COMBAT HANDGUNS January-February 2019 by Vadim Koval

Combat HANDGUNS

January/February 2019 • Volume 39, Issue 5

FEATURES 14 CCP M2: CONCEALED CARRY PERFECTED

When shooters called for more performanceenhancing features, Walther delivered By Everett Deger

24 XD-S XCELLENCE Springfield’s latest 9mm Mod.2 reboot takes discreet carry to new heights

CONTENTS

By Will Dabbs, MD

34 MASTERFUL MPX-K Sig Sauer proves that it’s still on the cutting edge with this piston-driven powerhouse

By David Bahde

40 REMINGTON STEEL Priced right, the new RP is the everyman’s high-cap, full-sized .45 By Greg Lickenbrock

54 VICTORY IN SIGHT Smith & Wesson’s latest target .22 is primed for bullseyes

By Denis Prisbrey

66 RIMFIRE RIOT Five semi-autos compete to prove that they aren’t your granddad’s .22s By Paul Scarlata

76 PERFECT PAIRING It’s hard to beat these 10mm Auto EAA and Hi-Point protectors By William Bell

82 THE M1 RETURNS Inland and Sage team up to bring the M1 Carbine into the 21st century By Dr. Martin D. Topper

88 TURKISH DELIGHT Affordable, accurate and easy to shoot— the combat-ready SAR9 striker has arrived By Mitch Hardin

92 HOT WHEELS The year’s best new revolvers lighting up the handgun market By William Bell

2 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. • FEB. 2019

82 FIRST SHOT: Let’s face it. Sequels and reboots are tough. Sometimes they work (think Godfather: Part II), and sometimes they absolutely fail compared to the original (remember Predator 2?). That’s why we’re celebrating follow-ups that far exceed their earlier brethren this issue with the Walther CCP M2 and Springfield XD-S Mod.2. Both of these 9mms break new ground in the world of concealed carry, and we’re all for it. Speaking of successful sequels, make sure you check out our review of the semi-auto MPX-K on page 34—a reminder that the Sig Empire always strikes back. We try to cover a wide variety of handguns in every issue of CH, and this issue continues that trend with more 9mms, .45s, 10mms and even .22s like the SW22 Victory Target. Want more rimfire action? We’ve got another “Battle Royale” this issue pitting five .22s against each other. Read on to see who won the crown. Finally, guns are only part of the equation. You need the right skills and mindset, too. Luckily, Pat McNamara and J.J. Racaza have got plenty of range tips for you in the pages ahead, along with DIY projects, handloading tricks and more. —Greg Lickenbrock

Combat HANDGUNS

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR EDITOR-IN-CHIEF PRODUCTION EDITOR CREATIVE DIRECTOR ART DIRECTOR/COVER DESIGN PREPRESS MANAGER PREMEDIA OPERATOR DIGITAL MANAGER EDITORIAL ASSISTANT EDITORIAL COORDINATOR CIRCULATION CONSULTANT COVER PHOTO

COLUMNS 06 COMBAT STOCKPILE

personaldefenseworld.com • tactical-life.com realworldsurvivor.com • ballisticmag.com

Rounding up some of the best new guns and gear available

EDITORIAL INQUIRIES

By CH Staff

10 SELF-DEFENSE & THE LAW Nine cases prove why we need AR-15-style carbines and pistols

CONTENTS

20 FULLY LOADED

VP/GROUP PUBLISHER Nicholas S. Seifert & CONTENT DIRECTOR ADVERTISING SALES National Office 212-478-1910; sales@athlonoutdoors.com

Independent Account Representatives

Win a Walther CCP M2 and some Elite Survival Systems gear

NORTHEAST REGION SOUTHEAST & UPPER MIDWEST

By CH Staff

WESTERN REGION

22 QUICK HITS

MIDWEST/CENTRAL SOUTH

Forget the range training fads—it’s time for realistic gunfight practice

DIRECT RESPONSE SALES

By Pat McNamara

30 RELOAD ZONE 22

SENIOR DIRECTOR MARKETING & OPERATIONS DIGITAL SALES DEVELOPMENT & MARKETING DIRECTOR

Scott Buchmayr 978-462-6335 Amos Crowley 216-378-9811 Scott J. Cherek 307-635-8899 Dan Flavin 248-515-8654 Jim Coen 212-478-1949 Carrie Roeder Brock Norman

ATHLON MEDIA GROUP

By Stan Trzoniec

Corporate Officers

44 ASK THE PROS

PRESIDENT, CEO CFO/TREASURER CORPORATE ADDRESSES

Being on top of your game means more than just slinging lead By J.J. Racaza

48 TALE OF THE TAPE Sig’s We The People .45 takes on its airgun counterpart

60 EDC UPGRADE Here’s the best way to make your favorite Glock lighter yet stronger

* Consultant

By Fred Mastison

63 RANGE READY Zero in on the cheap with these three easy gun-guy projects By Jason Hanson

72 RIGHTEOUS RIGS Discreet-carry outerwear to help you stay armed in colder weather By Mike Detty

96 COOPER’S COMBAT Part one of Col. Jeff Cooper’s Principles of Personal Defense

4 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. • FEB. 2019

Chuck Allen Mary Lee Vanderkooi New York: 60 E. 42nd St., Suite 820, NY, NY 10165; 212-478-1910 Nashville: 2451 Atrium Way, Suite 320 Nashville, TN 37214 800-284-5668

SUBSCRIPTIONS / SINGLE COPIES 800-284-5668; subscriptions@athlonmediagroup.com ONLINE STORE outdoorgroupstore.com

By Dennis Adler

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By Massad Ayoob

How to get the most from your pet handloads

Nino Bosaz Linas Cernauskas Greg Lickenbrock Kenneth Ross Rory Slifkin Michael Toppin Franco Nguyen Matthew Hogan Amelia Wilhelm* Richard Ortega Scott Hill/ProCirc Courtesy Manufacturers

TO THE READERS: Be advised that there may be products represented in this magazine as to which the sale, possession or interstate transportation thereof may be restricted, prohibited or subject to special licensing requirements. Prospective purchasers should consult the local law enforcement authorities in their area. All of the information in this magazine is based upon the personal experience of individuals who may be using specific tools, products, equipment and components under particular conditions and circumstances, some or all of which may not be reported in the particular article and which this magazine has not otherwise verified. Nothing herein is intended to constitute a manual for the use of any product or the carrying out of any procedure or process. This magazine and its officers and employees accept no responsibility for any liability, injuries or damages arising out of any person’s attempt to rely upon any information contained herein. COMBAT HANDGUNS® (ISSN 1043-7584) is published six times per year by Athlon Sports Communications, Inc., 2451 Atrium Way, Suite 320, Nashville, TN 37214. Single copy price: $7.99 in U.S.A., $8.99 in Canada. Submissions of manuscripts, illustrations and/or photographs must be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. The publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. Copyright © 2018 by Athlon Sports Communications, Inc. All rights reserved under International and Pan American Copyright Conventions. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. Printed in the U.S.A.

CROSSBREED

SPRINGFIELD XD-S MOD.2 HOLSTERS

CROSSBREED

FREEDOM CARRY

Rounding up some of the best new guns and gear available

GLOCK 45 By now you’ve seen the G19X, a coyote tan 9mm that Glock originally submitted for the U.S. Army’s MHS competition. While that pistol is now available for civilians, Glock has also unveiled a new version with a black nDLC slide and a matching black frame. Like the G19X, the new 9mm Glock 45 has the same G19 slide/G17 frame setup, but you’ll notice front slide serrations. Glock has also removed the G19X’s lanyard ring, half-moon cut on the mag well and frontstrap extension so the G45 can use Gen5 mags. (glock.com)

HOGUE

HANDALL BEAVERTAIL GRIP SLEEVES Hogue has introduced two new HandALL Beavertail Grip Sleeves to fit the compact G19, G23, G32 and G38. One is designed for Gen1, Gen2 and Gen5 Glocks while the other will work for Gen3 and Gen4 models. The HandALL is made from a durable thermoplastic elastomer compound that ages gracefully and keeps a firm, tacky feel. Once installed, the HandALL sleeve’s finger grooves offer a new level of control for your firearm, with a cushioning beavertail area to help with recoil. Several colors are available. (hogueinc.com)

BY CH STAFF

CrossBreed has now created a Freedom Carry holster specifically designed for the new Taurus 856 revolver in .38 Special. The Freedom Carry is a versatile holster that can be worn in various IWB positions with a straight-draw design and a cant-adjustable clip. The rig is available in dyed-black cowhide, premium tan cowhide or natural tan horsehide. If you’d prefer an OWB rig, the SnapSlide is available for the Taurus 856. (crossbreedholsters.com)

There’s more from CrossBreed. The company has announced several new holsters for the Springfield XD-S Mod.2. Inside-thewaistband options include the SuperTuck IWB, Founder’s Series SuperTuck IWB and Designer Series MiniTuck IWB. The SuperTuck models feature premium leather backings and Kydex pockets for excellent support. The powder-coated steel belt clips allow you to customize the cant and ride height. For OWB carry, you can get a few variants of the SnapSlide. (crossbreedholsters.com)

6 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. • FEB. 2019

KAHR

THIN BLUE LINE PM9 Kahr Arms has chosen to honor the men and women of law enforcement with a new special-edition PM9 called the “Thin Blue Line.” The slide is finished in durable Armor Black Cerakote. All of the other exposed metal parts are blacked out, and a blue line encircles the slide. This special model also comes equipped with easy-to-see TruGlo night sights. Two flushmount, six-round magazines are included as well as one seven-round extended magazine. Each of the magazines has also been blackened for better concealability. (kahr.com)

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COMBAT STOCKPILE

REMINGTON

PERFORMANCE WHEELGUN AMMO

MAGPUL

LOGGER SHIRT Designed with performance and movement in mind, the Magpul Logger Shirt combines a warm synthetic flannel material with a technical design and articulation features. Appropriate for cool-weather trips to the range, it supports activities like chopping wood and spending a night out in the outdoors, but it’d also fit in for casual Fridays at the office. The shirt features snap buttons and two secure chest pockets that will keep contents in and debris out. Several colors are available. (magpul.com)

Remington has added three new loads to its popular Performance WheelGun line: a 148-grain .38 Special Target Master wadcutter (TMWC), a 158-grain .38 Special lead semi-wadcutter (LSWC) and a 225-grain .45 Colt LSWC. All three loads use high-quality components and Remington Kleanbore priming that will not rust or corrode barrels. Essentially, these rounds are ideal for casual shooting, target practice and training. So if you own a revolver or lever gun, make sure you check out this ammo. (remington.com)

OUTDOOR EDGE

PARACLAW CQD WATCH

MORE ALIEN GEAR SHAPESHIFT OPTIONS Alien Gear Holsters has expanded the compatibility of its ShapeShift Modular Holster System to work with two additional handguns: the Springfield XD Mod.2 3.3" in .45 ACP as well as the Heckler & Koch VP9. Those who carry these handguns can now benefit from some truly advanced concealed-carry equipment. Essentially, one holster core can be installed on several different mounts, letting you carry your gun however you want. (aliengearholsters.com)

8 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. • FEB. 2019

Hot on the heels of the popular ParaClaw bracelet comes the Paraclaw CQD Watch. The stainless model features Miyota quartz movement, mineral glass, a titanium PVD coating, a Lume indexed display, and it’s water resistant to 170 feet. The proprietary buckle discreetly houses a 1.5-inch, stainless, hawksbill blade that can be deployed quickly if needed. Available in two sizes, the paracord bracelet has an adjustable loop for the perfect fit. (outdooredge.com)

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VERTX

ZEV TECHNOLOGIES

ASSESSOR POLO

GEN5 PRO MAGWELL

Designed specifically for easy draws from concealment, the Assessor features a traditional polo design with an athletic fit. It also has a semi-compression WeaponGuard under layer that is designed to remain tucked into your pants, protecting you from any skin irritation caused by your concealed-carry gun. This layer also helps regulate heat and humidity to provide more comfort. The short-sleeve Assessor polo is available in three heathered colors. Loops and pass-throughs also make it easy to hide comms gear. (vertx.com)

Known for its top-notch Glock upgrades, ZEV Technologies has once again added to its growing catalog of Gen5 offerings with the introduction of the PRO Magwell for the compact G19 Gen5. The Pro Magwell is a slimmed-down version of the PRO Plus that is suitable for concealed carry because it doesn’t add much to the gun’s profile. Yet the slightly flared base is wider than the stock opening for faster reloads. This upgrade is made from hardcoat anodized 6061-T6 aluminum, and ZEV includes the required mounting screw and wrench. (zevtechnologies.com)

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JAN. • FEB. 2019 COMBAT HANDGUNS 9

SELF-DEFENSE & THE LAW

A SOLID

-GUMENT NINE CASES PROVE WHY WE NEED AR-15-STYLE CARBINES AND PISTOLS BY MASSAD AYOOB

Steve Woods Photo

Though no military on the planet has ever adopted the semi-automatic AR-15 rifle for its armed services, anti-gun forces disparage it as a “weapon of war that has no place in civilian hands.” Oddly, the mayor of London says the same of any pocket knife with a blade that comes to a point. The yeoman warriors of England and the patriots of the American Revolution must be rolling in their graves. The prohibitionists use a philosophy of “the pet reflects the personality of its owner” to damn

10 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. • FEB. 2019

AR-15 owners as bloodthirsty monsters who care more for their guns than for the lives of children. There is no question that this same rhetoric can and very likely will be used against you in the court of law if you have successfully defended yourself or other innocent persons with such a firearm. You need only look at the moot court research of my friend Glenn Meyer, a now-retired psychology professor who found that, given a situation of a homeowner shooting a burglar, the mock juries

were harsher on those who used an “assault rifle” than those who used a typical “sporting gun.” With that in mind, should I trade in all my AR-15s and similar rifles for the double-barreled shotguns of Elmer Fudd and Joe Biden, and advise you to do the same? Oh, hell no! Instead, I will advise you to be able to explain your choice of firearm in such a way that even 12 people expressly selected by your accusers for their lack of knowledge of firearms and self-defense can understand it. personaldefenseworld.com

SELF-DEFENSE & THE LAW

AR-15s are so popular among shooters because they’re easy to customize and use for a number of tasks, including home defense.

“IF THE AR-15 IS SO LETHAL AND SCARY THAT SOME PEOPLE THINK IT SHOULD BE BANNED, DON’T YOU THINK IT’S EQUALLY SCARY TO CRIMINALS FACING ONE?” BRINGING THE HEAT Let’s start with Case One, the mass murder at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. Upon hearing that the church was under attack, a neighbor, Stephen Willeford, grabbed his AR-15, loaded it on the run and confronted the killer. The AR-15 lends itself to fast, accurate, powerful hits, and Willeford inflicted exactly that on the murderer, who fled. While driving away, the killer reportedly phoned a relative and told the man he thought he was dying, and then he shot himself and finished the job. Speaking recently at the 2018 NRA show, Willeford said, “He had an AR-15, but so did I, and it’s not the gun—it’s the heart.” If the AR-15 is so lethal and scary that some people think it should be banned, don’t you think it’s equally scary to criminals facing one? And isn’t it bet-

12 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. • FEB. 2019

ter for all concerned if the criminal assailant is so scared of the AR-15 the lawful defender points at him that he breaks off his assault and flees or surrenders?

DETERRENT EFFECT Cases Two and Three, the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles in 1992 and the Ferguson, Missouri, riots of 2014, stand to prove the preventative power of the AR-15. In both of these events, when looters and arsonists were running wild, they conspicuously avoided and fled from storeowners who guarded their properties with weapons, including the AR-15. At the time of the LA riots, the violent criminals knew two things: The police had been held back from the scene, but the storeowners were definitely there, and while at that time the only LAPD officers with “black rifles” were the SWAT team, the armed citizens

damn sure had theirs visible. Let’s look at some more localized incidents. Writing for The Daily Signal, Amy Swearer reported that in Rochester, New York, in 2013, “Two armed burglars retreated from a college student’s apartment after coming face to face with an unloaded AR-15. The rifle itself instilled enough fear to cause them to flee.” We’ll consider that Case Four. Also from Swearer comes Case Five in Oswego, Illinois, earlier this year: “A man with an AR-15 intervened to stop a neighbor’s knife attack on a pregnant woman. The rifle’s ‘intimidation factor’ was credited as a reason why the attacker dropped his knife.” Another writer, Wesley Messamore of Mic.com, brings us two more examples. Case Six occurred when “a man and woman attacked a tax preparation business near Detroit, pointing handguns at the receptionist and owner. What happened next was caught on video…when one of the attackers advances past two horrified victims to check out the next room of this house converted into a small business office, a security guard behind the door enters with an AR-15 and scares off the intruders with two shots.” Case Seven also comes from Messamore, in which “two men with a handgun broke into the New York apartment of a Rochester Institute of Technology student named Raymond… the two intruders broke into the basement of the apartment and waited for a victim to come down to check out the noise. Raymond’s roommate, Chris Boise, told a local television station: ‘They were waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs’…One of the intruders pointed the barrel of a handgun at Chris. Chris says he instinctively let out a blood-curdling scream to warn Raymond, who went to get his AR-15 out of its gun bag. “By then, one of the intruders began to open the door to the room where Raymond was waiting with his assault prevention rifle. ‘By the time I had it out and ready, one of the men came at my door, slowly opened it, saw that there was a barrel on the other side and from there backed out.’ The intruders then fled. No shots fired.” personaldefenseworld.com

AR-15 ADAPTABILITY While a concealed-carry firearm tends to be a personal gun worn by a single dedicated user, the AR-15 kept for home defense is more of a “pool weapon” generally accessible to multiple members of the household who have been authorized to use it in an emergency. This means it has to fit the short and the tall, the experienced and the inexperienced, the strong and the weak alike. The typical format of the AR-15 offers a lightweight gun with mild recoil, and where ridiculous “assault weapon” laws don’t prohibit it, a telescoping stock that can be instantly adjusted to fit users of different sizes, affording them maximum control and confidence. Here are some examples. Again from Amy Swearer, Case Eight tells of a 15-year-old boy in Harris County, Texas, who “saved both his life and the life of his 12-year-old sister by fending off a pair of home invaders with his father’s AR-15.”

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Kim and Jeff Chudwin, the power couple of AR-15 shooting, exemplify the platform’s attributes as a “family gun.”

And for our Case Nine, Swearer reports that just last year in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, “A homeowner’s 19-year-old son used an AR-15 to defend himself against three would-be burglars who broke into the home in broad daylight. The 19-year-old was later determined to have acted in justifiable self-defense.” There are many more cases where law-abiding Americans have used AR-15s and similar arms to save innocent lives, both their own and those of others. Don’t trade your AR in for an Elmer Fudd signature model shotgun, but do be able to explain with the common-sense reasons listed here why you chose that particular firearm as the lifesaving emergency rescue tool it was designed to be.

