Already quiet, accurate and compact, the new SPR300 PRO model brings it to the next level.
Features Of The SPR300 PRO:
AR Magazine Compatible
AR Stock Compatible
Timney Match Trigger
M-LOK Accessory Rail
Cocked-Bolt Indicator
Earlier iterations of B&T’s SPR300 design have already made their rounds on the global firearms market and left many very impressed. Jon Scott, VP of Sales for B&T USA, claims that European police have used the SPR300 to great effect in urban environments where accuracy and discretion are vital. This integrally suppressed .300 AAC Blackout rifle has been described as being “Hollywood quiet”, producing a report comparable to that of an air rifle at less than 121 dB. When you consider the fact that the SPR300 can also be disassembled and stowed in its own briefcase-esque carrying case, it's hard to believe that it wasn’t designed with hitmen in mind.
If this rifle wasn’t cool enough already, B&T USA’s new PRO model brings some quality-of-life features that will make using the SPR300 even more enjoyable.
One of the smallest changes on the SPR300 is also likely to be one of the most appreciated, and that’s the ability to accept standard AR-pattern magazines. The original SPR300 used proprietary mags that were rare and could sell for over $100 each, so even the wealthiest among us should appreciate that the new PRO model uses the most common rifle magazine in America. The SPR300 PRO’s folding stock assembly is now compatible with most common AR stocks as well. The addition of M-LOK slots makes this one very customizable rifle.
The original SPR300 was already plenty accurate for a bolt-action rifle, but the new PRO model is even more so. It’s been given a Timney single-stage Hunter Elite trigger which is adjustable from 1.5 to 4 pounds of pull. This should give experienced shooters the ability to reach even greater levels of precision out of their SPR300.
The new SPR300 PRO does not have an MSRP listed yet, but considering the first generation sold for over $5,000 each, one should anticipate something similar for the new model. Keep in mind that as an integrally suppressed firearm, ownership of the SPR300 PRO also requires filing NFA paperwork with the ATF as well as a $200 tax stamp.
For more information on B&T USA, please visit bt-arms.com.
Up Your Suppressor IQ
The Suppressor How They're Made And How To Buy One
No, holstering a pistol isn't rocket science. However, you need to know how to do it right for your own safety and those around you.
Most take it for granted if even that. Yet, holstering a pistol is an important part of the handgun firing sequence, even under the most mundane circumstances. Do it wrong, well, you and those around you could end up in a world of hurt.
While it’s not rocket science by any stretch of the imagination, Jamey Caldwell covers the basics of holstering a pistol properly. As the instructor at 1-Minute Out and former special operator points out, learning to do it right is a matter of safety. Whether you realized it or not, the simple task of holstering a pistol is often where a negligent discharge takes place. Put a little thought into it, it’s easy to see why.
Admiring the last group downrange or thinking about the next trigger pull, many shooters don’t have their complete attention on the task at hand. Additionally, shirttails and coat strings reside around this region; caught in the trigger guard they are enough to depress the trigger when holstering. Look it up on Youtube, there are plenty of videos showing this happen. Caldwell has a simple antidote, watch the pistol into the holster. Elementary to say the least, but a key safety protocol. All it takes is a second to check if everything is clear before handing your pistol back up.
Working in conjunction with rigid MOLLE fields, the Stealth 20L keeps your gear organized and at hand.
How The Stealth 20L Outdoes Other Packs:
Two RMP panels keep gear organized.
Strong 1000 Denier nylon construction stands up to any conditions.
Throw a bulletproof insert in and use it as a shield.
It’s no secret, a good pack makes life easier. This applies equally to toting around your laptop and workout clothes as it does extra mags and a medkit. Either case, you don’t want to be left rummaging for a possible and coming up with everything except what you’re after. This is why Grey Man Tactical’s new offering should prove intriguing for those who need gear at hand at a moment’s notice.
Utilizing the company’s unique Rigid MOLLE Panel (RMP), the Stealth 20L Backpack offers an unparalleled organization system and lightning-fast access. For those who’ve yet to catch wind of the RMP, it’s a slick system. Made from lightweight, high-endurance polymer, the panel is a rigid MOLLE field that won’t slump and keeps gear in place. They’re available standalone, and great for, say, an organization system on the back of a truck seat. But make an impressive enhancement in the Stealth 20L Backpack. It’s especially handy if you carry off body, creating a system where a pistol remains predictably in place.
The Stealth 20L comes with two RMPs, a 10.75×17 inch panel that fits in the main compartment and a 15.25×11 inch one in the concealed carry compartment. The latter is quick access, thanks to a right-side handle and two large YKK zippers. Built from water-resistant 1000 Denier nylon, the Stealth 20L stands up to nearly any environment. At the same tick, it won’t draw eyes. The pack is decided understated in appearance, cutting a low profile that won’t single you out from the crowd. Certainly, a plus if you happen to live in urban areas.
Internally, the pack has a padded laptop compartment to keep electronics safe from unwanted damage, supported by a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) sheet for more impact resistance. The Stealth 20L boasts quick-release sternum and shoulder straps allowing for rapid access to any of the six compartments in the blink of an eye. And two luggage straps across the back allow it to slide onto a rolling suitcase handle. Interestingly, using the straps as handles, the Stealth 20L converts into a shield with the addition of a bulletproof insert.
A nifty package, but one demanding its pound of flesh. Presently, the MSRP on Grey Man’s Tactical Stealth 20L Backpack is $294.
The first factory to make an AK outside of Russia, FB Radom is still arming soldiers and civilians in Poland and abroad nearly seventy years later.
Current FB Radom AK Imports:
Beryl M1 223 S (.223/5.56)
Beryl M1 762 S (7.62×39)
Mini Beryl Pistol (.223/5.56)
Following WWI, the freshly formed Republic of Poland needed arms. They began construction on a new factory and by the late 1920s the Fabryka Broni plant had begun production. Built in Radom, Poland, it’s commonly called FB Radom and has been producing arms ever since. Like the nation of Poland itself, FB Radom has gone through several changes in management over the years, but regardless of the flag flying outside their walls or the official name on their letterhead, the quality of their arms remained superb.
FB Radom may no longer make sewing machines or typewriters, but their AKs are as good as ever and are one of the few remaining foreign-made Kalashnikovs being imported into the United States.
History Of AK Production At FB Radom
During the Nazi occupation of Poland in WWII, FB Radom was used to produce Mauser rifles and Vis pistols for the Wehrmacht. Management changed yet again when the Soviets ousted the Germans and absorbed FB Radom into their own logistical supply train, giving the factory its other name you may have heard—”Circle 11″ (⑪). This is when FB Radom first began production of Soviet-designed arms, initially consisting of Mosin-Nagants, TTs and other Soviet WWII weaponry.
In 1957, the first AK rifles to be built outside of Russia rolled off the line at FB, marking a new era for the global proliferation of the Kalashnikov. In Polish designation these were known as the pm K and the pm KS, the fixed and folding-stock variants of the Russian milled AK-47 and AKS-47, respectively. Early FB Radom AKs are nearly indistinguishable from Russian-made ones at a glance, but as time moved forward the two nations’ AK designs grew increasingly different.
In the early 1980s, after Poland and the USSR’s relationship had continued to sour, Poland began experimenting with a new AK-based weapon system that they called the Kbk wz. 88 Tantal.
wz. 88 Tantal in 5.45 with Pallad grenade launcher. Photo:Wikipedia
Recognizing the benefits of using lighter, higher velocity cartridges, the wz. 88 Tantal was chambered in 5.45x39mm, the caliber of the Russian AK-74. Relatively few Tantals were ever built by FB Radom, but they served as the foundation for Poland’s current service rifle. When armies choose which weapons and ammo types to procure, the decision is as rooted in logistics as it is in ballistics. So, as Poland began to drift politically closer to NATO than the USSR, they switched their new AK-development efforts away from 5.45 and towards 5.56.
That new 5.56 AK was adopted as Poland’s standard service rifle in 1997 and was known as the wz. 96 Beryl. “Beryl” is pronounced the same as the first part of the word “beryllium”, as Polish military projects are typically codenamed after chemical elements.
There are several small design details that are unique to the Beryl, but at its heart, it’s just an AK chambered in 5.56 NATO.
Since their adoption in 1997, the wz. 96 Beryl has been Poland’s standard issue rifle and has seen service alongside NATO coalition forces in both Iraq and Afghanistan. They were generally well-liked by the soldiers who used them and were appreciated for combining the reliability of a Kalashnikov with more modern optics and accessory-mounting options.
The standard rifle version has a slightly longer barrel than your typical AKM at 18 inches, lengthened to improve the performance of the velocity-dependent 5.56 cartridge. While these are the most commonly issued variant, another version is made by FB Radom as well.
The Mini Beryl, also chambered in 5.56 but with a barrel length of only 9.3 inches, was developed with special forces and vehicle crews in mind. This model has also been deployed with Polish coalition forces in the Middle East.
Polish soldier with Mini Beryl during a training exercise. Notice the blank-adaptor muzzle device. Photo: Polish Ministry of National Defense.
