t think the cartridge is ideal for coyotes or bad guys, but regardless of what you plan to do with a .22, you should choose a load that’ll amplify your chances for success.
In my opinion, the best all-around .22 LR load is the 40-grain CCI Velocitor. Out of a rifle, it’ll penetrate deeper than a foot and expand to almost 1.4 times the original bullet diameter. It’s death on small game, works well on groundhogs and similar-sized critters, and if I was going to shoot a coyote or a criminal with a .22 LR, it’d be my load of choice. Surprisingly, this bullet will even expand when fired from handguns. If you cannot find the Velocitor load, the 40-grain Winchester HyperSpeed Hollow-Point is almost as good.
Though with the recent acquisition of the Remington Ammunition by Vista/Federal, we’re unsure what munitions will remain cataloged. Two Remington loads of note are the CBee22 and the Yellow Jacket. What makes the CBee22 unique is its subsonic velocity, low report, and the bullet’s ability to still expand. For vermin control around the home or small game at close range, it’s an interesting option. Because of its high velocity and fragmentation, the Yellow Jacket load is ideal for ground squirrels, prairie dogs and even critters like rock chucks, raccoons and such.
Though a rimfire, the .22 Magnum is in a different category than the .22 LR because velocities can be as much as 50 percent faster with the same weight bullet. For smaller edible game like squirrels and rabbits, some .22 Magnum loads can be devastating and damage a lot of meat. For critters like foxes and raccoons, the .22 Magnum might be the ultimate cartridge. With the right loads, it can even be very effective on larger animals like coyotes and badgers. And, if someone is of the mind to use a rimfire cartridge for self-defense, the .22 Magnum is the best option.
Though the expansion is limited, the Speer Gold Dot load for the .22 Magnum is a good option for handguns with barrels as short as 1 inch.
If you’re looking to blast prairie dogs, the explosive .22 Magnum loads like the Federal and CCI Speer 30-grain TNT offerings are best. For edible small game more conventional loads like the 40-grain JHP and TMJ loads from CCI are lethal without a lot of meat damage. Because of their ability to penetrate deep, these loads also work well on larger critters like coyotes. Another great coyote load is the 40-grain CCI Game Point, which will expand to about double diameter and penetrate deeper than 16 inches.
For an all-around .22 Magnum load, I like the Remington 33-grain AccuTip. It offers decent penetration and dynamic expansion. Another load that performs very similar to the AccuTip is the 30-grain Hornady V-Max load. Both have proven to be very accurate out of a variety of .22 Magnum rifles they’ve been tested in, and they’re my go-to loads for the .22 Magnum.
For self-defense, the Hornady Critical Defense and Speer Gold Dot loads are the best options. They’ll both expand well, even from barrels as short as an inch, and penetration in 10 percent ordnance gelatin hovers around the FBI’s minimum of 12 inches. Though these loads are intended for handguns, if they shoot with precision from your rifle they can also serve as general-purpose loads for just about anything.
.17 HMR
Shortly after it was introduced, the .17 HMR seemed like it was going to put an end to the .22 Magnum. It was faster and incredibly accurate. However, hunters soon began to realize that the .17 didn’t offer the versatility of the .22 Magnum. While it explodes prairie dogs and tree squirrels, it didn’t have the bullet weight or penetration needed to anchor larger critters without ideal shot placement. Almost all of the .17 HMR loads—at least of the 17-grain variety—create massive wound cavities by rimfire standards, but penetration is limited to less than 6 inches.
All three of these .17 HMR loads perform identically, mostly because they all use the same bullet; they just have a different color tip based on the brand.
If you’re looking for a rimfire for prairie dogs or ground squirrels at distance, the .17 is the ideal cartridge. It’ll also work well on rock chucks and groundhogs out beyond 200 yards as well. And yes, you can take a coyote or a badger with the .17, but you best take a head shot or a good broadside shot; those explosive bullets will just not drive deep enough to shoot through the paunch or a lot of muscle tissue. The FMJ and Game Point loads from CCI are much better at penetrating, and if the larger of the small game is what you’re after, the Game Point load from CCI seems to be the best all-around option.
