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.
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.
Ever held a Desert Eagle and wished it was even bigger and heavier? With the new Desert Eagle threaded barrel model, you can get just that through the addition of a suppressor. Officially called the DE50THR Mark XIX Desert Eagle, at its core it’s the same classic hand cannon chambered for .50 Action Express. The only difference is that it now comes with a 6-inch barrel with a 49/64”-20 threaded muzzle and a specialized L5 piston to ensure reliable operation while suppressed. Better yet, if you already own a .50 AE Desert Eagle, you can just buy the threaded barrel and piston kit on its own to upgrade it. MSRP: $2,041 (pistol) // $618 (barrel and piston)
Magnum Research Desert Eagle Mark XIX DE50THR .50 AE 6\" Single
CZ just made its ported P-10 C pistol even better by offering a version of it preinstalled with an Aimpoint COA. The COA is an excellent pistol red dot, and many would even argue that it’s the best one currently on the market, but part of the reason why is its proprietary A-Cut footprint. That means that you can’t throw a COA on just any pistol, but gun manufacturers have been solving that by offering more and more models with the A-Cut, often packaged with a COA as well. Now, thankfully, the CZ P-10 C Ported is among those available. The pistol’s ported barrel and the COA’s large viewing window should be a perfect match for one another by helping shooters maintain a good sight picture while firing. MSRP: $1,179
If you carry a concealed handgun, you never know when you might need to use it. That’s why many respected voices in the carry community are big proponents of packing a pistol with a weapon light. It’s dark outside about half the time, so it’s a pretty good idea. The only problem is that adding a light to your gun cuts down the number of compatible holsters available. Thankfully, Mission First Tactical has just made another great option to consider with its AIWB WML Ambi holster. They’re compatible with the extremely popular Streamlight TLR series and are currently offered for the Glock 19, 23, 45 and 43X as well as the Sig P365 and the Springfield Hellcat Pro. Besides their ability to accept a WML, these holsters are also fully ambidextrous and capable of both IWB and OWB carry. MSRP: $59.99
Galco Optic Solution Shoulder Rig
Shoulder holsters are considered to be a bit of a retro carry method these days, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be an extremely practical choice for certain situa-tions. However, just because they evoke the gumshoes of yesteryear doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be able to carry a modern pistol setup in one. That’s why Galco has released the Optic Solution Shoulder Rig. It’s designed to accommodate optic-equipped handguns and is currently offered for several models and sizes of 1911. The rig is derived from Galco’s proven Jackass and Miami Classic designs, and the holster can be adjusted for either muzzle-up or horizontal carry. The non-holster side carries two magazines, and the full-grain leather is available in either tan or black. MSRP: $389
Half the trouble with carrying a handgun is dressing in a way that can accommodate it. For those of us who only go outside wearing jeans and a belt, it’s no problem, but we live in an age of comfort, of sweatpants and gym shorts. For those who want to be able to carry a pistol regardless of their attire, Phlster’s ingenious Enigma rig was the perfect solution. Now, you can use it to carry even smaller handguns with the new Enigma Micro. It’s the same system as the original: a belt and holster rig that can be worn beneath any type of pants, just shrunk down to better fit micro-compact pistols. Current holster fit options include the S&W Bodyguard 2.0, the Glock 42, the Ruger LCP II, and the Ruger LCP Max. MSRP: $150
Steiner MPS 2.0
Steiner has just taken its tried-and-true MPS Micro Pistol Sight and given it an overhaul with the MPS 2.0. Its durability, battery life, ergonomics and ease of mainte-nance have all been improved. For durability, it now features a reinforced all-metal housing with a deep-set viewing window that’s protected by an integrated metal hood, and it’s waterproof up to 35 meters and can operate in temperatures from -40 degrees F to 140 degrees F. The brightness buttons have also been made larger and easier to operate while wearing gloves. As for the MPS 2.0’s battery life, Steiner says that it’s capable of more than 90,000 hours of runtime at Level 4 brightness and over 27,000 hours at Level 5 brightness. That can be prolonged as well with its optional 13-hour auto-off mode. It mounts via an ACRO footprint and is ready to perform whether you’re using it for self-defense or duty. MSRP: $631.99
Steiner MPS 2.0 1x Micro Pistol Reflex Red Dot Sight 3.3 MOA Dot Reticle Black
If you’ve been wanting to mount a red dot on an old Glock that isn’t cut for optics, Sightmark has the perfect solution for you in the form of its new G-Shot. The G-Shot is designed to directly mount to most factory Gen 3, 4 and 5 Glock slides, with the G17, G19 and G26 models specifically mentioned. Once installed, the G-Shot provides a 3-MOA red-dot reticle that automatically adjusts its brightness based on the ambient light level. As for its durability, the sight housing is made from cast aluminum and it has an IP67 waterproof rating. It’s powered by a single CR1632 and features an advertised battery life of 16,000 hours. This looks like an easy way to add some modern capability to an old pistol without having to worry about milling the slide. MSRP: $249.97
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the October 2026 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
With Federal’s Heat Guard Can Case, you can handle and stow a hot suppressor without waiting for it to cool off.
There you are at the end of a fun day shooting. You need to pack up, but your suppressor is smokin’ hot. If you don’t do something about it, it will burn you or melt your gun case or other gear if you aren’t careful. Who among us, as brand-new suppressor owners, hasn’t gotten a blister or two or have a melted gun case to show for that moment of forgetfulness? There are two groups of us: Those who have, and those who will. So, what do you do? You could wait. (No fun in that; the clock is ticking and you have places to be.) You could pour water on it. (That seems unnecessarily brutal, who gets fun from that? OK, the first time probably but not after that.) Or you could have gotten the Federal Heat Guard Can Case.
Lots of shooters have a suppressor sleeve, something always on a suppressor to keep from burning themselves or others and to cut down on mirage. This isn’t one of those. The Federal case is a glove-like deal that lets you safely unscrew or otherwise remove a hot suppressor and stash it in your gear bag properly for the trip home.