Besides the Polish military, the other largest group to use Beryl-type AKs is Nigeria. These are nearly identical to the Polish-issued Beryls except that they are chambered for 7.62×39 due to the abundance of that round-type in Africa. The rifles were shipped with new production magazines, but they are compatible with any of the millions of surplus 7.62 AK mags that litter the continent. The Nigerian army has put their 7.62 Beryls to use in the fight against Boko Haram.
FB Radom is one of the most reputable AK-producing factories in the world, not only because of their long history of manufacturing Kalashnikovs, but also because their AKs are still trusted for military service today. Semi-auto, civilian versions of the Beryl, Mini Beryl and 7.62 Beryl are currently being imported into the United States, but are they worth looking at? FB’s reputation for quality also comes at a price, Beryl AKs are some of the most expensive AKs on the market, and they import them in relatively low quantities to boot.
FB Radom AKs offer more modern features right out of the box than most other AKs do, and their manufacturing quality is on par with any other longstanding military arsenal, but their high price and low availability turn many people away from them. They also don’t have the classic AK look that so many Americans want with their Kalashnikov. FB’s guns probably aren’t good starter AKs for people looking to get into the platform, but for those looking for a very functional, modern military rifle, any of the three available Beryls will do you right.
For more information on FB Radom, please visit fabrykabroni.pl.
Beretta's A300 Ultima offers improved controls without upping the line's price.
How The A300 Has Been Improved:
Bolt release and cross-bolt safety are enlarged for improved manipulation.
Loading port is bigger to make reloading easier.
Wile 7x7mm rib makes drawing a bead more intuitive and quick.
Asked to make a list, Beretta would most likely make the top five on most shotgunner’s best manufacturers list. There’s little wonder why. Aside from stunning aesthetics, the Italian-American’s smoothbores plain perform—be it at the trap range, in a tactical operation or the field. And contrary to popular opinion, you needn’t take out a second mortgage to pack one out to the duck blind.
Certainly, the Italian-American manufacture turns out its fair share of drool-inducing high-end options, but has been in the budget end of the market for some time. Granted, it’s not turning out the $300 blue-light specials (if you get that reference) available at your local mega box store. But the likes of the 3901 and A300 didn’t and don’t break the bank while offering the quality expected from a gun with the three arrows on its grip cap. And this end ofAf the company’s catalog recently grew a bit larger.
New to the game, the Beretta A300 Ultima. As its designation suggests, the shotgun is an expansion of the existing A300 line of gas-driven semi-automatic shotguns. Yet, gunmaker does a solid job of matching the original guns’ price, while enhancing the system considerably. Beretta has a $799 MSRP on the A300 Ultima black synthetic model and an $899 suggested retail price on the Mossy Oak Bottomlands and Realtree Max5 camo iterations. This track closely to the A300 Outland models, but with some nice upgrades.
A300 Ultima Enhancements
In particular, Beretta aims at hunters with the new 12- and 20-gauge shotguns, improving the controls of the guns. The bolt release is downright massive, the cross-bolt safety is ample and the charging handle enlarged and tubular. Given the launch included camo models, the gunmaker is aiming the scattergun at waterfowlers, who often have to manipulate their gun with gloves on. However, the most appreciated area Beretta super-sized was the loading port, which makes keeping the gun in the hunt much less stress-inducing. The top of the A300 Ultima’s receiver also got the once over, lowering it to make eye-to-bead alignment much quicker and intuitive. To this, Beretta marries a glare-reducing wide 7x7mm stepped rib with a mid bead and fiber optic front, which proves highly visible even in lower-light situations.
Standby Features
Beretta upgrades are welcome, but the company didn’t fix what wasn’t broken with the A300 Ultima. The gun still features the reliable gas system found in its predecessors, which is a plus. As is the inclusion of Beretta’s Kick-Off recoil reduction system, a hydraulic damping system that does a number on felt recoil. The gunmaker claims it cuts felt recoil by 44 percent, which is somewhat believable if you cracked off a shot with the system. Also, the new A300 has a 28-inch MobilChoke pattern barrel in both gauges, which fits a wide variety of choke options that suit your particular needs and hunt.
Overall, Beretta offers a tidy package in the A300 Ultima, one that’s open to a great array of shooters.
A300 Ultima Specs Gauge: 12, 20 Chamber: 3 inches Barrel Length: 28 inches Stock: Synthetic Stock Color: Black, Mossy Oak Bottomland, Realtree Max5 MSRP: $799 Black Synthetic, $899 Mossy Oak Bottomland and Realtree Max5
For more information on the A300 Ultima, please visit beretta.com.
Available in .45 or 9mm, the Bantam 1911 carry pistol brings custom features at non-custom prices.
Features of the 1911 Carry Bantam:
Chambered For Either .45 ACP Or 9mm
Front And Back Slide Serrations
Commander-Length Slide W/ Lightening Cuts
Ambidextrous Safety
Fiber Optic Front Sight
G-10 Grips
1911 pistols made by Tisas in Turkey have been some of the most popular 1911s sold in the U.S. these past few years. Their affordable cost and decent build quality have led many people to Tisas for their first 1911. While most of the Turkish-made 1911s imported by SDS are budget-oriented, basic models, their new Bantam series of carry pistols is a change of direction for the company. The Carry Bantam is twice as expensive as their next most expensive 1911, but it is still far cheaper than the true custom 1911s they're trying to emulate.
The Bantams may not have as much love and care poured into each individual piece as something like a Nighthawk Custom does, but they do have many of the same luxury features at a third of the price.
Custom From The Factory
The features that come standard on Bantam Carry 1911 pistols help to bring them from the territory of “historical relic” and into the realm of “practical self-defense tool.” The commander-length slide has front and rear slide serrations for easy racking and press-checks. Lightning cuts have also been added to save weight and enhance the gun’s aesthetic. The Bantam’s aluminum frame has aggressive texturing on both the front and back straps which work in conjunction with the G-10 grips to provide the user with maximum control while firing. The frame has also been bobbed to improve concealability.
The Bantam’s ambidextrous safety means that this single-action gun can be easily brought into action with either hand, and its fiber-optic combat sights are ideal for a defense piece.
Reliability
The most important aspect of any carry gun is its reliability, and this is even more true when it comes to 1911s. Many people today believe that the 1911 is an antiquated design that has more place in a museum display than on your belt, but those people likely have little experience with 1911s or are only familiar with low-end models. The truth is 1911s have an excellent potential for reliability, but that reliability is usually only fully realized on high-end custom guns.
The Bantam is not a true custom gun, however, and merely has some of the features of one. Costing as much as it does, one would hope that the Bantam has been ensured to be reliable enough to be carried with confidence, but that won’t be known for sure until these have been more thoroughly tested. The inclusion of a flared and lowered ejection port should help ensure reliable ejections too.
The .45 ACP Bantam comes with two eight-round mags and the 9mm model includes 9-rounders. The package also comes with a cleaning kit, locking hard case, and owner’s manual. With an MSRP of $1,199.95, this is certainly an expensive gun, but for those who want to carry a 1911 this is a very nice option for the price. If you want a 1911 with custom features without actually paying custom shop prices, these new Bantam pistols may be worth considering.
The key difference between competition and hunting is that when target shooting, you know the distance to the target. Or you can use a range finder to range it. Those silhouette turkeys are at 77 meters. This NRL22 course-of-fire has targets at 60 and 90 yards. That squirrel at the top of an old white oak? It's guesswork.
You can use a laser range finder to ping an exact distance, sometimes, but they don't tend to work well through tree branches, and by the time you figure the distance, the squirrel might be gone. When small game hunting, you need to guess distance with a reasonable degree of accuracy, and the flatter the bullet's trajectory, the more wiggle room you have.
For example, if the two-inch kill zone of a squirrel's head is at 75 yards, but you guess it at 50 and use the 50-yard hash in your scope that's zeroed at 25, you will miss that squirrel shooting standard velocity .22LR. With the faster, flatter, .17 Mach 2 you'd smack him in the face. The same smackdown would happen with a .17HMR and .22WMR. Velocity flattens trajectory.
The author squirrel hunting, getting stable on a carbon fiber tripod with HOG saddle head.
This is the big reason why hunters have largely moved toward high-speed and hyper-speed .22LR loads or the even faster .17s. They help immensely with figuring distance and hold. That all said, nothing trumps developing the skill of accurately calling yardages by sight. It separates the good rifle hunters from the greats. One way to develop this skillset, which I did when I first started bowhunting, is to put a laser ranger finder on a lanyard around your neck when doing yard work. Mowing the grass, ask yourself, How far to that stump? Take a guess, then range it to confirm. With life and hunting, technology and gear go a long way, but there is still no replacement for hard-earned skill craft.
Rimfire Hunting Rifles
Any modern rimfire sporter can make a good squirrel rifle. My Kentucky squirrel hunting buddy Ryan McCafferty lays them down with a Ruger American Rimfire in .22WMR and a cheap Walmart scope that he bought used in a gas station parking lot for $200. The CZ 457 lineup is also excellent, but I'm partial to the thoroughly modern Volquartsen Summit in .17 Mach 2. With the tensioned carbon barrel and Magpul Hunter stock, it's impervious to the elements. The Annie's are shooters, no doubt, but I get irrational when it starts pouring rain on them.