The .17 HMR is a fantastic cartridge, and I’ve used it a lot on prairie dog towns and even for groundhogs. I once killed a prairie dog a few yards past 500 with the .17 HMR. No, I didn’t hit it on the first shot, and the critter didn’t die straight away. Regardless, the ability to hit a Coke bottle-sized target at 500 yards with a rimfire rifle is notable, even if it did take a half-box of ammunition to do it.
.17 Winchester Super Magnum
Winchester’s .17 Super Magnum shoots flatter and hits harder than the .17 HMR. However, from a terminal performance standpoint, penetration is only marginally increased. Unless you’re trying to drastically extend your range, it’s questionable if the cartridge is worth the extra cost. In fact, .17 Winchester Super Magnum ammunition costs about 25 percent more than .17 HMR ammunition. Both the 20- and 25-grain loads perform similarly but surprisingly, in the penetration category, the lighter bullet has the edge.
Winchester’s .17 Super Magnum is a high- velocity rimfire cartridge that’ll deliver voluminous but moderately shallow wound cavities.
The old saying that “velocity kills,” does have some truth to it. When lightweight bullets are driven at high speed, they tend to create massive wound cavities, though in some case these wound cavities are shallow. That’s pretty much the case with the .17 Winchester Super Magnum. Because of the higher-impact velocities, the bullets will damage lots of tissue and should deliver fast incapacitation for anything up to about 20 to 25 pounds. However, if a large coyote is the target, a hunter would be wise to take care to place the bullet in the engine room and avoid raking shots if they want a clean and quick kill.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the January 2021 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Experienced manufacturers of custom pistol parts, Adams Arms has decided to release their first complete handgun, the AA19.
AA19 Features:
Polymer-Framed, Striker-Fired 9mm
Optics-Cut Slide
Ameriglo Defoor EDC Sights
Vickers Tactical Carry Trigger
Threaded Barrel
Known for their aftermarket Glock and AR-15 components, Adams Arms has decided to expand their wheelhouse to include complete pistols starting with their new AA19. Already familiar with the Glock platform and how to improve upon it, it served as an obvious starting point for the AA19’s development. The result is nothing revolutionary for 2021, but attention to detail and high-quality manufacturing can go a long way when it comes to performance and reliability.
Steve Green, Adams Arms’ Vice President of Sales and Marketing had this to say on the AA19:
“Our customers have been asking for an Adams Arms handgun for years, and now it is ready. The new AA19 incorporates design elements that refine its ergonomics and performance. Every detail on the new AA19 adds upgrades that maximize its potential for both EDC and competition.”
For a pistol to truly be considered tactical today it must be ready to mount a red dot sight and a suppressor right out of the box, both of which are possible with the AA19. Mounting plates are available for most common optic footprints and the barrel is threaded ½ x 28 TPI. Enhanced grip texturing on the frame helps improve ergonomics and a Picatinny rail allows for the addition of a light or laser. The gun’s match-grade barrel and Vickers Tactical Carry Trigger should help to increase both mechanical and practical accuracy when on and off the range. Made in America using cutting-edge technology, the AA19’s slide is machined from solid stainless steel billet and finished with a black nitride coating to ensure its durability.
Included with the gun are two 15-round Magpul G19 magazines, a hardcase and a cable lock, as well as Adams Arms’ lifetime warranty. MSRP for the AA19 is $999.
Looking for a new iron or piece of gear to upgrade the one you already own? Check out these 14 pieces of American-Made guns and gear that will enhance your kit or level up your arsenal.
