Glock 43X vs 48: what are the differences, why are there differences, and how does this affect someone’s choice about which to carry? These are common enough questions, and not just among Glockophiles.

Enter The Mag Life Blog authors. Here, we’ve compiled three Glock 43X vs 48 articles from our authors who took these questions to task. Keep reading to find their explanations.

 

• Glock 43X vs 48: a Slimline Showdown

• Tested: Glock 43X versus Glock 48

• Glock 48 vs 43X: which Slimline for you?

 

 

 

Glock 43X vs 48: a Slimline Showdown

Travis Pike

After the SIG P365 shook up the concealed carry world, the industry had to react. We are seeing that come together with the world of Micro Compacts, but Glock did something else. They went in a bit of a different direction with the simultaneous release of the Glock 43X and Glock 48 pistols. Let’s put a little Glock 43X vs. Glock 48 contest together to compare and contrast to see which works where.

Both share a common connection to the Glock 43 but are distinctly different pistols. They both use a single stack design that holds ten rounds of 9mm as well as 15 rounds with the Shield magazines. With that being said, the pistols are predictably very similar but do provide a very different experience at the range and in the holster. Let’s start by breaking down each gun in this Glock 43X vs. Glock 48 showdown.

Glock 43X vs. Glock 48 — Specs and Breakdown

Glock 43X Specs
Weight – 16.5 ounces
Weight Loaded – 23.1 ounces
Barrel Length – 3.41 inches
Overall Length – 6.27 inches
Grip Width – 1.02 inches
Height – 4.92 inches

Glock 48 Specs
Weight – 18.6 ounces
Weight Loaded – 25.2 ounces
Barrel Length – 4.17 inches
Overall Length – 7.05 inches
Grip Width – 1.02 inches
Height – 4.92 inches

As you can see, the biggest difference comes from the barrel and overall length—the Glock 48 sports a slightly longer barrel than the G43X. The 4.17-inch barrel is actually a hair longer than even the Glock 19’s 4.016-inch barrel. I spoke with the guys at the Glock booth, and they told me that the Glock 48’s slightly longer barrel makes it legal in Canada due to their overall length requirements for pistols.

One thing worth mentioning in this Glock 43X vs. Glock 48 debate is the generation these guns occupy. They aren’t really a particular generation. They are basically their own generation with lots of features being taken from the Gen 5 series. This includes the front and rear serrations, the Glock marksmen barrel, and the high visibility follower. Like the G43, the grips lack finger grooves too. Unfortunately, these single stacks don’t get the Gen 5 ambidextrous slide release.

It should also be noted that while the guns are based on the G43, the magazines are not interchangeable. G43s can’t use the longer G43X/G48 mags, and the G43X/G48 series cannot use extended aftermarket G43 mags.

The World of Single Stack Glocks

Also, when we talk Glock 43X vs. Glock 48, we have to mention the fact that multiple models exist of each firearm. We have the standard, then the sweet stainless steel slide variants, and finally the MOS variants.

The M in MOS stands for modular, but with the Glock 43X vs. Glock 48 debate, understand that this doesn’t use a plate system to fit a wide variety of optics. Instead, it uses the Shield RMSc footprint and fits only mini optics. This footprint lets you use the Shield optics, models from Riton, Swampfox, Sig, and my personal favorite, the Holosun 507K.

These MOS models also come with a mini Picatinny rail system. This allows you to rock and roll with the TLR 7 SUB or a Mantis X10, or a laser device, or a cup holder, or whatever else.

Glock 48 Pros

Let’s start the Glock 43X vs. Glock 48 debate with the advantages of the Glock 48. The Glock 48 is essentially a single stack Glock 19. It’s a do-it-all size but remarkably thinner. Heck, I remember Rob Pincus discussing the idea of a single stack Glock 19 years ago, so the ideas have been kicking around.

That longer barrel and extra weight benefit the Glock 48 a fair bit. With over three-quarters of an inch more barrel, the Glock 48 produces a slightly higher velocity per shot. That’s great, but it’s still only a slight advantage. The real advantage comes from control and sight radius.

The longer barrel gives you more control and less muzzle rise. The longer slide delivers a longer sight radius. A longer sight radius makes it easier to be precise at longer ranges. Combine control and precision, and you’ll see a respectable difference in performance. Add in a timed accuracy drill, and the majority of us will always be faster and more accurate with a Glock 48 than the Glock 43X.

The longer frame also makes it easier to appendix carry the Glock 48. The longer slide presses the grip inward and makes the gun less likely to print. That being said, plenty of holsters utilize a longer front end to make the G43X easy enough to carry concealed as well.

Glock 43X

When I started examining and considering this Glock 43X vs. Glock 48 argument, I approached it thinking the Glock 48 would be the winner. Why would I want a Glock 43 with a longer grip? Then I started shooting and carrying one. Oh, I get it. This is a gun built to be comfortable. Comfortable to shoot and comfortable to carry is the name of the game.

The Glock 43X’s short slide makes the weapon much easier to conceal in an OWB holster. OWB does offer a very comfortable experience for carry purposes, and while it’s not always efficient, it works well with the shorter barrel G43X. Also, at two ounces less the gun works better with low weight, minimalist belts.

When shooting, the shorter barrel and slide combo makes it easier to find the front sight and track it between shots. If one chose the MOS model and used a red dot, then the sight radius issue would disappear.

The weapon feels more balanced and less front-heavy, making it really well suited for new shooters who may dip the barrel. It’s a rock-solid little platform that makes comfortable carry and shooting its priority. I can get why a newer carrier would choose the G43X in our Glock 43X vs. Glock 48 contest. Heck, even an experienced carrier may choose it as a comfy alternative to a larger weapon for deep concealed carry.

Inversed Downsides

As you can easily see, the strengths of one platform reveal the weaknesses of the other. It’s not worth doing two separate portions in our Glock 43x vs. Glock 48 debate. The Glock 48 is more accurate than the Glock 43X. The Glock 43X can be faster at close range due to the ability to track the front sight. The Glock 48 is easier to control, and the Glock 43X is easier to carry in all positions but appendix.

Both guns rock in terms of reliability and general ergonomics. They are identical in these regards. The same goes for the crappy Glock sights and average Glock trigger.

The differences between the Glock 43X vs 48 are clear, but it’s tough to say one is so much better than the other. It really depends on what you want your gun to do. If you want something that prioritizes concealment and comfort, then go with the G43X. If you want better control and accuracy, then go with the G48.

So what say you? Which would you choose in this Glock 43X vs 48 debate?

 

 

Tested: Glock 43X versus Glock 48

Kat Ainsworth

When Glock officially launched the 43X and 48 in early 2019, the guns were met with a mixture of excitement and skepticism. The 43 — which has been on the market since 2015 — had the single-stack 9mm market covered, it seemed, and for shooters who found that model too skinny for a comfortable grip, it seemed unlikely more single-stacks would remedy the issue.

However, I’m always game to run a new gun, so I found myself putting significant time into both the 43X and the 48. If you’ve been debating entering the world of Slimline Glocks, you’ve come to the right place. Read on to find out how the two guns perform at the range and for concealed carry along with some long-term use thoughts on them.

What is the Glock Slimline?

According to the manufacturer (as well as in the context of magazine construction),  a Glock Slimline is currently the single-stack 42 or 43, with the 43X and 48 being part of their “extended Slimline family.”

However, the 43X and 48 aren’t exactly the same as a standard single-stack. For example, the Glock 42 and 43 are single-stack models with a reduced capacity that tends to go with them. But…the 43X and 48 are Slimline models. Glock designed these guns for greater capacity while still maintaining a slimmer grip than their double-stacks offer. Both guns have an overall width of 1.10-inches which is narrower than the 1.26-inch grip width of the double-stack Glock 19. They’re also a bit wider than the 1.06-inches of the single-stack Glock 43. Those seemingly small increments may not seem like much, but they make a difference. Don’t believe it? Consider the capacity of these models.

The Glock 43, which was Glock’s first foray into 9mms that weren’t double-stacks, has a capacity of 6 +1. You get more with the compact Glock 19 — it has a capacity of 15 +1 — so how about the 43X and 48? Those guns each have a capacity of 10 +1 using the flush-fit magazines they ship with. Four rounds more than the single-stack 43 is a significant improvement. The guns weigh less than the original double-stack designs but hold more ammunition than the single-stack, all for only 0.04-inches more width when compared to the single-stack 43.

In a Slimline Glock the rounds are staggered a bit differently. They’re neither double-stacked nor precisely single-stacked; instead, the rounds rest at a slight angle to fit more in the magazine without sacrificing the slimmer profile of the grip.

