From all across the web, we’ve searched high and low for some of the best deals we can find! From tactical gear to firearms, from ammo to footwear, we’ve dug down deep to deliver some delicious discounts!
Take a scroll and see the best Black Friday & Cyber Monday Gun Deals!
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Welcome to CANCON A Fully Suppressed RECOIL Range Day!
Save the date and make your plans to come down on Veterans Day weekend, Nov. 11-13 to the 17 South Rod and Gun Club in Savannah, Georgia.
Hundreds of the newest and best suppressors, firearms, and optics will be on the firing line for you to get hands-on trigger time.
All ammo will be provided, just bring your trigger finger!
Veterans get in FREE Friday, so come spend your Veterans Day weekend with us at CANCON!
SATURDAY NIGHT VIPs will have the opportunity to shoot suppressed with night vision goggles, clip-on night vision optics, IR lasers, tracers, and more.
CANCON will even have activities for kids, making this a completely family-friendly event.
Expect to see hundreds of firearms and suppressors, every one of them available to shoot. Don’t forget your eyes and ears for safety!
Not every day you get to shoot cool stuff like this!
Great food will be available on-site for when you need to recharge between shooting bays.
More information and ticket pre-sales coming soon!
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Designed Machined and assembled in Leupold Optic’s Oregon factory, the Mark 5HD scope keeps the company roots firmly planted in its home.
Crafted to redefine accuracy, precision, and optical performance for long-range shooters, Leupold’s award-winning Mark 5HD is a testament to domestic manufacturing. It’s proudly designed, machined, and assembled in the company’s Beaverton, Oregon factory, where Leupold employs over 650 hardworking Americans.
In designing the Mark 5HD line, Leupold’s product specialists asked elite shooters what they needed to put accurate fire downrange faster, and used that input to design a riflescope that provides all the tools necessary — in both quality and features — without the unnecessary extras that add weight and cost for consumers. Combining relentless optical performance, rugged reliability, and user-friendly features in a package that could only be produced by leveraging the 70-plus years of optics manufacturing Leupold possesses, the Mark 5HD has wowed end-users throughout the industry.
Be sure to enter our American Made giveaway, with great gear from great American companies. Click the tab at the bottom right of page to enter.
Pick up a Mark 5HD and you’ll feel the difference; it’s up to 20 ounces lighter than other scopes in its class. Get behind one and you’ll see the difference, from its superior edge-to-edge clarity to its extreme low-light performance. With three revolutions of elevation adjustment, the Mark 5HD was built to max out the performance of the latest long-range rifles and ammo.
The heart of the Mark 5HD is in its ZeroLock adjustments, which provide precise, repeatable tracking with a dead-on return to zero. The M5C3 elevation dial delivers over 30-mils of adjustment in three turns. Visual and tactile revolution indicators are in place to ensure you don’t get lost in the travel, and the auto-lock at zero eliminates the risk of accidentally moving the dial. The windage adjustment is capped and the zero indicator mark has been relocated on the riflescope’s main tube so you can see it without moving your head off the stock of the rifle.
In short, it’s the most dominant long-range, precision riflescope on the market. Best yet, it’s backed by Leupold’s legendary lifetime guarantee, which guarantees performance where other companies warranty failure.
For more information on Leupold Optics, please visit leupold.com.
Top-tier, battle-proven products, Radian Weapons turns out rifles and accessories in which you can trust your life.
At Radian Weapons, we think American gun companies should make or source their parts from right here in the USA. That’s why 100-percent of the firearms products we sell are manufactured in America, by Americans.
We machine the majority of our rifle and accessory components in Redmond, Oregon, using state of the art CNC equipment. At Radian, we’ve prioritized vertical integration of our manufacturing processes over product development to ensure that whenever we deliver goods to the consumer, it’s of the highest quality and reliability standards.
Be sure to enter our American Made giveaway, with great gear from great American companies. Click the tab at the bottom right of page to enter.
The temptation in most industries is to rush new products to market. At Radian, we actively choose not to release “me too” products or rely on sourcing major components for new products from third party vendors. This helps protect our brand integrity, and hopefully gives consumers peace of mind when they purchase Radian products.
Our flagship products are the Model 1 rifle and related receiver sets, Talon ambidextrous safeties, and Raptor charging handles. Featured here:
MODEL 1 – 17.5-INCH 223 WYLDE
Clandestine Desert™ Cerakote Finish (Cerakoted by our finishing business, High Desert Coatings—www.highdesertcoatings.com)
RAPTOR CHARGING HANDLE FOR A15/M4
The original all-billet design with Cerakoted FDE handles.
TALON 45/90 AMBIDEXTROUS SAFETY
The screwless safety design ensures your levers won’t come loose and gives you two throw degree options to choose from. Finished with FDE Cerakote.
Buy with confidence, as all Radian products are backed with a limited lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects.
For more information on Radian Weapons, please visit radianweapons.com.
Best known for body armor, Blue Force Gear also offers the everyday carry essential Micro Trauma Kit.
The Micro Trauma Kit NOW!, or Micro TKN, is our smallest version of the Trauma Kit NOW! yet. It was designed to hold essential lifesaving gear with minimal size in mind. The Micro TKNTM is designed to be worn horizontally with minimal bulk—perfect for everyday carry, for law enforcement professionals, prepared citizens, or in low-profile mission sets. The inner carrier can be deployed with one hand or one finger from either the left or right side by pulling the BLIP featured pull tabs. The Micro TKN consists of two main components – the outer MOLLE or Belt mounted pouch utilizing the Ten-Speed® technology, and a removable insert that keeps medical supplies organized.
Be sure to enter our American Made giveaway, with great gear from great American companies. Click the tab at the bottom right of page to enter.
Supplies
Hemostatic dressing for wound packing/clotting (1 included)
4” Emergency Trauma Dressing (1 included)
9” Medical Grade Easy Tape (6 included)
Tourni-Kwik Compression Tourniquet (1 included)
Heavy Duty Medical Gloves (1 pair of Large sized gloves)
For more information on Blue Force Gear, please visit blueforcegear.com.
Unrelenting in design and execution, the new Berger Bullets Long Range Hybrid Target bullets are engineered for hair-splitting accuracy.
Berger’s new Long Range Hybrid Target bullets™ (LRHT) are 100% Made in the USA and feature a high Ballistic Coefficient (BC), jump-tolerant ogive profile that is Doppler verified with less than 1-percent BC variation.
Long-range target shooters and extreme accuracy enthusiasts endlessly seek a competitive advantage, using sophisticated ballistic solvers, custom drag models, complex optics, and twist-rate calculators, among others. All of these tools are rendered meaningless if the projectile exiting their favorite target, hunting, or Mil/LE tactical rifle is inconsistent and unpredictable. Using advanced proprietary manufacturing processes, Berger’s innovative Meplat Reduction Technology™ (MRT) applies controlled pressure along the nose of each LRHT bullet, producing a homogeneous and repeatable profile for the industry’s most consistent BCs. While a high BC is desirable, shot-to-shot BC consistency is most critical when engaging targets at 1,000 yards and beyond. When you absolutely need to maximize hit probability, never settle for a bullet other than Berger.
Be sure to enter our American Made giveaway, with great gear from great American companies. Click the tab at the bottom right of page to enter.
The story behind the construction of Berger Bullets is simple. We start with virgin copper and lead wire products with the tightest specifications. Then, we manufacture our own signature J4 Berger bullet jackets to unmatched tolerances of less than 0.0003 inches of total indicated runout. What does this mean? A better bullet begins with a concentric jacket! Lastly, we merge the materials into finished projectiles — all within the confines of our Mesa, Arizona manufacturing facility.
Berger Bullets are highly sought after by the leading shooters in the world’s most demanding competitive shooting disciplines, such as PRS, F-Class, Fullbore, long range, and ELR to name a few. New Long Range Hybrid Target bullets are available in .22 caliber, 6mm, 6.5mm, 7mm, and .30 caliber offerings.
New for NRA Show is our line of LRHT Ammunition offerings in 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, and 300 Norma Magnum.
For more information on Berger Bullets, please visit bergerbullets.com.
Improving the safety, performance and comfort of soldiers and safety professionals, Oakley Standard Issue has become a trusted first line of defense.
For over 20 years, Oakley Standard Issue has manufactured all ballistic products at their factory in Foothill Ranch, California. Products are designed, materials are sourced, and products are tested right here in America.
The Oakley SI Ballistic M Frame Alpha is our latest flagship product. Alpha is an eco-system; the product contains a frame, goggle, and helo-gasket with a lens interchangeable between all three. No matter the mission, the user can configure the product to his or her needs. Range work, close quarters battle, mobility, and even freefall are many of the environments applicable. Oakley Prizm Technology within the lens brings high contrast and definition. Specifically, Prizm Shooting was developed with the Army Marksmanship Unit and gives greater clarity to targets in different light conditions.
Designed with extensive input from our military and first responder community, Alpha is now authorized for wear on the Special Operations Eyewear Program (SOEP). SOEP, regarded as the highest standard for protective eyewear, certifies that all components are made in the USA and offer the highest level of protection. Available in multiple lens and frame color configurations.
Oakley Standard Issue was formally established in 2000. Committed to serving our military and first responders, Oakley SI offers exclusive pricing for products for active-duty military, government, first responders, and veterans.
A passionate gun parts and accessories company, Overwatch Precision has the kit to make you pistol run like a top.
The OP TAC Trigger System is a patent-pending seven-piece upgrade for your Smith & Wesson MP 2.0 that reduces total travel and pre-travel by 50 percent. Engineered by us from the ground up, this kit provides the unmatched performance you have come to expect from all OP products.
Through state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques, our trigger bar is held to industry-leading tolerances using a progressive die manufacturing process, a metal forming technique used in aerospace manufacturing that guarantees the most consistent performance and highest quality parts. This process, coupled with a space-age NP3 coating, provides the end user with the highest quality trigger bar ever offered.
TAC Trigger
Our proven TAC trigger is both functional and aesthetically pleasing, with features immediately identifiable as Overwatch Precision’s intellectual property. The overall design has been the go-to for Glock pistols since we released it in 2016, and its overall shape and function have been refined to excel in this new platform. With pre-travel reduction and a flat face, this self-correcting contact point aids in a linear rearward pull and increases accuracy. The indexing lip helps the shooter consistently place their finger on the trigger in the exact same spot every time, helping muscle memory and overall consistency.
The Sear
At the heart of this system is our NP3 coated sear. With a proprietary sear angle and large radius, this sear allows for a light and consistent break that can be tuned to the shooter’s preference with the two trigger return springs provided.
The Plunger
This product has a proprietary radius that replaces the OEM chamfer and creates a measurable “hump” in the trigger pull. This Swiss CNC’d part, coupled with NP3, creates a smooth pull to the wall. The plunger spring provides constancy and safe operation of this part, as intended by S&W.
The Trigger Springs
We offer two different trigger return springs with this kit. Standing by our ethos of serious-use defensive weapon components, we include a 4.5-pound return spring for duty or carry use for a dependable, predictable break. With the growth of USPSA popularity and participation in and amongst firearm enthusiasts, we also offer a 3.2-pound spring. Please note, this spring is not suitable for carry.
North Carolina based G-Code produces solutions for ever gun and tactical carry situation under the sun.
At G-Code, we don’t have a flagship product; what we have is a flagship philosophy and an unyielding commitment to excellence in everything we do. We don’t see ourselves as a company of products — we’re far more than that. G-Code is a solutions company.
Our purpose has always been to solve problems for our customers. We do this with design and innovation, and although our efforts manifest in products, we never sit back and feel like “we have arrived.”
Be sure to enter our American Made giveaway, with great gear from great American companies. Click the tab at the bottom right of page to enter.
Likewise, execution in our workmanship is paramount in its importance to us and to our customers. Our fit, finish, and function must always be unquestionably second to none.
To this end, G-Code products have always been, and will always be, 100-percent American made using only U.S.-sourced raw materials and components. At G-Code, we count it our privilege to provide tactical carry solutions to the men and women who serve in our military, law enforcement, and the civilian concealed carry communities.
This is why when you buy G-Code, you buy American, you buy quality … because we simply will not sell anything else!
The bipod has long been a tool used by shooters to obtain a more steady firing position in the field or on the range. However, in its many years of use, the fundamental design and function of a lot of traditional “stiff” bipods have not changed all that much.
Swagger Bipods, a Nebraska-based manufacturer, has developed a couple of bipods that offer the shooter a ton of flexibility and functionality, all while remaining incredibly lightweight. Using what the company calls Crazy Legs Technology, these bipods afford the shooter a wide array of shooting positions. The flexible, hyper-extending Crazy Legs are shock-corded and are easily adjustable with a simple twist motion.
Gun Digest Editor in Chief Eric Conn had the opportunity to experiment with a Swagger bipod this winter while sighting in for an upcoming predator hunt and came away very impressed with the bipod’s flexibility and ease of use.
For more information on these great shooting aids, check out the video above, or visit the Swagger Bipods website.
Modern precision rifle barrels are engineered for extreme accuracy, consistency, and longevity and are often used in competitive shooting, long-range hunting, and tactical applications. The rifling process—creating helical grooves inside the barrel to spin the bullet for stability—is a critical factor in performance. The three main methods discussed here are cut rifling, button rifling, and cold hammer forging (CHF). These differ in production technique, cost, stress on the metal, and resulting barrel characteristics. Precision barrels prioritize uniformity in bore dimensions, groove depth, and twist rate to minimize bullet deformation and maximize accuracy. Cut and button rifling are predominant in custom precision barrels due to their ability to produce tight tolerances, while CHF is more common in mass-produced or military-grade barrels for durability.
Key Differences in Rifling Methods
Here’s a comparison of the three methods based on production process, advantages, disadvantages, and typical applications:
Aspect
Cut Rifling
Button Rifling
Cold Hammer Forging (CHF)
Process
Grooves are cut one at a time using a single-point carbide cutter or broach on a rifling machine. Multiple passes (hundreds per groove) remove material gradually.
A hardened carbide “button” with the rifling pattern in relief is pulled or pushed through an undersized bore, swaging (displacing) the metal to form grooves without removing material.
The barrel is forged around a mandrel with the rifling pattern using high-pressure hammers at room temperature (cold process), compressing and hardening the steel.
Production Speed and Cost
Slowest and most expensive; labor-intensive, ideal for custom work.
Faster and cheaper than cut; suitable for higher-volume custom production.
Fastest for mass production; lowest cost per unit but high initial equipment investment.
Stress on Barrel
Least stressful; no need for post-rifling stress relief as material is removed, not displaced.