Winchester M70 Long Range
Still cherished among the all-time best rifle designs, Winchester recently aimed the classic Model 70 at precision shooters. As the Long-Range model suggests, the rifle is decked out to maximize its range. To that end, it all begins with Bell and Carlson composite stock. Boasting an internal aluminum bedding block, the stock has an air-tight mate-up with the receiver and has a few little enhancements to milk the most out of the system—including lower vents to aid barrel cooling and a wide, flat fore to stabilize on a rest. While precision is the Model 70’s focus, the rifle is still field-ready—coming in at less than 8 pounds, making it ideal for long-range hunts. Available in eight calibers, the revamped 70 hits the mark. MSRP: Starting at $1,550
Mystery Ranch Hands-Free Rifle Sling
Refining its innovative design, Mystery Ranch has built a better mousetrap when it comes to hunting convenience. The Hands-Free Rifle Sling does what it says, giving hunters use of both hands in rugged backcountry terrain. But, through a handy system, gives up a long gun at a moment’s notice. The secret, a magnetic locking system that holds fast when on the move, but easily disengages when a target of opportunity presents itself. Also nice, it’s quiet as a mountain breeze. Comes with the sling and sternum strap proper, stock dock. Compatible with most pack systems. MSRP: $99
N8 Tactical Pro-Lock Holster
Extremely comfortable and arguably more efficient—at least on the draw—outside the waistband carry is well worth consideration. If it fits your lifestyle, N8 Tactical has the rig for you. Known as its Pro-Lock holster, the system provides enhanced passive retention not found in a typical Level I retention holster. N8 calls it their “Secure Twist Release” system, quite simply it’s a slight modification to the polycarbonate shell’s trigger pocket that requires a slight twist to release the gun. Clever. Also, comfortable. An all-leather backing keeps your iron off your side and helps your body breathe, at the same protecting your gun from body moisture. MSRP: $49.95
Sig Sauer M400 Tread Predator AR
When it comes to entry-level ARs, few hold a candle to Sig’s TREAD line. Now, hunters have a reason to look in Sig’s direction, with the introduction of the M400 TREAD Predator. Chambered 5.56 NATO, the rifle sticks to the line formula for success but offers a few upgrades that make it a perfect addition. In particular, the carbine boasts a fully adjustable stock, allowing users to tailor the cheek rise and length of pull at a mere twist of knobs. Additionally, the handguard—Sig’s Predator model—not only offers plenty of M-Lok real estate, but also a wide flat bottom, perfect for drawing a steady rest on a fence post or other support. Outfitted with a snappy single-stage trigger, the TREAD Predator is just the ticket to get coyotes howling. MSRP: $1,100
CCI Clean-22 Realtree Ammo
Less fouling, more stealthy … what’s not to love about CCI’s Clean-22 Realtree. The rimfire ammo has been around for a while, utilizing Federal/CCI’s polymer jacketing to keep lead from clogging up a rifle’s bore. But partnering with Realtree, the ammo-maker has upped its game in the batches you can buy. The plastic jug ships with 400 rounds of clean ammo, which should keep even the most ambitious shooters busy for a couple of hours. As to its performance, it kicks a 40-grain bullet 1,235 fps at the muzzle; that’s enough for any brushy or cottontail that crosses your path. MSRP: $43.99, jug of 400
Federal Premium 10mm Punch Ammo
Federal’s first line specifically developed for civilian defensive use, PUNCH ammunition fills a unique niche in the ammo giant’s catalog. And it’s grown to fit more shooters in recent times. Federal unveiled a new 200-grain 10mm load in the PUNCH line, certain to give armed citizens an edge in life-and-death situations. Engineered to meet or exceed FBI penetration standards, leaving the muzzle at 1,100 fps, the hollow-point loads deliver the peace of mind it can get the job done. This isn’t exclusive to the terminal end of things. Utilizing nickel-plated brass and sealed primers, shooters can expect flawless function in any handgun in which it’s run. MSRP: $30.99, box of 20
M&P Shield Plus 9mm