From Glock regarding the 43X and 48:

“The 10 rounds magazine slim 01 has a specific single stack design to reduce its dimensions to a minimum. The orange follower allows the shooter to clearly see if there are any rounds left in the magazine or not. The metal insert is covered by a polymer coating as for all GLOCK magazines.”

So, are they single-stacks? Yes, but no.

Glock 43X Features

As expected the Glock 43X — the G43X from here on — is a polymer pistol with subcompact dimensions. It’s chambered in 9x19mm, which is both a capable defensive round and the current favorite of those in law enforcement and has a 10 +1 capacity. It has an overall height of 5.04-inches when the flush-fit magazine is inserted and an overall length of 6.50-inches. The gun’s barrel is 3.41-inches long. Overall weight is 18.70 ounces, empty; when the magazine is loaded it weighs 23.07 ounces. The slide is stainless steel and the frame is polymer.

This model ships with either factory white sights — a dot in front and a dovetailed white rear sight — or night sights, depending on what you request. Features like the Glock Marksman Barrel, reversible magazine catch, and Safe Action bladed trigger system come standard on all G43X models.

Glock 48 Features

If your first thought is that the Glock 48 (G48) is no different than the G43X, you’re close to correct. Like the G43X, the G48 is chambered in 9x19mm, has a 10 +1 capacity with a flush-fit magazine, and a polymer frame. At 5.04-inches, overall height is also the same, and width matches as well at 1.10-inches. However, the G48 has an overall length of 7.28-inches and a barrel length of 4.17-inches. Empty, the G48 weighs in at 20.74 ounces; loaded, the gun weighs 25.12 ounces.

Features like the sights, reversible magazine catch, and trigger are the same as the G43X. And as with all things Glock you get the Safe Action bladed trigger. But as you can see, there are some slight differences in length. The G48 barrel is 0.76-inches longer than that of the G43X and the overall length is about the same at 0.78-inches longer than the G43X’s length. This might seem to be an inconsequential difference, but it does impact grip which, in turn, can affect accuracy. It also affects concealment.

Which is Better, the G43X or the G48?

Having spent a great length of time running both models I’m comfortable stating they are each reliable, durable pistols. Through thousands of rounds fired through the guns — both defensive loads and target rounds — there have been no failures. There haven’t even been failures related to magazines which makes me exceptionally happy. Accuracy is excellent as well. When I first got my hands on them I was skeptical because I’ve been a fan of the classic Glock double-stack for years and the single-stack 43 does not fit my hands well at all. However, the G43X and G48 fit my grip far better than the G43 and actually top the double-stack models for me for comfort and accuracy.

My hands are on the longer side so I always prefer some extra length on guns. That means the G48’s extra 0.78-inch overall length is a good thing for my specific needs, making it my personal preference of the two Slimline models. This does not mean there’s no place for the G43X. In fact, of the two the G43X is easier to conceal. It may only be three-quarters of an inch, but that fractionally shorter barrel makes all the difference when concealing, especially in skinny jeans and a tank top. This by no means is meant to suggest the G48 cannot be concealed. I’ve been using my G48 in regular rotation as a carry gun for more than two years. It can be concealed, it’s just slightly touchier for printing at the muzzle than the G43X is for my build.

Both models are accurate but for me, it’s the G48 that’s precise. If you have smaller hands, the G43X may deliver greater precision. Accuracy is offered by each gun, though, so don’t let my saying the G48 has produced precise hits rather than overall accuracy stop you from trying the smaller version.

Glock 43X vs 48 — Which Slimline Glock Should You Buy?

Assess your carry needs and go from there. If you have larger hands and are tall enough to conceal those extra three-quarters of an inch, maybe the somewhat larger G48 is right for you. Conversely, if your hands are smaller and you’re petite, the G43X might be best. Bluntly, they’re both nice pistols and it’s worth owning one of each. After all, you can never have too many guns, especially when they’re reliable, well-made carry guns.

What’s your favorite Glock? If it isn’t the G43X or G48, which model is it, and why? Fill us in on the details in the comments below.

Glock 43X Specifications

Caliber: 9x19mm
Capacity: 10 +1
Barrel length: 3.41-inches
Trigger distance: 2.64-inches
Slide length: 6.06-inches
Slide width: 0.87-inches
Overall width: 1.10-inches
Overall length: 6.50-inches
Overall height: 5.04-inches, including flush-fit magazine
Weight: 18.70 ounces, empty

Glock 48 Specifications

Caliber: 9x19mm
Capacity: 10 +1
Barrel length: 4.17-inches
Trigger distance: 2.64-inches
Slide length: 6.85-inches
Slide width: 0.87-inches
Overall width: 1.10-inches
Overall length: 7.28-inches
Overall height: 5.04-inches, including flush-fit magazine
Weight: 20.74 ounces, empty

 

 

 

Glock 48 or 43X?

Which Slimline to go with and why.

Fifty Shades of FDE

I have been carrying concealed since the day I graduated from the academy. That was almost a decade and a half ago and although I’m not old, l don’t want to age myself either. Since then, things have changed a lot as far as what is available in terms of the pistols themselves to the accessories such as holsters.

Back then, compact or sub-compact pistols were the go-to options to carry if you wanted some decent magazine capacity at the smallest footprint available at the time. Probably the most popular (and still is to this day) was the Glock 19, chambered in 9mm and held 15 rounds in the magazine. Basically, it was the compact model of the full-sized Glock 17 and was great for concealed carry. However, it was still too big for some to conceal so the next in line was the Glock 26 (aka the Baby Glock, the sub-compact model of the Glock 17), also chambered in 9mm and held ten rounds in the magazine. There were other makes and models that were similar in size and capacity as these Glocks, but to keep it simple, we’ll just focus on Glocks in this article.

The other options were smaller caliber semi-automatic pistols and revolvers, which were less optimal in many ways. They lacked in either the ballistics or capacity department or both in some cases. There’s nothing wrong with these options as they are still effective ways to defend yourself, but when compared to the semiautomatic compact and subcompact pistols, they have their disadvantages. It’s case dependant and personal preference so I won’t dive into that rabbit hole either.

The Glock 19 and 26 were extremely popular due to the fact that they are closely related to the Glock 17, which dominated the Law Enforcement and civilian markets. Familiarity with the ergonomics and parts makes it an easy transition for those who already owned a Glock 17. The only thing to get acclimated to was the increased recoil from having shorter barrels, less weight up front, and having shorter grips. One of the best selling points was the magazine compatibility between all the platforms as long as the magazine was longer than the grip. This allowed for extended magazine capacity with your spare magazine. —Quick side note, if you carry concealed, you should be carrying at least one spare magazine! The Glock 26 was very popular as a backup gun for Police Officers all around because if their primary Duty Glock 19 were to ever go down, the Glock 26 could still fight on with the spare Glock 17 magazines to keep feeding it.

The downside to the Glock 19 and 26, in my opinion, is that they also share the thickness of the Glock 17. There’s nothing wrong with that in terms of design and function, however as carry pistols, they’re thicc. This may or may not affect certain people, but for me, I am short and of thin build. This means that pistols of this size limited me on how I carried them. Holsters have improved much over the years with quality custom kydex products in the market, but for me to carry these options comfortably, it had to be in the waistband at my 4 o’clock position. In order to conceal it without printing, I couldn’t wear a T-shirt, I had to wear some sort of button-up shirt and thankfully, 5.11 and Vertx makes some nice and comfortable button-ups. So I wore quite a bit of those shirts often because I carried pretty much everywhere. Although it concealed the pistol well, the button-up shirts also made you stand out in a crowd and those career criminals and parolees can spot you from afar.

As time went on, Glock eventually came out with the Glock 43. It was Glock’s first Micro Compact Pistol and it was even more so popular for the off-duty and Every Day Carry communities. It was much shorter in length and in grip and more importantly, it was much thinner in width than the Glock 19 and 26. The Glock 43 has a 3.41″ barrel, length of 6.26″, an overall width of 1.06″, a height of 4.25″, and a loaded weight of 20.64 oz. With its minute size, it sacrificed magazine capacity to hold a measly six rounds. There were after-market magazine extensions to help but it was still pretty lacking.

I got my own Glock 43 as soon as I could and it was one of the most comfortable carry guns I’ve ever had. It became my primary carry gun and the first for me to carry appendix. I was happy with it, I had a good kydex holster and was able to wear t-shirts again. When compared to the sub-compacts I carried before, it was hardly noticeable due to its size and weight. It made carrying concealed a comfortable experience as it could be, instead of a chore that you had to put up with having a brick inside your waistband. I know a lot of my partners and law enforcement officers out there that still to this day, refuse to carry off-duty because it can be a pain in the ass or they don’t want the responsibility. Yes, it may sound crazy but it’s a true fact and there’s no convincing them otherwise.