The exterior is a tough Cordura or Cordura-like nylon, perfect for protecting your suppressor. Inside, it is lined with some secret sauce that is heat-resistant and looks easy to clean. (I’ll tell you after a few weeks of abuse.)
On the outside are two pocket-looking things. How does it work? Simple. Unzip it to open it up. Stick your fingers into the two pocket-like thingies (so you wear the Heat Guard Can Case as if it were a glove). Now, grab the suppressor and unscrew it, or unlatch it and then otherwise remove it. The case protects your hand from the blistering heat.
Zip up the case and your smoking-hot suppressor is wrapped in a heat-protecting case it can’t roll out of. Yes, it will cook in there, staying hot pretty much all the way home. But while it is in the Federal Heat Guard Can Case, it can’t burn you, it can’t melt your rifle case or other gear, and it can’t roll out causing more problems.
How good of a solution is this? Had I not been handed one to test (and abuse, let’s be clear here), I would deem it something worthy of spending my own money on. (You can’t get much higher praise than that from a gun writer.) How sure is Federal that this is going to be popular? The first search I did for it came up with a listing at Walmart for all of $30.
Thirty bucks to avoid burning your hands, melting your gun cases, saving time packing up at the range and looking good while doing all that? That’s a deal you can’t pass up—so don’t.
We take a closer look at Vortex Optics’ high-end Razor HD Gen III riflescope line.
I’ve had a ton of time in the field and range with a slew of world-class optics from a host of great companies. What follows here is a compilation of what I believe are some of the best optics not just from Vortex, but also in the broader field of optics. While nearly everyone has a certain loyalty to a given brand, perhaps handed down from generation to generation (Dad had a Ford or Ram, you know the gist), I have the benefit of being able to test in unbiased ways long term and come to conclusions over dozens of products and test environments.
Every scope featured in this article has been used for hunting, competition, been carried for miles, dropped at least once and moved from gun to gun, so this will be an honest assessment of the lineup.
A Solid Pedigree
Vortex is a company that listens to shooters, and as a result, many of the features on these scopes are extremely modern, which may seem like a dumb thing to say until you realize that there has been a great deal of stagnation across the board in optics. Perhaps you get a new reticle, maybe a bit of a turret upgrade here and there. The response time in engineering has always been like watching grass grow.
Back when I was first getting into long-range shooting, it was big news that there were scopes coming out with reticles that matched the turret adjustments. Yeah, you read that right.
Newcomers to shooting never had to deal with mil scopes with MOA clicks. Hell, not even all of them were true MOA, just ¼ inch at 100 yards. The monkey math it took to get off the ground was frustrating.
Shooters today are living in a world with temp-stable powders, extremely accurate (and inexpensive) rifles off the shelf, ultra-consistent bullets and brass, and optics so good that I could seldom imagine them decades ago.
Back when the struggle was real, the best rifles and optics weren’t up to what we have today. The amount of voodoo it took to get a rifle truly shooting was staggering, and as a culture, most of that has disappeared. People don’t really bed their stocks, true their actions or send out rifles for the magic of re-barreling. Nowadays, you can build a rifle capable of one-hole accuracy in your garage with pre-fit barrels and pretty much any chassis you want.
The Razor HD Gen III lineup shows the differences in size among the 1-10X, 4-24X and 6-36X models.
The optics situation likewise is very different than it used to be. In the old days, you dared not take your scope off your rifle. Even at that, you had to be super protective of your zero because it could be a challenge to get everything the way you wanted. You still hear it all the time: “I set that scope 10 years ago, and it shoots and I’m not gonna touch it.” Well, you don’t have to worry about that these days. Optics are so damn good that you can take scopes from rifle to rifle in various calibers and just move your turrets to your known zero with that rifle.
Now, the magic isn’t anything other than great engineering and a healthy amount of listening to shooters—and each of these scopes here truly demonstrates the exact things I would want in optics if I were designing them based on my experience. I’ve broken scopes in both range testing and in the field, and ruggedness is something these optics have in spades. I will say that the individual scopes in the Razor HD line are heavier than most of their peers of the same general size range, but this is not something that I see as a negative in practice considering that I would absolutely take a few more ounces for the pound of doubts that pile up with less rugged options.
Razor HD Gen III 1-10x24mm FFP
While you can swap scopes from gun to gun, make sure that your mount heights can clear other accessories. Mounting a scope too low on modern rifles can create more problems than it solves and mounting height over bore has been proven as a negligible issue. You can get scopes pretty high up there with no problem.
While it’s certainly not the “baby” of the family, this optic is physically the smallest yet manages to pack a ton of features in a limited amount of space. At just 10 inches in length, it falls into the category of LPVO scopes but boasts a very nice magnification range that places it in line with what used to be sniper rifle optics in the old days. It outclasses most other optics in its size category in terms of overall utility considering it can be easily used to shoot past 1,000 yards and also clear a shoot house with both eyes open. I find it’s one of my most heavily used scopes due to the fact it’s light enough for a 16-inch 5.56 carbine but also does great on larger-frame rifles and plays nice with clip-on thermals and night vision.
The scope has a very well designed physical layout that includes capped turrets, something that I really like to see on knock-around optics and scopes that spend a lot of time on slings, in the bottom of the canoe or kayak, or in and out of stands. Not to mention the abuse an optic can take when shooting in competition. I’ve slammed this scope on the ground by accident, smashed it into barricades, dropped the entire thing on concrete, dropped it out of a tower blind, had it on a .50 BMG for a demo day when a weaker scope broke, and many, many more uses that most people would never want their scope to go through. That being said, I never intentionally abused it, and I would say that during normal use I was very careful with it. I never doubted my zero and even after all that I have never had issues with repeatability.
The optical quality is stellar, but buyers should know this is still a narrow tube by comparison to the light-collecting abilities of its bigger brothers, and I generally keep it on a lower power in the dark woods I sometimes hunt in. This is a super high-end, do-all scope for virtually any use you could have, the only thing I would change in general is the very center of the reticle. Because it does serve almost as a red dot on 1X with illumination on, the center dot complex when precision shooting is a bit chunky and, in a hunting scenario, can obscure parts of the animal.