Will Brantley demonstrates the body position of this old-school squirrel hunting treetop shooting form. Always make sure you backstop the shot by a branch or tree trunk.
Varmint rifles are heavier. More or less, they're target rifles. The shooting is typically from prone or off a trailered bench. Any modern precision rifle in a hot caliber like .17HMR or .17WSM can work, depending on the expected distance. For varmint like prairie dogs where distances most often exceed 100 yards, nearly all varminters sight-in their rifle at 100 yards, figure the ballistics and drop, and have at it. It's not hard to use a laser range finder and range bands of distance over the prairie, so you know that that spot is about 150 yards, this one is 200, and further back is 250. With a fast, flat-shooting round like a .17WSM, good drop data with a rough known distance can add up to a bloody day in dog town.
For inside 100-yard shooting, like most tree squirrel situations, it gets more complicated.
Squirrel Gun Calibers
A .17HMR or .22WMR, as two of my good squirrel hunting buddies shoot zeroed at 50 yards, will knock the sauce out of a bushy tail at any distance you can see in the timber with your naked eye. The magnums, though, will render a squirrel nearly inedible with a body shot. Anything less than a headshot, and there's typically just too much meat damage to salvage a carcass, or most of it. With the .17 Mach 2, the opposite is true. If you gut shoot a squirrel and the little bullet doesn't connect to bone and explode, you'll lose that squirrel. The squirrel will drop and run or hole up in a hollow and die. For both reasons, the .17s and the magnums are for headshot specialists only.
In all these cases described, the rifle and optic are effectively set for what's called Maximum Point Blank Range, or for the total distance over which the bullet will travel without flying above or below the vital zone—in this case, a 2-inch squirrel head. Many ballistics calculators let you input a “vital zone radius,” which will let you quickly see the max distance at which a dead-center hold will work. With the app and some knowledge of expected hunting distances, you can tune your zero point, so little mental drop calculation is required in the field.
Maximum Point Blank Range
For .22LR, most small game hunters use a hybrid combination of Maximum Point Blank Range and known drop. With a 50 yard zero, a standard velocity .22LR drops about an inch at 10 yards and about 2 inches around 70 yards. So, for zero to 60 or 65 yards, they'll hold dead-on, then figure out where the corresponding bullet drop is at 70 to 100 or their personal max distance. As mentioned in the chapter on optics, BDC reticles work very well here, especially when keyed to high and hyper-velocity ammunition. That said, sub-sonic to hyper-sonic, round nose or hollow point, the .22LR is a squirrel killing son-of-a-gun. Target loads will knock them flat as fast as hunting loads. The .22LR is loved by so many, too, because it does the job on head and body shots without a gross amount of meat damage. It's also possible to “bark” squirrels with the slow-moving 40-grainers. If a squirrel is lying flat on a tree branch and you can't see enough head or heart to make a killing shot, you can shoot the “bark” of the branch under the squirrel's head. This often creates a concussive wave that kicks the squirrel off the limb, often falling dead. This works with the slow, heavy, solid bullet of a standard velocity .22LR, but not the hyper faster varmint bullets designed to explode on the impact, like the .17s.
The author sees dumplings in this squirrel’s future. What squirrel hunting is all about.
Once the zero-point is determined, the final step is to shoot at known distances and look at the actual bullet drop. To do this, pick your zero distance and shoot it, say 50 yards. Next, bring the target into 25 yards. Without adjusting the scope or changing your aim point, shoot another group, holding dead center. Go to 75 yards and 100 and do the same thing. The result will be a single piece of paper with a vertical string of bullet groupings showing your bullet's flight from 25 to 100 yards. Alternatively, you can shoot the same sized bull with the same hold at different distances and line up your targets side to side. This also helps illustrate the rise and fall of the bullet at different distances with a fixed hold.
If you don't like what you see, adjust the zero. Some squirrel hunters zero hyper-velocity .22LRs at 70 or 75 yards as that can still put the little 32-grainers in the kill zone at 15 yards. As you dial in, play with target distances and see what it's doing at 10 yards and 60. My guess is that 99.9 percent of rimfire-shot bushy tails die between 10 and 60 yards. Shoot these distances. Know what your bullet does.
One season, I switched my .17 Mach 2 zero to 50 yards thinking it'd work better. I missed more squirrels up close than all previous seasons combined, so I switched back to King's 25 yards. Adjust and tweak the zero until it works for your setup. Once it works, don't touch it.
A gun is only as reliable as its best magazine. The action can run flawlessly, but if the next round to be fed is not where it needs to be, the gun will fail to cycle. Half of the AK’s famous reliability can be attributed to their magazines. Originally constructed from steel, their curve was perfectly engineered to accommodate 7.62×39’s significant taper, and the staggered-feed design makes them as easy to load as they are reliable. Not all AK magazines are created equal, however, and there are several things you should know before shopping for them.
Like AK rifles themselves, there are far too many variations and exceptions to cover every AK mag ever built. In this guide, we will highlight the most common 30-round 7.62 AK mags that can be found in the United States.
For When SHTF
For those who plan on relying on their AK in an SHTF scenario, you should have as many magazines as you can realistically afford and store. In serious situations magazines are disposable, so they should be thought of as such when planning out your kit. Because of this, price plays a big factor for most when selecting magazines. Many seek out the cheapest mags available so they can purchase as many of them as possible. Unfortunately for them, the cheapest AK magazines have problems with reliability and fragility, meaning that they should only be used for plinking at the range or avoided entirely.
There are good AK mags that are too expensive to hoard as well, but they mostly fall under the collectible category in the U.S.
What all this means is that there is really only one kind of AK mag worth considering for most people due to its balance between price and quality, but thankfully these are also some of the most common to find. Stamped steel, ribbed, military surplus AK mags were made by just about every country that made AKs. They are so abundant that despite everything else happening in our country at the moment, they can still be regularly found online for about $20 to $30 depending on the condition and country of origin.
The most common surplus steel AK mags you will find are from Romania, Poland, Yugoslavia, Hungary, and Bulgaria. Some slightly rarer variants are Russian, Chinese, East German, and Egyptian. All these types are essentially of the same quality, which is good because they can be hard to distinguish at times. Many do not have roll marks visible, meaning one must resort to things like finish type and weld mark details to determine their origin. The only outliers here are the Yugo mags which feature a bolt hold open follower.
Yugoslavian surplus magazine with BHO follower.
When shopping for surplus steel AK mags, there are a few things to look for. After determining that the magazine is indeed surplus and not new production, the magazine’s condition should be inspected. First, look for any visible dents in the body of the mag or bends on the feed lips. These mags are built like tanks, so it may actually require a tank running over one to dent it, but it's still something to check for. If there are no dents or only minor ones, move on to checking if the follower can move freely. I like to do this by taking a large screwdriver and depressing the follower with it. If you can press the follower all the way to the bottom of the magazine, release it, then see the follower return to the top without getting stuck, it should be good to go. If the magazine is very sticky and smelly, however, it has been packed in Cosmoline which will likely impede this test. The upshot of this is that Cosmoline-packed mags are usually very well preserved and function flawlessly after all the goop has been cleaned off. Cosmoline helps prevent rusting, so if the surplus mag you are inspecting is dry, check for rust as well. A small amount of surface rust can be cleaned without issue, but significant amounts can affect their function and structural integrity.
If you ever plan on using your AK for survival, these classic surplus steel mags will serve you well. A proper fighting rifle setup should have at least one of these in the rifle and four to five spares somewhere on your person.
Surplus Romanian “trainer” magazine with lanyard loop. Despite rough surface wear this functions without issue.
Good Quality Spare AK Mags
If you can only afford a few good surplus steel ones, the AK mags in this category are the next best option. These cost less than functional surplus mags and are of almost the same quality.
There are new-production steel magazines that are available from both Bulgaria and South Korea. The Bulgarian ones are the better of the two, but the use of thinner gauge steel and different construction techniques make them not quite as robust as their surplus military counterparts.
Gen. 1 commercial AK mag from South Korea.
There is one polymer mag that falls in this category, but something in common between all the magazines recommended here is the presence of a steel locking lug. Magazines with plastic rear locking lugs have been known to shear off during heavy use if too much force is exerted on them. Only magazines with steel lugs should be fully trusted to withstand serious abuse.
Keeping that in mind, the new-production polymer Bulgarian mags with steel locking lugs are also decent options that are priced below surplus steel. These also have an advantage of being lighter, but are obviously less durable as well.
Polymer Bulgarian mag with steel reinforced lug.
AK Mags For Range Use Only
These are the cheap plastic magazines that have no steel parts to speak of. The rear lug cannot be trusted for serious use, and they have been known to get chewed up and deformed after repeated insertions. Many of these are also thicker than the steel mags the AK was originally designed around, resulting in them being difficult to lock into some models. The omission of steel also makes these mags cheaper of course, making them the most common variety to be included with new AK purchases today.
