If you've ever seen the translucent polymer AR-15 mnagazines that couple together, or the equally opaque Glock mags, you've seen some of ETS' products. Built from high-impact, translucent polymer, these mags allow shooters to quickly check remaining stores of ammo in a magazine at a glance.

These magazines have been tremendously popular, and on the heels of this sucess, ETS has released their own take on the Glock 42 and 43 magazines. More in the press release below.

For Immediate Release

May 26, 2017: The ETS Group is proud to announce the release of their new line of 42 and 43 Glock® clear polymer magazine models. All ETS Glock® 42 and 43 magazine models are single stack and each standard model holds 7 rounds, as opposed to the 6 rounds standard Glock® factory magazines hold. Also available are ETS’s 9 and 12 round versions, an industry first! ETS’s GLK-42-9 and GLK-43-9 models are only .75 inches longer than the standard 7-round magazine and allow for a better grip and control of the handgun. ETS’s clear polymer magazines feature extreme impact resistance so they won’t crack when dropped. The durable construction ensures the feed lips won’t spread when fully loaded and stored.

 

Available Models

 

.380 caliber – Fits Glock® 42 Model

GLK-42    7 round (flush fit) 3.5" long             $16.99

GLK-42-9    9 round - 4.25" long                      $21.99

GLK-42-12   12 round - 5.5" long                    $21.99

 

 

9mm - Fits Glock® 43 Model

GLK-43   7 round (flush fit) 3.5" long              $16.99

GLK-43-9    9 round - 4.25" long                      $21.99

GLK-43-12    12 round - 5.5" long                   $21.99

 

This is great news for shooters who want more options than the standard OEM magazines, but given how reliable these mags are, I can't help buy wonder, 'why?' Sure, they offer some increase to capacity, but for carry guns, reliability trumps capacity. Better to have a 5-round mag that always works, than a finnicky extended one.

Earlier this year, Smith & Wesson released new versions of the M&P pistol. Called the M2.0, the new guns offer a variety of new features and an evolved design. I’ve had one for the past few months, and I have been shooting it…a lot. The short story: it’s a great new gun worth of the M&P moniker. For the longer story, read on.

The Back Story

When the smoke cleared from the pistol wars of the 1980s, Glock was the clear winner. Many police departments were ready to make the swap from revolvers to a modern handgun, and the new plastic gun from Austria was the right gun at the right time.

By the mid-1990s, most law enforcement agencies had transitioned to a Glock pistol, and traditional gun manufacturers like Smith & Wesson, Beretta and SIG SAUER were trying to catch up.

Perhaps hardest hit by the massive switch by law enforcement was Smith & Wesson. Smith & Wesson wheel guns rode in the duty holsters of a lot of cops. Colt revolvers were also popular, but it seemed Smith held the edge through the mid-80s. Since that time, the company has seemingly struggled to find a pistol line that resonated with consumers and law enforcement agencies.

Efforts like the Sigma and the SW99 collaboration with Walther failed to keep pace with other striker-fired, polymer framed guns. However, the company finally gained its footing in the market with the M&P series of handguns.

In 2005, Smith & Wesson’s new M&P line rejuvenated its sales to both the law enforcement and personal defense markets. The new line of pistols started with full size duty guns in a variety of calibers and would expand to include compact, competition and subcompact models like the Smith & Wesson Shield.

The guns were well built, seemed to be reasonably durable and were marketed extremely well. However, nothing is perfect and the company began work on the next generation of pistols: the M&P M2.0. These new pistols were unveiled at the 2017 SHOT Show.

The New M2.0

The M2.0 guns are an evolution of the original M&P pistol instead of something completely new. Considering the success of the original guns, this makes a lot of sense: enhance a successful product instead of trying to engineer something new.

Paul Carlson does an excellent job of explaining the differences in the two guns in his article here. I suggest reading that for a run-down of the updates made to the guns. 

Smith & Wesson was kind enough to send me one of the M&P9 M2.0 pistols for review. This is a full size 9mm pistol. Since I have a personally owned M&P9, I figured this would make for a good comparison gun. As it turns out, I really appreciated having the two guns side by side to compare.

Grip

The single greatest improvement in the M2.0 is the grip texture. I liked the original texture just fine, but the M2.0 is vastly superior. 

Smith & Wesson is using an aggressive new texture that really locks the hand to the grip. The texture did not seem to be abrasive enough to ruin clothes like the RTF2 texture that Glock tried for a brief period of time. It is, however, much rougher than the original M&P pebble-like grip.

The texture does not hurt or abrade the hand when shooting for long periods of time. It really seems like the perfect texture for a fighting handgun.

Trigger

One of the biggest complaints about the original pistols heard around the internet was that the trigger was mushy. While I agree that the original trigger was not as crisp as some other pistols, it was not a bad trigger. However, the internet gun forums can be a bit of an echo chamber and if the same thing is repeated enough, everyone just assumes it is true.

Smith & Wesson did change the feel of the trigger pull on the new gun. Whether that is better or worse is a matter of opinion. Frankly, I was not impressed by it. Yes, it had a harder break point that some people will like. However, I felt the trigger was less smooth overall.

Of the two trigger types, I actually preferred the original. I know many people may disagree with me. That’s ok. I just suggest you try one out in a local gun shop before accepting that it is better.

Shooting

Shooting this pistol was very pleasant. The gun is accurate and recoil was very mild.

While the trigger is not everything I hoped it would be, the grip makes up for that shortcoming. Rapid fire was easy since there was little muzzle flip and the grip texture helped to prevent any slipping of the gun in my hand.

At the time of this writing, I’ve put more than 1,500 rounds through the sample gun, and it has had no malfunctions of any kind. I ran more than a dozen different loads through the gun including 115 grain, 124 grain and 147 grain hollowpoint and self-defense loads. That is a strong indicator that the gun will be ready should you ever need it to defend yourself.

Magazine Compatibility

The 9mm pistol ships with a pair of 17 round magazines. One of the things that I was particularly curious about was whether the old magazines would run in the new gun. As it turns out, yes they will.

I spoke to a Smith & Wesson representative at the SHOT Show, and he said the older magazines were completely compatible with the M2.0 guns. However, I also confirmed this with the review gun. I have several factory magazines with my original M&P9, and I ran each one in the new gun. All of the magazines reliably fed the new gun with all kinds of ammunition. So, if you can find any used Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm magazines, grab them for use in your new M2.0 pistol.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I think the M2.0 is a great advancement of the M&P line. If I was in the market for a full size handgun, I would happily consider it. While I think the trigger is better on other guns – the HK VP9 being one of the best in this category of pistol – the grip is truly superior to many competitors.

Will the M2.0 expand Smith & Wesson’s footprint in the law enforcement and personal protection markets? Yes, I think so. I don’t expect the company to corner the market, but I would not be surprised to find out that the updated guns help the company to gain new customers.

While firearms are considered a mature technology – one that will only evolve in small increments, as the science and engineering behind it is basically totally understood – very few engineers have attempted to apply lessons learned in current designs to older ones.

One advancement in particular is especially noteworthy to us – magazines.

The word magazine originates from the artillery/cannonry term by the same name. Whether its referring to hand-held firearms, or artillery emplacements, magazines hold ammunition for a firearm or gun.