Now, this is a personal issue and preference note; this scope can do so much that it’s not noticeable 99 percent of the time. I usually have it with illumination on at about 5X in match shooting where I can use it with both eyes open. Shooting paper isn’t the same as shooting animals, and I do think that I’d love to see a version of this scope with a simple mil reticle that focuses the eye to center for a fine aiming point while maintaining mils for field holdovers.
Razor Hd Gen Iii 1-10x24mm Ffp Illuminated Rifle Scope – Razor Hd Gen Iii 1-10x24mm Ffp Ill. Ebr-9 Bdc Mrad Shdw W/Mt
The 4-24X displaying its covered turret is just as capable as any. The fact that it’s covered is a boon to hunters and people who knock their gear around in the field.
A recent addition to the Gen III family, the 4-24x44mm is arguably one of the most versatile scopes on the market today. It’s big enough to be used for serious long-range and target work, yet small and light enough to take to the field for extended periods of time. It blends the features of its bigger and smaller brethren in a great way that takes away the negatives associated with heavy target scopes or sparse-featured LPVOs.
The elevation turret is the same rough layout as the much larger 6-36X, but the scope sports a covered windage turret. In all my years in the field I have always wanted this feature on a scope of this size range and Vortex really delivered. So why does this little feature matter so much? Most of us that have a good deal of field and experience don’t like dialing in windage—we prefer to hold for it. The exposed elevation turret is always a bit of liability because it’s the most likely to be bumped or damaged in the field. I’ve had it many times with old scopes I have since retired where, after a day of carrying on the shoulder, the windage is suspiciously moved an undetermined amount. It makes you wonder if it’s just off by one mil or a whole rotation.
I’ve used this scope in the field since I first received it some time ago, and it has been an absolute pleasure, especially when paired with rifles in modern calibers like 6.5 Creedmoor or my new favorite, 6GT. The magnification range is extremely well thought out for using these more modern calibers. Bigger scopes I’ve used that end up at around 25X tend to be much more target-oriented, where this scope is still quite compact at just a foot long, making it suitable for carbines or SPR builds in addition for full-size bolt actions. I like this scope on suppressed, 18-inch bolt guns because it offers a world of performance in such a small, light package—you can go from ringing steel at 1,000 yards to hunting in the tight brush. I’ve put more than 5,000 rounds through rifles with this scope mounted, from .338 Lapua to .22 LR, and it tracks right back to each rifle and load after I move it. This is, dollar-to-specs, one of the best scopes on the market.
Vortex Optics Razor Hd Iii 4-24x44mm Ffp Iilluminted Scope Razor Hd Iii 4-
The big 6-36X is at home on just about any rifle so long as you don’t mind its noticeable size. It isn’t a small scope, and it’s not supposed to be.
Ah, the big boy. This is the scope most people think about when in the Razor HD product line. Not only is it visually impressive, but it’s also one of the most rugged and repeatable scopes I have ever used. I have been shooting this model for years, and I’ve had it on dozens of rifles. This is the optic that I use for my article production when testing accuracy. No matter the caliber, no matter the distance: This is one scope that I trust to deliver the best results.
I have taken the scope hunting many times as well. It is, however, larger than I like for close-quarters, especially in wooded areas, the reticle does tend to disappear into the background when on lower power. At a higher magnification, it’s slightly difficult to use for the same reasons, the reticle becomes much more usable the higher you get, but you end up losing field of view. In open areas, this is not a problem.
On larger calibers at longer ranges, it’s absolutely fantastic. As an interesting note, I also believe it is one of the best optics for precision rimfire shooting at long distance. The MOA version that you see in this article is fantastic on a full-size rimfire for NRL shooting. I’ve shot .22 LR past 600 yards with this scope mounted, and it was a blast. Although, I admit it showed me just how poorly prepared I was compared to the true rimfire guys. The wind matters a lot in these circumstances, and let’s just say I wasn’t as good at reading it as the next guy.
Vortex Optics Vortex Razor HD III 6-36x56mm FFP EBR-7D MRAD Reticle Rifles
While this might end up seeming like a bit of a commercial for Vortex, that’s not really what I’m trying to accomplish here. There are a lot of great optics out there.
The Vortex scopes pair well with other products by the company, such as the excellent Impact 4000 rangefinder system.
One of the benefits of writing for these pages is that I can be very honest in my results. In fact, I see it as a general betrayal if I was to tell you to go with something I didn’t personally use or believe in. For instance, I was privileged to be one of the first people in the country to have the extremely high-end and compact Vortex AMG 1-10, a truly incredible optic. However, while I am happy to put it in my article photography, I have not yet had field experience with that optic. I’m assuming it’s going to do just as good over the thousands and thousands of rounds that I plan on putting through it, but I can’t tell you how it’s going to stack up against any other scope until I put it through its paces.
The three scopes in this article have seen a combined total of perhaps 25,000 rounds. I’m not just talking .22 LR, either. These are some of the most rugged optics out there, and I can strongly recommend them while keeping my integrity. If I had to pick just one, it would be the 4-24X. I think it is the best of all worlds and is what I think the standard for a modern optic should be.
Gear Notes: Accessories To Know
All the scopes in this article are decked out with what I had determined to be some of the best in accessories. One Hundred Concepts makes some incredible scope accessories. I use them on virtually all of my optics. These are unique, field repairable lens covers that integrate kill flash tech and totally silent operation, so there’s no “pop” when you open them. The covers are user configurable, and all they require is some sort of elastic to work. If you find yourself with a damaged cap, you can quickly and easily fix it yourself.
The One Hundred Concepts covers are rugged and at home on these scopes. The author loves them for their utility and silent operation.