Whether it’s an American Tapco, a Polish WBP, or a Bulgarian ISD, if it doesn’t have a steel reinforced lug it should be relegated to your range bag.
Tapco plastic AK mag, colored “Fakelite”.
AK Mags To Avoid Like The Plague
These are the only common AK mags to outright avoid, and it's because of fitment issues. The magazines that fall into this category have been known to be made out of spec, meaning that modifications must be performed to either the mag or the rifle in order to mate the two. This simply isn’t worth doing with so many in-spec options available.
The AK magazines that are most commonly found to be out of spec are steel mags from either Croatia or from American manufacturers like ProMag.
Collectible AK Mag Examples
Most AK mags in this category are also of excellent quality, with the only thing keeping them out of the “SHTF” category being their rarity and resultant price.
The best of these to keep an eye out for are the iconic “Bakelite” mags that are not actually made from Bakelite, but from another type of early plastic. The 7.62×39 variety of these were first developed in Russia in the late 1960s and are known for their distinctive colors and patterns that are reminiscent of wood. There are also Chinese-made variants that are even rarer than the original Russians. Russian Bakelite mags have been selling recently in the U.S. for about $100 each, something driven completely by false scarcity. It is true that these magazines are rare in America, but in Russia where they made millions of them, they sell for about $8 USD.
Some other honorable mentions to keep an eye out for are original Russian slab-sides, Russian aluminum waffles, Bosnian “fleur des lis” mags, and steel North Koreans.
Russian “Bakelite” mag, made at Tula.
The world of AK magazines can be confusing, so hopefully, this helped to provide some context. For the average American AK-shooter, the takeaway from all this is that the best mags to shop for are European military surplus, made of steel, in functional condition, and fairly priced. Check back for future guides on AK drum magazines and mags for other popular AK calibers.
Threaded P320 barrels look to make hushing up the striker-fired pistol easy.
How Do Sig's Threaded P320 Barrels Compare To Other Aftermarket Options:
Threaded with the standard standard 1/2×28 RH pitch.
Heat treated for greater durability.
Work seamlessly with the company's slides.
It’s no secret, part of Sig Sauer’s P320’s allure is its modularity. Almost the handgun equivalent of the AR-15, thanks to its internal frame system (what’s serialized and consider the gun”) the pistol is infinitely configurable. Slap compact grip shell and slid on the frame and, voilà, the full-sized pistol you purchased is ready for deep carry.
With this in mind, it’s of little surprise Sig foster a health parts market to support shooters looking to tinker their P360 to perfection. Given the manufacturer is also in the suppressor game, it was only a matter of time before it began offering standalone threaded muzzle barrels as an upgrade. Thus here we are, with Sig’s new line of threaded P320 barrels. Well, two new barrels, if that technically constitutes a line.
Sig’s offering up 4.6-inch compact and 4.3-inch subcompact options for the 9mm pistol, designed to work seamlessly with the company’s factory slides. This includes the loaded chamber indicator. As for the threaded P320 barrels, they have the standard 1/2×28 RH pitch, are heat-treated to improve their durability and include a thread protector when not running a can. Pricewise, Sig’s not exactly giving them away—an MSRP of $199.99 on both models—which is at the high end when compared to other options. At the high end, Faxon Firearms has slicked up fluted and models from around $200 to $225, while SilencerCo offers a much more modest model for around $140.
Interestingly, threaded-barrel P320 models have been somewhat rare, with only one presently in Sig’s catalog. And it’s part of the premium Legion Series—the newish P320 XCarry Legion—which is upgraded all around and demands top dollar—around $1,000. Given this, the threaded P320 barrels are a bargain … if you already own the pistol.
For more information on threaded P320 barrels, please visit sigsauer.com.
The Rio Bravo is the antidote for high-priced lever-action .22 rifles.
How The Rio Bravo Proves A Value:
Nimble 18-inch barrel with a nice blued finish.
Polymer Furniture with M-Lok slots on the fore.
Fiber-optic front and rear sights; fully adjustable rear sight.
Very smooth and quick action.
Respectable trigger that breaks a hair above 4 pounds.
Like apple and pie, there’s perhaps no more wholesome match than lever-action rifle and .22 LR. The marriage conjures up lazy summer afternoons with mountains of plinking ammo or squirrel woods bristling with brushy tails. Short of Christmas trees and baseball gloves, few objects come with more inherent joy than the .22 lever-action. It is a shame there so dang few of them.
Oh yes, the world isn’t completely devoid of this style of iron—Browning and Henry haven’t given up on them. But they’re rarer than they once were. Blame the success of the .22 semi-automatic rifle for their paucity; it single-handedly filled the role of fast-shooting rimfire. In turn, most available lever-action .22 rifles capture their shooters with equal parts nostalgia and aesthetics. Those don’t come cheap, most of the existing models running north of the $500 mark.
Priced to put it any shooter's reach, the Rio Bravo proves a great value in lever-action .22 rifles.
This is why the Rossi Rio Bravo project jumped on my radar almost immediately when the Brazilian manufacturer released the lever-action .22 nearly a year ago. With a price below $300, the rifle couldn’t help but intrigue. So when they followed up with the thoroughly modern Rio Bravo Polymer in 2021, I knew I had to give the economical lever gun a day in court.
Crossing The Rio Bravo
Those who have any inkling of Rossi’s lever-action rifle catalog won’t be too surprised with what they bring to the table in its rimfire iterations. The bread and butter of the company’s lever guns is its R92 line, which, as its name suggests, are clones of the legendary Winchester Model 92. As a side note, the rifles are pretty slick renditions of the originals with some nice twists on the top ejector, such as a .454 Casull chambering. But I digress.
While the Rio Bravo Polymer has modern update, it still maintains trappings of Rossi's R92 centerfire line.
The Rio Bravo and Rio Bravo Polymer duplicate the same lines as its big brother, however, the lever-action .22 rifles do so as side ejectors. Logical, given mechanically it’s an easier system to puzzle out than getting the bantam spent brass to eject out the top. An extra plus, since the top of the Rio Bravo Polymer’s receiver is dovetailed for a scope, which would spell all sorts of trouble with a top-ejector. But the rest of the system is there, from straight stock to half-cock safety (there’s a cross-bolt too).
Yet, the Rio Bravo Polymer brings is a modern flair to the rimfire lever-action, compared to its beechwood sibling. Which for the right shooter has the potential to make the gun much more practical and enjoyable.
Plastic Fantastic
The R92’s genetics are evident in the Rio Bravo Polymer, but so are Rossi’s scrupulous updates. In particular, the lever-action .22's inky polymer furniture. Yeah, purists might collectively wrinkle their noses at the thought of plastic on a traditional style of gun. But there’s a reason why the winds have blown this direction—it works. Not only does polymer lighten a rifle considerably, but also—when done correctly—expands the gun’s potential.
M-Lok slots are a nice addition, allowing the lever-action .22 to be accessorized.
So it goes with the Rio Bravo Polymer. While the polymer keeps the 18-inch barrel rifle a very manageable 5-pounds and gives it a certain level of weather resistance, the stock’s greater utility is the flexibility it adds to the lever gun. Here I point to the M-Lok system on the fore—nine slots at the 3-, 6- and 9-o’clock positions. A bipod seems a stretch, but not a lighting system, which would make a knockout raccoon and pest system. At the very least, the slots allow for a flexible slinging system in conjunction with the rear stud on the butt.
The fore’s contour is also nice if a bit blocky. Its bottom is flat and ideal for supported shooting, say off sandbags, truck hood or fence post. Furthermore, just behind the M-Lok slots, the top is recessed, textured and in the perfect position for a support hand. During target transitions, the feature made the rifle more controllable, while eliciting all its nimbleness.
Given the Rio Bravo Polymer is a sub-$300 gun, I didn’t set my expectations high for its trigger. The price almost demands a sub-par switch. While I won’t claim it was close to a match job by any stretch of the imagination, I was pleasantly surprised with what Rossi accomplished. The trigger broke cleanly and consistently at 4-pounds, according to my Wheeler Trigger Pull Scale, which enhanced its overall accuracy. Though, there was plenty slack to get to the trip, nearly 1/4 inch.
Despite this, the rifle runs fast thanks to the star of the show—the Rio Bravo’s action. Again, we’re talking a budget rimfire here, so expectations were moderated. However, with a well-proportioned steel loop and a buttery action, the rifle can move. This was a particular boon when I put the rifle through some rapid-fire at the range. Not only did lever-action .22 chew through its 15-round tubular magazine in the blink of an eye. Its smooth cycling made it easy to keep the rifle on target shot to shot.
Setting Sights
Pretty obvious from the pictures, the lever-action .22 rifle’s sights are plastic, fore and aft, yet they’re nothing to turn your nose up at. The fiber-optics pipes running through each—red front and green rear—are highly visible and quick thanks to their contrast. For new shooters, they seem ideal, making a sight picture very natural. Season shooters will appreciate how fast they are on target.
The sights might be plastic, but the fiber optic pipes make them quick to the target. The rear is fully adjustable, by the way.