Little double, the M&P Shield is among the most popular concealed-carry pistols to come down the pike. Easy to keep under wraps, intuitive in control and chambered to stop threats, there were few knocks on the pistol, outside of capacity. Now, that’s a thing of the past. Upping the capacity of the demure heater, the Shield Plus brings the pistol in line with other micro-compacts currently on the market. With 13+1 on board, the 9mm has more than enough firepower to handle most lethal-force encounter—outside a full-fledged Hunnic invasion. The best part, Smith & Wesson didn’t compromise the pistol’s very manageable size to squeeze in the extra round, with the gun measuring 6.1 inches in length, 1.1 inches in width and 20 ounces in weight. MSRP: $553
OSS RAD 9 and RAD 45 Suppressors
A significant advancement in pistol suppressors, the OSS RAD 9 and RAD 45 bring flexibility and improved shooting experience to the table. The heart of the suppressor is what OSS calls its Flow-Baffle technology, which essentially eliminates any blow-back. The secret sauce: radial baffles that route the expanding gases to the perimeter of the device, and then out the front. Modular, the suppressor also adapts to the situation with two configurations. The RAD 9 goes from 7.7 inches at full length down to 5.15 inches, while the RAD 45 is modifiable from 8.6 to 6.4 inches. In any setup, the cans make for long and very enjoyable shooting sessions. MSRP: RAD 9 $849; RAD 45 $999
Hornady Bore Driver FTX
Hunt with sabot rounds during muzzleloader season and you know their drawback. Yeah, they’re lights-out accurate, but, boy howdy, are they a pain to wrangle down a bore. If there was only a better system. Known as the Bore Driver FTX, the system is designed for sabot-like performance, but not loading. The key here is Hornady opting for a polymer base, which provides the same sealing properties as a sabot but doesn’t require throwing your back out to ram home. Sitting atop the base is Hornady’s legendary FlexTip (FTX) bullet, which serves up class-best ballistic coefficients and downrange performance. Translated, that means the .50-calibers shoot to your muzzleloader’s limits. MSRP: $29.99 box of 20
Galco Classic Lite 2.0 Speedloader Carrier
Reloading a revolver … it’s a hurdle armed citizens are well aware of. Less considered is how to keep those reloads on-hand and under wraps until they’re needed. Galco has the answer in its speedloader carrier tailored to its shoulder holster rigs. Keeping two speedloaders at hand under the support-hand armpit in a horizontal position, the system allows for fast and efficient reloads conducive to the most popular techniques taught today. And the ambidextrous system is tough as cut nails. Constructed of 100-percent premium center-cut steerhide and rugged steel snaps, the carrier is made for years of use and with any caliber. MSRP: $39
Luth-AR MBA-5 AR Upgrade Stock
Stocks usually pull up the tail end of an AR upgrade, but few enhancements—outside a snappy new trigger—do more to improve a rifle’s comfort and performance. Luth-AR is a master at tweaking this particular part of a build. Outfitted with the company’s Anti-Rattle set screw found in the MBA-3 and MBA-4, the MBA-5 stock eliminates that annoying shimmy common on lesser options. Additionally, Luth-AR includes a wide, flared cheek rest for an intuitive and comfortable weld, a convenient paddle-style adjustment lever for rapid positioning (six positions). To finish it all up, the parts maker integrates a Picatinny rail on the lower rear of the stock, perfect if you’re a precision shooter who has to have a monopod to steady everything up. Complete with QD attachment points and righty and lefty friendly, the very affordable stock brings out the best in an AR. MSRP: $49.95
Ruger MAX-9
Ruger is no stranger to carry-ready handguns, though traditionally they stuck to more non-traditional niches. Now, it’s set to tackle the fastest-growing segment of self-defense arms—the micro-compact—with the MAX-9. As to how the pistol measures out, it’s 6 inches long, 1 inch in width, boasts a 3.2-inch barrel and weighs in at 18.4 ounces unloaded. Along with its overall demure size, it offers spot-on capacity, feeding on both a 10-round flush-fit magazine and a 12-round extended capacity. Finally, it’s optic ready—yes, you heard that right. Compatible with a wide swath of red-dot optics, there are few other pistols in its class that compete with what the MAX-9 brought to the table at its price. MSRP: $499
Wilson Combat X-TAC Supergrade
Arkansas is the heart of American custom gun-making, and it’s also the home of Wilson Combat. Renowned for its custom creations, the popular purveyor of top-shelf 1911s might have outdone itself in the enhancement of one of its popular lines. The X-TAC Supergrade isn’t brand-new, but its release is still worth mention, given it takes Wilson’s “one gun at a time” ethos to its maximum. The company’s most experienced gunsmiths build these John Browning classics, meaning only a few are turned out each month. Exclusivity is an asset, given the carbon-steel beast’s fit and finish are unparalleled … as is its performance. Some of the fine points include bidirectional, X-TAC frontstrap and slide treatment for enhanced grip, rear battle sight and front fiber optic, bull barrel and choice of 9mm, .38 Super and .45 ACP chamberings. MSRP: $4,795