Interestingly enough, naval ships have magazines as well, and they are normally large enough to park a truck inside of. Additionally, magazines for these types of weapons usually separate the projectile from the power charge. Though this is because these guns have explosive warheads, whereas most shoulder-fired weapons only launch solid, inert projectiles.

Regardless, magazines are an important part of any ammunition-fed weapon. They can single-handedly make or break a design – just ask American soldiers who got some of the bad batches of M9 magazines during the early days of the Afghanistan invasion. And with that being the case, any firearm that utilizes an unreliable, or lackluster magazine is doomed to failure, or at least won’t live up to its potential.

In my experience of having shot tens of thousands or rounds of ammo through hundreds of guns, here are two World War 2 guns, that use the wrong magazine.

Walther P1/P-38

The standard issue sidearm of the Wehrmacht in World War 2, and the German military during the Cold War, the P-1 was the first double, single-action semi-automatic firearm issued to a military in substantial numbers.

The gun is very well-balanced, despite the all-steel version tipping the scales at nearly two pounds unloaded. The Walther replaced the Parabellum 08, more commonly known as the Luger that was in service during the First World War – though examples of the Luger were still in service up until the very end of the war.

The gun was praised by soldiers for its reliability, accuracy and soft-shooting nature. Indeed, the hefty gun utilizes short-recoil, locked breech and is chambered in 9mm parabellum – a seriously winning combo. But one of the biggest boons of the 9mm cartridge (at least in modern times) is how capacious the magazines of firearms chambered in it are – and this is where the P-38/P-1 falls short of greatness.

Both the original P-38 and the more modern P-1, only hold eight rounds of ammunition. And if you’re thinking, maybe it’s like an M1911 or a Luger, and has such a thin grip that the magazine capacity can’t be increased, think again. The Luger replacement, has a grip nearly as wide as that of a Beretta Model 92 – a gun that holds 15 rounds of ammo.

Though in the gun’s defense, the concept of double-stack magazines hadn’t really caught on yet, but the Browning Hi-Power was shipping with 13-round magazines around the same time of the P-38’s issuance.

What’s the solution then?

While the P-38 can be forgiven for using such limited capacity mags, the modern version should have been modified to accept more capacious feeding devices. In particular, the Beretta Model 92’s. Imagine that – the heft of the P-38 and its iconic appearance combined with the deep ammo reserves of the model 92. Hell, the model 92 now even has reliable 20-round magazines available for it. Add a threaded barrel, and you’ve have the ultimate, stylish suppressor host.

The M1 Garand

I can already feel the hate mail hurdling towards my inbox – but give me a second to explain.

Yes, I really love the, “Greatest battle implement ever devised…” but I’m also realistic about its shortcomings. The en bloc clip system used to recharge the internal 8-round magazine is a great idea, but one totally surpassed by detachable, box-type, stagger-columned magazines.

For the uninitiated, the M1 Garand was the standard issue rifle of the US military in World War 2 and Korea, and was the first semi-automatic rifle to be accepted as standard issue to any sizable military.

It operates VIA long-stroke, piston action and is chambered in .30-06 – a seriously powerful cartridge. The Garand has been praised by soldiers in the field for its ability to easily dispatch enemies, defeat light cover and for its rugged reliability. Though given the American military’s small unit combat doctrine of, “Find, Fix, Flank, and finish” more capacious magazines would have been tremendously helpful.

Basically, the SOP for squads in combat was to identify a target (find), suppress said target (fix) with machine gun and rifle fire, while a flanking (flank) element circled around and destroyed the target from the side or rear (finish).

Because the aforementioned tactic revolved around putting as much lead in a target’s vicinity as possible, the more rounds a soldier can hold in his rifle before reloading, the better. With a measly 8-rounds, it takes four to six soldiers firing sporadically while reloading at different times to really suppressor an enemy squad.

The solution?

The Beretta BM-59.

Following the fall of the Fascist Italian Government at the end of the Second World War, Italy became a close ally of the US, and eventually a member of NATO. In an effort to stem the spread of Communism in Europe, the US issue a policy of lend lease equipment.

In this policy, the US would lend older equipment to allies in dire need of military aid, using lease-style payments of those countries to bank roll its own modernization programs for arms and equipment. As such, Italy was issued huge amounts of M1 Garands to replace their lackluster Carcano rifles in service.

After using these guns for a few years, the Italian military decided to modify the gun into a magazine-fed design, and change the caliber to 7.62x51 NATO. These both increase the combat effectiveness of the weapon, while making their standard-issue firearm comply with the standard caliber directive of NATO-member countries.

If you’re thinking to yourself, “wait, isn’t that just an M14?” you’re partially correct. Internally, they are very similar, but the gas system on the M14 is improved, yet the Garand is known to be more reliable and more comfortable to shoot. The latter is due to the Garand’s heavier weight, but the reliability is most likely due to where each rifle saw combat.

The M-14 is rarely referred to as unreliable, but usually isn’t praised as much as Garand. But in all fairness, the M14 mostly saw action in the jungles of Vietnam, where are hellacious on any design. Yes, the Garand saw similar climates in the Pacific, but beaches aren’t as rough on firearms as swamps, and endless humidity with no wind to dry things off.

In both cases, these firearms were successful in their own right – and I don’t think anyone with any knowledge on the subject would argue otherwise. But at the same time, both firearms could be vastly more combat effective with a more capacious magazine. Though in the case of the P-38, we should count or lucky stars it didn’t. 

Bad Element Company has recently released a single round AK magazine that doubles as a keychain/bottle opener. They are basically taking their cut down magazine service an extra step and cutting the magazine down to only hold one round. The bottle opening feature is actually a characteristic inherent in AK magazines. AK47 mags were originally designed to be made of steel. The steel feed lips are spaced just right to act as a bottle opener.

As I mentioned above, Bad Element Company offers a cut down service for AK magazines. So you can get magazines in 20 rd, 15rd or 10 rd capacities. Or if you want something different they can make it happen.

A more interesting customization they provide is cutting windows into the AK magazines so you can see how many rounds you have. Below you can see a triangle and hashmarks engraved into the magazine body. This is an additional modification. It is a round capacity indicator.

Here is another version with a little more aesthetic styling.

Their Analog Gauge Magazine costs $69.99 for a standard version. The circle indicator or tanker version costs $99.99. I think this includes the magazines.

From what I have seen on their website, it looks like they only modify metal magazines and not polymer ones like the Magpul PMAGs.

But some of their services are rather inexpensive. Window cuts in a mag are only $20 for the conversion. Their single round magazine is sold for $25 and their cut down magazines are $30.

On top of box magazine customization, they can also limit magazines for those in states that have capacity restrictions. They offer riveting services for your standard AK mags and even the 75 round drums.

If you are interested in having your metal AK mags modified check them out at BadElementCo.com

If you need metal magazines to modify, get them here on our website.

Ruger is a company that listens to its customers and delivers what they want. If you are a Ruger fan, you are very likely to be pleased by how the company operates and what kinds of product introductions it makes.

The latest product announcement from the company is the American Rimfire Stainless rifle.

