It’s been a long time coming, but it is now here: the .410 bore shotgun from American Tactical. Called the Omni Hybrid 410, the new AR-style shotgun combines several of American Tactical’s technologies with several years of development.

I got a sneak peek of this gun at a firearms wholesaler show in 2014. Even though I would have liked to seen it on the market sooner, it appears the company took its time to make sure the final product would deliver the performance shooters demand.

Ok, so what is this new gun? At its most basic description, it is an AR-style shotgun that uses a short stroke piston and is built on a polymer and metal “hybrid” lower. It can run a range of 2.5” .410 bore shells and feeds from a detachable magazine. 

Lower

The Omni Hybrid 410 uses the company’s own AR15 Omni Hybrid lower receiver. This is a polymer lower that uses an over molded buffer tube insert for additional strength at the weakest part of all standard AR lowers. This over molded insert wraps down from the buffer tube collar and extends to the rear takedown pin hole. This provides a great deal more strength at this critical area than other polymer lowers can offer.

Other AR uppers can be dropped on this lower. So, if you want to shoot 5.56 NATO or 300 BLK with this lower – no problem.

Upper Assembly

The gun uses an 18.5” barrel and has a birdcage style muzzle device on the end. If you need to add an accessory, the company includes a 13” handguard with KeyMod attachment points. The uppers are built to normal AR specifications and can be dropped onto most other brands of AR lowers that are built to military specs.

Ammo & Magazines

American Tactical states that these guns will run on most 2.5” .410 bore ammo including birdshot, buckshot and slugs. However, the company discovered during its testing that some of the ammunition on the market is advertised as 2.5”, but is actually longer. These longer shells may not run reliably in these guns.

American Tactical recommends measuring the shells of any ammo you purchase to ensure it conforms to the 2.5” length. Of course, the company also sells its own 2.5” .410 bore ammo. I would imagine these guns will run those loads just fine.

A single 5-round magazine ships with the Omni Hybrid 410. Additional 5- and 15-round magazines are available. Frankly, who doesn’t want a 15-round shotgun magazine to run in one of these guns?

Pricing

When I first saw the prototype gun almost three years ago, I was told that the shotguns would have a MSRP of $650. As time passes, costs tend to increase. So, I was pleasantly surprised to see the suggested retail price of the shipping guns was less than the projection from years ago. The actual shipping MSRP is $599.95. Well done, American Tactical.

Is there a perfect concealed carry pistol? Probably not. I suppose the best we can hope for is to find one that works very well for our needs in a specific situation. Some guns work better with certain clothing styles than others, while some guns may be better tailored for the environment you expect to find yourself in. For example, a full size 1911 might be good under a winter jacket, but a Ruger LCP in a pocket might be the best you can manage in an office environment.

In recent years, the striker-fired, single-stack pistol has become a battleground for manufacturers trying to capture a larger piece of the concealed carry market. It seems every company is now making at least one model for this specific niche. I’ve had the opportunity to shoot many of them, and I am the proud owner of several. One of the pistols that is often overlooked, however, is the Bersa BP line of concealed carry pistols.

Bersa and Concealed Carry

I first discovered the line when the BP9CC was announced in the United States a few years back. The gun caught my attention as it was a big step away from the pistols I was used to seeing from the company.

Bersa is an Argentinian company, and to the American buyer, the company was possibly best known for its Thunder series of pistols. Those guns were, and still are, popular pistols that have achieved a good reputation for reliability at an affordable price.

However, the Thunder is a traditional hammer fired double-action/single-action pistol with a metal frame. While still an acceptable choice for self-defense, the Thunder might be a bit heavier than some would like. Also, the DA/SA trigger requires more training time to master than a consistent pull trigger with a double-action-only or striker-fired system would.

BP Series

The BP series of pistols are fundamentally different from the older Thunder pistols. To start with, the newer guns use polymer frames. Another major difference is one that I’ve already alluded to: this is a striker-fired gun. That means with each trigger press, the shooter has a consistent trigger pull. There is no long, heavy initial pull with very short follow ups. There are no decockers to worry about either.

The BP series offers guns in .380 ACP, 9mm and .40 S&W. Flush fitting magazines for the BP9CC (the 9mm pistol) hold 8 rounds. The .380 ACP models hold the same while the BP40 magazine holds 7 rounds.

Bersa offers the pistols with a variety of color and finish combinations. My BP9CC has a simple black frame and matte black finish on the metal. I have found that it has worn exceptionally well – even in the Florida heat and humidity. I’ve yet to have any tarnishing or corrosion turn up on the pistol. Versions with OD green frames and two tone slides are also available. 

My Experiences

I’ve had the chance to evaluate the entire BP line, and ultimately purchased the BP9CC for my personal use. So, I have a good basis of experience to offer feedback on these guns.

I found the BP9CC to be pleasingly thin. I’ve handled some pistols that are simply too thin for the cartridge being fired. Guns like the Double Tap (.665” wide) are thinner, but they are also painful to shoot. If a gun is painful to shoot, you are not likely to do a lot of practice with it.

The BP9CC is roughly 0.94” wide through the grip. I found this to be a good fit for my hand. While it tends to be easier than a thicker pistol to conceal with an inside-the-waistband holster, it isn’t so thin as to be uncomfortable to shoot. Quite the opposite. I’ve found the BP9CC is one of the more comfortable compact pistols to shoot. My hand locks into it nicely and control is easy on this mildly recoiling pistol.

Speaking of recoil, I’ve shot all three calibers the BP guns are chambered for: .380 ACP, 9mm and .40 S&W. I found the 9mm and .380 ACP both have a similar amount of felt recoil and muzzle flip. These two cartridges are easy shooting out of this pistol.

The .40 S&W has noticeably more flip and impulse. Don’t get me wrong – it is still very controllable. However, you are paying for the larger caliber with more recoil. If you like the .40, this shouldn’t be a problem. If you are not invested in the .40 S&W, you might prefer the easier shooting 9mm gun.

The trigger pull on all of the pistols is good: light and crisp. Initially, I found pistols in all three calibers to be a bit gritty. After about 100 rounds, though, all of them smoothed out. Striker-fired triggers can be a tricky thing to describe accurately. For me, the BP pistol trigger is much more like a light switch than a standard double-action press. In other words, there isn’t a roll and break. Rather it is more of a take up of slack then a very short press to a click.

While the BP380CC and BP40CC were in my possession for just a few months, I bought the BP9CC. I’ve shot that gun a lot in the past few years and found a couple of things about it during some long term use.

First, the gun is a bit more picky than other pistols about being clean. When clean, the gun seems to be completely reliable. However, once I put about 500 rounds through it without cleaning, I start to hit a few malfunctions. Once I field strip and do a quick cleaning, the gun is good for another 500 rounds error-free. While I do not consider this ideal, it is something that I can work with.

Secondly, the trigger has gotten very light with lots of use. Believe it or not, the trigger pull is now sub-4 pounds. I do not consider this ideal for a self-defense gun, but it does make for a sweet shooting range pistol.

