The P320 AXG Pro takes Sig’s most popular full-size 9mm and gives it an all-metal frame and modern features to bring this service pistol to the next level.
What’s New On The P320 AXG Pro?
AXG Metal Frame
XSeries Flat Trigger
Sig Pro-Cut Slide
XRAY3 Day/Night Sights
Optics Ready
The Sig Sauer P320 was released in 2014 and adopted as America’s new M17 service pistol in late 2017. This full-size, double-stack, striker-fired 9mm handgun has become an increasingly popular choice for shooters since its release, and Sig has already produced a few different P320 variants. The new P320 AXG Pro’s features are designed to make the P320 platform as nice shooting as possible by mitigating recoil, improving ergonomics, and adding modularity.
SIG Talk: Explore Reviews, Tips, and Insights
SIG Sauer P320 – The Modular Handgun Redefining Performance
The AXG in the P320 AXG Pro’s name stands for “Alloy XSeries Grip”, and it is one of the biggest deviations from the standard P320 design. Like most modern striker-fired pistols, the P320 is polymer-framed. Polymer certainly has its advantages, namely weight and cost, but a metal frame like the one found on the P320 AXG Pro will absorb more recoil and make for a softer-shooting gun.
Metal is obviously more durable as well, and it is more likely to survive being dropped off a building or being used as a melee weapon. At least for me, a metal gun will always feel better in the hand than a polymer one.
The AXG frame comes with black Hogue G10 grip and backstrap panels, a deep undercut, and an extended beavertail to improve the gun’s ergonomics.
The AXG magwell is detachable, giving the option for either easier reloads or a slimmer profile. The P320 AXG Pro also comes with two 17-round mags with Henning Group Aluminum basepads.
The included XSeries flat-faced trigger cleanly breaks at 90 degrees and has an improved reset for quicker, more accurate shooting.
Pro-Cut Slide
Some of the weight added by the alloy frame is displaced by the lightning cuts that have been machined into the Sig Pro-Cut slide. The slide is full length to accommodate the 4.7-inch barrel and is cut to accept common pistol optics such as the Delta Point Pro, RMR, or Sig’s own ROMEO1Pro without the need for an adapter plate. The included iron sights are XRAY3 Day/Night sights which use a 3-dot Tritium system.
The new P320 AXG Pro from Sig looks like a great option for someone who is already familiar with the P320 family of pistols and is looking for a performance model that can excel in either a competition or defensive role. These pistols are now available from retailers, but the MSRP has not been posted. They have been seen listed online for $1,199.99, however, so it seems that these upgrades come at a premium.
For more information on Sig Sauer, please visit sigsauer.com.
Designed specifically for civilian defensive shooters, Federal Punch cuts costs of defensive ammo, but not at the expense of performance.
How Does Punch Differ From Other Defensive Ammunition:
Ammunition is not designed to meet FBI barrier standards.
Given the testing and engineering to meet these standards are cut out, the ammunition cost considerably less.
It's engineered to perform exceptionally well through heavy clothing.
Through this barrier, the ammunition provided adequate expansion and penetration.
Most of the really good defensive handgun loads on the market have one thing in common—they were designed to perform well in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s testing protocol. This test assesses a bullet’s ability to inflict an effective wound after defeating various intervening obstacles commonly present in law enforcement shootings, like steel, plywood, wallboard and automotive safety glass. The best performing bullets in this test tend to expand to 1.5 times their original diameter and penetrate to between 12 and 18 inches, regardless of the intermediate barrier.
Paired with a compact 1911 like the Remington R1 Ultralight Executive, the new .45 Auto self-defense load can pack—pardon the pun—quite a punch.
This testing protocol has driven the manufacture of defensive handgun ammunition for the last 30 years, and manufacturers have become really good at building bullets to meet the FBI standard. And, as law enforcement agencies adopt loads based on their performance in this test, so too do civilians; the general population likes to be equipped as well as the cops. However, building bullets to meet this standard is expensive. Not only is the conduct of the extensive testing expensive, but so, too, is the engineering and building of the bullets that’ll perform well in them.
It’s possible that a civilian might need to shoot through steel, plywood, wallboard and automotive safety glass in order to save their life—but it’s not likely. The engineers at Federal have a tremendous amount of experience when it comes to building good defensive handgun ammunition, and they realized that civilians don’t necessarily need FBI duty ammunition. They felt they could create loads for defensive handguns that would perform exceptionally well when fired through heavy clothing, which is the most common intermediate barrier civilians encounter. And they felt that they could do this and offer the ammunition at a substantial savings to the consumer.
Punch Protection The result is a new line of self-defense ammunition called “Punch.” A 20-round box of 9mm Punch ammo has a suggested retail price of $15.99. A 20-round box of 9mm Federal Hydra-Shock ammo has a suggested retail price of $24.99. That equates to a 36 percent savings.
Rather than developing a single bullet design for all of the different Punch loads, the team at Federal evaluated each cartridge individually to determine which bullet design and weight would work most effectively. Since the bullets weren’t specifically designed to perform in FBI protocol testing, Federal spent time tuning each Punch load to meet the primary needs of the self-defense shooter—namely expansion and penetration.
Chris Laack, Federal’s handgun ammunition product manager, said, “We looked at specifications from our Hydra-Shok Deep, HST and other bullet designs, and we took what made sense for Punch. We selected whatever elements worked best for each individual caliber. We then played with thickness of the jacket, skive depth, hollow-point geometry and differences in lead cores to build the Punch recipe.”
Instead of building a single bullet design for each cartridge, one that would perform well on all types of intermediate barriers, Federal crafted bullets that would work exceptionally well on the barrier most civilian shooters might encounter during a self-defense shooting.
But, Does Punch Work? This all sounds fascinating, but the question is: Does it work? Based on my testing, it would appear so. I conducted some expansion and penetration tests with the 380 Auto, 9mm Luger and .45 Auto Punch loads. No, I didn’t conduct FBI protocol tests. This is partly because I don’t work for the FBI, and partly because the FBI and their comprehensive testing isn’t the final word on the terminal performance of defensive handgun ammunition. The results from my test were very promising—promising enough to convince me this ammunition has been well designed for the purpose it’s intended for, and that’s to provide civilians with a less expensive and very capable self-defense handgun load.
On average, the 9mm Luger and .45 Auto loads expanded to about 1.5 times their original diameter and penetrated between 14 and 15 inches. This level of performance is comparable to what you’d expect from other more expensive loads that perform well on all aspects of the FBI testing protocol, when they’re fired through heavy clothing.
The .380 Punch load deformed with a frontal diameter 1.4 times its original diameter and penetrated to 10 inches. As far as the .380 Auto goes, this is very good performance. If you want more penetration from a .380 Auto, Federal has another load you should consider. It’s called Hydra-Shok Deep, and it’ll stretch .380 Auto penetration past that magic FBI 12-inch mark. But it also costs about $7 (43 percent) more per box. If you’re willing to pay 36 cents more per shot, it’s clearly the better option.
At this time, the new Punch line from Federal has offerings for the .380 Auto, .38 Special, 9mm Luger and .45 Auto. And, if anyone cares anymore, Federal even has a load for the .40 S&W. Retail prices range between $15.99 for the .380 Auto and .38 Special, and $19.99 and $21.99 for the 9mm, .45 Auto and .40 S&W.
The new M-LOK Competition Bipod from Sport Ridge is tough, functional, and low-profile.
