The coolest thing about the Shield Arms SA-15 FLR isn’t that it’s a folding AR15 (although that’s pretty cool). The coolest thing about the Shield Arms SA-15 FLR is that it’s an integrally folding AR15: meaning no after-market thingamawhatsits to get it thataway.
Hence Folding Lower Receiver (FLR). Funny how that works eh?
Anyway, the Shield Arms Folding Lower Receiver (FLR) is now available in pistol, rifle, and stripped lower configuration and (as of this writing) it’s in stock. As originally reported on Soldier Systems Daily, the SA-15 FLR is a fully-folding lower receiver that does not require an adapter.
It’s a patent-pending billet AR-15 lower receiver with a folding stock mechanism machined and built directly into the receiver, allowing the stock or pistol brace to fold without the need of an aftermarket folding adapter.
The various SA15s feed via standard (i.e. unmodified) AR15 magazines.
Here’s what it looks like when locked in place and set up with some other cool toys for Insta:
An SA-15 folding AR pistol in FDE build on the Shield Arms folding lower receiver. Keeping it company; Glock 43X with extended S15 mag, SA hat, and a G10 Pugio dagger (w/IWB kydex sheath) in coyote tan. Or coyote brown. Or whatever we’re supposed to call it now.
Each respective configuration is detailed below.
SA-15 FLR
A 16 in. folding Rifle built on Shield Arms folding lower.
Brock Trautman is the senior news anchor for The Mag Life, the official publication of GunMag Warehouse. He’s also a cartoon, so…don’t get butt-hurt about anything he says. He’s not making subjective judgments on things, or reviewing anything – he’s just passing along the news.
This is the new (as of this writing) Vehicle Seatback MOLLE Panel Kit from Grey Man Tactical. The “Vehicle Seatback RMP Kit” has a wide array of attachment options and provides an extremely modular way to organize and mount gear.
Each GreyManTac seatback MOLLE panel comes with their 15.25 x 25 Rigid MOLLE Panel (RMP) and headrest and seat bottom straps. The kit is fully compatible with accessory choices from GMT’s most popular attachment categories: gear, medical, and utility.
There are many ways to exploit GMT’s seatback MOLLE panels.
For hunting, ranch inspections, range visits, and of course on-duty use you can throw rifles, mags, and other gear on there.
But that’s hardly the limit. Camping gear, tools, you name it — it’s all in how you Tetris it together.
And if you don’t want someone to see what’s under there, or if you want to pull the rig out of the vehicle into a base camp, you can always cover it up.
Each kit allows the user to customize from the following, choosing one option from each of the three categories.
• GEAR: 3” QuickFist Clamp with hardware OR Dual QuickFist Original Clamp with hardware.
• MEDICAL: Tear Away Medical Pouch OR Tear Away Medical Pouch with BaseMED First Aid Kit.
• UTILITY: Large Utility Pouch OR Shockloop Bundle (x2)
The 15.25in x 25in RMP is a universal fit for driver or passenger seatbacks and passenger seat fronts on:
Grey Man Tactical advises that their various RMP Series have since been utilized by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies – specifically the DOS, DOJ, DHS, FBI, USMS, USBP, NYPD, and LAPD to US Armed Forces, including the US Army, USAF, USN, USMC, USCG, and USSOCOM – with implementation in missions assigned across Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and surrounding areas of operation. As a result, the RMP Series™ has yielded over 1,000 Five Star Reviews in our efforts to make critical gear rapidly accessible.
Brock Trautman is the senior news anchor for The Mag Life, the official publication of GunMag Warehouse. He’s also a cartoon, so…don’t get butt-hurt about anything he says. He’s not making subjective judgments on things, or reviewing anything – he’s just passing along the news.
While it may seem like the world of high-capacity concealed carry has enough contenders already, there is definitely room for at least one more, especially at a lower price point. With two 11-round magazines included, the new diminutive-framed Taurus GX4 9mm is clearly aimed at the SIG P365, Springfield Hellcat (original and RDP), and Smith & Wesson Shield PLUS as its biggest competitors, but it is also aimed at shooters who don’t want to spend $500+ on a concealed carry gun.
Ever since Sig introduced the P365 in 2018, every reputable manufacturer has upped their game to compete in the larger capacity concealed carry arena, so makes sense that Taurus would join the fray sooner or later.
There is a lot to like about the GX4 and a few things that gave me pause. Here is a breakdown of what I liked and didn’t like.
Spoiler alert: most of it is good.
The Good
The Taurus GX4 has a lot to recommend. It’s not perfect (no gun is), but the Plus column is a lot longer than the Minus column. Understand before we get too deep into the goods and bads that this is not an exotic firearm full of expensive bells and whistles. It’s a basic concealed carry gun.
The Taurus G4X is a basic concealed carry gun.