Bottom Line

What’s my final word on the Bersa BP series of pistols? I like them.

I think the guns feel great in the hand, and the size is a perfect balance between concealability and shootability. The guns I’ve tested have shot very well with good accuracy and reasonable reliability. The need for regular cleaning doesn’t impress when one compares the gun to others with mud test videos posted online. However, you should keep your guns clean – especially those you might need for self-defense.

If you need a compact pistol, and price is a consideration, the Bersa BP line is one to seriously consider. For me, I’m carrying other guns for self-defense. However, I would carry my BP9CC without reservation should I need to.

If you were to survey gun dealers about the hottest handguns on the market right now, there is a good chance the P320 modular pistol from SIG SAUER would be the one that is at the top of the list.

It makes a lot of sense. Back in January, the United States Army named the P320 as its next generation handgun. Since then, there have been other announcements of law enforcement agencies swapping over to the guns. The sheriff’s office in my county recently made the switch and my former police department just transitioned over as well.

When shooters see the US military and law enforcement officers moving to the guns, quite a few of them will be interested to try them out as well. 

While I don’t think the guns are perfect, I do think they have a lot going for them. I can definitely understand the appeal of the gun. The guns are modular, allowing for all manner of changes and customizations without the need for another FFL fee.

Capitalizing on the rising popularity of the guns, SIG SAUER and Viking Tactics collaborated on a new pistol called the P320 X-VTAC. The new guns are being offered exclusively through Talo Distributors, and they should be available in the next few weeks. 

The P320 X-VTAC pistols feature a number of changes from the basic P320 pistol that might be of interest. SIG SAUER uses its X-series polymer frame on these guns. The X-series frame includes an accessory rail under the barrel, an undercut behind the trigger guard and an extended beavertail. 

The slide has a number of custom cuts including enhanced forward serrations and cuts to reduce the weight. Dovetailed into the top of the slide are the Day/Night sights developed by VTAC. These sights use fiber optic pipes that are positioned high on the sight with tritium vials underneath. The idea is to have two reference points in each sight such that one will always be useful no matter what the lighting conditions are.

SIG replaced the standard trigger with a flat faced one that is said to provide a cleaner break for improved accuracy. These guns has a suggested retail price of $918, and will ship with three 17-round magazines.

One of the long time favorite manufacturers in the concealed carry community is Kahr Arms. Kahr’s impact on the design of concealed carry handguns has been significant, and the company continues to innovate today.

Long before there was a Smith & Wesson Shield or a Glock 43, Kahr Arms was making thin, single-stack pistols that were specifically designed for reliable self-defense in an easy-to-conceal package. Kahr won many diehard fans not because it was one of the only companies serving the thin gun niche, but because of the smooth triggers and reliable functioning.

Over the years, the company expanded its product line to cover all of the major defensive calibers. Additionally, Kahr Arms offered additional sizes of guns and even semi-custom colors.

Recently, the company added to its impressive catalog with two new 9mm pistols that will serve as anchors to a completely new line of shooting products. 

The new S series pistols offer the same reliability as its existing pistols, but with a redesigned grip and magazine base. Additionally, the new guns add an accessory rail under the barrel, front slide serrations and an ID tag on the grip of the pistol. The company also swapped out the dot and bar style sights for more popular three dot sights.

The first of the two new guns is the S9093 or “S9” for short. This gun is analogous to the company’s CW9093 (aka CW9) pistol. It has a 3.6” barrel with conventional rifling and weighs about 16 ounces unloaded. The gun comes with a pair of 7-round Kahr magazines and is only 0.90” wide at the slide. It has a limited lifetime warranty and a suggested retail price of $477.

The second of the two pistols is the larger ST9093, or “ST9.” This gun has a 4” barrel and an unloaded weight of a bit more than 20 ounces with one of its 8-round magazines. Two of the magazines ship with the pistol.

As with the company’s existing line of firearms, these Kahr pistols feature a smooth double action only trigger and polymer frame. They are made in the United States. Right now they are only available with a black frame and stainless slide. 

The XM17 MHS Competition was held to find a Modular Handgun System to replace the current service pistol, the Beretta M9. Sig Sauer won the MHS competition with their P320 pistol but we know other companies submitted entries into the MHS competition.

FN has their FN509 pistol. It shares the same basic concept as the Glock MHS pistol. They both have full size grips but shorter barrel/slides.

Lets take a closer look at the Glock MHS pistol

It has steel sights. The slide is stamped 19 MHS. It is a Glock 19 sized slide and barrel. So far nothing new other than the extra letters, "MHS".

The frame is where the new changes are most apparent. There is a thumb safety and there is a matching one on the other side.

The grip is similar to the M series of Glocks that have not been released yet. The 17M and 19M are a new variant of the Gen4 Glocks. As you can see above, the grip lacks finger bumps.

One feature that is different from the M series, is the little pinky extension of the grip. You can see it protrudes down in front of the magazine base plate. If you move your eyes rearward, you can see the grip has a loop for a lanyard. I am not sure why they needed to add the loop since Glock grips all have holes molded into the bottom of the grip where you could attach a lanyard.

The magazines are molded in Flat Dark Earth as well. A few years ago, the Marines had a limited run of .40 S&W Glock magazines in dark earth. Here is a photo of my Dark earth Glock 35 and my Marine Dark Earth 15 rd Glock mag. The Marine Dark Earth Glock mags came with the factory Glock mag extension which were also molded in color.

They even made a 22 round version in dark earth.

Glock is trying to get the Government to reconsider and continue the MHS competition. Hopefully Glock will sell the MHS handgun to the public just as Beretta has sold the M9A3 and FN is selling the FN509.

If you need Glock magazines, check out our website.

There are a wide range of pistol caliber carbines on the market. The explosion of interest in these guns seemed to catch the industry a bit off guard initially, but now many major manufacturers offer 9mm and other calibers in long guns.

However, there are a number of smaller companies that are offering alternatives to what the larger manufacturers are offering. One of the lesser known 9mm carbines is the J68 from Jard Inc.

Just looking at the rifle can tell you that this is a significantly different gun than the typical AR pattern carbine. First off, the gun is configured as a bullpup carbine. That means the action is behind the pistol grip. This reduces the overall length of the gun and moves the magazine farther to the rear. Many people find this arrangement easier to hold and shoot for longer periods of time due to much of the gun’s weight being closer to the body of the shooter.

The J68 feeds from Glock magazines. In addition to the standard G17/G19 sized magazines, the extended magazines will also work in this carbine. The ejection port is on the bottom of the gun. By ejecting down, this prevents hot brass from hitting left handed shooters in the face. A bolt hold open device is designed into the rifle.

A non-reciprocating charging handle is located above the pistol grip. It is ambidextrous. Up front, the gun has an integral hand guard to protect the shooter from a hot barrel. It has M-LOK compatible attachment points to allow for the addition of accessories such as a light or forward grip.

Jard offers these in a variety of configurations. Fans of the .40 S&W and .45 ACP cartridges might be interested to know the J68 can be chambered for these rounds in addition to the 9mm. Other options include different finishes (either black or tan at this time) and barrels (threaded, breaching type muzzle device, and others.)