The American Rimfire rifles have been described as bolt action versions of the 10/22. While that is not strictly accurate, there are reasons why people will closely associate the two guns. One of the most obvious reasons is that the American Rimfire feeds from Ruger 10/22 magazines.

As the American Rimfire rifle line is relatively new – certainly not as old as the 10/22 line – there is a lot of opportunity for new versions of the gun to be made. That’s where the new Stainless model comes in.

Three new Stainless versions of the standard sized American Rimfire are now available. All share the same features and specifications, but are chambered for three different rimfire rounds: .22 LR, .22 WMR and .17 HMR. For those that grew up in a house like my own, the .22 WMR is also known as the .22 Magnum.

All of the new rifles have a stainless steel barrel (416 steel) with a satin stainless finish. The barrel are 18” long and have been threaded (1/2”-28) for the addition of a sound suppressor or other muzzle device. Each of the barrels are cold hammer forged. Both the receiver and bolt have a satin stainless finish as well. 

On these guns, Ruger did away with the typical iron sights. Instead, the company includes an aluminum scope rail that is mounted on the receiver at the factory. This allows for the relatively easy installation of a scope or other optic. A lot of people wind up adding glass to these guns, and when you consider that some suppressors can interfere with the sight picture when using regular sights, it makes a lot of sense just to include the rail.

As with the original Ruger American Rimfire, these Stainless models have black synthetic stocks. The stock can be fitted in several different ways to adjust the length of pull and cheek rise. This makes it much easier to fit the gun to you without investing in an expensive aftermarket stock. 

Sometimes, a company will charge a lot more money for a stainless version of a gun. While these are more expensive than the blued versions, the cost increase is not very much. All three calibers have a suggested retail price of $429. For comparison, the blued American Rimfire with a threaded barrel is $389.

Despite the fact that firearm sound suppressors are mechanically very simplistic – often having no moving parts – they can differ wildly in performance. Two silencers with identical forms, can sound totally different depending on the materials used and the method of attachment.

Further compounding these difficulties, is how tough it is for humans to objectively measure sound by ear. People with previous hearing damage, atmospheric conditions like humidity and inconsistent subjective methods all make determining the best-performing silencer for the money, very difficult.

The best way to figure out which sound suppressor objectively performs best, is to use expensive decibel-measuring sound level meters. The obvious issue with that, is most of these meters are vastly more expensive than the suppressors themselves.

That being the case, how am I supposed to objectively review a suppressor?

With help.

Which is why I approached the tech specialists at SilencerShop.com to get access to their decibel readings on the cans in question, to help ensure the most objective results,

With this in mind, I’ve set out to put up every rifle can I can get my hands on, against my personal suppressor – the SilencerCo Saker 762. The first in this lineup, is a company local to me here in South Carolina – Innovative Arms.

Innovative Arms was founded only a few short years ago, but have been making a name for themselves in the suppressor industry for their affordable, yet high-quality designs. One model in particular that I’ve wanted to put head to head against my beloved Saker, is their interceptor 762.

The Interceptor is a user-serviceable, all-steel design available in two different configurations. The first is a standard direct-thread model with a 5/8x24 thread pitch. The second, utilizes a quick detach (QD) mount.

For the purpose of this review, I’ll be looking at the standard direct thread version and comparing it to my Saker with a direct thread base installed.

The Interceptor tips the scales at 22 ounces – the majority of this weight is due to its solid-steel construction. The .30 caliber can runs just over seven and a half inches long, and retails for $899. According to Innovative Arms’ website, the interceptor is capable of between 33 and 36 decibel reduction.

According to SilencerShop’s equipment, when measured one meter from the muzzle, the Interceptor reduced (on average) the volume of a 168gr .308 round fired from a bolt-action rifle with a 20 inch barrel by 27.1db. Additionally, the sound of the shot at the shooter’s ear, was reduced by 35.1db. This leads us to believe Innovative measured their tests from the shooter’s location, not the muzzle – which makes sense.

Compare that to tests done by Tim Harmsen over at Military Arms Channel of my Saker 762, which on average reduced the shot volume by 30 decibels. Though this was with an 18in barrel, and with lighter, 147gr ammunition.

At first glance, a difference of roughly five decibels seems minor, but you have to consider that decibels are a logarithmic unit of measurement. Meaning, each decibel represents a sound being perceived as twice as loud.

Does that mean the Interceptor is ten times quieter than the Saker?

Probably not. Given the lack of consistent variables like load, barrel length, and atmospheric conditions.

So is this comparison worthless?

No.

Because there are a few important pieces of data we can gather from this test, to help make a practical decision when buying a suppressor. For instance, the sound level meter for MAC’s test was placed near the muzzle in both instances. In the Interceptor test, when the measured one meter from the muzzle, the interceptor only reduced the volume of the shot by 27.1db.

What’s the takeaway?

Basically, that given that both the Saker and the Interceptor are both built from stainless steel, and that both are similar in length and diameter (and thus in internal volume) that both will perform similarly. Though, given the slightly longer length of the Interceptor, it should slightly outperform the 762 Saker.

 That said, if both guns were running subsonic ammunition, the difference would be substantially reduced, as subsonic rounds produce less gas, and thus need less space to adequately (and slowly) expand as to not produce a loud, ‘bang’ at the business end of the suppressor.

Also, given that both cans are made from stainless steel and are rated for full-auto use, their db reduction needs to be considered in conjunction with their auto-compatibility. This in turn, should be taken in to account with a shooter’s needs.

For example, I’ve got a select-fire M16 that belongs to an associate with an SOT, that he often brings over for videos and testing. Both the Saker and the Interceptor are better options than quieter cans that are no rated for full auto use. – And for the morbidly curious among you, running a can with a detachable end cap that isn’t full-auto rated, usually results in launching all of the baffles and said endcap roughly 15-25 yards downrange.

If you’re lucky, the threads aren’t stripped, if you’re unlucky, the can could catastrophically fail and kaboom. So, read up before buying any can.

Overall,  given the somewhat limited data on hand, I have to say the Interceptor seems on par with the Saker, and both are hearing safe with the ammo I have on hand. Though, to be more thorough, I’ll be purchasing a decibel reader in the near future, and providing more comprehensive results.

As far as the Interceptor’s durability, I’ve fired thousands of rounds through it on bolt-action rifles like Ruger’s Precision Rifle, as well as DSA’s FAL rifle (with thread adaptor) and even .300 blackout in full auto, and it has seen no perceivable degradation. This is true both for its structural integrity, and sound performance. We’ll try more calibers and more guns in the part two review coming soon.

As it stands, I would recommend either can to anyone interested in a .30 caliber suppressor or multi-caliber can, and would only distinguish between the two for shooters living in the home states of each suppressor-maker. I say this, because it allows them to buy straight from the factory, and a substantial reduction in wait times.

Colt’s Manufacturing Company (aka “Colt”) announced it would now manufacture its Competition Pistol with the Series 70 firing system. For 1911 shooters that dislike Series 80 pistols, this is sure to be good news.

According to the information provided by the company, Colt will make the new Series 70 Competition Pistols with the same features as the existing Series 80 pistols. This includes a front fiber optic sight, Novak adjustable rear sight, custom G10 stocks, and undercut trigger guard and a 5” National Match barrel. The guns also have a dual spring recoil system to help manage felt recoil and muzzle flip.