I also like the mounts from American Defense Manufacturing. ADM mounts are of extremely high-quality, and they are very reputable. I have these mounts installed because I tend to move my scopes from gun to gun, and the adjustments on the bases are very precise. Using these mounts, as well as a predetermined zero in my notes, I can move a scope from say a 5.56 NATO AR, over to a bolt-action 6.5 Creedmoor with a 20 MOA rail. All I have to do is set the locking levers on the mount to the appropriate tension for that individual rail, move the turrets to the known zero, and I am within a click or two 99 percent of the time. Getting a good zero isn’t magic thanks to how precise the scopes are.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared in the November 2026 issue of Gun Digest the Magazine.
Check out the 6.5 Grendel, a look-alike cousin to the 6.5 PPC but with a different skill set.
The 6.5 Grendel cartridge underwent three years of development before Bill Alexander (Alexander Arms) released it in 2003 as a “long-range” cartridge specifically intended for the AR-15 family of rifles and carbines. The 6.5 Grendel transforms the military 7.62x39mm parent case by necking it down to 6.5mm, blowing out the shoulder, and changing to a Small Rifle primer and flash hole. As a close relative of the benchrest-proven 6.5 PPC, the 6.5 Grendel is the ideal length to seat long-ogive 120-grain and 130-grain bullets within the AR-15 magazine length constrictions.
Accuracy in the 6.5 Grendel, in suitably barreled AR-15 rifles, readily attains sub-MOA, making it a great choice for long-range deer and varmint hunting. The 6.5 Grendel accommodates lightweight varmint bullets in the 90-grain class, which offer superb accuracy for competition and small-game shooting, mid-weight 108- or 120-grain competition bullets, and 130- or 140-grain game bullets for long shots on medium-sized game.
Seventeen 6.5 Grendel cartridges will fit into an Alexander Arms-supplied magazine dimensioned to fit into the magazine well of an AR-15’s lower receiver. The cartridge performs well in a 24-inch barrel using a 1:9 twist. Factory loads do not exceed 50,000 psi. Alexander Arms supplies rifles, magazines, ammunition, reloading dies, and brass.
Alexander Arms relinquished its trademark claim on the 6.5 Grendel as the 13th edition of Cartridges of the World went to print, which led to SAAMI standardization.
Hornady and Wolf are now factory-loading this round as well.
SIG Sauer’s new XRAY5 pistol red dot and FOXTROT2R LightFight have just raised the bar for handgun accessories.
Photos by Steven Kuo
We’re at SIG NEXT checking out the company’s latest products, and there’s a lot of very cool stuff on the range this year. The new P385 pistol will likely be the most talked-about release from the event, but it probably shouldn’t be. While it felt great in my hand and has a lot of interesting features and variants, at the end of the day it’s not going to revolutionize the 9mm pistol market. It may prove to be an excellent new handgun option, but the market is awash with those. What is revolutionary, however, is SIG’s new XRAY5 red dot sight and its companion FOXTROT2R LightFight weapon light.
What, pray tell, could be revolutionary about yet another pistol red dot? It’s built different. Literally. Traditional red dot sights use a single emitter that’s moved internally by a complex mechanism during the zeroing process. That requires a lot of moving parts, and a lot of failure points. The XRAY5 instead features what SIG is calling “solid-state architecture with no moving parts”. This is possible thanks to its 225-dot rigid matrix.
The XRAY5 with all 225 potential reticles illuminated at once. Image credit: SIG Sauer.
In other words, it can project a grid of 225 red dot reticles. Adjusting your zero simply changes which of those 225 dots is being illuminated instead of physically moving where the single dot is being projected. This system brings a host of benefits, from improved durability to a new super easy zeroing system that only requires a phone app and a few rounds of ammo.
The new internal layout of the XRAY5 allowed SIG to implement another groundbreaking improvement that they call the Zero Distortion Optic (ZDO) system. The short of it is that instead of using aspherical lenses like every other red dot, it uses flat lenses. It can do this because it utilizes the freed-up space up top to put an aspherical reflecting lens in the optic’s roof. The emitter projects the reticle onto it, where it’s then bounced off the front lens and back through the rear lens into the shooter’s eye. The result is that both lenses you’re looking through are as clear as a window.
After trying it on the range side-by-side with traditional red dots, I can tell you that the difference is night and day. This thing is as clear as can be.
The integration with an app for zeroing and adjusting other settings is a really helpful feature, but if that’s not something you’re interested in, don’t worry. The XRAY5 can be fully zeroed and used the old-fashioned way without any phones involved. However, the fact that it can connect to a phone app leads to another interesting aspect of the optic: Bluetooth.
The integrated Bluetooth required for connecting to an app also means that it can connect to other Bluetooth devices, like its new companion accessory, the FOXTROT2R LightFight. Why would you want your optic to be able to talk to your weapon light? Dot brightness. An optimally bright reticle setting for your ambient lighting condition will usually become washed out and imperceptible after activating your WML. The FOXTROT2R fixes that through SIG’s FightLight technology that, when both devices are synced, automatically increases the XRAY5’s brightness level whenever the flashlight is activated. With this system, you can now have the best of both worlds: a medium-brightness reticle for average lighting conditions and a big, easily visible dot as soon as you flip your light’s switch.
The XRAY5 is an incredibly impressive optic on its own, but paired with the FOXTROT2R, they create a very sleek package.
This has just been an initial overview of SIG’s new system, but keep an eye out for our full review once we get these in hand to fully test ourselves.
The XRAY5 will be available in standard and compact flavors with either a SIG-LOC, RMSc, or DPP footprint, and prices start at $499; the FOXTROT2R is priced at $199.
The Glock 46 was designed to fill a contract with the German state of Saxony-Anhalt for its 6,000-plus officers. Rumors about it were around the Internet for a while, but a U.S.-based gun magazine published photos taken from a German-language magazine with an article and photos of the G46. It’s very unique, because instead of the modified Browning cam-locking system used by every other Glock model and most modern handguns, it uses a rotary barrel design.
Image Credit: Glock.
One of its key features is that it doesn’t require the trigger to be pulled for disassembly, and there’s a knob where the slide cover plate typically is, which is twisted for firing pin removal. The pistol’s left side also has a new disassembly lever.