Let’s start with the size. It matters, right? (Sorry, not sorry.) At around 1 inch thick, it falls right in line with its competitors, tucking easily away under even the lightest cover garments.
The magazine easily holds 11 rounds within its narrow grip, with a spring that is surprisingly light for being brand new. Like so many of us, I typically use my speed loader with a new magazine because the spring is so stiff. However, this one was light enough to load all 11 rounds without any mechanical assistance, a refreshing change.
Once loaded, the gun was easy to get into battery with a medium weight recoil spring making slide rack easy, aided by deep serrations on both front and back. Press check was easy.
Taurus did an awesome job on the grip texture — not too rough and not too smooth. Kudos to the grip design engineers. Goldilocks would be proud. Shooting with both dry and sweaty palms proved solid and firm, with little worry about the gun moving in my grip during recoil and realignment.
The grip texture was really good, but I was a bit confused by the interchangeable backstraps. Not the concept — I get that — but why they are virtually identical.
The GX4 comes with two interchangeable backstraps that are simple to swap out, but they are so similar that I couldn’t tell much difference between them. The slightly larger one that came installed on the gun fit my hand solidly, but of course, I was obligated for scientific reasons to swap them to feel the difference, which was nominal. The swells were close enough that I don’t know that Taurus needed to include the second one.
I would like to have seen a more significant difference between the two. It’s also interesting that they chose to spend money on interchangeable backstraps instead of fixing some of the small items I’ll mention in the “The Bad” section below.
(Don’t jump down there yet. That’s cheating. There is more good stuff first.)
The grip length, often the bane of large-handed people’s existence on compact pistols, is better on the GX4 than on most of the competition. Taurus did an admirable job of shortening the grip to reduce printing without going too small for larger hands.
For sure, cramming 11 rounds inside prevented them from going too small. While only part of my pinky rested comfortably on the bottom, it only sort of hung off, barely. When I started shooting, my fingers stayed firm on the grip, not ever slipping off. After a few shots, I forgot all about it. This was all during a session where I threw 100-, 115-, and 124-grain ammo downrange in a healthy mix of practice and defensive rounds from Federal, Winchester, and Black Hills, all of which ran flawlessly with zero malfunctions.
The Taurus GX4 has a wide trigger guard and a flat-faced trigger.
One often neglected feature in compact pistols is the trigger guard size. But Taurus paid attention to it. The GX4 incorporates a large trigger guard, wide enough to comfortably insert a gloved finger without the danger of an accidental discharge.
Speaking of the trigger, the GX4 features a flat-faced design with trigger safety. I was half expecting a squishy action with lots of slack and a mushy reset, especially given the price point (see below), but what Taurus gave us instead is a 6-pound pull with a crisp break, minimal slack, and a firm, audible, tactile reset — the kind of trigger feel normally associated with more expensive guns.
I have to call out one feature that floored me, in a good way.
You know how hard it is sometimes to close a slide on a compact with your thumb because the slide stop is just too dang small and hard to push? Not on the Taurus GX4! (It’s the little things, right?) The slide stop on this compact is easy to operate with the thumb, removing the need for a two-hand rack on every reload. This may not sound like a big deal but think about reloading under pressure in a real gunfight. Now, how big of a deal is it? Kudos to Taurus for this little oft-overlooked detail!
The Bad
Now, before you start thinking this is a Taurus GX4 love fest, there are a few things about the gun that definitely could be better. Some are big, some small. Remember, this is a budget-conscious pistol, so don’t expect too many high-end features, but a few small improvements would have been nice.
The Sights
The factory sights are okay but not great. They are basically Glock knockoffs with a non-glowing white dot on the front and blacked-out rear with anti-glare texturing, which is a nice touch if you like blacked-out sights. I’m not a big fan, especially on concealed carry guns designed to be used in heat-of-the-moment self-defense situations where you need to immediately see the sights, but maybe that’s just me.
Thankfully, replacing the stock sights is fairly simple, if you so choose. It would have been nice to see a dayglow sight on front at least, but that might raise the price beyond Taurus’ target market, so maybe we will see that in a 2.0 version down the road.
Takedown
The GX4 has an unconventional takedown system that requires tools. Unlike the typical takedown lever found on most guns, which pushes up or rotates with a finger or thumb to release the slide, the GX4 requires a flathead screwdriver to twist the lever while the trigger is pulled and the slide is pushed forward. And the screw is on the other side of the gun, which is a bit odd.
This is not terribly difficult or prohibitive, just unnecessarily awkward. The good news is once these gyrations are complete, the rest of the takedown process is like any other striker fire.
Where is the accessory rail, even a short one?
Right now it has none, zero, zilch, not even a stub of one for tiny accessories. It would be nice to have at least a little rail to attach a small laser or light. Space is not an issue. There is enough real estate in front of the trigger guard to allow for one. This may not be a huge miss for some, but it might turn off at least a few potential buyers.
