Sig Sauer recently announced their latest micro red dot optic, the new ROMEOZero Elite. This ultra-compact reflex sight is reportedly the world’s most advanced lightweight polymer optic, designed for durability and performance.
Sig Sauer recently announced their newest ROMEOZero ultra-compact reflex sight, the ROMEOZero ELITE. This little red dot optic is reportedly the world’s most advanced lightweight polymer optic.
The new ROMEOZero Elite shares the same size and mounting footprint as the rest of the ROMEOZero micro red dot but has some new premium features. The first prime feature is the proprietary carbon-infused weapons-grade ultralight polymer housing with the shared footprint from the ROMEOZero, Shield, and RMSc.
The upgraded body helps provide increased shock and drop protection to the unit. The ROMEOZero Elite also comes with a hardened steel protective shroud adding to the overall durability.
With the same footprint as all ROMEOZero optics, the new ROMEOZero Elite has a proprietary carbon-infused weapons-grade polymer housing and a hardened steel casing to up the durability and increased drop or shock performance.
The glass has also been upgraded. The ROMEOZero Elite comes standard with a scratch-resistant glass aspherical lens for clarity and a distortion-free sight picture and is parallax-free. Additionally, it features a brand-new circle-dot reticle for an even faster, more instinctive acquisition of the target, or a 3MOA red dot with two different models to choose from.
Product Specifications:
SKU: SORO1000/SORO1030
Color: Black/Black
Adjustment Increments: .25 MOA
Battery: CR1632
Reticle: 2MOA dot, 32MOA circle/3MOA dot
Overall Length: 1.6 in (41 mm)
Overall Width: 1 in (26 mm)
Height: 0.98 in (25 mm)
Weight: 0.5 oz (14.2 g)
The ROMEOZero ELITE has an upgraded reticle option, and the customer can choose between the standard 3MOA red dot model or a 2MOA red dot and 32MOA circle model.
Built into the sight is the new TAP (Touch-Activated Programming) technology from Sig that allows the user the ability to change the brightness and reticle options with just a tap on the optic itself. The Circle/dot emitter has eight different daylight brightness settings to choose from, all just a tap away. The highly efficient, point source LED emitted allows for a crisp dot that is said to be 8 times more efficient than conventional red dots.
The ROMEOZero Elite has a built-in MOTAC (Motion Activated Illumination System) that powers up the optic when it senses motion and then powers it down when it’s idle. Thanks to this, the ultra-compact red dot boasts a staggering 10-year battery life running on a CR1632 battery, something that is nearly unrivaled in a micro reflex sight, according to Sig.
The new ROMEOZero ELITE optic comes standard with Sig’s new MOTAC technology that powers up the unit when it senses motion and powers down when the unit has been idle, saving on battery life.
All of the rear surfaces of the ROMEOZero Elite housing have anti-reflection grooves molded in, including the backup rear sight notch which is market with Grade A Swiss SuperLuminova pigment for visibility in dark environments.
The new ROMEOZero Elite is compatible with all Sig Sauer P365 optics-ready pistols and comes with custom mounting screws for compatibility with pistols like the Springfield Hellcat OSP or Glock 43X MOS.
As with all the ROMEOZero optic line, the ROMEOZero Elite is fully assembled in the US at their facility in Oregon and has a five-year warranty. MSRP for the new Elite model is $259 for the circle/dot model and $229 for the red dot model.
Uberti recently announced the newest addition to their extensive firearm lineup, the 9mm models of their El Patron and Cattleman Brass revolvers. Uberti, known as one of the world’s leading manufacturers of classical, single-action revolvers, western heritage black powder revolvers, and cartridge revolvers is excited to add the 9mm chambering to these single-action revolvers.
Uberti USA recently announced the latest expansion to their impressive lineup of Old West replica revolvers, the addition of 9mm options for the 1873 El Patron, 1873 Cattleman Brass, and the 1873 Cattleman Brass Dual Cylinder revolvers.
Available in March of 2022, the select El Patron and Cattleman Brass revolvers will come chambered in 9mm as well. The headspace of the revolvers at the cartridge mouth without the need for moon clips, allowing cartridges to be loaded individually into the cylinder and ejected in the regular way.
These 9mm models provide an expanded range opportunity to many single-action revolver fans with another cartridge option. With 9mm ammunition being more readily available, and at lower costs generally, the user will find it easier to spend more time shooting these revolvers without spending too much money on typical revolver caliber ammunition.
The 1873 El Patron revolver comes from the factory with checkered walnut grips, case-hardened frame, and a 5.5-inch barrel. The 1873 El Patron has the classic profile of the Old West SSA revolvers and has a numbered cylinder and EasySights.
Each Uberti revolver is hand-fitted and adjusted from the factory to ensure precision performance right out of the box. These Old West replicas come with a 5-year warranty and are serviced by factory-trained Uberti gunsmiths in the USA.