I have been able to confirm only limited information on the G46 at the time of this writing. It’s my understanding that changes have been made since the initial article was written. Glock will not confirm details about this pistol at this time and has provided only limited photos. As of now, the G46 will not be available in the German or European commercial market, nor will it be available in the U.S.
While we’re at it, let’s take a look at another odd Glock:
G24
Image Credit: Glock.
The G24 is the .40-caliber equivalent to the G17L. Glock introduced it six years after the G17L in 1994, and it had a great run in competitive shooting, then died off two months after the G17L in June 1999. It suffered the same fate as the G17L—the IPSC Box—and was replaced by the G35, which is the .40 version of the G34. The G24 was never very popular and was a victim of terrible timing on the part of Glock. It was introduced just as the competition world became obsessed with the .38 Super and 25-round magazines, so it wasn’t met with much fanfare. Then, just as the competition world was moving back to the likes of the G24, out came the IPSC box. Glock introduced the G35, and the G24 went out with a whimper. Not many were sold. The G35, on the other hand, was quite popular, until the 40 S&W fell out of favor.
The G24 is still listed on Glock’s website, and since the G19L has been reintroduced as a Gen5, there’s a possibility the G24 could be as well, but I don’t see it as very likely.
After the success and controversy of the P320 and the major success of the P365, comes another “new era of performance, accuracy, and innovation in striker-fired pistols” from SIG Sauer.
A hybrid of the P365 and P320 with some original design sprinkled in for flavor, the new P385 is a modular pistol that seems to be replacing the P320, at least in spirit. Ranging between full-size and compact depending on slide and grip modules, the P385 uses P320 magazines and a new P385-specific FCU, though it is closely modeled after the P365 FCU.
P385-COMP.
New to the P385 is a lower bore axis providing a smoother and more comfortable recoil impulse, and a new Trigger Block design and SIG Recoil Dampening System.
“The all-new SIG SAUER P385 was developed from the ground up,” said Eric McKenzie, Director of Commercial Product Management, SIG Sauer. “We’re driven to innovate, and the P385 delivers a new era of performance, accuracy, and innovation with several new features.”
P385-FULL.
The SIG P385 is launching in several flavors to start with and more to come. To start, Carry, Comp, Full, Compact, and MACH3D.
“Carry” has a 4.0” barrel and full-size grip, “Compact” has the same 4.0” barrel but a shorter grip. “Comp” uses a 4.0” barrel but has a longer slide with a built-in compensator and uses the full-size grip. “Full” is a 4.7” barrel and full-sized grip.
The MACH3D is a new line from SIG that features a 4.0” barrel, full-size grip, and the new MACH3D compensator, very similar to the one found on the P211.
All P385 models come with interchangeable “MagStraps,” allowing the user to modify grip circumference (S, M, L) and length from 17rd to 15rd flush.
P385-MACH3D.
These also feature slides that have SIG-LOC PRO optic-ready cut from the factory. While built for SIG optics using the SIG-LOC PRO cut, they are compatible with standard mounting footprints as well.
P320 magazines are back in business with the P385. All sizes and styles of the P320 magazine are compatible with the P385, depending on grip length.
The release of the P385 marks a new chapter in the SIG storybook. We’re at SIG NEXT testing out the latest versions, but follow-up reviews will be coming soon.
After more than 125 years, the old toggle-top Luger still exerts its pull on some of us.
Addiction takes many forms, and my current addiction is the Luger pistol. This classic handgun goes by several monikers, including P08 (Pistole 08 in German, referring to 1908, when the Imperial German Army formally adopted it), Parabellum (from Latin, “prepare for war”), and, less formally, ‘toggle-top’, a reference to its operating mechanism. However, Luger—named after its Austrian inventor, Georg Luger—is its most common designation.
In all its models and variations, the Luger pistol is arguably the most collected and sought-after handgun in the world. Its nearest competitor is likely the iconic Colt Single Action Army revolver. From the moment I first experienced the feel of a Luger in my hands, I wanted one. Fate being fickle, my dream of ownership wouldn’t be fulfilled for 57 years. That’s one long wait.
As this writer discovered, and as the author of “Valley of the Dolls”, Jacqueline Susann, somewhat notoriously put it, “once is not enough.” In short order, one long-wait Luger became three. Will it end there?
Addiction is not easily cured.
The mystique of the Luger and its addictive qualities are undeniable. A pioneering handgun design introduced in 1898, sleek and ergonomic, German precision, storied combat in two world wars and far beyond, a presence on the silver screen, and the pistol’s many iterations—more than a hundred variations and proofmark configurations over its more than 50-year history. It’s an impressive resume. Not surprisingly, Luger collectors span the globe. Time has only increased its popularity.
As one learns quickly when pursuing the P08, these attributes prove formidable obstacles for those who want to own at least one to shoot without going broke. The pistol’s appeal has driven prices to astronomical levels, with few guarantees of provenance, condition, or shootability. Buying one today isn’t just risky business; it’s often a substantial financial investment and a proverbial shot in the dark.
To understand Lugers, their history, and pricing, one must know their markings, proofmarks, and serial numbers. What’s on top of the receiver is a good starting point. Knowledgeable Luger devotees will recognize the markings on (left to right): 1970s-vintage Interarms Mauser Parabellum; Imperial-era 1918 Erfurt; and a Nazi-era 1939 Mauser.
The Long Journey
My Luger journey began in the fall of 1967 at a gun show in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. My father brought me along to experience the vast array of rifles, handguns, and shotguns on display and to share in his passion for firearms. These were unforgettable experiences for a 14-year-old boy just beginning to learn about guns.
As was his way, Dad took his time at these shows, stopping at almost every booth, chatting with proprietors and acquaintances encountered along the way. Less patient and more focused than my father, I went like a torpedo directly to the displays that sparked my interest. That particular day, a man had several Lugers on his table, along with German military swords, daggers, Iron Crosses, and a couple of World War II Stalhelm helmets. I was familiar with the pistol from Dad’s Gun Digests, other firearms publications, television, comic books, and toy handguns.