Carrying the Glock 43 was comfortable and I knew its limitations with its diminished magazine capacity. I got plus two and plus three magazines extensions from Taran Tactical to increase my available firepower. Shooting the Glock 43 took me some time to get used to with its snappy recoil, which was to be expected from such a small gun. I used to joke that it was like a revolver that you can reload more easily since it was a six-shooter plus one.

My apologies for the longish evolution of carry guns from my experience but I think it really gives the newer pistols some context and appreciation that most people that carry today take for granted.

Eventually, Glock came out with the Glock 43X and the Glock 48.

They announced both at the same time and to this day, a lot of people are confused about the differences between the two and which one to go with. I will hopefully be able to go over all the differences in features so you can make a more informed decision as to which one will work for you.

I will just start with the specifications of both models according to Glock’s website:

G43X

Barrel Length: 3.41″
Overall Length: 6.50″
Overall Width: 1.10″
Overall Height: 5.04″
Magazine Capacity: 10 Rounds
Loaded Weight: 23.07 oz

G48

Barrel Length: 4.17″
Overall Length: 7.28″
Overall Width: 1.10″
Overall Height: 5.04″
Magazine Capacity: 10 Rounds
Loaded Weight: 25.12 oz

What do the two models have in common?

So I hate looking at numbers on a sheet and going back and forth to compare them. Don’t worry, I did that for you! I’ll go over what they both have in common first. The G43X and G48 share overall width, overall height, and a magazine capacity of ten rounds. That’s quite a few similarities, but that’s it.

What are the differences?

With its barrel and overall length, the G43X is slightly longer compared to the G43. It is obviously taller than the G43 and slightly thicker too, but not by much. Had to throw this in there because I’m sure some of you would be wondering between the 43 and 43X. So in short, a G43X is a little bit bigger than the G43, with a longer grip to hold the new 10 round magazine.

The G48 is almost an inch longer than the G43X with both barrel and overall length. With that, the sight radius is longer, obviously. To some, this is an important feature for some reason. It isn’t for me and realistically it shouldn’t be a deciding factor for these micro pistols. There will be a slight advantage in muzzle velocity with the G48 — again not that important. The added weight and barrel length should relate to less recoil and less snappy to shoot but I am not sure by how much. Both share the same grip so it is easier to shoot than the G43. They both also have front serrations on their slides as a welcome feature that took Glock some time to add to their pistols.

So why did Glock make two different pistols with the G43X and G48?

Why not just make one and let it be? I, for one, am glad that they offer both models and not just the one. Every person has a unique body type and having options, especially with an everyday carry pistol is important.

The barrel length and overall length matter!

These features go hand in hand because it affects how long the business end is. This is very important when you carry appendix — in front and towards the middle, close to the belt buckle or belly button. It’s one of the most popular methods to carry since it is easy to draw from and less likely to print. It is my preferred method to carry and it is safe to do so as long as you are practice safety all the time with your pistol as everyone should. Go with whichever way you want and practice with.

The longer the overall length, the more it will affect your comfort level when you have it sitting in an IWB (In Waistband) or AIWB (Appendix In Waistband) holster. If you’re short like me, the shorter the overall length the better for me because I carry AIWB and the barrel is sitting against my pelvic bone and you do get used to it, but having a shorter pistol is better for me and people of similar stature. This may not bother taller people as they won’t run into this issue.

Also, remember that when you carry everyday, you will be doing your everyday activities depending on how active your lifestyle is, from walking, sitting, driving just to name a few. Sitting is where having a shorter overall length has its benefits. When you are carrying AIWB and are bending over to pick something up or sitting down, it doesn’t feel good to have your barrel digging into your thigh. This is one reason that the G19X was a thing and most people flipped out when that came out, because having a shorter barrel and length does have some benefits! The same goes for the G43X.

If the overall length issue doesn’t affect you, then the G48 is what you’d want because it is always a good practice to carry the biggest pistol with the most magazine capacity as you can. The G48 has a slight advantage in terms of performance over the G43X, however, they’re still advantages.

What about accessories?

Glock has since updated the lineup to include MOS capabilities on the G43X and G48. These models are factory cut to accept micro red dot sights (MRDS) and have an accessory rail in the frame to accept a weapon light or laser. I will say, having a red dot on your pistol is an excellent way to improve your effectiveness with a pistol, especially a carry pistol when your ammunition is limited.

 

Which one is right for you?

If you want the smallest and lightest pistol in the Glock family, go with the G43. If you want more magazine capacity and grip, with a short overall length, the G43X is for you. If you want basically a slimline G19, with the most length you can get out in this series of pistols, get the G48. If you want to run MRDS and or a WML, get the MOS version.

I know that was a lot of information. I hope this will help some of you make a more informed decision and answers questions that you may have had about the Glock 43X vs 48. Either way, having ten rounds in a small, slimline package is something I wish I had available early on in my career. Most of you won’t know how much more challenging it was to carry with what was available to us back then. I sure do appreciate the advances in technology and materials to make things smaller and lighter for us these days.

 

 

Spyderco, being a company that never rests on its laurels, is one to constantly adapt and change its designs. Many of their knives have started out as full-sized examples, which they have evolved into smaller implements.

The Native is one such knife that has undergone a number of changes since its introduction in 1997. It began as an affordable working man’s knife that, to me, always seemed to add up to more than the sum of its parts. Over the years, the Native went through several model changes, and at the time of this writing, we are at the Native 5 version.

Handle materials have ranged from FRN (Fiberglass Reinforced Nylon), stainless steel, carbon fiber, and G-10. There are probably a few that I’m forgetting or don’t know about. On top of that, it’s been offered in an array of different steels over the years.

Personally, the Native is one of my very favorite knife designs on the entire planet, from any maker. It’s simple and works incredibly well, and just speaks to me.

Fast forward to 2017, and Spyderco is doing what they do best — evolving. They went ahead and shrunk down the Native into what is named the Lil’ Native. The end result is a very compact, almost cute, knife that just like its bigger brother, amounts to more than the sum of its parts. This little knife cuts like nobody’s business!

Spyderco Lil Native Construction

The blade length on the Lil’ Native is 2.5 inches. What’s the advantage of having such a short blade? Some localities are restrictive and don’t allow blades over a certain length, and that length just happens to usually be 2.5 inches.

So the Lil’ Native is a knife that falls within legalities that cuts like a knife much larger than its size. Just like its bigger brother, the Native, the Lil’ Native somehow manages to perform like a knife that is larger than it is. The fact that it’s a flat grind blade that is somewhat wide for its length seems to contribute to this.

The knife weighs 2.4 ounces and the overall length is 5.94 inches.

The steel of the Lil’ Native, S30V, is not the latest super-steel, but at one time, it was the most advanced steel for cutlery. When it hit the industry, it was huge news. These days, people yawn at S30V, but it’s as good today as it was when it was introduced. It still holds an edge respectably and performs admirably, offering a very good value for knives. Many people get caught up in the latest, greatest steels and tend to ignore the older steels, which is a shame.

Are there advantages to a shorter knife blade?

Getting back to the small blade length, there are other advantages beyond the legal realm. Sometimes we might like to have a knife that does not alarm those around us. “Sheeple-friendly” is a term that is often bandied about nowadays. So having a good cutting tool without scaring the pants off of those around us might be a nice thing to have in certain circumstances.

My current job calls for me to do a lot of cutting of plastic shrink wrap on pallets of merchandise, and one of the 4-inch bladed tactical knives that I’ve carried for years is, quite simply, overkill. A smaller, more precise blade fits the bill in this arena for me and just makes more sense.

So how does the Lil’ Native cut?

Damn well!

Seriously. It’s hard to believe that the blade is as short as it is and still allows the knife to cut so well. It zips through plastic pallet wrap like it’s not there, and does a fair job on cardboard too. That full flat grind (FFG) really shines here.

Be aware that the blade is not the thinnest in the Spyderco lineup, so it’s probably not their best slicer, but it’s really good. Also, the slightly thick blade (and other materials of the knife) make this a fairly stoutly built folder, which appeals to me—a gentleman’s folder with a tactical flair. I love solidly built knives, and that aspect of this one is another factor that endears it to me.

Since I normally carry two knives with me at all times, I also have a larger folder with me in case I want or need more cutting power. Options are always nice to have.