70 vs 80 Systems

If you are not a 1911 enthusiast, you might be confused by the differences between Series 70 and Series 80 pistols. In a nutshell, the Series 70 design is the older Colt design while the Series 80 is a newer design that adds a physical drop safety mechanism.

A drop safety is a mechanism that prevents a gun from firing if it falls and hits a hard surface. There are numerous recorded incidents of guns of all types from a variety of manufacturers that have discharged when dropped. Frequently, these kinds of incidents will result in a lawsuit, so they are often well documented.

The Series 80 drop safety mechanism was developed to arrest the firing pin and prevent it from moving until the trigger is pressed. It includes additional parts to positively secure the firing pin. Many 1911 shooters do not like the Series 80 system as they claim the system ruins the trigger pull.

A drop safety mechanism was not the only change between the 70 and 80 guns. Series 80 guns also had redesigned hammers and a solid barrel bushing, for example, neither of which have anything to do with the firing pin block. However, the drop safety mechanism tends to generate the biggest debate.

Pricing

The Series 70 pistols will not cost anything more than the existing Series 80 handguns. A blued Competition Pistol will run you $899, while the stainless model will cost $999. Of course, those are suggested retail prices. Your dealer will set the actual sales price.

Both blued and stainless pistols are available in 9mm and .45 ACP. If you prefer to run .38 Super, a classic 1911 pistol competition cartridge, it will cost you a bit more. Those guns cost $949 and $1,049 respectively. If you don't already have a bunch, make sure you pick up some inexpensive Colt 1911 magazines. These will help keep the gun running reliably for many years to come.

Sig Sauer MPXs are extremely popular in the pistol caliber carbine world. They can be found for around $1200 for a slightly used one or pay premium at an MSRP of around $1800. The magazines are 30 rd duble stack mags made for Sig exclusively by Lancer Systems. They are smoke polymer and with a very easy DIY hack, you can increase capacity to 35 rounds. Click here for our article on that easy DIY modification.

But did you know there there are two variations of the Sig Sauer MPX magazines? Aside from capacity differences, there are magazines for the generation 1 MPXs and different magazine for generation 2 MPXs.

The differences are sublte. The Gen 1 magazines have black followers and the gen 2 magazines have FDE followers. The feed lips have also changed. The Gen 1 mags have cut outs in the feed lips compared to the full length Gen 2 feed lips.

The gen 1 mags will work in Gen 2 MPXs. This ia a considerable savings. Gen 2 MPX magazines have an MSRP of $60. Gen 1 magazines can be found for only $20 on our site. Click here to check them out.

Well there is an even better deal, the Holiday Kit three pack. It is on our site for $75. Earlier this year it was as low as $60.

The triple mag pouch kit comes as shown.

The pouchs come in either molle or velcro backed versions. All of the Holiday Kits are velcro backed.

The velcro works well in my Vanquest IBEX-20 backpack.  The IBEX-20 has loop velcro lining the main compartment so I can carry my Gen1 MPX in the backpack and the pouch keeps the magazines at the ready.

The triple mag pouch also works well for storing your suppressor. Just remove one of the magazines and slide your suppressor inside. It fits my Osprey45 just fine so it will work with traditional round pistol suppressors.

If you do not have a bag with a loop velcron lining and you want to attach the triple mag pouch to molle, there is a solution.

The Vanquest Mohl-Air molle adapter is used to convert molle pouches to velcro. However it can be used to do the opposite.

Attach the Mohl-Air panel to your PALS loops on your range bag using the gray velcro loops. Then you can just stick the triple mag pouch to the Mohl-Air. Of course this is not a permanent solution. I would not recommend using this to attach the velcro triple mag pouch to a vest or plate carrier. Nor would it be a good idea to attach it to the outside of a bag with fully loaded magazines. It could be pulled off rather easily. This would be perfect for range bags that have molle inside the bag. My Eagle Industries soft rifle case has a section of molle panels inside the front accessory pocket. Which would be perfect for this setup.

For more info on the Holiday Kit Triple Mag Pouch with three Gen 1 MPX magazines, click here to go to our site.

Silencers are like power-steering; until you actually try it out, you have no idea how much better they can make things. Thankfully, increasingly more shooters are joining the NFA dark-side, and getting their feet wet with NFA items like sound suppressors. Despite this, most companies don't make suppressor-specific products - though that's changing.

One company that's taking the lead with this, is a company that's not shy to breaking boundries - Nordic Components. As someone who has run their magazine-tube extentions on his personal Mossberg 930, I'm a big fan of their stuff. Because fo this, I was very excited to learn they were building a new silencer-specific AR-15 handguard - the Silencer Shield. 

Nordic Components announces the NCT4, an entirely new handguard system for short-barreled, suppressed AR-15s. This patent-pending design allows users to extend the length of their handguard when using a suppressor.
 
The NCT4 comes in two lengths, with either a 6.7" or 9.5" handguard to give maximum coverage on 7.5" or 10.5/11.5" barrels. The removable shield provides over 6" of suppressor coverage and additional rail space.  Both sections are fully M-LOK compatible and feature a seamless continuous top rail.  Suppressor shield mounting is toolless, requiring only the push of a button to unlock the shield.
 
Fully compatible with standard AR15-pattern upper receivers and able to accommodate most suppressors, the NCT4 is the ultimate in protection, modularity, and mission-specificity for the suppressed short-barreled AR rifle.
 
“The current trend is for long handguards on AR-15 rifles, generally out to the end of the barrel. This allows more rail space and better mounting locations for accessories. Short-barreled rifles (SBRs) and AR pistols give up this option. However, Nordic Components set out to add a handguard extension when running SBR/Pistol AR-15s suppressed. The result is the NCT4 Suppressor Shield,” said Casey Knutson, Vice President at Nordic Components.
 
Nordic Components is currently taking pre-orders for summer delivery at NordicComp.com

Most folks that are in the know regarding the defensive use of handguns recommend carrying a spare magazine in addition to your semiautomatic concealed carry handgun.  There are plenty of reasons why this is the case such as the possibility of needing more ammunition than the capacity of the handgun, or to provide a spare magazine in the case of a malfunction.

With the development of additional models of handguns in compact sizes, capacity has become an issue in the minds of many concealed carry holders.  As a solid solution, some folks choose to carry a compact handgun and a full size magazine as their spare.

For example, I recently attended a defensive handgun course as a student and one of my classmates had a Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Compact in his holster.  The M&P 9C has a magazine capacity of 12 and is available in a flush fit or a model with a finger rest.  Several of the magazines he was using during the course were M&P Full Size mags with a capacity of 17.

It makes sense right?

Why not have an additional 5 rounds if you need to reload the gun because you are out of ammo, or reload the gun while dealing with a malfunction?

There is the rub.  Literally.  You see, it wasn’t long before the student started to have some malfunctions.  I was observing how his gun was running and the malfunctions all seemed to be related to a sluggish slide not returning fully into battery.  This is a problem I have seen before.