The man in the booth saw something in me, and it wasn’t a potential buyer. He took a Luger out of his display case and carefully handed it to me. “What do you think of that, son?” he asked. I can’t remember my answer, but I’m sure he saw the amazement and pleasure in my eyes. I’ve never forgotten that experience, the feel of that pistol, or the desire to own one.
Like today, Lugers were in demand, expensive, and scarce in our city in 1967. Those for sale in firearms periodicals, at gun shows, and in retail stores often cost more than a new Smith & Wesson or Colt revolver. Dad owned a Luger once, a battered World War II battlefield pick-up that someone chromed over to conceal its disfigurement. With use, the chrome began to peel. Soon after, he swapped it for an old Colt New Service 455 Eley revolver.
Dream Diverted
Scarcity, high prices, my father’s bias, and the wide world of other handguns out there diverted my Luger dream for more than five decades. Yet, whenever a P08 appeared in a gun store or show, I had to have a look. By then, I began to realize that most of the Lugers for sale were well-used specimens, many with mismatched parts and severe corrosion, particularly in the bores. It didn’t take an expert to see that most of these P08s were in less-than-prime condition.
Over the years, Dad and I befriended numerous fellow shooters. When the subject of Lugers came up, it was seldom positive. Everyone groused about prices. Then there were complaints about jams and parts breaking. I never heard one owner say the broken part was replaced and the pistol restored to functionality. One of Dad’s coworkers had a smart 1941 BYF-marked Mauser P08 that he hinted might be available for trade, but Dad was unwilling to part with any of his treasures to consummate a deal.
Fast forward five decades. Dad passed away, and I was then 71 years old. The desire to own ol’ toggle-top still burned bright. If there was a time to fulfill the dream, it was now. Of course, prices had risen to astronomical-plus levels, and quality was even more suspect.
I must have examined over a hundred P08s over the past 57 years. Friends advised me to bite the bullet, buy a “shooter,” meaning a vintage, perhaps cosmetically imperfect, and/or perhaps-less-than-100-percent-original pistol, now priced over $1,000, and take my chances that it would function reliably. (Replacement parts and/or refinishing are not synonymous with a poorly functioning pistol. Many refinished Lugers or those containing replacement parts are fine shooters, giving their owners much pleasure.)
Luger ownership became reality with the author’s Interarms Mauser Parabellum 29/70. But the question at the time was: Would this be the author’s only PO8? As it turned out, it was only the beginning.
Finding Your Luger
When buying a Luger, particularly one to shoot, the novice has to know about models, variations, condition variables, suitability for the range, and how to price them reasonably. Gun stores and shows are a starting point, but, as I discovered, to cover the field, one must venture online. Here, the risks climb. Without a physical examination, one must rely on photos from various angles and place less weight on the owner’s claims regarding originality and condition. It’s a daunting experience. One important consideration is determining the seller’s return conditions early on.
Luger genealogy is a fascinating subject in its own right. In summary, German-made P08s are generally categorized by three eras of production for military and civilian sales worldwide: The Imperial Era under Kaiser Wilhelm, from 1900 to the end of World War I in 1918; The Weimar Republic Era, from 1919 to the early 1930s; and the Nazi Era extending to the end of World War II in 1945.
Seven countries and various police services issued the Luger as their official service pistol, with numerous others using it on a limited or unofficial basis.
Over its approximate half-century production run, manufacturing of the time-consuming, expensive pistol passed among German companies Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken (DWM), the Royal Erfurt and Spandau Arsenals, Simson Company, Mauser G.m.b.H., and Heinrich Krieghoff & Son. Waffenfabrik Bern produced Swiss-made Parabellums for military and civilian use from around 1918 to approximately 1947.
The Luger story didn’t end there.
While German manufacturing ceased, pistols continued to be assembled for a while from captured parts inventories for sale as war souvenirs. The victorious French applied liberated Mauser production machinery to build a small number of P08s for their forces. Russian occupiers and their East German allies utilized captured pistols and those assembled from parts for police issuance and, in limited numbers, for export to other communist countries.
Parabellum parts had a life of their own. They were also sold and assembled into pistols in the United States and elsewhere. The U.S. seemingly couldn’t get enough Parabellums.
The author’s early 1970s Interarms Mauser Parabellum 9mm 29/70 shoots as good as it looks, as reflected by a typical group fired offhand at 25 yards. However, this performance is only achieved after its small sights and a challenging trigger are mastered.
Then, in the late 1960s, Mauser took on the Herculean task of recreating the Luger from almost scratch. It succeeded and produced pistols until about 1986, with inventories lasting until the 1990s. Several other manufacturers gave it a go, with varying degrees of design authenticity, including German 22 LR and 380 ACP versions from Erma Werke and the American-made Stoeger Arms Corporation’s 22 LR and Mitchel Arms stainless steel 9mm pistols. Still, they’re all long out of production. There’s little traction today in producing the Luger, except for a few custom, build-to-order makers, including one offering a 45 ACP Parabellum, whose sticker prices are beyond the financial means of most of us.
The Next Steps
Devotees of the Parabellum fall into three categories, with overlap: collectors, investors, and shooters. We pure shooters appear to be in the minority when competing for available pistols. As the aspiring Luger owner soon learns, opinions on what constitutes a shooting Luger are numerous and occasionally heated. Sometimes it’s a kerfuffle between interested parties regarding rarity, monetary value, and the joy of shooting a classic handgun. Understand that the Luger was built for military and police use, not to rest in a gun safe.
A free, must-visit resource for Parabellum aficionados is Lugerforums.com, an online website dedicated to P08 enthusiasts of all levels of knowledge. It’s a treasure trove of information, opinion, and conjecture par excellence. The forum’s helpful members will answer your questions and provide the information, advice, and encouragement you need on all matters, Luger and beyond.
To authenticate a particular Luger’s provenance, authenticity, and condition, you must have basic knowledge, access to accurate (often expensive) reference materials (Lugerforums helps here), and, in the end, disassemble the pistol to examine individual components, particularly the bore, frame, toggle mechanism, and part serial numbers. Heavily worn, corroded, or cracked parts are trouble. If permitted, a range session is the ultimate test for suitability as a shooter.