JAN. • FEB. 2019 COMBAT HANDGUNS 13

ON THE COVER

CONCEALED

CCP M2

CARRY

PERFECTED WHEN SHOOTERS CALLED FOR MORE PERFORMANCEENHANCING FEATURES, WALTHER DELIVERED

14 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. â&#x20AC;¢ FEB. 2019

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JAN. â&#x20AC;¢ FEB. 2019 COMBAT HANDGUNS 15

CONCEALED CARRY PERFECTED

Like the original, the new CCP M2 uses proprietary Softcoil technology to reduce recoil. A side benefit is an easy-to-rack slide.

magazine release for an American-style button as well as sculpting in ergonomics that lead the industry.

or the past 10 years, the ever-burgeoning world of concealed-carry and personal-protection firearms has continued to grow and dominate the world of handguns and their development. I have had the privilege of testing a wide variety of firearms to scale the performance of one design versus another and how the consumer has driven the change in features for the needs of today. With the invention of metal-injection molding, three-dimensional printing and CNC machining, manufacturers have become far more reflexive to the needs of consumers and more adaptable than ever before. As a one-time marketer, I understand the importance of making sure you build a product that works, is as advertised and delivers on the promises you describe. This is evident in the evolution of the CCP (Concealed Carry Pistol) M2 from Walther. The legendary manufacturer from Ulm, Germany, has made it very clear over the last decade that it is dedicated to capturing your heart and mind when it comes to concealed-carry firearms. The debut of the PPS over 10 years ago broke the mold for the modern, slim single-stack, and its brother, the PPS M2 of 2016, abandoned the signature triggerguard-mounted

16 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. â&#x20AC;˘ FEB. 2019

THE SEQUEL The CCP M2 follows in these footsteps. When the original was announced in 2014, it too capitalized on unparalleled ergonomics that literally felt too good to be true. This has since become a staple for the entire Walther line. The trademarked â&#x20AC;&#x153;Softcoilâ&#x20AC;? technology takes the blowback piston design from the venerable HK P7 and brings it into the 21st century. Combining this recoil-fighting concept and blending it with a polymer frame that vents cartridge gas through a port in the front creates a dynamic where the pistol uses its own kinetics to help reduce felt recoil depending on the cartridge you shoot. Walther captured a lot of attention with the M2, which, unlike the original, does not require any tools for disassembly. Cleaning is a necessity due to the piston design and its gas and carbon venting. The original also had a rather long and deliberate trigger pull. The team at Walther states that this is intentional to prevent accidental discharges. Either way,

CONCEALED CARRY PERFECTED Walther outfits the CCP M2 with three-dot sights, and the entire gun is just 1.18 inches wide, making it easy to conceal all day long.

the CCP had already become a favorite among many looking for an alternative to other larger 9mm pistols that weren’t built for everyday carry. Comparing the CCP M2 side by side with the original, the dimensions are identical top to bottom and front to back. A feature that Walther decided to bring back on the CCP M2 is the red cocking indicator at the rear of the slide, which is a welcome addition. I have been a fan of this feature since I first saw it on the P99 years ago. It allows the user to know if the gun is ready to fire in the heat of the moment and was absent on the original CCP. The front and rear sights are adjustable, and the thumb safety is a welcome feature for those looking for something other than a Glock copy. It’s just another example showing that Walther wants you to know what you’re doing when you bring the CCP M2 to bear. Walther also takes the guesswork out of any aftermarket stippling with its signature grip texturing and molding. You shouldn’t have to sit at home in your garage with a soldering iron and hope you don’t suck at making a pattern with some piece of steel you bought online. PERFORMANCE To test the CCP M2 in its role for concealed carry, I pulled a few common loads from Hornady, Winchester and Inceptor that represent everything from reactive

SPEC BOX

WALTHER

CCP M2 CALIBER:

9mm

BARREL:

3.54 inches

OA LENGTH:

6.41 inches

WEIGHT: GRIP:

22.33 ounces (empty) Polymer

SIGHTS:

Three-dot

ACTION:

Striker-fired

FINISH:

Matte black

CAPACITY: MSRP:

8+1 $469

18 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. • FEB. 2019

Along with a fixed barrel, the CCP M2 boasts a squared, undercut triggerguard, a short accessory rail, a thumb safety and non-slip grip texturing.

ammunition to a full-on injection-molded bullet design. I always test Hornady’s Critical Defense ammo right out of the gate because I’m biased. It’s like using Snap-On or Milwaukee tools. If I could eat apple pie while shooting without a hint of carbon, I would do it. Hornady has become as American as Winchester used to be. I have relied on the team from Grand Island, Nebraska, since I was very young and have yet to see its ammo malfunction in any firearm I have fired it through. Here my Critical Defense groups were tight and predictable. It’s not hard to believe that the pinned-barrel design of the CCP delivers incredibly tight groups and promotes flat shooting. This makes you feel confident that you can place your shots exactly where you want them to go, whether it’s on the range or in a life-anddeath circumstance. I’ve shot the original CCP and things were very familiar. And by that I mean that this Deutsche dynamo doesn’t produce a whole lot of recoil. The Critical Defense FTXs did their job and delivered groups under 3 inches at 15 yards. Up next was the Inceptor ARX load, which originally made me skeptical because it looks like space ammo. But there is genius in the design of the slopes molded into the ARX bullets. In the CCP M2, this load shot every bit as well as the Hornady and delivered far less recoil—which is inexplicable because the bullet

is lighter. But Inceptor argues that its ammo offers consistency that traditional cup-and-core bullets simply can’t replicate. The overall design vaporizes on impact, and if you’re hit with one of these rounds, you’re out of the game. I don’t believe you would recover from the impact of these fragmenting-type bullets. Bringing up the rear were Winchester PDX1s. I grew up with Winchester and was amazed with what used to be the industry leader relying on its old technology, which is essentially a bonded bullet. The recoil here was greater than the two previous loads with groups that were just as respectable. However, I would be more tempted to load my 21st century Walther with newer and more innovative ammo. Nonetheless, group after group was consistent from my strong and off hands at 15 yards. The CCP M2 is identical to all other Walthers in its ability to deliver a highly accurate shooting experience—essential for any handgun but downright critical for anything in the realm of everyday carry. A WELCOME ADDITION You want it? You got it! People love the CCP, and those who were grumpy about the original’s clumsy takedown procedure will find the CCP M2’s sliding tool-less disassembly a welcome fix. The red cocking indicator is another great addition, too. The magazine release can still be changed from left to right sides, and the ergonomics easily put this pistol in the top five among single-stack 9mm pistols. The Achilles’ heel, however, continues to be a trigger that will leave most devout PPQ lovers wanting. The lack of a true measureable break and reset makes for the only

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PERFORMANCE

WALTHER CCP M2 LOAD

VELOCITY ACCURACY

Hornady 115 Critical Defense FTX

1,200

2.10

Inceptor 65 ARX

1,540

2.20

Winchester 124 PDX1

1,230

2.80

Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for best five-shot groups at 15 yards.

negative mark against an otherwise solid, accurate and consistent performer. In front of the target, the pistol is easy to handle and returns to the target smoothly, and when you focus on it, the ergonomics really work hand in hand with the piston to give you a comfortable shooting experience even if the trigger isn’t match grade. When it comes to everyday carry, Walther knows what it is doing. I’ve been to both of the company’s factories in Germany, and the reputation for relentless reliability rings true. The CCP M2 will certainly be a top pick for anyone looking for a smaller 9mm. I recently tested some counterparts in the foreign market, and the CCP M2 delivers where it counts: comfort, accuracy and dependability. This isn’t the highly machined masterpiece of the venerable PPK, but for the 21st century, it doesn’t have to be. Walther has listened to all of the criticisms that the American market has bestowed upon it, and it shows in spades. You would be hard pressed to find this type of desire to satisfy the consumers’ needs from most firearms manufacturers. Walther has built a pistol dedicated to what you have asked for while fulfilling a promise to the American market. For more information, visit waltherarms.com. Editor’s Note: The hits keep on coming on the digital side of things. Visit personaldefenseworld.com to learn more about the Walther CCP M2 and see how you can enter to win your very own.

JAN. • FEB. 2019 COMBAT HANDGUNS 19

READY TO WIN?

To win this Wa lther CCP M2 and related ge ar, check out personaldefe nseworld.com / win-waltherE SS

HERE’S YOUR CHANCE TO SCORE A WALTHER CCP M2 AND SOME SWEET ELITE SURVIVAL SYSTEMS GEAR

We at Combat Handguns are proud to present our first-ever Fully Loaded Guns & Gear Giveaway. Entering to win a new gun—in this case the Walther CCP M2 shown on the cover and reviewed on page 14—and related gear is as simple as visiting personaldefenseworld.com. But what do we mean by “related gear”? Elite Survival Systems (ESS) has included several products as part of this awesome giveaway.

No purchase required. Open to U.S. residents only and void where prohibited. Prizes worth $723. Sponsored by Walther Arms and Elite Survival Systems. Starts 10/30/18 and ends 12/24/18. Visit personaldefenseworld.com/win-walther-ESS for details, eligibility and a complete list of official rules.

20 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. • FEB. 2019

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LOADOUT RANGE BAG This range bag is the perfect partner for a day at the range. Made of 1,050-denier nylon, the bag measures 17 by 10 by 11 inches and has plenty of easy-to-access storage compartments, mag and accessory pouches, MOLLE slots and more. Features include closed-cell foam padding, wraparound handles, luggage rails, a removable dump pouch that attaches to belts and MOLLE platforms, a water bottle pocket, an eyewear pouch, side pockets, and a large main compartment that holds at least four guns. (MSRP: $160)

MAINSTAY HYBRID IWB/POCKET HOLSTER The Mainstay is a clipless IWB rig that can also be used as a pocket holster, providing immediate access to your firearm. Its silicone-coated outer shell helps keep the holster in place while you draw yo ur weapon. The Mainstay is also ambidextrous and is made from water-resistant materials. (MSRP: $25)

DURA-TEK HIP HOLSTER If you’d prefer to carry your gun on your hip, it’s Dura-Tek time. Made from dense, padded ballistic

nylon, this holster fits belts up to 2.25 inches wide with an injectionmolded polymer belt panel. This rig’s SightStrip channel will protect your gun’s sights during draws and reholstering, and the retention strap is Velcro adjustable. (MSRP: $33)

PISTOL CASE WITH POCKET Ready to go low profile? Use ESS’ new thick padded Pistol Case. This durable nylon case is lockable and features an exterior pocket as well as a full-perimeter zipper that allows the case to open flat. (MSRP: $33)

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Alex Landeen Photos

JAN. • FEB. 2019 COMBAT HANDGUNS 21

HITS

BAD HABITS & THEATRICS FORGET THE RANGE TRAINING FADS—IT’S

TIME FOR REALISTIC GUNFIGHT PRACTICE

BY PAT McNAMARA • BRANDON WILLIAMS PHOTOS I have been in the tactical training industry since 2005 and have seen an unnecessary evolution of tactical gimmicks. I refer to these acts of buffoonery as “range theatrics.” Some of this assclownery is in the verbiage, and some is in action. On the verbiage front, the phrase “train like you fight” has become an overused and misunderstood axiom. Does it mean that we must train in full combat gear all the time? Does it mean that we have to train until we drop? The answer is no. It has nothing

to do with how much black Velcro and MultiCam you strap onto your person. The term comes from athletics of yore: “Practice like you play.” Instead of practicing on half of the court, practice on the full court, for example. So, by that rule, if you want to ensure that your combat chassis is more effective and capable, do you work out in full kit? If not, then why do it? By that same logic, if your objective to marksmanship training is to dissuade a home invasion at night, shouldn’t you be training in your boxer shorts?

22 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. • FEB. 2019

KNOW THYSELF -There are many techniques in practice, and there are just as many gun-related gizmos, gadgets and gimmicks. Firearms upgrades and apparel additions, theatrical movements and dance steps, tales of woe or implausible performance enhancers— some of these live long and become debated issues while others die off quickly. One of the things I encourage on the range is discovery, or tactile, learning. In other words, learn by doing rather than just taking

someone else’s word for it. You can now make the determination of whether to scrap or to maintain a technique or piece of gear because you see for yourself that it will or will not offer positive development in a gunfight. Combat multipliers are often the simplest solutions versus high-tech gear or fine-motorskill movements. “Train like you fight” means training beyond the drill. If the drill requires six shots to complete, think about seven, eight or nine shots. Do not let the drill dictate to you when you should stop thinking. Instead, try to perform a focal shift and see things full spectrum. Once again, work beyond the drill. If the targets are directly in front of you, look around them so you’re aware of what’s in front of and flanking these targets. Train during periods of limited visibility, such as adverse weather conditions. Train to stay in the fight. Get out of the flat-range mindset.

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MORE RIDICULOUSNESS -I’m often perplexed by some of the post-shoot motions used during range practice. And that’s exactly what it is—range practice. One of my favorites is the post-shoot “scan and assess.” This is where the shooter draws, fires and quickly snatches his gun back into a compressed-ready position and moves his head from side to side. What’s he doing? Hell if I know. Looks to me like he’s moving his head from side to side. There’s no regard for picking up a secondary sight picture and getting ready for the next shot because the theatrical movement has taken precedence over what he should be doing. Put yourself in a situation where you would have to fire at someone with the intent of deadly force. After you fire and he is no longer a visible threat, what are you going to do? You’ll probably close in on the target in a semicircular movement to ensure that he is no longer a threat and clear his gun from him or render aid in the event that you have not dispatched him. You would definitely not shake your head from side to side

and quickly reholster. Never would this happen. Another one of my favorites is the “follow the target to the ground” shitshow. This is where the shooter fires at his target and slowly starts to aim his pistol toward the ground. The first time I saw this, I asked the shooter what he was doing. His answer: “I’m following the target to the ground.” I approached his target, pointed to it and said, “But your target is still standing.” To which he replied, “I am simulating following the target to the ground.” Hmm. Would a person fall straight down in slow motion after he is shot, or might he take two hobbling steps to the left or

“‘TRAIN LIKE YOU FIGHT’ MEANS TRAINING BEYOND THE DRILL…DO NOT LET THE DRILL DICTATE TO YOU WHEN YOU SHOULD STOP THINKING.”

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right before he falls? If so, shouldn’t you practice moving your pistol up and down, left and right after shooting? What if he were in a car or a basement? Once again, you would probably advance on this person and secure your 6 o’clock, clear him of his weapon, check his vitals, calm down any bystanders and call the police. The “flat-range mindset” breeds contempt for realism as well. Guys running backwards with complete disregard for what’s behind them is common range practice. This is done as an administrative range safety requirement and is justified by believing that we should run backwards

while facing our target so as not to lose sight of it. Please try this at midnight in the Walmart parking lot, what I call the “epicenter for disaster planning.” You’ll see the flaw in this mindset quite quickly. Before I run a drill involving kinetics, where the shooter will have to run from one cover position to another, I ask, “How do we run with a pistol or a rifle?” The answers are astonishing. Some people will show me how they were taught to hold the pistol or rifle oriented up and close to their head. In this position, they no longer have a positive visual with their muzzle, and they have relinquished their firing-side peripheral vision because there is a gun in

the way! I’ve also heard it explained that running like this is more efficient. What? My sarcastic response: “So they should bring this to the NFL and Olympic relays. The runners will hold the ball and the baton in the same manner!” Imagine that. My answer to “How do we run with a pistol or a rifle?” is this: the same freaking way we’d run without a pistol or a rifle. You can see plenty of visual examples on my Pat Mac YouTube channel. There are many people who will read this and think I’m smoking crack. That’s OK. Continue with your “range practice.” I will continue to train for a fight!

JAN. • FEB. 2019 COMBAT HANDGUNS 23

ON THE COVER

SPRINGFIELD’S LATEST 9MM MOD.2 REBOOT TAKES DISCREET CARRY TO NEW HEIGHTS BY WILL DABBS, MD

24 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. • FEB. 2019

JAN. â&#x20AC;¢ FEB. 2019 COMBAT HANDGUNS 25

XD-S XCELLENCE

he 9mm Springfield Armory XD-S Mod.2 is the end result of a generation of mechanical evolution. Every millimeter of the thing has been tweaked, refined and polished. The outcome is a pocket-sized defender that carries like it’s not there, shoots like a dream and packs quite a punch. I have been blessed to carry and run just about everything. With a quarter-century’s worth of gun writing under my belt, it has been my privilege to squeeze quite a few triggers, all the while pretending like it was work. It is tough to impress me with a carry gun these days. However, the Springfield Armory XD-S Mod.2 is indeed concealed carry perfected.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS When I first got into this gig, my initial carry gun was a $50 FIE Titan in .25 ACP. It was a gift from my precious bride, and it was all that we could afford. I loaded that pathetic little pistol with little quarter-inch-diameter Glaser Safety Slugs and struck out into the world confident in my ability to defend my woman against life’s

26 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. • FEB. 2019

many-splendored ills. Thank the Lord I never had to use that thing for real. I most likely would have been better off throwing it than shooting it. I packed that little gun loose in my pocket with an empty chamber. That may seem like heresy these days, but pickings were pretty slim back then. To put the weapon into action, I would have had to fish it out of my pocket—

SPEC BOX

SPRINGFIELD ARMORY

XD-S MOD.2 CALIBER:

9mm

BARREL:

3.3 inches

OA LENGTH:

6.3 inches

WEIGHT: GRIP:

21.5 ounces (empty) Polymer

hopefully muzzle end out—and rack the slide before somebody caught, killed and ate me. The single-action trigger wasn’t too shabby all things considered, but the safety was pretty tiny and inaccessible. Additionally, the dimensions and ergonomics of the weapon were not designed for real human beings. Sometime between then and now, every single thing about concealed carry changed. Who saw this coming? I sure didn’t. As of the summer of 2016, 14.5 million Americans held concealed-carry permits. That is just over 6 percent of the adult population. A dozen states embrace constitutional carry without a permit. Current estimates are that 3 million American civilians carry a gun every single day. In a nation of roughly 326 million people, those numbers are staggering. In the face of this simply breathtaking market, today’s firearms manufacturers have been burning the midnight oil pursuing state-of-the-art concealable firepower. The end result is the XD-S Mod.2.

SIGHTS:

AmeriGlo Pro-Glo tritium front, Tactical Rack rear

ACTION:

Stiker-fired

FINISH:

Matte black

A CLOSER LOOK

7+1, 9+1

The XD-S Mod.2 is fairly tiny. The footprint is more akin to what you might expect of a .380 ACP pocket gun.

CAPACITY: MSRP:

$586

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Carrying this gun in a dedicated pocket holster would be all but painless. Everything about the XD-S Mod.2 is optimized for its mission. Both sights are steel. The front sight is an AmeriGlo Pro-Glo tritium unit, and the “Tactical Rack” rear sight has a little ledge so you can charge the gun on a shoe or a piece of furniture if your day turns out extra sucky. The grip is pleasantly textured throughout for easy purchase when life goes sideways. The triggerguard is as undercut as the laws of physics might allow. The dust cover sports a tiny bit of Picatinny rail, and the guide rod sports a little intentional standoff up front that prevents the gun from becoming disabled when pressed against something firm. Springfield really has thought of just about everything.

The gun is designed specifically around the 9mm and is super skinny as a result. At its broadest point, the gun is still less than an inch wide. The overall design strikes the sweet spot between pointability and tactical efficiency. Were the gun any smaller, it would be uncomfortable to use on the range. The slide release is one-sided and the perfect size for quick access without snagging. Deep slide serrations make the gun easy to charge. There is also a loaded-chamber indicator on top that works in both daylight and darkness. The magazine release is a handy button in the expected spot that is perfectly replicated on both sides of the gun. This brings us to the magazines, which are inspired. There are three options here, all of which are singlestack to keep the gun thin for easy

portage. Think of them as small, medium and large. The gun comes with the small (seven-round) and large (nine-round). Medium (eight-round) is available as an option if desired. Each magazine comes with a polymer baseplate or sleeve that interfaces seamlessly with the grip. The stubby seven-rounder comes with both a pinky-rest floorplate as well as the flat sort for those times when it needs to be really small. This magazine seems to occupy very little space. I have no idea how it does that—by warping the timespace continuum, perhaps? The last bit that really sets the XD-S Mod.2 apart is its magnificent grip safety. The gun has the obligatory blade safety built into the trigger as well as an internal drop safety in the striker block. Additionally, there is a third separate safety mechanism built into the grip. Now, there are those who feel that this grip safety is redundant and unnecessary. We shall refer to this group as “those who are more likely to shoot their manhoods off if the trigger catches on a shirttail while stowing the gun in an appendix holster.” I know I’m paranoid, but I’m comfortable with a bit of paranoia when it comes to tools that are designed to incapacitate a human being as efficiently as possible. I am personally aware of five episodes where trained police officers had negligent discharges while packing the most popular polymer-framed pistol in the world. Four of those episodes resulted in severe injuries to the officers. In each case, the gun performed precisely as designed. The XD-S Mod.2 will go bang every single time you pull the trigger, all while remaining just a little bit safer than everybody else. I see no downside.

HOW DOES IT CARRY? The XD-S Mod.2 has several noteworthy features, including a Tactical Rack rear sight, an AmeriGlo Pro-Glow front sight, a loadedchamber indicator, GripZone texturing and a grip safety.

Wow. Just wow. I have packed fullsized 1911 pistols underneath my scrubs at work that offered the same magazine capacity as the XD-S Mod.2 and were bulky and heavy enough to induce lumbago. By contrast, this little gun really does all but disappear. The dimensions of the XD-S Mod.2 put it into the same category as the

JAN. • FEB. 2019 COMBAT HANDGUNS 27

XD-S XCELLENCE

Springfield includes a seven-round magazine with flat and pinky-rest baseplates as well as a longer nine-rounder (shown) with a pinky-rest baseplate for more comfortable shooting sessions.

PERFORMANCE

SPRINGFIELD ARMORY XD-S MOD.2 LOAD

VELOCITY

ACCURACY

Armscor 124 FMJ

1,049

1.00

NovX 65 ARX +P

1,667

2.25

Sig Sauer 115 V-Crown 365 JHP

1,073

2.10

Sig Sauer 124 V-Crown JHP

1,022

2.00

Winchester 115 Forged FMJ

1,105

0.80

Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for best four-shot groups at 15 yards.