Rossi hoods the front, which adds peace of mind you won’t bust it on a tree trunk or rock when in the field. And the rear is fully adjustable, conveniently so. Both the windage and elevation knobs are well textured and easy to manipulate, with defined clicks at each increment, which was much apricated when I dial the rifle in at the range.
At The Range
After 200 rounds, I walked away impressed with what the Rio Bravo had to offer.
First and foremost, it was reliable—no small thing in budget guns. In prepping for the range, I did little more than run a patch through the bore and apply a few drops of oil at key points. From the rifle was on its own. It acquitted itself well, cycling without a hitch and kicking brass as lively on the last shot as it did on the first. Quite frankly, I felt I could have run the lever-action .22 rifle much dirtier and not have run into a hitch.
As far as accuracy, the Rio Bravo proved quite adept. I used both 40-grain CCI Mini Mag Segmented HP (1,235 fps, .118 BC, G1) and Clean-22 (1,235 fps, .130 BC) in the test. Shooting from BenchMaster shooting blocks at 25 yards, the rifle produced between ¾-inch and 1-inch groups on average. Given I used open sights for this test, I’m certain those could be tightened up and made more consistent with a scope.
Parting Shot
I’ve found plenty to brag up on the Rio Bravo and believe for the price Rossi has cooked up a solid rifle. That said, there were a few nits to pick.
Overall, the Rossi lever-action .22 proves a tidy package.
I ran a magnet on the receiver and, lo and behold, it did not stick. While all the components, bolt, lever, trigger were steel the receiver was something else, most likely a zinc alloy. Less durable, this might be a sticky point for some. Along with this, the barrel band was plastic, which is concerning given this is an easy spot to whack against something in the field, thus bust this part.
The next two points are smaller and concern particular tastes. Rossi did not thread the muzzle, which doesn’t take my breath away, given the Rio Bravo is an entry-level rifle. But given its tactical bent, the ability to apply a suppressor would have been nice. As would a loading gate, given the tubular magazine is old school and requires plenty of time to reload.
Deal breakers, any of them? No, but worth considering if the lever-action .22 rifle has caught your eye.
Overall, the Rio Bravo would make a fine entry rifle for a new shooter, one they’ll appreciate long after they master it. But seasoned shooters shouldn’t turn their back on this economical option. Yeah, it’s not a generational hand-me-down, but you milk every penny of fun from the gun. In short, Rossi offers a square deal with the Rio Bravo. It’s about time somebody did in this class of firearms.
That handgun you have for personal protection is worthless if it’s not on your person. In order to use it to save your life you have to have it with you. Unfortunately, there’s no good way to carry a handgun; the best and most comfortable way is in your hand, but we cannot walk around with a gun in our hand all the time. So, we look to various carry methods and holster styles to help us “pack iron,” as they used to say. Though, in today’s world, that saying might need to be altered to “packing plastic.”
Regardless of the concealed carry position you chose, you should routinely practice drawing the handgun from concealment.
There are essentially five techniques for carrying a defensive handgun in a holster, and there’s a specific holster style best suited to each technique. As a concealed carrier, you must decide which system best suits your lifestyle and body type. It needs to be as comfortable as possible, but each carry style has pros and cons—beyond comfort—that must be considered. Even though you might find a particular style comfy, it might not be the best choice for the way you live.
I reached out to Galco Gunleather and asked for five of their best-selling concealment holsters for the Sig Sauer P365, one for each of the most popular concealed carry positions. Here’s a look at those holsters along with some things that need to be considered with each carry mode.
Outside the Waistband (OWB) Carry
Most will agree the OWB carry is the most accessible and comfortable method of carry. All you really need to make it happen is a belt. However, OWB carry is the most difficult to conceal and requires a serious belt for optimum security and holster stability. With ultra-compact guns, you might manage concealment with an extra-long untucked shirt, or a similarly long vest or jacket, but it’ll require vigilance on your part to keep the gun hidden at all times.
Most who carry OWB do so on their strong side. If 12 o’clock is your belt buckle, something between 3 and 4 o’clock is the most common holster position. However, some also carry in the cross-draw position, which puts the holster somewhere between 9 and 11 o’clock. For those who spend a great deal of time in a vehicle, cross-draw can be a comfortable alternative. However, with cross-draw, a holster with some reward cant is preferred.
There are hundreds of styles of OWB holsters, but most of them resemble something like the Galco Stinger ($69). This is a fitted holster that’ll securely hold the gun in place during normal activity. Due to the compactness of the P365, this style holster makes the gun a bit easier to conceal than a larger handgun like a Glock 17 or Colt 1911. Of all the carry styles, OWB offers the easiest access to your handgun. Ideally, choose a holster like the Stinger that’s form fitted and holds the handgun securely. Otherwise, consider a holster with a thumb retention strap.
Inside the Waistband (IWB) Carry
Inside the waistband carry is likely the most popular concealed carry position. In most cases, a belt is required, but it doesn’t have to be as substantial as a belt worn for OWB carry. What IWB carry does necessitate is a pant size that’s about a half to a full size larger than normal because the holster and gun must fit between your body and your waistband; dress pants with an elastic waistband or jeans with a bit of stretch are ideal. Access is almost as easy as OWB carry, and concealment can often be accomplished with an untucked shirt—even a T-shirt—vest or jacket.
With IWB carry, concealment can be found with a vest or, in many cases, an untucked T-shirt.
Just as with OWB carry, there are many different styles of IWB holsters. A style that has become very common is represented by the Galco KingTuk Classic ($79), where a form-fitted holster is attached to a leather pad fitted with belt keepers. Many carriers find this design comfortable because the pad spreads the body/holster contact over a larger area. The primary downside to IWB carry is that many of the IWB holsters are difficult to put on or take off. In some cases, the process might require you to halfway undress. And, as with OWB and appendix carry, going to the restroom for a sit-down visit requires some problem solving.
IWB Appendix Carry
Carrying a handgun in the appendix position—in the front of your waist just left or right of your belly button—has become very popular. Mostly exercised with those who have a trim physique, it offers very fast access and easy concealment with an untucked shirt. However, it can be damn near impossible to draw a handgun from appendix carry if you’re bent over, and bending over or crouching is synonymous with fighting. If you happen to get knocked down and find someone over top of you and beating on you, you might find it near impossible to draw your handgun.
Appendix carry is becoming a more popular concealed carry position. For those with a trim physique, it offers comfortable ease of concealment. However, it may not always allow easy access to the handgun.
Appendix carry holsters are also IWB holsters, and a good appendix holster like the Galco Scout 3.0 ($89) is small and trim so that it’ll induce the least amount of bulk inside your pants. Most have a clip or single snap to facilitate on and off, and many can also be used strong side or weak side as a traditional IWB holster.
For more information on concealed carry holsters check out:
Compact guns can be carried in ankle holsters, and modern ankle holsters are very secure. However, if you spend most of your day on your feet or if you have a very active lifestyle, ankle carry can become cumbersome. It also obviously requires long pants. On the other hand, if your day is mostly spent seated or in a vehicle, ankle carry may not be a bad idea. Traditionally, it has been the method of preferred carry for a backup or second gun. Lots of police officers carry a backup gun in this manner. When I worked the street, I carried a Glock 22 in a duty holster and a Glock 27 on my ankle. The 27 would work with my duty magazines, which made it even more practical.
A high-quality ankle holster like the Galco Ankle Glove ($130) will have a retention strap. This keeps the gun secure should you become engaged in a robust physical activity. Velcro is the primary method of securing an ankle holster to your leg, but your ankle size needs to be taken into consideration. As a cop, I wore an ankle holster, but I have skinny ankles. To make it work, I always wore boots with by patrol uniform. This provided more bulk to better secure the holster; if you have trim and skinny ankles or like to wear skinny jeans, an ankle holster isn’t for you.
Of all the holster styles out there, don’t skimp when it comes to an ankle holster. You can get by OK with lesser-quality OWB and IWB holsters, but with an ankle holster, spend the money. Additionally, for trips to the porcelain throne, ankle and shoulder holsters present the least problems.
Shoulder Holster Carry
Popularized by the 1980s Miami Vice television series, shoulder holsters may be one of the most overlooked carry methods. Obviously, they require a cover garment/jacket for concealment, but they provide ease of access from almost any position. If you’re a suit and tie kind of guy, they make sense, just keep in mind that with a shoulder holster you must keep your jacket on to maintain concealment regardless of how warm or uncomfortable you may get.
Shoulder holsters can be a very comfortable concealed carry position, but they require that you wear a jacket, vest or sweater at all times.
Non-custom shoulder holsters can cost between $50 and $250. They’re also offered with the handgun supported horizontally or vertically. Horizontal carry offers easier access, and vertical carry seems to work best for large handguns. The best of the bunch will have a thumb retention device to hold the handgun securely and clips to attach the holster to your belt for added rigidity. Most also come with either a single or double magazine pouch. This offers a great way to carry extra ammunition and kind of balances the weight.