One last thing — and this is a biggy.
It’s missing an optic plate, something more and more expected as standard across the pistol world nowadays. While the rest of the compact concealed carry market is either including an optic plate (some even throw in the optic) on new models or going back and adding them to new versions of an existing gun, Taurus inexplicably left off this ever-increasingly popular and important feature.
Even though it should have been on the original, perhaps we will see it as at least an option on any upgraded versions of the GX4 in the future.
The Ugly
Okay, shame on me. Yes, I threw this in just to perpetuate the movie theme at the risk of copyright infringement. There really is nothing ugly about this gun. But there really is nothing all that pretty about it either. In fact, its looks are fairly unremarkable. The GX4’s boxy exterior is neither ugly nor beautiful. It’s…functional, which is fine because it’s a gun, not decoration.
While it won’t win any beauty contests, it also didn’t fall out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down like many other lower-priced firearms. Its design serves the purpose: to hold all the parts and pieces together and provide good ergonomics and concealment for the shooter.
While the GX4 may not be the sexiest gun on the market by a long shot (pun intended), its average looks do justice to a gun that clearly only serves a utilitarian purpose. It’s a box. And that’s okay.
Takeaways
Overall, the Taurus GX4 is a rock-solid, reliable option in a basic carry gun that won’t break the bank. It fits the hands well, shoots flat with minimal felt recoil for a small gun, has enough rounds in the mag to compete in the higher capacity concealed carry market, and performed flawlessly in my limited testing.
Manufacturers will soon introduce holsters and other accessories, so support should be good. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly, no-nonsense, frill-free concealed carry gun that checks all the basic boxes and a few extras, the Taurus GX4 at $392.42 MSRP is definitely well worth consideration.
In an effort to figure out how well the Taurus entry into the ‘micro-compact/moderate capacity 9mm pistol’ field stacks up against others in the space, I shot the gun on a few courses of fire that I’d used for similar guns for comparison.
I’d already checked it on the CQ standards, where it went up against the Ruger MAX-9 (with optic) and the Springfield Armory Hellcat RDP. Later, the S&W M&P Shield Plus will face that test.
(Image: The Tactical Wire)
As you recall, the GX4 did well on those “close range benchmarks,” outscoring every gun I’ve tried so far – including a larger, conventional “service-compact” pistol. The CQB consists of “high value” close-range hits, a stage from a state course of fire and the Waidelich/Bakersfield standards (or a facsimile thereof). Based on time/point penalties – and while the GX4 didn’t shoot it clean – I still scored 91/100 – a record thus far. That can’t be ‘training effect,’ as the GX4 was the second gun ever fired on this mashup course of fire. The times weren’t perfect; it’s a small gun even considering the outstanding ergonomics. And I was only one hit down on paper (not time). If I were to work with it more, I could revisit the course and see if I could sort that out.
The fact remains that this little pistol was able to keep up with larger guns and guns with optics.
The Taurus GX4 13-round magazine is an 11-rounder with a +2 extension for elongated grip and added capacity.
For today’s mess, I grabbed an NRA TQ-21 “blob” silhouette with its nearly invisible scoring lines denoting a generous area for full-value hits. I’ll likely opine on ‘spot-shooting’ sometime – even though friend Claude Werner has already well explained the idea – but suffice to say I added a scoring ring on the target’s face with a permanent marker around a roll of tape. I following that up by stapling a B-8 repair center on the target’s “chest.”
I wanted to shoot something like a more traditional ‘police-qual’ type of course and see if the little gun was okay out to distance.
Not the prettiest target, but some agencies would consider this a “possible.” For such a small pistol, it’s a really good performance. (Image source: The Tactical Wire)
As to all that’s made of the ‘snappy’ nature of these small 9mm pistols; that’s real, some considerable blast and an abrupt recoil impulse. It’s about like shooting the 40 Auto in a GLOCK 23 (pre-Gen5) in suddenness but without the torque that creates the ‘shooters’ elbow’ condition. In short, it wasn’t at all fatiguing.
You have to hang on – of that, there is no question.
This is a very personable little pistol. And now, with the various accouterments available on shoptaurus.com, it can be made ‘more shootable’ perhaps at the expense of extreme close concealment.
Taurus GX4 Initial Release
The following is the notification we initially received about the new micro-nine from Taurus HQ in Bainbridge, GA.
This is a copy of their PR, not a part of a review or endorsement.
Taurus, manufacturer of premium handguns for defense, hunting, and sport shooting, is excited to announce the all-new Taurus GX4, designed to deliver maximum concealment without sacrificing ergonomics, performance, or capacity. In short, the Taurus GX4 offers everything you would expect from a full-frame defensive handgun (and more!) but at a fraction of the size and weight. The new Taurus GX4 redefines the micro pistol segment to deliver the concealability of a .380 but with the power, capacity, and function of a full-size 9mm handgun.