HOW DOES IT SHOOT? In a word, beautifully. A Walther PPK/S .380 batters you way worse than this thing does. All that cool-guy stuff we talked about earlier synergistically conspires to make this tiny little defensive gun surprisingly placid on the range. The recoil is not nearly as snappy as it could be, and the combat-proven controls make the gun run quickly. A lot of small defensive pistols are fairly miserable to shoot. A PPK/S is surprisingly harsh while some tiny locked-breech .380s will still buzz your hand a bit after an extended shooting

28 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. • FEB. 2019

Glock 43. I even found that it rode fairly well in a G43 holster. The gun is small without being anorexic and yet still fills the hand comfortably. If this pistol were any thinner, it would be unwieldy. If it were any thicker, it would print. As it is, the XD-S Mod.2 is just the right size for packing underneath my surgical scrubs throughout a hectic 13-hour day at the clinic. I can legitimately forget that it’s there. If you are one of those 3 million Americans who packs a gun every single day, as I do, the XD-S Mod.2 really can make that chore easy.

Despite its compact dimensions, the XD-S Mod.2 is still easy to aim and shoot thanks to Springfield engineering.

session. By contrast, the 9mm XD-S Mod.2 is positively sublime. The trigger is just firm enough to be safe while remaining sufficiently crisp as to be accurate. As expected, the long magazine shoots best, but the stubby version isn’t shabby. I’m a skinny guy with big hands. With the pinky-rest floorplate installed on the short magazine, the gun will just barely accommodate all of my fingers. As with everything else, it is just well designed. There were naturally no failures. The folks at Springfield Armory purportedly ran 25,000 rounds through a single copy during the pistol’s development

without a failure. That is simply a breathtaking performance for a gun of such compact dimensions. In addition to sterling reliability and optimized ergonomics, the XD-S Mod.2 shoots unnaturally straight. Out to 15 yards, I could make headshots all day long without breaking a sweat. Taking my time and shooting off of a rest, the gun printed some phenomenal groups, and several had touching holes. The gun printed a group less than an inch wide at 15 yards with inexpensive Winchester fodder. From cheap, steelcased ball ammo to high-performance defensive rounds, the XD-S Mod.2 ran them all smoothly and well. I even burned a box at 100 yards just for giggles. For those times I didn’t actually connect, I still would have scared an attacker downrange awfully bad. And that’s with a 3.3-inch barrel. After a long afternoon at the range, I left with a grin on my face and the XD-S Mod.2 riding in the place of honor on my belt.

ALL THAT & MORE It may seem that I’m laying it on a bit thick. After all, the XD-S Mod.2 bears an esoteric resemblance to a lot of other small-statured defensive guns

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cluttering the shelves at your local gun emporium. However, this new powerhouse really is all that and more. I am indeed a bit jaded when it comes to the latest and greatest new defensive hardware. I’ve seen it all. However, the 9mm XD-S Mod.2 genuinely impressed me. The features are eminently sensible, the quality and workmanship top-flight throughout, and the performance frankly flawless. The new 9mm XD-S Mod.2 is a pocket gun that is fun to run. My Second Amendment rights are well exercised. I needed another pocket pistol like I needed an IRS audit or a root canal. However, when the smoke cleared, I ponied up a check to Springfield Armory and made this cool little defensive pistol mine. I carry a gun every single day. I expect the weapon I tote to be capable of defending my family. For its size and mission, the 9mm XD-S Mod.2 is the best I have ever seen. For more, visit springfield-armory.com.

To be useful in a real-world gunfight, your gear needs to be simple—the fewer details the better. That’s why lasers can really be handy in the right circumstances. Literally nothing is simpler. Put the dot on the target and squeeze. The Viridian E-Series red laser sight is custom-designed to conform to the unique contours of the XD-S Mod.2, and you can even buy one of these guns straight from the factory with the laser attached. The Viridian’s housing is made from rugged polymer, and the red laser has a nominal output of 500mW, the maximum allowable under American law. The button cell battery provides six hours of constant operation, and the unit shuts itself off after five minutes in case

you inadvertently leave it activated. The whole shebang weighs only 0.78 ounces. Activation buttons are on both sides. The dot is visible out to 25 yards in daylight and up to a mile at night. Zeroing the unit is easy. You just adjust for windage and elevation with the included Allen wrench until the dot coincides with the gun’s sights. The “E” in E-Series stands for Essential, and the unit is made for daily carry. Several manufacturers offer holsters to accommodate the XD-S with this laser attached, and CrossBreed makes a great one. And the Viridian doesn’t add any real bulk to the gun. The controls are foolproof and easily accessed with the trigger finger. (viridianweapontech.com) —Will Dabbs, MD

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.50 AE | 5” Barrel

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BFR500JRH7B .500 JRH | 7.5” Barrel

BFR45-707B .45/70 Govt. | 7.5” Barrel

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Join us: @magnumresearchinc | @biggestfinestrevolver

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JAN. • FEB. 2019 COMBAT HANDGUNS 29

RELOAD ZONE

GIVE IT A REST! THIS RANGE-TESTING GUIDE WILL HELP YOU GET THE MOST FROM YOUR PET HANDLOADS BY STAN TRZONIEC Testing your handloads is the next step after all that hard work you put into each case with the proper primer, the exact powder charge and capping it off with that perfect bullet. If you are a beginner, terms like “trajectory,” “ballistic coefficient” and “feet per second” are going to add a new dimension to your loading vocabulary, and it all starts to come to the surface while shooting your newborn handloads. Veterans, on the other hand, will continue to fine-tune their established handloads for the best accuracy balanced with a good energy factor.

RANGE PREP If you are fortunate enough to have a place of your own with a few acres of land, you are perfectly positioned to test your handloads in the comfort of your own outdoor range. But if you don’t have this luxury, your best option is to join a gun club with decent shooting facilities. I mention this because I reside in the East, and some of the clubs here have downgraded their range facilities to a point where they have become social clubs holding yard sales, square dances and car shows. So drive around and check out the ones in your area, making sure the facilities include a range for both handguns (at least 50 yards) and rifles (up to 100 yards, but 200 yards is preferable) with adequate shooting benches for both. After you establish yourself with a club, make sure you have adequate shatterproof shooting glasses and ear protection in the form of tight-fitting

30 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. • FEB. 2019

To eliminate as many variables as possible, try testing your guns under a roof with a sturdy bench and a Ransom rest.

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Whatever you use to support your gun at the range, make sure you rest it on the gun’s frame, not the barrel. This helps with consistency.

Every range bag should include shooting glasses and hearing protection. Consider a hat so you can see your sights better on sunny days.

muffs or ear-filling foam plugs, keeping in mind that once you lose your hearing, you never get it back. Before going out, other accessories might include a hat, a spotting scope mounted on a mini tripod suitable for bench use, and cartridge boxes to keep your specially tailored handloads orderly and easy to retrieve and record. As you gain experience, you may want to add a chronograph and, for the ultimate in handgun testing, a Ransom rest. In the past, a chronograph was a luxury for some shooters, but today they’re much more affordable. Nothing more than a highly sophisticated timer, a good chronograph made by Oehler or Pact will give you high and low readings, averages, standard deviations and the number of rounds fired. If you tend to like handgun hunting, these units can be a big help in calculating bullet drop over longer distances based on true velocity readings, not something printed

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in a book. For the more serious shooter and handloader, a good rest takes the guesswork out of the longtime accuracy problem, that of showing how the gun and loads work by eliminating shooter error. Inserts are available for just about any handgun on the market today. Simply bolt down the whole assembly on a good sheet of plywood, C-clamp it to the club bench, get comfortable and have at it.

TESTS & RESTS Testing a handgun is fun and informative, and you want to be as accurate as possible with your handloads. Generally, there are three ways to test a handgun. One is off-hand. It’s not the steadiest method, but for casual use, it allows you to get the feel of the gun and how it shoots. While this might be suitable for a certain type of ammunition used in a defensive handgun at the customary 7 yards, this is not a good way to test guns or ammuni-

tion, as the chance of you holding to the same mark shot after shot is slim. The second testing method is a braced rest, which is nothing more than resting the gun on a solid machine rest or possibly within the confines of the rabbit ears on a sandbag. In either case, it is important to position the frame of the gun—not the barrel—on the rest for consistent results. (In fact, many guns feature a reverse curve just in front of the triggerguard that was apparently made for just this purpose.) This gives you a place to rest the gun shot after shot for the best results while taking the strain off of the gun and letting the barrel vibrate on its own. Once settled in, your priorities should be a clean sight picture and a consistent trigger pull. The last testing method is, of course, the Ransom rest. Designed years back by Chuck Ransom, this type of machine rest has been the benchmark in the industry for testing handguns to the Nth degree. A Ransom rest is a solid piece of machinery built to withstand the rigors of testing the most powerful handguns to their fullest. To accomplish this, Ransom International has designed inserts that fit within the confines of the rest, holding the gun in place while it is fired. These custom inserts fit tightly around the grip of the gun, and with an adjustable trigger linkage, allow the gun to be fired and tested without any human interference. The company makes hundreds of inserts to fit firearms from brands across the spectrum, including revolvers, semiautomatics and single-shot pistols. There is also a blank insert available for those who might want to carve their own, but if you aren’t as ambitious as all that, the company can custom design one for the gun you have in mind. While the Ransom rest was originally made for the serious target shooter trying to squeak out the best from his or her mild wadcutter loads in Bullseye competitions, it quickly gained ground with other precision shooters. This rest helps to eliminate issues such as incorrect sighting, flinching, trigger let-off problems and fatigue after long strings

JAN. • FEB. 2019 COMBAT HANDGUNS 31

RELOAD ZONE

“WHILE THE QUEST FOR THE BEST IN ACCURACY BEGINS AT THE LOADING BENCH, THE REAL RESULTS ARE ALWAYS DECIDED AT THE RANGE.” Before you even get to the range, make sure your handloads are assembled with topquality components like primers and powders.

A chronograph (left) is your best bet for determining your ammo’s actual velocity in the field. Several Ransom rest inserts are available (right) so you can properly anchor your gun.

of fire, so it definitely pays for itself over years of personal handgun testing. Using a Ransom rest is easy, but here are a few hints for when you order the unit. First, the rest comes in two parts, and I recommend that you purchase both at the same time as they are matched up in the machining process and carry the same serial number. Additionally, the base is windage driven, making adjustments at the bench much easier. I also recommend that you attach the rest to a sturdy piece of exterior plywood at least 0.75 inches thick. This makes it easy to

32 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. • FEB. 2019

clamp the rest to the range bench, and since the keyword here is consistency, securing it to the bench keeps everything in check and rigid. It’s easy to operate a Ransom rest, and the instructions take you very simply from start to finish.

ACCURATE AMMO After you have made your choice in benchrest equipment, what constitutes a true picture of accuracy? That depends on the person doing the testing, the ammunition and, of course, the gun. At

25 yards with a solid rest, any modern handgun should easily produce a five-shot group that measures under 2 inches, or for a hunting gun with stout recoil, slightly larger groups. At 50 yards, the circle widens a bit, and if you can get a group of around 3.5 inches at this distance, both you and the gun are doing great. And don’t forget that personal judgement is also part of the equation. Naturally, what it all boils down to is the ammunition. You know you can shoot, but how accurately and at what distance? A rest settles that argument easily, but for consistency, it’s the ammunition that makes it all happen. From the outset, you want the best components and equipment you can buy. Today’s reloading equipment is among the best in the world simply because shooters demand it. At the loading bench, new brass is the way to start out with handloaded ammunition. Out of the box, size them all, making sure the case mouths are perfect for loading bullets. Using a tungsten carbide die helps to keep any lubricant from contaminating the powder within the case. Flare the cases only enough to allow an easy insertion of the bullet and not too much to overwork the brass in this area. Stick to fresh primers and make sure the powders are trickled into the case for the best accuracy during the testing process and for target loads. Just enough powder is needed to work the action with positive loading and ejection of the fired case in a semi-automatic handgun. Above all, keep detailed records of all your shooting sessions. While the quest for the best in accuracy begins at the loading bench, the real results are always decided at the range. personaldefenseworld.com

NEXT-GEN NINE

Sig Sauer proves that it’s still on the cutting edge with this piston-driven powerhouse BY DAVID BAHDE

Whether it’s in stock configuration or loaded with extras, the Sig MPX-K provides plenty of firepower to dominate in close quarters.

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May of 2018, the U.S. Army issued a request for information (RFI) for a new Sub Compact Weapon (SCW). Specifically, Big Green wanted a compact, select-fire 9mm with a Picatinny rail for accessories—not for every soldier, but “those who might need a personal-protection-type weapon for certain missions.” Several companies entered the running before the Army canceled the request. Then, it resurrected it in August with a few changes. Essentially, the RFI is asking gun makers for a “highly concealable SWC system capable of engaging threat personnel with a high volume of lethal force while accurately firing at close range with minimal collateral damage.” As you already know, submachine guns have served military, police and private security firms for decades. For many years, the HK MP5 was the gold standard of this category—something the 300 Blackout was designed to replace. But if you don’t want that .30-caliber power, it’s hard to argue against the 9mm, which is plentiful

and can be chambered in some very short weapons while still being effective in CQB. It’s no slouch at 100 yards, either. Of course, MP5s are old and spare parts are dwindling, thus the Army’s request for a new solution. Enter the Sig Sauer MPX. This modular platform looks like an ideal candidate for the SCW program, and Sig is currently offering a pistol version that will do exactly what you need it to without registering it with the BATFE.

MPX EVOLUTION I first tested a prototype of the MPX back in 2013 at the Sig Sauer Academy in New Hampshire. As a big fan of the MP5, I was immediately impressed. It was compact, accurate and controllable in full-auto while offering AR-style controls. Sadly, laws at the time made it an NFA item, severely limiting its availability. But it

was still popular among police agencies, especially those who couldn’t field rifles for political reasons. I later tested the first semi-awutomatic versions, which were just as impressive. The only real drawback with the pistol version was the lack of a stock. The Sig arm brace was out there, but a 2015 letter from the BATFE made it illegal to shoulder such devices. Thankfully, that agency more recently reversed its ruling, opening up a whole new ball game for the MPX series. The MPX-K is the shortest semi-auto version available. Then you have the MPX-K PSB, which comes with a telescoping arm brace. For this review I got my hands on the standard MPX-K with a 4.5-inch barrel,

SPEC BOX

SIG SAUER

MPX-K CALIBER:

9mm

BARREL:

4.5 inches

OA LENGTH: WEIGHT: GRIP:

4.6 pounds (empty) Polymer

SIGHTS:

None

ACTION:

Piston-operated semi-auto

FINISH:

Matte black

CAPACITY: MSRP:

13.5 inches

MASTERFUL MPX-K

The author tricked the gun out with Sig backup sights and arms braces like the Gear Head Works Tailhook Mod 2.

a short KeyMod handguard with a hand stop, and a full-length top rail. At the rear of the receiver is another rail that allows you to add an arm brace, but on its own, the MPX-K is just 13.5 inches long. The heart of the gun is a short-stroke gas piston operating system that is designed to reliably fire with a variety of ammunition. You’ll also notice a small ejection port with a dust cover and a top-mounted charging handle in the usual AR position. Sig includes two 30-round magazines, though 10and 20-round magazines are also available. Each magazine fits easily in the nicely contoured and flared mag well. And, like all MPX variants, the lower receiver sports ambidextrous controls.

TEST PLATFORM

30+1 $2,016

36 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. • FEB. 2019

While I tested the gun as it came, I also upgraded it with a few components and tried it out in a few different configurations. I ran it with Sig’s own telescoping PSB arm brace installed as well as with the Gear Head Works Tailhook Mod 2, which personaldefenseworld.com

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PERFORMANCE

SIG SAUER MPX-K LOAD

Federal 124 HST Hornady 135 Critical Duty +P Remington 115 HTP +P Winchester 124 PDX1 +P

VELOCITY

ACCURACY

1,140 1,110 1,244 1,087

2.00 1.50 1.80 2.17

Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for three 5-shot groups at 25 yards.

happens to be the best stabilizing brace I’ve used so far. The hook design works for short and long forearms alike. I also used a registered short-barreled rifle (SBR) lower, allowing me to add a few different stocks. With the MCX Rattler’s folding stock in place, the MPX-K was extremely compact yet offered a solid shoulder mount for firing. LWRCI’s UCIW stock provided another option, but you can install virtually anything that uses a standard buffer tube. I used Sig’s Vickers-style sling when QD attachments were available, and for a single-point sling, I went with Magpul’s MS3 GEN2. For targeting, I added one of Sig’s fixed front sights as well as a folding rear backup sight. Then I installed a Sig ROMEO3 red-dot sight with a tall mount that worked well with the backup units. And while the factory trigger is quite decent on its own, I replaced it with a drop-in Elftmann AR-9 unit for the range testing.

Whether shooting offhand or using a truck bumper for a rest, the MPX-K was accurate out to 50 and even 100 yards.

Finally, the muzzle comes with metric 13.5x1mm LH threading, so the MPX-K is ready for a sound suppressor right out of the box. To that end, I used three at the range: the SilencerCo Omega 9K as well as Liberty’s Centurion and Mystic X.

TRIGGER TIME As I learned at the range, the MPX-K is easily the most usable, accessible and practical version of the MPX to date. With quality ammunition, the 4.5-inch barrel yields the same results as any other pistol.

JAN. • FEB. 2019 COMBAT HANDGUNS 37

Most self-defense ammunition is designed specifically for this barrel length, so the terminal performance meets FBI standards. Sig’s telescoping PSB is fine, but there’s no cheekweld to speak of. While it isn’t needed at close range, it’s nice to have such a capability, and the

38 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. • FEB. 2019

MASTERFUL MPX-K

The MPX-K’s handguard has several KeyMod slots for accessories, and a hand stop is included.

Tailhook Mod 2 solved that problem. It’s adjustable for length of pull, and my test kit came with a folding adapter for even greater versatility. This setup provided a very stable shooting platform. The MPX-K fits just about anywhere. It can even be fired accurately one-handed with a red-dot sight in place, and suppressing the pistol is extremely easy. While a standard thread size would be nice, the metric pattern is well supported, or you can get an adapter. SilencerCo’s Omega 9K only added 5 inches to the MPX-K’s overall length. The Liberty Centurion is about an inch longer but is noticeably quieter. The Mystic X was the quietest suppressor of the bunch. They all kicked some gas back towards me while shooting and mucked up the works, but none caused any reliability issues. Suppressed, the MPK-K ran all of my test ammo flawlessly—except for some frangible rounds. But many pistols have issues with frangible ammo, so it’s not a complete surprise. Interestingly, the gun didn’t have the same issues with that load unsuppressed. My experience would typically dictate the opposite, but that wasn’t the case here. The MPX-K’s accuracy was excellent, and the Elftmann AR-9 trigger made for a huge improvement. Crisp, clean and fast, it personaldefenseworld.com

worked flawlessly over several months and over 1,000 rounds. Using the bumper of my truck as a brace, the MPX-K created a 1.75-inch clump of lead on steel at 50 yards using 10 rounds of Hornady’s 135-grain +P Critical Duty ammo. Moving to 100 yards and holding just slightly over the steel yielded a nice cluster using the same load. As you can see, adding a red-dot sight to the MPX-K is quite a game-changer at 50 and 100 yards.

Every MPX is built for modularity. Registered as an SBR, you can add a stock like one of Sig’s folding, skeletonized models.

your squad car’s trunk, for example. So it’s easy to see why the U.S. Army is interested in a modern submachine gun for some specialized unit roles. The MPX looks like a strong candidate for the SCW program, and the MPX-K pistol is an excellent semi-auto version for civilians. If you’re looking to defend your home, vehicle or place of business, or just win your next pistol-caliber match, the MPX-K should be at the top of your list. For more information, visit sigsauer.com.

PARTING SHOTS Unlike some in the law enforcement world, I never abandoned the 9mm submachine gun—not 20 years ago, not today. It remains a mainstay for many police agencies here and abroad, and modern ammunition only makes the platform better. Short-barreled rifles are great, but they are still marginally reliable, incredibly loud, blast intensive and overpowered for many applications. Submachine guns in 9mm suffer none of those issues and remain effective for most. Incredibly compact, they provide a viable alternative if you can’t get to

“As I learned

at the range, the MPX-K is easily the most usable, accessible and practical version of the MPX to date.” personaldefenseworld.com

JAN. • FEB. 2019 COMBAT HANDGUNS 39

FIRST LOOK

REMINGTON

BY GREG LICKENBROCK

The ergonomic grip has an undercut triggerguard, subtle yet effective texturing, an optimized angle and interchangeable backstraps.