Pricing on the J68 is $899 for any of the calibers in either black or tan. The various barrel options can run from $13.95 - $48.90.

The ETS Glock high capacity magazines have transparent mag bodies. It looks cool when it is full of ammo and you can clearly see how many rounds are in the magazine.  Even though the ETS high cap mags are transparent once the magazine is inserted into a Glock 17, you can't see how many rounds are hidden under the magazine. It can be anything from 0-17 rounds. Once you start shooting those last 17 rounds you don't know how many rounds you have left unelss you keep count or remove the magazine to see how many you have left. 

We will take a page out of Magpul's book and mark one of the coils as an indicator that your mag is running out of ammo. Below you can see a close up of a windowed PMAG. They have a bright orange painted coil that indicates how many rounds are in the magazine.

The modification is rather simple, all you need is a paint pen.

Here is how you add a round counter to your ETS high cap mag.

1. Insert empty magazine into your gun.
2. Note which spring coil is closest to the bottom of the grip.
3. Dissassemble the magazine
4. Mark the coil from step 2
5. Reassemble the magazine

The modification is rather easy and adds a feature to your high cap mags. By having that coil marked with a light color, you can easily see it. Once that coil gets close to the bottom of the grip, you know you are running low on ammo. You could take this an extra step and make marks along the outside of the mag. Load 20 rounds into the mag. Mark the outside where the colored coil rests. Do this again for 25 and 30 rounds. You can then quickly see how many rounds are in the gun without taking the magazine out and counting them.

If you need more ETS high cap Glock mags, check out our website.

Love them or hate them, you have to admit that the 1911 style pistol has probably never been as popular as it is right now. There are dozens of companies that make 1911 type handguns, which serve nearly all shooters no matter the price point.

At the higher end of the quality – and price – spectrum is the guns from Ed Brown Products. These pistols tend to be highly regarded by many enthusiasts, and the company’s latest introduction is likely to command a similar level of respect.

Recently announced, the new Special Forces SRC pistol is a Commander sized 1911 that is designed to be used with some of the latest shooting hardware. However, it is not so modern a design as to be lost in the sea of plastic pistols that have flooded the market. The Special Forces SRC may be ready to kick butt, yet it still retains much of its old world flavor.

Following the slow trend of adding red dot optics to pistols, Ed Brown Products designed the Special Forces SRC with a Trijicon RMR sight standard. The RMR, or Ruggedized Miniature Reflex, sight is a tough little optic that I’ve had a chance to do some shooting with. I’ve found it to be extremely durable and offers a bright red aiming dot suitable for engaging targets at all reasonable pistol ranges. A 3.25 MOA dot is the standard aiming point in this optic.

Of course, any optic can fail. So, Trijicon night sights are also installed on this pistol as a backup aiming system. The sights are much taller than normal as the gun is intended to be used with a sound suppressor. The 4.25” barrel is threaded and should take any number of cans that are being made today.

These guns use single stack 1911 magazines and are chambered for either the 9mm or .45 ACP according to your needs. The guns ship with one magazine, and I recommend buying several more to ensure more time shooting when at the range. With an unloaded magazine (but no sound suppressor,) the guns weigh about 38 ounces.

Ed Brown Products offers these guns with a wide range of options available. As pictured in this article, the gun has a variety of customizations including slide flutes and a French border. Without the suppressor, the gun has a price of $4,425 in .45 ACP. 

ETS Group has made a new speed loader for pistol magazines. It was first seen online back in December. Military Arms Channel posted a video about it in December. ETS had their 3D printed prototype on display at SHOT Show last January.

Well now it is available. The ETS Pistol Mag Loader is one of the first of its kind. It uses a similar loading concept like the speed loaders for the MP5 magazine by B&T. The loader has a slotted tray that you use to lift up to ten rounds from a box of factory loaded ammo. The loader will work with 9mm and .40S&W.

The loader is easy to use. As I mentioned above, you scoop up ten rounds and use the plunger to push the rounds into the pistol magazine. This ability is rather revolutionary. As far as I know, there has not been any other speed loader that can do this. the B&T loader as well as AR15 magazine speed loader work similarly but they are easier since you are shoving rounds into a double stack magazine. When you load an AR15 magazine or MP5 magazine, the rounds are merely shoved straight down into the magazine. You cannot do this with a pistol magazine. The rounds has to slide under the feed lips. Even though there are double stack pistol magazines, the magazine design funnels that double stack into a single stack.

The first release of the ETS Mag Loader had a few failure to launch issues. However an email from ETS was sent out notifying the media of the changes they are implementing now. First of all, the Mag Loader will now be marked with "MADE IN USA". Secondly, the mag loaders will come pre-lubed. There are internal surfaces that should be lubricated for the best performance. See the photo below.

The mag loader is fast check out the video they made.

As I said above, the ETS Mag Loader is available through ETS. It retails for $49.99. Check out our website for when it is available.

Most people who shoot .300blk AR-15s are using .223/5.56 AR-15 magazines. There isn't anything necessarily wrong with this and will work most of the time. However there are the times where it doesn't work. I personally have experienced feeding issues with an ETS AR mag feeding factory 220gr sub sonic loads by Blackhills and Sig Sauer out of a Sig MCX.

Last January Magpul announced that they were creating a new PMAG dedicated for .300blk. The problem is the wide variety of shapes and sizes in .300blk. Check out the small variety in the photo below.

Well the magazine has now been shipping from Magpul. They even made a short video explaining the magazine changes.

Here is a small comparison that illustrates the issue. The diameter of the round is different at the same measurement.

Here is an overly simplified illustration of how .223/5.56 rounds are supposed to stack in the magazine.

And here is an illustration of how .300blk rounds can improperly stack in a conventional .223/5.56 PMAG. As you can see, due to the shape of the rounds, the cartridges do not stack evenly and creates added pressure and limits capacity.

So they redesinged the PMAG 30 AR 300B to address the issues mentioned above. Magpul also made some subtle differences to the PMAG 300B to avoid confusing these mags with regular AR-15 PMAGs.

I like the use of the black follower so you can easily ID the difference and know that you should not put .223/5.56 rounds in it. Now Magpul has not mentioned what happens if you use this to feed .223 in your .223/5.56 chambered AR. I suspect it might work but not recommended. Just use a regular PMAG.

At the moment it is only available in black. I hope they release it in the new medium coyote tan color and windowed in the future. The new 300B PMAG retails for only $15.95.

Keep checking our website for when they will be available.

SIG SAUER has positioned itself as a manufacturer of top tier duty guns for military and law enforcement units. From the P226 in the hands of the United States Navy SEALs to the recent adoption of the P320 by the US Army, SIG SAUER has built a reputation as being a series firearms company for serious people.

The latest introduction from SIG is the MCX Virtus. The Virtus is an evolution of the company’s MCX rifle that was introduced just a few years ago. Although the original MCX has proven to be popular and is already in the hands of units like the Netherlands Maritime Special Operations Forces, SIG was not content to merely ride the initial success of the platform.