1873 El Patron 9mm revolver uses the Old West SSA profile in this modern revolver. It comes with checkered walnut grips and has a case-hardened frame with a 5.5-inch blued barrel. The fast and reliable El Patron, or The Boss, includes the numbered cylinder and EasySights standard.
The 1873 Cattleman Brass revolver is said to set the standard for style and performance for modern-era single-action replica revolvers. The 1873 Cattleman Brass blends a walnut grip with the blued steel barrel and cylinder with a brass backstrap and trigger guard. The revolver also has a retractable firing pin for added safety.
The 1873 Cattleman Brass 9mm revolver is a replica that set the standard for style and performance in the modern-era single-action revolver. The 1873 Cattleman Brass blends a sleek walnut grip with a case-hardened frame and a blued steel barrel. Additionally, it has a blued steel cylinder with a brass backstrap and trigger guard. The added safety feature of the floating firing pin is new this year, all without sacrificing the outward appearance of the original revolver.
The 1873 Cattleman Brass Dual Cylinder comes with both 9mm and .357 Magnum cylinders. It has the same performance and features as the 1873 Cattleman Brass with the addition of the second cylinder option.
The 1873 Cattleman Brass Dual Cylinder delivers the same performance and features of the 1873 Cattleman Brass but brings it up a notch with the addition of a second cylinder from the factory. This revolver comes standard with both a 9mm cylinder as well as a .357 Magnum.
The Uberti line of replica revolvers has been said to set the standard by which Cowboy Action Shooting competitors and big game hunters judge other vintage firearms. The MSRP for these rifles are $729, $599, and $749 respectively.
If you don’t take advantage of the ability to quickly and easily swap grips with your P320, then what is the point? Seriously, why even P320 if you aren’t willing to tinker. SIG themselves sells a number of replaceable grip modules that allow the shooter to quickly and easily swap between different grip modules for different purposes. Well, Sig isn’t the only company that has gotten in on the action, and a little company Mirzon has produced what might be the best P320 grip module out there.
The Mirzon Grip module provides shooters with an improvement over the OEM grip.
The Mirzon Enhanced Grip Module doesn’t replicate Sig by any means. Instead, they took their own route and crafted their grip module to provide the most control possible. The Mirzon grip module’s design implements a ton of different changes to enhance control, increase accuracy, and reduce recoil. At least Mirzon claims the grip does this. We aim to figure out if those claims hold water.
Into the Mirzon Enhanced Grip Module
From the start, you can choose between three different polymer colors, including black, coyote tan, and storm gray. Beyond those three colors, you can choose 14 different Cerakote colors to give you whatever color setup you could ever want. Colors include standard like gunmetal, but also silly stuff like zombie green and just plain cool finishes like Northern lights.
Buyers get the choice between a standard model or a grip cut for a safety. We get a four-slot rail which is much friendlier to my TLR-1 than the compact grip, so I’ll take it.
The Mirzon offers you a nice rail that’s a hair longer than Sigs.
These modules function with all slides except for the subcompact slide and X-Compact slide. It’s a full-sized grip designed to function with full-sized 40 S&W and 9mm magazines. That being said, a proprietary base plate sold by Mirzon allows you to use 15 round mags in the Mirzon enhanced grip module.
Holsters aren’t an issue, and the Mirzon fits standard Sig P320 rigs without complaint. On top of that, the Mirzon grip module works with mag wells and the big X5 grip weight to increase controllability and reduce recoil. They even include the magazine release—what sweethearts.
Getting a Grip
What caught your eye first? The shiny magwell? Or the black textured grip? Well, we’ll talk about both. The black textured grip should catch your eye because it’s going to catch your hand! That texture is somewhat soft and sticky and absolutely provides an outstanding grip. You grip it, and it grips you back.
The Mirzon grip texture extends to the rear of your grip and provides an outstanding level of control. You ever let your grip slip just a bit and have to do a slight readjustment? Sometimes you get a little tired, and it happens. I don’t blame you. Well, it doesn’t happen with the Mirzon. That grip texture works brilliantly, and the gun stays put regardless of how many rounds you toss downrange.
That black texture grips you as you grip it!
The extended beavertail is interesting. It curves downwards and around your hand. It’s super comfy and allows you to really shift your hand up higher on the gun. Go to the front of your grip, and you get a nice trigger guard undercut that compliments the beavertail and allows for a high grip. A high grip results in more control, and more control results in better accuracy and faster follow-up shots.
Mantis X10 app display of Sig P320 recoil with OEM grip module The Beavertail allows for a high, secure, grip.
I’d normally hate the finger grooves, but I find them a lot less offensive than a lot of built-in finger grooves. CoughGlockcough.
Can it Really Reduce Recoil?
That’s a helluva claim, right? This grip reduces recoil, and Mirzon touts measurements via accelerometers. I’m always a little cautious of claims, but that’s why I’m reviewing the enhanced grip module. Upon dropping my FCU into the frame and slapping the slide on, I just hit the range.