40 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. â&#x20AC;¢ FEB. 2019

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The slide sports front and rear cocking serrations as well as a durable PVD finish that helps resist corrosion and makes for easy cleaning.

Capitalism thrives on competition. After someone finds something that works and sells, a dozen other companies will pile on and fight for a piece of the pie. This naturally breeds innovation, but sometimes it can get a bit overwhelming. I mean, think of all the different cars on the road, let alone SUVs

that’ll never leave the safety of pavement. When it comes to polymer-framed, strike-fired pistols, I’m often reminded of a scene toward the end of The Hurt Locker. Jeremy Renner’s character has defied death hundreds of times while defusing IEDs in Iraq, but when he comes back home, he’s shown standing in front of a giant wall of cereal boxes at the grocery store, utterly paralyzed by all the choices. Heckler & Koch created the first striker-fired pistol—the VP70—and Glock popularized the idea. Fast-forward a few decades and it seems every major gun manufacturer has a version up for sale. One of the latest to enter this corner of the market is actually America’s oldest firearms manufacturer: Remington. When you think of good old “Big Green,” you probably think of Model 700 bolt-action rifles and Model 870 shotguns. Those two platforms account for millions of the guns in safes across America. The company made waves when it dove into 1911s a few years ago, and more recently it unveiled the RP9, its first striker-fired 9mm. This series has obviously done well, because Remington is now offering a version in .45 ACP.

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JAN. • FEB. 2019 COMBAT HANDGUNS 41

REMINGTON STEEL

The standard RP45 comes with three-dot sights, but Remington also offers a version with tritium night sights. The rear unit has a cocking ledge.

LARGE & IN CHARGE The RP45 is ideal for those who want a bit more oomph than the 9mm RP9 but don’t have a lot of extra cash hanging around. It’s a great entry-level option with a suggested retail price of only $418. That’s a pretty impressive price for any .45 ACP pistol, let alone one that holds 15+1 rounds, and Remington includes two magazines. Let’s start with its dimensions. The RP45 is 7.91 inches long, 5.56 inches tall, 1.27 inches wide and weighs 26.4 ounce unloaded. This is definitely a full-sized pistol, and yet it doesn’t feel overly large. The grip frame, for example, feels pretty slim for housing a double-stack magazine. I have medium-sized hands and had no problems holding onto my test pistol. It also helps that the polymer frame is molded so you can get a high grip on the gun. The beavertail is extended to protect the web of your hand

from the slide as it retracts, and the triggerguard is undercut. You’ll also find subtle texturing, dished-out areas for your thumb and trigger finger, a rail for accessories, and interchangeable backstraps. I kept the medium backstrap in place on my test gun. Remington also includes a reversible magazine release and an ambidextrous slide stop. And now we get to the trigger. A safety toggle is built into the trigger face—common among striker-fired pistols these days—and Remington

rates the pull weight as being between 5.5 and 8 pounds. I didn’t find it to be too heavy or gritty, but it’s worth noting that the trigger has to fully return to its forward-most position to reset. (At least that’s how the trigger on my test sample worked.) This might be a safety feature, as it encourages a very deliberate, intentional trigger pull, but I can say it’s my only real knock on the gun. I prefer a short, crisp reset so I can dump rounds quickly when needed. Novices might not care as much.

The slide houses a 4.5inch barrel, and both are given a black PVD finish for enhanced durability and corrosion resistance. This is a nice touch; after a full day at the range, I could wipe the slide clean with just a towel. All of the edges are rounded, and bevels toward the muzzle should help with reholstering. Along with front and rear serrations, a wide ejection port and an external extractor, the slide also sports driftadjustable, three-dot sights. The front sight is easy to pick up, and the forward face of the rear sight is flat so you can rack the slide with one hand in an emergency. These sights work well, but Remington also offers a version of the RP45 with tritium night sights that will give you an edge in lowlight situations.

HOW IT SHOOTS As you can see, there are a lot of features packed into the RP45, but the proof is always in the performance. So, I gathered five different .45 ACP loads and headed to my usual Quickshot range here in Atlanta. I broke the RP45 in with a Remington UMC “LeadLess” load that uses 230-grain flatnose encased base (FNEB) bullets. Right off the bat, the gun’s controllability was immediately apparent. The recoil

PERFORMANCE

REMINGTON RP45 LOAD

ACCURACY

Barnes 185 TAC-XPD +P

3.10

Black Hills 135 HoneyBadger

2.00

Black Hills 230 JHP

1.00

Hornady 185 XTP

1.75

Remington 230 LeadLess FNEB

2.25

Bullet weight measured in grains and accuracy in inches for best five-shot groups at 15 yards.

42 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. • FEB. 2019

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this isn’t indicative of the gun’s mechanical accuracy, but I think practical accuracy is more important. With a good hold, the Remington will give you good results. After my slow-fire groups, I decided to speed things up a bit, and though the trigger isn’t quite built for that, I was able to punch out a target center relatively quickly with some concentration.

STANDING OUT This gun is built for defense, plain and simple. With 15+1 rounds of .45 ACP ammo on tap—and another

15-round spare at the ready—I don’t see how you could feel “under-gunned.” The fact that the RP45 is very affordable while offering the same features as more expensive competitors just shows Remington’s commitment to helping as many Americans protect themselves as possible. The RP45 is easy to use, easy to aim and easy to fire. Give it a try. And if you prefer the 9mm, the RP9 holds 18+1 rounds and currently has the same exact suggested retail price. What’s not to like? For more, visit remington.com.

SPEC BOX

REMINGTON

RP45 CALIBER:

.45 ACP

BARREL:

4.5 inches

OA LENGTH: WEIGHT: GRIP:

7.91 inches 26.4 ounces (empty) Polymer

SIGHTS:

Three-dot

ACTION:

Striker-fired

FINISH:

Matte black

CAPACITY:

15+1

MSRP:

$418

Undeterred by the dark. Quick as he is as competitive shooter, world famous Jerry

Miculek was

even quicker to embrace the new Litewave H3. He had instant respect for the * ũU CDKNKV[ VQ IQ HTQO NKIJV ICVJGTKPI ƓDGT QRVKEU VQ NKIJV GOKVVKPI 6TKVKWO as darkness approaches.

NEW—LITEWAVE H3™

BETTER BUILT & BRIGHTER + VISIBLE SOONER IN ALL LIGHT CONDITIONS + PATENTED

HIVIZSIGHTS.COM

was relatively mild for a .45 ACP, and I attribute this to the ergonomic polymer frame. The magazines were also easy to load by hand. As for reliability, the gun ran well with all of the test loads. Early on, I had two occasions where the second-to-last round in the magazine hung up on the feed ramp and failed to fully seat in the chamber. But the issue, which came with the 230-grain Remington FNEBs, never appeared again. It was just part of the break-in process. All of the hollow points fed, fired and ejected flawlessly. Along with the Remington rounds, I had Barnes’ 185-grain +P TAC-XPDs, Hornady’s 185-grain XTPs and Black Hills’ 230-grain JHPs on hand as well as the latter company’s new 135-grain HoneyBadger rounds. I’ve been impressed with this non-traditional ammo, as it uses a lightweight, deeply fluted, copper projectile that is designed to create a devastating wound cavity. The fluting at first made me think these rounds would instantly hang up on a gun’s feed ramp, but that’s yet to happen in any semi-auto .45 I’ve tested. The RP45 didn’t seem to have any ammo preferences, though I usually shy away from +P rounds. Shooting off-hand at a paper target 15 yards away, my best five-shot group came with the Black Hills JHPs, measuring in at just an inch. The Hornady XTPs produced the second-best group at 1.75 inches. My worst five-shot group, produced with the Barnes 185grain +P TAC-XPDs, was only 3.1 inches. Of course,

JAN. • FEB. 2019 COMBAT HANDGUNS 43

ASK THE PROS more you practice, the more expenses you incur. This is more evident in the law enforcement world; when the budget starts to get tight, the first thing the higher-ups tend to cut is training. However, the endeavor to become the best does not have to end when you exit the confines of the range. Perfection is a pursuit that involves dedication and a willingness to adopt a lifestyle. To this end, I’ve made a lifelong routine out of the following three practices that you should also adopt if true excellence is your goal.

1. GUN HANDLING

A+ HOMEWORK BEING ON TOP OF YOUR GAME MEANS MORE THAN JUST SLINGING LEAD BY J.J. RACAZA How much do you train? How badly do you want that title? A long time ago I heard a saying that I found really interesting. Ever since then, this quote has been in the back of my mind, giving me a small sense of anxiety about whether I am training enough. The saying goes, “No one rises to the occasion. Rather, we all fall back to the level of our training.” As much as we love to say that we step up our game once the pressure is on, or we perform better under pressure, the reality is that we really cannot do

much more than what we have done in practice. Performance beyond our current capabilities is a temporary thing normally associated with very erratic results. Basically, the person shooting is just getting lucky. This is definitely not the preferred way to win a match. If your life is on the line, it’s like rolling a pair of loaded dice. This is a simple case of enthusiasm versus capability. We want to do one thing and put aside what we are supposed to do. Everyone wants to be the fastest, the most accurate and the most

44 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. • FEB. 2019

consistent shooter out there. But if we are not hitting all scenarios in our training, then that training is incomplete. So again, I ask the question, do you really train as hard as you think you do? Whether for competition, self-defense or duty, training is often limited by financial elements. Since most shooters do not have the luxury of sponsors providing them with the necessary paraphernalia, they have to buy their own ammunition and gear to be able to practice at the range. These things cost money, and it’s obvious that the

Dry firing is one of the most important practices for a shooter at any level. Focus on the repetition. It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, you will benefit from this. A lot of people know that this is a crucial part of their advancement as shooters, but most never do these drills, or if they do, they lack the right amount of intensity. The hardest part about dry firing is not the movements, it’s the preparation: Ensure your gun and mags are free of ammunition, declare and prepare your targets, and put on your holster/mag pouch setup. Decide the length of your dry-fire drill and make it realistic. Sessions between 10 and 30 minutes long are easy commitments, and they’ll help you break down your practice session in a way that’s scalable. (See the sidebar on page 46.) Within each of these drills, start slow and work on perfection first, and

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“What I consider routine is when you can complete a maneuver accurately more than 80 percent of the time.”

A world-class competitor who has broken a number of records, J.J. Racaza knows a thing or two about shooting quickly and accurately under pressure.

then gradually speed up to performing each drill as fast as you can without any mistakes. Challenge yourself to perform 10 draws in a row as quickly or as smoothly as you can without fumbling before moving on to the next drill. If you experience a fumble anywhere before 10, start back at one. Here’s another challenge for you: Set the par time at X seconds. The drill is to beat that second beep/buzzer by getting an acceptable sight picture that will achieve center-mass or “A” hits on target. Notice I specifically

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stated that you beat the second buzzer by getting your sights on target and not by pressing the trigger. Your goal during dry-fire drills is to always practice perfection, and that means producing the most perfect trigger squeeze you can manage. This not only helps you build the correct practice for trigger control, but it is the best way to intimately learn the trigger on your gun. The objective is to make it routine so when it’s time to shoot at the range or in a competition, there is no need to cloud your mind with something as simple

JAN. • FEB. 2019 COMBAT HANDGUNS 45

ASK THE PROS

THE 15-MINUTE DRY-FIRE EXERCISE FIVE MINUTES OF DRAWS: Hands at sides Hands above shoulder Hands holding objects One-handed draws Support-hand draws FIVE MINUTES OF SINGLE RELOADS: Draw, one trigger press, reload and one trigger press Draw, one trigger press per target for multiple targets, reload and engage the same targets FIVE MINUTES OF MULTIPLE RELOADS: Draw, two trigger presses, reload, two trigger presses, reload, two trigger presses Draw, two trigger presses, reload, change position (kneeling, simulated barricade or prone), two trigger presses, reload and change position Draw with strong hand, one trigger press, reload, one trigger press, reload, transfer to support hand, reload.

as a draw. Rather, you can put more focus on your foot movement, shooting positions and target positions. What I consider routine is when you can complete a maneuver accurately more than 80 percent of the time. The best part about dry firing is that it does not cost you any money. The purpose of such practice is to cure weapons-handling issues and refine your trigger control. If done correctly, you will start to notice small but very important gains to your shooting skills.

2. PHYSICAL FITNESS A regular fitness schedule will make you more agile and confident in your movement. Anyone can benefit from a more explosive push from one shooting position to

the next. Having a tight and strong core, can translate to faster transitions from target to target. My focuses during these exercises are explosive movements (speed), endurance (mental strength and focus) and balance. The program that I have been using is the CrossFit/ High-Intensity Training (HIT) system. Why? When I shot my first major match of the year, I shot well and felt my movements were very solid. This translated into a much steadier sight picture when shooting on the move or coming into and out of position. It was even more gratifying to hear my father, who studies all of my shooting videos, comment about my movements and how fast and steady they looked. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just another tool that I love to exploit during

46 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. â&#x20AC;˘ FEB. 2019

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“NO ONE RISES TO THE OCCASION. RATHER, WE ALL FALL BACK TO THE LEVEL OF OUR TRAINING.” competitions. Every time the course of fire demands some heavy physical movements and positioning, I believe I have an advantage and that I have a good chance of placing well if not winning outright. Whether this is true or not, it doesn’t matter. The confidence I gain in these courses of fire actually helps me cope with the nerves we all deal with, and that in itself is an advantage. Some examples of helpful exercises include springs, power cleans, core exercises, pistol squats and balancing on unstable platforms. The key to doing high-intensity workouts is a

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good warmup session, which will help you avoid injuries. Scaling the weight and putting your ego aside to learn the correct form also helps prevent you from taking a trip to the hospital and potentially missing that event you were training so hard for.

3. GEAR PREP There is no better way to acquaint yourself with your setup and preferences as a shooter than performing regular checkups on all of your essential equipment. Look over each little part and watch for any burrs, cracks or springs that need to be

changed. You should know your setup better than anyone else. It’s yours, after all. The last thing you want is to be fully prepared for a match and have your tool fail on you. Talking from experience, this is probably one of the most frustrating things to encounter in a competition. Before a major match, go through your ammunition and look for any anomalies, check the zero of your weapon, check all the screws on your optic and clean your magazines. When you do this routinely enough, you will know your equipment, notice any changes and recognize anomalies quickly.

There have been plenty of instances during a class when I have been asked what my secret is to getting good at shooting. I normally joke around and say, “Stop thinking.” But in reality, it’s true—the better you become at shooting, the less you are actually thinking. If I asked you to write your name down on a piece of paper, you could probably do it by feel without much thought at all. You will automatically know how the pen will feel between your fingers, how the ballpoint rolls onto the paper and the way your hand muscles will manipulate it to create the movements needed to write. When you become proficient enough, that is exactly how the gun should feel—like an extension of your body that has always been there. This is the point where gun handling has become second nature, and your effort on and off the range has maximized your potential.

JAN. • FEB. 2019 COMBAT HANDGUNS 47

SIG WE THE PEOPLE .45 WIDTH: 1.4 INCHES

CALIBER .45 ACP BARREL 5 inches OA LENGTH 8.7 inches WEIGHT 41.6 ounces (empty)

HEIGHT: 5.5 INCHES

GRIPS Aluminum SIGHTS SIGLITE night ACTION SA FINISH Distressed CAPACITY 7+1 MSRP $1,481

OAL: 8.7 INCHES

A special-edition .45 takes on its airgun counterpart for the sake of better training | BY DENNIS ADLER

ig Sauer has been raising the bar for handguns and airguns for years. Well, just three years for the latter, but the company has come further in those three years than some established airgun manufacturers have come in twice that time. Sig has one objective with its CO2 models: to build training guns that are

48 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. • FEB. 2019

also suitable for the general consumer market. The company started late in 2015 by introducing an airgun version of the P226 MK25 used by Navy SEALs, then followed up with five more CO2 pistols between 2016 and 2017. In 2018, Sig unveiled two We The People 1911s—one in .45 ACP and the other a matching 4.5mm (.177) CO2 version.

BREAKING GROUND It’s rare to find a company that makes its own centerfire weapons and airguns. Quite a few companies license their names to other manufacturers, but Sig Sauer designs and builds its own CO2 models. And both of these Americanmade We The People pistols have custom features and antiqued finishes that help them stand out from their brethren. The CO2 model is a breakthrough design that exemplifies forward thinking within the airgun industry. In fact, it’s so close to the centerfire version that, unless you take note of the caliber stamped on the left side of the frame or see the recessed 4.5mm barrel inside the rifled .45 ACP muzzle, the two guns are almost indistinguishable from the left side. From the right side, the same is true physically, but aesthetically, the difference is revealed by the air pistol safety warning on the frame. (Even Sig has to play by some established rules.) Regardless,

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CALIBER 4.5mm BARREL 4.5 inches

SIG WE THE PEOPLE CO2 WIDTH: 1.4 INCHES

OA LENGTH 8.5 inches WEIGHT 35.2 ounces (empty) HEIGHT: 5.5 INCHES

GRIPS Aluminum SIGHTS Three-dot ACTION Blowback, CO2 FINISH Distressed CAPACITY 17 MSRP $120

the attention to detail is evident in the CO2 model’s construction, and the airgun’s only other tell is the absence of an extractor at the back of the slide. Sig could have made this a finely molded-in piece like the authentic-looking external extractor arm, but the slide does have the correct lowered and flared ejection port. Beyond that, the We The People airgun is true to the centerfire model in all its operating features, including the ambidextrous thumb safety. The models also have matching front- and backstrap treatments, custom aluminum grip panels with 50 total embossed stars, hammers and competition-style triggers. Both guns share dovetail-mounted white-dot sights (though the .45’s have tritium inserts) and unique distressed finishes. Distressed finishes are a personal preference. Aged finishes are actually common on reproduction pistols and rifles from the Civil War era as well as the mid to late 20th century, and people pay extra for it, so Sig has actually

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OAL: 8.5 INCHES

picked up on a very popular trend among enthusiasts who want the look of an older gun but none of the mechanical wear. You’ll also find that each gun has “SIG SAUER 1911” and “1776” engraved on the left side of the slide, and “We The People” on the right, with the same depth and detail. On top you’ll see 13 stars set in a circle to represent the 13 colonies. In short, the CO2 model is as close to the .45 as it can get without firing .45 ACP rounds.

TRAINING DUO Training with your concealed-carry handgun can make the difference between

being a survivor or a statistic. Of course, no one is going to carry a BB gun for protection (unless you’re up against a gang of ground moles), but proper training can be costly in terms of time and ammo. Sig has always had this in mind. That’s why all of its airguns are based on currentproduction centerfire weapons. But this drive has never been so well expressed as with this We The People duo. Training with an accurate understudy for your centerfire handgun is absolutely worth the price of the air pistol. Law enforcement has been embracing this idea for a while, and for those who agree that there is simply no substitute for a .45 ACP, the centerfire We The People

JAN. • FEB. 2019 COMBAT HANDGUNS 49

TALE OF THE TAPE

“RIGHT AWAY I NOTICED THAT THE RECOIL ON THE .45 ACP MODEL IS REMARKABLY MANAGEABLE DUE TO ITS SIZE, WEIGHT AND BALANCE.”

Both pistols have dovetail-mounted sights, lowered and flared ejection ports, and star circles representing the 13 colonies. The extractor on the CO2 model (right) is just for looks.

50 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. • FEB. 2019

1911 has everything perfected right down to pulling the trigger. Of course, the difference between firing the 4.5mm and .45 ACP Sigs is about the same as jumping off your front porch and parachuting out of an airplane. But, to continue the parallel, everything is the same until you jump. That is what makes the new Sig CO2 model the best 1911 training gun thus far. And when you pull its trigger, you are spending a fraction of a cent. You can’t say that when you fire a Federal 230-grain Hydra-Shok JHP. The CO2 model isn’t a quiet air pistol. It’s probably a little louder than most blowback-action airguns, and the slide delivers a decent kick when it reciprocates. Not as much as a .22, but enough to get a feel for shooting a handgun. And this gun uses John Mose Browning’s design with slight internal modifications to accommodate the CO2 firing system, which includes an additional lightly wound recoil spring around the barrel. As part of training, setting and releasing the thumb safety on a 1911 is essential, and the safeties (and slide stops) work identically on both

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Firing the .45 ACP We The People 1911 off-hand, none of the author’s shots wandered outside of the X-ring at 50 and 75 feet, thanks in part to the gun’s relatively light recoil.