And weight is a consideration. It takes some time to get used to wearing a shoulder holster, especially when filled with a 30-plus ounce handgun. The Galco Classic Lite Shoulder Holster for the SIG P365 retails for $120 and would be considered middle of the road with regard to quality and expense.
Other Concealed Carry Positions
There are other less-than-traditional carry methods. Fanny packs can be an alternative, and the new Fastrax Pac Waistpack ($89-$99) from Galco is one of the best options. A distinct advantage they offer is that they’re easy to put on or take off. Pocket carry can be employed with ultra-compact handguns, and in reality, it’s not a bad technique. But you won’t do it successfully with trim-fitting jeans, and it’s not as accessible as holster carry; you could get into a situation where you’re unable to get your hand into your pocket to get your gun out. If you’re going to pocket carry, consider a pocket holster to help conceal the gun and keep it properly positioned inside your pocket.
They’re lots of concealed carry holsters to choose from. Pick the one that fits your lifestyle and the way you dress. Sometimes, the answer isn’t just one.
And finally, there’s off-body carry like with a purse or a holster that’s attached to your car. Purse carry is very popular for women, and while it has its detractors—if someone steals your purse, they steal your gun—it’s a solid option for women without altering their style of dress to carry more traditionally. And, a variety of holster manufacturers like Galco also offer purses specifically designed for handgun carry. If you’re going to carry in a purse, select one configured for that job—don’t just shove your pistol in any old handbag.
As for vehicle holsters, they’re a great way to make handgun access easier while you’re riding in your car; with some vehicles, it can be difficult to access a gun carried in one of the five carry methods mentioned. However, leaving a handgun in a vehicle isn’t a great idea due to theft concerns. Vehicle holsters are best utilized as a way to keep your handgun accessible while you’re in your car. When you get out of your car, you should transition the handgun to your desired on-body carry method.
Finding the Right Answer
Many interested in concealed carry, select the gun before the holster or carry method. This often results in a situation where the carrier finds that the gun selected is difficult or uncomfortable to keep on all day. Ideally, the process should start with you deciding where and how you want to carry the gun, and then you can begin looking at holsters and guns that allow that to be done in the most comfortable manner. Remember, if you’re not carrying your handgun it cannot save you.
And finally, it should go without saying that you need to practice drawing/presenting your handgun from whatever concealed carry position you decide upon. It’s highly unlikely you’ll ever have to face down an adversary at high noon at 20 steps iconized by Western movies. But if you do need to induce a handgun into a fight it is highly likely that you’ll need to do it in a hurry. Find a handgun, holster and carry method that fits your lifestyle, that’s comfortable and that permits quick and easy access.
F.A.B Defense’s newest AR stock, the GL-CORE M, was designed to provide a spare magazine built right into your rifle.
GL-Core M Features:
Adjustable Length
Integrated Magazine Carrier
Included 10-Round Mag
Ambidextrous QD Sling Mounts
Optional Cheek Riser
Three Available Colors
MSRP $122
F.A.B Defense of Israel is one of the leading manufacturers of tactical AR equipment and accessories. Used by law enforcement agencies throughout the world, F.A.B products are typically designed to favor function over form. Their new GL CORE-M achieves this by combining modern features with innovative ideas to bring a stock to market that has more to offer than just good ergonomics.
The core concept behind the GL-CORE M is its ability to carry a spare magazine inside the stock. It was designed specifically with law enforcement in mind, as officers typically do not carry spare rifle magazines on their person. The GL-CORE M stock allows for its user to retrieve the rifle from storage and have at least 40 rounds ready to go. Included with the GL-CORE M is a 10-round Ultimag AR magazine which fits nearly flush within the stock. Mags of any size could theoretically be carried in this stock, but anything larger than 10 rounds is going to be cumbersome. Ammunition also weighs a lot, and anything more than 10 rounds will likely throw the rifle’s center of mass rearward. On the other hand, a bit of extra weight from a loaded magazine could help to mitigate recoil as well.
Ten rounds may not seem like a lot, but when your primary magazine is empty or jammed it could mean the difference between life and death.
Like any modern AR-15 stock, the GL-CORE M is adjustable for length of pull. It also includes an adaptor to ensure a tight fit on either commercial or MilSpec buffer tubes. It was intended for use with quick-detach slings as its only sling-mounting provisions are QD sockets on either side of the stock. The GL-CORE M also has a textured rubber butt-pad for additional control while firing.
It can be purchased with or without an optional cheek riser and is available in black, OD green, and FDE.
F.A.B Defense’s new GL-CORE M stock may have been designed with law enforcement in mind, but it has plenty of advantages that could be appreciated by anyone. The stock seems well designed in its own right, and its ability to carry a spare magazine acts as a bonus. The GL-CORE M has an MSRP of $122 and is available now.
For more information on F.A.B Defense, please visit fab-defenseus.com.
The LCP MAX is Ruger's new double-stack .380 ACP CCW pistol. The same size as an LCP II, it can hold four to six more rounds in a pocket-sized package.
LCP MAX Specs:
Overall Length: 5.17 Inches
Overall Height: 4.12 Inches
Slide Thickness: 0.81 Inches
Weight: 10.6 Ounces
Caliber: .380 ACP
Capacity: 10+1 Or 12+1
Action: Single Strike Double-Action Mechanism
In just the past few years the leading philosophy behind what makes a good CCW gun has changed quite rapidly, and that’s mostly thanks to industry innovation. Popular concealed carry pistols have not just been trending smaller, but also higher capacity. Slight geometric changes to their designs have allowed manufacturers to transform their once-popular single-stack pistols into double-stacks that are only marginally thicker in size. Sig Sauer started this trend when they released the XL version of their P365. Several companies followed suit with their own popular 9mm handguns, including Ruger with their MAX-9 pistol.
For those who like things even smaller, however, Ruger has just applied the same concept to their .380 LCP II with the release of the new Ruger LCP MAX.
Smaller Is Better
The debate between stopping power and ammunition capacity is an old one. Even cavemen probably deliberated over carrying a few small rocks or a couple of larger ones. 9mm has been pretty much settled as the best modern defensive handgun round, and many people simply refuse to carry any cartridge less powerful than that.
If that describes you, then the pistol you want to carry has likely already been released by a major manufacturer in the last couple of years. If you’re willing to trade a bit of power for a lot of extra concealability, however, then the new LCP MAX might be just what you’re looking for. It is nearly identical in dimensions to Ruger’s previously popular single-stack .380, the LCP II. The grip is only slightly thicker to accommodate the new double-stack magazine's additional four to six rounds, and the added thickness actually helps to improve the gun’s shootability as well.
While 9mm does offer objectively better terminal performance than .380, it is still a more than capable round. There are defensive loads for sale meeting the FBI’s penetration and expansion tests, and the LCP MAX has been engineered to reliably feed a variety of modern .380 defensive hollow points. While it may not hit quite as hard as 9mm, the ability to comfortably carry 13 rounds of .380 in your pocket certainly has its appeal.
Ruger’s 9mm equivalent, the MAX-9, is still large enough that it must be carried on the belt despite being a micro-compact. The LCP MAX remains firmly in the pocket-gun category while nearly doubling the capacity of previous designs like the LCP II. While it's true that smaller guns are also harder to shoot, the lower recoil of the .380 cartridge compared to 9mm helps compensate for that. Ruger also sells an extended 12-round capacity magazine with a finger extender that can give most shooters a full grip on the pistol.
Upgrades And Improvements
The LCP MAX is more than a double-stack LCP II. Changes to the design have been made to keep Ruger’s new pistol competitive when other manufacturers inevitably release their own iterations of the double-stack .380 concept. The LCP MAX’s ergonomics have been improved in the grip and slide to provide increased recoil control and easier manipulation. The magazine release button is now reversible to accommodate left-handed shooters, and the edges of the LCP MAX have been smoothed to ensure a snag-free draw.
The sights have also been vastly improved. The front sight is tritium with a painted white outline, and the rear sight is a large U-notch for quick-acquisition shooting.
There are pros and cons to each, of course, but Ruger’s MAX-9 and new LCP MAX now provide concealed carriers with two very small options that pack a lot of firepower. The war of tiny 9mm carry guns may just be winding down, but the battle for the best pocket-sized double-stack .380 has just begun. The new Ruger LCP MAX ships with one 10-round magazine, an optional extended floorplate, a magazine loader, and a pocket holster. MSRP is $449.
A lightweight polymer chassis, SB Tactical's SB22 turned a Ruger 10/22 or Charger into your backpack's best friend.
How The SB22 Enhances Your Ruger Rimfire:
Weights only 17 ounces
At 15 inches in length, when outfitted with a folding stock or brace, fits easily into rucksack.
Compete with AR-style grip and M-Lok slots for accessories.
Aluminum instert keeps chassis rigid.
One leap forward in modern gun designs, one that often goes unnoticed now, is modular designs. It’s so commonplace in modern firearms designs it's almost like talking water with fish—it’s taken for granted. But flashback to the turn of the century, well, unless you were behind the trigger of an AR-15, dolling up your particular iron was doable, but quite more of an ordeal.