I put the Mirzon head to head with the X-Compact OEM Grip Module.
I’ve shot my little P320C a lot, so I know what it feels like. With my first shot, I thought I felt smoother recoil and more control with the Mirzon grip. I struggled with thinking, is it just the placebo effect? It’s possible I imagined the claim to be real. After a little brainstorming, I remembered that the Mantis X10 has a Reocilometer, and I have a Mantis X10.
The Mantis X10 allowed me to try and measure actual recoil reduction.
I fired up the app, tossed the Mantis on the rail of the OEM grip module, and went at it. I fired five rounds, then swapped the FCU and slide to the Mirzon enhanced grip module and fired five more rounds. You can feel a difference, but numbers don’t have feelings.
The Recoil with the Mirzon.
According to the Mantis X10, the muzzle rise with the OEM was worse than the muzzle rise with the Mirzon. In fact, the best I accomplished with the OEM grip was a muzzle rise of 12.95 degrees, and the best with the Mirzon was 6.62 degrees. That’s a significant difference, and even the worst in strings of fire were still separated by a fair bit.
The Recoil with the OEM Grip Module.
Now I’m thinking, what if I mixed in a compensator with the Mirzon grip. I might be able to cheat this game up a little bit.
Going Fast
Okay, we knocked that out. Now let’s go fast! I ran a wide variety of drills, including the iHack, a Failure to Stop Drill, the Sage Dynamics Eleanor drill, and even the classic El Presidente! I blazed through each chill like a champ! Well, not really, but more like an enthusiastic amateur. The Eleanor still kicks my butt, but I did well and easily passed the others.
What I found along the way was a grip module that offered fantastic control and excellent ergonomics. I did very well in drills like the Baer Solutions Standards, the Guerilla Approach Consistency drill, and the classic 10-10-10 drills. In fact, I ran a personal best with the 10-10-10 drill at 5.8 seconds with everything in the black. Keep in mind that’s with an optic and optics certainly help.
Does the Mirzon live up to its broad claims?
I’ve seen better times with a higher degree of accuracy with the Mirzon enhanced grip module. I’m truly impressed by how much of a difference such a simple change makes. My model rocks the magwell for quicker reloads, but that’s completely optional and removing it makes for an easy carrying gun.
Hollaback Grip Module
The Mirzon Enhanced Grip Module seemingly lives up to its claims. Slight differences have been made to produce an easier handling and easier shooting firearm. It’s not the cheapest grip module, but it’s well worth the points to performance. Check it out here, and let me know what you think below. I’d love to hear about some other experiences with the Mirzon.
Also, should I comp the gun too? I feel like it’d make an impressively easy to control gun even easier to control.
Fresh out of SHOT Show 2022, Streamlight announced their newest Sidewinder flashlight, the Streamlight Sidewinder Stalk. This military helmet light system has a flexible stalk and is designed to minimize the number of illuminators or beacons the operator needs to carry.
Streamlight recently announced the newest addition to their Sidewinder product line, the new flexible stalk Sidewinder Stalk flashlight.
The flexible stalk allows the beam to be aimed in any direction and allows for ultimate maneuverability for the user, all while being low-profile. The Sidewinder Stalk comes with white, multicolored and IR LED each with low, medium, high, and strobe modes in addition to the IR/IFF beacon.
Sidewinder Stalk Specifications
High Lumens: 76
Run Time on High: 5.6 hours
Run Time on Low: 95.00 hours
Beam Distance: 28 meters
Max Candela: 12-200
Battery Type: AA Alkaline, AA Lithium, CR123 Lithium
The Streamlight Sidewinder Stalk comes with white, multicolored and IR LED modes, each with low, medium, and high settings. Also standard is the IR/IFF beacon.
The Streamlight Sidewinder Stalk features a push-button power switch and a pull-to-turn rotary selector knob. The knob is designed to prevent accidental mode changes and allows for the selection of LED colors. The powers on at low output and progresses to high intensity in three discrete steps. The IFF (Identification, Friend or Foe) strobe is activated by a three-position switch with a center “Off” position and two “On” positions.
The Streamlight Sidewinder Stalk comes with one CR123 lithium battery and an AA alkaline battery but can accept an AA lithium battery for power in extreme temperature conditions. The Stalk doesn’t need to be removed from the mounting position for the batteries to be changed.
The Streamlight Sidewinder Stalk can be configured to mount on just about anything the operator needs. From combat, crew, or aviation helmets, to MOLLE platforms, or directly onto a brim of a hat, the Stalk can be used just about anywhere.
With an impressive 76 lumen 28-meter beam on the White high mode for the CR123 battery and a run time of 5.6 hours, it should last for most user applications. The AA battery supplies a 57 lumen 23-meter beam and a run time of 6 hours (lithium) or 3.8 (alkaline) also on the White high setting.