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of these guns, with the same feel and resistance. Some 1911 airguns will still allow the slide to move back even with the safety set, but you don’t have to worry about this problem with Sig’s We The People model. My test airgun’s trigger pull averaged 5.7 pounds with 0.187 inches of take-up, moderate stacking and a crisp break. The trigger reset at about 0.175 inches—another plus for the CO2 model. The .45’s trigger pull averaged 6.28 pounds with 0.125 inches of take-up, light stacking and a crisp break. Its reset takes 0.125 inches. Where the triggers differ is in resistance; manually cocking the hammer on the centerfire model requires more effort than the air pistol, as with racking the slide, but this is to be expected since the airgun’s hammer is lighter than a centerfire pistol’s, as is the recoil spring resistance. Finally, fully

JAN. • FEB. 2019 COMBAT HANDGUNS 51

TALE OF THE TAPE

“…THE CO2 MODEL IS AS CLOSE TO THE .45 AS IT CAN GET WITHOUT FIRING .45 ACP ROUNDS.”

Sig skillfully designed these 1911s so they’re identical in every feature except caliber, firing system and recoil. Until you pull the trigger, there is no difference in terms of handling.

loaded, the .45 ACP model is just a bit heavier than the airgun, with the former being all steel and the latter having an aluminum slide and frame, but the difference won’t take anything away from the training experience.

RANGE PERFORMANCE I test-fired the CO2 and .45 ACP models at 25 and 75 feet, respectively.

The former sends its 4.5mm rounds downrange at an average velocity of 329 fps, versus the .45’s 850 fps with Sig 230-grain FMJs, so there isn’t much of a matchup there. Right away I noticed that the recoil on the .45 ACP model is remarkably manageable due to its size, weight and balance. It is one of the smoothesthandling .45s I have come across in quite some time. At the same time, the

CO2 We The People model is easily one of the smoothest-handling BB-firing 1911s I’ve tested, with its similar operating characteristics. As for accuracy, it is hard to compare the two guns for obvious reasons. But the 4.5mm airgun delivered pretty good results. Shooting at a full-sized B-75 cardboard silhouette targets, my best-five shot group off-hand measured 0.51 inches. My entire 10-shot group was only 1.56 inches. At 75 feet, the .45 ACP’s best five-shot group was just 2.75 inches wide. Shooting 10 rounds at 50 and 75 feet produced a group measuring 3.13 inches. At the end of the shooting tests, I came away with absolute certainty that the CO2 version is a perfect training pistol for Sig’s .45 ACP We The People 1911, or any full-sized or compact 1911 pistol. And that is as much as anyone can ask from an airgun. Sig Sauer has you covered. For more information, visit sigsauer.com.

The author’s best five-shot group with the CO2 model measured just 0.51 inches, and 10 shots clustered into 1.56 inches.

52 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. • FEB. 2019

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RIMFIRE TEST

54 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. â&#x20AC;¢ FEB. 2019

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SMITH & WESSON’S LATEST TARGET .22 IS PRIMED FOR BULLSEYES I covered the rimfire SW22 Victory Kryptek when the series first came out in 2016. The standard SW22 Victory is a solid effort for Smith & Wesson with a 5.5-inch barrel, a 10-round magazine and a stainless steel finish, and I personally think it’s a much nicer gun than the Model 22A dropped from the S&W lineup in 2015. The Victory’s ergonomics are good, too. In my hands, the pistol shot well and ran flawlessly. The original guns have sold well enough since then, and now S&W shows no less than eight variants on its website, with four of those being Performance Center variants and four being part of the standard lineup. For this review, I received one of the latter—the SW22 Victory Target.

WHAT IT IS Weighing in at a hefty 36 ounces unloaded, the SW22 Victory Target has a 5.5-inch, stainless steel, bull barrel with a countersunk target crown. The stainless steel frame has a polymer grip section with removable side panels, and S&W includes two sets so you can find the perfect grip. Right out of the box, the gun is set up for right-handers with a thumb rest on the left-side grip panel. Remove two hex screws per panel and you can easily swap them out with panels to make the gun ready for a leftie with a thumb rest on the right side. (Sorry lefties, you can’t completely switch it over, as the magazine release, slide lock and thumb safety are stuck on the left side, while the ejection port is on the right.) Still, S&W gets serious bonus points for including reversible grip options with the pistol. Between the four

BY DENIS PRISBREY

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JAN. • FEB. 2019 COMBAT HANDGUNS 55

VICTORY IN SIGHT

The SW22 Victory Target comes with all-black sights and a 5.5-inch bull barrel with a recessed target crown. The author installed a Tandemkross Victory trigger (below left).

panels, you can even dump the thumb rests entirely and just use both flat panels. Options are good, and you get them here. The original fiber-optic sights are gone, which is good news for those who weren’t fans. They’ve been replaced by an all-black front blade and a fully adjustable Williams rear sight. Removing another hex screw allows you to remove the rear sight assembly altogether and install an included polymer Picatinny rail for optics. That rail, incidentally, has a fixed sight notch molded in so the rail itself can be used as a rear sight in a pinch. The entire upper separates from the lower via one retaining screw at the front of the triggerguard using the included Allen wrench. Disassembling the pistol for cleaning is extremely simple, and the pistol breaks down into subassemblies with absolutely no fussing or cussing at all. The barrel even comes off of the upper assembly easily. The Victory uses an internal steel hammer and a serrated aluminum singleaction trigger. The trigger pull on my test sample weighed 4 pounds—in line with the rest of the series—and Smith & Wesson includes a factory-preset overtravel stop. The ejection port is long, and the blackened bolt has ribs at the rear on both sides for easy cocking.

TANDEMKROSS UPGRADES The Victory series is still relatively new and thus doesn’t have a huge aftermarket accessory base yet. But companies are

SPEC BOX

SW22

VICTORY TARGET

For optimum reliability, S&W outfits the pistol with an oversized ejection port. To that end, the SW22 Victory Target never missed a beat during testing.

56 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. • FEB. 2019

CALIBER:

.22 LR

BARREL:

5.5 inches

OA LENGTH:

9.2 inches

WEIGHT: GRIPS:

36 ounces (empty) Polymer

SIGHTS:

Blade front, adjustable rear

ACTION:

FINISH:

Stainless

CAPACITY:

10+1

MSRP:

$429

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rapidly catching up, and Tandemkross didn’t just jump on the wagon—it bought the hay and hitched up the horses. Among the wide range of performance

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parts Tandemkross offers, the company’s Thunder Hammer and Victory Trigger retail for $65 and $45, respectively, and I received both for testing on this pistol.

The Tandemkross Thunder Hammer is precisely machined from hardened S7 tool steel, replacing the factory MIM hammer, and it’s lighter in weight for faster lock times. It also features a diamond-like carbon (DLC) finish for corrosion and heat resistance, and an upgraded dog-bone-style strut pin designed to stay put under pressure. The Victory Trigger is a skeletonized, flat-faced design machined aircraft-grade aluminum to replace the original cast-alloy part. Two adjustment screws allow you to set the pre- and overtravel, and the crisp diamond-pattern checkering provides for a non-slip trigger pull. In short, the Victory Trigger gives an entirely different feel than the factory curved unit. There’s nothing wrong with the factory parts as S&W ships the gun, but any given mass-production pistol is built to mate performance with a price point to stay affordable in volume. The Victory is like any other quality-made base plat-

JAN. • FEB. 2019 COMBAT HANDGUNS 57

VICTORY IN SIGHT

form—its performance can always be upgraded with aftermarket parts if you want to spend money. Installing the two Tandemkross items dropped the 4-pound factory trigger pull down to 2.5 pounds.

PERFORMANCE

SW22

VICTORY TARGET LOAD

ACCURACY

BURNING POWDER

Federal 36 Champion HP

1.50

To measure the Victory Target’s capabilities, I headed to my indoor range with five different .22 LR loads. Firing off a rest at bullseyes 25 yards away, most of my groups were under 2 inches, with the best coming in at exactly an inch using 36-grain Winchester hollow points. While I don’t necessarily dislike a

Federal American Eagle 38 HP

1.13

Remington 26 Golden Bullet HP

1.13

Winchester 36 HP

1.00

Winchester 40 M22

1.63

Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for best five-shot groups at 25 yards.

good fiber-optic setup, I do prefer the allblack sights on this newer .22 LR pistol. The front blade is big enough, and the rear notch is wide enough for even my bare eyes in casual plinking and soda can bouncing without the shooting glasses I normally use for accuracy testing. The Victory Target’s clean lines look great, and the ergonomics are near perfect in my hands. The left-side thumb rest obscures the magazine release for quick thumb access in a hurry, but that’s a benefit for holster carry. The button is essentially shielded from accidental bumping, and there’s no need for speed reloads in a pistol like this anyway. There’s a lot to like about the Victory Target, and besides the fit in my hand, that easy takedown for cleaning is a big selling point.

PLENTY OF OPTIONS

TIME TO GO PC—IN A GOOD WAY If you’re in the market for a fully upgraded target .22, you need to check out one of the new Performance Center (PC) Victory models. Combat Handguns contributors recently got an all-access tour of Smith & Wesson’s factory in Springfield, Massachusetts, and were able to get in some quality range time with several S&W products. S&W’s Matt Spafford explained the finer points behind these pistols and let us shoot to our hearts’ content. PC Victory models sport flat-faced triggers with adjustable overtravel stops. We shot one with a carbon-fiber-wrapped barrel and a muzzle brake. Every PC variant comes optics ready, and you can purchase them with or without a red-dot sight included. Tandemkross grips also come standard. In short, these guns are truly competition-ready. They were really comfortable to shoot, and the quick-dropping mags made reloading downright enjoyable. Another variant with a fluted barrel was a real looker and shooter, too. After shooting one of the new SW22 Victory models, Sean Utley, the editorat-large for sister publication Ballistic Precision, said, “It feels like a proper target .22. Great ergonomics and nearly zero recoil. It’s accurate, and the addition of the Vortex optic makes the pistol easy to shoot and inspires confidence.” Look for more coverage of these guns in a future issue of Combat Handguns. And for more on this behind-the-scenes trip to Smith & Wesson, head on over to personaldefenseworld.com. —Nino Bosaz

58 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. • FEB. 2019

As mentioned, the Victory platform is a very respectable plinker out the factory door, but it’s also an excellent base for customizing and maximizing. I’m hoping Smith & Wesson will offer a 4-inch barrel, either in a complete target model or as a user-installed option. Selling full sight assemblies would also allow a buyer to swap black target sights with green fiber-optic units, and vice versa, on whichever pistol he or she bought, and you know there’ll be a market for several barrel options. Other companies like Tactical Solutions and Volquartsen are also actively developing aftermarket parts for the Victory, and the well-designed modularity of the platform makes it very easy to perform several upgrades and modifications yourself. With an MSRP of $429, and coming with two stainless 10-round magazines, spare grip panels, a polymer Picatinny rail, one Allen wrench for disassembly and a padlock, the SW22 Victory Target is one of the best new FOR MORE rimfire pistols INFORMATION to come down SMITH & WESSON the road in smith-wesson.com many years. TANDEMKROSS With .22 LR tandemkross.com ammo back in town, the SW22 Victory Target is a dandy bullet-disposal device that’s a whole lot of fun to shoot. I think you’ll like it. personaldefenseworld.com

EDC UPGRADE

KRYTOS T17 KARRY HERE’S THE BEST WAY TO MAKE YOUR FAVORITE GLOCK LIGHTER YET STRONGER BY FRED MASTISON

The last couple of years have seen the gun modification world turn its eye to the venerable Glock. While reliable and bombproof, Glock pistols have always been somewhat bland in appearance. Some would argue that Glocks are fine just the way they are. This has some validity, yet the firearms industry as a whole has benefited from companies working on their own to modify and improve guns. Many of these companies have gone full circle and ended up redesigning the guns they started tinkering with. Other makers specialize in things like triggers, sights, grips and finishes. One of the newest trends is to modify and make an entirely new slide for a Glock, and one of the most interesting of those I have come across is the T17 Titanium Slide from Krytos Industries.

THE BASICS The major point of interest for the T17 Titanium Slide is that it’s made from a solid billet of aerospace-grade 6AL4V titanium. While some companies have made firing pins and even suppressors out of titanium, building an entire slide out of it is a pretty big leap. If you’re unfamiliar with titanium, you should know that it has a tendency to gall (a form of wear caused by friction welding between sliding surfaces). Krytos has addressed this by using a proprietary patented “ArmorTi” process that produces an extremely hard, black, abrasion-resistant finish on titanium. This allows the metal to be used for applications it was previously unsuited for due to its tendency to gall. At the risk of approaching technical overload, I have to explain that this process is not truly a coating. Coatings and titanium rarely work well. This process penetrates the first 5 to 10 microns of the titanium to reduce friction and resist abrasion. This completely eliminates any friction-related issues with titanium and dramatically improves its impact resistance while maintaining all of its most desirable properties.

60 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. • FEB. 2019

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Along with titanium Glock slides, Krytos also offers stainless steel barrels, titanium guide rods and various recoil springs.

Krytos’ titanium Glock slides are cut to accept all popular Glock-style sights. The author prefers a fiber-optic front paired with an all-black rear sight.

The biggest upside to a titanium slide is obviously weight. Titanium brings at least a 40percent reduction in weight from the stock slide. For those like myself who have been at this rodeo a while, our brains start to calculate mass, spring tension and cycle rates. This small trip into ballistic quantum theory is just addressing the concern that the light weight of the slide will cause functioning issues. This isn’t the case, however. While the slide will indeed run faster, potential issues are offset by the actual weight reduction. The takeaway from this is that Krytos’ titanium slides operate with standard recoil springs. The laws of physics rarely take a day off, so we do need to address recoil. My personal concerns were that the new slide would make my well-worn Glock a snappy little monster. But this wasn’t the case. While there was a noticeable increase in slide velocity and “snap,” it was nothing of consequence. A G17 or G19

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still has enough grip surface and overall mass to negate any issues the lighter slide brings. The upside was a noticeable increase in speed in reacquiring my target and breaking follow-up shots. For competition shooters, this can translate into faster split times. For defensive shooters, it allows us to put rounds onto the target much more quickly.

ON THE RANGE My range session with the Krytos T17 was very enjoyable. I ran a plethora of ball ammunition though the upgraded Glock 17 and experienced no malfunctions at all. The unit I received also

came as a complete unit with a Krytos barrel machined from 416 stainless steel and button rifled, then heat-treated with premium black nitride, making it a very nice addition. It also included a titanium guide rod treated with the same specialized ArmorTi process, which results in a long lifespan with reduced weight. The slide has cocking serrations at the front as well as at the standard rear position. This has been on many Glock owners’ wish lists for years, and Krytos has answered. In my testing endeavors, I mixed slow-fire shooting with close-contact drills—essentially the same defensive drills I would do with any gun. It did take a little time to acclimate to the faster slide rate, but it was settled in short order. As I mentioned earlier, the

“WHILE SOME COMPANIES HAVE MADE FIRING PINS AND EVEN SUPPRESSORS OUT OF TITANIUM, BUILDING AN ENTIRE SLIDE OUT OF IT IS A PRETTY BIG LEAP.” |

JAN. • FEB. 2019 COMBAT HANDGUNS 61

EDC UPGRADE

At the range, the author’s Krytosupgraded G17 ran flawlessly despite having such a light slide, even using aftermarket magazines.

slide ran flawlessly and made for an enjoyable day at the range. One point of concern that some people may have is the actual lightweight nature of the slide and its durability. The team at Krytos is composed of shooters who addressed these concerns. Most notably, they ran a Glock 17 with their T17 slide in a rest for 10,000 rounds without any issues. They also went to the greatest extreme and actually plugged the barrel of a gun. They hammered material into the barrel and set it up in the rest. When it fired, the slide stayed completely intact. An interesting side effect of the ArmorTi process Krytos uses is a certain ease of cleaning. Yes, I know it’s a Glock and most people don’t ever clean them, but I have an obsession with keeping guns cleaned and maintained. The T17 slide was a breeze to clean. With little more than a hearty wipe down, it was back in “new” condition. The mixture of durable titanium and the ability to easily clean and maintain it gives this slide five stars in my book. My primary focus with this demo was application. While the titanium slide, with

62 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. • FEB. 2019

its good looks and fresh cuts, has a cool factor, it is also a plus for people who carry religiously. Imagine a 40-percent reduction in the weight of the pistol you carry every day without reducing the size of the gun. That is a game-changer in the EDC world. The simple fact is that most people carry micro guns because carrying a G17 or G19 every day can get heavy. While I would normally say, “Suck it up, Buttercup,” the T17 and T19 slides from Krytos can help people move into a larger gun for daily carry. They can also help experienced folks who desire to add to their EDC Glocks. By using one of Krytos’ T19 Opticus Titanium Slide, for example, you can add a reflex sight and a threaded barrel to your G19 and it’ll still weigh about 2 ounces less than a factory model! The cliché that “ounces equal pounds, and pounds equal pain” is pretty true in the concealed-carry handgun world. There is a reason why most people don’t carry full-sized 1911s as their primary CCWs. As a test, I carried my now-modified Glock 17 for a week. I used my same Alien Gear rig and wore it just as I would every day. While I tried to ignore it so as to be impartial, the reduction in weight was noticeable immediately. Like many, I carry for at least 12 hours a day, so my “time on” was significant. I found it to be a major improvement. Taking your Glock in for a little weight-reduction program could greatly improve your EDC experience.

TITANIUM WINS There are many companies entering the Glock slide market, some with steel and some with aluminum. When set side by side, the numbers speak for themselves. Titanium is about 45-percent lighter than steel, and aluminum is about 67-percent lighter than steel. While that

would drive you to think aluminum is the answer, you must look at durability. Titanium, like steel, is one of very few metals that operates with a fatigue limit. This means that as long as the load on the titanium is under acceptable limits, it will never fail due solely to fatigue. Aluminum does not have a fatigue limit and will eventually fail regardless of the applied load. This means that titanium is a superior solution for many applications, as it will dramatically outperform aluminum while still weighing significantly less than steel. The ArmorTi process Krytos uses is revolutionary and is certain to find its way into the military and aerospace world. The fact that the Krytos team has made Glock slides first is a tip of the hat to an industry that they have all worked in and enjoy. We as consumers are the beneficiaries of this dedication. While relatively new to the scene, Krytos and its T17 and T19 slides will be major players. While I had the opportunity to get a top-secret behind-the-scenes peek at the 2018 SHOT Show, the official announcement came this last May at the 2018 NRA show in Dallas. At this event, Ben Cook, Krytos’ president, spoke at length: “This is an exciting time for our young company. We were overwhelmed by the reactions we received from attendees and our industry partners at the NRA convention this year. ArmorTi has consistently amazed us with what it allows titanium to do, and we truly believe it will change the face of material design considerations in the firearms industry and many others. ArmorTi was designed with aerospace and medical applications in mind, but since we are all firearms industry veterans, we couldn’t help but launch in this industry first. Using our team’s considerable industry experience, we have tested our products to extreme levels to ensure they live up to our standards, which are ridiculous.” In short, this Glock slide is a fantastic new product from a solid team. If you are interested in shedding some weight off your Austrian CCW, I encourage you to take a closer look at Krytos. For more information, visit krytosindustries.com. personaldefenseworld.com

RANGE READY

DIY TARGETS ZERO IN ON THE CHEAP WITH THESE THREE SLICK AND EASY GUN-GUY PROJECTS BY JASON HANSON Unless it’s the middle of winter and -12 degrees Fahrenheit outside, I’d much rather be shooting outdoors than at an indoor range. There’s just something special about shooting in the fresh air out in the open. Plus, depending on where you shoot outdoors, you don’t have to worry about paying range fees, standing in long lines or being right next to the guy shooting a cannon as you’re trying to teach a new shooter. The thing is, when you go shooting outdoors, you often have to provide your own targets and target stands. For a

lot of folks, this simply means bringing bottles, cans, old TVs or anything else shootable that’s lying around the house. There’s certainly nothing wrong with this as long as you clean up the mess when you’re done shooting. However, when I’m shooting in the mountains of southern Utah, instead of using bottles or cans, I typically bring along one of three target systems to help improve my skills. Each target system is easy to build and only takes a few minutes to assemble. Believe me, if I can put them together, you can too—I’m not exactly known around my house as the next Bob Vila.

Plus, almost all of the supplies can be purchased from Home Depot or Lowes for just a couple of bucks.

THE PVC STAND The first target system is a very simple PVC stand. If you were to look into the back of my Toyota 4Runner right now, you’d see this stand, which breaks down into several pieces for easy transportation. To build it, you need eight pieces of black ABS pipe that measure 1.5 by 24 inches. This size is easy to find pre-cut if you want to keep your workload to a

You don’t need much to assemble these three targets. The PVC target stand (left) and hanging steel stand (right) are easier to make than the moving target (center), but all three will make your range time much more effective and fun for everyone involved.