Colt Anaconda
Few things are quite as American as the .44 Magnum and Colt “Snake Guns.” Thankfully, this potent combination returns to the iconic gunmaker’s catalog in 2021 with the release of the highly anticipated Colt Anaconda. The six-round .44 Mag. isn’t a one-on-one clone of the original, instead sharing more with the recently rebooted Python. But the super-sized snake has everything to squeeze every lick of power from the cartridge, including the choice of 8- and 6-inch barrel, redesigned non-stacking double-action trigger, fully adjustable rear sight, Hogue over-molded grips and target-crowned barrel. A brilliant semi-bright finish pulls the whole stainless steel revolver together and makes the Anaconda as appealing as ever. MSRP: $1,499
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the 2021 American Made issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Even rarer than the standard versions, the HK P7K3 pocket pistol variant may be this gun’s best iteration.
HK P7K3 Dimensions:
Overall Length: 6.3-Inches
Height: 4.92-Inches
Width: 1.14-Inches
Weight (Unloaded): ~1.8-Pounds
Any variant of the H&K P7 commands a high price in the United States. In fact, it even commanded a high price in Germany when it was first released in the late 1970s. Its sparse importation into the U.S. combined with its original marketing slogan of “the most expensive handgun in the world” make the P7 more of a collectible for most people than a shooter. In practical terms, the P7 is inaccessible to most, but its unique and innovative design features have kept it in the public consciousness all these years later. The P7 has been lauded as a carry pistol by the few who are lucky enough to use one as such. But of all the variants which were imported, it seems that the exceedingly rare HK P7K3 may fill this role better than any other.
The smallest member of the P7 family, the HK P7K3 is quite a bit different than any of its bigger brothers. Because of the smaller calibers it's chambered for, the P7K3 does not need the gas-delaying mechanism found in the standard variants, instead of utilizing a direct blowback action with a hydraulic buffer. This difference in operation allows the P7K3 to use a non-fixed barrel as well, making changing calibers a possibility that didn’t exist with the other fixed-barrel models. The barrel, slide and magazines can be swapped out to shoot either .380 ACP, .32 ACP or .22LR. Because part of the reason the P7K3 was developed was for use as a training gun, the ability to use smaller and cheaper calibers is a logical addition. Regardless of caliber, every P7K3 magazine has an 8-round capacity.
The squeeze-cocker mechanism which lies at the heart of the P7 family is of course still present on the HK P7K3, and it may be even more at home in the smaller variant. Unlike on a traditional striker-fired gun which is primed by pulling the trigger, P7 strikers are primed by grabbing them by the squeeze-cocker. By removing the mechanical burden of priming the striker from the trigger, P7s are able to have very nice single-stage triggers with very little take-up.
HK P7K3 Squeeze-cocker as depicted in the gun's owner's manual.
The squeeze-cocker is also what enables the HK P7K3 to sit comfortably within the category of “pocket pistol” despite being larger than most others. This is because the nature of the squeeze-cocking mechanism requires it to be firmly grasped in a shooting position to render it usable. If the grip safety on something like a 1911 were to fail, the cocked hammer still stores enough potential energy to detonate the round if it were to fall. The striker on the P7 family is only cocked when the squeeze-cocker is depressed, meaning if it were to fail for some reason a chambered round would be unable to fire. It's this detail that makes the HK P7K3 ideal for pocket carry, as it is one of the few guns which can be confidently carried outside of a holster with a round in the chamber. Because of the amount of force needed to cock the P7’s striker, it would be virtually impossible for it to both be accidentally depressed within one’s pocket and for the trigger to be pulled. Intent is needed to make this gun fire, making it an extremely safe carry piece.