Aside from that, over the years, my tastes have changed a bit. I still love tactical/combat knives, they’re simply cool and useful for defensive purposes. These days, though, I’m going through a phase where I’m into smaller knives. I enjoy gentleman’s knives with a tactical flair, as I mentioned. Spyderco fills the bill perfectly because their knives perform, and are also made of great materials, ie., G-10 handles, high-quality steels, effective locking mechanisms.

The Lil’ Native line offers some nice variety.

There are two blade finishes; one appears to be a type of satin finish, the other is DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon), a black finish. There are plain edges and serrated edges. There are lock backs and Compression Locks. And who knows what sprint runs Spyderco will concoct in the future, so the possibilities are limitless.

My current Spyderco Lil Native is a back lock, just like the full-sized Native, and is one of my favorite knife locks because they are so strong and never seem to fail. Since I’m raving about locks, I have to say that the Compression Lock is my other favorite lock because it is also very strong and I’ve never seen one fail.

I own knives from several makers, including liner locks and frame locks (including custom knives), and I’ve had both types of locking mechanisms fail at one time or another. Often, the problem is the lock bar can slip off the tang of the blade. I have never seen a compression lock or back lock fail. This is another reason why I love Spyderco; the fact that their locks never seem to fail, and they offer their knives at a fraction of the price of many other makers.

The Lil’ Native is linerless but uses Phosphor Bronze (PB) washers, which tend to smooth out over time. From the factory, my knife is pretty smooth, but becoming smoother over time is an attractive thing. The PB washers are a nice touch because they indicate quality and will last a lifetime.

Pocket Clip

The Lil’ Native’s pocket clip is excellent, and even on this tiny knife, it can be positioned tip-up or tip-down, on either side of the knife (totaling four positions). It is of what many refer to as the “hourglass” type of clip, as opposed to the wire clip that many of their knives currently wear. I commonly carry my Lil’ Native in the change pocket of my jeans, it tucks away and I barely even know it’s there.

The Lil’ Native Handle

Part of the marvel of this little beauty is the handle. Somehow it allows us to get a full grip on this tiny thing. The choil is the key here, as it allows us to get a serious grip on the knife by choking up for a lot of leverage and precision with cuts. Aside from the choil, the other curves of the grip really add to the ergonomics of the handle and the comfort of using the knife.

The G-10 is grippy and really aids in the grip factor of this knife, and seems to be the best material available for the job. In short, this handle is a true miracle. When closed the handle appears to be so small that I’d never be able to get a four-fingered grip on it. When opened, not only can I get four fingers on the grip, there’s actually a little handle left over, so it’s more than adequate for my hand size and would be comfortable for people with slightly larger hands than mine.

Are there any drawbacks to this knife?

I’d like to see jimping on the back of the blade where the thumb is placed. While it’s not a big deal—the grip really does a nice job of locking the knife into one’s hand—jimping would still be a nice thing to have. Certainly not a deal-breaker, by any means, but an observation. Aside from that one detail, I cannot see anything else that I’d wish for with this knife.

Another thing–people who love to incessantly flick their knives open might not enjoy the Lil’ Native so much because of the nature of the lock, as the blade does not fly open due to mainspring tension. Personally, I can’t see the allure of flicking a knife open constantly because it tends to beat up the stop pin of the knife if that specific model has one. To each his own; it’s a free country.

Overall, the Spyderco Lil Native is a spectacular lil’ knife that offers a large potential in a very small package. At the time of this writing, I bought one new for $136, which represents a solid value for the money. It offers a user a folding knife that can be legally carried pretty much anywhere that you’re allowed to have a knife. And instead of merely “having a knife”, you have one that will accomplish serious chores.

There are lots of top-notch reviewers out there, but when Taran Butler talks about a competition gun, it’s a big deal. The dude has won almost every competition that’s worth winning. Multiple times. I say almost because I don’t think he competes in Western shooting. Plus, he trained John Wick. But I digress. Here Taran gives us a quick rundown of the Sig MPX 9mm PCC.

Note that this is the competition version, which has a couple of minor differences from the standard version, mainly the addition of a compensator instead of a flash hider.

 

Sig MPX Features

Taran gets into the gun’s features straight away. (In the interest of thoroughness, I pulled some of these from the Sig website.)

• 16” carbon steel barrel with a 1:10 twist rate and 13.5x1mm threads
• Telescoping 5 position folding stock
• Drop-in match-grade single-stage Timney trigger
• 15” M-Lok handguard for your accessories Lights & Lasers 
• Sig compensator
• Improved built-in mag well for the 30 round MPX mag (ships with one mag) 10 and 20 round mags also available Rifle Magazines
• Overall length: 35.25” (Sig doesn’t say whether this is with the stock extended or not.)
• Weight: 6.63 lbs
• “Different bolt carrier.” The only detail on how it’s different is that “It pivots.” Sounds like a rotating bolt.
• Sig Romeo red dot. Taran says this is included on the competition version. 

Shooting the Sig MPX 9mm PCC

Being Taran Butler, he gets right into the shooting.

With the compensator, the lighter bullets supposedly shoot flatter but the heavier, in this case, the 147 grains, shoot softer. Taran’s experience bears this out and he recommends the 147-grain bullet with this setup. “Shoots really soft, really nice,” he says, later followed by the comment that the gun “…shot so damn soft compared to other guns of its nature.” So, I’d say that’s confirmation right there.

On the trigger, Taran says that the gun ships with “a little heavier trigger than I’m used to…but definitely better than stock.” After going through a few mags, he says of the trigger, “Twenty minutes with my gunsmith, and this thing will be like a sewing machine.” So, it sounds like the trigger is good, he just wants to tweak it the way he likes it. No big deal.

We get a glimpse of the gun’s reliability when he mixes a mag with all three bullet weights, from several manufacturers, and fires it quickly. Granted, it was only one mag, but the mag and the gun performed flawlessly. Taran also comments on the barrel, saying “the barrels on these guns are accurate as hell.” He says he holds tight groups at 75 to 100 yards.

For comparison, Taran pulls out an earlier version of the gun and runs a few drills with it. Now, he has run this particular gun for a long time, and it has been personalized to him, unlike the test gun. But it shows what the gun can be and, let’s be honest, any competitor is going to set the gun up so it’s best for them.

This review was truly a pleasure to watch, and I chuckled when he said the gun was “like legal full auto, it does all the work for me. A sewing machine of shreddingness.” I’d say the shooter had a little something to do with that but having a great gun doesn’t hurt.

The final verdict is unequivocal: Out of the box, though you can do some stuff with it if you want, “To me, the Sig…is probably the ultimate gun for PCC. The best 9mm carbine out there.”

Strong words but, as always, check it out for yourself. I mean, who doesn’t want their own “sewing machine of shreddingness?”

For another opinion, read this: “Best 9mm Carbine? Sig MPX”. If you aren’t familiar with Taran Butler, you can read up on him at Taran Tactical Innovations. 

It is one of the oldest arguments you could possibly have relating to firearms — Is 9mm really better than .380 ACP? It’s safe to say that we’ve all be a part of that conversation or heard one. Graham and Teya with AmmoLand TV took on the 9mm vs .380 ACP debate and gave their findings.

 

To approach this topic subjectively they want to compare the two calibers with similar handguns and ammunition loads. Graham stresses how important it is that the handguns have the same barrel length, locking systems, and grip or hand feel. He is able to accomplish that with the Walther CCP series and SCCY handguns in both .380 ACP and 9mm.

The SCCY handguns have a Browning style, or modified, locking block which SCCY calls the quad lock system. The SCCY handguns both have a 3.1” barrel with small visual differences. The Walther CCP handguns are a pistol gas delayed style with a 3.54” barrel. The Walther handguns are nearly indistinguishable with all other features looking the same.

9mm vs .380 ACP Testing — Ammo Choices

They use five different types ranging in grain loads from 56 to 102 grain for the .380ACP and from 65 to 147 grain for the 9mm. The ammunition they chose were:

• Hornady Critical Defense
• Hornady American Gunner
• Inceptor ARX
• Speer Gold Dot
• Remington Ultimate Defense (which should be noted that is designed for full-size handguns, which these two are not).

Testing

After selecting the ammunition, they shoot five rounds of each type of ammo through each handgun and measure the energy with a chronograph. While there are a few feed failures, the numbers don’t show a clear winner. If stopping power is what you’re after, the 9mm is the way to go. But there’s more to the caliber than just stopping power.