M-LOK Competition Bipod Specs:
Low-Profile M-LOK Mount
360° Pan, 15° Tilt
45° Or 90° Leg Deployment Capability
Adjustable Leg-Height From 7 To 9 Inches, ½-Inch Increments
MSRP Of $119.99
Bipods may seem simple enough, but anyone who has experience using them will tell you many designs are finicky and uncooperative. They are a tricky thing to get right, and all it takes is a cursory look at the machine guns of WWI to tell you that. Technology has certainly improved since then, but many bipods on the market today are almost as bad as those used in the Great War. Care must be taken when selecting one of these devices.
Sport Ridge’s new M-LOK Competition Bipod appears to have been well-designed with functionality and durability in mind for hard, real-world use.
Tough
Because a bipod’s legs act as concentrating points for the weight of the rifle, it is imperative that they are strong enough to not bend under the additional weight of the shooter leaning on it.
Constructed from aircraft-grade aluminum and then anodized matte black, the new M-LOK Competition Bipod should be able to withstand typical abuse imparted on it during competition use or in the field.
Functional
The M-LOK Competition Bipod was designed to be versatile, and that means a high level of adjustability. The legs, which are attached via a low-profile M-LOK mount, can pan a full 360 degrees around and 15 degrees of up-and-down tilt. This should provide for a wide range of motion and give the shooter a maximum possible area of coverage.
The legs can also be deployed at either a 45-degree or 90-degree pitch, and have independently adjustable lengths with 3-inches of variation. These features should ensure a stable shooting position regardless of how uneven the ground is.
The new Sports Ridge bipod also has a tension adjustment lever that can be fine-tuned to your preferred tension level.
Available today with an MSRP of $119.99, this rugged bipod is ready for your next competition.
For more information on Sport Ridge, please visit sportridge.com.
The Romanian PSL rifle is a scaled-up AK with a long history of use and a good reputation, but is this glorified RPK with a scope worth the asking price?
What Is A PSL 54?
Designated Marksman Rifle Based On AK Action
Chambered For 7.62x54r
Made In Cugir, Romania
Issued Romanian Military DMR, 1974-Present Day
Currently Imported Into U.S. By Century International Arms
Like any true Kalashnikov, the Cugir PSL 54 is a rugged, reliable machine that accomplishes exactly what it was designed to do. As a designated marksman rifle the PSL wasn’t built to win accuracy competitions, but to engage man-sized targets within 1000 meters. Its prominence in warzones across the globe stands to reason that it does this quite well.
While the PSL may not be as refined as the SVD that inspired it, it has become an even more prominent rifle in global conflicts due to its more robust design and cost-efficient construction.
PSL rifles nearly identical to their military counterparts are currently available in the United States. While very functional rifles with a lot of historical charm, their high price tag deters many from adding one to their collection.
PSL Rifles being used during the Romanian Revolution of 1989. Photo:Wikipedia
Development And Proliferation
While the USSR once shared technical information with the Socialist Republic of Romania to assist in their domestic production of AK-style rifles, by the time the SVD Dragunov had entered service the countries’ relationship had declined. No longer having access to the newest Soviet tech, Romania began the development of its own DMR that would be similar in form and function to the Russian SVD. The resulting rifle was the PSL, and it entered Romanian military service in 1974.
Since its adoption, the PSL has remained the standard-issue DMR for Romanian armed services and is possibly Cugir’s most popular export. For decades, these rifles have been sold to governments in the Middle East and Africa where they have been loved for their consistent reliability regardless of environmental conditions.
Ethiopian soldier training with a PSL. Photo:Wikipedia
Design Details
At the heart of the PSL’s design is the RPK, the light machine gun version of the Kalashnikov. Like the RPK, the PSL’s stamped receiver is made from a thicker gauge of steel and features a bulged, strengthened front trunnion. On the RPK the purpose of these reinforced components is to sustain a high volume of fire, whereas on the PSL it is to handle the higher pressures of the full-powered 7.62x54r cartridge.
While the PSL is chambered for the same cartridge as the SVD, and also feeds from a 10-round magazine, they are not interchangeable. PSL magazines can be differentiated by the distinctive X-shape on the side of the body.
PSL 10-round magazine, notice the X-stamp.
The PSL was designed to fire light-ball ammunition, and they have been known to have durability issues after running excessive amounts of heavy-ball through them. This is important to keep in mind if you’re looking to get one yourself.
The original scope designed for the PSL was the Romanian-made LPS 4×24 telescopic sight, and it was essentially a copy of the Russian PSO-1.
Import Models
When PSLs were first brought into the U.S. in the late 1990's, they were very affordably priced. Their low-cost and Romanian origin caused many to turn their noses up at them, and they did not become very popular. They were originally brought in by several importers under several different names. Cugir’s quality control in this period was less than what it is today, and PSLs had a reputation for being very hit-or-miss when it came to accuracy. While the MOA capability did vary between individual guns, they were all generally accurate enough for their intended role as a DMR.
In 2018, Century Arms began importing PSLs into the United States again under their exclusive contract with Cugir. These new imports are built with all new production parts and have better QC than previous batches. They now also ship with a Russian-made PO 4×24 scope.
Despite being purpose-built as semi-automatic rifles, the original configuration PSLs were considered machine guns by the ATF. This is due to the safety-sear and third pin hole leftover in the design from its RPK origins. This means imported PSLs are built on Romanian semi-auto receivers designed specifically for the U.S. market. Besides this small internal change and the lack of a bayonet lug, the imported PSLs are identical to their military counterparts.
Currently imported PSL rifle. Notice the lack of a bayonet lug and Russian-made scope.
The PSL is a formidable weapon and is possibly Romania’s most prolific original weapon design. The widespread proliferation of the PSL combined with the longevity of its design means that these rifles will be a common sight on battlefields for decades to come.
While it is still a good gun, the general consensus surrounding currently imported PSLs is that they are too expensive for what they are. At the end of the day these are still just scaled-up RPKs with a scope, yet Century has the MSRP for the PSL set at almost $1,000 higher than their Romanian RPK import. I remember when these started to get imported again a few years back, after the initial excitement faded most retailers were left with plenty still in stock. Even as I write this, there are PSLs available online at prices below their MSRP.
While they are very functional and historically interesting unless you are a diehard Combloc collector the PSL probably isn’t the rifle for you. I’m not sure what practical role this could fill for the average American shooter that a scoped AR-10 build couldn’t for less money.
As much as I appreciate the PSL, I wouldn’t be able to justify spending over two thousand dollars on one. That being said, it is still cheaper than the Zastava M91 or any variant of a genuine SVD. So, if you need a scoped 7.62x54r rifle in your life the PSL still may be your best bet.
For more information on the Cugir PSL Rifle, please visit the importer's site at centuryarms.com.
There's more to picking a gun light than simply strapping a torch to your heater.
Quick fact: assailants prefer the shadows. Yes, quite the breaking news, but something to keep well in mind when preparing to defend yourself against these felonious meatheads. To this end, it’s generally wise to have some sort of method of identifying a threat when light is scarce or outright absent. This, dear reader, leads us to gun lights.
Quite handy devices, freeing up both hands for more important jobs, say like, getting your pistol on target. But similar to all gear and gadgets meant to guard your life, picking the right one takes some consideration and understanding of what you opting into. Jamie Caldwell, a former special operator and instructor with 1-Minute Out, breaks down the bare essentials of gun lights in the above video.
Of course, a mounting system on the gun itself is paramount, though largely moot at this point. Most guns tailored for personal defense and concealed carry already boast a rail of some sort, making things easy. From there, what goes under the microscope is does a gun light’s operating system mesh with you as a shooter. Some might find a toggle switch at the back of the light simple to flick on and off when indexing, others might feel more comfortable with a pressure pad that activates when a handgun is gripped. Either is viable, but it’s worth the time and effort to parse out what is most intuitive to you before investing in one.