The Sidewinder Stalk can be configured to mount on to any type of combat, vehicle crew or aviation helmet system, and/or MOLLE platforms, or directly on to a brim of a hat. The durable belt or clothing clip also includes an integral helmet mount, or the user can opt for an ARC Rail Clip, or even the hook and loop adapter plate for mounting versatility.
The Streamlight Sidewinder Stalk has a push-button power switch and a pull-to-turn rotary selector knob to keep from accidentally switching modes or colors.
The Stalk is IP67 rated meaning it is dust-tight and waterproof to 1 meter for 30 minutes and meets MIL-STD-810H, Method 512.6 Immersion. The O-Ring and gasket sealed openings keep things tight and in working order. It also boasts a 3-meter impact resistance and comes from the factory with a one-year warranty.
Going to SHOT is a lot like getting lost, and sometimes getting lost reveals the hidden gems. It’s happened several times this show, and one of the bigger surprises to me is that Nightstick is throwing its hat into the realm of pump-action shotgun lights with the Nightstick SFL. SFL stands for Shotgun Forend Light.
Nightstick’s got stiff competition from Streamlight and Surefire but might have some real promise to it. Nightstick plans to manufacture four different models of the light for two different shotguns. Predictably they are tackling the Remington and Mossberg shotguns, the 870, 500, and 590 series specifically.
The SFL Lights and Lasers
The SFL will come with just a light or a light or laser. Nightstick’s chosen a green laser backed by 1,200 lumens of light. That 1,200 lumens are backed by 10,315 candela. It seems to be brighter than most dedicated shotgun lights with similar candela. The bright green laser sits in the middle of the beam and can be easily seen. The laser-equipped SFL models have the option to switch between light and laser simultaneously, laser only, and light only.
The Nightstick SFL brings a bright white light and green laser.
I really like the design and shape of the SLF. It doesn’t have a weird shelf that can punish your hand with recoil every time you pull the trigger. It’s a mix of hard polymer with a softer, more grippy material. You can dig into it for proper recoil mitigation without issue.
The light made it to the roof, heck I can still see the laser.
The control is ambidextrous and takes the form of a big ass button. It provides great feedback and is easy to activate. Holding both buttons for five seconds activates a lockout mode for transport purposes.
Getting Hands-On
Nightstick looks to start shipping the SFL in March. With the supply chain issues we’ve been having, they couldn’t launch any sooner. Nightstick has impressed me in the past, and I hope to get hands-on with an SFL as soon as possible.
Lots of new products are released every year at SHOT Show, many of which require a closer look. One such thing is the Greyman Line of accessories from Timber Creek Outdoors. This battle-ready line of AR-15 accessories has six new products to cover your needs.
Timber Creek Outdoors recently announced the release of their new line of accessories for the AR-15 platform, the Greyman Line. The new line is tactically driven and includes six new products that can be purchased independently of each other, or as a 12-piece kit that includes other parts.
The new Greyman Line from Timber Creek Outdoors includes a 15” handguard, charging handle, dust cover, ambidextrous safety selectors, quick detach endplate, and oversized takedown pins. The parts will be sold as separate pieces or can be purchased in a 12-piece build kit that also has a buffer tube, forward assist, low profile gas block, trigger guard, mag release, and muzzle brake.
“Timber Creek has become known for bright colors and cool cutouts on our AR accessories,” commented Timber Creek Outdoors CEO Tyler Tiller, “But our entire goal with the Greyman line was to offer a more tactical, battle-ready line of products. From the colors to the function, the entire Greyman line accomplishes just that.”
The new Greyman line includes a 15” handguard, charging handle, adjustable dust cover, ambidextrous safety selectors, quick detach endplate, and oversized takedown pins. (Courtesy of SHOT Show TV via YouTube.)
An aggressive patent-pending machined texturing on the parts not only gives them a unique look but also provides them with a tactile surface for efficient engagement.
Greyman 15” Handguard
The Greyman 15” Handguard is a replacement that is rugged-built of the most mil-spec handguards on modern sporting rifles, according to Timber Creek Outdoors. With an all-new barrel nut, the handguard is machined from 7075 aluminum and the mounting system creates zero shift in point of impact when shooting supported.
Part of the new Greyman Line from Timber Creek Outdoors is the Handguard. This aluminum handguard replaces any mil-spec handguard on modern AR rifles. It requires the use of a low-profile gas block but creates a zero shift in point of impact while shooting supported.
The new handguard does require the use of the low-profile gas block. If the 15” isn’t your cup of tea, don’t worry. Other lengths of handguards are already in development for the Greyman Line.
Greyman Ambidextrous Charging Handle
The new Greyman Ambidextrous Charging Handle is a tactical drop-in replacement for mil-spec charging handles that is also low-profile. The handle is CNC machined out of aircraft-grade billet aluminum and boasts the patent-pending machined texturing on the handles that allow for easy engagement while the shooter is wearing gloves.
The Timber Creek Outdoors Greyman Line comes in four Cerakote finishes; Forest, Desert, Stealth, and Urban, as well as black anodized.