Like all semi-automatic pistols, the Luger’s reliability is influenced by its magazine and the ammunition used. Even an otherwise reliable-shooting Luger will malfunction with a worn or damaged magazine, a broken internal part, the wrong ammunition (overall cartridge length is a primary concern), or improper magazine loading. In my experience, most vintage Parabellums on the market are offered with non-original magazines. Not a problem; if needed, excellent replacement P08 mags are available from Mec-Gar USA, Inc.
Facing these obstacles, I took a different route. I recalled the aforementioned Interarms Mauser, an authentic rendition of the Swiss 1929 Luger, in 9mm Parabellum and 7.65 Luger chamberings, with 4- and 6-inch barrel options. While equipped with a grip safety and a straight front gripstrap, compared with the standard German P08’s curved strap and lack of a grip safety on most models, the pistol was manufactured in Obendorf, Germany, not coincidentally the builder of most of Germany’s World War II-era Lugers. While long out of production, an Internet search revealed that these pistols were still plentiful and affordable, and they enjoyed a good reputation in online reviews.
Success at Last
On the web, I located an unfired 9mm specimen with a 4-inch barrel, complete with its original box, extra magazine, loading tool, barrel brush, owner’s manual, and factory test target, priced less than many vintage P08s I encountered. Photos backed up its condition claims. I took the plunge and endured a traumatic delivery process that lasted more than two weeks, due to the confluence of the Christmas mail rush and a massive backlog at the city postal warehouse it traveled through. Its package tracker wasn’t functional, further compounding my anxiety.
The Interarms Mauser Parabellum’s factory three-shot test target, in German, fired from the bench at 25 meters with Winchester 115-gr. FMJ ammunition. Here, the pistol’s intrinsic accuracy is apparent.
When the blessed delivery occurred, I couldn’t have been happier with the results. The Interarms Mauser 29/70, as the pistol is sometimes referred to, is all Luger. Takedown is typical Luger; the parts are nearly identical (though not interchangeable, I’ve read) to those of older pistols, and the look and feel are 100-percent Parabellum, albeit the Swiss 1929 version.
Mauser clearly took great care and expense to authentically replicate the pistol using modern machinery, with help from original Swiss blueprints, parts drawings, work sheets, original production gauges, and surviving production jigs that, most unfortunately for Mauser, were incompatible with its 1960s manufacturing technology. The fit and finish of the Mauser Parabellum are typical German—superb. The bluing on my 29/70 is dark and rich, and the straw colors on the trigger, takedown lever, ejector, magazine release button, and thumb safety are vibrant. An attractive American Eagle stamp rests atop the chamber.
Range sessions revealed performance that equaled the pistol’s appearance. True to its predecessors, the P29/70 features small fixed-V rear/pyramid front sights and a trigger that can best be described as challenging. With the Luger’s complex trigger mechanism, my specimen offers virtually no take-up, an 8-lb. wall, followed by release with scant overtravel. The sights function OK with adequate light, but are useless in low light. These impediments take some getting used to, but once you master them, you’re rewarded with target-pistol accuracy. Fired offhand at 25 yards, on a good day, my Mauser Parabellum groups in the black with surprising ease. This by a bifocaled septuagenarian with a touch of shake.
Lugers have a reputation for being finicky eaters. The three-shot, sub-1-inch factory test target included with my pistol was achieved with Winchester standard velocity 115-grain FMJ target and practice ammunition. Accordingly, that’s what I use in the P29/70, with complete reliability. I see no need to experiment with other loads.
The pistol’s magazine springs are powerful enough to ensure reliable feeding. Using the loading tool makes the process much easier. Still, thumb strength definitely comes in handy. Proper cartridge stacking in the magazine is critical for reliability. The toggle mechanism requires strength to rack. Despite the pistol’s beauty, it’s built to shoot. Although my Luger sat unfired for approximately 52 years, there will be periodic range workouts. Its life as a safe queen is over.
Because of the Luger’s tight tolerances and intricate design, it must be kept reasonably clean and lubricated. Despite claims of fragility, a good number of Parabellums remained in active service for many years, reliably.
What is a Classic Luger?
While very well done, to many purists, the Interarms Mauser Parabellum 29/70 doesn’t qualify as a true classic Luger. As author Aaron Davis put it in The Luger Handbook, using an analogy of the classic 1964 Ford Mustang auto compared with today’s version, “…it’s a flattering likeness, but the original stands apart.”
I’m not sure I agree with that appraisal or if it really matters. Based on my experiences, the P29/70 is one fine Luger to own, shoot, and admire.
Now I had everything Luger I needed, but there were nagging urges. The thought of a World War II-vintage, military-issue P08 lurked restlessly in my mind, despite more than half a century of effort and countless disappointments in pursuit of one. More than ever, Luger hunting is fraught with sky-high prices, a limited supply of suitable pistols, questionable quality, and the occasional intentional misrepresentation. On this journey, one ventures forward at one’s own risk.
A Pleasant Surprise
Then the unexpected occurred. As I struggled with Parabellum addiction, there was a complete relapse. I learned of a relative who had a World War II bringback P08, with its issue holster, that his father had liberated from a German officer during the Battle of the Bulge. The price was reasonable, and I bought it post haste.
This WWII capture turned out to be a 1918 Erfurt Imperial pistol, all original and matching except for one period wood-base magazine and one 1930s aluminum-base version. The Luger was in excellent condition throughout, as was its brown, 1918-dated Lestelmann of Strassburg holster. Loaded in the spare magazine and fit into the holster were five rounds of Czech 1947 9mm ball ammunition—no story on how they got there.
The author’s Imperial-era 1918 Erfurt Luger came with its like-dated issue holster. Because of the P08’s sensitivity to dirt and debris, a full-cover holster was required for reliable field service. If only this old WWII battle pistol could talk!