JAN. • FEB. 2019 COMBAT HANDGUNS 63

RANGE READY minimum, or you can buy a long piece of pipe and cut it yourself. Next, you need two black ABS connector “tees.” These hold the pieces of pipe that go vertical, which in turn hold up the target. You also need four black ABS “elbows,” which connect the corners of the base to form the square. Lastly, you need two wooden furring strips that are cut to 58 inches in length. With these materials ready, it will literally take you about 15 seconds to assemble the target stand. Once it’s assembled, you’ll need to staple a piece of cardboard (approximately 23 by 35 inches) to the furring strips and then put up the target of your choice. One of the many good things about this stand is that, thanks to its wide base, it doesn’t tip over easily, even in the windy conditions that I often find myself shooting in.

RINGING STEEL If you thought the PVC target stand was easy to make, this next one is even simpler, and it’s what I use when I want to shoot steel. First, buy a steel plate (or, if you’d like, make your own). Like I mentioned, I’m not handy or patient,

so I purchased a 0.5-inch-thick AR500 steel plate that’s 8 inches in diameter. Once you’ve got your plate, you need a way to hang it. I use a folding sawhorse that collapses to fit in my vehicle. I paid $30 for a metal sawhorse, but you could obviously build your own if you wish. To hang the steel plate, I use two carabiners and rope. You can’t tie the rope directly to the steel plate because the plate’s sharp edges will eat right through the rope. Instead, take the carabiners and clip them to each hole in the plate and then tie the rope around each carabiner. Once you’ve done that, you’re all set to shoot steel. Just remember to put the target at least 10 yards away for safety purposes.

THE MOVER The final target system I’ll cover here takes the longest to build, but it’s also the most fun because it’s a moving target. Building it doesn’t require complex engineering skills because the target is completely hand operated, but you will need a shooting partner for this one to work. The simplest way to describe this target is that it’s almost like a skateboard with a target on top. First, you need to buy four lawnmower tires, which come in various sizes—I purchased the 6-inch variety. Next, you need two steel rods that are 0.5 inches thick. These rods are the axles of the moving target. Then you

“…ALMOST ALL OF THE SUPPLIES CAN BE PURCHASED FROM HOME DEPOT OR LOWES FOR JUST A COUPLE OF BUCKS.”

The wide bases on the PVC and steel plate stands ensure they won’t fall over in windy conditions.

64 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. • FEB. 2019

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Michael DelRizzo Illustration

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need four 2x4s to form the base of the target. My base happens to be 40 inches long and 30 inches wide. You’ll also need two 1.5-by-24-inch pieces of ABS pipe, screws, four washers, push caps to hold the tires on, two furring strips that are 58 inches long and two eyebolts. The last items you need are two 16-inch-by-8-millimeter dog stakes, which can be found at the pet store, and 50 feet of rope. Once you have all of your supplies, assembly should take less than 30 minutes. Drill holes in the 2x4s and run the axles through them. Screw together all of the 2x4s to form the base. Put washers on the axles. Pop on all of the tires and push caps. Screw the black ABS pipe into the base, screw the eyebolts to each end of the base and you’re finished. The furring strips are used to hold the target. Now it’s time to put the moving target into action. Take the target outdoors and decide how far you’d like it to move from left to right. For instance, walk five paces to the left of the target and screw the first dog stake into the ground. Then walk five paces to the right of the target and screw in the other dog stake. Take your rope and run it through each eyebolt on the target and then out to the dog stakes. If you’ve done everything correctly, you should be about 7 yards away from the target with a piece of rope in each

After you’ve assembled this wheeled target stand, you’ll need two dog stakes, about 50 feet of rope and your range partner’s elbow grease to get the thing in motion.

hand that allows you to quickly pull the target from left to right. Have your partner stand in front of you and shoot while you pull the target from side to side. If you’ve never practiced with a moving target before, know that it’s a humbling experience and a good reminder that you’re not as good

of a shot as you think and that you can always use more practice! Whether you build all three targets or just this last one, I hope these plans make your next outdoor adventure a little more enjoyable while helping to improve your shooting skills. Because, once again, you can never train enough.

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JAN. • FEB. 2019 COMBAT HANDGUNS 65

BATTLE ROYALE

BROWNING BUCK MARK CONTOUR STAINLESS URX

WALTHER P22 TARGET

RUGER MARK IV TARGET

66 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. â&#x20AC;¢ FEB. 2019

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FIVE SEMI-AUTOS COMPETE TO PROVE THEY AREN’T YOUR GRANDDAD’S .22S BY PAUL SCARLATA

SW22 VICTORY TARGET

he .22 Long Rifle is without a doubt the most popular metallic cartridge in the world today. And I’m not just talking about rimfire cartridges. More .22 LRs are manufactured, sold and fired annually than all other non-military cartridges—rifle, handgun and shotgun—combined. And the reasons for its popularity are easy to understand. First of all, .22 LR ammo is inexpensive. When I was a boy, I remember going to the local hardware store with my brothers where we each forked over a quarter and a dime for a box of fifty .22s. This expenditure of part of our hard-earned allowances enabled us to enjoy an afternoon of plinking with our single-shot rifles. While .22s now cost more than they did back then (like everything else), most shooters can still afford them today without endangering their family finances.

KING OF THE RIMFIRES From a shooter’s standpoint, one of the .22’s biggest advantages is that it doesn’t make a lot of noise. This means the .22 LR can be fired in areas where using a .45 ACP pistol might result in irate neighbors calling the local police. This also makes them especially practical for indoor shooting ranges.

BERETTA M9 22LR

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| 67

RIMFIRE RIOT

>>>>>

BERETTA M9 22LR

BROWNING BUCK MARK CONTOUR STAINLESS URX

RUGER MARK IV TARGET

SW22 VICTORY TARGET

WALTHER P22 TARGET

CALIBER:

.22 LR

BARREL:

4.9 inches

5.5 inches

5 inches

OA LENGTH:

8.5 inches

9.5 inches

9.75 inches

9.2 inches

7.8 inches

WEIGHT:

26.08 ounces (empty)

36 ounces (empty)

42.8 ounces (empty)

36 ounces (empty)

20 ounces (empty)

GRIPS:

Polymer

Ultragrip RX

Synthetic

Polymer

SIGHTS:

Three-dot

Adjustable

Blade front, adjustable rear

ACTION:

DA/SA

FINISH:

Matte black

Black, stainless

Satin stainless

Stainless

Matte black

CAPACITY:

15+1

10+1

MSRP:

$430

$580

$689

$429

N/A

the .22 LR is powerful enough for taking rabbits, squirrels and vermin like prairie dogs. As in most areas of today’s handgun market, semi-auto .22s have overtaken revolvers in terms of sales and popularity because of their higher capacity, faster reloading and slimmer profiles. So, for this issue’s “Battle Royale,” we decided to test some of the best medium-priced .22s out there that would work well

for competition, hunting, trail protection and good ol’ plinking: The Beretta M9 22LR, Browning Buck Mark Contour Stainless URX, Ruger Mark IV Target, SW22 Victory Target and Walther P22 Target.

THE CONTENDERS As expected, this quintet of .22 pistols possessed a number of similarities while displaying some significant differences. Let’s get the most

Becky Scarlata Photo

These firearms also produce almost zero recoil, making them perfect for teaching new shooters, and enabling experienced shooters to practice more often. With matchgrade ammunition, a .22 LR firearm is capable of extraordinary accuracy, and it’s no fluke that some of the most accurate competition rifles and pistols are chambered for this caliber. And we can’t forget hunters, who know that

The “Steel Target/Popper” drill consisted of ringing four rectangular steel targets before hitting a yellow self-setting Birchwood Casey popper.

68 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. • FEB. 2019

obvious similarities out of the way. First of all, thanks to the low operating pressures of the .22 LR, all five are blowback-operated pistols. Their magazines all hold 10 or more rounds of ammunition, and the sights are all black. All five have manual thumb safeties, and those on the Beretta, Ruger and Walther are ambidextrous. And, except for the Beretta, they all have magazine-disconnect safeties. The magazine releases run the gamut from push buttons mounted behind the trigger on the left side of the grip (Beretta, Browning, S&W and Ruger) to the ambidextrous paddle type under the triggerguard (Walther). The Beretta M9 22LR stands out from the crowd because, while most of the test guns have a target-like appearance, it looks exactly like the Italian firm’s popular M9—right down to its DA/SA trigger and 15-round magazine. Both sights are mounted personaldefenseworld.com

Becky Scarlata Photos

weight up front, interchangeable backstraps and an ambidextrous, slide-mounted thumb safety.

RANGE RULES

PLATE RACK DRILL PAUL

DICK

PERRY

STEEL TARGET/POPPER DRILL PAUL DICK PERRY

BERETTA

47.70

40.80

53.03

BERETTA

20.50

22.88

26.79

BROWNING

36.51

32.80

43.31

BROWNING

17.22

18.93

23.10

RUGER

37.35

35.61

52.57

RUGER

17.54

20.35

24.44

S&W

37.03

49.81

53.39

S&W

23.70

16.22

26.90

WALTHER

84.90

76.10

82.63

WALTHER

47.06

44.06

36.44

Note: Time results in seconds.

in dovetail slots and can be adjusted for windage. The Ruger Mark IV Target’s alloy frame is of a new hinged style that does away with the rather difficult disassembly procedure of Ruger’s earlier .22 pistols but still retains the Luger-like ergonomics that so many admire. A detachable Picatinny rail is included. The Browning Buck Mark Contour Stainless URX also has a stainless steel barrel, an aluminum alloy frame, textured finger-groove grips and a full-length Picatinny rail for mounting optics. The slide and frame on Smith & Wesson’s SW22 Victory Target are made from stainless steel, and you’ll also find an interchangeable barrel system, thumb-rest polymer grip panels, a beveled magazine well and a detachable Picatinny rail. Walther’s P22 Target was the only test gun with a polymer frame, and it stands out with a muzzle-mounted personaldefenseworld.com

Before the real comparison started, I tested each pistol’s accuracy at 15 yards using an MTM Predator rest and Browning Performance Rimfire (BPR) ammo. These rounds use 40-grain lead bullets with a black oxide coating for better reliability and accuracy. With a bit of help from yours truly, all five pistols showed that they were capable of producing sub-2-inch groups Rimfire pistols are known for being ammunition sensitive, and .22 LR rounds create a fair bit of fouling. So, my wife, Becky, and I figured we’d break the pistols in and spent the remainder of the afternoon plinking with them, running close to 100 rounds through each pistol to test its functioning. We experienced some malfunctions—mostly failures to eject and doublefeeds—but after a good cleaning and lubing, these problems mostly disappeared. My good friends Dick Jones and Perry Windsor once again volunteered to help for the actual “Battle Royale” at the Piedmont Handgunners Association range (phashoots.org) on an overcast September morning. As in the past, the pistols would be judged in seven categories: reliability, ergonomics, trigger controsights, grips, off-hand accuracy and reloading ease. Each category was scored from 1 (lowest) to 5 (best). To accomplish this, each shooter would run each pistol through two off-hand drills. Each drill would begin from the low-ready posi-

JAN. • FEB. 2019 COMBAT HANDGUNS 69

RIMFIRE RIOT

TALE OF THE TAPE

Beretta M9 22LR

Browning Buck Mark Ruger Mark IV SW22 Victory Walther P22 Contour Stainless URX Target Target Target

15 15

15 13

12 14

12 8

13 12

13 15

12 15

14 15

9 11

OFF-HAND ACCURACY

13 13

15 15

13 14

15 15

10 9

RELOADING EASE

TOTAL

RELIABILITY ERGONOMICS TRIGGER CONTROL SIGHTS GRIPS

Note: 15 is a perfect score for each category while 105 is a perfect total score.

tion with the pistol loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition. Thankfully, Brownells (brownells.com) provided us with a Crabtree Tool & Die magazine loader. • Plate Rack Drill: This drill consisted of shooting racks of six 8-inch steel plates from 10, 15, 20 and 25 yards. Because a .22 LR round won’t knock down steel plates reliably, it was only necessary for the shooter to ring the steel to score. The drill was run four times, and the scores included the total time for the four runs plus a five-second penalty for any miss.

five pistols, and they had gotten pretty dirty. So, to ensure reliable functioning, after we finished the Plate Rack Drill, we cleaned and lubed the guns. Then, after we were done burning up all that rimfire ammo, we graded the pistols, as you can see in the accompanying chart.

IN-DEPTH RESULTS Reliability: Early on, we expe-

rienced a few failures to eject with the S&W and double feeds with the Walther. But by the time we began shooting the Steel Target/Popper Drill, both pistols ran flawlessly.

Ergonomics: This is a very

relative call. One shooter felt the Ruger’s grip angle was too steep while the other two had the same complaint about the Browning. There were also complaints that the Ruger, Walther and S&W’s controls were difficult to operate while the Beretta’s were all in the “proper” places. Trigger Control: the triggers on all of the pistols displayed varying degrees of “new gun” grittiness while the Walther’s stroke was the longest and heaviest. All three shooters felt the triggers should improve with use.

One felt that the Browning’s trigger was too curved and pinched his finger. Sights: We all felt that the Walther’s sights were a tad too low for fast acquisitions, while both it and the Beretta lost points because of their three-dot setup, which none of us care for. Grips: We all agreed that the tacky-feeling grips on the S&W and Browning, especially with the latter’s finger grooves, greatly improved handling and recoil control. The slick plastic grips on the Ruger and Beretta came in for some criticism, and the Becky Scarlata Photo

• Steel Target/Popper Drill: This drill had the

shooter engaging four rectangular steel targets set in a V-shaped formation at 15 and 20 yards around a Birchwood Casey popper at 8 yards. We had to ring each of the four targets twice before engaging the popper. Again, the drill was run four times, with the score being the total time for the four runs, plus a five-second penalties for misses and a 10-second penalty for missing the popper. Regardless of the distance, we were all able to hit the plates consistently. By the time we were finished, we had run almost 1,200 rounds of .22 LR ammo through the

70 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. • FEB. 2019

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Becky Scarlata Photo

“REGARDLESS OF THE DISTANCE, WE WERE ALL ABLE TO HIT THE PLATES CONSISTENTLY.” One of the test drills involved ringing six 8-inch-diameter steel plates at 10, 15, 20 and 25 yards while on the clock.

Walter’s short grip slightly hindered recoil control. Off-Hand Accuracy: The S&W and Browning tied in this category with perfect scores, and the Ruger nipped at their heels with 14. Despite its less-than-optimal sights, the Beretta earned a respectable 13 points. The Walther’s short grip, heavy trigger and low sights earned it 9 points. Reloading Ease: The Beretta’s magazine release was well positioned and easy to depress, earning it a perfect 15 points, while we found that the Ruger, Browning and S&W were harder to reload. The thumb rest on the S&W’s grips made it a bit difficult to reach the magazine release, and it was unanimous that the Walther’s paddle-type release was difficult to manipulate. Perhaps this was because it’s just so different from the pistols we’re used to shooting. After the dust settled, I asked my friends which guns they considered their favorites. Perry’s choice was the Browning Buck Mark. “It had excellent balance and felt like a ‘real’ pistol in my hands,” he said. “The sights were great, and it had a very nice trigger.” Dick preferred the Beretta: “Despite not being personaldefenseworld.com

a ‘target’ pistol like the others, I shot some of my best runs with it. It was 100-percent reliable, and it just felt familiar, more like the pistols I’m used to shooting than the others.”

And my choice was the S&W. I was impressed by its ergonomics, especially the grips. The sights were large and fast to acquire but still fine enough for precise shooting, and I felt it had the best trigger of the lot. One thing we all agreed on: Shooting these .22s was one heck of a lot of fun. As Perry succinctly put it, “This one was easy!”

FOR MORE INFORMATION BERETTA beretta.com BROWNING browning.com RUGER ruger.com SMITH & WESSON smith-wesson.com WALTHER waltherarms.com

JAN. • FEB. 2019 COMBAT HANDGUNS 71

RIGHTEOUS RIGS

BRING THE HEAT DISCREET-CARRY OUTERWEAR TO HELP YOU STAY ARMED IN COLDER WEATHER BY MIKE DETTY The challenges of carrying a concealed firearm during the summer months are soon forgotten with the first autumn chill. As the weather turns colder, we have plenty of options for concealed carry. Layering clothing allows us to wear some of our favorite guns, like a full-sized, all-steel 1911 in a belt holster or even a bigbore revolver in a shoulder holster, with little fear of printing. While any ordinary sweater, vest or jacket can help us conceal a firearm, there are a few manufacturers who produce clothing specifically for concealed carriers. Some 15 years ago, when I was at a writer’s conference with the late Walt Rauch, he let me in on a secret. The Army veteran, former uniformed Secret Service special agent, investigator with a warrant unit in Philadelphia and Combat Handguns contributor said, “When it’s cold out and you approach a street cop who has his hands in his pockets, chances are he has his hand on a .38 snub-nose. Get yourself a good .38 and a winter jacket with waisthigh pockets for winter use.” Not long after that I bought myself a S&W Model 642 because its hammerless design ensures it won’t snag inside a pocket and will still allow me to fire the gun if necessary with-

72 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. • FEB. 2019

The author carries a S&W Model 642 in his Woolrich Elite Discreet Carry Twill Jacket because of its comfort, durability and versatility.

out even removing it from the pocket. Walt’s sage advice was very much appreciated, so much so that my S&W Model 642 stays in the pocket of my Woolrich jacket, along with some speed strips and a speed loader, whether I’m wearing it or it’s in the closet.

WOOLRICH ELITE DISCREET CARRY TWILL JACKET Introduced in 2011, the Woolrich Elite Discreet Carry Twill Jacket was the company’s first effort to design a jacket

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expressly for concealed carriers. Its 100-percent cotton twill shell is boulder washed to give the jacket a wellused look. The rugged hip-length jacket features roomy shoulders for unrestricted movement, large reinforced pockets and an adjustable waistband and cuffs. For law enforcement officers, there is a hidden tunnel for routing communication wires and ambidextrous hidden zippered pockets on the inside that are perfect for carrying additional magazines or speedloaders. For the mild winters I experience here in Tucson, the Woolrich jacket is as heavy a coat as I need but is always the first I reach for. Exemplifying Woolrich’s typical quality and style, the Discreet Carry Twill Jacket is my all-time favorite for cold-weather carry. It doesn’t appear to be available on Woolrich’s website anymore, but you can still find it from various online dealers.

5.11 TACTICAL COVERT VEST For early-season football weather, the 5.11 Tactical Covert Vest is just right for my needs. Providing a layering cover for my handgun, this vest, made from a lightweight polyester blend, is flexible, comfortable, and water and wind resistant. There are two pockets near the waist that are tricot lined to provide hand warmth and have zippered openings in case you need to carry something important in them. 5.11 Tactical places another zipper on the insides of the pockets so you can pass through them to quickly access a holstered weapon. The position of these waist pockets will let those who carry in the appendix position to acquire a firing grip on their pistol without anyone knowing. Like the street-smart cops Walt Rauch mentioned, the ability to have a firm grip on your firearm before a life-or-death event begins could play a critical part in the outcome. Ready Pockets are located on both sides of the vest at chest height and sealed with hook-and-loop fasteners. I use mine most for my cell phone, but they

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Available in a few different colors, 5.11 Tactical designed the Covert Vest so your hands can quickly pass through the side pockets to access a holstered firearm when needed.

SCOTTeVEST ENFORCER JACKET

are also perfect for a passport or other documents and can also support a lightweight, subcompact pistol. In addition, there is a also zippered chest pocket for more storage. (511tactical.com)

If you really want to get the most bang for your buck and three full seasons of use a year, the SCOTTeVEST Enforcer Jacket may be your best bet. Priced at a very sensible $200, the Enforcer can quickly be transformed into a vest. The softshell jacket is made from a cotton polyester blend and is 100-percent machine washable. Built for tech geeks, the jacket has features like an RFID-blocking pocket for your credit cards and passport, ambidextrous pockets for your iPad or similar-sized tablets and ClearTouch phone pockets. There’s also a patented “personal area network” for managing all of your devices wires. The Enforcer has more than 30 pockets, yet its design keeps them from bulging and also helps distribute the weight evenly.