Taking feedback from its customers in the special forces community around the globe, SIG SAUER incorporated a number of new features and enhancements to create what it calls “the most adaptive, accurate and longest-lasting rifle available.” Only time will tell if the gun lives up to that very high bar.

As with the original MCX, this is a short stroke, gas piston operated gun. The system is adjustable so you can ensure reliability with a variety of loads and when shooting suppressed. Handguards on these guns have large ports on both the left and right sides to allow easy access to the adjustment knob.

New for the Virtus is a newly designed bolt lug that is tapered to provide longer life and smoother cycling. SIG touts the MCX line as being a much smoother shooting platform than a standard AR-15, so anything that further improves the slickness of the cycling should just be icing on the cake. 

The new rifles are fitted with heavy contour barrels that are cold hammer forged. While 16” is the standard length for the patrol rifle, SBR options are available with 9” and 11.5” barrels. Additionally, SIG SAUER will offer a pistol version of the gun with a folding arm brace. Both 5.56 NATO and 300 BLK guns will be available. According to SIG, swapping barrels between the two will be easy due to “an advanced interchangeable design” that allows swaps “at the operator level.”

These guns will ship with a single 30-round Lancer magazine with a smoke gray body. I’ve had good luck with these magazines in the past, and they tend to be well respected in the shooting community. 

SIG uses a two-stage trigger of its own design in these guns. Called the Matchlite Duo, it is said to be very clean with a crisp break. 

Like most quality products, the MCX Virtus is not inexpensive. The MSRP starts at $2,233 and goes up depending on the configuration. That doesn’t mean it is overpriced. If the gun truly lives up to the statement that it is the “most adaptive, accurate and longest-lasting rifle available,” then that price may be a bargain.

Colt’s Manufacturing Company (Colt) and TALO have teamed up for a limited edition Gold Cup Trophy Match 1911 pistol.

The pistol is one that a lot of Colt fans are likely to want as it checks a lot of the boxes than fans seem to have. First of all, this is a 70 Series gun. That means it uses the older style fire control system without the extra safety mechanisms that are found in the 80 Series guns. The 80 Series system is widely regarded as unnecessary for safety in the 1911 design and decreases the overall feel of the trigger. 

On top, Colt uses Bomar-style, adjustable rear sights and a Patridge style front sight. Many target shooters prefer this type of sighting system for the crisp corners in the sight picture for precise alignment on a target. Colt uses the Gold Cup wide trigger. This trigger is curved with three holes to reduce its weight.

For increased reliability, the ejection port has been lowered and flared. Additionally, it is cut for more reliable ejection of live rounds. The magazine well has been beveled for smoother reloads. The gun is chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge and takes Government-sized 1911 magazines.

On this limited run gun, Colt uses wooden grip panels with a partial basketweave pattern. Standard Gold Cup Trophy pistols have blue G10 grips, and I think the stocks on this special edition pistol are much more attractive. Certainly, they have a more traditional look without resorting to the standard double diamond grip panels.

The gun has a stainless finish with the high, flat surfaces polished. This creates a two-tone effect that a lot of shooters seem to like. The Gold Cup Trophy roll marks are located in the typical place on the slide. For this model, Colt went with wider serrations on the rear of the slide.

According to TALO, the limited run guns will have a number of features commonly associated with Colt’s Custom Shop. In fact, the gun ships in a Custom Shop box, suggesting that these guns are a product of the gunsmiths in that division. TALO did not provide a suggested retail price on these guns. For comparison purposes, the standard Gold Cup Trophy pistols have a MSRP of $1,699.

TALO stated the guns are now shipping to wholesalers. So, if you like the look of these guns, talk to your local gun shop. They should be able to order what you need. 

SilencerCo's Omega 9SD is a new type of silencer for the MP5SD. For those not familiar, the MP5SD is an integrally suppressed version of the Heckler and Koch MP5. What integrily suppressed means is that the barrel is ported and the suppressor covers those ports. H&K did this so that Military and Law Enforcement could use any super sonic 9mm ammo and the ports would relieve the pressure and drop those rounds down to sub sonic levels.  This greatly adds to the suppression of the gun shot. Typically people use 147 gr 9mm ammo that is loaded to run at sub sonic speeds however with the MP5SD and suppressors, you can shoot almost any 9mm ammo and it will still be quiet.

SilencerCo's Omega 9SD is shorter and quieter than any other MP5SD suppressor. It is only 7.96" long and only 3.45" protrudes past the handguard. Typical MP5SD suppressors, like the H&K factory suppressor are 11.89" long and weigh 1.1lbs. The Omegas 9SD weighs 13.7 oz. So it is lighter and shorter than the rest, yet it is quieter than the rest.

Those are some impressive numbers right there. All under 130 dB with the Omega 9SD.

However there is one draw back, and that is the price. The Omega 9SD costs $1180. whereas other MP5SD suppressors are much less than that. 

SilencerCo has a great warranty. My friend's Osprey 45 was sounding much louder than mine and he just sent it back and they replaced the internals for free. That is not an isolated case, I have heard of similar claims by other people who own SilencerCo products. They have in the past corrected stupid mistakes for free. Like if someone shoots the wrong caliber and damages the suppressor. So you should  feel at ease knowing that your investment in the Omega 9SD will be similarly covered and last for a long time. So enjoy shooting quietly with your MP5SD.

Check out website for your MP5 Magazine needs.

Smith & Wesson announced the company is now shipping the new Model 360 revolver. This new J-frame wheel gun is a bit unusual in that it, as a “plain” Model 360, joins the Model 360 PD that is already in the company’s catalog.

The New 360

The just released revolver is a 5-shot handgun that is designed for the .357 Magnum cartridge. As with most .357 Magnum handguns, this revolver will also shoot .38 Special loads including the +P variety.

It is built on the company’s J-frame. This is the current small frame used for the more diminutive Smith & Wesson wheelies. Unlike many of the J-frames built of aluminum, this one uses a scandium alloy.

For the non-chemistry crowd, scandium is a naturally occurring element, not a marketing name. While offering a lighter weight frame at a similar strength level when compared to a typical aluminum alloy, scandium alloy tends to be a bit more expensive. The simple reason is scandium is not as common an element as iron, aluminum and some other metals. In fact, it is often extracted from deposits of uranium and rare earth ores.

The use of scandium, therefore, drives the price up and the weight down. With an unfluted stainless steel cylinder and stainless steel barrel, the gun weighs less than 15 ounces unloaded. The suggested retail price is $770. Compared to the all stainless Model 60, this gun is about 6.5 ounces lighter for only $41 extra. Not a bad trade off in my book.

It’s been my experience that Magnum loads really kick with featherweight revolvers like this one. I am not suggesting that this gun is going to be uncontrollable. Lightweight Magnum revolvers are quite controllable when shot with good technique. This is not a beginner gun, though. Don’t buy one for your spouse or significant other unless they have requested it.