On the next break, with the permission of the instructor, I worked with the student to disassemble his pistol.  There was a clear witness mark on the top of the ejector where it was making solid contact with the slide and wearing the metal.  In a fully operational gun, the top of the ejector shouldn’t be in contact with the slide.

The cause was pretty simple.  When the full size magazines are inserted into the M&P Compact there is the potential for the magazine to over insert the magazine so that the notch in the body of the magazine bypasses the past the magazine catch in the grip of the pistol.  Without the notch catching on the magazine release the magazine continues until it reaches the next constriction.  This happens to be where the magazine lip meets the ejector.

Now if you imagine a reload in a self-defense oriented course or in a real life violent encounter, it’s easy to understand that the reload is probably going to be performed when the gun is at slide lock and with vigor.

The fact that the reload happens at slide lock means that there is no support for the ejector and the vigor adds a lot of force to that tiny piece of metal.  Over time, or sometimes all at once this leads to a broken or bent ejector which can induce malfunctions like we saw in the class (and I have seen multiple times before and since) or it can lead to a gun that simply doesn't work.

Broken guns are something to be avoided in both training and in real life self-defense situations.

This isn’t a knock on the Smith & Wesson M&P Pistols and their magazines.  The problem exists with many different handguns.  Most notably, the 1911.  This pistol was the first place I observed the issue while reloading a single stack 1911 with a 10 round magazine.  A reload at slide lock could result in problems.

The Smith & Wesson M&P Shield is another pistol that has a problem with over insertion.  The 9mm Shield comes with a flush fitting 7 round magazine and an extended 8 round magazine.  The 8 rounder is fitted with a sleeve or spacer that has an important purpose other than looking good.  You got it, it prevents that extended magazine from being over inserted into the gun and bending or breaking the ejector.  Unfortunately the sleeve introduces some other issues which is why I developed the Shield Plan B for the extended magazines for both the 9mm and to 40 S&W Shield.

I have been working with the Sig P320 quite a bit since its adoption by the US Army as the new handgun for the XM17 Modular Handgun System contract.  I really like the pistol, especially when I mount the full-size slide on top of a size small, compact grip, but, if I reload that combination with a full size P320 magazine instead of the 15 round compact mag, the same problem exists.

If you look at the images included in this post, you can see the witness marks where the ejector and magazine met violently.  It is that impact that can result in the damage that disables your handgun.

It makes sense to mention that not all guns suffer from these issues with the over insertion of magazines.  Most notably, extended GLOCK magazines can literally be used as a hammer while in the gun and there isn't any worry of the mag sliding past the mag stop.

If you aren’t sure if your gun might experience issues or not, test it out.  Firmly insert an empty mag into your handgun at slide lock and watch for contact with the ejector.  If no contact occurs, remove the mag and increase the force.  Also it is wise to keep an eye on your ejector.  If you are using extended magazines watch for wear on the top of the ejector (there shouldn’t be any) and keep an eye out for malfunctions where the slide speed seems to be slowed.

So the question remains as to what can be done to prevent over insertion. Luckily the answers are relatively simple.

The first solutions that I was ever introduced to was the modification of your handgun so that the slide would not lock to the rear.  Simply grinding down the tab on the slide stop lever that is lifted by the magazine follower keeps the slide from locking to the rear when the gun is empty. This method makes it impossible to over insert the magazine as the slide itself (remember it doesn't lock back, so it is forward on a reload) inhibits the extra travel of the mag.  I don’t find this to be an acceptable solution for defensive guns.  Slide lock is an important indicator of the need to reload and to eliminate that feature of the semi auto seems foolhardy.

For most folks, the most obvious solution is to just resist the temptation to use extended magazines.  Although the extra capacity is enticing, if that solution can break your gun when you need it most, it probably isn’t worth it.  If you are convinced that you need the extra capacity, carry a higher capacity gun.  Or…

If your magazine is outfitted with an aftermarket sleeve, spacer or baseplate that prevents the magazine from being over inserted, this can be an acceptable situation as long as that adaptation doesn’t introduce additional functional problems.  You can purchase adapters to make sure your full size magazine won’t over insert in you Smith & Wesson M&P Compact or in your Sig Sauer P320 Compact and adapters for other pistols are available from X-Grip at GunMag Warehouse.

With more choices comes more flexibility and more versatility.  It would seem that more choices is a good thing.  In many ways it is.  At the same time, if those choices lead to unforeseen problems, well, that is just no good at all.

Remember, if you are counting on your gun for defensive use, you have the responsibility to verify that your defensive handgun system works the way you think it does after all, when you face a violent encounter it is you that will have to work through the situation and deal with the consequences if you don't.

Elite Tactical Systems, aka ETS, makes translucent polymer magazines. Most notable for their Glock magazines. They also make a line of AR15 magazines with molded in couplers. Well recently they have collaborated with Advanced Combat Solutions to offer a blue AR15 magazine follower with a tritium insert at the back. It is used in ETS's transparent AR15 magazines.

Tritium is a low grade radioactive material. It is most commonly used in night sights for handguns. Unlike glow in the dark (GITD) material, Tritium does not require any light to charge up. It has a low glow that can been seen in the dark.

This could be used to see how many rounds are in the mag if you are looking for it in the dark. However once the follower has retreated into the magazine well you know that mag is almost out. However since tritium has such a low level of lumiecense, I am not sure how helpful this will be.

I could see this helping if you use an AR15 for home defense and you need to find a spare magazine in the dark. But once you use a light or turn the lights on, the tritium becomes useless.

I am concerned that repeated use of the magazine and this follower, carbon will seep into the magazine body just from shooting it. This could obscure and reduce the visability of the Tritium insert.

No word yet if ETS and ACS will take this design and apply it to ETS' Glock magazines. Rather than be used as low light round counter, I think it would be better suited as simply an identification and location aid. I keep my FNX45 Tactical by my beside and I like the tritium night sights so I can see where it is in the dark. The same would apply if ETS offered these followers for their Glock mags. You could have your night stand gun and mag with tritium and easly see them and locate them in the dark.

Right now they are available on ETS website for $14.99. Hopefully they wil be sold through Gun Mag Warehouse.

In the meantime, you can stock up on ETS AR mags. They are on sale for $14.99. Click here to check them out.

Armscor International posted on Facebook a specification sheet and photos of a new pistol called the RIA SF9. Launched under the Rock Island Armory (RIA) brand, little is known about the new gun beyond the information provided in the June 1 posting.

According to the provided specification sheet, the new SF9 pistol is a 9mm handgun that holds 17 rounds in the magazine. It is a striker fired pistol that has a polymer frame with a steel slide. According to the information provided by Armscor, the gun has a parkerized finish.

The gun has no manual safeties but uses a trigger safety and firing pin block to help prevent unintentional discharges. The barrel is 4" long and the gun weighs about 25 ounces with an empty magazine.

Looking at the photos, the gun has a passing resemblance to the Glock line of pistols. Frankly, the frame of the gun looked very familiar. So, I pulled up a photo of the Timberwolf frame that is sold by Lone Wolf Distributors. Sure enough, the frame of the SF9 looks to be identical to the Timberwolf frame. Is it the same? I don't know, but I put images of the two together for you to judge yourself.