JAN. • FEB. 2019 COMBAT HANDGUNS 73

RIGHTEOUS RIGS them in place with hook-and-loop fasteners. The Rothco jacket has several pockets: sleeve pockets, two high-rise chest pockets, a double-zipper pocket to carry something across the lower back. For comfort, there are zippered underarm vents to help you regulate your body temperature. A drawstring at the waist will help you maintain your core temperature in even the coldest conditions, as will the cuff closures. I’m not a fan of hooded cold weather gear, but Rothco’s design is detachable and rolls into a zippered collar when not in use. Hoods provide an attacker an amazing degree of leverage in pulling you off your feet, and unless you’re a very skilled fighter, it’s very hard to defend against. It is for that reason that I won’t use a hooded garment, preferring instead to wear a ski cap or something similar. Rothco’s Concealed Carry Soft Shell Jacket is a great-looking garment and has two fields of loop at each shoulder for patches to personalize it. Of the four products mentioned

The jacket has waist-height pockets that can be zippered and sub-pockets for extra magazines. There are two chest-level zippered pockets with tabs that provide the user with a place to secure a handgun, whether it’s a revolver or semi-auto. As I mentioned earlier, the vest is entirely ambidextrous, so it is suitable with both right- and left-handers. It also has two vertical side zippers at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions for those who are less concerned about concealing their belt-holstered guns and more concerned about quick access. (scottevest.com)

ROTHCO CONCEALED CARRY SOFT SHELL JACKET Finally, we have Rothco’s Concealed Carry Soft Shell Jacket. Using three layers of fabric to repel water, deflect wind and retain body heat, the jacket also possesses a breathable, lightweight inner fleece for comfort. Rothco places deep pocket holsters (big enough to hold a full-sized 1911) inside each side of the jacket’s sides with two magazine holders directly above them. I’m right-handed and used the pocket holster on the left side of the jacket for my S&W M&P9 and placed two loaded magazines on the right side to offset and balance the weight. It also makes more sense to access my reloads from the right side with my left hand so I can maintain a firing grip on my pistol. The mag pouches are large enough for fullsized, double-stack magazines to fit comfortably, and end flaps secure

74 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. • FEB. 2019

The SCOTTeVEST Enforcer Jacket has more than 30 pockets and can easily be transformed into a vest for warmer weather. Rothco’s Concealed Carry Soft Shell Jacket looks the most “tactical” of the bunch. Note the built-in pistol magazine pouches.

here, the Rothco jacket is the warmest and will stand up to serious hard work. But it also possesses “the look.” If you were to pick out a jacket that a gun guy would wear, most would choose the Rothco. That being said, it looks great and comes with plenty of features most concealed carriers will find appealing. It is available in a multitude of sizes and colors, and at a price that most folks will find affordable. (rothco.com)

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DYNAMIC DUO

IT’S HARD TO BEAT THESE 10MM EAA AND HI-POINT PROTECTORS BY WILLIAM BELL JORDAN BELL PHOTOS

76 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. • FEB. 2019

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The 10mm Auto cartridge has been around in one form or another for some 35 years. It grew out of a search for a pistol caliber starting with “4” that would be both powerful and provide a higher capacity than conventional pistols of the day. The cartridge was strictly niche until 1989, when it was adopted by the FBI following the disastrous Miami shootout. However, a cartridge with an overall length of 1.250 inches and a SAAMI pressure maximum of 37,500 psi needs a largeframe pistol, and the size of the chosen gun plus the recoil generated by the 10mm was too much for many FBI agents. The caliber was soon dropped, and the 10mm began to fade into obscurity as the .40 S&W cartridge took over the law enforcement market, prompting huge civilian sales. But fans of the 10mm hung in there. After all, it will launch .40-caliber bullets 270- to 300-fps faster than the .40 S&W with its 35,000-psi SAAMI specs, plus its larger case capacity will handle heavier bullets. Today, 10mm sales are brisk and new firearms are popping up in this chambering on a regular basis.

HI-POINT 1095TS Pistol-caliber carbines (PCCs) seem to be getting more and more popular, as they magnify the power of the pistol cartridge and offer a shooting platform that is easier to control and has more accuracy potential.

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JAN. • FEB. 2019 COMBAT HANDGUNS 77

PERFECT PAIRING

The 1095TS offers plenty of rail space for accessories, and the charging handle, mag release and safety are all on the left side.

The 1095TS’ hooded front sight is paired with a protected, adjustable rear. The barrel is threaded for a suppressor.

You can find a number of 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP PCCs, but I’m only aware of three manufacturers making them in 10mm with prices ranging from just over $650 to more than $1,420. But then Hi-Point Firearms changed that recently by introducing its 1095TS carbine for $390. With a price point this low, almost anyone can then afford to add some optics or other tactical accessories like lights or laser sights. The basic model has a rugged black polymer stock with a recoil-dampening buttplate and a raised rubber cheekpiece. You’ll also find sling swivels, and a nylon two-point sling is provided. The forend is grooved for a secure hold, and the pistol grip has effective texturing. Say what you will about Hi-Point carbines, but I’ve owned and been shooting them for over 20 years. My personal 9mm model has always been reliable and accurate, and the .380 ACP, .40 S&W and .45 ACP versions I’ve tested have all run like champs. Don’t judge a book by its cover. The stock configuration has changed slightly in recent years, making them look less like the rifles in the original Planet of the Apes. And for just $390, you get a blowback-operated carbine with a 10+1 capacity, a shrouded front post sight, an adjustable rear

78 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. • FEB. 2019

SPEC BOX

HI-POINT

1O95TS CALIBER: 10mm Auto BARREL: 17.5 inches OA LENGTH: 32 inches WEIGHT: 7 pounds (empty) STOCK: Polymer SIGHTS: Front post, adjustable rear

peep sight, a receiver-length accessory rail and another rail on the bottom of the forend for accessories. Unloaded, the 1095TS weighs 7 pounds. Its alloy receiver shroud and barrel are flat black, and the 17.5-inch barrel is threaded for a suppressor. It also has simple controls. The charging handle protrudes from the left side of the receiver and also acts as a bolt-hold-open device. The safety is just above the pistol grip on the left side, and the magazine catch is near the front of the grip on the same side. Despite feeling “mushy,” the singlestage trigger on my test carbine had a 6-pound pull weight, which is standard for these guns. Finally, the carbine comes with one single-stack 10mm magazine, a small multi-tool, an owner’s manual and a trigger-locking device.

ACTION: Blowback-operated semi-auto

EAA WITNESS P MATCH PRO

FINISH: Matte black

Many shooters today participate in 3-Gunstyle competitions or just want a handgun and long gun of the same caliber for logistics reasons. So, I sought a handgun to pair with this Hi-Point carbine. There are a number of 1911 pistols out there in 10mm, but I wanted a pistol close to the original Bren Ten, which was built on a CZ-75-type platform. And I found just what I was looking for in the Witness P Match Pro from European American Armory (EAA). This new release comes from Tanfoglio of Italy, which has long been known for making superb CZ clones. The Witness P Match Pro is a fullsized handgun with a 4.75-inch barrel, an overall length of 8.75 inches, a height of 5.6 inches and a width of 1.4 inches.

CAPACITY: 10+1 MSRP: $390

PERFORMANCE LOAD

VELOCITY

ACCURACY

Black Hills 155 JHP

1,433

1.87

CCI Blazer 200 TMJ

1,138

2.62

CorBon 165 JHP

1,469

2.39

DoubleTap 180 FMJ

1,179

3.23

Federal 180 JHP

1,096

1.72

Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for best five-shot groups at 50 yards.

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The Hi-Point’s front and rear iron sights are removable, so the author replaced them with a Bushnell Trophy red dot to really wring out the carbine’s accuracy at 50 yards.

Unloaded, the pistol weighs 30.4 ounces, and EAA includes one 14-round magazine in its plastic carrying case along with a nifty little cleaning kit, a trigger lock and an owner’s manual. Also, the “P” designation stands for polymer, as the pistol has a onepiece polymer frame. This is a recoil-operated, locked-breech design with a DA/SA trigger. The first shot can be fired in DA mode, or the external hammer cocked and the safety engaged for “Condition One” carry with the first shot in SA mode. The DA pull has about 0.25 inches of take-up before the stacking begins, which takes about another quarterinch before the sear is released and the hammer drops. I’d estimate the pull weight to be 13 to 14 pounds at the end. The SA pull has maybe 0.12 inches of take-up and some creep before breaking at an average of 4.46 pounds. The trigger’s shape and smooth face makes both pulls feel lighter. The extended safety doesn’t act as a hammer drop, so care must be taken when lowering the hammer on a loaded chamber. The slide stop and magazine catch are also extended and conveniently located for onehanded operation. The steel slide has a matte black finish and is nestled down inside the polymer frame, which encloses the slide rails like a traditional CZ design. There’s also a rugged external extractor but no loadedchamber indicator. The small front sight post is paired with a fully adjustable rear sight that is serrated to reduce glare. The grip frame has an extended beavertail to prevent hammer bite, and you’ll find finely checkered panels on the front- and backstraps as well as on the sides. The inside surfaces of the magazine well are chamfered for smooth reloads, and the personaldefenseworld.com

JAN. • FEB. 2019 COMBAT HANDGUNS 79

PERFECT PAIRING

The EAA Witness P Match Pro’s angular slide comes fitted with a small front sight blade and a fully adjustable rear sight.

SPEC BOX

EAA

WITNESS P MATCH PRO CALIBER:

10mm Auto

BARREL:

4.75 inches

OA LENGTH:

8.75 inches

WEIGHT: GRIP:

front of the triggerguard is flat. Finally, the dust cover sports a long accessory rail for lights or lasers.

Polymer

SIGHTS:

Front post, adjustable rear

ACTION:

DA/SA

FINISH:

Matte black

CAPACITY:

14+1

MSRP:

$815

PERFORMANCE

TWO-GUN TEST Range day turned out to be sunny and warm but windy. I wanted to get the velocity measurements out of the way before the wind speed increased, so I set up my Oehler Model 35P chronograph and went to work with various loads from Black Hills, CCI, CorBon, DoubleTap and Federal. Some of the lighter 10mm loads didn’t give me the velocities I’d expected in the pistol- or carbine-length barrels. The fastest rounds recorded from the Hi-Point carbine, CorBon’s 165-grain JHPs, averaged 1,469 fps for 791 footpounds of energy (fpe) at the muzzle. Black Hills’ 155-grain JHPs came in second at 1,433 fps and 707 fpe. I think

30.4 ounces (empty)

80 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. • FEB. 2019

LOAD

VELOCITY ACCURACY

Black Hills 155 JHP

1,247

2.61

CCI Blazer 200 TMJ

1,052

2.15

CorBon 165 JHP

1,300

2.43

DoubleTap 180 Match FMJ

1,000

2.63

Federal 180 JHP

1,007

2.49

Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for best five-shot groups at 25 yards.

Bushnell Trophy red-dot sight with four different reticle options. Then I placed a small silhouette target with a red oval aiming point at 50 yards. Even with the carbine’s somewhat mushy trigger, I managed a five-shot group measuring 1.72 inches with the Federal 180-grain JHP load. The Black Hills ammo also gave me a 1.87-inch cluster. These were good results considering the wind gusted up to 35 mph at times. To evaluate the EAA Witness P Match Pro’s accuracy, I fired five-shot groups in SA mode at 25 yards using a bench and sandbag for support. My best five-shot group here came with the CCI Blazer 200-grain TMJs and measured just 2.15 inches. Most of my groups were between 2 and 3 inches. Then I set up a bad guy target 35 yards away and loaded the guns with a mix of test cartridges. Using the carbine, I fired five rounds from a barricade position at 35 yards while standing, then moved up 10 yards, knelt and fired five more rounds. Then I slung the carbine and transitioned to the EAA pistol. I advanced to 15 yards, took cover behind an impromptu barricade and fired two rounds from the left side while standing, two from the right side and then two more while kneeling. I then moved up to 7 yards and fired three double-taps. Next, I did a “failure-to-stop” drill, reloaded and repeated. Finally, I moved up to 3 yards and fired six shots strong-hand only and five support-hand only from a point-shoulder position. All of my center-mass shots were in the “boiler room,” and my headshots were in the bridge of the bad guy’s nose. There were no malfunctions, and both firearms ran perfectly. My son, Jordan, and I performed some more drills like this, and both guns never missed a beat. The Bushnell sight was right on the money, and the sights on the EAA pistol were easy to pick up in a hurry. The magazines ejected just fine, the controls worked well, and it was easy to call this range test a big success. FOR MORE INFORMATION

this kind of performance would be adequate for taking medium-sized game like whitetail deer, coyotes and feral hogs. The Hi-Point’s sights are removable, so I replaced them with an affordable

EUROPEAN AMERICAN ARMORY eaacorp.com HI-POINT FIREARMS hi-pointfirearms.com

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M O D E R N

82 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. â&#x20AC;¢ FEB. 2019

C L A S S I C

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THE Inland’s new M1 Carbine-based M30-P is definitely a large defensive pistol for the 21st century. This new handgun takes up where the M1 “Enforcer” pistol left off when production ceased in the late 20th century.

INLAND AND SAGE TEAM UP TO BRING THE M1 CARBINE INTO THE 21ST CENTURY

The ballistics of the .30 Carbine cartridge may be close to ideal for use in today’s heavily populated urban centers because of its limited muzzle blast and recoil. On the downside, the minute you say “.30 Carbine,” a lot of people think about this cartridge’s reputation for poor stopping power in World

BY DR. MARTIN D. TOPPER SCOTT BAXTER PHOTOS

War II and Korea. But that belief concerns military carbines using ball ammo. Today, six companies produce self-defense loads for the .30 Carbine, so the stopping power issue needs to be revisited. In addition, there are stories about the low quality of commercial carbines made after WWII. I’ve seen some poorly made commercial carbines from time to time, but this Inland gun isn’t one of them.

OLD MEETS NEW The M30-P is a radical departure from earlier M1 “Enforcer” pistols made by Universal and Iver Johnson. It has many new features like a sturdy Sage International Enhanced Battle Rifle (EBR) chassis made of hardcoat anodized aircraft-grade aluminum. The M30-P’s chassis has a top rail for mounting optics, and it also comes with folding battle sights. The sides of the chassis are ventilated for cool-

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THE M1 RETURNS

“THE BALLISTICS OF THE .30 CARBINE CARTRIDGE MAY BE CLOSE TO IDEAL FOR USE IN TODAY’S HEAVILY POPULATED URBAN CENTERS BECAUSE OF ITS LIMITED MUZZLE BLAST AND RECOIL.”

Say goodbye to the M1 Carbine’s classic wooden forend. The M30-P’s aluminum chassis makes it easy to add accessories like the Leupold LCO and Crimson Trace Rail Master Pro.

ing and weight reduction. The forend is also drilled and tapped for adding short rail segments. In addition, the chassis has attachments for mounting quick-release sling swivels. The rear of the chassis is designed for mounting an arm brace, and a Gear Head Works Tailhook Mod 2 is included. You’ll also find a comfortable Ergo rubber-overmolded pistol grip with subtle finger grooves. This new pistol has a 12-inch barrel that delivers especially good velocities given the fact that it is 6 inches shorter than the military carbine’s barrel. The shorter barrel makes it handier in close-quarters tactical situations than the original M1 Carbine. The muzzle is also threaded for a suppressor. My test pistol’s overall quality was good. The parts were well conformed, except for a few tool marks on the chassis where it was relieved above the triggerguard. The bolt moved freely without any wobble. The two-stage trigger broke between 5.5 and 6 pounds and was fairly smooth. The crown of the muzzle was even and slightly recessed, and the bore was shiny with clean-cut rifling. With a Leupold LCO and Crimson Trace light/laser unit, the M30-P weighed just 7 pounds with a decidedly muzzle-heavy balance. The M30-P operates just like any other version of the M1 Carbine. To chamber a round, fully insert a magazine (one 10-rounder is included), pull the bolt handle all the way back and let it go. When shooting for recreational purposes and at many other times, the safety should be activated before inserting the magazine. The safety is located at the front of the triggerguard. Don’t confuse it for the magazine release, which is just in front of the safety. Lastly, the

84 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. • FEB. 2019

bolt does not automatically lock open after firing the last round when using GI-type magazines, but there is a manually operated bolt catch on the upper right side of the receiver.

STOPPING POWER The M1 Carbine and its cartridge were originally developed to provide rear-area troops, officers and various support staff with a gun that had more firepower and range than the M1911. But while that .45 ACP pistol had a legendary reputation for stopping power, the M1 Carbine suffered from just the opposite. In fact, I knew two men who personally saw enemy soldiers hit in the torso by multiple .30 Carbine rounds and still continue to fight. On the other hand, Jim Cirillo used an M1 Carbine when he was on the NYPD’s stakeout squad. However, his carbine was modified so it reliably fed Winchester’s Hollow Soft Point load, which is still available today. Well-known trainer Vicki Farnam also uses an M1 Carbine for hunting. She prefers the 100-grain CorBon DPX load, and one time when she was hunting with her husband, she was able to stop a 600-pound wild boar’s charge with a single shot placed just under the boar’s right eye. So, as you can see, if there’s a stopping power issue with the .30 Carbine, it all depends on which load is used. While

researching this article I found six companies currently producing .30 Carbine loads for self-defense: Buffalo Bore, Federal, Hornady, Winchester, Remington and Underwood. But how does the .30 Carbine compare to other handgun rounds? When fired in the M30-P, Hornady’s 110-grain Critical Defense FTX load produces 890 foot-pounds of energy (fpe) at the muzzle, which equals many .44 Magnum loads. The Hornady load’s average muzzle velocity is 1,909 fps from the M30-P, which is faster than any common .44 Magnum load. According to well-known forensic pathologist Dr. Vincent Di Maio in Gunshot Wounds, the .30 Carbine is neither a rifle or a pistol cartridge. When loaded with an FMJ, he writes that it produces wounds similar to a .44 Magnum. When loaded with an expanding bullet, it appears to transfer energy like a rifle bullet because it produces dramatic tissue

It’s extremely easy to load the M30-P and chamber a round. Just lock the 10-round magazine in place, pull back on the charging handle and release it.

JAN. • FEB. 2019 COMBAT HANDGUNS 85

THE M1 RETURNS

The rear of the Sage International chassis has a buffer tube like an AR, and Inland includes a Gear Head Works Tailhook Mod 2 brace that cradles your forearm.

destruction in areas of the torso that are remote from the permanent wound channel. So, at CQB distances where the velocity is still high, a .30 Carbine bullet designed for personal defense appears to be superior in its wounding capability than pistol cartridges up to and including the .44 Magnum.

ROUNDS DOWNRANGE I tested the M30-P at the Flagler Gun Club as well as the Volusia County Gun & Hunt Club with, as mentioned, a Leupold LCO and a Crimson Trace Rail Master Pro. Once the pistol was sighted in using an MTM K-Zone rest, I fired three 5-shot groups at 100 yards with Hornady’s 100-grain Critical Defense FTXs and Underwood’s 85-grain Xtreme Cavitator ammo. The Hornady load proved to be the most accurate with a 4.27-inch average for three groups.

The Underwood ammo averaged 6.33 inches. The Hornady load’s velocity was 1,909 fps while the Underwood’s was 1,943 fps. I also used the M30-P to run three different tactical drills. The first was a body-armor drill on three silhouette targets representing armed assailants several feet from each other and 15 yards from the firing line. Each target was double-tapped with one shot to the body and one to the head. I ran this drill twice, starting at low-ready, and each repetition resulted in six good hits. Using a Competition Electronics timer, the average of the two runs was 8.86 seconds. The second drill used photographic scenario targets from Law Enforcement Targets. It involved taking down threats in a hypothetical parking garage. You encounter an armed member of a robbery crew waiting in ambush behind a car and fire until the threat is neutralized. Then you “pie” the corner of a short hallway to your left and see a target depicting a second armed assailant pointing a gun at you. You drop that threat and move to the end of the hallway, where you find an “assailant” holding

The magazine release is located at the rear of the mag well, just ahead of the safety. Also note the pistol’s rubber Ergo grip.

86 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. • FEB. 2019

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SPEC BOX

INLAND

M3O-P CALIBER:

.30 Carbine

BARREL:

12 inches

OA LENGTH: WEIGHT: GRIP:

26.75-29.38 inches 5.5 pounds (empty) Ergo rubber

SIGHTS:

Flip-up front and rear

ACTION:

Piston-operated semi-auto

FINISH:

Matte black

CAPACITY: MSRP:

10 $1,729

Along with measuring the M30-P’s accuracy from the bench, the author tested its capabilities in drills against photographic scenario targets.

a female cashier hostage. You shoot the robber three times in the torso. I ran this drill twice, firing 16 shots during each repetition, and my average time was 42.04 seconds. All of my shots were on target, and none hit the hostage. The final drill involved a hypothetical homeinvasion scenario where you retrieve your gun after noticing an armed assailant through the front window of your home. At the buzzer, you hustle to the front door and carefully pie the doorway to your left until you see the attacker. You fire two shots to the assailant’s body, and my average time for three runs was 8.7 seconds. All of my shots were in the left-center of the torso between the navel and the lower sternum.