Smith & Wesson uses a black PVD finish on the gun. PVD, or particle vapor deposition, is a metal finish that has been growing in popularity in the gun industry. It allows a company to apply a wide range of colors to a firearm while also providing good durability and corrosion resistance. In the past, S&W has not used PVD extensively. I wonder if we will see more PVD finishes from it in the future.

Offsetting the black finish is a set of two-piece rubber grips that are flat dark earth in color. The grips used on this gun are longer than the standard boot grip used on many of the small revolvers from Smith & Wesson. For most shooters, this means you can get a full firing grip on the gun.

This model has a red insert in the front sight for improved visibility when compared to the plain ramp found on many J-frame guns. The rear sight is a machined notch in the frame at the rear of the top strap. 

Unfortunately, the Model 360 has the internal lock that Smith & Wesson installs on most of its modern revolvers. While the problems with these locks have been largely overblown, all of the problems I have read about have come from the lightweight guns. Hopefully, the problems have been completely resolved and will not create any issues in this gun.

The “Other” 360

Still in the company’s catalog is the Model 360 PD. The gun is very similar to the original Model 360 (also referred to as the Model 360 SC) that was introduced at the 2001 SHOT Show. That original model was discontinued leaving only the 360 PD as a current production model.

Both the original 360 and 360 PD also use a scandium alloy frame, but with a fluted titanium cylinder. In the 360 PD, this reduces the overall weight to only 11.4 ounces. The reduced weight is great for carrying, but does create an issue for reliability.

With such a lightweight revolver, recoil is increased. Due to the increased recoil, light bullets can actually “jump” their crimp and “walk” out of the case. If a bullet moves very far forward, it can lock the cylinder up and prevent the gun from firing. For this reason, Smith & Wesson states only loads with bullet weights of 120 grains and more be shot from the 360 PD. The same warning was given for the original Model 360. I would also add that if you are shooting handloads to make sure you are crimping correctly.

Bullet walking appears to have been eliminated in the newest Model 360 as the warning is not given on it. I suspect the few extra ounces of weight is enough to prevent this condition.

Increased recoil also translates to the shooter. I’ve shot one of these with full power 125 grain .357 Magnum loads, and it does bark. However, it is completely controllable and accurate. It would overwhelm a new shooter, so please don’t hand one of these to a novice. It could turn them off to shooting completely.

Another difference in the PD model is that it uses a Hi-Viz red fiber optic front sight for even better visibility. However, this is counteracted by a reduction in shootability because of the use of stubby boot grips.

The final major difference between the two guns is that the PD model is significantly more expensive: $1,019. The titanium cylinder is largely responsible for that price increase.

The Forgotten 360s: M&P360 and Kit Gun 

There are a pair of longer barreled Model 360 revolvers that briefly made an appearance in the Smith & Wesson line, but they have since been discontinued. One was the M&P360 and the other was the Model 360 Kit Gun.

The M&P360 was introduced in 2009* as a longer barreled version of this gun. It was still built on a scandium J-frame, but the 3” barrel and fluted stainless steel cylinder increased the weight to 14.7 ounces. This eliminated the problems with bullet walking. 

For this gun, Smith & Wesson went with a Standard Dot tritium front sight from XS Sights. This gave shooters a glowing night sight from the factory if they desired one. The gun had a black PVD coating and the same size grip as the new Model 360.

Another longer barreled gun was the Kit Gun version. This revolver was introduced in 2002 and had a 3.125” barrel. In addition to the longer barrel, it also differentiated itself from the smaller guns with the use of a Hi-Viz fiber optic sight (like the one on the 360 PD) and a Micrometer adjustable rear sight.

* Smith & Wesson’s sale sheet on the M&P360 shows the gun was launched in July of 2009. However, the 4^th edition of the Standard Catalog of Smith & Wesson states the gun was shown at the 2007 SHOT Show. It is possible that an early prototype was on display at the SHOT Show, but that the gun did not ship until two years later.

Kahr Arms announced a pair of variations of the CW380 and CW9 pistols. These new limited run guns feature a new Patriot Brown and desert tan finish. Let’s take a look at what Kahr is offering.

Kahr CW3833PBR

The PBR in the model number doesn’t stand for beer, rather for the new Cerakote finish on the slide and other exposed metal parts. Both the trigger and slide stop get the finishing treatment in the matching brown. Paired with the dark brown color is the new polymer grip frame that has a desert tan color. This gives the gun a two-tone appearance.

I don’t know that this color combination has a lot of “tactical” benefit, but it is an aesthetic that many shooters like. The beauty of this gun is more than skin deep, though. Other than the specialty color combination, the pistol is a reliable CW380 pistol through and through. 

Like the basic CW380, the Patriot Brown model is chambered for the .380 ACP and flush fitting magazines hold 6 rounds. Unlike a lot of compact .380 ACP pistols on the market, this is not a cheap blowback pistol. Rather, it is a Browning type locked breech gun. In general, this means the action of the gun eats up some of the felt recoil. When compared to a blowback gun of a similar size, the CW380 can be much more enjoyable to shoot.

Many shooters like the smooth double action only (DAO) trigger used by Kahr. Although this is a striker-fired pistol, it does not have the hard, mechanical trigger than many striker-fired guns have. Instead, the trigger has a smooth roll to it – something more akin to a revolver than a typical polymer pistol.

This CW380 is light and small making it relatively easy to conceal. It is about 0.75” wide at the slide and weighs about 12 ounces unloaded. With a 2.58” barrel, this gun is perfectly suited for backup carry on an ankle or ballistic vest, and it can serve well as a pocket carry pistol. With the limited edition colors, the gun has a MSRP of $439 which is only $20 more than the base model.

Kahr CW9093PBR

Another Patriot Brown and tan combination pistol, this gun is based on the CW9 pistol. The CW9 is a single stack 9mm pistol that I like a lot. In addition to being extremely reliable, I’ve found the gun conceals easily and shoots well. In my gun, I’ve gotten extremely good accuracy with all kinds of defensive ammunition.

Like the CW380 above, this gun uses a single stack magazine. However, the CW9 has a longer grip than the .380 pistol. This gives it a 1 round advantage in the standard magazine giving it a total of 7+1. The 9mm handgun is a little thicker – about 0.9” across the slide – and has a 3.6” barrel. Although this is not my daily carry pistol, I have carried mine extensively and have no problems recommending them for CCW use.

Part of the company’s Value Series, the base model is only $449 while this limited run model is a touch more at $495. At less than $50 for the Cerakote process, the price is a bargain when compared to having it done by a third party. If you like the look of this gun, I think the additional money is well spent. Of course, if you want something with a camo pattern, Kahr also offers the CW9 with a Kryptek finish on the frame.

Modern firearms are not supposed to fire when dropped.  However according to a source, the Sig Sauer P320 is failing drop safety tests.