During the chronograph portion of the test, they notice that there are loads that shoot softer or harder than others regardless of the handgun. Taking that into account, they want to shoot the tamest load (ARX ammo) and the hardest load (Ultimate Defense) side by side in slow motion to get a better look at recoil. The main concern for this part of the test is the controllability of the handgun and being able to get an accurate second shot off.

Teya shoots this part of the test and starts with the ARX .380 ammo in the Walther CCP. She finds that both the CCP and the SCCY are very controllable and have little rise, with the SCCY having a bit more of a bite. For the ARX 9mm ammo, the load has more recoil than the .380 ACP but both guns are still very controllable.

For the Ultimate Defense load, the .380ACP Walther has a failure to feed, and after it is cleared it shoots very well. She comments on how it is very pleasant to shoot. The SSCY shoots well with her only complaint being that the spent rounds land on her head. The CCP has a stronger recoil in the 9mm load, but she could still control it and it was softer than the SCCY.

After shooting the different loads in both guns, her conclusion is that subjectiveness was king. There are variables to consider in deciding which is better like the shooter and their experience, the ammunition, and the handguns. The main thing is to be comfortable with the handgun and controllability comes down to personal preference.

It all comes down to what you are comfortable with and gaining the necessary experience with your system.

A bullpup shotgun is one that moves the action from its traditional place in front of the trigger and relocates it to a position behind the trigger. A bullpup design tends to have a number of advantages, particularly for defensive use. For instance, many would argue that the shorter overall length and increased magazine capacity make the bullpup shotgun an excellent choice for home defense,

That’s versus other types of twelve gauge, mind you; arguing a bullpup shotgun vs. a carbine or handgun is a debate for a different article. 

Here’s a look at some badass bullpups. 

 

• SRM 1216 Bullpup

 

• ATI Bulldog

 

• Rock Island VRBP 100

 

 

SRM 1216

Perfect Bullpup to deal with Xenomorphs

by Travis Pike

Magazine-fed shotguns are nothing new, but it’s tough not to be a fan of the design. Especially if you are a rifle shooter transitioning to shotguns. A magazine-fed option often retains all those skills you crafted on the rifle when it comes to reloads. Shotgunners might have fixed feelings on mag-fed shotguns, but they’ve proven to be quite popular. I’ve fired a great many of them, and my favorite so far is most certainly the SRM 1216 from SRM Arms.

The SRM 1216 looks like something that would be well suited as a game-breaking CQB weapon in Cyberpunk 2077 or whatever the next Halo we have coming out. It’s far from average, and its unique look certainly gives that bleeding edge sci-fi look we all know and love. I’ve long wanted to get my hands on an SRM 1216, and now I finally have. Boy oh boy, was the wait worth it.

What Is This Thing?

First and foremost, the SRM 1216 is a 12 gauge semi-automatic, gas-operated shotgun that utilizes a roller delayed blowback system that can fire 2.75 to 3-inch rounds. Yep, roller operated leaps out at you, right? Well, it should because, as far as I know, this is the only roller delayed shotgun out there. Roller delayed typically belongs to the HK series of rifles, pistols, and SMGs.

Two large rollers sit on the bolt and prevent the bolt from moving until the pressure has reached a safe level. Roller delayed systems are very simple and allow the construction of the weapon to be simple. Taking it apart to get a peak requires little to no time at all. Pop a single pinout, break it down shotgun-style, and remove the bolt and bolt carrier group. Ultimately, cleaning the system is super easy and takes no effort.

Most shotguns utilize a gas-operated system with some form of a piston or an inertia system. Both require a bit more complicated construction and the placement of parts that might make it tough to incorporate the unique magazine design.

The bullpup design also allows it to be quite short and handy. Not as short as something like the pump-action KS7 from KelTec, but it’s about 6 inches shorter than most standard shotguns and retains an 18.5-inch barrel. I know what you’re saying. Ahh, it’s a bullpup, and I’m a lefty.

Fear not, young man. You can order your SRM 1216 as a left-handed gun, or you can swap everything to make it left-hand friendly. This includes the loading port to allow lefty-friendly ejection. I won’t say doing so is simple, but the SRM Arms youtube channel documents how and what you’ll need to do so.

Inside the SRM 1216 Magazine

Let’s talk about that magazine a bit as well. The SRM 1216 utilizes a removable tubular magazine system. The magazine has four tubes that each hold four rounds. When the user goes Winchester with the first tube, they can rotate to a second, third, and fourth before needing to reload completely.

The tube can be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise on command. To rotate the tube you press a tab upwards to unlock the tube. The tabs are ambidextrous and very easy to use, and the magazine rotates without issue. What’s really cool to me is that if you run a tube dry, the bolt locks back to the rear. However, as soon as you rotate a tube into position, the bolt automatically loads the next round in the new tube and closes.

Removing the magazine and reloading is easy and can be done in the field. First, reach in front of the magazine and access the massive magazine release.

Press it in and then pull the magazine downward and out.

To reload, bring the magazine into the horizontal magazine well and then push the other end up until it locks in place. It’s not AR 15 fast but is damn sure a fast way to shove 16 more rounds of buckshot into a gun.

Another benefit of this tubular removable magazine is that the ammunition won’t deform over time. Shotgun ammunition left in a box magazine can deform due to the pressure from the magazine, which can potentially cause feeding issues. Here, this is never an issue since the ammunition is sitting in tubes.

Loading the magazine requires two hands. You have to pull back a shell retainer and slide in shell after shell. It’s easy but can’t be done with the magazine in the gun.

Blasting Away With the SRM 1216

Getting a grip on the gun isn’t tough. It’s got a short 13.25-inch length of pull and shoulders comfortably. The included recoil pad helps, and the only real downside is that the magazine acts as the grip for your non-dominant hand. It’s rather slick, and with a push-pull grip, my slide slides ever so slightly.

What happens when you mix a blowback-operated action, a bullpup shotgun, and make it 12 gauge? Well, you eliminate any and all recoil reduction you get from a pump action.

Alright, I’m being dramatic; however, the gun certainly has more recoil than most gas-operated guns. It’s not as rough as a pump-action, but when you start cooking off some hot loads, you’ll feel it. With reduced recoil tactical loads, it’s a kitten—the same with cheap game loads.

Reliability in Spades

The SRM 1216 feeds both reduced recoil loads and cheap game loads reliably and without issue. I often have a little fear of failure with a semi-auto shotgun and since this gun has such a novel blowback system I didn’t know what to expect. I was rather happy that it ran with everything I put through it.

High brass, low brass, buckshot, slugs, birdshot, and beyond worked without issue. The only load It didn’t cycle was the super low recoiling sub-1000 FPS trap loads I keep around. No semi-auto has cycled these successfully beyond one or two, and they are about the lightest load you can get for a 12 gauge outside of mini shells. Also, no, mini shells won’t cycle in the SRM 1216.

If you want a gun that cycles fast, then here you go.

Hot damn, does it fire, eject and load quickly! I can dump four rounds of buckshot out and on target in about 2 seconds from a low-ready position. Semi-auto shotguns also tickle me when it comes to tube dumps, and the SRM 1216 is no different. I can dump shells without tampering with reliability, and I did so for tube after tube of ammunition.

Running the Rabbit

For fun, I did a little drill where I loaded one round into each tube, set up four clay pigeons on the berm, and practiced transitioning from tube to tube. It’s simple, I set a Shot Timer up and hit go. At the beep, I went from right to left. Since only one round was loaded into each tube, I had to keep rotating the tube system.

I was quite slow at first, and his 7.48 seconds. That was an ouchy, and I learned that a forward grip on the tube made tube transitions much easier. As I practiced the drill over and over, I built a good rhythm in place and got much faster in just a few rounds. I got my time down to 4.8 seconds from the low ready with a hit on each target.

The SRM 1216 has a smooth rotating magazine that makes it easy to transition. Once I flip the tab up and start rotating the tube, the tab will relatch as soon as the tube finishes its rotation. You can’t accidentally rotate it too far. It’s very intuitive and simple to do.

On Target

The SRM 1216 has a sweet little trigger—roughly 6 pounds or so. A lot of rail lives at the top of the gun, and my HS510C is the perfect companion for this little shotgun. Like an AR rifle, it’s an ‘in-line’ design that makes AR height optics appropriate and easy to use. Mine didn’t include iron sights, but a rail section forward of the magazine is perfect for a front sight, and you’d have a long sight radius.

Personally, a red dot makes way more sense to me and allows me to engage rapidly. Semi-auto shotguns dominate close-range fighting, and red dots make it perfect for that specific use. I took some Hornady slugs out to 50 yards and range 6-inch plates over and over. With my favorite load, Federal Flitecontrol, I can absolutely put a load of buck right where I want it within 25 yards.