Features are another factor. Strobe setting and laser-sight additions are some of the more obvious, but more nuanced features, such as body material and run-time, are perhaps more important. You want to make certain you have assets built into your gun light that ensures it’s ready to go the moment you are. Also, for those new to on-weapon lighting solutions, there more to it than the torch you strap to your gun. You’ll also have to research and invest in a holster compatible with your light and gun. And in all likelihood, another hanger when you aren’t running a light.
Any way you cut it, picking the proper gun light takes study. But finding the right one vastly enhances the capabilities of your personal defense gun.
No ammo. No range. No Problem. A dry fire training system allows you to keep your skills sharp in the confines of your own home. Here are five areas to work on.
What Should Be Part Of A Dry Fire Training System:
Competency with a defensive handgun is a perishable skill. You need to practice on a regular basis to improve or just remain proficient. That takes time and money, and time and money are the two things most of us have the least. For many, a trip to the range can consume a half or full day, and with range fees and ammunition, it can cost a hundred bucks or more. What might surprise you, especially if you’re a new shooter, is that you can practice the most important of those perishable skills at home, without ammunition.
Typically, this type of practice is called dry practice or dry-fire practice, meaning, it’s practice without ammunition. Too often shooters don’t give dry practice the credit it deserves. This is probably partly because dry practice is boring, but mostly because dry practice is very boring. However, just because it’s boring does not mean it’s not helpful. In fact, almost every athletic endeavor—shooting is an athletic endeavor—can be improved with some form of dry practice.
Here are five of the most critical aspects of employing a defensive handgun in an effective manner that can be improved upon without ever firing a single shot. All these practices can be conducted at home for a few minutes each day to create a fruitful dry fire training system. You just need to find a safe place where you’re undisturbed, make sure your handgun is—for damn sure—unloaded, that there’s no ammunition around and concentrate.
Firearm Presentation
Being able to get your pistol out of your holster and orientated toward the threat quickly and efficiently is a critical aspect of weaponcraft with regard to the defensive handgun. It starts with clearing the cover garment and establishing a shooting grip while the handgun is in the holster. It ends with the handgun properly orientated with the sights on the target. A great way to work on this is with a shot timer and a smartphone.
The par time feature on shot timers make them ideal for a dry practice training system.
A shot timer, such as the PACT Club Timer, comes with a par time feature. This par time feature allows you to set the shot timer to beep after a certain amount of time. It also has a delay start feature. Set the delay start and par time to 3 seconds and stand ready with your handgun concealed as you most often carry it.
At the signal, draw the handgun, present it toward the target, and make a trigger press when the sights are properly aligned. Your goal is to accomplish this before you hear the second beep, which will occur 3 seconds after the first. You can then gradually adjust the par time, with the ultimate goal of getting it down to about 1 second.
The smartphone can be used to video your draw stroke. To do this, you’ll need a helper, or you can also use a tripod and a smartphone mount. G-Sight, which manufacturers a device we’ll discuss shortly, also makes a tabletop tripod and smartphone mount that works great for this. You can record your draw stroke in real-time or even slow motion. The idea is to watch your draw stroke to make sure you’re performing each step correctly.
Putting your handgun back into your holster is also very important. Why? This is the activity that most often results in self-inflicted gunshot wounds. Because holsters that cover the trigger guard and inside the waistband (IWB) carry are so popular, and because shooters often forget to remove their finger from the trigger guard when they holster, the holster or the waistband presses against the finger, the finger presses against the trigger, and the gun goes bang. This is often accompanied by a scream and a fluent expression of profanity.
Developing your handgun presentation skills—drawing the handgun—can be critical to maximizing your chances of surviving a lethal confrontation. Equally important and simple to add to a dry fire training system, practicing holstering your handgun safely and efficiently.
Many instructors teach that you should be able to holster your handgun without looking at the holster. There are times when this could be a valuable skill, particularly in law enforcement, but for the civilian shooter, the frequency of needing to holster without looking is rare.
Every dry practice session should include at least 20 or so repetitions of the slow and methodical holstering of your handgun. This will condition you to holster your handgun slow and methodically. The need to holster in a hurry is just as rare as needing to holster without looking. On the upside, by the repetitive practice of holstering your handgun, you’ll eventually be able to do it—if you feel the need to—without looking.
Sight Alignment and Trigger Control
The secret to shooting accurately is really no secret at all; it’s simply the proper alignment of the sights and a trigger press that doesn’t disturb that alignment. This is something that dry practice can definitively improve upon, and there are several inexpensive ways to do it.
A pencil is a great tool to help develop sight alignment and trigger control. It’ll work great with a semi-auto, not so much with a revolver.
One of the oldest methods is to draw a small target about the size of a pencil eraser on a sheet of notebook paper and tape it to the wall. Alternatively, you can just tape a target to the wall. Then, insert a sharpened pencil in the barrel of the handgun. Next, aim at the target, with the pencil about an inch from the target, and press the trigger. The pencil will make a dot on the target when the hammer hits the eraser and pushes it out of the barrel. Do this about five times and you’ll have a five-shot—pencil dot—group on the paper. The goal is for all the pencil dots to be in the same place.
Another technique is to balance a dime on top of the pistol’s slide or barrel. This won’t work on Glocks or other pistols with flat slides. But, with handguns with rounded slides or exposed barrels, place the dime on the barrel or slide, establish a sight picture, and press the trigger without letting the dime fall off.
A more modern approach is to use a device like the one offered by G-Sight. Their Expert Laser Marksman System is a laser module that fits inside the chamber of your pistol. When you press the trigger, the device emits a laser flash that you can see on the target. One of the things that makes the ELMS system so revolutionary is that when combined with their G-Sight LTP app, the camera on your smartphone records these laser flashes on the target.
After firing a 10-shot group you can review those imaginary bullet impacts—laser flashes—on your smartphone. You’ll need the tripod and phone mount mentioned earlier, and G-Sight offers several affordable options. In fact, a complete system with the ELMS, tripod and mount retails for as little as $110.
Malfunctions
Being able to keep your pistol operational is a highly desirable skill. Stoppages/malfunctions occur and that guy by the name of Murphy tends to ensure they occur at the least opportune moment. You prepare for these moments by staging stoppages in your handgun and clearing them. The best way to learn how to clear stoppages is with dummy rounds.
Type 3 malfunction rounds are dummy rounds that simulate a Type 3 malfunction. You can mix these rounds in with live ammo when conducting live fire. This will help you train to clear complex malfunctions.
A common dummy round inserted in the chamber of your handgun will simulate a failure to fire. A new dummy round called the Type 3 Malfunction Round, does a great job of simulating a more complex stoppage where—for a variety of reasons—a cartridge fails to fully chamber.
By setting up these stoppages at home and going through the clearing procedures, you can create a conditioned response. Then, when you’re on the range conducting live-fire, you can use these dummy rounds—spaced throughout your magazines—to create stoppages you’re not expecting. If you’ve done your dry-fire homework, you’ll be ready to further train to create an even more conditioned response to stoppages.
Reloading
It’s a fact that most actual defensive handgun engagements involving civilians rarely exceed the expenditure of more than a single load. In other words, most defensive handgun engagements are over before a reload is required or conducted. That, however, doesn’t mean reloading your handgun with speed and grace is something you shouldn’t learn to do. In fact, sometimes a reload is the best way to deal with a stoppage. A shot timer can help you develop this skill so that you can accomplish the task faster.
If you plan to keep your gun in the fight reloading practice is a must in any dry fire training system.
Set the par time on the shot timer to about 4 seconds. Then, fill up several magazines with dummy rounds, put one in the gun and the rest in your magazine pouches or wherever you normally carry them. Now, with the handgun orientated toward the target, when you hear the start signal on the timer, conduct a reload.