Sig Sauer has identified that there is a defect in the P320 handgun that could cause the weapon system to go off when dropped. The Sig Sauer P320 was approved for primary duty, secondary primary duty, and back-up use. The Firearms Training Center is currently working with Sig Sauer to obtain a solution for the safety issue. Until Sig Sauer is able to find a solution to the safety issue, the Sig Sauer P320 is no longer approved by the Dallas Police Department for any use. Those officers that currently have a Sig Sauer P320 as a primary duty weapon will have the following two options: Option 1 – Go to the Firearms Training Center on Monday, July 31st , during business hours, to be issued a city Sig Sauer P226 and qualify with that weapon. Option 2 – Purchase another city approved weapon and respond to the Range on Monday, July 31st , during business hours, to qualify with that weapon. Until getting another weapon and qualifying, officers need to practice increased safety with these weapon systems. The Firearms Training Center staff is working diligently with Sig Sauer to obtain a solution and will keep officers informed of the status.

Even the Sig P320 manual warns of this defect. You can see it in the digital copy here.

Earlier this year Sig Sauer was awared with the Army's MHS contract. The Modular Handgun System  program was looking for a new service weapon to replace the existing Beretta M9 service weapon.

SIG SAUER, Inc. announced today that the U.S. Army has selected the SIG SAUER Model P320 to replace the M9 service pistol currently in use since the mid-1980’s. Released in 2014, the P320 is a polymer striker-fired pistol that has proven itself in both the United States and worldwide markets. The P320 is the first modular pistol with interchangeable grip modules that can also be adjusted in frame size and caliber by the operator. All pistols will be produced at the SIG SAUER facilities in New Hampshire.

The MHS Program provides for the delivery of both full size and compact P320’s, over a period of ten (10) years. All pistols will be configurable to receive suppressors and will also include both standard and extended capacity magazines.

“I am tremendously proud of the Modular Handgun System Team,” said Army Acquisition Executive, Steffanie Easter in the release. “By maximizing full and open competition across our industry partners, we truly have optimized the private sector advancements in handguns, ammunition and magazines and the end result will ensure a decidedly superior weapon system for our warfighters.”

Ron Cohen, President and CEO of SIG SAUER, said “We are both humbled and proud that the P320 was selected by the U.S. Army as its weapon of choice. Securing this contract is a testimony to SIG SAUER employees and their commitment to innovation, quality and manufacturing the most reliable firearms in the world.”

Sig has not made a statement or initiated a recall. Sourcs at Dallas PD state that a discharge ocured when a P320 was dropped and Sig is working on a fix. 

A large amount of people carry the P320 and need to be aware if there is an issue with the firearm discharging when droped. We will update as we get more information. 

Guns are often assigned adjectives that really don’t fit.  Those that fear or dislike guns might call them “dangerous” while those that appreciate the many positive aspects of guns tend to view them as “safe.”  In reality, guns are simply inanimate hunks of metal and/or plastic and can only take on the intentions of those that posses them.

Today’s handguns are full of devices aptly called “safeties” that help the user avoid errors with the gun and that makes sense.  There are “thumb safeties” “grip safeties”, “trigger safeties” and “firing pin safeties” all intended to help make sure that the gun doesn’t go off when it isn’t supposed to.

Not all handguns have all the different kinds of safeties, but all modern handguns have safeties that are intended to keep the gun from inadvertently firing when the gun is dropped.

Modern handguns are required to be drop safe and they should most definitely be drop safe and we should understand why.  Let's take a look at why your handguns should be drop safe.

How Could a Handgun Fire if Dropped?

Loaded handguns aren’t exempt from the laws of physics and as a result, an object in motion continues in motion unless acted on by an outside force.  

Imagine a loaded gun falling through the air with the muzzle pointed to the ground.  As the muzzle strikes the earth, the travel of the gun is stopped by the ground, an outside force that is much greater than the force of the falling gun.  Internal parts however, may not be stopped.  Take the firing pin or striker for instance.  If the mass off the firing pin or striker were enough to overpower the springs holding it in place it could continue in motion and strike the primer of a round in the chamber.

Not good.

Flip it around.  Literally.  Imagine that the gun is falling to the earth muzzle up.  When the back strap of the gun and the rear of the slide strike the ground the gun stops, however, other parts could remain in motion.  Parts like the trigger.  If the force of the drop is great enough, the mass of the trigger is large enough and the stopping of the fall abrupt enough, the trigger could continue its rearward travel and fire the gun.  This isn’t terribly likely.  What is more likely is that the trigger could move far enough to the rear to deactivate the firing pin/striker block allowing the gun to fire as a result of it’s own momentum.

Again, not good.

These scenarios are part of the reason that for years people carried guns in “condition 3” with the chamber empty and the hammer down.

Thankfully, modern engineering has found solutions to these issues.

How Do Manufacturers Prevent Dropped Guns From Firing?

There are two primary types of safeties that modern day handguns tend to have to ensure that they are drop safe and those two safeties tie in directly with the scenarios I described above:  Firing pin/striker blocks and trigger safeties.

Firing Pin / Striker Block

The firing pin/striker block is a physical barrier that keeps the firing pin or striker from moving forward and striking the primer on the chambered round.

Typically striker and firing pin blocks are housed in the slide and appear as a plunger.  The firing pin can’t move forward until the plunger is pressed during the rearward motion of the trigger.

This type of safety, when engineered properly, will prevent an unmodified gun from firing when dropped muzzle down.

This type of safety isn’t infallible.  Remember, the rearward motion of the trigger deactivates this safety so that the firing pin can move.  This is one of the reasons that trigger safeties exist.

Trigger Safeties

I used to think that trigger safeties were there to keep things that aren’t fingers from pressing triggers.  They are there for that reason, but, I was only partly right.

In a conversation with Scott Folk, of Apex Tactical Specialties, during the 2016 NRA Annual Meetings, I found out the trigger safety serves a larger purpose than just trying to keep your worn out holster from firing the gun.  According to Folk, trigger safeties like those found on the GLOCK or Smith & Wesson M&P triggers are there to introduce low mass blocks to help prevent trigger movement in a muzzle up drop of a handgun.  I hadn’t considered it, but it makes perfect sense.

Think about that tiny little tab on a GLOCK trigger.  The friction of it’s pivot point is nothing compared to the pressure of your finger, but is substantial in comparison the the mass of the trigger safety itself.  The friction serves as the outside force that prevents rearward travel.

Other Safeties

There are plenty of other safeties incorporated into modern firearms to keep them drop safe including a balance between the mass of parts and the weights of the springs used and these need to be kept in mind when you make modifications to your handgun because you do want your handgun to be drop safe, don't you?

Don’t Drop Your Handgun, Problem Solved…

In light of a recent incident where a Sig P320 allegedly fired when dropped during a Dallas PD range session, some folks have had a simple but flawed response to the situation, “Don’t drop your gun! Problem solved!”

Seems reasonable, except when many of those same folks head out to the range to train or teach, review firearms safety and as part of that review they discuss the idea that you should never try to catch a dropped gun.

See the logic problem?  The reality is your gun could end up tumbling to the ground and for that reason you need your gun to be drop safe.  Let’s look at how your pistol could hit the deck.

You Might Drop Your Handgun

I know that we would all like to think that we are all such solid gun handlers that we aren’t going to drop our gun, but the fact is guns get dropped.