It features a patented Roller Bering Technology which means that the handle smoothly and effortlessly unlatches when manipulated from either side of the weapon, regardless of hand dominance.
The Greyman line is available in five colors including four custom Cerakote finishes of Forest, Desert, Stealth, and Urban, as well as type III Hardcoat black anodize.
Another day, another AR-15 drop-in trigger. Gosh, everyone and their mom makes a super light trigger for the AR-15. A little company called RMT has released a trigger called the Nomad. The RMT Nomad promises to be something a little different than most AR-15 drop-in triggers. I mean, it is a self-contained drop-in trigger with a light pull, but it’s still different. You see, the Nomad doesn’t sit still.
The RMT Nomad allows for six degrees of pivot and not only moves backward and forwards but left to right. The trigger promises to allow you to maintain a natural shooting profile and lets your trigger finger find a place to sit naturally. It’s weird and admittedly threw me off the first time I used my firearm in post-installation.
The Nomad allows you to customize where your trigger sits to the left and right on the gun.
Besides the pivoting design of the Nomad, the RMT is a very nice trigger. The metal trigger is flat and textured, promising a light, short pull with a positive reset. The RMT Nomad isn’t just a pivoting trigger but promises to be a nice trigger that just happens to pivot. Is it? Does the pivoting design matter? Well, let’s find out.
Installing the RMT Nomad
I was eager to install the Nomad, and upon receipt, I raced to do so. My platform of choice was my Colt/BCM rifle. I will say the hardest part was taking out the old trigger. BCM’s famed tight tolerances are very present in my lower. Once I wrestled out the stock trigger and safety, I dropped in the RMT Nomad.
The trigger pins are an anti-walk design that comes with a small Allen key to secure these anti-walk pins. Install takes really no time at all and can be done in just a few minutes. Once installed, the trigger looks and feels great.
Dry Fire Training
I received it late in the evening, so I couldn’t race out to try the trigger out at the range. However, I have been working with the Mantis Blackbeard, and that allows me to work some very interactive dry fire. The RMT Nomad interacted without issue with the Blackbeard.
I practiced manipulating the trigger left and right along with its pivot. It moves without resistance but doesn’t just flip around. It glides from side to side ever so slightly.
A flat trigger reduces the length from the pistol grip to the trigger.
When pushed to the max pivot, the trigger could still break, and the weapon could fire. I pushed it quite hard and couldn’t induce a failure based on pressing the trigger to the left or right.
Once the trigger reaches its max pivot, I believe I’d need to bend the trigger to cause an issue. The RMT Nomad provided me with an interesting trigger experience, and I got excited to go live with the gun.
Hitting the Range
Finally, the sun has risen, I had a day off work, the RMT Nomad, and a few mags worth of ammunition. I was ready to hit the range. First and foremost, the RMT Nomad offers an outstanding trigger experience. The trigger pull is incredibly smooth and very short.
Notice the geometry difference with a flat trigger.
There seems to be the slightest bit of takeup, and I’m talking a barely perceptible amount before you reach the wall. The trigger pull is very smooth, and the wall breaks at three pounds total. That’s a very light trigger.
At the wall, the trigger breaks and—bang! The reset clicks and pops back into place. The reset provides that nice audible and tactile feedback you can’t help but love. The reset is less like a giraffe and more like a turtle with its short reset.
The trigger breaks regardless of where your finger finds it.
As a flat-faced trigger, the reach from the pistol grip to the trigger is quite short and accommodating to those with small hands. Also, as a flat trigger, it’s just overall more comfortable. The trigger pull length is uniform regardless of where my finger lands. Also, there is more room in the trigger guard, so gloved shooters or sausage fingers are taken care of.
The RMT Nomad most certainly helps you be a more accurate shooter. A better trigger results in less human error on the trigger pull. It’s most certainly an exceptionally well-made trigger that falls into that premium category.
Going Fast
A short trigger with a light pull and a short reset is great at long range, but it’s also awesome up close, where speed matters a little more. You can jam the pedal to the metal and make accurate and fast shots with the RMT Nomad. It’s easy to dish out double and triple taps without a serious reduction in accuracy.
See how my big hand presses the trigger outbound?
My double taps, in particular, have gotten closer using the Nomad. The rounds aren’t quite on top of each other but are dang close. Plus, making precise shots, like headshots on target behind cover, is easier with a good trigger. The RMT Nomad provides a very capable trigger for close-range defensive use.
Does The Pivoting Matter?
I didn’t think I pushed a trigger so far to the far when I shot. Yet as soon as I came off the trigger, it was constantly pivoted all the way to the left. At first, I found it interesting, but then I found it helpful. It’s not necessary to make accurate shots, but it’s much more comfortable for my big hands.
The Nomad provides a light, sweet trigger pull.