Can induce internal stresses from metal displacement; often requires heat-based stress relief.
High compression hardens the bore but can cause twist-rate variances if not controlled.
Accuracy and Consistency
Excellent; precise twist rates with minimal variance. Often preferred for benchrest and extreme precision.
Very good; can match cut rifling in accuracy but may vary slightly due to button wear. Easier to tune loads for.
Good for general use but has less consistent twist; not ideal for sub-MOA precision without refinement.
Durability and Heat Resistance
Good; smooth bore reduces fouling but may wear faster under high heat.
Solid; stress relief helps longevity.
Best; hardened bore resists wear, erosion, and heat—ideal for high-round-count applications.
Typical Use in Precision Rifles
High-end custom barrels for competition (for example, benchrest, F-Class).
Custom precision barrels; balances cost and performance.
Rare in true precision uses; more for factory tactical/military makers such as FN, Steyr.
In precision contexts, cut rifling is often seen as superior for ultimate accuracy due to its stress-free process and exact twists, though button rifling has closed the gap with modern techniques like vacuum stress relieving. Hammer forging excels in durability but is less common in boutique precision builds because of potential inconsistencies. Variations like 5R rifling (sloped lands to reduce bullet deformation) can be applied to any method but are popular in cut and button barrels.
Top Manufacturers and Their Rifling Methods
Based on industry leaders in precision rifle barrels (focusing on custom/match-grade), here’s a list of prominent names, their primary rifling methods, and key notes. These are drawn from competitive shooting data (such as PRS/NRL pros) and manufacturer specs. Many offer options like four-groove, 5R, or six-groove profiles, and some specialize in stainless-steel or carbon-wrapped designs for weight reduction.
Bartlein Barrels: Single-point cut rifling. Known for extreme precision, uniform twists, and stress-free process; popular in PRS and benchrest. The company emphasizes 5R rifling for reduced bullet failure.
Krieger Barrels: Single-point cut rifling. Renowned for world-record-setting accuracy; uses proprietary lapping and stress-relief methods for dense, smooth bores. Offers wide twist-rate options.
Brux Barrels: Cut rifling (using a rifling head to shave grooves). High-precision tooling with carbide cutters; focuses on consistent land/groove configurations. Favored for custom builds.
Hart Barrels: Button rifling. Pioneered efficient button methods; offers good accuracy at a lower cost. Common in varmint and hunting rifles.
Lilja Barrels: Button rifling (with vacuum stress relieving). Excellent for benchrest; uses displacement method for smooth bores. Known for three-groove options.
Shilen Barrels: Button rifling (including ratchet rifling profile). Affordable precision; ratchet design reduces fouling. Used in competitive ARs and bolt guns.
Proof Research: Primarily cut rifling for steel liners, wrapped in carbon fiber for lightweight strength. Excels in heat dissipation; no specific groove count mandated, but offers match-grade accuracy with 5R options.
Rock Creek Barrels: Button rifling (primarily), with some cut options. Versatile for ARs and bolt guns; offers 5R and multi-groove profiles. Known for value in PRS
Other Notable Mentions:
Benchmark Barrels: Both cut and button; flexible for custom twists.
Hawk Hill Custom: Cut rifling; ultra-precise for long-range.
Criterion Barrels: Button rifling; affordable match-grade brand, often pre-fit.
In competitive circles like the Precision Rifle Series (PRS), cut-rifled brands like Bartlein and Krieger dominate (used by more than 50% of top shooters), while button-rifled options like Lilja and Shilen offer comparable performance at lower costs. Hammer-forged barrels are underrepresented in pure precision builds but shine in durable factory rifles from makers like Tikka or Ruger. Ultimately, the choice depends on your priorities: cut for maximum accuracy, button for value, and CHF for endurance.
Carbon-Fiber Barrels
I like carbon-fiber barrels, I have no issues with them, and I do not believe they walk, as people state online. I believe the walking they talk about is mirage in front of the scope from the heat sink, which is the barrel.
Carbon-Fiber Barrels Like Proof Research
Carbon-fiber barrels, such as those produced by Proof Research, combine a stainless-steel inner liner with an outer wrap of high-strength aerospace-grade carbon fiber impregnated with proprietary resin. This hybrid design addresses limitations of traditional all-steel barrels, offering a balance of performance enhancements suited to modern firearms.
Key Features
Lightweight Construction: Up to 64% lighter than comparable steel barrels, with weights typically ranging from 2 to 4 pounds depending on length and contour (for example, 16.5- to 26-inch lengths, Sendero or Bull contours). This reduces overall rifle weight by 2 pounds or more, improving portability and balance.
Heat Management: Superior heat dissipation occurs along the barrel’s length to keep it cooler during sustained fire. The carbon composite has higher heat capacity, causing slower temperature rises and faster cooling (about 35% better than stainless steel). This minimizes warping and maintains consistent performance.
Rigidity and Vibration Reduction: Exceptional stiffness reduces harmonic vibrations and barrel whip, enhancing shot-to-shot accuracy (often sub-MOA). The design counters thermal expansion differences between materials for stability.
Durability: High resistance to corrosion, wear, and extreme temperatures, with comparable or extended barrel life due to better heat control. Tested and approved by the U.S. military for precision applications.
Customization Options: Available in various calibers (such as 223 Remington, 6.5 Creedmoor, 308 Winchester, up to 300 Winchester Magnum), twist rates (1-in-7 to 1-in-12, and configurations for AR-type or bolt-action rifles. Priced around $999 for blanks, with full rifles starting at $1,649.
Uses and Applications
These barrels are versatile for both professional and recreational shooting:
Hunting: Ideal for backcountry or rugged terrain due to reduced weight, minimizing fatigue on long hikes while preserving accuracy for ethical shots.
Precision and Competitive Shooting: Used in long-range competitions (USPSA, F-Class) for sustained accuracy during high-volume fire, with features like vibration damping supporting sub-MOA groups.
Tactical and Military: Approved for sniper rifles, suitable for dynamic scenarios requiring quick handling and reliability in harsh environments (humid, arid, or freezing conditions).
Custom Builds: Barrel blanks for gunsmiths, compatible with platforms like Savage 110 Ultralite, Nosler Model 48, or APF Armory rifles, in calibers for varminting, big game, or tactical use.
Carbon-fiber barrels excel in delivering lightweight, heat-resistant, and accurate performance, making them a premium choice for shooters prioritizing mobility and precision over traditional steel options, though the barrels come at a higher cost.
The H&K MP5 is a 60-year veteran subgun that just won’t retire.
Since 1966, the HK MP5 submachine gun and its 90-plus configurations have continued to evolve, accommodating any add-on technology or accessory packages used by more than 65 nations. This world-renowned peacemaker has resolved countless crises and terrorist incidents and remains on duty globally to this day. Though a regulated Class-3 firearm in the United States, the MP5’s popularity led to a crop of legal-to-own versions from both Heckler & Koch and one of its former licensed clients.
Four years after the Second World War, the Federal Republic of Germany, or Bundesrepublik, remained dependent upon the occupying Western Allied powers for its security. Unlike the obstreperous policies of the Soviets in the Eastern zone, West Germany complied with the terms of the May 1945 unconditional surrender, including the prohibition on rearmament, as stipulated by the Allied Forces Western Europe. On March 14, 1951, a newly established but lightly armed Bundesgrenschutz, or federal border police, was organized, limited to 10,000 members, to assist in guarding its borders against communist-controlled East Germany. Temporarily, the U.S. M-1 rifle was issued to the new West German border guard force.
In 1950, former Mauser Werke engineer Ludwig Vorgrimmler relocated to Spain, supporting the Centro de Estudios Tecnicos de Materiales Especiales (Center for Technical Studies of Special Materials), or CETME, in the design of a new infantry arm. Among Vorgrimmler’s earliest projects was the LV-50, the prototype of a closed-breech roller-delayed blowback rifle. The new rifle, which became the M53 CETME, was chambered for a proprietary 7.92×40 cartridge. When the new West German national defense force, the Bundeswehr, was formed in November 1955, it expressed interest in an improved version of the CETME Model 2. Still, it sought to have it chambered for the more powerful 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge. Following a long, drawn-out series of negotiations that go beyond the scope of this topic, Heckler & Koch in Oberndorf incorporated refinements to the CETME design, including a stamped-steel handguard, wood or two types of buttstocks, a polymer trigger pack, and a drum aperture rear sight. The West Germans preferred having the rifle built in Germany; hence, the Bundeswehr adopted the 7.62x51mm NATO-caliber, selective-fire G3 in 1959. Both HK and the defense firm Rheinmetall in Düsseldorf were assigned the task. However, the latter ceded manufacturing rights of the G3 in 1969. In 1977, West Germany’s government relinquished its production and sales rights to Heckler & Koch.
The 9x19mm MP5 A2 submachine gun is shown beneath its influential G3 predecessor. Though greatly reduced in size, it bears a close resemblance to the larger 7.62×51 NATO-caliber G3 rifle, an improvement on the M53 Spanish CETME. Partially disassembled, the G3’s basic components are nearly identical to its smaller cousin. Photo: Author. Jude Steele Collection.
From 1964 to 1966, four HK engineers, Helmut Baureuter, Manfred Guhring, T. Moller, and Georg Seidl, were on the precipice of introducing the greatest influence spawned from Germany’s well-received postwar infantry rifle. By 1969, eight international armies had adopted the G3, but within a decade, its famous offspring added 60 more countries to the list.
The culmination of a highly perfected research and development program resulted in a scaled-down variant of the G3, coined during experimentation the Heckler & Koch 64, a numerical designator under the HK nomenclature system. Unbeknownst to all, an iconic legend was in the making. This fourth-generation design was eventually christened the MP5. Originally stockless, the MP5A1 had a retractable stock; the A2 had a fixed stock. Both had barrel lengths of 8.8 inches, shortened over time, given their future compact variants. This roller-locked, closed-bolt, delayed-blowback submachine gun with a fluted chamber and a welded and stamped steel upper frame was well thought out.
With a unique, lightweight polymer trigger pack, it was first introduced as the select-fire Heckler & Koch submachine gun, operationally identical to its G3 predecessor. West Germany’s GSG-9 special forces group and the Bundesgrenzschutz lost no time in adopting the versatile new weapon. Early MP5s used a 25- or 30-shot straight-box magazine, modified to a slightly curved configuration in 1977.
Originally known as the HK 54 in 1965, many of the first pre-production guns were stockless. This early 1967 example has a retractable stock, an early straight-box magazine, and a “tropical” handguard. Production versions were the MP5A1 with a metal retractable stock and the fixed-stock MP5A2. Photos: Heckler & Koch.
By the 1980s, HK’s MP5 had become the gold standard for West German police and security agencies. A host of suffixes followed “MP5,” which determines specific variants. These can confuse the unfamiliar. Cosmetically, the MP5’s multitude of features per gun drew immediate attention, earning it the famed sobriquet “The world’s most efficient submachine gun.” In concept, it wasn’t intended to replace standard-issue 7.62×51 NATO or the 5.56mm infantry arms. But sleek cosmetics, ease of handling, and reliability conferred an inescapable “cool factor,” elegantly nicknamed the “Mercedes-Benz of submachine-guns.” Currently over the sexagenarian mark, few special-purpose weapons during and after the Cold War have received as many facelifts, add-on technologies, and upgrades as the MP5. The modularity of this arm has been said to match or even exceed the AR-15, while seldom straying from its basic platform.
External wear on this MP5A2 made in 1977 is indicative that this particular gun saw a great deal of use in its travels. Model, serial number, and proof markings are stamped on the upper frame, sans caliber, located on the left magazine well flat. Import and factory markings are on the right frame. Earlier, they were imported to HK’s offices in Chantilly, Virginia.
A natural “transformer,” its trigger pack is the nucleus, which is easily removable from the upper assembly via two or three pins. This effortless takedown feature made it one of the few weapon systems of the time boasting such dexterity. A good example, straight out of a spy movie, is the compact MP5K (K for Kurz, or “Short”) variant with its 5.8-inch barrel. The size was ideal for high-level dignitary protection when fitted internally to the special Hofbauer attaché case. Upon emptying the magazine, the user released the latches, removed the arm from the case, reloaded it, and continued the mission. The MP5’s four basic components are the pistol-gripped trigger pack, handguard, optical devices, and the stock. A suppressor, if required, could be fitted to the three-lug barrel mount.
The MP5K Spezialkoffer or “Special Case,” first introduced in 1978, is built by Hofbauer GmbH. Designed for high-profile security details, its claw mount and firing mechanism are fitted for the HK MP5K, with a special trigger in the briefcase’s handle. A clever implement, the MP5K, mounted inside the case, can be either suppressed or used in a defensive protection situation, but cannot be reloaded or cleared of malfunctions without opening the case. As of 2020, they were still carried by Heckler & Koch as an accessory and occasionally appeared on the U.S. arms market. Photo: Heckler & Koch.
The non-reciprocating charging knob attached to the inner cocking sleeve on the upper left of the barrel is offset 45 degrees. Remaining stationary during firing, it serves solely to open the action or chamber a round with a brisk release from the palm, affectionately coined the “HK slap.” Depending on bolt size, the 9mm round’s rate of fire ranges from 800 to 900 rounds per minute. The original trigger pack was marked SEF (Sicher, Einzelfeuer), Feuerstoss, Safe, Semi, and Full Automatic. Eventually phased out, its replacement featured various red-highlighted “numbered bullet” logos marked on the selector. For example, 0-1-3-5 indicates Safe, Semi, Three-Shot, and Full-Auto burst. The U.S. Navy eventually adopted the MP5N with Safe, Semi-Automatic, Two-Shot, and Full-Auto burst. By the 1990s, countless options were on the table.
Presently, the primary cartridge for the MP5 remains the 9mm Parabellum. Once available in 40 S&W, it is currently offered in a 22 Long Rifle version. Simply put, it’s one of those weapon systems that could be made to order, but often at a high cost. Among the countries licensed by HK to build the MP5 were Greece, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Pakistan, and others. Some, such as China and Sudan, produced pirated, unlicensed variants.