Maybe your hands are sweaty or bloody and you loose your grip.  Maybe you fumble your grip as you are drawing the gun from the holster or foul your draw with your cover garment.  Maybe you need to do something infinitely more important with your hands than hold on to your handgun?  Take for instance, the context of a law enforcement officer needing to physically manage a suspect.  If this need arises while their gun is in hand, they will need to quickly return the gun to the holster.  Is it possible that an officer could mishandle the reholstering?  Of course it is.  The scenarios are endless and real.

Heck, if we are being serious about things, you might WANT to drop you handgun.  Say it isn't so?  What if you are ordered by a responding law enforcement officer to drop your gun?  I'm guessing we can agree that setting old "Suzie" down gently isn't in your best interest.  Time to drop your blaster on its side like a hot potato.  

Better be drop safe, huh?

Some Strong Force Could Be Exerted on Your Gun

Who knows what could happen in a situation like an automobile accident.  Would it be possible for the impact of a serious collision to act on a gun in a manner that could cause the gun to fire?  How about in the context of a military vehicle involved in an IED attack.  Or a naval aviator ejecting from the cockpit of a jet.  I don’t know, maybe these scenarios are a stretch, but, if the gun is drop safe, it isn’t anywhere near as likely to happen.

Even the act of you aggressively dropping to a strong side prone, (or some other position I haven't even heard of and you made up on the spot because you needed to,) could exert forces on the gun that you don't anticipate.

Yup. I want my handgun to be drop safe.

Your Handgun Could Be Knocked From Your Hands

Heck, maybe it isn’t your fault at all.  Is it possible that in the midst of a violent encounter an assailant could strike your hands with a club knocking the gun from your hands?  Of course it is.  The same could take place if there is a physical struggle for a gun during a violent altercation.

Or the situation could be much less violent and still have the same result.  Have you ever needed to move quickly around a barricade during practice, training or a competition?  Would it be possible to strike your hand or muzzle on the prop and have your gun leave your hand?  Yup.  Completely possible.

For these reasons you want your gun to be drop safe.

Final Thoughts

Modern guns are drop safe for a reason.  Simply put, good people drop guns.  I’ve watched it happen and the fact that those good people dropped good guns that were drop safe, alleviated the majority of the angst regarding the situation.

I don’t recommend intentionally dropping loaded guns any more than I recommend trying to catch them once they are dropped.  At the same time, thinking that people aren’t going to drop guns is silly.

To keep yourself and those around you safe, you should have a general knowledge of how drop safeties work, know that carrying a gun that isn’t drop safe is a serious compromise in your safety and accept the fact that even though dropping a gun isn’t generally a good thing, it can happen to the best of us.

Guns are inanimate objects.  They aren't safe or dangerous, they simply take on the intent of their user.  When we are talking about your gun, that user is you.  The decisions you make when selecting your gun for carry have an impact far beyond the holster you choose or the ammunition you select.  Your choice as to whether you select a drop safe handgun or not can impact you in ways you never anticipate.  Make sure the handguns you depend on for personal safety and professional use are drop safe.

There are all manner of strange guns that have been introduced throughout the history of firearms. From pepperboxes to punt guns, people are always looking to build a better weapon. Sometimes, the guns - though odd - wind up working in specialized circumstances. Other times, the gun slips into history to be forgotten by all but a few collectors.

A new gun announced by Trailblazer Firearms has the air of a pistol that may not be long for this world. Called the LifeCard, this handgun is chambered for the .22 LR. It uses a tip up barrel and can only hold a single round at a time. Its one feature that may redeem it as a personal protection tool is that the gun can fold in half for easy concealment.

Made of machined aluminum and steel, the gun folds to change its shape from a vague handgun shape to that of a really thick credit card. The presumptive usefulness of this feature is that the gun would be easier to conceal than a normal pistol in non-permissive environments.

While the gun may be easier to conceal in some circumstances, its very nature suggests the intended use would be for self-defense. However, the realities of many, if not most, self-defense situations suggest that this gun is wholly inadequate for the task. I base this on three facts: caliber, capacity and ease of use.

Caliber: The .22 LR is an underpowered cartridge for a handgun and is not generally believed to offer enough penetration or wounding capacity to deliver reliable wounds for rapid incapacitation. That doesn’t mean that the .22 can’t work, rather that it is far less reliable than other rounds such as the 9mm and .38 Special.

Capacity: One. Handgun rounds are relatively underpowered for the purposes of rapidly incapacitating an attacker. Often multiple rounds delivered to vital areas are needed to quickly make a determined aggressor cease his assault. Shooting one round and then reloading is not a realistic option in most circumstances.

Ease of Use: The gun must be unfolded to be used. Only then can it be loaded. According to the company, the gun should not be carried loaded. Page 6 of the user’s manual specifically states “Do not carry the pistol with a live cartridge in the chamber.” That means you will have to tip up the barrel, get one of the small cartridges out of the gun’s storage compartment and drop it into the chamber before you can use the gun. Even if that was not a painfully slow process, you also have to factor in your body alarm response (aka: fight or flight response), which will rob you of fine motor skills just when you need them most.  

All guns are a compromise of some sort. Unfortunately, for me, this gun appears to make too many for it to be a reasonable choice for self-defense. If you need a tiny firearm, and you are willing to rely on .22 LR, you may be better served by a North American Arms mini revolver. The NAA-22LR has a 5-shot capacity, a track record of reliability and a price tag that is more than $100 cheaper. While the LifeCard is thinner and shorter than the NAA revolver, it is both heavier and slower to bring into action.

MP5s and similar rollerlock firearms are gaining in popularity. With companies like Dakota Tactical and TPM Outfitters making MP5 as well as Zenith importing MP5s from MKE in Turkey, the supply is barely meeting demand. Even H&K has gotten into the game with their SP5K. Demand drives innovation and in the case of Midwest Industries they have made a series of MLOK handguards for roller lock firearms.

Their MLOK handguards are basically the same design but come in different lengths. It is an octagonal design tube with 6 sides with MLOK slots. Other than the SP89/MP5K style handguard, the rest have QD sling swivel sockets. They are rather minimalistic at only 1.6" in diameter.

Their MI-SP89M replaces the handguard of your MP5K style firearm.

♦ Professional grade one piece design
♦ Simple installation, includes all tools
♦ Mil-spec top rail
♦ Extremely lightweight design, weighs only 2.6 oz with hardware
♦ Slim 1.6 inch diameter for a great feel
♦ Features nine full M-LOK slots
♦ One five slot M-LOK™ compatible rail included
♦ Constructed of 6061 aluminum, hard coat anodized for a lifetime of service
♦ 100% Made in the U.S.A., 922R Compliant
♦ MI Lifetime Warranty

MI-MP5M handguard for regular MP5 style firearms.