The SRM 1216 In Action

Do I have any complaints about the SRM 1216? Hmm, not many. The magazines are somewhat expensive at around 200 bucks a pop. There is a good argument that for home defense, you won’t be swapping magazines and are unlikely to need 16 rounds of 12 gauge. That’s all up to you, but I want at least one extra mag on tap just in case one fails me.

Other than that, it’s tough to hate the SRM 1216. It’s a very well-made, well-thought-out shotgun. Hell, the 16 round magazine doesn’t count as a ‘high-capacity’ magazine in less free states because it’s four tubes connected and not just a single magazine. The SRM 1216 is the sci-fi shotgun of my dreams.

 

 

 

ATI Bulldog

Bullpup Shotgun Review

Kat Ainsworth-Stevens

In the world of gun reviews, it’s only natural to think of classifying said reviews under specific headings: AR, bolt-action, shotgun, handgun. Sometimes, however, a gun comes along that defies your desire to fit it neatly into a single category, and that is where American Tactical’s Bulldog falls. The ATI Bulldog is a shotgun but also a bullpup. Interested? Read on.

American Tactical, or ATI, has been known for years for its imports. However, for 2020 they’ve been working to change that to US-made guns and they’re succeeding. ATI has justifiably carved out its place as a manufacturer of typically more affordably-priced firearms outperforming their price point in the gun industry. And although the  Bulldog itself is not yet a made-in-America model, that does nothing to lessen its performance.

The ATI Bulldog piqued my interest from the moment I first saw it at a gun writer’s event here in Texas. It was officially launched at SHOT Show 2020 – rest in peace, SHOT Show 2021 – but it wasn’t until the fall of 2020 that I was able to lay hands and trigger finger on it. At first glance, your admiration for the Bulldog will depend on your overall feelings about the bullpup platform, but even if you’re not an instant fan of the aesthetics it’s well worth taking a closer look.

What is it?

Bullpups are most simply described as guns with the action behind the trigger. For comparison, the action in an AR-15 is found above the trigger in the lower receiver.

The idea behind this is to decrease the overall length and increase maneuverability in close quarters. It also means you get a longer barrel in a platform with a shorter overall length, meaning greater velocity without sacrificing its CQB usefulness.

The platform can be traced back to 1901 and the Thornycroft Carbine which didn’t exactly excel in performance. It wasn’t until decades later, following World War II, that the bullpup made a noteworthy comeback courtesy of the French.

The bullpup had a rocky start and even today doesn’t have the fan base that guns like the AR-15 or Glock do, but it is edging its way into popularity inch by reduced inch.

Bulldog Specs

The ATI Bulldog was patterned after the bullpup platform to create a more tactical mag-fed shotgun. It’s smaller overall than most shotguns on the market but packs a solid punch thanks to its ability to retain a longer barrel even with a shorter stock.

The Bulldog has an overall length of 26 inches and a barrel length of 18.5 inches, keeping it within non-NFA guidelines. It’s chambered in 12-gauge and takes shotshells up to three inches in length.

Features include an AR-platform style charging handle, adjustable cheek riser, and rails that are both Picatinny and M-Lok. The gun ships with a trio of choke tubes, removable open iron sights, and a 5-round magazine. A 12-round magazine is available as an aftermarket purchase.

Range Time

If you’re thinking the ATI Bulldog won’t work for you due to its abbreviated stature, guess again.

My length of pull is long and I strongly dislike firing youth shotguns (or shotguns designed for the supposedly tinier needs of female shooters). But when it comes to the BullDog, the fit is fine. Bullpups in general are meant to be held in closer to your body. You can accomplish this by shouldering the Bulldog and holding the pistol grip, as expected.

If you’d like a bit more reach, ATI has your back. They designed the Bulldog so a spare magazine can be attached to the Picatinny rail beneath the handguard, allowing it to be used as a forward grip. Problem solved. Personally, this hasn’t been necessary for me but it does add versatility to the shotgun.

At the range, the BullDog shouldered naturally and the grip was not so short as to be uncomfortable. In fact, I did not and have not had any issues with its smaller size.

Sights and Range

The factory iron sights are open and adjustable and work accurately out to approximately 50 to 75 yards depending on the target. If your goal is to hit a Frankenstein-shaped target without precision and with only rough accuracy you can certainly utilize those irons at longer distances. Open sights have the added benefit of a broader field of vision which can be quite handy in close-quarters situations. An optic can always be added to increase range but remember you’re dealing in 12-gauge so your range is going to be limited regardless.

A slug’s reach depends on the specific load; some slugs have a velocity and energy that drop precipitously by 75 yards while others can make an ethical kill on a hog closer to 200 yards. It all depends on the specific load, so do your homework.

Trigger

The Bulldog’s trigger is more MILSPEC-AR-like than shotgun-like. It’s effective for its use and platform without grit or excessive travel. And if you, like me, are a fan of running shotguns fast—yes, you can accurately rapid-fire this gun.

I’ve had no trouble nailing single ragged holes out to 25 yards. The holes broaden past that distance but they’re still nice groups.

With one exception – a failure to feed that was easily corrected and took place during a hunt – my Bulldog has cycled reliably through its first few hundred rounds.

Bullpup Appetite

The statement has been made that this shotgun works best with higher-velocity shotshells. This may be true but it’s eaten everything it’s been fed, including Remington Managed Recoil 12 gauge 2 3/4-inch Rifled Slugs.

Full disclosure: that one failure to feed was the second round from a magazine full of those managed recoil slugs, so take that for what it’s worth. One time does not make a pattern but does somewhat suggest there may be some truth behind the gun’s preference for higher velocity shotshells.

Recoil is worth a mention.

Typically I don’t mind 12-gauge recoil and the Bulldog is no exception. 12 gauge is fantastically useful for waterfowl and deer hunting, CQB work, breaching walls, sporting clays – the list goes on.

The BullDog does have a shorter stock and as such, it doesn’t have the kind of attention to a recoil pad or system you might be used to from your full-length shotguns. This means there is more felt recoil than is found in many shotguns but it is by no means a problem. It’s something you’re probably going to be aware of but not concerned over.

The Wrap-Up

This is a fairly well-balanced bullpup shotgun that’s fun to shoot.

It performs well on the range on paper and steel but also gets the job done on whitetail deer. It might even be useful for home defense if shotguns are your thing for defending your castle. The Bulldog is certainly short enough to be maneuvered around corners more effectively than rifles.

It was originally offered in black but is now also available in FDE and OD Green. Best of all, with an MSRP of $499.95 the ATI Bulldog outperforms its price point. Online cost varies by retailer and is definitely subject to the whims of dealers during such a high national demand for firearms.

I give the Bulldog a 10/10. I think this is an enjoyable, unique gun to add to your collection.

Bulldog Specifications

Manufacturer: ATI

Model: Bulldog

Platform: Bullpup

Gauge: 12 Gauge

Barrel length: 18.5 inches

Overall length: 26 inches

Chamber: 3 inches

Color: Black, FDE, or OD Green

Features: Picatinny and M-Lok rails, adjustable cheek riser, removable and adjustable open iron sights

Ships with: 5-round magazine, 3-piece choke tube set

MSRP as of this writing: $499.95

 

 

 

RIA VRBP 100

Rock Island Armory Bullpup Shotgun Review

Travis Pike

If you’ve followed me at all on this blog, you may have noticed I have a real affinity for shotguns. Load ’em up with mags and they get even better. The Rock Island Armory VR series have been a big favorite for me, and their AR mimicking designs went from big and clunky with the VR 60 to svelte and sexy with the VR 80. In keeping with counting by twenties, Rock Island has released the VRBP 100. The BP stands for bullpup. This is not the first bullpup shotgun, but it could potentially be the most successful.

Shotguns are designed to be close quarters weapons and bullpups are super short and well suited for close range use. The RIA VRBP 100 is as long as an SBS 14 inch Mossberg 590. It’s not an NFS weapon though and has an overall length of 30.91 inches. It’s semi-auto and box fed. It comes with two 5 round magazines, but 9 and 19 round magazines are available.

 

 

RIA VRBP 100 SpecsThe VRBP 100 is the aforementioned 30.91 inches. The barrel is 20 inches long and the gun weighs 7.72 pounds. This is a gas operated gun and comes with two gas pistons, one for heavy 3 inch loads and one for light 2.75-inch loads. The gun has flip up iron sights and a Picatinny rail across the top and one offset on the right side. It has interchangeable chokes and comes with three chokes and a wrench as well as two 5 round magazines.