The magazines could be mistaken for factory Glock 9mm magazines at first glance. I don't know if Armscor will be building its own Glock compatible magazines for this gun or if they have contracted with a third party for them. For my money, I would want to stay with the known reliability of Glock built magazines. But some of the new mags – like those built by Magpul – are said to be very good.

For me, I am most interested in the upper assembly of this pistol. I've enjoyed building a Polymer80 "lower," but don't plan to do another without a reasonably priced slide assembly. If Armscor offers a Glock compatible "upper" kit for $250-350 I would happily build another (or three) of my own handguns.

What do you think? Is a Glock compatible pistol something you would be interested in owning? Several people have told me that the Timberwolf frames are thinner and more comfortable than the standard Glock sized frame. This could make the RIA SF9 very appealing to shooters that find the “tru” Glock pistols are simply too wide.

Ruger announced a new version of an old gun that has proved to be very popular for concealed carry. The new gun is a stainless version of the LC9s pistol. Less affectionately known as the model 3273, the new LC9s Stainless share all of the same functionality as the original pistols, but with a slide that has a brushed stainless finish. For those shooters that like a two tone look, this pistol will almost certainly appeal to them.

Like the original LC9s, this pistol is chambered in 9mm. The standard Ruger LC9s magazine holds seven rounds. When you include the one round in the chamber, this gives you a full eight rounds before a reload is needed. For the most likely self-defense scenario, this is likely enough to prevail. Of course, I always recommend carrying at least one spare magazine when the gun is carried for personal protection. Unfortunately, Ruger ships the gun with only one magazine.

Ruger makes the frames from a glass filled nylon. This polymer helps keep the weight down. In fact, an unloaded gun weighs just over a pound at about 17 ounces. While polymer frames can be relatively easy to color, this model comes only in black. If you prefer a different color for your frame, you will have to talk to your local gun shop about a special order. A few distributors like Bill Hicks and Talo have paid for special runs from Ruger. These special LC9s pistols are limited in number, but can be had in a rainbow’s worth of colors.

While the slide is stainless steel, the barrel is made of an unknown type of non-stainless alloy. It is blued. There are many different alloys of steel, and stainless types are not always the best choice for a barrel. Regardless, I’ve not heard of a single person who has shot out his LC9s barrel. Since this is a compact pistol, the barrel is kept to a moderate length. In this case, the barrel length is 3.12”.

On top, Ruger uses three dot sights. These are fairly standard for handguns. While not adjustable, the windage can be adjusted by drifting the rear sight with a hammer and punch. I’ve rarely has a pistol that arrived from the factory with sights so out of whack that I needed to drift them to bring them on target.

The pricing on these guns is reasonable. Stainless models tend to command a little more money than plain blued ones, and that is true in this case. Ruger marked the LC9s Stainless with a price tag of $499. Your dealer sets the final price, so I would expect to pay a bit less than that.

Pistol caliber carbines have been around for a long time. Cowboys of the old west would sometimes carry revolvers and lever guns in the same caliber. Often this was done for compatibility purposes. Not only did you want to keep your load light when out in the field, there also wasn’t a Walmart on every corner where you could wander in and pick up two or three different loads whenever you liked.

Personally, I’ve been fascinated by pistol caliber carbines ever since I learned as a child that one could fire cartridges like a .38 Special from a rifle. As I’ve advanced through life, my firearms interests have sometimes changed, but I’ve always retained my attraction to the pistol caliber carbine.

Today, it seems, there are many other people who also share that same attraction. I’ve seen a lot of 9mm carbines at the range in recent months. Most have been AR style rifles, but I’ve also seen examples from Beretta and Kel-Tec. 

One of the most interesting 9mm rifles I’ve had a chance to shoot is the SIG SAUER MPX. This is really a high end rifle that compares very favorably to other top tier offerings currently on the market. SIG loaned me one for testing recently, and I’ve had a chance to do a bit of shooting with it. The short version is I like this gun. A lot. 

The MPX

SIG SAUER makes a lot of different products. Many of its legacy guns are considered perfect examples of the precision engineering from the blended German and Swiss company. Today, the company makes a very diverse range of products for the shooting community: everything from rangefinders and optics to hunting ammunition. At its core, however, the company is still building precision guns. The MPX is an excellent example of this.

Just looking at the gun, you can immediately surmise that this is not just another 9mm AR clone. While there are some elements that are similar to the AR series of rifles, the gun is of a completely different design.

Like an AR, the gun has a two part receiver with an upper and lower. Peering inside, some of the things look similar, while others are obviously different. One of the most obvious differences between the platforms is the operating system.

SIG uses a short stroke piston system with a rotary bolt. This has the advantage of running cooler and cleaner than a gas impingement system that is used with rifle cartridges in the AR. However, most 9mm AR rifles use a direct blowback system. Blowback is simple, but it increases the amount of force hitting your shoulder each time the gun recoils. Also, a blowback system requires something heavy – typically a heavy buffer in an AR – to counteract that rearward force.

By using a short stroke piston system, SIG ensures that the gun will have a much softer recoil than nearly any 9mm AR rifle. While you might not think that a 9mm rifle has much recoil, it can be surprisingly forceful with a blowback design. 

SIG designed the bolt carriage assembly with a dual recoil spring system. This allows the gun to function without the need for a buffer tube assembly. Consequently, SIG can use all kinds of stocks on this rifle without having to work around the receiver extension. Folding stocks are no problem for this gun. As it shipped to me, the gun I tested had a PDW-style stock that collapses to a very compact form.

Like an AR, the bolt and carriage can be accessed by pushing the takedown pin out. This allows the upper to hinge open for cleaning and inspection. If you want to completely remove the upper, push out the pivot pin and the halves separate.

One of the interesting features of this gun is how easy it is to replace the handguard. When you separate the upper from the lower, the handguard can then slip straight off the front of the assembly. If you want to go even farther, a pair of Torx screws are the only things holding the barrel in place. Remove those and you can slip the barrel right off. There is an index pin in the 6 o’clock position that allows you to properly align the barrel for reinstallation.

Included are two SIG MPX 30-round magazines. These are high quality magazines that are made for SIG by Lancer. I highly recommend picking up at least three more. This is an expensive gun, but the magazines are relatively inexpensive. Good mags are crucial to keep the gun running, and you don’t want to be caught with a poorly shaped club because you failed to purchase additional magazines.

Controls

As I previously mentioned, there are elements of this gun that are similar to the AR platform. The controls, for example, will be very familiar to anyone with experience running the AR-15 or M-16 platforms.

The safety selector is located in the same location as those found on the AR. On the MPX, however, the selector is ambidextrous. This allows you to shoot the gun either right or left handed without any issues in accessing the safety.

Another commonality in controls between the two platforms is the charging handle. The MPX uses an ambidextrous charging handle that is located in the same location as those found on the AR. Likewise, the bolt catch and magazine release are located in the same locations.

Parts Compatibility

While the two designs are different, there are some parts compatibility between the AR and MPX rifles. For example, you can replace the stock pistol grip with any standard AR pistol grip. During my testing time, I confirmed this by putting both a Magpul MOE grip and a Tyrant Designs pistol grip on the gun.