FOR TODAY’S THREATS The Inland M30-P isn’t your grandfather’s M1 Enforcer. It’s a state-of-the-art M1 pistol capable of handling a wide variety of 21st century tactical scenarios. Of course, the latest technology doesn’t come cheap, and the pistol’s MSRP is $1,729. Then again, the M30-P does exactly what it’s built to do. For more, visit inland-mfg.com.

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JAN. • FEB. 2019 COMBAT HANDGUNS 87

PRO GRADE

BY MITCH HARDIN

88 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. â&#x20AC;¢ FEB. 2019

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AFFORDABLE, ACCURATE AND EASY TO SHOOT— THE COMBAT-READY SAR9 STRIKER HAS ARRIVED

hat if I told you that you could have a full-sized, 9mm, striker-fired pistol for just over $400? And it has a manual thumb safety. That’s right, the new SAR9 from SAR USA is a striker-fired, polymer-framed pistol that has an external manual safety. You probably want to know if it’s worth it and have a whole slew of questions. Well, please allow me to elaborate for you. While wandering around a bit lost and confused at the 2018 SHOT Show, I happened to stumble across some of the friendliest people at the SAR USA booth. The company representatives all introduced themselves and gave me the rundown on some of their products. I was trying to listen to what they were telling me, but I just couldn’t stop looking at the SAR9 at the same time. One of the reps caught me, smiled and placed the SAR9 in my hands. Ergonomically speaking, it was amazing. I’m used to having to Dremel, sand, stipple and otherwise customize the pistols from my usual preferred brands. Not so with the SAR9. The best way to put it: If Walther and HK had a baby, it would most likely resemble the SAR9.

The SAR9 is available with a black polymer frame and either a black or stainless finish on the slide. The MSRPs are set at $449 and $499, respectively, for these two options. Both come equipped with three-dot sights. According to the

SPEC BOX

SAR USA

SAR9 CALIBER:

9mm

BARREL:

3.54 inches

OA LENGTH:

6.41 inches

WEIGHT: GRIP:

22.33 ounces (empty) Polymer

SIGHTS:

Three-dot

ACTION:

Striker-fired

FINISH:

Matte black

CAPACITY: MSRP:

8+1 $449

rep that I spoke with, night sights as well as other more customizable options are currently in the works. The slide is made from 4130 chrome-moly steel, and the barrel is button rifled. The pistol ships with two 17-round magazines from SAR USA. It should be noted that the mags show 15 witness holes, but SAR USA states that they will indeed hold 17 rounds. I verified this, as the mags I tested held 17 rounds. The magazines are available from SAR USA for $25 and will become available to distributors here shortly. The SAR9 also comes from the factory with three different backstraps and side panels so you can adjust the grip to perfectly fit your hands. Inside the plastic case you’ll also find a plastic Glock-like cleaning rod and a soft cleaning swab. Now let’s talk about those knobby levers just below the slide on the frame. Yes, that is in fact an ambidextrous manual safety. I was informed that this was added so the SAR9 compete for a gov-

SAR9 SPECS The SAR9 is imported by SAR USA, which handles all American imports for Sarsilmaz. Sarsilmaz was founded in 1880 and is the largest small-arms manufacturer in Turkey. The Turks are known for their quality and craftsmanship when it comes to firearms, as they have been around for just a bit. SAR USA began importing the SAR9 back in late 2017, so it’s still fairly new here in the United States. When I asked why SAR USA, I was simply told that it’s much easier for Sarsilmaz to have a “permanent importer” rather than switching import companies every few years. personaldefenseworld.com

JAN. • FEB. 2019 COMBAT HANDGUNS 89

TURKISH DELIGHT

ernment contract and to be up to NATO specs. The pistol performed so well in fact that the Turkish military and national police forces have adopted the SAR9 as their official sidearm. According to SAR USA, “a NATO test against major manufacturers from Austria, Germany and the U.S. ran 90,000 rounds, with the SAR9 [being] the clear winner.” That right there is a bold statement. A version with no external manual safety may become available to the U.S. in the future, but nothing is set in stone. Also mentioned to me was that there is absolutely no difference between the SAR9 used by Turkey’s armed forces and the commercially available SAR9 for sale here in the U.S. I made it a point during testing to mash down on the trigger after each reload with plenty of force in an attempt to get the external safety to fail. The safety works as intended from my experiences, as the gun never fired unintentionally during my repeated attempts to make it fail. The magazine release is swappable to either side, so I’d like to thank Sarsilmaz for thinking of us lefties out there. To break it down for cleaning, first make sure the pistol is pointed in a safe direction and completely unloaded with no rounds in sight. I hate having to always include that last bit, but I do it for the “safety impaired” out there among us. Then pull down on the slide lock, pull the trigger and remove the slide. It’s pretty straightforward, and very similar to other Tupperware-type pistols out there.

90 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. • FEB. 2019

HANDS ON I hit the range with the SAR9 right as it came in the box. I didn’t even play with the sights; I shot it au naturale. This pistol just felt right in my hands, too, despite the additional back and side grip panels. And did I mention the forward serrations on the slide? I keep asking myself why more companies don’t do this. It sure makes it easier to do a press-check. Some highspeed Rambos out there advise against this, but it’s nice to have the forward serrations anyway if that’s your thing. It also has a loaded-chamber indicator as well. Seriously, for a street price of under four bills, you’re getting a screaming deal. On a nice Saturday, I headed to my buddy John’s outdoor range. John was pretty excited because we recently had a conversation about striker-fired pistols a couple weeks prior, and here I was showing up with just

that. Plus, I showed up with 500 rounds, which he was excited to see. I personally shot the SAR9 in the dirt and from every position I’ve trained with in the past. The SAR9 is an exceptionally soft shooter, with less recoil than some of its competitors in the same size range and caliber. It handled admirably and was very accurate. According to my Wheeler trigger pull scale, the SAR9 registered a consistent 5- to 5.5-pound trigger pull weight. The trigger pull itself has quite a bit of pre-travel but a clean break. I hardly noticed as I was shooting, moving and otherwise putting the SAR9 through its paces. The SAR9 pointed well and tracked just fine. The muzzle rise wasn’t bad at all; it’s just a fun all-around pistol to shoot. Granted, I’ve only sent 500 rounds downrange, but it seems like a pretty serious contender for the market, especially at the current price point. The SAR9 got so damn hot that I think the factory oil cooked right off, but it kept going for me. The rep from SAR USA informed me that it should only take a mag or two to break it in. The trigger felt more responsive after a post-range-session cleaning. Then again, I did put a minute amount of Extreme Weapons Grease from Slip 2000 in between the connector and trigger bar. I mean just a trace amount, as I don’t want it to attract every gritty substance known to man. By adding this tiny amount of grease, I noticed a much better response out of the SAR9’s trigger.

TOTAL STEAL Whether you’re a new shooter, an experienced shooter or looking to get a family member or friend into shooting, the SAR9 is a great choice. It’s actually hard to believe that a pistol this nice has an MSRP of only $449, and a street price just under $400.

PERFORMANCE

SAR USA SAR9 LOAD

VELOCITY

ACCURACY

Federal 124 HST +P

1,200

1.13

Hornady 135 Critical Duty

1,035

1.42

MEN 124 FMJ

1,088

0.67

S&B 124 FMJ

1,185

0.52

Speer 124 Gold Dot HP +P

1,280

1.34

Bullet weight measured in grains, velocity in fps by chronograph and accuracy in inches for best five-shot groups at 15 yards.

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SAR USA claims that the SAR9 fired over 150,000 rounds for testing in every environment imaginable. The Turkish armed forces and national police could just as easily have chosen a Canik or a Turkish version of a Hi-Point if they wanted to. Instead, they chose the SAR9 as their duty pistol. I completely understand why given how it performed for me. I don’t think that you can go wrong with the SAR9. I almost always go by the old adage of “You get what you pay for in life.” In the case of the SAR9, you’re getting much more than your money’s worth. Time will tell if I’m right or wrong, but then again, if it’s good enough to protect the population of Turkey, I think it will be just fine for you. With the SAR9 being priced so affordably, and if your wife is anything like mine, she won’t even know that you brought it home. It will just be another “black gun” among the “black guns.” Win-win all the way around. For more information, visit sarusa.com.

JAN. • FEB. 2019 COMBAT HANDGUNS 91

BUYER’S GUIDE

CHIAPPA

RHINO 30DS Chiappa is now offering its Rhino 30DS with an olive green frame and barrel shroud. This six-shot, 3-inch-barreled, .357 Magnum revolver has a fiber-optic front sight and an adjustable rear sight. Like all Rhino revolvers, it has a double-action/ single-action (DA/SA) firing mechanism and fires from the bottom chamber in the cylinder, which causes it to have much less muzzle rise. (chiappafirearms.com)

CIMARRON

BUFFALO BILL SIGNATURE SERIES FRONTIER Cimarron offers exact replicas of William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody’s original Colt Model 1873 Single Action Army revolver, or Peacemaker. This year the company is also offering a .44-40 version with an attractive charcoal-blued finish on the barrel and cylinder to accent all of the revolver’s detailed engraving. (cimarron-firearms.com)

H T WHEELS THE YEAR’S BEST NEW REVOLVERS LIGHTING UP THE HANDGUN MARKET BY WILLIAM BELL

While new wheelgun production has slowed down, it’s still very much “steady as she goes.” Small concealment-sized revolvers predominate, but mediumframed five-, six- and seven-shooters are getting hot, and those with large frames and cylinders holding up to eight cartridges are also very popular these days. Whether you want a wheelgun for defense, hunting or just an afternoon’s plinking session, you won’t have any trouble finding one in everything from the .22 LR to the .500 S&W Magnum. So let’s take a look at some of the newest arrivals.

EMF

GREAT WESTERN II ALCHIMISTA JR. This handsome rendition of the Colt SAA is based on the Great Western II Express Agent with a 3.5-inch barrel, checkered walnut grips and a lowered hammer spur. This new variation in .357 Magnum has an “Old Silver” finish on the frame and rich bluing on the barrel and cylinder, then the whole thing is covered in laser engraving. It’s certainly a six-shooter any Old West shootist would have been proud to carry. (emf-company.com)

COLT

NIGHT COBRA Colt has introduced a new version of its innovative Cobra snub-nose revolver. The new pistol, the Night Cobra, has a matte black finish and a Trijicon tritium insert in its fixed front sight. The rear sight is the traditional notch in the top of the frame. The Night Cobra is designed for pocket carry with a spurless bobbed hammer and a smooth, lowfriction polymer grip. However, this six-shooter is also more than suitable for belt or IWB carry as well. The pistol is 7.2 inches long, 4.9 inches tall and 1.4 inches wide. It weighs about 25 ounces unloaded, which helps it absorb the extra recoil of +P ammunition. (colt.com) personaldefenseworld.com

ROCK ISLAND ARMORY KIMBER

K6s CDP The K6s is the smallest, lightest, six-shot .357 Magnum revolver on the market at 23 ounces unloaded. This new CDP (Custom Defense Package) features a DLC-finished frame, a brushed stainless 2-inch barrel and cylinder, three-dot tritium night sights and one of the smoothest factory DAO triggers you’ll ever experience. It also has laminate grips and Kimber’s “carry melt” treatment for added concealability. (kimberamerica.com)

M200 This wheelgun has the makings of a good, economical home-defense or beginner’s gun. With a small frame, 4-inch barrel, sixshot cylinder, ramp front sight, fixed rear sight channel and polymer grips, this .38 Special is good to go. It offers DA/SA control with an overall length of 8.75 inches. The Parkerized finish is non-reflective, and best of all, the MSRP is only $275! (armscor.com)

RUGER NORTH AMERICAN ARMS

RANGER II The long-awaited Ranger II harkens back to the hinged-frame revolvers of the 19th century. It opens quickly for loading/unloading by pulling back on a locking stirrup and tipping the barrel downward. Made of stainless steel with a 1.63-inch barrel in .22 WMR (and available with an optional .22 LR cylinder), it weighs just 6.9 ounces and sports rosewood grips. (northamericanarms.com)

GP100 MATCH CHAMPION 10MM With its factory-tuned action and ergonomic enhancements, the Match Champion takes the popular GP100 series to the next level, and Ruger has unveiled a new version in 10mm Auto. Featuring a 4.2-inch barrel, the new GP100 has a half-lug design with an 11-degree target crown for competition, a chamfered cylinder and ejector for easy loading, and custom Hogue hardwood grips with stippled sides. The revolver also ships from the Ruger factory with three full-moon clips. (ruger.com)

PIETTA

DELUXE SILVER ENGRAVED REVOLVERS Pietta is now offering two revolvers with deluxe silver engraving. The first is the .44-40 Model 1860 with an 8-inch barrel and checkered wooden grips. The second is a snub-nose version of the Model 1862 with a 3-inch barrel and a checkered “express”-style grip. This .44-caliber pistol has similar silver engraving. (pietta.us) personaldefenseworld.com

JAN. • FEB. 2019 COMBAT HANDGUNS 93

BUYERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S GUIDE

RUGER

SAR

LCRx

SR-38

Four new Ruger LCRx revolvers are now available: .22 WMR, .327 Federal Magnum and 9mm models with 1.87inch barrels as well as a 3-inch-barreled .22 WMR. All four feature Hogue Tamer Monogrips, aluminum frames and stainless steel cylinders with black PVD finishes. The front ramp sights are replaceable, and the snubbies have U-notch rear sights while the 3-inch-barreled .22 WMR sports an adjustable rear sight. Most importantly, all four models have hammer spurs that can be cocked for single-action shooting or left un-cocked for double-action fire. (ruger.com)

The SR-38 is a .357 Magnum/.38 Special revolver made by Sarsilmaz in Turkey and imported into the U.S. through SAR USA. Sarsilmaz has more than a century of firearms manufacturing experience and is still owned by the same family who founded it in 1880. Classic S&W fans will recognize quite a few similarities with these revolvers, which are available with either black or satin stainless finishes. The cylinder holds six cartridges, and 2.5-, 4- and 6-inch barrels are available. (sarusa.com)

RUGER

SP101 Ruger is now offering the SP101 revolver in .327 Federal Magnum and 9mm. The former has a 3-inch barrel, fixed sights and holds six rounds of ammo. It can also be used with .32 S&W, .32 S&W Long and .32 H&R Magnum ammo. It is 8 inches long and weighs 27 ounces unloaded, which gives this handgun enough heft for excellent recoil control with magnum loads. The 9mm version has a 2.25inch barrel and a five-shot cylinder. It is 7.2 inches long and weighs 25 ounces unloaded. (ruger.com)

SMITH & WESSON

PERFORMANCE CENTER MODEL 19 CARRY COMP The new .357 Magnum Model 19 Carry Comp has a stainless steel, 3-inch, PowerPort vented barrel as well as a tritium front sight, an adjustable rear sight, a tuned Performance Center action and a carbon-steel frame. Both synthetic and wooden grips are included, and the gun holds six rounds with an overall length of 8 inches and a weight of 34.1 ounces. (smith-wesson.com)

RUGER

SUPER REDHAWK 10 For 2018, Ruger has added a 10mm option to its Super Redhawk lineup. The Super Redhawk is a double-action, six-shot revolver that ships with three full-moon clips for quick reloading. This 6.5-inch-barreled firearm has an extended frame with extra metal in the topstrap, side walls and barrel mounting to handle big-game loads. The rubber grip has an internal recoil cushion under the web of the hand. (ruger.com)

94 COMBAT HANDGUNS JAN. â&#x20AC;˘ FEB. 2019

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SMITH & WESSON

PERFORMANCE CENTER MODEL 686/686 PLUS For 2018, the S&W Performance Center is offering two stainless.357 Magnum L-Frame revolvers: one with a 4-inch barrel and six-shot cylinder, and the other with a 5-inch barrel and seven-shot cylinder that takes moon clips. Both have competition-ready features such as vent-rib barrels, unfluted cylinders, chromed teardrop hammer spurs, speed-release thumbpieces, adjustable rear sights, interchangeable orange front sights and Hogue grips. (smith-wesson.com)

TAURUS

MODEL 692 An exciting addition for 2018, this is a seven-shot, medium-frame .357 Magnum revolver in stainless or matte black that, with a simple cylinder change, can be converted to fire 9mm rounds using Taurus’ Stellar clips. It’s a traditional DA/SA design with a fixed ramp front sight, an adjustable rear sight and a black “Ribber” grip. Taurus offers the revolver with either a 3- or 6.5-inch barrel. (taurususa.com)

TAURUS

RAGING HUNTER The new Raging Hunter is a six-shot .44 Magnum with a striking stainless and blued two-tone finish. It also features a Picatinny rail and an angular barrel shroud to stand out from the pack. The unique barrel system incorporates a steel sleeve inside an aluminum housing to cut down on the overall weight, making this a well-balanced hunter. To help with recoil, the gun has a cushioned rubber grip as well as factory-tuned porting and a gas expansion chamber. These also help reduce muzzle rise for faster follow-up shots. An all-blued model is also available. (taurususa.com)

TAURUS

MODEL 856 Taurus’ new Model 856 revolver is available in both matte blued carbon-steel and matte stainless steel variants. This six-shot DA/SA revolver has a 2-inch barrel with a fixed front sight. The rear sight is a U-shaped notch in the top of the frame. It’s 6.55 inches long overall, 4.8 inches tall, 1.41 inches wide and 22 ounces unloaded, making it well suited for concealed carry. (taurususa.com)

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JAN. • FEB. 2019 COMBAT HANDGUNS 95

COOPER’S

COMBAT

Part one of the timeless Principles of Personal Defense ome people prey upon other people. Whether we like it or not, this is one of the facts of life. It has always been so, and it is not going to change. The number of sociopaths in a stipulated population varies widely, but we can take a figure of one in 100, for simplicity’s sake, and not be far off. About one person in 100 will, under some circumstances, initiate a violent attack upon another, in defiance of the law, for reasons that seem sufficient to him at the time. Take the able-bodied male population of your community, divide it by 100, and you have a fair approximation of the number of possible contacts who just might take it upon themselves to beat your head in. It is not pertinent to dispute the mathematics of this calculation. It may be wrong for your place and time. But anyone who is aware of his environment knows that the peril of physical assault does exist, and that it exists everywhere and at all times. The police, furthermore, can protect you from it only occasionally. The author assumes that the right of self-defense exists. Some people do not. This booklet is not for them. This is for those who feel that anyone who chooses physically to attack another human being does so at his peril. In some jurisdictions it is held that the victim of an attacker must, above all, attempt to escape. This is a nice legalistic concept, but it is very often tactically unsound. By the time one has exhausted every means of avoiding conflict, it may be too late to save his life. Laws vary, and

96 COMBAT HANDGUNS Jan. • Feb. 2019

cannot be memorized encyclopedically; in any case, we are not concerned here about jurisprudence, but about survival. If one lives through a fight, we will assume that he is better off than if he does not, even though he may be thereafter confronted with legal action. Violent crime is feasible only if its victims are cowards. A victim who fights back makes the whole business impractical. It is true that a victim who fights back may suffer for it, but one who does not almost certainly will suffer for it. And, suffer or not, the one who fights back retains his dignity and his self-respect. Any study of the atrocity list of recent years—Starkweather,

Speck, Manson, Richard Hickok and Cary Smith, et al—shows immediately that the victims, by their appalling ineptitude and timidity, virtually assisted in their own murders. (“Don’t make them mad, Martha, so they won’t hurt us.”) Any man who is a man may not, in honor, submit to threats or violence. But many men who are not cowards are simply unprepared for the fact of human savagery. They have not thought about it (incredible as this may appear to anyone who reads the paper or listens to the news) and they just don’t know what to do. When they look right into the face of depravity or violence, they are astonished and confounded. This can be corrected. The techniques of personal combat are not covered in this work. The so-called “martial arts” (boxing, karate, the stick, the pistol, etc.) are complete studies in themselves and must be acquired through suitable programs of instruction, training and practice. It behooves all able-bodied men and women to consider them. But the subject of this work is more basic than technique, being a study of the guiding principles of survival in the face of unprovoked violence on the part of extralegal human assailants. Strategy and tactics are subordinate to the principles of war, just as individual defensive combat is subordinate to the following principles of personal defense. Editor’s Note: Principles of Personal Defense is available from gunsitestore. com. And stay tuned for more next issue! personaldefenseworld.com