The VRBP 100 and Ergonomics

The VRBP 100 has some outstanding ergonomics with excellent controls. The compact gun places the controls in such a way that I can easily access them with a little practice. I don’t have to see the controls to reach them intuitively. The magazine release is placed in a manner that you can easily reach it when you grasp the magazine to remove it. The charging handle is non-reciprocating and is perfectly placed to rack the weapon, or to fix malfunctions.

The safety is very similar to an AR and has an authoritative click when engaged or placed on fire. It’s easy to reach as well. The gun’s stock comes with an adjustable cheek riser for use with optics. The zero setting is best used for the irons. There are also two QD sling points on the left-hand side only.

 

It does tend to favor right-handed shooters, but it’s not terrible for lefties. The gun has an ambidextrous magazine release and safety and working the charging handle and bolt with the right hand isn’t super hard. The magazine cut off and the bolt release is friendlier for right-handers though.

Lastly, the gun has three spacers that can be removed to shorten the length of pull by about 1.5 inches.

VRBP 100 Mags

I appreciate the fact they went with solid metal magazines. This keeps them together when loaded to the max with big 12 gauge shotgun shells. It makes them a little thinner too, and, in my experience, polymer shotgun magazines are harder to load than metal.

I’ve finally got my hands on a 9 and 19 rounder. Loading the 19 rounder was shockingly easy. The only round that was hard to get in there is the very last. Also, the weapon will load a full magazine with the bolt closed. The 9- and 5-rounders of course load very easily.

 

My only dislike with the 9 and 19 round magazines are the mag cuts. This allows you to see their capacity but seems like it opens up the mag to debris which may lead to failure. The mags all run well and have given me zero issues, so maybe the mag cuts aren’t an issue.

Dumping Mags

There is something about the raw power of a semi-automatic shotgun that just makes it so fun to shoot rapidly. When you toss in 19 round magazines it becomes an absolute blast. I loaded up the two five-rounders, the nine-rounder, and the 19 rounder and hit the range. The manual advises a 500 round break-in period and the gun needs it.

Out of the box I had difficulty with light birdshot. You know the cheap stuff. I had several failures where the fired round would eject but the bolt would not go far enough back to grab the next round. Dumping lube helped a little, but what really helped was full-powered shotgun loads.

 

When loaded with Mil-Spec Olin corporation 00 buckshot, the gun ran perfectly. I also used heavy Fioochi sporting birdshot that was 1 1/4 ounce shot at 1300 feet per second. After 250 rounds of the Fioochi ammo and a hundred rounds of buck things loosened up. I could then run el cheapo birdshot.

Recoil

I’m not a stranger to recoil and I don’t fear it. I love shotguns so I’m used to it. However, holy hell does this thing buck. Muzzle rise is limited but it slams straight back into your shoulder. I wear a nice bruise from my two days of full-powered loads.

Going Cyclic with the VRBP 100

Once the VRBP 100 was up and running I was amazed at how fast it cycled. I could dump rounds fast enough that four would be in the air before the first hit the ground. I blazed through 19 round magazines in mere seconds. The adjustable cheek weld is nice, but not needed with the iron sights. I set it on the wide aperture and it was perfect for blazing between targets. I used clay pigeons set on a berm and could cycle through 9 rounds on 9 targets in under 5 seconds from the low ready.

 

The VRBP 100 trigger is heavy, but the pull is short and the reset is mighty. You sure as hell know the trigger is reset and ready.

It’s more than a feeling, it’s a shove. The small and short stature of the gun makes it a natural pointer and it does offer a level of comfort and maneuverability not commonly found on shotguns.

Happily, after shooting all day my arms weren’t tired from holding the gun up.

 

The VRBP 100 balances well and most of the weight is held up by the shoulder. It’s a comfortable gun and with most of the weight in the rear, it’s quick and easy to take snapshots. The 9 round is the most practical, but the 19 rounder didn’t throw things off balance. Snap Shots are a critical component for shotguns and a bullpup just makes it easier. It was very easy to snap up and shoot, and the layout of the gun puts it so the sights are perfectly placed for making those quick snapshots.

 

 

One Mighty Package

The VRBP 100 is a blast of a shotgun. After a little break in period, the gun ran like an absolute champ. It became extremely fun and easy to dump shotgun rounds. The VRBP 100 is also well designed and well built. It’s the most intuitive of the VR designs and feels like it is of the highest quality. While it’s not for everyone, this interesting mag fed shotgun is surprisingly affordable and at the time of this writing barely started shipping.

 

Much like everyone else in our consumer-driven world, I love new things! Especially when they are affordable. The S300 Grip Module from Amend2 happens to be both new and affordable. Amend2 is mostly known for its magazines made for AR 15s, AR 10s, and Glocks. The S300 came out of nowhere and premiered at SHOT Show 2020. Then we got a long wait between then, and the time the S300 hit the American market.

Obviously, since March 2020, things have been a bit crazy, and everything hit a delay or two. Luckily, the S300 grip modules are here and ready to take your P320 to the next level of concealment.

So What’s the S300 Do?

The S300 is a P320 grip modular that allows you to shrink your P320 beyond subcompact. In fact, it shrinks the grip considerably, so much so that P320 magazines are no longer an option. Instead, the S300 grip module utilizes Sig P365 magazines. This crazy hybrid design uses the P320 FCU combined with P365 magazines to provides the smallest P320 possible.

Remember how the Glock 19X used a long grip with a shorter slide? Well, the S300 does the opposite. You get a shorter grip with a long slide which sounds odd but presents a rather effective concealed carry firearm.

Why Would I Want That?

Good question, and maybe you don’t want it. I can tell you why I wanted it, though. First, it makes for a much more concealable gun at a very small price point. If you already own a P365, then it might not make much sense for you. However, if you have a P320 and want something smaller for concealed carry, a 59.99 grip module is much cheaper than a 500 dollar Sig P365.

At the same time, the Sig P365 magazines are quite common and vary widely in capacity from 10 to 15 rounds. The S300 grip module follows the standard P365 length and allows for the use of flush-fitting 10 round magazines or the extended 12 and 15 round magazines. For IWB fit, the smaller grip makes the weapon easier to conceal. The longer barrel and slide don’t much matter for concealed carry in an IWB configuration.

The S300 provides a super-short grip making the weapon extremely concealable. The longer slide and barrel have their own benefits when it comes to control, accuracy, and features. The P320 slide allows you to utilize a full-sized red dot sight, as I have with the SIG ROMEO1PRO. Additionally, the S300 packs an actual Picatinny rail over the P365’s silly proprietary rail.

Now you might be saying, well hell, now I need a new holster! Nope, you actually don’t need a new holster. The S300 grip module allows you to keep your P320 holster and provides zero issues with most holsters.

Does the S300 Work?

Installing the fire control unit (FCU) from your P320 to the S300 grip module takes almost no effort. Just Pop out the pin, pop it into the grip module, reapply the pin and call it a day. The fit is perfect, and the FCU slides into the module without any issues. Once installed, you drop your slide on and slap a P365 magazine in place, and you are ready to go.

The S300 grip module mimics the P365’s grip texture almost perfectly. It’s an aggressive little grip that is most certainly necessary for the teeny tiny grip. The grip is very, very small, and only with the 12 round magazine do I have what I describe as a full grip. With the ten-rounder in place, I got a major case of the hanging pinky.

Also, the ten rounder has a very soft click when you insert the magazine, and I always gave it a little tug to make sure it’s really in there. The 12 and 15 rounders gave a much more satisfying click when installed.

After everything sat in place, I loaded up my P365 magazines with 147-grain 9mm and hit the range. I wanted some spicy rounds to see if the super smaller grip made it tough to control the short little grip module.

To my surprise, the S300 remained plenty easy to handle and control. Well, more so with the 12 and 15 round magazines. The hanging pinky didn’t help, and I didn’t feel like I had the max control over the gun with the flush-fitting magazine. The 12 rounder balanced the small size of the frame with max control well. The 15 rounder gave me the exact same capacity as the P320C with the smaller frame as well.

Does It Affect Reliability?

Reliability is a pretty big issue with a concealed carry pistol. Concerns regarding a third-party company producing a grip module that mixes one gun’s slide with another magazine seem like it could quickly create issues. If it does, I haven’t found them just yet.

Outside of the 147-grain loads I fired, I went through some plain jane 115-grain loads, some steel case Winchester Forged ammo, and some 124 grain SIG +P JHPs. I ran into zero issues in terms of basic reliability with the S300.