As learned in World War II, submachine guns were indispensable for high-volume fire during close-in or urban situations. Most earlier subguns fired from open bolts. Compared to closed bolt guns, all have their limitations. Accuracy-wise, the MP5’s roller-locked closed bolt has only the disturbance of a light, internal hammer when squeezing off, allowing a higher degree of accuracy. Such automatic weapons provide a controllable sight picture, with even multiple short bursts. The open-bolt submachine gun’s greatest disadvantage is that the heavy slamming effect provides a quicker ignition time. The downside is that extended periods of automatic fire can quickly heat barrels. Locked to the rear, the empty chamber of open-bolt guns allows for cooling durations. Long periods of firing with loaded chambers of automatic weapons, such as the M-16, the AK, and MP5 submachine guns, especially in hot climates, can lead to spontaneous “cook-offs” when chambers reach high temperatures. Arms designers eventually remedied this by introducing the two- or three-shot burst selector sear, which, in the hands of the experienced, is a truly indispensable feature for automatic-fire discipline.
The manual of arms of the roller-delayed MP5 differs from other guns in several ways. For one, never slam a fully loaded magazine into the well with the action locked in battery. The lower bolt has a feed pawl protruding downward, which, over time, can induce wear on both the bolt pawl and its rollers, and possibly the carrier. Such a practice also places undue wear on magazine lips over time and is not recommended. If a loaded magazine must be inserted with the action closed, a short load of 27 or 28 rounds reduces mag spring tension against the pawl, providing a degree of free play. A full magazine should only be inserted into the well with the bolt locked to the rear, as shown.
Throughout the 1980s, 1990s, and into the 2000s, technology advanced rapidly, with new upgrades added to the HK MP5 that seemed to fit like a glove. Advanced optics, suppressors, and LED flashlights were designed for almost any military or law enforcement situation. Following the Vietnam War, world geopolitics drastically changed; it was a time when HK’s MP5 began taking center stage in a new era of global special operations.
Its first real test in a world chock full of radical political upheaval began on October 13, 1977, with the hijacking of Lufthansa Flight 181 from the island of Mallorca to Frankfurt, West Germany. Some 86 passengers and a crew of five were held hostage in a five-day ordeal with tension-filled stops in six countries. Four hijackers demanded a $15 million-dollar ransom and the release of two Palestinian terrorists jailed in Turkey, plus ten Red Army faction members held in West Germany. The final destination for the Boeing 737-200 was Mogadishu, Somalia, and unfortunately, there, the pilot was executed. The West German special GSG 9 unit tracked this situation, finalizing a rescue plan in the early morning hours on October 18, just past 0200, on an unlit airport tarmac. Around thirty GSG-9 commandos, several armed with HK MP5A1 submachine guns and other weapons, entered the aircraft’s mid-section and forward doors, burst in, yelling to passengers to take cover. Three hijackers were killed, and one was wounded. The tense mission created a reputation for the MP5, leading many free world special operations units to rethink their tactical needs for such a weapons system. Such planning arrived sooner than anticipated.
Photo: Heckler & Koch.
In late April and early May 1980, the Heckler & Koch MP5 again captured the spotlight of the world during the British SAS (Special Air Service) assault on the Iranian embassy in London. Six members of an Iranian separatist group commandeered the facility located in the South Kensington area. Coded “Operation Nimrod” by the SAS, this daring assault occurred concurrently while the 52 American hostages were held in Tehran. Footage showing the 22nd SAS commandos breaching the embassy reveals different versions of the MP5: one with an early but heavy Maglite, and others with folding or fixed stocks. Following six days of negotiations leading nowhere, the murder of one of the 21 hostages saw PM Margaret Thatcher ordering the SAS to do whatever it took. The commandos immediately went into full offensive mode. The group stealthily ascended to the embassy roof, then rappelled down the structure, inserting through windows, doors, and a skylight. The 17-minute operation concluded with MP5s carefully aimed and a grenade blast killing 5 of the 6 terrorists, with one SAS commando wounded.
Military weapons specialist Jude Steele fires a 20-shot burst with an MP5A2, noting minimal climb with standard 115-grain 9x19mm commercial ammunition. Close observation shows a blurred “daisy chain” of spent brass flying upward, away from the breech. The results at 60 feet clearly show that a closed-bolt submachine gun allows the point of aim to remain on target without the interference of a slamming bolt, as in early submachine guns. Two- to 4-inch groups during full-auto bursts appeared to be the norm.
Following the above two tactical operations, the rest is history. Interestingly, the MP5’s iron sights are pre-set at the factory for full-metal-jacketed 123-grain 9×19 ammunition and zeroed at 27.3 yards (25 meters). Various apertures on the rear sight drum are set for precise shot placement. The smallest are intended for the tightest shot group possible without a scope, during close-quartered hostage operations, as on aircraft, to prevent collateral damage or hits on nearby victims.
The fixed-stock MP5A2. Photo: Heckler & Koch.
The MP5 is a once-in-a-millennium piece of engineering, adapted to fit nearly any tactical situation. As with all firearms manufacturers, Heckler & Koch kept abreast of field recommendations and continually upgraded the MP5 in response to user requests worldwide. Originally equipped with an 8.9-inch barrel, by 2025, there were nearly 10 variations with this barrel length, some with folding stocks and a collage of fire control combinations. The MP5 base platform’s modularity certainly allows for almost any configuration. Thus far, at least six versions of the shortened “Compact Model,” MP5Ks with 4.5- or 5.8-inch barrels, have been introduced, first in 1976. The MP5KPDW is basically an MP5K with a side-folder stock. At 4.5 pounds, depending on accessories, and under 13 inches, some were fitted to a small, non-functional, shadowed suitcase, appearing as inconspicuously as possible.
The modularity of the MP5 allows numerous add-on features for every occasion. This MP5K PDW, in its soft case with a Knight Armaments vertical grip and factory accessory pack, has the 0-1-3-5 selector, aka Safe/Semi/Three-Shot and Full-Auto burst sequence. It is shown with an earlier, stockless, MP5KA1 with low-light iron sights, and the lettered pre-1980s SEF selector for semi- and full-automatic only. Photo: Heckler & Koch.
If this wasn’t enough to satisfy needs, HK offered eight different types of the MP5SD, featuring a ported barrel complete with a special integral suppressor that allows the use of ultra-sonic 9×19 ammunition, which can bleed gases on ignition, keeping velocity down and eliminating the need for sub-sonic cartridges. That version was indispensable when only standard 9×19 ammo was available, and the utmost stealth, with fully integrated sound suppression, was required. Early examples used an aluminum sleeve with a metallic mesh lining and conventional stack baffles. Over time, the MP5DN2 was introduced and adopted by the U.S. Navy, replacing the aluminum tube with a stainless steel assembly manufactured by Knights Armament Company. They were also adaptable to the three-point lug for quick insertion and removal. The Navy MP5KA4 with SEF trigger pack provided a similar arrangement and is still in use with the U.S. Navy on an as-needed basis.
The special MP5SD “Schalldampfer” (silencer in German, hence the SD suffix). Introduced in 1974, it has an integral suppressor encircling its 5.7-inch barrel and is ideal for waterborne operations with a two-stage suppressor that functions in wet or dry environments. Long considered the most efficient silenced submachine gun, six variants range from the stockless MP5SD1 to this example, the MP5SD6, which is named due to its collapsible stock. Photo: HK.
It was, however, Hollywood’s influence that made HK’s MP5 submachine gun an immortal star of the cinema world’s choreographed, high-octane gunfights.
MP5s on the Big Screen
As per usual, when the film industry supplies a movie’s lead protagonist with weapons, established with a preeminent, testosterone-charged reputation, target audiences won’t miss a trick. Case in point: the Dirty Harry franchise influenced the Model 29 Smith & Wesson 44 Magnum, something proven overnight. Again, the British media’s televising the Iranian embassy siege instantaneously aroused the screenwriter’s imagination. The MP5 frenzy became the latest attribute of supercharged movie guns. Hollywood armorers wasted no time incorporating modified HK 94 semi-automatic rifles, reconfigured to MP5 specs. The result was a new breed of non-stop, full-auto macho-driven firepower! As noted, the “HK Slap,” with its lightning-like whack of the bolt knob, started the action. The term’s origin is obscure, but it has become a self-descriptive buzzword from video gamers to modern-day shooters.
From the 1980s into the 21st Century, a chain reaction of nonstop supercop and spy films, frequently starring the MP5, ascended. Ironically, this was contemporaneous with real-world scenarios of the day, as the indomitable presence of the MP5 was commonplace on TV screens during the evening news.
Entertainment-wise, films such as Die Hard, Predator, The Matrix, and countless full-auto flicks left the MP5’s indelible mark on movie audiences. Gun buffs fell in love with this cosmetically enticing German subgun. The downside was that they were nearly impossible to obtain because they were regulated under NFA guidelines. Realistically, the “HK Club” was limited to the well-heeled, Class-3 shooter or collector requiring a $200 tax stamp and a mountain of paperwork. Since the May 19, 1986, Firearms Owners Protection Act, the MP5 has been frozen in all variants, with limited numbers of transferable guns, leading to a significant price increase. All pre-86 MP5s today sell for between $40,000 and $75,000.
Carl Weathers dual-wielding his MP5s in Predator. Photo credit: IMFDB.
In 1983, civilian semi-automatic versions of the MP5 became a reality. Heckler & Koch introduced its 9mm Parabellum HK94 with a legal barrel length of 16.5 inches, with a fixed or retractable stock, and “0-1” (safe and semi) selector group. Interestingly, the movie guns were actually HK 94s converted to look like MP5s. A second, improved version, the SG 1, was introduced in 1985 by HK; however, poor sales saw very few imported. In 1989, HK introduced another semi-automatic version, the SP 89. This example, classified as a pistol, was identical to the short pistol size MP5K. With the shorter action, modified handguard, and extended barrel shroud, it differed from the full-automatic version. Unfortunately, all three guns were no longer imported following the passage of the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban. Now very scarce, few owners are willing to part with them. The SP 89 is especially desirable, often fetching $4,000 to $6,000.
From 1983 to 1989, Heckler & Koch manufactured semi-automatic versions of the MP5 for the American trade. In April of 1983, the HK 94 rifle arrived, followed six years later by the HK SP 89, a Universal Self-Loading Pistol. This latter offering resembled an MP5K submachine gun. Both guns met all legal import requirements. Photo: HK.
In 2019, Heckler & Koch re-entered the semi-automatic market following its 25-year hiatus. The MP5’s legacy sparked a surge in popularity, with clones entering the market, justifying the move. HK introduced the SP5, and the SP5k was fitted to a hard case with two 30-round 9mm magazines. Both featured a step-down at the front of the trigger pack to prevent swapping it out with a select-fire upper. The selector has only the “0-1,” or safe and semi-auto, setting. Again, a prevalent reason HK reintroduced civilian versions of the MP5 was that at least two firms had been offering semi-automatic copies of the MP5, among them Century Arms. However, the latest, genuine clones of the MP5 are produced in Turkey and appeared in 2024. Military Armament Corporation, or MAC, was resurrected by SDS Arms, which introduced its own MP5 and MP5K and coined the MAC 5 and MAC 5K as proprietary names.
In 2024, the Turkish defense and armed forces corporation, MKE, had much to do with the setup and re-engineering of the older HK MP5 tooling to restart production of both the MAC 5 and MAC 5K, U.S. legal versions of the MP5. SDS is the importer of these clones marketed in this country by Military Armament Corporation in Knoxville, Tennessee. Classified as semi-automatic pistols, they are entirely produced in Turkey by Mertsav Manufacturing.
Unveiled at the 2024 SHOT Show, the SDS MAC 5 and MAC 5K are classified as semi-automatic pistols. This duo is the stockless versions of the MP5 and MP5K, with 8.9- and 5.8-inch barrels, respectively. Both are adaptable to SB Tactical’s folding wrist brace. Supplied with a slender handguard, the MAC 5 closely resembles the basic cosmetics of the MP5 A1 or A2 (depending on whether an A1 telescoping folder or an A2 fixed stock is used to SBR it). The workmanship of the duo is homogeneous with HK’s level of fit and finish. The SDS MAC 5 is finished in a nicely blued/phosphate gray.
My test gun, the highly compact MAC 5K, weighs in at 4.5 lbs empty, and proved to be a real crowd pleaser. Opting for Scorpion and S&B 115-grain FMJ 9mm Luger fodder, 1,400 rounds were run through it, performing flawlessly in wet, humid weather. For comparison, SDS parts were interchanged with an original 1977 HK MP5; aside from the full-auto sear assembly, all parts matched it nearly perfectly. The SDS MAC 5 and 5K are made at Mertsav Armament Company on refurbished 1980s Heckler & Koch-licensed tooling. All was made possible through MKE, a defense corporation that produces Turkey’s current military ordnance, with Mertsav being a subcontractor. The Turkish arms industry’s quality control has come a long way. The new SDS MAC offering requires a break-in period of 400-600 rounds, regular cleaning, and generous lubrication. The result brings this new, off-the-shelf gun up to original spec, and nearly all HK!
The UMP: A Near MP5 Replacement
By the mid-1990s, the HK MP5 remained the go-to submachine gun worldwide. Heckler & Koch had nevertheless planned to replace it with a less expensive arm, consisting of a frame made almost entirely of polymer. In 1999, HK presented its Universale Maschinen Pistole (UMP).
With stock folded, the author ran 90 rounds of Winchester 230-grain factory ball ammo through the UMP. The use of three-round bursts is definitely a practical method for automatic fire discipline. Despite its light polymer construction, firing freehand, the climb was noticeably less than with the .45-caliber Thompson submachine guns he had used in the past. The UMP’s rate of fire at 460-480 rounds per minute allows satisfactory control during longer bursts. Photo: Indian River Sportsman.
Heckler & Koch felt it had snagged a well-planned, cost-effective replacement for the pricier roller-delayed blowback MP5. The Universal Machine Pistol is a straight blowback arm with several unique traits. Primarily, it allows changing calibers from 9mm Luger to 40 S&W and 45 ACP by simply swapping out the bolt, barrel, and magazine—clever in concept, with the heaviest version in 45 ACP tipping the scales at 5.8 lbs. The bolt is not much heavier than the MP5’s. It differs in that it contains a sealed, powdered tungsten plug, which, in principle, shifts its weight forward and back as a bounce mechanism, so to speak. The concept provides an inertia effect, keeping the bolt in battery due to the lightweight of the polymer frame. Purchased by 18 countries versus the nearly 70 international users of the MP5, the UMP, with its folding stock, quick caliber change options, and Picatinny rails for add-ons, failed to replace its predecessor. In short, it was just bad timing. Notwithstanding, the UMP sold well, but entirely replacing the long-established MP5 didn’t go as planned. Still in production, the UMP is available only in 9mm. The 45 ACP version, used by our FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team (HRT), is still retained by several U.S. law enforcement agencies. Few American shooters have seen it in the wild, as Class-3 aficionados cannot own it because its production year falls in the post-1986 period.