The Taurus GX4 is built on a stainless frame with a polymer grip that earns high marks in shooter comfort and strength. This thin, one-inch-wide frame provides negligible printing when worn inside the waistband and features a grip dimension sized to fit any hand. To ensure structural rigidity and reliable cycling in such a scaled-down foundation, the polymer receiver bolsters an integral stainless-steel framework that eliminates flex or deformation when firing.
Intelligent channeling beneath the slide rail allows for recessed placement of the slide stop lever and takedown pin. This permits easy manipulation of these controls while maintaining a flush, no-snag profile for a smooth draw from deep concealment. Likewise, the magazine release button is flush to the grip to eliminate snag potential without hindering quick manipulation during mag changes.
The stippling pattern along the grip offers the perfect balance of aggressive texture across the front of the grip, the side panels, and the full length of the backstrap for a concealed carry application. Stippling is also found forward of the trigger at the indexing and recoil management pad locations. These pads, working in conjunction with the high-texture grip, help the shooter maintain proper hand positioning and assist in managing 9mm recoil while promoting fast target reacquisition in a small handgun platform.
The Taurus GX4 comes with two backstrap options. Installed at the factory is the standard backstrap profile with its slight palm swell to accommodate the preferred grip for most shooters. Those who favor a higher wrist position for natural point-of-aim via a more pronounced palm swell can install the included high-swell backstrap.
Shooters will enjoy the accuracy and predictability of the Taurus GX4 trigger courtesy of its crisp, precise sear break and the pleasingly short and tactile reset that is fundamental to quick, on-target follow-up shots. Adding to the control quotient are serrations along the trigger safety blade. These serrations help prevent finger slip and promote a straighter, more consistent trigger pull.
Located at the front and back of the slide, the serrations not only provide a positive grip for charging and cartridge extraction, but they also allow for push or pull manipulation from either end of the slide to accommodate the shooter’s preferred operation style.
Topping the slide is a fixed-position steel front sight and square-notch steel rear sight. The rear sight features serrations across the back to minimize glare, and the cross-cut dovetail slot allows for drift-adjustment of the sight’s windage. The front sight includes a white alignment dot for improved visibility in reduced light conditions. Understanding that many personal defense practitioners desire a tritium or fiber-optic sight system for extreme low-light performance, the Taurus GX4’s dovetail slot is sized to be compatible with common aftermarket tritium and fiber-optic sights. The front sight also uses the conventional screw attachment system, so upgrading the Taurus GX4™ to aftermarket night sights is a simple matter for a gunsmith or anyone with a pistol sight installation tool.
As with all Taurus polymer frame pistols, the Taurus GX4 slide includes a visual loaded chamber indicator. This allows the shooter to quickly see if a cartridge is loaded in the chamber and eliminates the need for the traditional “press check.” To separate the slide assembly from the frame for cleaning, the Taurus GX4 utilizes an easy take-down pin system.
The Taurus GX4’s 3.06-inch stainless-steel barrel, for example, features a satin black DLC (Diamond-Like Carbon) treatment for reduced friction and greater wear and corrosion resistance. For the slide finish, Taurus engineers opted for a gas nitride coating to maximize slide surface hardness. This treatment is ideal for a gun intended for daily carry and for deep concealment due to its wear resistance properties.
Elsewhere, operational control parts receive a Teflon coating. The inherent lubricity of Teflon allows components such as the reversible mag release to operate with maximum smoothness while also resisting wear and corrosion. The steel slide stop has polymer overmolding for maximum durability. Inside the Taurus GX4, metal internal parts are nickel-plated to further resist rust and corrosion.
While the Taurus GX4 proves that neither ergonomics nor reliable performance need be sacrificed to create a full-feature micro pistol, it also proves that firepower or cartridge capacity need not be compromised, either. Chambered for 9mm Luger, the Taurus GX4 delivers several double-stack magazine options.
The Taurus GX4 comes from the factory with two flush 11-round magazines. There is the standard magazine with a floor plate that is flush with the bottom of the grip and an optional 11-round magazine with a finger extension for those who prefer a larger grip surface. If more capacity is desired, Taurus offers an optional 13-round extended magazine. The Taurus GX4 comes in a 10-round magazine version for those consumers in capacity-restricted states.
In keeping with the Taurus philosophy of producing handguns with the industry’s best performance-to-cost ratio, the new Taurus GX4 delivers. With an MSRP of $392.42, Taurus GX4 buyers can enjoy all the feature benefits and ergonomics typically associated with larger polymer frame striker-fired pistols at a price point that fits any budget.