SB22 Fixed Model
Next to Eugen Stoner’s wonder rifle, perhaps among the most modular designs on the market today is Ruger’s iconic 10/22 rifle. Muzzle to buttstock, nearly every part and piece is easily interchangeable and upgradable with a vast ocean of aftermarket enhancements. One of the more intriguing to recently hit the market, the SB Tactical SB22 Chassis for the 10/22 and 22 Charger Pistol (pretty much a small 10/22). Lightweight, ridge and compact, the system opens a unique and nimble configuration to the guns that could prove downright handy on the go.
Not SB’s First Rodeo
Designed in conjunction with parts/accessory manufacturer Unity Tactical, the SB22 is the first non-brace product produced by SB Tactical. (Though, from what the company says, it will be far from its last.) However, some will remember the company did turn out a previous chassis upgrade for the Ruger takedown rimfires, the SBA3 Takedown Kit. This was a pistol braced package made by Adaptive Tactical, but was strictly limited to takedown 10/22s and Chargers. Plus, it was somewhat spartan with little opportunity for accessorizing.
Stocking Up Ruger Rimfires
As for the SB22, the 15-inch long, 1.5-inch wide chassis is much more in line with what modern shooters expect out of such a system. In addition to four M-Lok slots (two on each side) and a Picatinny optics rail, both the fixed and takedown models are outfitted with an M1913-compatible attachment point for braces and stocks.It also is outfitted with an aluminum insert, adding internal rigidity to the 17-ounce polymer chassis.
SB22 Takedown Model
Ergonomics are also part of the package, with a Reptilia CQG Grip (interchangeable with any AR-style options) and a recessed fore. The latter is nice, particularly with a Charger build, given it somewhat acts as a hand stop and prevents the unwanted trimming of fingers.
Overall, the SB22 seems like a solid choice for an adaptive system for a 10/22 or Charger, especially for those with the yen for a truck gun or rucksack insurance. As to price, SB Tactical makes both the fixed and stand SB22 modes easy to get into, retailing for $125 at the company’s website.
For more information on the SB22, please visit sb-tactical.com.
The future of precision rimfire: Zermatt RimX Precision .22 LR.
Why The RimX Rimfire Action Is A Game Changer:
An interchangeable bolt head system allows shooters to swap heads for a number of rimfire cartridges.
Its flush-faced extractor system means there are no extractor cuts in the breech face.
Given easy headspace adjustment, swapping barrels is matter of buying a pre-fit and torquing it on.
The bolt is remarkably easy to breakdown, simply twist the bolt nose and pull.
For decades, .22 LR rifles fell into three categories. There was the “grandpa’s squirrel gun” class of rifles from Marlin, Ruger and the other big American manufacturers. Then, there was the Europeans—the Olympians—with hard-to-pronounce names like Anschütz and Feinwerkbau. The single-malt scotch set of American shooters had a few high-dollar walnut and blued-steel options—the Dakotas and Coopers—but by design they weren’t widely available to the dirty, accuracy-obsessed masses.
The author’s home-built RimX test rifle made up of a RimX .22 LR action, 16.5-inch Proof barrel, Timney The Hit trigger, Greyboe Ridgeback stock and bottom metal, Vortex Strike Eagle 5-25x56mm optic with Vortex rings.
Then, came the internet, where shooting nerds shared tips and tricks for ringing no-bull accuracy out of less-than-perfect rifles. With an accurate .22 LR, a competition Precision Rifle Series or National Rifle League shooter could train on the cheap. Hundreds of rimfire rounds could be sent downrange in a weekend without spending hundreds of dollars on centerfire components and a long evening reloading.
Some of the savvier gun companies watched this and responded, like CZ with their excellent Varmint Precision Trainer in .22 LR and Ruger with the Precision Rimfire. Other companies were born from the space, such as Vudoo Gun Works of St. George, Utah. The importance of Vudoo’s innovation of a .22 LR action with a Remington 700 footprint that takes AICS-spec magazines cannot be overstated enough. Thanks to Vudoo, a fourth category of .22 LR rifles was created: the full-sized tactical trainer.
A New Category Is Born
With a Vudoo, a long-range shooter could build an exact replica of, say, his centerfire 6mm BR with a Trigger Tech in a Manners stock, but chambered in cheap-to-shoot, low-recoil .22 LR. The drop, wind and sniper math required to hit a steel at 200 yards with a .22 LR lined up with the physics and skills needed to connect with centerfire, but at much less range.
Around this time, the National Rifle League then launched NRL22, a rimfire-only PRS-style match that required only 100 yards. A whole new wave of shooters jumped in, guys and gals who may not have been a part of the centerfire PRS world, but soon went whole hog on .22s. At a match in southern New York, I spotted a sticker on another shooter’s rifle case that summed this up in beautifully, big white letters on matte black: RIMFIRE ONLY.
Precision rimfire rifles have since gone mainstream. This past year at SHOT Show, Bergara launched a .22 LR bolt gun on a Rem. 700 footprint. Savage and CZ brought out .22 LR chassis rifles. Now, new custom rimfire actions are sprouting up. This is the next evolution in precision .22s—the custom action, with complete rifles built by leading gunsmiths, or put together at home shops by talented self-starters. Once the confined-to-niche world of rimfire benchrest shooting, tactical shooters with precision machined parts, some tools and a little know-how are finding that building a bolt-action rifle isn’t much more difficult than building an AR-15.
Leading that growth curve toward this new future in precision rimfire is a centerfire favorite, the guys at Bighorn/Zermatt Arms. Building on, and shooting, their widely innovative RimX rimfire action is a hint at the future to come in precision rimfire. The future is bright.
AJ Goddard of Bighorn Arms has long been making some of the hottest precision centerfire actions around. The flagship TL3 centerfire action incorporates the best of Remington and Savage designs with a Remmy 700 footprint and fire-control system, along with a floating bolt head and action threads for Savage small shank pre-fits. This makes swapping barrels relatively easy with just the need for a vise and an action wrench. A few years ago, Bighorn partnered with Zermatt Arms of Bennet, Nebraska, to scale up production of these centerfire actions, and from that mind meld came the RimX, a rimfire action with remarkably similar DNA.
The flush-faced extractor and ejector have such positive control over the round that the rifle can be loaded sideways or upside-down with zero bullet deformation.
The RimX action has an interchangeable bolt head system, so shooters can swap heads from a .22 LR/.17 HM2 to the larger .22 WMR/.17 HMR pattern. A full bolt replacement is also available for .17WSM. The action has a threaded tenon print, so barrel swaps are a breeze, too. The innovative flush-faced extractor system means there are no extractor cuts in the breech face. Headspace is set by the threading combined with the recess in the bolt face, so swapping it out barrels is matter of buying a pre-fit and torquing it on. (Zermatt sells no-go gauges to double-check headspace.)
With most major barrel manufacturers now making pre-fits for the RimX action, this is remarkably easier—and less expensive—than buying a blank and having a gunsmith chamber and fit it. There are no V-blocks like a 10/22 or grub screws like a CZ. It’s the Savage approach to easy barrel interchangeability, applied to rimfire.
Two things quickly distinguish the RimX from its peers, which currently include the Vudoos, the yet-to-be-released Deuce action from Ultimatum Precision and soon to be more. Those two things are the bolt and the magazine.
The RimX magazine, scuffed and scarred from a summer of match shooting. The 7070 aluminum magazine fits tight and is tunable to the wide world of Remington 700 stocks, chassis and bottom metal with an adjustable magazine catch.
The bolt is remarkably easy to breakdown. Simply twist the bolt nose and pull. Nose off, grab the bolt handle and twist the shroud clockwise, and it separates from the handle. The heavy-duty stainless firing pin is tapered and stepped down to a narrow rectangle of a striking surface that marks cases cleanly at the rim edge. The firing pin is held to the shroud with a metal clip and can easily be pulled and replaced if damaged.
Assembled, the firing pin sits at the 6 o’clock position, meaning it strikes the ammunition case low center, at 6 o’clock. Custom rimfire actions from the benchrest world largely moved to the 6 o’clock position, thanks to the work of small-bore pioneer Bill Calfee. With a 6 o’clock impact, the ignition is more consistent as primer burns up and therefore more completely—though there’s little beside anecdotal testing to confirm this. (Many Olympic-level European rifles don’t have 6 o’clock firing pins.) Still, it’s widely considered a gold standard among the accuracy-obsessed world of benchrest and certainly doesn’t hurt. Zermatt was smart to design it into their action.
With the RimX, perhaps even more innovative, is the completely flush extraction and ejection system—the bolt face itself is completely flat. With a round in the chamber, the rim of that rimfire round snugs against the breech face, as with any rimfire firearm. What’s different here is the bolt completely encapsulates that rim when the bolt is closed. There are no relief cuts in the breech face for extractors. It’s a 360-degree pressure seal.
This is done with a spring-tensioned ejector that captures the case rim and applies enough pressure to snug the round into flat extractor. It creates 100 percent positive control of the round from the magazine to the chamber, holding the round by the rim securely in the bolt face. The stainless extractor plate is held with a small set screw and the ejector with a spring plunger. Should something break, both can easily be swapped out with minimal tools and just a few small parts.