Accuracy was still fantastic. The Legion series trigger with the SIG ROMEO1PRO made it so damn easy to ring tiny gongs offhand. At 25 yards, I made that four-inch gong swing and swing and swing. I cycled through my smallest steel targets and never had an issue engaging them with both speed and accuracy.

Hitting the Reload Button

Reloads are tricky, at least for me. My big hands pin the magazines in, and I have to do this crazy open-hand maneuver to get the magazines to drop free. However, they do drop free when my 2XL hands aren’t in the way. The teeny tiny grip does make reload trickier.

That being said, the S300 grip module retains the ergonomics of the P320. This includes the ambi slide stop and larger magazine release. The S300 has some of the weaknesses of a smaller grip but does a great job of giving you the strengths of a larger gun.

Saddling Up

The S300 grip module is an interesting piece of gear. It checks lots of boxes for me. It’s super handy, keeps the gun reliable, and makes it much smaller and easier to conceal. I love having the smaller grip module with a full-sized red dot and my favorite striker-fired trigger. Plus, it’s American-made from a small business, and it’s affordable. It’s a winning combination of features, and I think it’s a great buy for P320 owners who want to deep conceal their pistol.

Magazine-fed shotguns are nothing new, but it’s tough not to be a fan of the design. Especially if you are a rifle shooter transitioning to shotguns. A magazine-fed option often retains all those skills you crafted on the rifle when it comes to reloads. Shotgunners might have fixed feelings on mag-fed shotguns, but they’ve proven to be quite popular. I’ve fired a great many of them, and my favorite so far is most certainly the SRM 1216 from SRM Arms.

The SRM 1216 looks like something that would be well suited as a game-breaking CQB weapon in Cyberpunk 2077 or whatever the next Halo we have coming out. It’s far from average, and its unique look certainly gives that bleeding edge sci-fi look we all know and love. I’ve long wanted to get my hands on an SRM 1216, and now I finally have. Boy oh boy, was the wait worth it.

What Is This Thing?

First and foremost, the SRM 1216 is a 12 gauge semi-automatic, gas-operated shotgun that utilizes a roller delayed blowback system that can fire 2.75 to 3-inch rounds. Yep, roller operated leaps out at you, right? Well, it should because, as far as I know, this is the only roller delayed shotgun out there. Roller delayed typically belongs to the HK series of rifles, pistols, and SMGs.

Two large rollers sit on the bolt and prevent the bolt from moving until the pressure has reached a safe level. Roller delayed systems are very simple and allow the construction of the weapon to be simple. Taking it apart to get a peak requires little to no time at all. Pop a single pinout, break it down shotgun-style, and remove the bolt and bolt carrier group. Ultimately, cleaning the system is super easy and takes no effort.

Most shotguns utilize a gas-operated system with some form of a piston or an inertia system. Both require a bit more complicated construction and the placement of parts that might make it tough to incorporate the unique magazine design.

The bullpup design also allows it to be quite short and handy. Not as short as something like the pump-action KS7 from KelTec, but it’s about 6 inches shorter than most standard shotguns and retains an 18.5-inch barrel. I know what you’re saying. Ahh, it’s a bullpup, and I’m a lefty.

Fear not, young man. You can order your SRM 1216 as a left-handed gun, or you can swap everything to make it left-hand friendly. This includes the loading port to allow lefty-friendly ejection. I won’t say doing so is simple, but the SRM Arms youtube channel documents how and what you’ll need to do so.

Inside the SRM 1216 Magazine

Let’s talk about that magazine a bit as well. The SRM 1216 utilizes a removable tubular magazine system. The magazine has four tubes that each hold four rounds. When the user goes Winchester with the first tube, they can rotate to a second, third, and fourth before needing to reload completely.

The tube can be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise on command. To rotate the tube you press a tab upwards to unlock the tube. The tabs are ambidextrous and very easy to use, and the magazine rotates without issue. What’s really cool to me is that if you run a tube dry, the bolt locks back to the rear. However, as soon as you rotate a tube into position, the bolt automatically loads the next round in the new tube and closes.

Removing the magazine and reloading is easy and can be done in the field. First, reach in front of the magazine and access the massive magazine release.

Press it in and then pull the magazine downward and out.

To reload, bring the magazine into the horizontal magazine well and then push the other end up until it locks in place. It’s not AR 15 fast but is damn sure a fast way to shove 16 more rounds of buckshot into a gun.

Another benefit of this tubular removable magazine is that the ammunition won’t deform over time. Shotgun ammunition left in a box magazine can deform due to the pressure from the magazine, which can potentially cause feeding issues. Here, this is never an issue since the ammunition is sitting in tubes.

Loading the magazine requires two hands. You have to pull back a shell retainer and slide in shell after shell. It’s easy but can’t be done with the magazine in the gun.

Blasting Away With the SRM 1216

Getting a grip on the gun isn’t tough. It’s got a short 13.25-inch length of pull and shoulders comfortably. The included recoil pad helps, and the only real downside is that the magazine acts as the grip for your non-dominant hand. It’s rather slick, and with a push-pull grip, my slide slides ever so slightly.

What happens when you mix a blowback-operated action, a bullpup shotgun, and make it 12 gauge? Well, you eliminate any and all recoil reduction you get from a pump action.

Alright, I’m being dramatic; however, the gun certainly has more recoil than most gas-operated guns. It’s not as rough as a pump-action, but when you start cooking off some hot loads, you’ll feel it. With reduced recoil tactical loads, it’s a kitten—the same with cheap game loads.

Reliability in Spades

The SRM 1216 feeds both reduced recoil loads and cheap game loads reliably and without issue. I often have a little fear of failure with a semi-auto shotgun and since this gun has such a novel blowback system I didn’t know what to expect. I was rather happy that it ran with everything I put through it.

High brass, low brass, buckshot, slugs, birdshot, and beyond worked without issue. The only load It didn’t cycle was the super low recoiling sub-1000 FPS trap loads I keep around. No semi-auto has cycled these successfully beyond one or two, and they are about the lightest load you can get for a 12 gauge outside of mini shells. Also, no, mini shells won’t cycle in the SRM 1216.

If you want a gun that cycles fast, then here you go.

Hot damn, does it fire, eject and load quickly! I can dump four rounds of buckshot out and on target in about 2 seconds from a low-ready position. Semi-auto shotguns also tickle me when it comes to tube dumps, and the SRM 1216 is no different. I can dump shells without tampering with reliability, and I did so for tube after tube of ammunition.

Running the Rabbit

For fun, I did a little drill where I loaded one round into each tube, set up four clay pigeons on the berm, and practiced transitioning from tube to tube. It’s simple, I set a Shot Timer up and hit go. At the beep, I went from right to left. Since only one round was loaded into each tube, I had to keep rotating the tube system.

I was quite slow at first, and his 7.48 seconds. That was an ouchy, and I learned that a forward grip on the tube made tube transitions much easier. As I practiced the drill over and over, I built a good rhythm in place and got much faster in just a few rounds. I got my time down to 4.8 seconds from the low ready with a hit on each target.

The SRM 1216 has a smooth rotating magazine that makes it easy to transition. Once I flip the tab up and start rotating the tube, the tab will relatch as soon as the tube finishes its rotation. You can’t accidentally rotate it too far. It’s very intuitive and simple to do.

On Target

The SRM 1216 has a sweet little trigger—roughly 6 pounds or so. A lot of rail lives at the top of the gun, and my HS510C is the perfect companion for this little shotgun. Like an AR rifle, it’s an ‘in-line’ design that makes AR height optics appropriate and easy to use. Mine didn’t include iron sights, but a rail section forward of the magazine is perfect for a front sight, and you’d have a long sight radius.

Personally, a red dot makes way more sense to me and allows me to engage rapidly. Semi-auto shotguns dominate close-range fighting, and red dots make it perfect for that specific use. I took some Hornady slugs out to 50 yards and range 6-inch plates over and over. With my favorite load, Federal Flitecontrol, I can absolutely put a load of buck right where I want it within 25 yards.

The SRM 1216 In Action

Do I have any complaints about the SRM 1216? Hmm, not many. The magazines are somewhat expensive at around 200 bucks a pop. There is a good argument that for home defense, you won’t be swapping magazines and are unlikely to need 16 rounds of 12 gauge. That’s all up to you, but I want at least one extra mag on tap just in case one fails me.

Other than that, it’s tough to hate the SRM 1216. It’s a very well-made, well-thought-out shotgun. Hell, the 16 round magazine doesn’t count as a ‘high-capacity’ magazine in less free states because it’s four tubes connected and not just a single magazine. The SRM 1216 is the sci-fi shotgun of my dreams.