This has been a collaborative effort by two or more members of The Mag Life contributor team: to wit, a JWOT (Joint Writing Operations Team). We’ll advise which specific contributors in the text of the article. Subscribe to GunMag TV and follow GMW on Instagram, @gunmagwarehouse. Connect on Facebook, /gunmagwarehouse/.
The popular 407 red dot sight series from Holosun just expanded to include the HE407K-GR X2, which has a green reticle. Why a green reticle? Good question, green is more easily seen by the human eye, and in optics, is considered a better option for aging eyes or those with astigmatism. Here’s the lowdown on the new Holosun green dot sight, according to the company.
When it comes to self-defense pistol optics, there isn’t room for failure. One of the best self-defense optics produced by Holosun is being reintroduced with a wavelength change that provides a green reticle. The 407 series already have a reasonably large reticle, at 6 MOA, which helps during close-quarters defense. An addition of a green reticle makes this a more attractive option for EDC.
A green reticle appears brighter to the human eye than standard red at the same intensity. Pair this increased intensity, larger reticle, and the ability to be more readily seen in daytime light conditions make this a prime and efficient choice for users.
A 1632 battery can power the Super Green LED for up to 50,000 hours. With Shake Awake the life of the battery — and overall effectiveness — of the optic is much greater. The efficiency of the 407K’s green LED coupled with the large, 6MOA green dot creates the ideal carry package.
Weighing in at a mere 1 oz, the HE407K-GR X2 may be the next best thing for defensive carry. At 1.60” long, 0.98” wide, and 0.95” tall, it’s able to be adapted to both full-size, compact and subcompact pistol types. The uses are endless. If you’re a competition shooter or carry an EDC defensive firearm, HOLOSUN has you covered.
Check out the new green LED HOLOSUN models for yourself and improve your precision and efficiency with innovation from HOLOSUN.
Specifications
•6 MOA Dot
•Light Wavelength of 540nm
•Green Reticle Color
•Parallax Free
•Unlimited Eye Relief
•1x Magnification
•Multi-Coated Optical Glass
•CR1632 Battery
•50,000 Hour Battery Life
•10 DL&2 NV Brightness Settings
•Anodized 7075 T6 Aluminum Construction
•Window Size 0.58” x 0.77”
•Exterior Dimensions 1.60” x 0.98” x 0.95”
•1 Oz. Weight
•IP67 Water Resistance
Stephanie Kimmell is the firstborn daughter of Missouri’s Pecan King, worthy scion of a Vietnam veteran sailor turned mad engineer-orchardist-inventor-genius. With a BA in technical writing, she freelances as a writer and editor. A Zymurgist greatly interested in the decoction of fermented barley and hops, she is in many ways a modern amalgam of Esther Hobart Morris, Rebecca Boone, and Nellie Bly. She hunts, fishes, butchers, and cooks most anything. When not editing or writing, she makes soaps and salves, spins wool, and occasionally makes cheese from cows she milked herself. Kimmell is a driven epistemophilic who loves live music and all sorts of beer.
What you see here is a monolithic 3D-printed 6Al-4V Titanium suppressor from Radical Firearms. It’s called the Sinter.
Radical Firearms says, “This Firearms suppressor is 8 inches long, 16 ounces, and rated up to 300 WM. If you thought it couldn’t get any better, it does! The Sinter’s full titanium construction means you get durability without any added weight.
It’s not just about the insides for the Sinter titanium suppressor, but it also has to do with its unique aesthetic appearance.
The honeycomb exterior is intended to help dissipate the heat due to its increased surface area, helping the Sinter cool down faster. This is a wonderful feature since the Sinter can withstand higher rates of fire!
With its muzzle brake taper mount design, you’ll also be able to mount your silencer onto your host firearm and be ready to rumble in no time at all.”
Sinter Titanium Suppressor Specs
The SINTER is one of the lightest, most durable suppressors on the market to date. Tested on everything from .22 WMR to 300 WM, all calibers are hearing safe. The internal design creates a robust superstructure unachievable through traditional manufacturing methods. Constructed wholly of Titanium 6Al-4V, the SINTER has a high strength-to-weight ratio creating a durable and the lightest weight commercially available suppressor for everyday use.
Cal: Up To 7.62
OAL: 8”
OD: 1.75”
Weight: 16 oz
Material: Titanium 64 (Ti-6Al-4v)
dB: ~136.7 with 12.5” 308
• Monolithic Design
• Additive Manufactured (3D Printed)
• High Temp Cerakote Exterior Coating available in Black or Desert Tan
• Muzzle Brake Taper Mount Design
• Honeycomb exterior provides increased surface area for heat dissipation
• Full Auto Rated
The honeycomb exterior is intended to provide increased surface area for heat dissipation (not to mention a unique aesthetic).
16 in. 5.56 RPR rifle with the Radical Firearms SINTER 3D printed titanium suppressor. Rifle: FR16-5.56SOC-15RPR-MFT Suppressor: SINTER 3D printed titanium suppressor. Optic: Aimpoint PRO WML: Streamlight ProTac.