As mentioned, a good trigger helps eliminate human error, and the pivoting does the same thing. It allows for a comfortable trigger pull that’s straight back, even with some sideways pressure applied. For accurate shots, it’s great, and for fast shots, it’s also nice. Running against a timer is a great way to induce error, and the RMT Nomad helps reduce that error in both its rearward and forward movement as well as its left to right movement.
Is it necessary? No, but it is helpful and comfortable, and it makes reaching the trigger easier for shooters of all sizes.
Moving On
The RMT Nomad might not be the solution for everyone, but I would encourage you to check it out if you have rather large hands or exceptionally small hands. The AR-15 is the closest we get to a one-size-fits-all rifle, and with the RMT Nomad trigger, it becomes even more accommodating.
In the real world, we sometimes may need to manipulate our weapons with one hand due to an injury, or possibly our hand being occupied doing something else, such as opening a door, holding a child, or any number of activities. Sure, we like to think that Murphy’s Law won’t show up to take a giant dump on us, but that’s what Mr. Murphy does best. We also like to think that our favorite blaster would never experience a stoppage at the Moment of Truth, but guess what…yeah, Murphy. He’s a prick. Make no mistake, if we’re in a lethal force encounter, our weapon is having a stoppage, and we’re down to one arm, we are, most assuredly, having a bad day at the office. A while back, a friend (we used to go to different schools together) had it happen to him.
Here’s what a double-feed looks like. Two rounds are trying to get into a place that is only designed for one.
But I digress. In the video below, Daniel Shaw walks us through some one-handed manipulation drills to clear a double-feed with one paw. A double-feed just means that there’s a round in your pistol’s chamber and it’s trying to feed another round in there, which we know is not a good thing.
Clearing a Double-Feed, One-Handed
The first priority is to get that magazine out of the pistol.
Hit the magazine release. If nothing happens (which is probable, because the top round in the magazine will likely be against the round in the chamber, putting pressure on it), you can hook the base of the magazine against the edge of your holster and strip out the mag that way.
You press the magazine release, but alas! Nothing happens! One option to get the magazine out is to use the edge of your holster to strip it out while pressing the magazine release.
Another possibility is to hit the mag release, raise the gun up, then bring it down quickly, letting inertia strip the magazine out of the mag well. The more rounds in your magazine, the better because it will weigh more and eject more easily. A variation of that one is to hit your forearm against your thigh while holding the pistol and pressing the magazine release, which will hopefully eject the magazine. Don’t hit your forearm against your knee cap because it can render your arm useless.
Bringing the pistol down onto your thigh hard may generate enough inertia to… …pop that magazine out of the pistol.
Clear the chamber.
When you’ve ejected the magazine, rack the slide a few times on your holster’s edge (or anything solid that you can manage) to clear the chamber.
Now use the edge of your holster to cycle the action to clear out any rounds in the chamber.
Now you need to reload the pistol.
But where to put it to reload with one hand? You could place it into your holster or set it on the ground next to your foot (you can insert the magazine while pushing it against your foot to hold it in place while the magazine goes in). Also putting the pistol into your armpit might be an option, as is pinching it behind your knee between the thigh and calf.
Once cleared, we need a place to put the pistol so we can insert a fresh magazine. Your holster might work.
On option for inserting a new magazine can be on the ground by your foot. Your foot holds it in place while you insert the fresh mag. Another option is to secure the handgun behind the knee, pinched between your thigh and calf.
Rack the slide to chamber a round.
If the pistol is behind your knee, you can rack it there, or bring it out and rack it on the side of your leg. Other options are to catch the sights on your belt, holster, the sole of your shoe, or anything solid nearby. Note that Daniel does not advocate racking the slide on the sole of your shoe because that places it far away from where the threat is, pointing it in the opposite direction of where it needs to be pointed.
The slide can now be racked to chamber a round. The edge of your leg can serve the purpose, or you can use the edge of your holster to rack the slide.
These are excellent skills to possess, and I completely advocate developing them. Stuff happens, it pays to be prepared.
With SHOT Show 2022 approaching fast, new product releases are all the rage. Smith & Wesson is near the front of the pack with their new CSX subcompact pistol. Aimed squarely at the concealed carry crowd, the Smith & Wesson CSX looks to challenge the Sig Sauer P365XL and the Glock 48X for market share. That’s some stiff competition, so Smith & Wesson, not content to just toss out a clone of those guns, or a revamped M&P Shield, has gone back to a tried-and-true design that should appeal to the gun community.
In the video above, Allen from Olde English Outfitters gives us a quick rundown of the CSX’s features and his first impressions of the gun. The first thing Allen points out is that the CSX is a 1911-style single action only hammer fired gun. Chambered in 9mm Luger, the CSX, as noted above, is the latest in the trend of small guns with higher capacity. Because of its styling, Allen places the gun as the successor to the Colt Government .380, the Sig Sauer 238 Series, the Springfield Armory 911 Series, and the Kimber Micro 9 Series.