A steady burst empties the UMP’s 30-round magazine in seconds! McKenzie Christopher of Indian River Sportsman found that deploying the stock during automatic fire is a big plus, resulting in accurate shot placement. She easily kept the .45-caliber UMP on target without the vertical foregrip that is normally standard on this arm.
By now, the reader may be curious about manufacturing totals. Unfortunately, Heckler & Koch’s output numbers for the MP5 and UMP are confidential business matters, proprietary to HK and not publicly available. However, it was learned that specific documentation indicates 485,000-plus MP5s were registered in the U.S. in 2012.
The upside is, Heckler & Koch’s current semi-automatic MP5 imports—the SP5, and SP5K, including those renamed by SDS as the MAC 5 and 5K and built in Turkey on earlier licensed, and refurbished HK tooling—are enjoying an unprecedented comeback with this latest selection of semi-automatic versions on the U.S. market. Again, it’s pretty obvious they won’t be retiring anytime soon.
A Breakdown of the 21 Basic MP5 Variations 1966-2019
HK MP5 1966 Original-Production Models with SEF, and Later Variable Fire Selection Systems SEF= S-Safe-E-Semi Automatic-F-Full Automatic 0=Safe-1=Semi-Automatic-2=Two Shot Full Auto Burst-3-Three Shot Burst-5-Fully Auto Burst et al.
Base MP5
MP5A1 Also an original version with a collapsible stock and SEF HK MP5A2 SEF and fixed stock HK MP5 NA2 Model with 5-1-0 HK MP5A3 SEF trigger pack and collapsible stock HK MP5A4 Model with 5-3-1-0 and fixed stock HK MP5 A5 5-3-1-0 with collapsible stock HK MP5 MLI mid-life improvement with rail interface system and optional RAL 8000 color scheme
Compact Models
HK 56K SEF no Stock HK MP5KN 5-1-0 no stock HKMP5KA1 SEF no stock low-profile iron sights MP5 KA4 5-3-1-0 no stock HK MP5KA5 5-3-1-0 Low-profile iron sights, no stock HK MP5KPDW folding stock 5-1-0 trigger pack
HK Suppressed Versions
HK MP5SD from 1974 with SEF trigger pack, fixed stock HK MP5SD1 5-1-0 trigger no Stock HK MP5 SD2 5-1-0 fixed stock HK MP5 SD3 5-1-0 collapsible stock HK MP5SD4 5-3-1-0 trigger GP no stock HKMP5SD5 5-3-1-0 fixed stock HK MP5SD6 Model with 5-3-1-0 collapsible stock
Deepest appreciation to Heckler & Koch, GmbH Customer Service, Columbus, Georgia. A Special Thanks to Jahred Gamez, Digital Marketing Manager, SDS/Military Armament Corporation, Knoxville, Tennessee; McKenzie Christopher, Indian River Sportsman, Vero Beach, Florida; and Jude Steele, Rifle Range Manager, Flagler County Gun and Archery Club, Bunnell, Florida.
Bibliography
Vickers Guide: Heckler & Koch, Volume 2, 2015
Gangarosa, Gene, Heckler & Koch, Armorers of the Free World, 2003, Stoeger Publishing Co.
Ezell C., Edward, Small Arms of the World, 12th Edition, 1990, Galahad Books
Auto-Ordnance has just launched an 18-inch variant of its Thompson TAO50 .50 BMG bolt-action rifle.
When it comes to .50 BMG rifles, there’s no getting around their size. They will always be huge by necessity. But that doesn’t mean they can’t be made a little more compact. That’s what Auto-Ordnance just did with its Thompson TAO50 bolt-action.
The standard TAO50 sports a 29-inch barrel, and the integrally suppressed model has a 35-inch barrel, and both end up being even longer thanks to their giant, high-efficiency muzzle brakes. For those who need serious firepower in a more compact package, the 18-inch model is now available. It also comes with the same huge muzzle brake, but the shorter barrel helps keep the overall length much more manageable.
Besides its shorter barrel, the 18-inch TAO50 is the same as its larger brethren. That means it’s a .50 BMG bolt-action rifle that feeds from 10-round Barrett M107A1 magazines. It also comes with a robust, adjustable bipod and an Adaptive Tactical EX Performance adjustable stock.
Each 18-inch TAO50 ships with one magazine and a GPS Tactical rifle case.
Rost Martin has just launched the RM1X pistol series featuring three distinct model variants.
Rost Martin is continuing to expand its RM1 pistol family, this time with the RM1X series. The new series features three distinct models that are tailored to different roles and tasks. However, all RM1X models feature a full-size grip, a compact slide, and a 17+1 capacity of 9mm with flush-fit mags. Each pistol ships with one 17-round mag and one extended 19-round mag.
The RM1CX Standard combines the capacity and grip space of a full-size handgun with a more concealable barrel and slide length. This model is ideal for those looking to pack maximum firepower in a more easily carried package.
The RM1CX Comp, as you might have guessed, features an integrated compensator. It’s the same overall length as the standard model, but offers increased shootability thanks to the comp. It’s otherwise the same as the standard model.
The third variant is the RM1CX Tactical, and it’s essentially the suppressor-ready model in the new series. All that sets it apart from the standard model is its 1/2×28 threaded barrel and its suppressor-height sights.
Regardless of which RM1CX model you choose, all have several features in common. Namely, optics-ready slides, ambidextrous controls, and hammer-forged match barrels. Each pistol also ships with an RMR-pattern optics plate.
Chris Toomer, CEO of Rost Martin, said this about the new pistol series:
We’re here for our customers, every step of the way … The RM1X series is a testament to our ongoing commitment to quality, reliability, and supporting the next generation of gun owners.
The Rost Martin RM1X series is available now and MSRPs range from $469 to $549.
Springfield Armory’s XD Mod.4 OSP is something special.
When it comes to reliability and durability, it’s hard to beat the Springfield Armory XD series. In fact, I’m not entirely sure you can hurt one … even with the enthusiastic application of a ball-peen hammer. I’ve never seen one fail to function—unless it was being fed absolutely garbage ammo. (And even then, the malfunctions were few.)
But no one ever called the XD sleek—not at the start and not for a long time. Even when Springfield had slimmed it down some, it was still a bulky and, dare I say, not-pretty pistol.
The Mod.4 changes all that. In fact, it changes the XD so much that, when I first caught sight of one, I had this brief moment of “is that an XD-M?” confusion.
At first glance, the Mod.4 XD looks a lot like an XD-M—all the value of the XD, plus more.
The new XD Mod.4 is what appears to be an entirely new pistol, but it isn’t. The internals are the same as they have always been, with improvements to details such as manufacturing efficiency and fit and function, and you’ll see the results of that later.
The frame is the same polymer shell with the internals fitted and pinned into place, with a bladed safety-trigger on the flat-faced trigger, and striker-fired mechanism. There is the grip safety at the rear, adding to the suite of safety designs internally, so the XD Mod.4 OSP is drop-safe and still ergonomic to handle and use.
The Mod.4 has the striker indicator, good-sized tang and grip safety that the XD has had since day one.
The magazine button is still ambi, working from both sides, and the frame still has an accessory rail where you can mount a light or laser. And it has three slots instead of the two on earlier iterations of the XD for maximum versatility in fitting the light or laser of your desire in place.
And here’s another big thing: It uses the same XD magazines that have been in use since Day One. They hold 16 rounds each, and while you only get one of them, extras on the Springfield website are just $31 each. If you are overwhelmed by the choices, you are looking at XD5016 as the stock number, unless you live behind the barbed wire of a non-Free State, in which case you’ll be stuck with number XD0923. (Too bad, but them’s the breaks.)
If 16 rounds per magazine isn’t enough, there is no lack of extension basepads you can find and install.
The grip area of the XD Mod.4 has the expected non-slip texture and subtle finger grooves as well.
The original XD frame (on the right, much modified) was OK as a gripping surface, but it took extra work to make it really good. The new XD Mod.4 (left) is really good right out of the box.
Personally, I dislike finger grooves—mainly because whoever designs them seems to not have normal human fingers. The grooves are always in the wrong place for me. On the XD Mod.4, they are subtle enough that I don’t notice them when handling or shooting it. So, they work, but they pass unnoticed, which is a big bonus here.
The trigger guard and frontstrap is undercut, allowing your hand to get higher on the frame than you otherwise would, not a new thing on the XD, but still a good feature and detail to have. So, Springfield kept it. The grip shape, texture and number of slots haven’t changed since the Mod.3 upgrade, but my impression of the people at Springfield is that they are firm believers in “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” The Mod.4 frame contours and details arrived back with the Mod.3; they work great and didn’t need updating or upgrading, so Springfield Armory left what was good alone. Well done, Springfield.
The slide is where all the modern action happened in the Mod.4. Gone is the slide rail hump along the bottom edge of the slide where it meets the frame. When the first XD arrived in a carton for review (I don’t want to recall how many years ago that was), the first thing I noticed when I pulled it out of the box was the rails. “What’s that there for?” The engineer and gunsmith in me took one look and winced. It seemed like unneeded reinforcement, and it made the original XD blocky and kinda ugly. Oh, it worked, and of course I kept it (gun writers tend to do that), but it always bothered me.
The original XD slide was blocky. No one ever accused it of being sleek. The Mod.4 changes that in a very good way. And it gets aggressive cocking serrations as well.
Well, no more. From the Mod.3 to the Mod.4, Springfield Armory changed the slide contours. First, they went with a profile that is much more like that of the XD-M, where the top of the slide has angled sides that come down to flats at the top of the frame edges. But unlike the XD-M, which has wide cocking serrations that have a dogleg in them, the XD Mod.4 has deeper slots that are straight. Even as they are angled to the axis of the bore, each is straight, with no dogleg. The front edge of the slide has an aggressive bevel on it, to make re-holstering easier and smoother.
The sights are steel, with the front a blade holding a fiber-optic tube, and the rear a wedge with a square notch flanked by white dots. You might break the fiber-optic tube, but the blade and the rear wedge are going to withstand a lot more abuse than the fiber-optic tube would, before they fail. Below the rear sight, in the middle of the rear of the slide, is the expected and constant since the beginning striker status indicator. If the striker is cocked, you can see (and feel) it with the indicator. Up top, on the flat of the slide behind the chamber, there’s a loaded chamber indicator that you can also see and feel. Flush? Nothing there. Standing up enough to see and feel? Something is in the chamber.
The barrel is 4 inches long, machined to match dimensions. It has an integral feed ramp and thus a supported chamber, and like the slide is given a melonite treatment before a black finish. Melonite is a surface treatment that greatly reduces corrosion and makes the surface harder than a cheap Chinese file. Maybe even a good Chinese file (is there such a thing?).
There’s now an optics mounting site on the XD Mod.4 slide, all you need is a red-dot optic and an adapter plate—oh, and tools.
Another big step up is that the XD Mod.4 comes optics-ready. Simply unbolt the cover plate, fit the adapter plate and bolt down the optics of your choice.
Four Benjamins
Now, remember when I said that Springfield Armory had been refining the manufacturing process of the XD? Well, if you make something for a long enough time, and you spend all that time looking to improve things, you improve things. And you lower the price, because the economies of scale kick in after a while.
So, the good news? The XD Mod.4 has a list price of $399. No, that’s not a typo. Four Benjamins for a ready-to-go hi-cap 9mm pistol with an impeccable record of reliability and durability. A pistol with an established base of accessories like magazines and holsters, and one that is ready for the optics of your choice (once you decide which one is the one for you).
As I mentioned, when I first spotted the XD Mod.4, I thought for a moment I was looking at an XD-M, and that’s saying something, since I own a few of those. The grip feels a lot like the latest Echelon from Springfield—and that’s a fabulous grip. It holds a lot of ammo, like many other Springfield pistols, like their SA-35 and the 1911 DS, while costing less than any of them.
The XD Mod.4 has all the expected controls in all the customary places, so if you’ve handled any XD, you’ll know the Mod.4.
So Many Talents
Wait, Springfield is offering a pistol that has all the features of some or all their other 9mm pistols, and yet costs less? In some instances, half the price or less? Are they crazy? Yes, crazy like a fox.
Someone who needs a pistol but doesn’t want to break the bank? The answer is the Springfield XD Mod.4.
Someone who is looking to get into competition, but doesn’t know just yet which type and what might be the best tool? The Springfield Armory XD Mod.4.
Someone looking for a truck gun or a barn gun, or something that will be exposed to the elements, has to work and doesn’t have to be a priceless heirloom? The Springfield XD Mod.4.
Are you seeing the pattern here? I am. A lot of people view a firearm as just another tool they are not going to be emotionally attached to and would prefer to have money left over for practice ammo.
Again, for the win: the Springfield Armory XD Mod.4.
I’m not one of those people, but the XD Mod.4 is not leaving here. Not unless it is going to go into the truck.
Springfield XD Mod.4Chronograph and Accuracy Data
Ammunition
Bullet weight (gr.)
Velocity (fps)
ES
SD
Accuracy (Avg.)
Accuracy (Best)
WW “White box”
115
1,196
8.9
4.1
2.3”
2”
Black Hills Honey Badger
100
1,273
27.3
10.7
2.2”
1.8”
Hornady Critical Duty
135
1,019
28.5
10.9
2.4”
2.2”
Federal Syntech
147
1,029
26.3
9.7
2.4”
2.2”
Accuracy results were to be averages of three, five-shot groups at 25 yards off a Champion shooting rest. Velocities are averages of 10 shots measured on a Labradar chronograph set to read 15 feet from the muzzle.
9mm Pistol FAQ
Is a 9mm Good For Self-Defense?
Yes, and many experts would even argue that a 9mm pistol is the best choice for self-defense. It may not be as powerful as 10mm Auto or .357 Magnum, but cartridges that big are difficult to shoot quickly and accurately as well. For most people, their ability to make good hits with a 9mm will be more effective at stopping a threat than having a bigger bullet. Further, defensive projectile technology has progressed leaps and bounds, so modern 9mm self-defense ammo provides excellent, reliable expansion and penetration.
Are 9mm Pistols Good For Beginners?
Yes, for the most part. Sometimes it’s best to start a first-time shooter with a .22 LR, but unless they’re small children, they should quickly be able to graduate to and handle a 9mm pistol. For able-bodied adults looking to get a pistol for defense, sport shooting or plinking, 9mm is the best choice.