Brock Trautman is the senior news anchor for The Mag Life, the official publication of GunMag Warehouse. He’s also a cartoon, so…don’t get butt-hurt about anything he says. He’s not making subjective judgments on things, or reviewing anything – he’s just passing along the news.
Viridian just announced two new products in its HS1 line of handstop-integrated laser sights for AR-style firearms. In case you aren’t already familiar with it, the HS1 was (as best as we can tell) the first laser to be integrated into a production AR hand stop of this kind.
The laser and housing are mounted to the rail.
Previously the HS1 was only available as a green laser, but starting tomorrow morning (July 9, 2021), the Viridian red laser option is going to be available for those who prefer red over green. Also, the HS1 housing, which was previously only available in black, will be available in Flat Dark Earth.
New options in Viridian’s HS1 line of laser sighting devices!
So what is the HS1?
As the company describes it, it’s the world’s first AR hand stop with an integrated laser sighting devide. It uses MLok to mount to the rail of your firearm and has uniquely placed grip-activated buttons that work with a variety of grip styles. It is also adjustable for windage and elevation. So, you get all the protection of a handstop while aiming with a highly visible green or red laser sight.
According to Brian Hedeen, Viridian President and CEO, “The HS1 has proven to be exceptionally popular. The laser aiming capabilities add to the speed of an already fast rifle design and the minimalist hand stop design is ideal for ergonomic control without getting in the way. And now we’re adding new colors to both the laser and the housing. Fans of FDE can match their HS1 to their rifle’s forend and those who prefer red lasers have that option available, too, in Black or FDE.”
The HS1 has a battery life of 1.5 hours and a range of up to 100 yards in the daylight and two miles at night.
If you haven’t seen the HS1 handstop laser before, here’s Viridian’s product launch video from back when they introduced the green laser model:
Here’s all the HS1 Viridian red laser info per the press release:
Viridian Weapon Technologies is pleased to announce that its celebrated and innovative hand stop laser, the HS1, is now available with a red laser. Both the new red laser HS1 and the original green laser version will be available in both Black and Flat Dark Earth housings on Friday, July 9th at 9:00am CST.
The new Viridian red laser comes with the new FDE housing or black housing and has a seven-year warranty.
Viridian’s HS1 is the first laser integrated into a hand stop. The shooter’s support hand grips the HS1 and this grip activates the laser. The HS1 provides an intuitive control surface and instantaneous targeting guidance.
M-Lok mounts make installation effortless and Viridian now offers a Picatinny to M-Lok rail adapter. The HS1 laser adjusts for windage and elevation. The HS1 lasers will be available through retailers, or on the Viridian website.
Stephanie Kimmell is the firstborn daughter of Missouri’s Pecan King, worthy scion of a Vietnam veteran sailor turned mad engineer-orchardist-inventor-genius. With a BA in technical writing, she freelances as a writer and editor. A Zymurgist greatly interested in the decoction of fermented barley and hops, she is in many ways a modern amalgam of Esther Hobart Morris, Rebecca Boone, and Nellie Bly. She hunts, fishes, butchers, and cooks most anything. When not editing or writing, she makes soaps and salves, spins wool, and occasionally makes cheese from cows she milked herself. Kimmell is a driven epistemophilic who loves live music and all sorts of beer.
I’ve always loved shotguns and likely always will. I like to turn everything into a shotgun, and I’ve finally found a means to turn my everyday AR 15 into a shotgun. I’ve always wanted the ability to throw an upper on a standard rifle lower and call it a day. Obviously, that limits my caliber to a relatively small shotshell, and in the United States, that means 410 bore. My AR 410 dreams came true due to firearms importer Charles Daly.
Charles Daly imports firearms from all around the globe, and often some are quite interesting. Their shotguns and shotgun parts tend to come from Turkey, and I don’t doubt my AR 410 came from the same place. Let’s be clear, this is an upper only, and it’s designed for Mil-Spec AR 15 lower receivers.
My AR 410 upper has been tossed on a BCM lower setup I’ve had sitting around. It squeezed on without issue and locked right in place. The Charles Daly AR 410 comes with a buffer you are supposed to use with the upper. They advise that if you don’t, you can damage your gun, and in no uncertain terms, they will not cover any damage caused by using the wrong buffer.
Why?
Well, you might be asking why the heck do I need a 410 upper for my AR 15? Well, you likely don’t; I wanted it because I think it’s neat. AR 15 lowers are like bows, and the wide variety of uppers you can use are like different arrows.
My collection of uppers is much like a quiver of arrows. I have one for everything and every potential task. I didn’t have a specific need for a AR 410, but I sure wanted one. It seemed like it would be a fun pest eliminator that could decimate squirrels, rabbits, and other pests that plague my country-living lifestyle.