Allen from Olde English Outfitters gives us his first impressions of the new Smith & Wesson CSX subcompact pistol.
Here’s a quick look at the CSX’s specifications:
Caliber: 9mm Luger 9mm
Hammer fired single action only
Overall length: 6.1 inches
Barrel length: 3.1 inches
Thickness: 1.12 inches
Height: 4.6 inches
Weight: 19.5 ounces
Capacity 10+1 or 12+1
Barrel and slide material: Armornite finished stainless steel
Frame material: Aluminum alloy
MSRP: $609.00 per S&W website
The new S&W CSX looks like a slick little carry gun.
Allen estimates the price at around $550.00 and, with the listed MSRP of $609.00, he’s probably pretty close on that. The barrel and slide feature Smith & Wesson’s Armornite finish so, as Allen says, they should be very durable and rust-resistant. The CSX is, unusually for a small carry gun, all-metal, making it a bit heavier than other guns of its size. But Allen says, and I agree, that extra weight is okay, as it probably helps a bit with recoil and, at 19.5 ounces, still isn’t heavy by any means.
The CSX features a low-profile slide release, 1911 style thumb safety, and a nice grip
The CSX has lots of nice features as well. As Allen says, “This is a lot of gun.” Here’s a list of those features:
Adjustable metal front and rear sights with the rear sight being squared off
Glare reducing texture on the top of the slide
Front and rear cocking serrations
Small cocking ears on the rear of the slide, similar to the M&P Shield EZ
Ambidextrous 1911-style frame-mounted thumb safety
Low profile slide release
Reversible mag release button
Interchangeable backstrap
A nice long beavertail
Allen was impressed by how the CSX handled.
The metal sights are nice, especially with the square profile rear sight. They should be very durable. I really like the inclusion of the cocking ears. As I get older, I wish more guns had those. The reversible mag release is actually a different part that comes with the gun. You just switch them out if you want. The gun ships with one extra backstrap that requires a tool to depress the plunger holding it on the grip. The tool is provided. It looks pretty stiff but, realistically, how often are you going to the change the backstrap? The beavertail is plenty long to guard against hammer and slide bite.
The CSX has a nice long beavertail.
There are a few things on the downside, but they’re minor. First, there’s no front rail. Personally, I don’t generally hang stuff from the front of guns this small, so it’s no big deal to me. But some might, so it would be nice to have the option. Second, the 12-round mag extends further from the grip, so it has a sleeve to fit in the space between the bottom of the grip and the mag floorplate. The sleeve isn’t anchored, and it slides up and down the mag, which Allen didn’t like. But he took it off with no ill effects and suggests that S&W anchor it in the future. There’s no loaded chamber indicator, though there is an inspection hole on top for press checks. No big deal to me, but it might be for some. Finally, the CSX is not optics-ready. Maybe that’s a thing for you, maybe not.
The CSX comes with an extra backstrap and the tool to change it.
The trigger is described as being “pretty flat” with an integral safety blade for the internal firing pin lock. Allen said the trigger was a little gritty at first but got better as he fired it more. The trigger pull is light, as you’d expect from a single action gun.
Overall, Allen was very impressed by the CSX. He says, “It sits in the hand really well. Doesn’t bounce around much.” The recoil was mild for a gun this size and it shot very well. He didn’t put it on paper but expects it to group well. “They’ve done a good job on this,” he says. “If you like the single action gun…hammer fired pistol, this is a good thing to look at. It packs a lot into a pretty small package. We’re going to tip our hats to Smith & Wesson on this.”
The Smith & Wesson CSX adds a new dimension to the small, higher-capacity gun market.
It’s pretty standard for companies to jump into trends to sell some guns while things are hot, like the small, higher capacity carry guns are right now. But it looks like S&W has not only jumped in but offered something that adds to what’s out there instead of just copying it. It’s probably a good move and, as we all know, it’s nice to have options.
FN has always made some very nice pistols. The FNS and FNX were great guns. They often get overlooked in a crowded field of polymer-frame pistols. However, FN is finally getting the recognition they deserve with the FN 509. In fact, it’s become popular enough that FN has developed a number of variants, including various sizes, a tactical model, and finally, the subject of today’s discussion, the FN 509 LS Edge.
It’s not carry friendly, but it’s easy to shoot.
It’s a long name befitting of a big gun. Development of the FN 509 came to be when the Army began the Modular Handgun System contest. The MHS eventually saw a win by Sig, but the FN 509 persevered. FN wisely released the gun to the American market. The gun proved popular, and FN continued to back it.
One of the first widespread adoptions was done by the private security market in the form of Brinks guards getting the FN 509. Heck, recently, the LAPD adopted the FN 509 for duty. The LS Edge took the FN 509 and stretched it a bit. They made it bigger, better and turned it into one helluva gun.