There are essentially three different types of reloads to practice. With the speed reload, you’re simply ejecting one magazine and inserting a new one. With the slide-lock reload, you start with the gun in slide lock and then eject the magazine, insert a new one and drop the slide. For the tactical reload, you retain the partially expended magazine that’s in the gun—for potential later use—and insert a new one.
You can work on all of these reload techniques with the par time feature on the shot timer. For speed and slide-lock reloads, a good goal is something between 2 and 3 seconds. For a tactical reload, time isn’t so much of a concern because you should only conduct a tactical reload when you have time.
Frequency Of Practice
So, how much of your week should your dry fire training system monopolize? I dry practice every day. It might only be four or five trigger presses or presentations, or I may spend as long as 20 minutes working on sight alignment and trigger control, immediate action or reloading. Handling your handgun every day, even for just a few moments, gets you more familiar with it. If you can do it without the adverse expenditure of time or money, it only makes sense.
But don’t overlook the assistance dry-fire practice can provide in conjunction with a trip to the range for live fire. Intermingling dry fire with live fire while on the range can help you get the most out of the time and money you’re spending, while actually making loud noises.
As a final consideration and reminder: safety first. When conducting any form of dry practice, make sure your handgun is unloaded, that no live ammunition is anywhere near you and that you’re always pointing your handgun in a safe direction. Bullet holes in your television, family members or yourself have a way of creating a bad day. Being humans of sound mind and caring nature, that’s something we like to avoid.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the 2020 EDC issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Focusing on quality and performance, ANR Design has earned a dedicated following in the competitive holster and accessories market.
What Sets ANR Apart From Other Holster Makers:
Alex Costa laid the groundwork for the company in 2013 making his own Kydex holster.
ANR's holsters are known for their superior performance and dash of irreverence.
In addition to hangers, ANR also produces 3D-printed accessories.
The manufacturer has striven to grow, but slowly, as not to compromise the quality of its products.
Most people probably don’t think, “pheasants,” when they consider their next tactical holster purchase. I do … well, I do now anyway.
You see, last year, I got invited on my first wild pheasant hunt with Zach Hein from CZ-USA. Born and raised in Kansas, Zach wanted me to experience a few of the things that matter the most to him: his Midwestern family, hunting pheasants—and one of his very best hunting buddies, Alex Costa. Costa owns ANR Design, a New Hampshire-based thermoplastic solutions and holsters company.
Here’s an example of ANR Design’s Kydex Appendix Light Bearing IWB holster.
Zach’s family is a living Norman Rockwell experience of Americana: The pheasants of Kansas are glorious, and while I hunted beside Alex, I learned he is exactly the kind of man you want building holsters for you—he’s meticulous, pragmatic, painstakingly self-critical, and, above all else, a patriot.
Regardless of how smart or well-trained anyone in the firearms industry might be, at the end of the day, I want to buy a product from a company that cares about what it makes. And, from the way Costa treated strangers to the way he treated Zach, me, and the dogs … I know he gives a damn.
Never Heard of ANR Design?
“In 2013, I started getting interested in firearms classes and needed holsters and equipment for class,” Costa said. “At the time, there were only a few reputable Kydex holster makers, and prices were very high compared to today’s prices. I decided to make my own, per a suggestion from a roommate at the time. I started with two partners, and we began using a third-party manufacturing company for 3D-printed metal accessories—tie bars, money clips, cuff links, and GoPro mounts, which were selling and bringing in a very small income. This funded the Kydex holster-making side of the business.
“Our brand image is filter-less, rough, honest, hard-use, tattooed, and sometimes crude,” Costa pointed out. “We portray our business exactly how we are in real life: We beat the crap out of our gear. We’re each putting 50,000-plus rounds downrange a year. We wear our heart on our sleeve and are brutally honest. This attracts some people and pushes others away.”
Speaking of customers, clever marketing and a savvy Internet presence certainly helped ANR Design from the start.
ANR Design makes customized Kydex holsters for a variety of handguns.
“We are honest—to a fault,” Costa explained. “Transparency with the customer, whether they like it or not, is important to us. The customer is not always right. We try to communicate, accommodate, and maintain absolute honesty through every level of the customer experience. This has created a very strong cultlike customer base. They appreciate the quality customer service on top of the social media transparency we have. I personally answer up to 200 questions a day on our Instagram stories. Accessibility is key.”
No one is successful alone. Costa’s list of friends (such as Zach Hein) and mentors aren’t too far from his mind. Costa said Josh Eastman of Beyond the Brand Media certainly started out as a mentor for him when he first launched his business.
“Josh really helped me dial in my website and helped create the brand that is ANR today. Josh is a very close friend. We’re both very successful in our industries and spend countless hours bouncing ideas off each other for improvements for our businesses. I can 100 percent attribute a large portion of my digital successes to Josh’s hard work.”
Catching the Public’s Eye
Solid marketing and a reputation for being direct and honest might be desirable, especially in the life-and-death world of the firearms industry. Nevertheless, the bottom line for any business is the success or failure of its products.
“Our 3D printed accessories caught the eye of a few larger companies. This helped bridge some future collaboration opportunities that catapulted the company forward. Locals at classes saw our holsters and started offering cash.
One of the products ANR Design makes is the ANVL UKON, a micro Trijicon RMR rifle mount that incorporates a single focal plane, absolute co-witness, backup iron sight package.
“We registered the business in January 2014 and continued building holsters in my basement workshop for almost two and a half years,” Costa added. “My first employee came to work in my basement with me.”
Costa’s success wasn’t the result of some childhood dream or empowered patriotic quest—at least at first. Why did he choose to start a business in the firearms industry?
“I didn’t mean to,” Costa admitted. “Honestly, I was happy working in the commercial food industry. But the company I worked for had a massive layoff in 2014. I was forced to find work elsewhere. Then, I was a warranty engineer at an automotive parts company but was absolutely miserable. By this time, we were working from 5 p.m. until 2 a.m. (after our regular jobs were finished for the day) every night during the week, pushing holsters through our website.”
Slow and Steady: The ANR Way
Like many Americans, especially now, Costa’s luck wasn’t golden, even with the slow, but steady, success of his new business.
“A series of unfortunate events left me jobless a year later, but ANR was healthy enough to support me,” Costa said. “I worked in production molding for a billion-dollar company, so it came as second nature to learn manufacturing and tool production. I graduated in 2010 with a degree in mechanical engineering, so I had the education and experience to do this. My partner, Jon, has a business background, and I was completing my master’s degree in business administration. Our goals early on were to build our business organically, never borrow money, never have investors and never grow too fast to bankrupt the business.”
ANR Design works with firearms manufacturers to create and refine accessories, such as holsters.
No, there were no magic beans, lottery winnings or rich, dead uncles to anchor their dream. Alex and the rest of his employees simply busted their butts. It was this kind of personal investment that made ownership of their company— and their dream—so much more valuable to them than what it was worth financially at the time.
As anyone with the slightest firearms acumen might imagine, the current political climate and our ongoing pandemic have played significant roles in ANR Design’s business.
According to Costa, “Politics certainly boost panic buying and sales. Election years always have a small boost to sales. Economic unrest and fear of the government or looting boosts sales. War boosts sales on our military sales side of the business.
“COVID-19 catapulted us into a new tier of customers,” he added. “It pushed on-the-fence gun buyers to take the plunge. All those new gun owners need holsters. Eighty percent of our historical business consists of return customers. Between riots and COVID-19, we are at a 278 percent increase of business, year to date. The increased business has helped motivate us to be much more efficient in production. The increased sales have financially opened many doors for us to pursue some very expensive and exciting projects we couldn’t afford last year.”