This Upper setup comes with a buffer and its drop-in and go installation.
It’s also a semi-auto option for a 410, and I didn’t have one of those. All of it was dirt cheap. The upper cost me a cool $230 at my local gun store. That’s cheaper than a dedicated semi-auto 410.
The AR 410 gives me a 410 shotgun with AR-like controls and, of course, AR modularity. I can strap on any number of stocks, pistol grips, triggers, sights, and more. AR ergonomics are already pretty freakin’ sweet, and keeping those ergonomics will be a plus for some. If you know how to shoot a AR 15, you’ll now know how to handle an AR scattergun.
The AR 410 delivers small game and pest control options for the modern shooter.
A 5.56 upper and a 410 upper gives you options for killing most game around the southeast United States. From small pests to deer and hogs, I’m covered with one gun.
To comply with NFA laws, the barrel is 19 inches long, so it’s a little longer than your standard carbine. The AR 410 upper comes equipped with a short quad rail for mounting lights, lasers, cup holders, and beyond. Along the top, we get an optics rail, and Charles Daly even included iron sights with the gun.
Predictably the AR 410 utilizes gas operation. You can’t exactly fit an inertia system into this thing. The manual also states the gun is equipped with a choke, but it most certainly isn’t. It’s not threaded for chokes by any means.
Quad rails are relatively old school these days but it still works for tacking lights on.
The AR 410 also features this weird barrel shroud thing. It’s slotted and capped at the end. This shroud is completely removable and reveals a skinny little barrel that looks a little silly. The barrel end is threaded, but I’m not sure of any shotgun compatible muzzle devices.
The weird barrel shroud makes the scrawny little barrel look a little less scrawny. It’s a push-up bra for the AR 410.
Other than that, it’s all AR 15. You get a stock standard upper receiver with a forward assist and dust cover. The charging handle is massive and beyond mil-spec for sure. It’s nice and chunky and easy to work with.
Look at that big chonkin’ charging handle.
Weight-wise this thing comes in at 4.9 pounds total. It’s a little chunky when compared to more modern upper receivers. The quad rail, 19-inch barrel, and barrel shroud certainly add a little heft to this big beast. However, it never feels tough to manage.
Ammo Compatibility
Semi-auto shotguns are notoriously ammo picky. As the gauge shrinks, they tend to get pickier. Most 12 gauge shotguns offer plenty of reliability, a good deal of 20 gauges do well, but 410 guns require a good deal of knowledge about your chosen load and shotgun.
Some 2.5-inch shells are longer than other 2.5 inch shells.
As you’d expect, the semi-auto AR 410 will do better with hotter loads. We’ll talk a little more on that later, but first, we need to address actual ammo compatibility. First and foremost, as a mag-fed gun, you are reliant on both the magazine and magwell to accommodate your chosen caliber. As such, you are stuck with 2.5-inch shells with the AR 410. No 3-inchers for you magnum boys.
Both of these are 2.5-inch shells, but only the shorter works in the magazine.
The thing about shotgun shells is that no two are ever the same. When we say 2.5 inches, we are talking about the pre-crimped measurement. When crimped, the shells are actually a good deal smaller. The 2.5-inch shells need to measure 2.29 inches or smaller to fit in the AR 410 magazine.
Oh Yeah — Let’s Talk Magazines
The Charles Daly AR 410 comes with a simple polymer 5 round magazine. Five rounds is for the birds and J-frame revolvers. The good news is you can find magazines that go into the 10 and 15 round capacities. This extends your capabilities a good deal, and who doesn’t want that?
The included five-round AR 410 mag keeps things legal for hunting, but five is never enough.
The included magazine is a polymer PMAG wanna-be. We get nice texturing, a robust follower, and a compact design. It also feeds quite well, and the five-round capacity does make it legal to hunt within my state. Although for birds, I’ll need to plug it to three rounds.
Scatter Lead Downrange
Let’s hit the range with our AR 410! I loaded up a small smattering of buckshot and slugs mixed with various birdshot types. Sadly the market is somewhat flooded, and most of my 410 buckshot is the 3-inch variety. I would’ve loved to try a wider variety of 410 buckshot and slugs, but right now, that’s tough to do.
Before I went to the range, I tossed an HS509T on the AR 410 and did a quick zero with buckshot loads. I love these little optics on shotguns and use the circle and dot reticle. The circle is for buckshot, and the dot is for slugs.
I did have a ton of birdshot to dispense, and as the cheapest type of ammunition, I figured most people would be shooting this more than anything else. I loaded up a pile of birdshot in the 1150 to 1250 FPS varieties.
Imagine my surprise when it all cycled relatively fine in the AR 410. The lighter 1150 didn’t present any more issues than the 1250 stuff. That being said, the gun is only about 95 percent reliable. I did get a fair amount of failure to ejects that slowly declined the more I shot. Most of the time, the gun ran perfectly fine with the occasional hiccup here and there.