Does 9mm Kick Hard
Not particularly, but it depends. Somewhat simplifying things, a handgun’s recoil is mainly a factor of the pistol’s weight and the power of the cartridge in question. A very small, light 9mm pistol loaded with a powerful +P will definitely kick hard, but a full-size steel gun loaded with range ammo will not. Generally speaking, 9mm is not considered to be a hard-kicking round.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the October 2026 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
In the 1980s, where does a young, aspiring firearm enthusiast from NYC buy his first handgun? On the streets, of course.
I did not grow up around guns the way many traditional American gun owners did. Like maybe you did. Learning the fundamentals of shooting with a Ruger 10/22, a 22 pistol, or a classic 1911 would have been ideal.
Unfortunately, I was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in Queens in the 1970s and 1980s. If there was a civilian gun culture in New York City back then, it mostly belonged to police officers, security guards, and the occasional hunter who escaped the city on weekends.
My family fit into none of those categories.
My parents were poor immigrants from Ireland, and my father spent years in America illegally. Guns simply did not exist in our house. Even toy guns, water pistols, and cap guns were forbidden. If guns appeared negatively on the nightly news, that was enough reason for my parents to ban them entirely.
That, of course, did not stop me from becoming fascinated by them.
Manhattan, New York City, NY, USA, 1984.
The neighborhood barbershop always seemed to have old copies of outdoor and hunting magazines littered across the waiting area. My father took my brothers and me fishing and crabbing occasionally, so while waiting for haircuts I would flip through them.
The fishing stories bored me.
The gun reviews did not.
As I got older, I read everything I could find about firearms. If my mother had caught me with a gun magazine, you would have thought she had found a copy of Hustler or Oui under my mattress.
Owning a gun went onto the mental checklist of things I would someday do as an adult.
I did not expect my first handgun to arrive years earlier, illegally, through what would later become known as the Iron Pipeline. But it did.
The Iron Pipeline
In the mid 1980s, New York City was a pretty violent place. My father had been viciously beaten and robbed twice just coming home from work on the subway. While I was a capable streetfighter and carried knives, my 16-year-old mind went to: What do you do if someone pulls a gun on you? Why, you pull your own gun, of course. But how to get one?
I went to Santos, the guy who knew how to get things. Specifically, through his cousins.
“What can they get? Berettas? 1911s? Uzis?” My young mind reeling with possibilities.
“Choices may be limited, but I guarantee my cousins will have something you’d want. Things like that are up in the thousands though, especially the Uzi.”
I didn’t have that kind of money as a 16-year-old. I realized, too, that bigger handguns would be harder to carry concealed. There was a whole legacy of stories about how cops could spot bulges and outlines in your clothing or the way you walked that suggested that you were carrying. I worked good jobs and made money as a kid and could come up with a few hundred, but wasn’t really disciplined enough to save more than that at the time.
“OK, how about something small and light? Like a .22, .25 or .32?”
“They usually can get .32-caliber Walthers, but you’re looking at a G again.”
I decided on a .22 or .25, because I only knew about what I’d seen in books and gun magazines. I was thinking a 950-series Beretta or a Bauer 25.
“I’ll talk to my cousins. They’ll hook you up.”
When you’re not old enough to buy a gun, and you’re in a time and place where you can’t own it anyway even if you were, and you’re buying it from a guy who knows a guy … maybe you’re expecting a scene from the latest action movie involving stacks of military ordnance like grenades and AKs. Marcos and Angel showed me a little spread of what I’d now consider junk Saturday Night Specials. The cheap stuff made more for flash than firing found at crime scenes across the country. But they impressed me at the time by their presence and reality.
Right away, I knew I did not want a revolver. So, I discounted three of them right off the bat.
I did like the look of one, and it was a .25-caliber Raven. Completely unfamiliar with the name, I asked, “How much?”
“You’re Santos’ homie. I can do $200.” (In today money that’d be close to $1,000.)
I had that much.
“You got a holster?”
“Nah, B. But I tell you what, I can give you ammo.”
In all this prep, I never considered ammo. But I should have, because I knew it would be a problem because of a family friend named Doug.
Doug was in his mid 20s. His father was an NYPD officer who passed away, and Doug inherited his old man’s guns, a Smith & Wesson Model 10 and a Model 40. Both were .38 Specials. This was significant because Doug went to buy ammo for the range, and he bought a box of the shorter .38 Colt because it was on sale, and he could shoot the slightly shorter cartridge out of both guns.
NYC in the 1980s was not a nice place — just check the murder rates.
Within a week he was visited by two plainclothes officers. They had a warrant to search his house for a firearm that was not listed on his permit, because his permit had two .38 Specials listed. No .38 Colts. I don’t believe he was charged, but they tore his apartment up looking for a gun that didn’t exist and treated him like a criminal the entire time.
I didn’t need that in my life. After all, I’m buying a gun from a guy who knows a guy, and I’m in high school.
Angel produced a well-worn box of Remington .25 ACP FMJ and a clamshell-like box holding six Glaser Safety Slugs with pink tips.
“You shoot somebody with these, it’s like getting hit with a Gauge.”
The only thing I truly knew about ballistics at that age was that these guys knew more than I did. I took him at his word and made a mental note to scour the gun rags for any mention of these 12GA-in-a-pinky-nail Glaser rounds (hint: in reality these are awful).
That was The Iron Pipeline, or at least a piece of it. It’s not an independent criminal organization that controls illegally trafficked firearms, but groups of individuals who may or may not be connected, who buy things in areas where they are more accessible, and sell them in places where they are hard to come by (if not outright illegal) for a significant markup. It could be guns or ammo, switchblade knives, or even fireworks. Some of them may have drug/drug-adjacent connections, and some of their wares may be stolen.
The network wasn’t sophisticated. These guys weren’t Scarface. It was informal, local, and above all: opportunistic. Multiply that by every similar neighborhood in every restricted jurisdiction for a hundred years and you have The Iron Pipeline.
Pistols like the ones here are common both in pawnshops and evidence lockers alike; proliferation is less about preference and more about price and availability.
The name comes from the I-95 corridor, a major north-south highway route that runs from Miami to Maine, crossing some 15 states and about a dozen major metro areas in the process. If anything is being moved along the East Coast of America (both legal and illegal, from cocaine to coconuts), it’s no surprise if it touches I-95.
Looking back 40 years ago, I know those guys probably paid $30 for the Raven and the friend price was $200 and not $250, but included the ammo. The Glaser stuff was not true, but it was believed to be at the time. Those prices reflected the reality of living in one of the most restrictive gun jurisdictions in the country, if not the world, and the message is clear: Criminals don’t obey the law. Where guns are illegal, they just get more expensive.
In the year and a half that I carried that gun, I never had to use it, but there were two mishaps that could have gone wrong for me.
On one occasion, two of the local cops wanted to make an example out of me. They snatched me up and threw me in the back of the squad car and drove me a mile away. If you smarted off, they would beat you down and dump you by the projects in a rough neighborhood known as East New York. I was more concerned about getting searched and considered dumping the Raven in the back of the squad car.
I leaned into that fear and whined that this other neighborhood wouldn’t take my bus transfer, and that I didn’t have enough money to get home. That was mostly to throw them off in case they wanted to go through my pockets and take any money I happened to have on me (even the NYPD was in on the action, which was no news to anyone who lived in a neighborhood like mine).
They unknowingly stopped the car about a block from my house, played the “bad cop-bad cop” routine for a few minutes, then cut me loose. A little shaken at barely getting out of a first felony conviction, but at least not beaten to a pulp.
A short time after that, one of Santos’ cousins was caught with a loaded Beretta 9mm in his car. As soon as I heard the news, I started sweating that he might narc me out for being a customer. I considered getting rid of the Raven but decided against it. He kept his mouth shut about his side business and did a year in Rikers Island.
November 8, 1987, was my last day as a civilian. The next day I was bound for Parris Island. I had given away all my butterfly knives, martial arts weapons, 007 blades, and daggers to my closest friends.
I wasn’t going to do that with the gun.
Knives were one thing. Guns had consequences that lasted longer than friendships.
My Raven went in the gym bag along with a sawed-off shotgun I acquired (a story for another day) and all their ammunition. I removed the firing pins the night before and tossed them in a dumpster on the corner of 95th street, then walked past the 100th Precinct to the Cross Bay Bridge.
Criminals don’t obey the law. Where guns are illegal, they just get more expensive.
There weren’t too many fishermen or crabbers out that morning. Halfway in the middle of the causeway over Jamaica Bay, I dropped that gym bag into the water with a 20-pound dumbbell. If they were ever found they would be inoperable, so I wasn’t going to have to worry about them being used in a crime after they left my possession.
In a few days, the Federal government was going to give me my very own gun, a brand-new M16A2 service rifle as a 17-year-old child soldier in the United States Marine Corps.
Suppressors have a bad habit of blocking your irons, but a set of tall TAG Precision fiber optic sights fixes that.
Suppressors are exciting, but a lot of people these days are buying them before considering the downstream effects of mounting them to their intended gun. In the case of pistols, many shooters go to screw a can on for the first time only to realize that it renders the iron sights unusable. To have enough internal volume to be effective, most handgun suppressors are made to be fat enough that they block your view of the target while aiming through standard-height sights. That’s why companies like TAG Precision offer suppressor-height sights.
TAG’s tall sight options are marked as “Optic/Suppressor Ready” because the extra height is needed to be able to co-witness through most handgun red dots as well. Whether you need taller irons on your pistol because of an optic, a suppressor, or both, TAG Precision has some excellent options to choose from for a wide variety of different popular makes and models.
Better yet, they’re available with fiber optic inserts as well, so they’re an improvement over most factory irons regardless of whether you need yours to be standard- or suppressor-height.
TAG Precision TSH OR Fiber Optic Sights
I have a buddy with a Sig P220 that he suppressed years ago, but I knew he never bothered getting suppressor-height sights for it. He surprisingly managed to shoot it OK with the irons obscured, but having sights that you can actually use is a lot better than not. Knowing he could use an upgrade, I asked TAG to send me a set of its Sig #6/#8 TSH OR Front Fiber sights.
Once installed, they performed exactly as advertised. They’re tall enough to provide a full, clear sight picture over the suppressor, and the fiber optic dot on the front sight made for super-fast target acquisition. And yes, even my obstinate buddy admitted that they were a huge upgrade. I saw his shooting with them improve right away.
FiberLok Technology
There are a lot of fiber optic iron sight options on the market, but not all are made equally. Enough folks have had their fiber optic insert fly out while shooting that it has tainted the reputation of fiber optics as a whole. Solution? TAG’s FiberLok technology.
What does TAG’s FiberLok system do differently than other fiber optic sights? It mechanically locks the fiber optic insert in place, and the company says that it’s tested the system with over 65,000 rounds without a fiber failure. That’s impressive.
Besides being a solid, durable system, FiberLok has another advantage: customization. The Sig TSH front sight TAG sent me came preinstalled with a red insert, but it also came with a green fiber replacement and the Allen wrench you need to swap them. If red and green aren’t your style, you can also order a TSH Service Pack that comes with an orange, black, and white insert (as well as red and green).
Swapping the insert is easy. You simply use the Allen wrench to remove the FiberLok screw, pull out the old insert, install the new color of choice, and secure it all in place again with the screw. The screw had telltale signs of threadlocker on it once removed, so I’d suggest reapplying some before reinstallation. The process only takes a couple of minutes, so you can even swap them out at the range to see what you like best. The screws and inserts are tiny, however, so be careful about losing them.
Parting Shot
Red dot sights and suppressors have never been more popular pistol accessories than they are today, and if you want to be able to co-witness your dot or see over your can, most factory handguns will need taller irons.
Whether you need a taller set of plain sights for co-witnessing an optic, suppressor-height sights, or you just want to upgrade your irons to something far more visible with fiber optic inserts, TAG Precision probably has an upgrade that will fit your pistol.
We look at the pros and cons of Maztech’s X4-FCS digital aiming system.
The history of electronic technology integration into firearms can usually be summed up with a simple phrase: cautiously optimistic. Firearms are wonderfully mechanical devices, operating in a world where igniting gunpowder and high-pressure gases interact with precision machining, optical clarity, and the very laws of physics in such a way that they’re largely independent of batteries, circuit boards, and displays.
While some things—like weapon-mounted laser aiming modules, red-dot sights, and even weapon mounted laser rangefinders—have proven themselves to be viable and rugged enough to be accepted by the general firearms community, things such as digital displays in various forms haven’t seemed to enjoy the same success.
There’s been some attempts to combine the riflescope and laser rangefinder with a projected “holdover” point in the reticle in the past, and all were met with some level of compromise that ultimately didn’t earn the widespread praise they had hoped for.
Unlike similar systems that have unsuccessfully tried to make a name for themselves in the past, the Maztech attaches to your existing riflescope.
Maztech Industries hopes to offer a novel solution with their X4-FCS (Fire Control System), a module-based combination of the laser rangefinder, scope mount/projection display, and riflescope. Their philosophy of using separate modules to encompass the total system has some benefits and some drawbacks, and each individual user needs to determine which parts of the system apply to them and their situations.
First and foremost, without an accurate range to target, it becomes increasingly difficult to calculate a firing solution that’s much more than “send rounds and see what happens.” To fill this role, Maztech offers two separate options, and both can be used as standalone units independent of the FCS mount/projection display; the X4LRF in either 2k or 15k variants (model names referring to the maximum possible range capabilities in meters in good conditions on an appropriately reflective object).
Behind the Star Wars-looking hardware is a brain powered by Applied Ballistics software.
Both rangefinding units are identical aside from nuance in the ranging capabilities, and both have Applied Ballistics software integrated … so you’re not just getting a simple range to target but a final firing solution displayed to you as well. Setup is no different than mounting/aligning any other weapon-mounted rangefinder, with the Maztech app giving a more intuitive interface to the device settings and gun/ammo profile setup if needed.
The second module—and the most innovative part of the system—is the Maztech FCS scope mount/display. The magic in this unit is the divergence from attempts in the past to combine the riflescope and a digital display, and instead the user mounts their own scope of choice, and the digital display is projected onto the existing reticle within your riflescope. The FCS is designed to work with LPVO-style optics (1-6x, 1-8x, 1-10x style) in either 30 or 34mm tube diameters due to the straight-tube objective lens style provided by these optics. Mounting is actually simpler than many other scope mounts thanks to an alignment reticle option within the projector, meaning you can simply line up the scope reticle with the projected one and make sure nothing shifts while torquing the ring caps.
At present, the Maztech is only compatible with straight-tube, LPVO-style riflescopes.