While not my hoped-for World War II-vintage Nazi-era pistol, it’s a beauty. If only old battle pistols could talk. Is it a World War I issue that returned home with its user, then handed over to a son for the new war, or had it been resting in a German arsenal after hostilities ceased, awaiting reissue to Hitler’s Wehrmacht?
After disassembly and a thorough inspection, cleaning, and oiling, the Luger passed its initial range session with flying colors, despite those small sights and an extra-challenging trigger. Based on my relative’s recollection, the pistol hadn’t been fired in over 70 years. I ran a box of Winchester standard-velocity 115-gr. FMJ through it with 100-percent reliability. Accuracy offhand at 25 yards was similar to its 1970s counterpart—outstanding.
Now I was two Lugers rich. Common sense said I had everything needed for a lifetime of Parabellum pleasure. Such was not the case.
Another Luger Appears
Somehow, a collector-grade 1939 Mauser S/42 P08 was offered to me at a collector-grade price. According to its seller, the pistol I’d been seeking for over half a century was in excellent condition, with all matching serial numbers, except for the magazine and grips. Sticker shock held me back for precisely 24 hours, but remember, I was now an addict. I took a deep breath and dropped the cashier’s check in the mailbox.
Ewert’s long-sought-after Nazi-era 1939 Mauser Parabellum. Approximately 57 years later, fate delivered it into his hands. When dreaming, sometimes one must play the long game.
When the Luger arrived, it was everything I’d hoped for and more. This pistol was indeed in prime condition throughout, completely reliable at the range and, thanks to a superb trigger pull (for a Luger), as accurate as any target handgun I’d fired. I asked myself: “Is there anything more in life?”
Not yet, but…
I’ve attempted to rank my trio of Parabellums based on looks, accuracy, and historical significance. I can’t. Each is special in its own right, attractive, accurate beyond my capabilities, and as much pleasure to hold and admire as to shoot. There is no favorite. They all provide extraordinary shooting pleasure.
So, here’s where my Luger addiction stands today: I own three fine Parabellums. Perhaps addiction has finally been sated. Perhaps not. An acquaintance recently showed me a handsome 1920s Weimar-era DWM PO8 in 7.65 caliber, with its Safe and Fire safety designations in English. Is it very nice? Yes. Do I need it? No. Is that the end of the story?
I think not.
As the author discovered, Lugers can be addictive, but also lots of fun to shoot. Examples include: (left to right) 1970s-vintage Interarms Mauser Parabellum; 1918-dated Erfurt and its issue holster, captured during the Second World War; and a 1939 Mauser S/42 model, all in 9mm. While the Luger action is strong and the workmanship is top rate, given its small parts and age, it is wise to limit ammunition to standard-pressure, standard-length loads. Once the pistol’s marginal sights and challenging trigger are mastered, superb accuracy awaits. That loading tool in the lower left is a real pain reliever.
Bibliography
Frank C. Barnes, Cartridges Of The World, Gun Digest Media, 5600 W. Grande Market Drive, Appleton, Wisconsin 54913
Davis, Aarron, The Luger Handbook, Krause Publications, 700 E. State Street, Iola, Wi 54990
Dixon, Jim, “The Return Of The Krieghoff Luger,” Gun Digest 2011, Krause Publications, 700 E. State Street, Iola, Wi 54990
Ezell, Edward, Handguns Of The World, Barnes & Noble Books, New York- New York
Will Fowler, Anthony North, Charles Stronge, And Patrick Sweeney, The Complete World Encyclopedia Of Guns, Hermes House, 88-89 Blackfriars Road, London, England
Hogg, Ian V., The New Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Firearms, Wellfleet Press, 110 Enterprise Avenue, Secaucus, New Jersey, 07094
Roberts, Joseph B. Jr., Firearms Assembly, The Nra Guide To Pistols And Revolvers, National Rifle Association Of America, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Stevenson, Jan, “The Parabellum Story,” July 1969 Gunfacts Magazine, Hazard Publications. Available On The Internet At
Thompson, Leroy, The Swiss Luger, Military Surplus Collector’s Guide 2014, Harris Publications, Inc., 1115 Broadway, Nyc, New York 10010
Take a look at the new Osight R, the company’s first rifle reflex sight!
Sponsored Content
Osight has been making pistol red dots for a while now, but the company has just taken its first foray into rifle optics with the new Osight R. It was designed with close-to-mid-range engagements in mind, whether that be for training, self-defense, hunting, competition, or tactical applications.
The Osight R has a large 1.10”x0.87” viewing window with advanced multi-coated lenses that should provide a wide, clear sight picture for rapid engagement and target transitions. As for its reticle, you can switch between a 2-MOA red dot for more precise shooting, a 65-MOA circle, or a combination of both. It has a total of 12 brightness settings, 9 daylight and 3 night vision, and a quick-access NV button for rapidly switching between modes.
To conserve battery life, the optic will power off after 3 minutes of inactivity and reactivate once it detects even slight movement. Once the battery does drop low enough, the reticle will triple-flash once per minute to alert the user. Also, once the Osight R is activated, it will automatically default to the last selected brightness level. Osight says that the 2-MOA dot on brightness level 5 can last 83,000 hours.
The Osight R is rugged, too, thanks to its 7075-T6 aluminum construction and IPX8 waterproof rating. The lenses can be further protected by the glass fiber reinforced polyamide Protective Lens Cover System. The covers are removable, and the front one can also be replaced with the included anti-reflective device (ARD) to help reduce glare.
As for mounting the Osight R, it uses the Micro T1/T2 footprint and ships with a lower 1/3 co-witness mount. Customers who purchase an Osight R from the official Osight Amazon store between September 21st and October 25th will receive a free 1.93” high mount as well (must be manually added to cart).
Each Osight R ships with a lower 1/3 co-witness mount, an adjustment tool, 6 mounting screws, 2 protective cover lenses, an anti-reflective device, a cleaning cloth, a user manual, an Osight sticker, and the necessary CR2032 battery to power the optic. MSRP is $279.99.
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.
Looking to go armed, but are stuck in the weeds as to what to arm yourself with? Here are 20 of the best concealed carry gun options that will keep you on the defensive.