No Direct Influence Needed
One thing about Costa and ANR Design is this: Don’t bother comparing his gear to anyone else’s. He doesn’t, and here’s his simple reason why:
The folks at ANR Design take great pride in the company’s honesty of firearms and usage with its products.
“Honestly, I spend zero time looking at other people’s products. I spend zero time analyzing other goods on the market. The reason is that I want zero inspiration from a competitor. I want zero influence in my goods and services from a competitor. However, I know that it’s almost 100 percent unavoidable, especially when a lot of our changes come from customer suggestions. Generally, customer suggestions come from other experiences with other people’s products. We make sure to keep an open mind to a lot of these suggestions so that we can create our interpretation of the suggestion for the development of a product.”
ANR Design’s goals are the same as most companies; they want to grow and be more successful. For ANR Design, the devil’s in the details.
“We want to keep growing and keep providing quality goods and services to the marketplace,” Costa explained. “We’re starting to get very heavy in the military industry, and I find much joy in special project development for special ops units. It feels new and fresh to me. We’ll continue to align ourselves with more gun companies and provide OEM support of holsters for new guns.”
The ANR Design, Now And In The Future
Despite ANR Design’s ever-growing success, Costa seems to never lose sight of his good fortune as a key collaborator in the success of others in the gun industry.
“We’re lucky: We get to see, handle, and test-fire new guns all the time—long before press releases. It’s truly a privilege to develop a holster for a prototype firearm so there are aftermarket accessories prepared for the firearm’s launch. We hope more and more companies choose us. We thrive on innovation and the development of new holsters.”
ANR Design is a small business that is continuing to grow through innovation and determination.
Moving forward, Costa is clear on what he thinks his brand is and will be.
“The brand is exactly what I want it to be, and it’s only getting healthier,” he said. “We’re adapting to the ever-changing landscape. We’re changing the way we sell things. We’re increasing the capabilities and offerings of our web store. We’d like to be an online one-stop shop.”
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the September 2020 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Circle 10 AK just released an American-made parts kit for building AK-74s, and if the parts are made as well as they claim, it could be just what the U.S. 5.45 market needed.
Some Of The Other Things You Will Need To Complete Your AK-74:
Receiver
Riveting Tool
Trigger Guard Riveting Jig
Barrel Press Kit
12-Ton Press
Drill Press
Skills
The American AK market has been severely lacking 5.45×39 options for a while now. Complete AK-74s have stopped coming in for a variety of reasons, and the supply of surplus parts kits has seemingly dried up. The parts kits that do come in are very expensive and haven’t even included barrels since the ATF banned their importation in 2005. There are many new American AK-enthusiasts who wish that they had an AK-74 in their collection. For some time now the only available 5.45 AKs were from Palmetto State Armory, and while they made a noble effort the end result was unfortunately not up to Kalashnikov standards.
While American-made AKs have had a rocky past, and I remain skeptical of the quality of any AK that is not from an ex-communist dictatorship, this new parts kit from Circle 10 AK shows a lot of promise.
The full parts kit from Circle 10 AK.
Parts Quality
All parts included in this kit are new production and made in the U.S. Some of the parts are made in-house by Circle 10 AK themselves, while others have been outsourced.
The included 16” barrel has been chrome-lined, but the manufacturer is not listed. Some U.S.-made AK barrels have had issues in the past, so hopefully this one will prove to be of decent quality.
The most important parts of the rifle—the bolt, bolt carrier, and front trunnion—are all made from forgings. This is the proper method for making these components and is a good sign of their quality.
Forged parts are great news for this kit, but the overall quality of its components won’t be truly known until they have been built into complete guns and abused with thousands of rounds of fire.
Home-Built
Keep in mind that building an AK is nothing like assembling an AR. AKs require more tools and knowhow than most people have, and you should do research and gauge your skill level before embarking on a home-build project.
For those looking to learn, however, this is an ideal kit to do it on because it has no historical significance. If you’re going to make a mistake, it would be better for everyone if you did it on this new-production American kit rather than original Russian parts from the ‘70s.
The included rear trunnion is for a fixed stock, but the front trunnion has been drilled to accommodate a side-folder latch. It would only take a rear trunnion swap to build this kit into an AKS-74 or AK-74M style of rifle.
Russian AKS-74 with side-folding triangle stock. The Circle 10 AK kit could be built into something similar. Photo:Wikipedia
I am excited to see these new Circle 10 AK kits built out and tested. If their forged parts can withstand the high chamber pressures of 5.45 without issue, Circle 10 AK may have just provided for an excellent new option for American shooters looking to get into the AK-74 platform.
The parts kit has an MSRP of $849.95, but don’t forget to factor in the cost of hiring an experienced builder or of buying the tools needed to do it yourself.
For more information on Circle 10 AK, please visit circle10ak.com.
If you think the Draco is too big, and the Micro Draco is too small, then the Cugir Mini Draco should be just right.
What Is A Cugir Mini Draco?
7.62×39 AK Pistol
7.75-Inch Chrome-Lined Barrel
Made In Cugir, Romania
Non-Standard Handguards
Standard AK Iron Sights
A2 Birdcage Flash Hider
We’ve already discussed Cugir’s Standard Draco and Micro Draco AK pistols, and there isn’t too much more that can be said about their intermediate-length Mini Draco. Cugir-made AKs are known for being rugged, reliable machines regardless of their barrel length. In terms of build-quality, I consider all of their models to be equal.
So, with three great AK pistol options available from Cugir, the only thing you have to ask yourself before buying one is how small do you want to go?
Why The Mini Draco?
As with all things in weapons design, everything is a tradeoff. The Micro Draco is the king of compactness, but it comes at the cost of muzzle velocity and space to put your supporting hand. The standard Draco offers better ballistic performance and ergonomics but is not nearly as easy to stow away. The Mini Draco is the happy medium between these other two designs.
The Mini Draco has a slightly higher muzzle velocity than the Micro, and its handguards are larger as well. The shorter barrel and gas system compared to the standard model also makes the Mini much handier.
Standard Draco (top) versus Mini Draco (bottom).
Note that the included A2 flash hider adds a relatively significant amount of length to this little pistol. While this could be removed for extra compactness, 7.62×39 produces a lot of noise and muzzle flash when fired from a barrel this short so you will probably want to keep it on, if not replace it with an even more effective device.
Sights
Another advantage of the Mini Draco over the Micro is the sights. Micro Dracos have U-notch, Krinkov-esque sights on the dust cover that may be alright for quick-acquisition at close ranges, but the standard AK rear sight on the Mini will allow for much more accurate shooting.
7.62×39 loses minimal velocity out of short barrels, so the accuracy of the Mini Draco should still be sufficient to make good hits at medium ranges. Keep in mind that while the shorter barrel has little effect on mechanical accuracy, the shorter sight radius between the front and rear irons will result in lower practical accuracy when compared to a full-sized WASR or even a standard Draco.
The Mini Draco does not include a side-scope rail, so mounting optics will require a little more creativity.
Handguards
Like the Micro, the Mini Draco also has a non-standard handguard, only of a different style. While the Micro’s handguard is carved into a hand or finger stop-type shape, the Mini’s are much plainer. The Micro handguard’s unique shape helps to prevent the shooter from injuring themselves with the super short barrel, but it can also inhibit reloads. The fat lip on its rear end hangs over the receiver, and it has the potential to crush your finger while rocking out an empty mag. This is not a problem on the Mini Draco.
As far as options for replacing the handguards, it is possible to modify a standard AKM-pattern set to fit if you don’t mind a little woodworking.
There are also a few aftermarket Mini Draco handguard options as well, most of which are tactical in nature and provide real estate for mounting accessories or optics.