The same Maztech app connects to the FCS as well, and thanks to another Applied Ballistics software suite, the FCS can be used fully independently with the range-to-target being input manually with a roll-wheel. As a range is being input, a small “aiming” point moves vertically up and down, projected over the existing scope reticle, offering you a visual ballistic solution for your selected target range. This aiming point can be selected between a small chevron or the “T-dot” style selected here.
Now, while both these things can operate independently of each other, it’s not a stretch to think, “What if you combined it all so that you could push a button, the laser feeds data to the FCS, and it simply displays a hold point onto my favorite scope’s reticle?”
Well thanks to Maztech and a couple cable connections that’s exactly how this all comes together.
Connecting the laser rangefinder to the FCS is a trivial affair, and with the push of the remote button all of the wizardry happens behind the scenes to provide you a single visual representation of where you need to hold in order to have greater probability at first-round impacts.
I recently had the opportunity to get behind this system and experience it firsthand.
Setup of the entire system requires a chunk of unobstructed time to ensure that each step in the process is complete and verified before setting up the next item. The previously mentioned “alignment reticle” in the projector makes scope mounting a breeze, and the projection can also be adjusted left/right and up/down to better align with the riflescope reticle.
When the whole system is used together, it defaults to using the Applied Ballistics software within the FCS unit; however, I took the time to set up ballistic profiles in both the FCS as well as the X4 rangefinder just to stay on the safe side. The process for both is the same through the app—you just need to change which device you’re connected to.
The riflescope is then zeroed at your chosen distance. Then, a supplied reflective laser alignment target is placed downrange and the marked offsets on it can be used to achieve a parallel alignment of the X4 laser to the scope’s erector tube, which is the same process used to align any weapon-mounted rangefinder.
Just Tap and Go
I got behind the rifle, tapped the button on the wired remote and was met with short haptic vibration feedback to let me know the system had acknowledged the command and was done processing the data. Immediately displayed was the range-to-target determined by the laser, and a small green aiming point changed position to one about 1-mil low, which, for my target at 330 yards is exactly what I expected to see. I placed the aiming point on target, breathed, pressed the trigger … and impact. I moved to the next target, pointed the riflescope reticle and pressed the ranging button. I experienced another short haptic vibration, and the aiming point dropped a little farther to 2 mils. I placed that aiming point on target and was gifted another impact at 405 yards.
I handed the rifle to a shooter who was fairly new to the long-range space, and the same process was repeated with the system, displaying hold points for 330 and 405 yards perfectly. After some time working to find a third target at about 550 yards through the scope, they followed procedure and missed left. Another shot, another miss. And again, and again. So, no matter how advanced and simple electronic technology attempts to make long-range shooting, nothing consumer-grade is currently able to account for wind variables on the fly.
Maztech does include an option to manually input a wind speed/direction value, and that information is processed by the Applied Ballistics software; however, inputting that value takes attention away from the process of shooting, the validity of those inputs can be questionable, and in the process of determining and inputting a speed into the software the wind can change speed and/or direction. The initial false confidence of simply placing the aiming point on the target and pressing the trigger quickly faded.
You Must Bring the Skill
This device is designed to semi-automate and consolidate several tools, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a foundational understanding of the ballistics behind the process. And if you do have a solid foundational understanding of the ballistics, what’s stopping you from using only the laser rangefinding module in the system and applying its correction outputs to holdovers in your existing reticle without the FCS module at all?
Herein lies the struggle I have with this device. It exists in a space I’m not sure truly exists: a technological and unitized shortcut to long-range shooting.
So, what does all this mean for the Maztech X4 FCS? It appears well-made and the controls are intuitive, it’s integration to the X4 LRF is seamless and easy, and so far as ballistic solutions in the vertical plane it never let me down.
However, for a retail price of $3,495 before the X4 LRF and a scope, it does not come with the hard skills required to deal with arguably the single hardest thing in modern long-range shooting: the wind. And, due to the physical limitations of the unit it’s only available for straight-tube LPVO-style scopes at the time of writing, which can bring with it compromises—especially when shooting long range.
As for the X4 LRF? At $2,195 it’s comparable in price to some rangefinding binoculars and does provide a viable solution for on-weapon ranging and ballistic solutions so long as the environment and use case support the use of any weapon mounted laser rangefinder to begin with.
Using both the FCS and LRF together, I couldn’t help but shake thoughts of the Barrett BORS, the Burris Eliminator line, Sig BDX scopes or even TrackingPoint. All were attempts to build complex and expensive elevators to reach the top of the learning curve of long-range shooting … when the stairs were the solution all along.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the October 2026 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Looking to upgrade a boring rifle with a wood stock that’s as beautiful as it is durable? Boyds’ Gunstocks has you covered.
Sponsored Content
Timeless, functional, and beautiful. There are plenty of materials that can make a rifle stock lighter, stiffer, or easier to manufacture, but few have the character of wood. Boyds’ Gunstocks has been making wooden rifle stocks since 1981, combining traditional hardwood with modern manufacturing to produce stocks that are durable, consistent, customizable, and affordable.
WHY UPGRADE?
Most factory rifles come with synthetic stocks. They’re inexpensive, durable, and functional, but functional isn’t always ideal. An aftermarket stock gives you an opportunity to change how a rifle feels and performs without replacing the rifle itself. The right stock can provide a better interface between shooter and rifle, improve consistency, offer a more comfortable shooting position, and give an older rifle a new lease on life.
That’s where Boyds’ comes in. The company offers several designs for different applications. The Spike Camp keeps things simple, while the AT-ONE adds adjustability. The Quest takes things further with features aimed at precision shooting. A rifle carried through the woods has different requirements than one spending its life on a bench or shooting prone behind a bipod, and a rifle shared between shooters has different needs than one configured for a single user. The stock is the part of the rifle you spend the most time touching, so fit matters.
Boyds’ uses hardwood and laminated construction to produce stocks designed for greater durability and consistency. Instead of treating wood as an obsolete material, the company uses modern manufacturing to make it more practical while retaining the look and feel that made wooden stocks desirable in the first place.
INNOVATION THAT DOESN’T QUIT
Wooden gunstocks have been around for centuries because they work. They’re comfortable, warm in the hand, and full of character, but modern hardware gives them room to evolve. Boyds’ has taken advantage of that opportunity by adding features that would have been difficult to associate with traditional wood.
Take the AT-ONE. Adjustability changes the relationship between shooter and rifle, and features such as adjustable length of pull and comb height can help establish a more repeatable shooting position. That’s useful when a rifle is shared between shooters, when a shooter is growing, or when factory dimensions simply aren’t the right fit. Rather than forcing the shooter to adapt to the rifle, the stock can be adjusted to better suit the shooter.
Then there’s the Quest, which features a lower Monte Carlo comb for establishing a solid cheek weld, an ambidextrous thumbhole design, multiple sling-swivel locations, and a rear section shaped with shooting bags in mind. These features address how the shooter interacts with the rifle, whether that’s establishing a consistent cheek weld, accommodating either shoulder, or making a rear bag more useful as a positional shooting aid. The best part is that Boyds’ hasn’t abandoned what makes wood appealing; it’s simply added capability.
The Quest’s specs.
MAKE, MODEL, ACTION SIZE, COLOR, AND MORE
Boyds’ supports a broad range of rifle makes and models, including older rifles that don’t always receive the same aftermarket attention as today’s most popular platforms. Not everyone is building a brand-new precision rifle. Sometimes the rifle worth upgrading is already in the safe: an old hunting rifle, a family heirloom, or a bolt gun that shoots better than its factory furniture suggests. Boyds’ gives those rifles another option without requiring the owner to start from scratch.
Depending on the rifle and configuration, stocks are available for different action lengths and feature sets, but customization doesn’t stop at dimensions. Laminated wood opens up a range of colors and patterns that go well beyond the traditional walnut-brown rifle stock, allowing a rifle to look as traditional or distinctive as desired.
Boyds’ also makes the selection process easier with its online stock builder. Select the rifle’s make and model, identify the appropriate bottom metal, and the builder walks you through the available configurations, allowing you to narrow the options to stocks intended for your rifle before choosing the features and appearance you want.
WOOD, BUT NOT AS YOU REMEMBER IT
There’s a tendency to divide rifle stocks into two camps: wood is traditional and synthetic is modern. A modern laminated wood stock makes that distinction harder to defend. Laminated construction combines multiple layers of hardwood to create a stock designed for greater consistency and durability while retaining the tactile qualities that make wood different from synthetic materials.
A stock isn’t just decoration, either. It establishes the physical relationship between shooter and rifle, and comb height, grip shape, length of pull, and the way the stock interfaces with a shooting support all contribute to how naturally a rifle fits the shooter. Synthetic materials are practical, aluminum is rigid, and carbon fiber can be remarkably light, but wood brings texture, variation, and warmth that are difficult to reproduce.
Boyds’ uses modern manufacturing to make those characteristics more practical without taking away what makes hardwood appealing. The result is a stock that can offer modern features and customization while retaining the look and feel of a traditional rifle.
GIVE AN OLD RIFLE A NEW LIFE
You don’t necessarily need a new rifle to get a different shooting experience. Sometimes you just need to change the rifle you already have. An aftermarket stock can make an older hunting rifle more comfortable, give a basic bolt gun a more capable shooting platform, or simply make a familiar rifle feel like your own.
That’s useful for classic rifles that still have plenty of life left in them but lack modern aftermarket options. Boyds’ gives those rifles another path forward. Instead of replacing the rifle, replace the part you interact with most.
The wooden gunstock has survived for a reason. It works, it feels good, and it looks right. Boyds’ takes that familiar idea and asks what happens when you stop treating wood as a limitation. The answer is a range of stocks that combine hardwood with modern manufacturing and features.
LOOSE ROUNDS
Rifles are machines, but they’re also tools we carry, handle, modify, hunt with, and compete with. That’s where a good stock matters. Boyds’ Gunstocks offers a way to upgrade an existing rifle without losing the character that makes a traditional wooden stock appealing. From the straightforward Spike Camp to the adjustable AT-ONE and precision-oriented Quest, there’s a design for a wide range of rifle projects.
With numerous configurations, colors, patterns, and compatible platforms, the finished product can be distinctly yours. Modern rifle technology has given us plenty of impressive materials, but sometimes the best way forward is to make something proven a little smarter. For a wooden aftermarket stock that brings classic material together with modern features, take a look at Boyds’ Hardwood Gunstocks.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This content was made with the help of AI.
Cosmic clays just got even cooler thanks to Federal Cosmic 12-gauge shotshells!
If you’ve never had the chance to do cosmic clays, you’re missing out. It combines clay shooting with the blacklights of cosmic bowling to make for a very groovy night at the range. The glowing clays are already covered, but Federal just made the concept even cooler with the introduction of its new Cosmic 12-gauge shotshells.
Federal Cosmic shells are loaded with a UV-fluorescent Podium wad that will glow under blacklight as it tracks the payload in flight. The shotshells even feature the cool Cosmic alien logo in UV-fluorescent printing, so the piles of shells will be glowing around your feet nicely as well. Even the boxes glow!
More than that, they’re loaded with quality lead shot that’s ready to deliver consistent, dense patterns for breaking clays. As for the hard specs on the Cosmic 12-gauge, the load features 1⅛-ounce No. 8 shot at 1,145 fps.
Sam Motzko, Federal’s senior design engineer, said this about the new Cosmic shells:
We gave Cosmic UV creative printing on the shell and a Podium wad that fluoresces under blacklight … The graphics and neon printing on the shell and box are fun, but the UV-powered wad allows you to track the wad as it leaves your barrel. These features combine for a truly unique shooting experience.
The Federal Cosmic shotshells have an MSRP of $16.99 per 25-round box and they’re available now.
Springfield Armory has just released a new 1911 DS Prodigy model with a 3.5″ barrel upper on a full-size lower.
Springfield Armory has come a long way since the first Prodigy hit the market, and Springfield is still finding new ways to give the people what they want. This time, a 3.5” barrel upper on a full-size lower. Basically, a Prodigy G45. But instead of 17+1, this new Prodigy has an extra bullet up its sleeve using MecGar 18-round magazines.
While maybe not the most interesting release of the year, more options in the 2011-style pistol space are always nice to see. The Springfield Prodigy is without question one of the best dollar-for-value double-stack 1911s on the market. While they had a rough start, every Prodigy we’ve reviewed in the last few years has been rock solid on reliability and durable through thousands of rounds. This little 3.5” is no exception, having worked right out of the box with zero problems.
Featuring the same ambi-safety and Agency Arms optics cut as the other Prodigy models, this compact crossover version will feel very familiar if you’ve ever shot a Prodigy before. The shorter slide makes for a faster return and snappy recoil impulse, but not so much as to make the pistol difficult to shoot or unpleasant. If you want a shorter barrel and a shorter slide, it being faster and with some more snap is just how physics works.
The Springfield Prodigy is a great entry into the 2011 world. Durable, easy to shoot, easy to upgrade and customize, and doesn’t break the bank. If you’re looking for a carry version, this 3.5” model has a lot going for it. During everyday carry, the grip doesn’t get too in the way, and the pistol doesn’t feel too heavy. While definitely more noticeable than a G43x, shrinking the slide cuts a lot of weight from the gun while making for an easier and more comfortable carry setup. Concealing the grip will depend a little on your body and what you wear, but if you plan for it, concealing a full-size grip really isn’t hard.
We kept it pretty simple during the shooting portion of this review and opted not to add a red dot for once. The stock iron sights were zeroed out of the box and easy to use with a large dot front sight and a U-shaped rear sight. Optics are still the preferred method of carry, but sometimes it just feels like an irons day.
Shorter sight radius are technically less precise than longer ones, but the compact slide didn’t hinder us in getting A-zone hits out to 35 yards. Ideal for long range pistol shooting or bullseye shooting? No, but that’s also not what it’s designed for either.
The Agency Arms optic system is one of the best available and has plates for every optic you can name. Select the right one, and mount a red dot to get the most out of the Prodigy.
Overall, this gun didn’t surprise us. It’s exactly what you might expect from a 5th or 6th version entry of an existing and well-proven line. It’s a Prodigy with a compact slide and full-size grip. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it does the job it is built for well and at a good price. What did surprise us was the move away from Springfield-branded 2011 magazines to using MecGar 18-round magazines. We asked Springfield why the change, but they didn’t shed any light and simply said that the MecGar mags would be the standard going forward.
We’ve only tried the two that came with this Prodigy, but both have worked great so far. MecGar is known for making mags for just about everyone and every platform, and for them being some of the best available. Time will tell if that extends to the 2011 platform.