A word of caution about swapping grips. Due to a difference in the design of the two guns, there is an extra spring that is held captive by the pistol grip. So, when removing the factory grip, be careful not to lose it. Additionally, you have to use caution when fitting the new grip. You do not want to kink that second spring. (For AR builders, the “extra” spring is actually the takedown pin detent spring. Since the MPX does not have a buffer tube assembly, the spring was relocated.) 

The fire control group looks to be compatible. However, SIG SAUER recommends against using any kind of replacement that was designed for the AR. I’ve seen reports online that an AR replacement will work, but I am unwilling to go against the manufacturer recommendations on such a critical component. Geissele Automatics states it is working on a replacement MPX trigger. Based on Geissele’s other products, I look forward to trying this out when it is available. 

On the Range

The MPX is one of the sweetest shooting 9mm rifles that I’ve had a chance to shoot. Due to the gas system, the gun has less rearward push than blowback rifles. The gun’s weight also helps to reduce recoil and muzzle rise. The result is a very easy shooting gun that is easy to keep on target for multiple, rapid shots. 

I found the gun was accurate at various ranges to 50 yards. The included iron sights were good enough to keep rounds in the important parts during shooting drills. However, I would imagine most people will want to add a red dot style sight to the gun. I tried several different kinds on the SIG and found they all seemed to work very well with the rifle.

Bottom line on this gun: it is not cheap, but it is at the top of the pack for 9mm carbines. If you want one of the best 9mm rifles on the market, I recommend starting your search with this one. 

Recently I hosted Massad Ayoob, Gail Pepin and David Maglio for a Massad Ayoob Group MAG-40 Course.  The MAG-40 is a 40 hour course which is divided into two 20 hour sections.  20 hours of live-fire training on the range and 20 hours of classroom training on the Armed Citizens’ Rules of Engagement.

I have hosted each of these classes in the past, but for the first time I was able to participate in the MAG-20 Live-Fire as a shooter on the line.

Any time you have the chance to take a training course, there is the potential for learning and this class wasn’t any different.  David Maglio led the class through the curriculum designed to teach and reinforce solid fundamentals in various shooting techniques ranging in distances from 4 to 15 yards.

15 yards was where I found the most to learn and that probably isn’t a surprise to folks that take the time to shoot at moderated distances.  You see, distance magnifies your errors and really helps to show you what areas you need to improve.

What was a surprise to me was the problem I was having at 15 yards and what resolved the problem easily.  Let me explain.  My carry gun is a modified Gen 2 GLOCK 17.  The gun has a grip that has been cut to the length of a GLOCK 19 so that a 15 round GLOCK 19 mag fits flush.  In addition, I have swapped out the sights with a set of Amerlglo CAP sights with a green front sight.  The CAP sights are designed for fast acquisition of the front sight which makes sense considering that CAP stands for Combat Application.  The front sight blade is bright and wide at .140” which helps my eyes find the sight very quickly when presenting to the target.

All that width comes at a cost as I was reminded.  At 15 yards that front sight width of .140” was wider than the a-zone of the USPSA target we were using throughout the course.  When it came time to make consistent hits at distance, my group consistently opened up beyond the a-zone.  I was displeased to say the least as one of the goals I had set was to score a 300 on the final qualification.  A 300 would require all a-zone hits.

I made a quick decision just before the qualification to ditch the carry gun I was familiar with in favor of a gun with a narrower front sight blade.  I swapped out my standard gun, holster and mag pouches for a Sig P320 and it’s related gear.  My Sig is set up in a very similar manner to my GLOCK in that the slide is a full size with a small compact grip providing the same long slide with a flush fit 15 round Sig P320 magazine capacity.  I didn’t know at the time the exact width measurement of the Sig’s front sight, but I knew it was a touch narrower.  A touch narrower is exactly what I needed to keep all the shots in the a-zone and score a 300 on the 60 round qualification course.

Here is a direct number comparison between the CAP and Sig 3 dot #6 sights.

The thinner front sight and the slight increase of available light on each side of the front blade inside the rear notch made all the difference for me in the qualification and I managed to squeak out a 300.

Of course, with some time and effort I could make the CAP sights work at distance because we all know that it is the shooter not the equipment that matters.  The fact that I could be forced to make a precision shot at 15 yards in a self-defense encounter in real life has helped me realize I need to make a change to sights that find more of a balance between fast sight acquisition and precision at distance.

There is always something to be learned when you are training as long as you are open to learn it.

HM Defense is now selling a new AR-10 style rifle called the Avenger M308.

The Avenger M308 is the first of the company’s new HM10 Monobloc rifles that use barrels with integrated gas blocks. HM Defense has seen previous success with this style of barrel in its HM15 Monobloc rifle line. According to the company, these special barrels help to improve accuracy and reduce felt recoil.

HM Defense Monobloc barrels are made of 4150 Chromolly steel. The barrels are 18” long with a 1:10” twist. According to the company, the barrels are triple honed and button rifled. The gas block is designed at rifle length. As you might expect, the barrels are threaded, and the company ships the guns with one of its own custom muzzle brakes. 

The company uses a custom designed lower that is CNC machined from a billet of 7075-T6 aluminum. According to the company, the lower is manufactured to provide high rigidity while keeping weight to a minimum.

For adding accessories – and keeping you from burning your hand – the company uses one of its own 15” free float handguards. The handguard uses the Magpul M-LOK mounting system, plus it has a Picatinny type rail along the top for the easy addition of a front sight should you decide to add one. The upper also has a Picatinny rail for adding an optic or rear sight. No sights ship with the rifle.

These rifles are chambered in .308 Win and will fire 7.62 NATO as well. Although most people assume that a rifle will fire both cartridges, I have seen a few guns that would run .308 Win well but have problems with true 7.62 NATO rounds. 

A single 10-round 7.62 Magpul Gen M3 PMAG ships with the gun. While this is fine to get you started, no weapon with a detachable magazine should have fewer than five spare magazines. The ammunition feeding device is a common point of failure, and having spare mags on hand only makes sense. Of course, you can also upgrade capacity to 20-round Magpul PMAGs as well.

The new Avenger M308 rifles has a suggested retail price of $1,895. They are available in two colors: tungsten (shown above) and field dark earth.

A new pistol, the Rex Zero 1T was recently introduced by Arex and will be offered in the United States through its importing partner FIME Group. The new guns are an extension of the existing Arex brand and are chambered for the 9mm cartridge.

Considered a “tactical” gun, the pistols offer a number of changes from the original Rex Zero 1. These changes include the use of a threaded barrel, inclusion of 20-round magazines and cutting the top of the slide so that a variety of red dot style optics can be used on the gun. Let’s go over these in a bit more detail.

The barrel is 4.9” long with a 1.5x28 thread pattern. It comes with a thread protector. For comparison, standard Rex Zero 1 pistols have a 4.25” barrel. The threaded barrel is obviously intended for use with a sound suppressor.

For that reason, Arex replaced the original sights with taller sights that are much more likely to extend above any 9mm silencer you attach to the pistol. As a bonus, the rear raised sight should allow for easy use during a one hand slide manipulation on a hard surface.