♦ Professional grade one piece design
♦ Simple installation, includes all tools
♦ Mil-spec top rail
♦ Extremely lightweight design, weighs only 4.8 oz with hardware
♦ Slim 1.6 inch diameter for a great feel
♦ Features 15 full and 5 half M-LOK slots
♦ One five slot M-LOK™ compatible rail included
♦ Features two anti-rotation QD sling swivel sockets
♦ Constructed of 6061 aluminum, hard coat anodized for a lifetime of service
♦ 100% Made in the U.S.A., 922R Compliant
♦ MI Lifetime Warranty
♦ Patent pending

I run their MI-MP5M handguard on my Zenith MKE Z5RS MP5.

The six sides of MLOK slots allows for a lot of freedom in attaching accessories. MLOK slots also act as weight reducer for the aluminum handguard. The MI MLOK handguard is a lot lighter compared to a full tri-rail picatinny handguard

Since the handguard is only 1.6 inches in diameter, it is easy to grab the entire handguard allowing for better barrel control.

Close up of the QD socket.

MI-HK93M

♦ Professional grade one piece design
♦ Simple installation, includes all tools
♦ Extremely lightweight design, weighs only 7.1 oz with all hardware
♦ Slim 1.6 inch diameter for a great feel
♦ Features 30 full and 2 half M-LOK slots
♦ One five slot M-LOK™ compatible rail included
♦ Features four anti-rotation QD sling swivel sockets
♦ Constructed of 6061 aluminum, hard coat anodized for a lifetime of service
♦ 100% Made in the U.S.A., 922R Compliant
♦ MI Lifetime Warranty
♦ Patent pending

MI-HK91M

♦ Professional grade one piece design
♦ Simple installation, includes all tools
♦ Extremely lightweight design, weighs only 8.6 oz with all hardware
♦ Slim 1.6 inch diameter for a great feel
♦ Features 37 full and 7 half M-LOK slots
♦ One five slot M-LOK™ compatible rail included
♦ Features four anti-rotation QD sling swivel sockets
♦ Constructed of 6061 aluminum, hard coat anodized for a lifetime of service
♦ 100% Made in the U.S.A., 922R Compliant
♦ MI Lifetime Warranty
♦ Will not work with CTME 308 rifles
♦ Patent pending

If you have been wanting to attach lights and lasers to your roller lock firearm, then this is a great upgrade to your gun. The MI hanguards range from $105 to $179.95 depending on which length you want.

With a wider variety of compact and subcompact guns available on the market in the United States I am seeing a steady increase in the number of people that are carrying a small gun concealed. Carrying a subcompact handgun concealed is certainly more convenient than carrying a full size pistol. Small guns are lighter and smaller making them easier to conceal and in many cases more comfortable to carry. At the same time, small guns aren’t without their disadvantages. Small guns are lower capacity and that is the aspect most folks like to focus on, but as a professional defensive shooting instructor, what I tend to focus on when it comes to subcompact guns is how different they can be to shoot.

Don’t be confused though. Although subcompact guns can be different to shoot, they don’t have to be difficult to shoot. Some simple modifications to your grip and your mindset can make all the difference you need when it comes to shooting a sub compact well.

Increase Your Grip Pressure

This advice isn’t unique to subcompact guns. In fact, it is the one piece of advice I give more than all other advice when folks want to increase their shooting proficiency. It is simple, the tighter you grip the gun, the more recoil control you are going to have, the less the gun will move while you are pressing the trigger and the faster you will be able to make solid follow up shots.

In addition to an increase in grip pressure minimizing movement transferred from the trigger finger, an increase in grip pressure can help to stabilize the gun when your other fingers contract to try and control recoil. Plain and simple, if you are gripping the gun as hard as you can, your fingers can't grip any tighter to try and reduce recoil. They are already doing their job and this really reduces gun movement in anticipation of recoil.

When I talk to students about grip pressure I summarize it simply: Grip the gun as hard as you possibly can and then double the pressure. 

Really, you can’t grip the gun too hard. If you want to shoot any gun more efficiently, especially a subcompact, increase your grip pressure.

Modify Your Grip

Strength isn't the only consideration when it comes to grip you should also consider that a different grip may serve you better when you are dealing with a subcompact gun. 

When I shoot my carry gun, a full size GLOCK, I shoot with an aggressive thumbs forward grip. If I were to use that same grip on a GLOCK 42 for instance, I may end up with the tip of my left thumb hanging out in front of the muzzle of the gun. This is certainly not optimal. In fact, I consider it a serious problem to put my thumb out where the projectile and muzzle blast may cause injury.

In addition to straight up changing your grip, you may need to change how you exert your grip pressure on the gun. Tinker around with how you orient your elbows when gripping your subcompact handgun. 

Here is something you can try to increase the control of your grip on any handgun. With both hands, make a fist and stick your thumbs straight up like you are hitching a ride and then drive your hands straight out until your elbows lock.

Now, rotate your arms so that your thumbs point at each other. Notice how the bony part of your elbows point straight out to the right and the left?

Now, rotate your arms so that your thumbs point away from each other. You will see that the bony part of your elbow points more toward the ground.

You may find that rotating your elbows either up, down or neutral gives you a better, more even pressure on the gun. Depending on the size of the gun you might find that one elbow position works better than another.

When you are dealing with a smaller pistol you may need more pressure up high on the pistol, or maybe you will see better results with pressure lower on the gun. Or maybe you need to use a different grip all together. Experiment with your grip and modify it as needed.

Wrap your Pinky

With most subcompact guns, the grip is short enough that your pinky may end up hanging off the grip. Many people decide to add a pinky extension to the magazine so there is room for their pinky to get a purchase on the gun. I get the idea, but I’m not a fan. Adding a pinky extension increases the size of the gun without adding much benefit. Remember, you are shooting a small gun because you need a small gun for concealment, right? If you add an extension, you might as well consider carrying a larger gun.

You are carrying that small gun for a reason so, ponder the idea that just because there is no grip for your pinky doesn't mean that you should just ignore your littlest finger.

Instead, consider wrapping your pinky tight under the grip of the handgun. Wrapping the pinky under the gun can help to establish a more firm and stable grip while keeping the footprint of your subcompact gun well, subcompact.  For me, the 9mm Smith & Wesson M&P Shield with the 7 round magazine is the perfect example of when to wrap the pinky under the magazine.

Another thing that wrapping the pinky can do is to secure it just enough for your mind to forget about it. Let’s face it, when we are trying to make a tough shot at distance with a small gun, we need the odds in our favor. Getting rid of distractions can go a long way toward helping you to get those tough hits.

Final Thoughts On Shooting A Subcompact Handgun Well

The decision to carry a subcompact gun is becoming more and more popular and it is easy to understand why. With more choices than ever, there is a subcompact pistol that fits the needs of most people. Add to that the fact that a subcompact is smaller, lighter and often easier to conceal and it is easy to understand why folks gravitate in the direction of the tiny pistols. 

At the same time, these small guns are more difficult to shoot and as a result you need to think about how you can shoot these guns as efficiently as possible. 

Consider the idea that increasing your grip pressure, modifying your grip and warping your pinky under the grip may help you to make more precision shots faster with your subcompact handgun. 

Get out to the range and spend some time actually shooting the gun you carry and while you are at it, tinker with your grip to see if these modifications help to improve your shooting.