The wait is over, the Springfield Kuna is finally available with a tri-lug barrel as a factory option!
If you’re not familiar with the legendary tri-lug, this might not be exciting news to you (yet). Most common for 9mm suppressors, but also found in some other pistol-caliber cans, the tri-lug is an extremely simple, robust, and secure method of mounting a suppressor. As the name implies, this system uses 3 lugs to index and secure the suppressor to the host. Since there is no threading and it instead relies on springs and lugs to stay secure, the tri-lug system is not only effortless to mount and unmount, but also basically impervious to carbon lock or suppressor grime.
Designed by H&K way back in 1966, the tri-lug has proven to be one of the best mount systems ever made. Once you go tri-lug for your 9mm suppressor needs, it’s unlikely you will go back to anything else if you can help it.
Springfield’s new Kuna comes with a barrel machined for tri-lug and nothing else. No threads, no thread protector to lose, just tri-lug ready to mount your favorite suppressor. With zero-dollar tax stamps and many FFLs doing suppressor transfers with only an ATF Form 4473, it’s never been a better time to get into the suppressor game.
I’ve been shooting and using the origonal Kuna since before it was released and still love it as my go-to PCC. This new version is exactly the same, just with a different barrel that has the tri-lug built in. Ambi controls, soft shooting due to the roller delay system, double-stack/double-feed Kuna magazines, fold-down back-up iron sights, the Kuna is a feature-packed PCC that delivers.
Testing this new tri-lug model was done using the Shadow Systems HS923 suppressor with the factory tri-lug adaptor. Everything performed exactly as it should. Easy to mount, easy to take off, and stays rock solid without any need for Rocksett. Since the Kuna uses a barrel with tri-lug machined into it, this is as secure as it gets.
The bad news? MSRP for the Kuna has steadily risen since release. What started as $1,000 for the non-brace version and $1,150 for a Kuna and factory brace a year and a half ago now comes in at $1,179 for the tri-lug non-brace and $1,330 for a tri-lug with a brace. Sadly, everything is just getting more expensive. Firearms aren’t immune to that either.
Street price is slightly lower than MSRP, but not always. While the Kuna was a much better value 18 months ago, the current price isn’t a waste of money. This is still a PCC we recommend in 2026.
The Kuna is one of the best PCCs on the market for the average shooter. Reliable, durable, interesting aftermarket options, and new factory options like the tri-lug version make it a compelling offering. We’ve shot the hell out of ours and loved every version we’ve tried. From FMJ blasting to defensive rounds, suppressed with a brake, or Hollywood quiet with a suppressor and subs, the Kuna runs. Wet, dry, dirty, or clean, the Kuna still runs.
If you’ve been waiting to jump on the Kuna train, this might be the moment you’ve been waiting for.
The final word came down today: the Aero buyout is official, and Aero released a full press release this morning. Here is that announcement below:
WE’RE COMING BACK: AERO PRECISION, BALLISTIC ADVANTAGE, STAG ARMS, & VG6 BEGIN A NEW ERA
Family investment group brings stability, resources, and a renewed commitment to our customers, partners, employees, and the firearms industry as our brands transition from private equity ownership into an exciting new chapter.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 2, 2026 – After more than two challenging years, today we are proud to share the news our customers, partners, employees, and industry have been waiting for: We’re coming back.
The past few years have been challenging. Financial and operational challenges affected our ability to manufacture products, fulfill orders, support our partners, and provide the level of service our customers expect. We know that created frustration, and we sincerely apologize.
To the customers, dealers, distributors, vendors, and industry partners who continued to believe in our brands and stand beside us: thank you.
Now, we get to move forward.
Aero Precision, Ballistic Advantage, Stag Arms, and VG6 are now under new ownership by a passionate family investment group with a long-term commitment to our brands, our people, and our customers. Our new owners are outdoor and firearms enthusiasts, strong supporters of our military and veteran communities, business owners, hardworking, self-made people who are truly salt of the earth.
They share many of the same values as the customers and communities our brands serve, including a strong belief in and commitment to the Second Amendment. They believe deeply in what already exists here: incredibly strong brands, proven products, talented people, loyal customers, and state-of-the-art American manufacturing facilities and equipment that are among the most advanced in the industry.
Working alongside W.G. Nielsen & Co., a leading Denver-based investment banking firm that served as financial advisor for the transaction, the new ownership group developed a long-term vision centered on preserving what makes these brands special while providing the capital, leadership, resources, and operational discipline needed to help these companies realize their full potential.
That vision is about building companies that last, and our new ownership understands that doing so takes time. Through high-quality engineering, manufacturing excellence, and precision machining, we will bring the products our customers know and love back to market while rebuilding inventory, bringing our teams back to strength, and investing in the future of each brand. Customers can expect product availability to steadily increase over the coming months. We ask for patience as we do this the right way. Our commitment is not simply to get products back on shelves, but to earn back the trust of our customers, dealers, distributors, and partners through our actions, deliver the quality and service these brands are known for, and build a company that is stronger than ever.
The work has already begun.
Manufacturing is ramping back up. Supply chains are being restored. Customer and dealer support is being strengthened. Products will begin returning to shelves. And our teams are already working on what comes next.
Our immediate priorities are clear:
Return manufacturing to full strength.
Restore and strengthen relationships with our vendors and partners.
Fulfill our significant backlog of existing orders and commitments.
Restore consistent product availability across all sales channels.
Rebuild trust and deliver the level of support our customers deserve.
Invest in our people and American manufacturing capabilities.
Get back to doing what our brands do best: building great products and bringing exciting, highquality, affordable products to market.
We know rebuilding trust doesn’t happen with a press release.
We have to earn it.
And we will.
And there is a lot more to come…
Stay tuned for exciting announcements, including product availability updates, returning favorites, and new product launches.
To everyone who supported us, stood beside us, believed in our brands, and waited patiently for this moment: THANK YOU. We would not be here without you.
We discuss the pros & cons of double-action auto pistols and how to properly train with them.
Nobody’s perfect! Before reading this article, take a moment and remember the time you accidentally dropped your phone, stubbed your toe on the wall that had to have moved, or made a mistake that you thought was right. Yes, you’re human—it happens. When it comes to handguns, the extra margin of safety in the traditional double-action semi-automatic handgun (DA auto) is driving its resurgence. Far from it being a handicap, many of the top Production division competitors are using double-action/single-action (DA/SA) handguns in national and world practical competition, against guys running the latest striker-fired handguns. Is that pure coincidence? I don’t think so.
This article is an excerpt from Issue 46 of Concealment magazine, GDTM’s sister publication. For more info or to subscribe, go to RecoilWeb.com.
With a clear division between striker-fired handguns and DA autos, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of a DA system and some of the reasons I’ve chosen to stick with a DA auto. Then, we’ll discuss ways to master that long-pull trigger, and what to look for in a DA pistol.
The Cons Of Double-Action Autos
Common reasons people choose not to use the DA auto include:
“I don’t want to train to use two trigger pulls.” You have to make it a point to focus on training for that first DA trigger pull, but it’s by no means an insurmountable task.
“The long first trigger pull is too difficult for an accurate first shot.” No, the long first trigger pull isn’t too difficult to achieve an accurate first shot; with correct training and technique, it can become second nature. The first pull is longer, which requires the shooter to stay focused on aiming the gun and the intent of the first shot. Not only does this decrease the odds of anticipating the first shot, but it often results in better accuracy than a SA pull.
“It’s hard to train people to de-cock before holstering. We don’t want them holstering with the hammer back.” Let’s take a step back here. So, we believe we can train people to always keep their finger straight and outside the trigger guard unless they’re ready to shoot, but supposedly teaching them to de-cock is too difficult? Most trainers believe that carbines and 1911s should be put back on safe if you’re not actively engaging, and we train to that standard all the time.
This same standard should be applied to your manual of arms training for a DA auto. The truth is that holstering a DA auto with its hammer back isn’t much different than holstering many striker-fired guns on the market. Look closely at the inner workings of many striker-fired pistols and you’ll see that most of the newer, most popular striker-fired guns have a fully cocked striker, essentially making it a SA gun with no external safety apart from the one in the trigger face. You know, the one that gets disengaged if you shove it in a holster with a bit of your shirt in there …
The Pros Of Double-Action Autos
Confidence under extreme stress. Let’s face it—the first shot is the one that usually gets people in trouble. I’ve traveled the world, training shooters with varying skill levels. I still have to tell people all the time, “Keep your finger straight!” Even the elite and most well-trained shooters often need this reminder. Most of the guys I work with consider themselves to be well trained, yet when I say, “finger straight at the ready,” they have to look down at their own hand to realize I’m talking to them. In structured force-on-force training, it’s alarming to see the number of people who put their finger on the trigger when they get scared and amped up. Under extreme stress, people resort to putting their finger on the trigger when they shouldn’t, and the phenomenon of “finger checking” is well documented. The distance of the trigger travel is what helps keep people out of trouble with a DA gun.
Aggressive to the trigger, with confidence! The first shot with a DA handgun has an advantage for most practical, real-world shooters. Once the decision has been made to shoot, a shooter can be really aggressive to the trigger and start pulling it much earlier in the presentation to the target than would be possible with a SA or striker-fired gun. For me, the biggest difference is that I have confidence that the gun won’t fire before I’m ready. Real success with a DA gun comes from combining the presentation of the pistol, aiming the gun, and pulling the trigger at the same time. The last part of the presentation to the target combines aiming and pulling through the rest of the DA trigger pull. With a SA or striker-fired gun, I have to wait until the last millisecond of the presentation and aiming to start pulling the trigger. Getting on the trigger early on a striker-fired mechanism leads to bad things happening.
Real success with a DA gun comes from combining the presentation of the pistol, aiming the gun, and pulling the trigger at the same time.
Complete control of firing mechanism when holstering. For years, I’ve taught shooters to put their strong thumb on the hammer when holstering a DA auto. This accomplishes two things:
You know and can feel that you’ve de-cocked the gun when you holster.
You have total control over the hammer and the firing mechanism.
If anything gets into the trigger guard, you’ll feel the hammer move long before the gun fires, allowing you the opportunity to stop and fix the problem before something bad happens. With the popularity of appendix carry, many people have switched back to DA handguns for this type of carry due to the added safety a hammer fired gun provides. I’ve personally been on the range when someone holstered a striker-fired gun with a shirt in the trigger guard, ending with a loud noise and a trip to the ER.
Better trigger pull after the first shot. One of the reasons many people love the DA auto is that after that first shot, you have a great SA trigger. The triggers on traditional DA/SA handguns have crisp, consistent trigger pulls each time in single action, while most striker-fired guns have a spongier, less consistent pull for every shot—the way they break isn’t as consistent pull after pull. A consistent trigger leads to faster and more accurate follow-up shots no matter the shooter.
How To Train The Double-Action Shot
One of the first things to learn is trigger finger placement. The DA trigger pull often requires the shooter to put more trigger finger on or past the trigger than you would with a 1911-type single action. When learning to pull a DA trigger, try sticking more trigger finger in and past the trigger, providing more leverage for you to pull the trigger straight to the rear. Test this in dry-fire, with the goal of the hammer falling with no movement of your sight picture at all.
One reason the author favors the Beretta 92 is that the positions at which the trigger breaks in double-action and single-action modes are very close.
The key is to pull through the DA trigger at a constant speed. It can be very fast, but it needs to be consistent. The trap that many DA auto shooters fall into is trying to finish the DA pull by speeding up at the end. We start to pull the trigger smoothly and consistently, and then try to accelerate at the end of the pull to finish and get to the shot. For proper DA trigger control, you want to focus on stroking the trigger. Keep a constant, consistent speed.
In a world full of striker guns, DA still has a good place—especially if you take the time to learn how to run one well.
What Do I Look For In A Double-Action Auto?
One of the key features in a DA auto is where the trigger pull breaks. The point at which the trigger breaks in DA mode and SA mode should be as close as possible. This allows you to train your trigger finger to go back to the same spot to release the trigger and cause the gun to fire, whether in double action or single action. Some DA autos release the hammer in DA mode at a much earlier point in the trigger pull than in SA mode. This causes an excessive amount of overtravel in double action and makes the shooter hunt for the trigger prep point in single action. I believe this makes it much harder to learn to shoot well with such a handgun.
One of the reasons I’ve chosen to run the Beretta 92 platform is that I feel it has the best DA pull and the closest release points for both DA and SA trigger pulls. In his new book, Gun Guy, Bill Wilson, president and owner of Wilson Combat says, “If you look where the trigger is when the hammer falls on a Beretta, the trigger is in basically the same place double- and single-action. When you come back to the trigger for the second shot, the trigger is in the same place. You don’t have to search for it. That’s why you can transition from double to single so easily with a Beretta.” There are also many other great DA autos out there in many different sizes, shapes, and calibers.
Give Double-Actions A Try
The reason the DA auto came into existence was to give users a more forgiving trigger option in a semi-auto pistol. Users, mainly law enforcement and the military, wanted the capacity and shootability of the SA auto with the safety of a revolver. I think those reasons still stand true, and it’s still a safe and logical answer. At the very least, it’s worth a try. It might even make you a more well-rounded pistol shooter by practicing on a DA auto, no matter what gun you choose.
Editor’s Note:This article is an excerpt from Issue 46 of Concealment magazine, GDTM’s sister publication. For more info or to subscribe, go to RecoilWeb.com.
Looking for a new iron or piece of kit to enhance the one you already own? Check out these 7 new bits of guns and gear to grow your firearms wish list.