Of course, the attached sights are not the only way to aim the pistol. Arex cut the slide for mounting an optic. Included with the gun are four different mounting plates that allow you to fit a number of different red dot sights to the gun. Aimpoint, Trijicon, C-More, Meopta and Vortex are just a  few of the brands that are supported by Arex out of the box.

Original guns come with 17-round magazines, but this model ships with a pair of 20-round magazines. The mags to extend slightly below the butt of the gun. While this does little to enhance control of the gun when shooting – the grip is already full sized – they do allow for better malfunction clearing. Should you get a double feed in the gun, you will likely need to strip the magazine from the pistol to get it back in action. Having a broad baseplate allows you better grip on the magazine; that should make it much easier to pull out of the gun.

These guns are available with either a black or two-tone black and tan finish. Both carry the same suggested retail price: $869.99. This puts them fairly close in terms of price to the SIG SAUER P226 pistols that they resemble.

Special note: the magazines between the Rex Zero line and the classic SIG pistols are not interchangeable even though they look similar. If you have a stack of SIG P226 magazines, they will not work (without modification) in the Arex pistols.

Dave Fillers was the founder and owner of Destructive Devices Industries (DDI). They made some awesome AKs and imported an AK style shotgun dubbed the DDI12. At the beginning of the year Palmetto State Armory (PSA) bought DDI for their AK manufacturing ability. So now Dave is continuing some of his old work that PSA is not interested in.

Welcome to SDS Imports. They are starting off with the CH-12 aka the Cheetah 12. The CH-12 is a  Chinese made 12 gauge shotgun that SDS Imports is importing.Here is a list of the features it will have out of the box.

• Hammer forged bolt for increased strength and long life.

• Any Saiga 12 style magazine is compatible.

• Chrome lined 19” barrel, 3” chamber.

• Left side charging handle.

• Bolt hold open button.

• Adjustable rear sight with a fiber optic front sight.

• Any aftermarket AK pistol grip will fit.

• The fixed stock can be removed and an AR buffer tube attached so that an AR collapsible stock can be added easily.

• Reversible rear sling loop initially set up for right hand shooters and can be switched to left side.

• AR15 style ambidextrous selectors, one is longer than the other and they can be switched to either side to suit the shooter.

• Removable FCG cartridge.

• Barrel threaded for Saiga style compensators.

• Front forearm can be replaced with Saiga rails and aftermarket forearms.

• Replacement parts available.

• Four position gas system. Off, Low, Medium and High.

• The back portion of the dust covered is secured additionally by the use of a re-designed recoil spring guide which has two small spears that insert into two small holes in the rear of the dust cover.

• Comes with one year manufacturer warranty for defects and workmanship.

 

 

 

The shotgun looks very promising. There were some issues with the original DDI12s. Hopefully these issues will be addressed and rectified in the new CH-12. They will have an MSRP of $649.95. Dave is sending me one to test and evaluate. I will let you know how it runs.

After the recent news of VEPR being banned due to US Sanctions, the SDS Imports CH-12 might be your next magazine fed shotgun of choice. Right now they are available on SDS Imports' website and we are having a sale on SGM Saiga and Vepr magazines. Click here to check out the SGM Tactical Magazine 30% off sale.

My EDC CCW is a Sig Sauer P938. I have modified it a bit so I pay attention to any interesting developments with the pistol. Step in Eric Galloway of Galloway Precision. He machined a Sig P938 slide and made a mounting plate for a Shield Sights JPoint MRDS. Add a tall front sight and you have a slide mounted red dot with cowitnessing irons on a SigP938!

The ShieldSights JPoint is the smallest red dot that I know of. When mounted onto a Glock MOS, the factory Glock sights will co-witness with the JPoint.  No other mini red dot sight (MRDS) can claim that. So I see why Eric went with this optic over other red dots.

My only compliant is the front sight does not have the tritium insert like the factory irons. I am not a fan of black blade sights. I prefer some contrast. Even a fiber optic rod would be better than this. But that is merely my personal preference. Im really using the JPoint 99% of the time and the irons are just there as a backup.

Right now Galloway Precision has a 10% sale on the custom milling and optic mounting plate.

Our in house work package includes optic mount plate, milling of the slide, front sight and installation of all for $225 which includes return shipping and insurance. Email tech@gallowayprecision.com for any questions and shipping instructions.

The optic plate and custom milling also works on the smaller Sig P238 pistol.

For P938 magazines needs check out our selection of mags here.

Eric also works on M&P Shields. The Shield is a simple custom milling job. No mounting plate needed like the P938. As you can see below, the slide still has the factory iron sights.

And yes, the factory iron sights still co-witness the JPoint.

Here is the M&P Shield compared to my M&P9 CORE. Both have the JPoint red dot. Layed out they do not look that much different.

It is only when you look at them from the top, you can really see how much smaller the Shield is compared to the full size CORE.

While the M&P Shield customization is not listed on Galloway Precision's website, you can contact them about this custom mill work.

For all your M&P Shield magazine needs check out our website, they are currently on sale.

With panic buying waning, companies like Sturm, Ruger & Co are introducing new models and variants as a way to boost sales. New versions of existing gun designs can bring in repeat buyers and entice shooters to consider a line that had been overlooked before.

Case in point: the Ruger SP101 Match Champion. In one form or another, the SP101 has been around for nearly 30 years. During that time, the wheel gun developed a reputation as a dependable revolver that is suitable for just about anything you can throw at it. It has been chambered in three magnum cartridges – the .32, .327 and .357 – as well as other rounds like the .22 LR, .38 Special and 9mm.

With the .38 Special cartridges, the cylinder will hold five rounds. This puts it in competition with Smith & Wesson’s J-frame revolvers. However, many people will advise that the stainless steel SP101 will withstand a great deal more abuse than the typical aluminum frames used by Smith & Wesson. Of course, the tradeoff is that the Ruger guns are heavier. For a pocket gun, that can be a big deal. 

The new Match Champion, however, is no pocket gun. Rather, it is a full-size revolver with a 4.2” barrel and semi-custom grips that is said to deliver competition level accuracy. Ruger adds an 11˚ target crown to the barrel for optimum precision.

I find the new gun is quite interesting. Since it uses the standard SP101 frame, it only packs five .357 Magnum rounds into the cylinder. This puts you at a capacity disadvantage, but offers a revolver that is 8 ounces lighter than its bigger brother: the six shot GP100 Match Champion. A five round cylinder is also thinner than a six rounder, meaning the gun could be easier to conceal should you want to use this gun for personal protection.

In my experience, the sights are good for either target shooting or self-defense. Up front is a bright green fiber optic sight that should be easy to see in a range of lighting conditions. It appears to be fairly large, so I would expect it to gather a lot of ambient light and provide the brightest aiming reference possible. The rear sight is a simple adjustable sight.

A lot of the match grade work is not visible. Specifically, the company polishes and centers the internals for a smooth double action pull. The single action trigger pull is said to be crisp and consistent.

I like the look of this gun a lot more than I would have imagined. While I don’t see myself carrying it for self-defense, I would have a great deal of fun using it to punch holes in paper. Although it is perfectly capable of hot magnum loads, mild 148 grain wadcutters would be my load of choice to see just how good I could get with it. My only problem would be keeping it clean. But, I guess that’s what they make cleaning kits for.