Just add a stock, or a chassis. A RimX action with a Proof barrel, Timney trigger and big optic such as this Strike Eagle from Vortex is ready for any rimfire match or ELR work you can throw at it.
It’s hard to convey how elegant this flat-faced system looks and how strong it holds a round. Just for kicks, I secured a live shell in the bolt nose and dropped it on my office carpet. Three out of four times, the round didn’t pop out. There’s zero chance, in my mind, that the system will not extract short of ripping the brass case apart. It’s just that strong.
The only drawback of this design is that a single round cannot be loaded into the action through the side port. It requires the round getting picked up from the magazine and slotted in the bolt face for the round to headspace properly and the bolt to close. For some, this might be a deal breaker. There are certainly times in NRL22-style matches when I’ve mistakenly ejected a live round and have had to stuff that 10th shot in the action to complete a stage of fire, often on the clock. The solution to that problem for shooters interested in a RimX is to pack a second magazine with one or two rounds stacked and ready. Nothing in life comes free, and this is the trade-off for such a robust “flat faced” bolt system.
Every RimX action ships with a 10-round AI-patterned 7075 aluminum magazine. The RimX mags are very similar to the single-stack design created by Mike Bush at Vudoo, but with a few innovative features. The mag is held together with screws at the four corners, so it can be completely disassembled for parts replacement or repair. There’s an adjustable magazine catch on the rear of the mag. Adjust the set screw, and the catch can be moved up or down to tweak the height at which the mag sits. This helps ensure compatibility with the wide universe of Remington 700 stocks and chassis and is a must-do step when building a RimX rifle.
Additionally, the bottom plate of the magazine slides off to get at the spring and the follower without disassembling the entire thing. Overall, it’s simple, tunable and a very impressive total package—as it should be with a retail price for extra mags running $125. After shooting it all summer, the magazine on my test rifle is scuffed and scarred from NRL22 battle—a testament to how well it fits.
Vudoo Gun Works currently has patented application in the works on ACIS-patterned .22 LR magazines, which could affect RimX (and Bergara with the B-14 R) if granted. Only time will tell. Vudoo magazines supposedly work with the RimX action, but I didn’t find this to be true. The RimX bolt didn’t pick up rounds from the Vudoo cleanly or consistently, but this could likely be ironed out with some tweaking of action, stock and magazine.
Shooting the RimX
To dive into all things RimX, I was sent a barreled action with a 16.5-inch Proof. Zermatt is not selling barreled actions. It’s on the consumer to pick out the best barrel for their use case and build the rifle themselves or seek out one of the many custom builders now working with the RimX platform. (South Dakota-based gunsmith TS Customs and Primal Rights are putting together some real stunners for sale.) For a trigger, I went with The Hit from Timney, adjusted down to 12 ounces, and sat it in a Greyboe Ridgeback with Greyboe bottom metal. The action arrived with a pinned 30 MOA Pic rail, to which I put a new 5-25x56mm Vortex Strike Eagle in Vortex rings. With an Atlas PSR bipod and Armageddon Gear Game Changer rear bag, it very quickly connected on an 18×24-inch IPSC target at 500 yards with Lapua Center X.
It seemed unfair, frankly, to put the rifle together in a rush and push it to 500 yards on the first outing, but after easy connections at 100 and 325 yards, 500 felt plausible despite the rifle being hardly broken in at all. It has since seen about 1,000 rounds, including a summer of NRL22 matches. The nitride-coated action runs slick as snot. In all those rounds fired, there hasn’t been a single marred bullet, misfire, failure to feed, failure to eject, or any issue whatsoever. The action has been running flawless.
The money shot. The bolt face on the RimX shows the flush extractor held in place with a setscrew, the flat plunger and spring ejector (right) and the firing pin hole in the 6 o’clock position.
Proof will not say what chamber they cut into their .22 LR barrels, but they do recommend CCI Standard for a low-dollar ammo choice and Lapua Center X for a few dollars more. I’ve found this rifle shoots everything well. When it comes to good match ammo, it shows no real preference for Lapua over Eley.
To formally test things out, I shot a box of CCI Standard, Wolf Match Target, Eley Match and Lapua Midas+ into U.S.B.R. targets from American Target Company at 50 yards. Each shot recorded on a Labradar chronograph to determine average muzzle velocity and the standard deviation.
The Midas+ turned out the smallest groups, but not by much. Eley showed the lowest standard deviation. Truth be told, for a company only selling actions—not barreled actions—accuracy testing is a bit of misnomer. The beauty of the RimX is it’s made to be built with whatever barrel you want on it. It’s a platform to build on, and a wonderful one at that. Zermatt and RimX are pushing the precision rimfire envelope with an incredible, user-friendly action, worthy of the very best rimfire builds out there.
It’s an exciting time when such players in centerfire precision shooting are looking at the rimfire world and innovating something different. The RimX is something different—the next evolutionary step in precision rimfire rifles.
For more information on RimX, please visit rimxaction.com.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the December 2020 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Lockdown’s gun safe accessories do more than keep your arsenal under lock and key, their catalog is full of products designed to organize, secure, and protect your firearms.
How Can Lockdown Products Help You?
Better Securing Your Collection With Smart Technology
Keeping Your Collection Dry And Protected
Concealing Weapons Around Your House For Easy Access
Better Organizing Your Safe's Contents
Lighting Your Safe's Interior
It happens fast. One day you’re a casual gun owner with a small collection that all fits neatly inside your safe. Then suddenly you wake up in a room littered with weaponry, unable to reach the light switch without knocking over enough rifles to arm a militia with. Don’t feel bad, it happens, but it's time to make a change.
Besides the obvious security hazards this method of storage presents, it also wreaks havoc on your collection’s physical condition. Like anything made of metal, guns are susceptible to moisture-related damage and are happiest when kept dry—something that’s not easy to do when your collection is strewn about the house. Even when kept in a gun safe, most of those are not controlled for humidity or temperature. Under the right set of conditions, your gun safe could act as a moisture-trapping sauna, turning your nicely blued revolvers and shotguns to a lovely shade of orange.
Before this happens to you, check out Lockdown’s catalog of gun-safe accessories designed to help organize your collection and keep it as safe from humidity as it is from robbery.
The Puck
Perhaps Lockdown’s flagship product, The Puck is a Wi-Fi-based device that pairs with the Lockdown Logic smartphone app. Monitoring several aspects of your gun safe’s condition, it is ready to notify you through the app if it detects anything out of the ordinary. The parameters and notifications are fully customizable, so you can configure exactly how and for what reasons The Puck will notify you.
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When it comes to your home defense gun, it’s not always easy to balance security with accessibility. There have been many attempted solutions to this over the years, most of which were complicated and expensive. Sometimes simpler is better, and Lockdown’s Gun Concealment Magnet is an elegant and inexpensive solution to this problem.
Assuming small children are not a common presence in your home, a pistol magnetically attached to the underside of a table is not only very well hidden, but quickly accessible as well. While this method is not as secure as being stored in a proper safe, it offers unparalleled retrieval time. With Lockdown’s Gun Concealment Magnet, you could be relaxing at home on your couch watching a movie and be only seconds away from being armed.
This system is ideal for pistols, but two magnets can be used to hang a rifle or shotgun. The magnets are coated in non-marring rubber to protect your firearm’s finish, and each one comes with wood and drywall screws for easy mounting.
Many gun safes are only designed for long guns and have no designated area for pistol storage. This often results in people choosing to store their handguns unsecured or to just unceremoniously pile them inside of their safes. Storing them in a more organized manner can keep them better protected from scratching, and handgun racks are a great way to do that. Lockdown has four different handgun rack options available to suit your needs and style.
Lockdown’s handgun racks are available in either barrel-up or barrel-down styles and come in a few different sizes. Assuming that your safe can accommodate one of these racks, they are a great way to organize a collection.
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Both units include provisions for securely mounting the hangers to either a carpeted or metal-safe door. These hold fewer handguns than handgun racks, but offer a more compact way of doing so.
Lockdown’s best-selling safe accessory is their Golden Rod Dehumidifier Rod. Once plugged into a power source, the Golden Rod can remove moisture from a 100 cubic foot area. These are an excellent way to combat moisture not just in gun safes, but in any area that needs help staying dry. It works by constantly heating the air around it to create a convection current, thus preventing rust from building on metal surfaces.
The Golden Rod is available in 12, 18, 24, and 36-inch varieties.
Another excellent safe accessory to keep your guns moisture and rust-free is Lockdown’s Silica Gel. Available in either 40-gram or 750-gram sizes, these metal capsules of silica absorb moisture out of the air to keep the inside of your safe nice and dry. The crystals inside change color when fully saturated, so you know when it's time to recharge them in the oven.
Good gun owners store their firearms properly, and Lockdown has a plethora of products available to help you do just that. Whether you are after increased security, humidity control, organization methods, or even just lighting, Lockdown has the right gun-safe accessories for the job.
For more information on Lockdown products and gun safe accessories, please visit lockdown.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.