LS Edge Specs and Features
The LS in LS Edge stands for long slide, and the barrel extends to five inches total. That expands the sight radius to 6.7 inches, making it perfect for longer than average engagements. In general, the LS Edge doesn’t shy away from being large and in charge. The LS Edge is 5.9 inches tall, 1.35 inches wide, and has an overall length of 8.2 inches. It’s decently light at only 31 ounces, so it’s lighter than something like a 1911.
The FN LS Edge is big and good-looking, much like me.
The LS Edge comes with three 17 round magazines or ten-round magazines for less free states and also comes with a nice little soft case. Inside that soft case also sits an optics mounting kit that provides you with a wide variety of plates, inserts, and screws to attach a wide variety of optics. You can attach nearly every major optic. In fact, when looking at the list, I don’t see any major manufacturer left off. Even the ACRO is covered.
The optic panel makes adding any optic with ease.
FN did something I wish way more companies would do and installed suppressor height sights as part of the gun itself. Why optics-ready guns don’t come with these sights standard is silly to me. The slide also features a series of lightening cuts along the slide. These reduce weight and do two (maybe three) things.
The lightening cuts reduce weight and better balance the weapon.
First, they better balance the gun. With such a long barrel and slide, these cuts help keep the gun from feeling front-heavy. Second, they reduce the weight moving rearward when the gun fires, which reduces recoil. Third, they do look cool.
The flat trigger is very nice and breaks cleanly.
To the Range
With three magazines loaded to the gills, I went to the range, ready to get some training in. I began with some basic warm-up and dry fire drills, as well as ensuring I understood how the weapon worked. It’s a simple, striker-fired polymer pistol without anything crazy. It has an ambidextrous slide lock that’s worth noting. I attached a Streamlight TLR-1 to the gun’s rail and brought my Phlster Floodlight.
Shooting with one hand is easy due to the weapon’s awesome balance.
I started doing some basic draws and engagements and challenged myself by using a two-inch dot as my target at five yards. It’s close but still challenging and requires precision. I went dotless for this engagement, and I grew to appreciate the very precise front sight and all the air between the rear sight and the front sight. The front sight of the LS Edge is a high visibility design with a small green insert that’s quick and easy to acquire.
The thin front sight and wide rear sight make it easy to see and hit targets quite far away.
This small dot made seeing and then hitting that small two-inch dot fairly easy. In fact, I dumped five rounds into one single hole with my first five shots. The trigger breaks at exactly 90 degrees and is a flat-faced design. It’s not an uber light trigger that goes bang when you sneeze, but I think it could be described as a refined duty trigger. The wall is definitely there, but once it breaks, the gun goes boom.
On the Draw
The LS Edge grip is massive, easy to find, and easy to get a good grip on. I’ve been slacking in my handgun practice in favor of shotguns, so I got a few sloppy grips but could quickly adjust before the gun left the holster. It’s heavily textured and hand-filling. Once it’s in the hand, it stays there.
The FN 509 LS Edge produced a very tiny group at five yards during dot torture.
Getting the sights on target is easy as long as your presentation doesn’t suck. All that air between the front and rear sights does make it quite fast and easy to find the front sight even if you flub everything just a little. Those sights are also very easy to track and see. This makes well-aimed double and triple taps possible and relatively easy. Long slides also tend to make tracking sights easier. At least to me, they do.
The LS Edge is easy to shoot and easy to control.
Getting Handsy
I used the same two-inch dots to practice my single-hand shooting. With my dominant hand, I felt quite confident with my skills and scored quite well on that little dot. With my non-dominant hand…well, let’s just say I’m glad I was at the range alone. What I took from the LS Edge is that those slide lightening cuts do a good job of keeping the gun balanced.
Shooting with the off-hand isn’t easy, especially when you suck at it.
With the LS Edge sitting in a single, outstretched hand, the gun never felt barrel heavy or wanted to slightly tip forward as I fired. Balance becomes quite important in this situation and allows the gun to settle back on target a bit easier, especially when you suck with your non-dominant hand like I do.
Drop it likes it’s empty!
Do these slide cuts reduce recoil? Well, I’m not sure. I’d have to handle a similar gun without the cuts to notice it.
This big gun also makes reloading easy. My first reload from concealment was so smooth and fast, I felt like I was well trained and practiced. FN added a slightly beveled magwell to the LS Edge. It’s not crazy like an open gun, but it’s decent and it does make these reloads nice and smooth.
Reloading the LS Edge is easy due to the big magwell.
Why Such a Big Gun?
The LS Edge is a big gun, but it’s not super difficult for me to conceal carry. I’m using a Phlster Floodlight, and I’m also 6’5’’, so that might help as well. While the LS Edge isn’t made for concealed carry, it’s not off the table. I think most people will prefer to use the gun for competition use or home defense. In both realms, it will excel. As a home defense gun, all you need to do is toss on a light and maybe a red dot. Heck, I’d even rock and roll with the 24 round FN Tactical magazine for home defense. If you’re going big, go all the way.
What do you think of the LS Edge? Is it a worthy long slide hand cannon? If so, let me know below.