All Cugir AK pistols have the potential to be both fun range toys and effective personal defense weapons. Which model you select out of the three available sizes is purely dependent on personal preference and what you plan on using it for. Each Draco comes with its own advantages and disadvantages, so for those who can’t make up their minds the Mini Draco will offer the best of both worlds.
For more information on Mini Dracos, please visit the importer's site at centuryarms.com.
Imported from Turkey, the new Escort DF12 is a rugged, semi-auto 12-gauge with familiar handling and controls.
DF12 Specs:
12-Gauge, 3″ Magnum Chamber
18-Inch Barrel
8.9 Pounds
5+1 Capacity
5 Included Chokes (F, IM, M, IC, CYL)
Turkey is one of largest producers of shotguns in the world, and Hatsan USA imports many different models into the United States. Their popularity around the globe is partly due to their affordability, and while the Escort DF12 may not be the cheapest shotgun Hatsan has to offer, it’s easy to see where the extra money is going.
Escort DF12, black.
Rugged
The Escort DF12 is constructed from robust aircraft-grade metal alloy, with both the upper and lower receivers built tough enough to handle the hottest of 12-gauge magnum slugs. Its barrel has been hard chrome-plated to prevent oxidation and withstand wear.
The Cerakote finish offered in either black or FDE provides good resistance against the elements as well.
Versatile
The DF12 is chambered for 3-inch magnum shells, but Hatsan claims that it will reliably cycle 2 ¾-inch shells too. It includes a 5-piece choke system that can accommodate everything from slugs to birdshot.
These features enable the DF12 to be a suitable choice for hunting a variety of game as well as for trapshooting or home defense.
The DF12’s charging handle is also reversible, making it ideal for both left- and right-handed shooters.
Familiar Handling
Patterned after the most popular rifle in America, the DF12 should be easy to learn and use for anyone who is at all familiar with the AR-15. The included carry handle/rear sight assembly was directly copied from the AR, and its stock and pistol grip appear that they can be swapped out for standard aftermarket AR-15 parts as well.
The included stock features an adjustable comb height, allowing for a proper sight picture regardless of whether you are running irons or a red dot. Picatinny rails on top of the receiver and handguards provide for ample space to mount an optic, and the railing underneath the handguard is ideal for the included angled foregrip or any other accessories.
DF12 handguard with included angled foregrip.
This shotgun includes a lot of extra modularity and features not seen on similar semi-auto, magazine-fed designs, and it even comes with flip-up fiber optic TruGlo sights. It ships with a 5-round magazine in the box, and 2-rounders are also available for purchase. These may be fine for hunting, but for a shotgun that seems to have been designed with tactical applications in mind it would be nice if larger mags were available as well.
Assuming that the Escort DF12 is as reliable as advertised, this seems like a decent shotgun for an MSRP of $699.99.
For those who want a Draco with a bit more style, look no further than the WBP Mini Jack or Lynx.
What Are WBP AK Pistols?
7.62x39mm
10.2-Inch Chrome-Lined Barrel
Two Available Variants
Made In Rogów, Poland
AKs from WBP have been growing in popularity over recent years as other imported AK options have dwindled. Available, foreign-made AKs in the U.S. are currently limited to three manufacturers—Cugir, Zastava, and now WBP. Cugir and Zastava have longer histories, but WBP has shown a lot of promise for a relatively new company getting into AK production. So far, their guns have garnered a reputation of being just as reliable and functional as any AK from a more established military arsenal. The cherry on top is that WBP guns have a nicer fit and finish than most other AKs on the market, too.
WBP Mini Jack
Variants
There are two AK pistol models currently imported from WBP, the Mini Jack and the Lynx. The Mini Jack is the more classic, traditional model with wooden handguards, while the Lynx is the tactical variant.
The Mini Jack is essentially WBP’s pistol version of their Fox rifles. Besides the shorter barrel length, the Mini Jack only differs from the Fox in a few ways. The Mini Jack has a combination gas block and front sight, with a proportionally shorter gas piston. Unlike the Fox, the Mini Jack has no way to mount the uniquely Polish FB Radom rail system. It does include a standard-pattern side scope rail for mounting optics, however.
As the tactical model, the Lynx has the same guts as the Mini Jack but comes with black polymer furniture instead of wood, and segments of Picatinny on top for mounting optics in lieu of a side scope rail. The Picatinny rails are found on the rear sight block and gas tube, and have been aligned to allow for the seamless mounting of optics. Keep in mind that because the rear sight has been entirely replaced with Picatinny rail, there are no usable iron sights on the Lynx.
The Lynx also features an enhanced safety selector and magazine release for easier manipulation.
Both the Lynx and the Mini Jack have a barrel threaded for 14×1 LH muzzle devices, but a barrel nut has been spot welded on for legal importation. Removing this weld is easy and legal and will allow for the mounting of most common AK brakes and flash hiders.
WBP Lynx
Pistol Brace Or SBR?
Unlike ZPAP92s, WBP AK pistols are not pre-drilled to accommodate a variety of brace options. If you wish to put a brace on your Mini Jack or Lynx it will require either modifications to the rear of the receiver or the use of a simpler brace mounting option, like something from SB Tactical which attaches above the pistol grip.
Either of these pistols could be converted to an SBR as well, but their rear trunnion makes for an extra interesting option. WBP also sells select-fire AKs to military and police forces around the world, and one of their available models is an under-folder Mini Jack variant. Under-folders require a special rear trunnion, and that same trunnion is used in their semi-auto Mini Jacks that are sold in America.
Assuming that you have jumped through the ATF’s hoops to do so legally, an SBR’d Mini Jack could be converted to an under-folder without swapping the rear trunnion—something that can’t be said about any other AK pistol import.
The addition of either a brace or a stock will make any AK pistol far more practical than one without one, especially when trying to use an optic.
WBP Mini Jack, factory select-fire underfolder model.
Both the WBP Mini Jack and the Lynx are fine AK pistol options. They offer a nicer fit and finish than Cugir-made guns, and the Lynx’s tactical rail options provide for a more modern AK platform out of the box than anything else on the market. You will have to decide whether the features found on WBP AK pistols justify the higher price than their competitors’ options.
Nice finish and plenty of features—but does the Polish WBP Fox measure up to more established countries' AKs?
What’s a WBP Fox?
Semi-Automatic AKM-Pattern Rifle In 7.62×39
Chrome-Lined 16-Inch Barrel
Made By WBP In Rogów, Poland
Standard AK Scope Rail On Side Of Receiver
Mounting Option For FB Radom Beryl Rail System
As discussed in our previous article on WBP, they are a newer company that has been making complete AK rifles for just over 10 years. They began as a commercial enterprise, giving them less of a proven track record than state-run military arsenals like Cugir or Zastava. That being said, WBP has a relationship with the famous FB Radom plant, and some WBP components like barrels are even manufactured by FB. WBP has exported select-fire and sporter AK variants to customers across the world, for both commercial and military purposes. The WBP Fox is their semi-auto, sporter AK model that is currently being imported and sold by Arms Of America.
Whats In A Name?
There’s a story behind how the Fox got its name. In WBP’s earlier days, when they were mostly supplying AKs to the Polish commercial market, they received a unique request from a fox hunter. This customer wanted one of their AKs, but in a configuration that he viewed as ideal for hunting foxes—with a side scope rail and a thumbhole stock.
When WBP began designing the AK they planned to export to the United States, they ended up with a similar configuration to what the fox hunter asked for. The American market also wanted the scope rail, and the thumbhole stock was required for legal importation. Reminded of that hunter's request, they named this rifle the Fox.
Fit And Finish
WBP guns look and feel better than AKs from Cugir. They are generally assembled with more care, meaning nicer rivets, no canted sights, and nothing comes pre-scratched. The black powder-coat finish is much more visually appealing than Cugir’s Parkerization as well.