Smaller But Better
When the standard HK P7 was first launched in Germany some of the promotional material described it as “the best combat handgun in the world.” While certainly nice pistols, they have one glaring flaw that stops them from truly being a “combat handgun.” The squeeze cocker mechanism which gives the P7 its excellent trigger and superior safety is also what limits this gun’s utility in a prolonged firefight, as the gas-delayed blowback action will eventually make the grip too hot to handle. While it may seem counterintuitive, this is exactly what makes the HK P7K3 a potentially better combat pistol than any of its full-sized counterparts.
The smaller caliber of the HK P7K3 enables it to utilize its straight blowback action, resulting in less hot gas building up inside the gun than does within the gas-delayed blowbacks of other P7s. While I have not had the chance to directly test a P7K3 against a standard P7, it stands to reason that because of these different operating systems that the P7K3 would tolerate many more rounds downrange before it overheated.
Its increased resistance to overheating combined with its smaller size helps make the P7K3 the superior model both for carrying and for prolonged shooting.
HK P7K3 with caliber conversion parts. Photo: Wikipedia
The HK P7K3 may exist as a footnote in a family of already fairly obscure firearms, but for those in the market for a high-quality carry piece that can be safely shoved in a pocket, there might not be a better option available than this.
Mostly known for their high-quality 1911s and revolvers, Kimber has decided to take on the modern CCW pistol with their new R7 Mako.
Kimber R7 Mako Features:
Polymer-Framed, Striker-Fired
9mm With an 11+1 Or 13+1 Capacity
Performance, Flat-Faced Trigger
Optics Cut Slide
Included Tritium Night Sights
Fully Ambidextrous Controls
Kimber is no stranger to the concealed carry market. Their compact 1911s, Micro 9s and Evos have been many individual’s CCW gun of choice for quite some time. While all fine pistols, due to their 1911 design origins they were subject to certain limitations. Now as micro-compact polymer-framed 9mms continue to dominate the CCW market, Kimber has decided to follow suit with the release of their R7 Mako pistol.
Performance Carry Trigger
The R7 Mako began its development after Kimber asked concealed carriers what qualities they prioritized in their carry pistols. The top two responses were a good trigger and a large magazine capacity, laying down the framework that would become the R7 Mako. Kimber decided that the best way to achieve this in a striker-fired gun would be with their flat-faced Performance Carry Trigger. From the factory the pull weight should be between 5 and 6.75 pounds, but special attention was given to ensure it has consistent travel and a crisp break. The flat face, short pull and clean break should all assist in making accurate hits under stress, exactly what the R7 was designed for.
The issue of capacity was addressed with double-stack magazines, something that Kimber isn’t overly familiar with coming from a 1911 background. Each R7 Mako ships with two magazines, a flush-fitting 11-round mag and one 13-round extended mag. In terms of capacity, this brings it on par with the Springfield Hellcat which is likely the R7’s main competitor. Kimber claims that a 15-round mag will be available soon as well.
Optics Ready Or Optics Installed
Both available models of Kimber R7 Mako come optics ready right from the box, but only one comes with an optic pre-installed. The slides are cut for a Shield-pattern RMSc footprint and can mount any compatible optic, but the Optics Installed (OI) model includes a Crimson Trace CTS-1500. Both models also include tritium night-sights which are designed to be co-witnessed with your optic of choice. As red dot sighted CCW pistols increase in popularity, it’s good to see companies like Kimber adapt to the trend by making an optics cut slide the standard configuration for their new carry piece.
As a micro-compact, achieving good ergonomics on the R7 wasn’t easy. Kimber addressed this issue with aggressive, wrap-around grip texturing as well as fully ambidextrous controls. This means that despite its small size it should be easy to maintain a solid grip while shooting and can be operated with either hand. The OR model R7 Mako has an MSRP of $599 and the OI model with a Crimson Trace has an MSRP of $799.
For more information on the R7 Mako, please visit kimberamerica.com.
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.