Henry Repeating Arms and Big Woods Bucks have teamed up to make the H14 Long Ranger Big Woods Carbine. Designed for whitetail deer hunting in tight timber, the new H14 carbine builds on Henry’s Long Ranger platform to give serious woods hunters a fast-handling lever-action rifle that can get the job done. The H14 Big Woods Carbine is chambered in .308 Win. / 7.62×51 NATO, has a four-round capacity and comes fitted with a Skinner peep rear sight and a bright fiber-optic front sight. The receiver is drilled and tapped as well if you’d prefer to use a scope. Featuring a barrel length of 18.5 inches and a weight of under 7 pounds, the new H14 carbine should be maneuverable, quick on the shoulder and the perfect companion in thick timber where shot windows are short. MSRP: $1,500
WOOX Elegante Sporter Stock
Modern features and classic looks don’t need to be mutually exclusive. Case in point: WOOX stocks, in particular, the company’s Elegante series. The new Elegante Sporter bolt-action rifle stocks weigh just 30 ounces, are made out of gorgeous, oiled Claro American Walnut and are loaded with practical, modern features. Namely, an integrated aluminum mini-chassis for strength, an M-Lok two-slot rail on the forend for accessories, a Microcell recoil pad and an adjustable length of pull via a spacer system. The WOOX Elegante Sporter stock is currently available for the Remington 700 SA/LA, Ruger 10/22 and Ruger American Gen2 in either standard or high-grade walnut. MSRP: $570 Standard American Walnut // $900 High Grade Walnut
Woox Elegante Sporter Precision Remington 700 SA High Grade Walnu
Hawke Optics has just launched a new riflescope line that offers hunters a lot of bang for their buck. The Vantage HD 30 SF series features seven scope models, and while they all offer great value, they also sport different features tailored to various hunting needs. What they all have in common includes crystal-clear fully multi-coated lenses, one-piece 30mm tubes, removable throw levers, Hawke’s Zero-Stop, locking turrets and red/green illuminated reticles with five brightness levels. Where they differ is in their magnification ranges and reticle styles. The 4-16×50 Vantage HD 30 SF scopes are available with an LR2 Dot, Mil Pro II, .223/.308 Marksman or Rimfire .22LR reticle, while the 6-24×50 models are offered with an LR2 Dot, Mil Pro II or .223/.308 Marksman reticle. MSRP: $490 to $500
Weatherby has just announced the Model 307 MZY, the company’s first production muzzleloader. The MZY is built on a modified Model 307 action, uses Arrowhead Rifles’ Gen2 ignition system and was designed to offer uncompromising performance for black powder hunters. The Model 307 MZY features a Peak 44 Bastion carbon-fiber stock, a TriggerTech adjustable trigger, a muzzle brake and a lightweight collapsible ram rod. The Weatherby muzzleloader is available in both .45 and .50 caliber, and it can be ordered with either no sights or a factory-installed Williams Gunsight Standard Sight system. MSRP: Starts at $2,700
Spartan Precision Valhalla Gen 2 Bipod
Whether you’re a hunter or a precision shooter, a good bipod is one of the most important and useful accessories you can have, and Spartan Precision Equipment just released an enticing new option to consider. The Valhalla Gen 2 is made from hard-anodized 7075-T7351 aluminum, multi-layered carbon fiber and hardened stainless steel at its primary load-bearing points. That means that it’s incredibly rigid and rugged despite weighing only 13 ounces. The bipod is also highly adjustable, offering a stable platform on uneven terrain and in a wide variety of firing scenarios. The legs can also be stored either forward or rearward to best suit your use case. The Valhalla Gen 2 is available as a stand-alone bipod or as a bundle with an M-Lok or Picatinny adapter. MSRP: $425 (bipod only) // $475 (adapter bundle)
Chiappa 250th Independence Edition 1911
What better gun to celebrate America’s big birthday with than a 1911? That’s exactly what Chiappa is offering with their commemorative 1911 Field Special 250th Independence Edition. This limited-edition pistol features a durable Blue Navy Cerakote finish, an intricate laser-etched American flag and eagle motif and “1776-2026 250th Anniversary” engraved on its slide. It also comes with G10 laminate grips. Besides the patriotic aesthetics, it’s the same 5-inch .45 ACP iconic American sidearm we all know and love. Only 250 are being made, so you better act fast if you want one. MSRP: N/A
Smith & Wesson Bear Spray
When it comes to defending yourself in bear country, the more options the better. Even if you pack a magnum revolver with you on the hunt, it doesn’t hurt to have some bear spray within reach as well. That’s why Smith & Wesson and Arcus Hunting have just teamed up to bring hunters and outdoorsmen a new, highly effective spray option. Smith & Wesson Bear Spray is available in both 8- and 14-ounce canisters. The 14-ounce can offers the furthest effective spray range on the market, capable of reaching up to 45 feet. The 8-ounce can is no slouch either, with an effective range of up to 40 feet. Regardless of the size chosen, the bear spray is powerful, easy-to-deploy and available with or without a protective carry sheath. MSRP: $45, 8-ounce // $60, 14-ounce
We look at a slew of different and interesting 9mm Luger loads, America’s favorite pistol cartridge.
The 9mm is, without a doubt, the most popular defensive handgun round in America. Shooters are blessed with not only a steadily growing number of guns chambered for this cartridge, including pistol-caliber carbines and an expanding array of SBR products. The cartridge is right in the middle of cost and performance, as well as accuracy and power. It makes sense in big guns and small guns, long guns and short guns.
As the 9mm market has expanded, so have the ammunition offerings. The variety is expansive these days, including some options that are truly unique.
Iffy Military Performance
The carrying of pistols was growing more common throughout the latter half of the 20th century but was still a fraction of what we see today. Many pistols of the era were derived from their military counterparts, which is something that shaped a great amount of public perception. Of course, there were lots of commercial pistols, but the greater discussion surrounded guns that would be used in the line of duty or in the military.
Now, for all the things our military does correctly, they also do a lot of things that could be considered questionable when it comes to small arms. Most of our service weapons have had revisions or teething problems, and as a result of this, there can be a bad taste left in the mouth of the public.
The choice of the military to go to 9mm over .45 ACP was contentious during the mid 1980s. It was also a fact that foreign pistols were being considered as U.S. military arms during an era that truly glorified and idolized World War II stories. The 1911, of course, chambered in .45 ACP, was considered to be the quintessential American fighting handgun and had been for two World Wars and dozens of other smaller conflicts. Sig and Beretta were, at least at the time, rather undesirable due to them being European and chambered for what was still considered to be a fairly weak cartridge.
So how did the 9mm, after all the doubt and skepticism, rise to such popularity?
The Culture of the Wonder Nine
It wasn’t impressive ballistics or performance that helped shift the public view on the 9mm in America. After the unpopular switch from .45 ACP, the Overton window of this time began to shift in favor of the 9mm, and the 1990s saw an increase in popularity, as the “little” cartridge began to have some cultural sticking power. Writers of the time began to take notice as well, and Hollywood certainly pushed the cartridge further into the public consciousness. But what made it transcend the barrier between commercial success and being considered a bit weak was the evolving bullet technology.
The 9mm, as a full metal jacket cartridge, is not particularly impressive. In the old days, bullet weight and diameter were considered to be the deciding factors—the 9mm can expand, but the .45 never shrinks. Now, there is ,in fact, quite a bit of relevant conversation on this point. Plenty of people deer hunt with the .45 ACP. I consider it to be an incredibly effective cartridge for big game. The 9mm? Not so much. Even though you can get ammo that cranks up the pressure and power, I have never encountered anyone who actively hunts with the cartridge, although I’m sure there is at least one of you right now out there reading this who has made the attempt.
Point being: There are material differences when it comes to the old rivalry of 9mm versus .45 ACP, but the adage is true that 9mm can’t make up the difference in mass, and if that matters to what you’re doing, it’s definitely a primary consideration. This debate isn’t settled, but the 9mm certainly is fully caught up for self-defense and combat use.
Bullet technology in 9mm has dramatically expanded. This isn’t just a pun: It truly has reshaped the handgun industry. The offerings you see in this article demonstrate that much can be done in the limited space offered by 9mm as far as case capacity and bullet weight. And considering most of it is being done in a 3- to 4 ½-inch barrel, we are looking at a very interesting situation.
Red-dot sights on handguns can dramatically increase your on-paper accuracy, and pairing low-recoil supersonic ammo like the 100-grain Honey Badger can deliver accuracy to distances once thought too far to make hits.
The 9mm is obviously not a new cartridge. Designed in 1901, it was, in original form, nothing special. Realistically, it was just another European sidearm caliber that would have otherwise disappeared with time like dozens of others. In part, this is why it was considered to be relatively weak. Most European sidearm calibers of the time were quite anemic. American forces rolling into Europe with .45-caliber pistols designed expressly for combat use set the tone for the entire century of handgun discussion.
Still, low cost of production and high volumes manufactured of 9mm handguns saw it proliferate. Creating something of a chicken-or-egg situation, 9mm ammo and guns kept being produced to levels where they became self-reciprocated and pushed other rounds out. More guns and more ammo hand-in-hand created a huge market, which now dominates the conversation over bullet weight.
The Bullets of Tomorrow
The approach to bullet design involves so much more than putting holes in things; it’s also what happens during said process and how energy is transferred. There are several different ways that the 9mm achieves effectiveness while offering a user-friendly handling experience. Even the most powerful 9mm rounds are not going to recoil that much. That said, there are some pretty aggressive +P+ loads that make you feel it a little bit more, but I still consider the recoil curve to be under .45 ACP levels … in most cases.
Traditional jacketed hollow-points have been around for some time, but again, their reliability has been spotty. Improvements in manufacturing led to more advanced testing procedures and more advanced material science. A major problem with the old hollow-points was that they clogged up with material such as fabric. This, of course, was an issue, which turned hollow-points into full metal jackets, leading to a complete failure to expand. Some modern bullets feature a polymer insert in the tip that allows them to negate this issue. This was a significant step up in technology.
We also now have alloy bullets. These are much tougher than traditional bullets and made of a single type of metal. It’s interesting that these bullets have seen a lot of widespread acceptance, especially in our era of precision machining where there are a lot of fancy gimmicks. Solid alloy hollow-points tend to remain in one piece. They can also be manufactured with predetermined fracture points or blade-like pedals that expand on impact. Much of this can be machined right into the bullet itself, and as a result, they are very reliable and offer great accuracy.
Suppressed 9mm pistols are tons of fun, especially with heavy subsonic loads.
Some of these technologies, while they have been around for a while now, are only just beginning to receive a lot of widespread recognition. The velocity of most of these bullets is still relatively modest, but what we can do with 9mm in this smaller space is the creation of a very reliable host firearm that does not sacrifice accuracy or power to achieve devastating terminal results.
Now, all of these technologies translate to other types of guns, or even other calibers. While there is a variety of products available that make use of monolithic bullets, it’s inside the handgun arena that we see the greatest benefits. Because rifles can also rely heavily on velocity to achieve lethal effect, handguns must rely on bullet construction above anything else. If you’re limited to around 1,000 fps, give or take, you can’t scale the weight of the bullet up or down much without losing effectiveness one way or another.
It can be quite the conundrum when it comes to these bullets. That is why it is very important that we develop technologies that take advantage of the strength of the 9mm and not try to make it into something that it isn’t.
9 NINES TO KNOW
Black Hills offers some of the best 9mm ammo overall, here the 100- and 125-grain Honey Badger and their excellent 115-grain FMJ.
Black Hills 115-grain FMJ
The discussion on 9mm loads would not be complete without including at least one standard load. BHA does a great job with this. It is arguably the most accurate and easy-to-shoot “range” ammo I enjoy using. And, it’s affordable, even in 2026, which is saying something considering it’s premium ammo. I’ve used versions of this going back to the dawn of my writing career, and it is my choice for the rare handgun matches I attend these days. I consider this to be the baseline 9mm ammunition for general-purpose use.
Black Hills Honey Badger 125-grain Subsonic
As an avid suppressor collector and shooter, I have come to appreciate the 9mm more than ever. Not every day at the range should be loud and exhausting, and if you’re on the trail and want to have a quiet means (legally, of course) of taking small game with a modern handgun you’re probably already carrying, this is an extremely solid choice. Taking advantage of monolithic construction, the 125-grain bullet runs very clean in a can.
Suppressor use has seen an increased market for high-performance subsonic loads, like the BHA 125-grain Honey Badger.
Black Hills Honey Badger 100-grain Supersonic
Another BHA option is the Honey Badger supersonic, a 100-grain bullet zipping at over 1,200 fps from a standard 4-inch duty length barrel. It takes advantage of “fluid displacement technology” and is very accurate. I’ve been testing with this load for the better part of a decade and I have come to think of it as a truly well-thought-out product that offers high velocity, high accuracy and very low recoil.
Remington Golden Saber 124-grain +P
This is a classic self-defense load that Remington continues to dominate with. I carry this load as a general-purpose choice that offers an extremely tough bullet design with lots of juice behind it. It handles a bit like a +P load because it is one, and it feels like one, unlike many modern +P loads that just feel a little snappier than range ammo. I take this load on road trips and trails; it is excellent at glass penetration and does well against sheet metal.
If you like hollow points, Staccato 135-grain match, Remington Golden Saber and Buffalo Bore 115-grain lead-free have you covered.
Hornady Critical Duty 135-grain +P
This represents one of the most important 9mm developments of the cartridge’s history. Hornady’s Critical Duty loads are extremely tough, accurate, reliable and deadly. I have been using and testing this ammo in dozens of guns over the years, and it has always brought out the best in any pistol. While it does offer that +P oomph like the Golden Saber, it does it with a different bullet design that features a polymer insert. This bit of tech has achieved laurels for its performance in real-world scenarios and against many, many materials.
Displaying a range of bullet options, the 135-grain Hornady CD, 185-grain Seismic, and Buffalo Bore 147-grain Outdoorsman.
Staccato 136-grain Match
For dedicated match ammo, I like what Staccato put out under their brand. The Staccato ammo is very low recoil and offers a fun match-shooting experience. While not limited to Staccato pistols, using this ammo for fast-paced matches is like driving an old Cadillac: very smooth and enjoyable. This is also great ammo for suppressor use in shorter barrels.
Seismic 185-grain Quakemaker
This ammo is truly interesting and offers a super heavy 185-grain bullet that doesn’t slouch in velocity, easily making 900 to 1,000 fps in most common barrel lengths. This ammo isn’t a bear to shoot—instead, it’s mild and offers great accuracy. This is a great choice for suppressor use, as the benefits are obvious against the otherwise lightweight 9mm loads out there.
Suppressed 9mm pistols are tons of fun, especially with heavy subsonic loads.
Buffalo Bore Outdoorsman 147-grain Hardcast +P
The Buffalo Bore Outdoorsman product line is well known to be the choice for backcountry buffs, and it is available in a number of chamberings. The 9mm offering is easy to shoot, albeit a bit smokey, and a good choice for bears in real-world use. If you have a 9mm and want to go to remote trout streams or after that big buck but don’t want to invest in a 500 Smith, the ammo here is a great choice to get the most out of your current pistol.
Buffalo Bore Barnes HP 115-grain +P+
On the opposite end of the Buffalo Bore spectrum, the lead-free Barnes 115-grain +P+ is truly a beast of a 9mm load that delivers a lot of power and speed. It’s rated at 1,400 fps, but for all the bark the bite isn’t bad, it offers relatively low recoil and creates a smooth shooting experience. I recommend this for 4 inches or longer barrels: It is a bit much from a pocket nine.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the October 2026 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
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