The bolt carrier on the WBP Fox is left in the white, however. This looks nice to some but it provides less protection than one that has been finished, even when it's as crude as Cugir's.
Optics Options
WBP Foxes also have more options for mounting optics than most other AKs. They not only come with a standard-pattern side scope rail but also with a special Beryl-style rear trunnion and rear sight block to accommodate an FB Radom rail system. This style of rail can be purchased separately, and while it’s not historically appropriate for an AKM-pattern gun, it is uniquely Polish. These rail systems can be seen in service with Polish armed forces on their 5.56 Beryl rifles.
One quirk with any imported gun, but especially with AKs, is 922r compliance. This is mostly something that importers and sellers have to worry about, but the result is you will have to make a choice when purchasing a WBP Fox—do you want a Polish gas piston or Polish wood furniture?
What 922r essentially means is that semi-auto rifles and shotguns—ones deemed “not being particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes”—may not be imported. There's a workaround for this law, using a certain amount of American-made components. Hence the reason why AKs sold stateside vary from the versions sold in their home countries.
The WBP Foxes being sold by Arms Of America come in a few different flavors, but they are mostly identical besides the furniture. Several of the options come with American-made furniture, meaning that the gas piston is legally allowed to be of Polish origin. Some other variants instead come with Polish furniture, so one more part elsewhere had to be made in America. In this case, that component is the gas piston made by CNC Warrior. Some people have claimed to have experienced issues with these American pistons, but others seem to have had no problem with them. Personally, I’d still prioritize the Polish piston since it is integral to the weapon's function, unlike the furniture.
WBP Fox “Classic” with Polish furniture.
WBP Foxes seem like very nice rifles, but they are expensive as far as AKMs go. As it stands, I trust the reliability of a Cugir or Zastava AK more than a WBP simply because they’ve been at it longer. WBP guns show a lot of promise and I’m keeping an open mind about them going into the future; I could easily see WBP someday becoming a staple of the American AK market.
If you want a reliable AK with a proven track record, a WASR will suit your needs for several hundred dollars less. If you want your AK to be prettier and feature some unique Polish traits, however, a WBP could be just what you’re looking for.
For more information on WBP, please visit wbprogow.com.
KE Arms has released a budget version of their WWSD carbine called the Civil Defense Rifle or CDR. It follows the same design principles that went into the original project but with some omissions to cut costs.
What The CDR Tries To Accomplish:
Project how Eugene Stoner would have evolved the AR-15 with modern materials.
Utilizes a polymer lower and pencil profile barrel to cut weight.
Based on the WWSD rifle, but with fewer amenities to cut its price tag.
The Original WWSD
The What Would Stoner Do carbine was the brainchild of YouTubers Ian McCollum and Karl Kasarda. The idea first came to them while shooting an original configuration M16A1, and the rifle’s balance and low weight reminded them of what an AR15 truly should feel like as intended by Eugene Stoner. Part of what made the AR platform so revolutionary for its time was its use of modern manufacturing techniques and materials like aluminum and polymer. Some aspects of the AR were limited by contemporary manufacturing methods, such as the pencil-profile barrel that originally had subpar heat-treating.
KE Arms Civil Defense Rifle.
Now that technology has had time to catch up to the design, the developers of the WWSD decided to take things to what they viewed as the logical conclusion of Stoner’s mindset, expanding the carbine’s use of polymers and other modern materials like carbon fiber.
At the core of the design is the new KP-15 monolithic polymer lower receiver from KE Arms. While attempts at polymer lowers have mostly resulted in failure in the past, the KP-15’s design has supposedly corrected any strength issues plaguing the material. So far it seems the KP-15 is a great improvement over previous plastic lowers, having survived strenuous full-auto endurance tests. The new lower helps reduce the carbine’s overall weight, one of Stoner's primary goals when he designed the AR.
The Civil Defense Rifle
The WWSD concept piqued many shooters’ interests, but at an MSRP of $1,699.99 it was a bit pricey for such a novel concept. A large contributor to that price tag was the development and setup cost of molding a new polymer lower, something that was integral to the WWSD concept. Because of this, the KP-15 lower is also included on the new Civil Defense Rifle.
Because so much of the cost stems from this new lower, the Civil Defense Rifle still has an MSRP of $1249.99 despite being the “budget” version. Both versions are sold exclusively through Brownells.
The Civil Defense Rifle is very similar in form and function to the original WWSD, but omits certain “luxury” features to cut the cost by about $450. The resulting CDR is a rifle that's almost as nice as a WWSD, but is marginally heavier and slightly less ambidextrous.
Is It Worth It?
The WWSD project was certainly an interesting thought experiment. I agree with its general premise—if Stoner were alive today, he would have used the most modern techniques and materials available to design his rifle to be as lightweight and handy as possible. But at what cost?
The WWSD carbine’s MSRP is actually comparable to that of a Colt AR-15 Sporter in the 1960s after adjusting for inflation. While the government may have been willing to spend that much for the most cutting-edge tech, ARs did not catch on with civilian shooters until decades after this.
You will have to decide whether the WWSD or CDR bring enough to the table to justify the price tag for you. In my opinion, they don’t. I think the greatest improvement found in either of these designs is the return to a pencil-profile barrel. One of the first changes made to the M16 after its adoption was the switch to a heavier profile barrel to allow for more sustained fire without shifting the point of impact. With modern heat treatment techniques, pencil barrels like the 16” Faxon used in the WWSD and CDR can achieve the same thing while retaining their slimmer profile.
I don’t deny that the other features of the CDR are improvements as well, but I would argue that a pseudo-M16A1 or CAR-15 clone using a modern Faxon pencil barrel will be almost every bit as handy and usable as either of the new designs utilizing a KP-15 lower, and they will cost less too. Personally, I’d rather abide by what Stoner actually did than what some speculated he would have done. But what the hell do I know? I’m an AK guy.
For more information on KE Arms, please visit kearms.com.
Get On Target With The AR:
Go Small With These 8 Economical AR Pistol Options
The Zastava M91 is a scaled-up AK from Serbia that's design was inspired by the famous Soviet SVD. It is a reliable and accurate rifle, but is it worth the price tag?
What’s An M91?
Designated Marksman Rifle Based On AK Action
Chambered For 7.62x54r
Current Issue DMR For Serbian Armed Forces
Presently Available Import From Zastava Arms
Many people are infatuated with the iconic appearance of the Soviet SVD Dragunov, and it's easy to see why. It is one of the most recognizable firearms in movies and video games, and it has been a part of the public consciousness since at least the Vietnam War. One could almost say that the SVD is unmistakable, but that’s not true. The SVD’s design is so prolific that it has been copied more than once, and people often do mistake these copies for the real thing. One of these SVD-inspired weapons is the Zastava M91, and while it may not be a genuine Dragunov, it's about as close as most people can get to one without putting a lien on their house.
M91 with original wooden furniture. Photo:Wikipedia
Not An SVD
It's important to note that while the Zastava M91 and Cugir PSL are distinct designs from the SVD, both rifles were inspired by it in concept and appearance.
Like the SVD, Zastava M91s were designed as designated marksmen or sniper rifles for use with armed forces. They are both semi-automatic and chambered for the full-power 7.62x54r cartridge, and come outfitted with magnified optics. They both feed from 10-round detachable box magazines, but the magazines are not interchangeable between designs.
When Yevgeny Dragunov designed the SVD, he made it aesthetically similar to Kalashnikov rifles in order to remain thematically consistent with the rest of the Soviet arsenal. The internal design was completely different, however. The SVD utilizes a short-stroke gas-piston system, and the differences are apparent once the weapon is field-stripped. The Zastava M91 on the other hand is truly an AK at heart. Its action is a long-stroke piston system, the same as a normal AK but scaled up for the more powerful cartridge. This major difference in design means an M91 will never be quite as mechanically accurate as an SVD, but will have a comparatively more robust and simple action. That being said, both designs are sufficiently accurate and reliable for their intended roles.
M91 In Military Service
Adopted in 1992, the M91 replaced the Zastava M76 rifle in Yugoslavian/Serbian military service. It has seen action from the Yugoslav Wars to current conflicts in the Middle East. Over time, its design has been updated from the original SVD-styled wooden furniture to a more modern, synthetic design with Picatinny rails on the handguard.
The adoption of the M91 and its subsequent design changes were part of a larger push towards modernization being implemented by the Serbian Army.
M91, as imported by Zastava.
Zastava's Import
The M91 is currently imported and sold by Zastava Arms USA. It comes with the modern-style synthetic furniture and includes a 4X24 POSP scope that mounts via a Yugo-stye scope rail. Its barrel is chrome-lined and just a bit over 24 inches long. M91s are imported with a tack-welded muzzle nut that can be removed for the installation of 14×1 LH threaded flash hiders.
M91 gas regulator and railed polymer handguards.
It also features an adjustable gas regulator to help tune the system for any kind of ammunition or environment.
Worth It?
With an MSRP of $3,499.99, this is an expensive AK variant. It is also far cheaper than any genuine SVD that could be had on the second-hand market, so it's up to you to decide how badly your SVD-itch needs scratching. The M91 is a fine rifle, but speaking strictly about performance I’m not sure if it’s worth the price tag. There are more accurate and cheaper rifles available, with more practical features and chambered in more common calibers. If you’re shopping for something to get into precision rifle competitions with, you’ll be better off looking elsewhere.
The niche that the M91 fills in the US market is not one of performance, but style. This rifle is for those who want to LARP as an Eastern European sniper but can’t afford a real Russian or Chinese Dragunov. If that sounds like you, the M91 is a well-made and reliable rifle to do it with.
Effectively shooting with a handheld light is, well, a handful. Jamie Caldwell offers some techniques to get a grip on the challenge.
Best-case scenario, you’ll have a weapons light directly attached to your defensive handgun. In reality, this won’t always be the case. Maybe running this type of setup is too bulky for your carry profile or your gun doesn’t happen to sport an accessory rail. Whatever the case, a weapons light might prove a bridge too far. Then what’s the solution for low-light situations?
Well, unless you wear your night-vision nogs everywhere after dark, it's time to learn to shoot with a handheld light. Honestly, as former special operator and current instructor with 1-Minute Out Jamie Caldwell points out in the above video, it’s easier said than done. At issue, is how to shed light while maximizing the ability to get hits. The difficulty in this comes from the fact the support hand in most techniques is off the gun, essentially forcing much more inaccurate one-hand shooting.
Now, the key point here is “most techniques” because there are some which allow a fundamental two-hand grip. Caldwell demonstrates one, where the light is clutched between two of the support-hand fingers while gripping the gun. It’s a solid system, though it takes some practice to make it an efficient tactic. For some, especially those with smaller hands, it may even prove prohibitive.
This leads us to another point, not every lighting technique will work for every shooter. In addition to the methods Caldwell covers, shooters should do their homework and investigate other ways to deploy a handheld light. Then they should experiment and find what works best for them. Not every system is compatible with every shooter, it takes time and effort to parse out how to light up a target, then effectively engage it.
Taming recoil and preventing wear, the SureFire OBC-556 makes for a more pleasant AR pistol, SBR or even carbine.
How Does The OBC-556 Work:
The bolt carrier group slows down cycle rate through a number of design changes.
Cam slot angles and timing changed so it takes longer for the bolt to unlock.
Dead-blow weight added into the rear of the carrier to slow the BCG's momentum.
Shorter “H” buffer creates a longer travel distance.
Short barrels, as in AR pistols, are en vogue. And SBRs are all the rage, for those who can get them. They do, however, have problems. Basically, they require such a sharp gas input to jolt the system into working that they can be harsh in recoil. Adding in a heavier buffer helps, but sometimes you need more. Enter SureFire and their Optimized Bolt Carrier.
The OBC-556 was designed by Jim Sullivan, who was the guy who debugged the initial AR-15 for Eugene Stoner and Armalite. I had a chance to visit him a while back (a story for another time) and got the lowdown on the OBC, which he was doing with and for SureFire.
The SureFire OBC-556 comes with everything you need: complete bolt-carrier group, buffer, and spring.
The OBC slows down your ARs cyclic rate by means of three design changes Sullivan put into it. First, he went into the cam slot on the carrier and changed the angles and timing on that, so the carrier has to work harder and takes longer to unlock the bolt. Second, he put a dead-blow weight into the rear of the carrier, so the carrier movement has to “pick up” the weight as it cycles. That slows it down some more. And third, in conjunction with a stronger buffer spring, he installed an “H” buffer, but one that’s shorter. To accommodate the shorter buffer, the gas key is shorter (so it won’t hit the rear ring of the receiver, another story to tell at a later time) and travels longer.
The end result is a bolt that takes longer to unlock, moves slower because of the added weight, and travels a longer distance, which also adds time. Your AR pistol, SBR, and even carbine or rifle shoot softer. And since the bolt takes more time to travel, this gives your magazines a better chance to lift the cartridge stack and have the top round firmly pinned against the feed lip on its side, ready to feed as the bolt comes forward.
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You’re thinking, “This is all well and good, but does it really make a difference?” Well, that depends. If your AR is a bit marginal, or it gets cranky when it gets dirty, then yes. If you find weather changes can mean reliability changes, then yes again. If your AR has been utterly reliable in all situations, with all ammo, and never failed—then I really can’t say this will improve on that. But … it won’t make it worse.
To test the changes, I took advantage of an opportunity: a day with a select-fire AR lower. No, not an M16/M4, because it didn’t leave the factory that way, but a “papered” select-fire lower—an R&D project by a local manufacturer.
I tested it with two uppers, an M4 clone from Bravo Company and an 11.5-inch SBR upper, also a product of BCM. I used two types of ammunition, Federal XM193 and Hornady Frontier .223 Rem., both 55-grain FMJ, because they’re common.
You’ll know which AR has the SureFire in it—the company won’t let you down there. Or in function, either.
The M4 upper, with a “H” buffer (normal in a lot of ARs) ran at 800 rpm with XM193, and 763 rpm with the Hornady. Using the SureFire OBR, the XM193 ran at 702 rpm, and the Hornady was 696 rpm. That’s a 12 percent and 9 percent reduction in cyclic rate, respectively.
The 11.5-inch upper has XM193 running at 797 rpm and the Hornady at 775 rpm. With the SureFire OBC installed, the rates were 705 and 688 rpm, respectively. Again, 12 percent and 11 percent reductions.
The OBC also reduced cyclic rates when I installed various suppressors on those uppers, which is where such a setup can really shine. Yes, it was a fun day. Yes, I have a long list of volunteers.
Now, this goodness—indeed, any goodness—does not come free. The OBC-556 has a retail price of $399. However, a box-stock bolt-carrier assembly will run you anywhere from $150 to $225 plus the buffer and spring, and that’s before you go and get any extras such as platings or exotic alloys. So, the SureFire bump isn’t as big as it appears at first blush.
Once you’ve built a few ARs, you might find that you need or want an improvement. SureFire certainly has that for you. And if you’re putting a suppressor on your AR pistol, then the SureFire OBC-556 is a must-have.
For more information on the OBC-556, please visit surefire.com.
Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the October 2021 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
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