With the 19-inch barrel, it’s a rifle-length upper but still feels compact. I’d normally find this unacceptable. However, I have a soft spot for the AR 410. I’m not using it for anything serious, so I don’t mind a few issues here or there. There aren’t enough jams or failures to be frustrating, and for how cheap the upper is I can’t hate it.
What About Buckshot and Slugs?
The higher quality Federal and Winchester buckshot ran without issue. The Federal slugs also ran flawlessly. As mentioned, the mixture of slugs and buckshot only totaled 20 rounds, but all 20 ran perfectly.
Patterning showed no surprise for a cylinder bore 410 at 15 yards. It’s good enough to take a moderate-sized game. If I was hunting anything larger than a coyote, I might prefer a big caliber just for the fact that I only get three 00 pellets in a 410 load.
The AR 410 is a blast to shoot.
I’d also not choose a 410 for home defense. If recoil sensitivity is a big issue, then the 20 gauge shotgun is a better choice for defensive use.
Recoil and Muzzle Rise
The recoil is roughly the same as a 5.56 round. It hardly moved, and my petite, recoil-sensitive wife found the gun pleasant to shoot. Muzzle rise was also minimal and easy to control when firing rapidly. My Holosun 509T’s red dot barely moved, even when I was firing rapidly. It stayed on target, and I could swap between targets quickly and efficiently with every load type.
Thumbs Up?
I like the little thing! It’s my pest obliterating beast that offers rapid follow-up shots for animals that tend to group together. When I hunt for rabbits or squirrels, I’m often getting several at a time, and being able to rapidly transition from target to target is nice and handy. Being able to hunt with a familiar platform makes it quite easy to transition controls, mount accessories, and customize the gun.
I wouldn’t use the AR 410 beyond small game hunting, pest killing, snake eliminating, and plinking. 410 doesn’t offer me the pellets or power I want from a shotgun, but it provides me with a compact and lightweight platform.
Besides, it’s damn fun to shoot.
Travis Pike is a former Marine Machine Gunner, a lifelong firearms enthusiast, and now a regular guy who likes to shoot, write, and find ways to combine the two. He holds an NRA certification as a Basic Pistol Instructor and is the world’s Okayest firearm’s instructor.
Have you ever looked at your magazine and thought, this thing needs more rounds? Well, if so, then your options are pretty limited, and outside of bending time and space, you might want to consider a magazine extension. Tyrant Designs makes magazine extensions for several different handguns including the Glock 43X and Glock 48 series. I recently got my hands on a Glock 43X and immediately set out to fix Glock “Perfection.” One upgrade I dived into was a Tyrant Designs magazine extension.
A little extra length, but it lets you tack four extra rounds to your mag — that makes it (at least in our opinion) a solid choice for Glock 48 or G43X accessory.
The Glock 43X offered me ten rounds of 9mm, but I’m greedy, so I wanted more, and I wanted it now! The Tyrant Designs magazine extension grants me +4 rounds. I’ve got near Glock 19 magazine capacity now, in a much smaller package.
The mag extension is made from aluminum, milled, and anodized in a wide variety of colors. Included with the Tyrant Designs magazine extension is a longer 10% power spring to accommodate the now longer magazine design.
The Tyrant Designs Magazine Extension is made entirely from aluminum.
At first glance, the Tyrant Designs magazine extension is well crafted and beautifully milled. The scalloped sides and textured rear allow for an easy and sure grip. The color is evenly applied, and the grey really pops.
Tyrant Designs magazine extension…on a concealed carry gun?
Yeah, I know. At first glance, it doesn’t make much sense. Why would I want a long magazine for a concealed carry gun? Won’t it just give me a Glock 19 sized rear end with a Glock 43 sized front? Yes, in fact, it does.
However, I’m not carrying the Glock 43X with the Tyrant Designs Magazine extension.
I’m carrying the Glock 43X with a standard OEM 10 round magazine and packing my extended model as a backup magazine. I can toss this thing in a NeoMag, a belt-mounted magazine pouch, or pretty much any other practicable spare magazine carry option as a backup.
Boom, it’s easy to pocket with the right carrier.
I figure if crap hits the fan hard enough that I need to reload, I might as well reload with as much ammo as possible, right? Fourteen rounds give me the fighting power of a much larger gun, and I’ll likely never need it, but I feel comfortable having it.
Outside of the extra ammunition it offers, I do find the longer magazines easier to draw when compared to the shorter and thinner OEM mags. That hunk of metal that makes up the Tyrant Designs magazine extension serves as a great grip for reloading.
Who doesn’t want a little extra girth and width?
The extra length and scalloped side provide a rock-solid grip.
The scalloped sides allow you to grip the magazine with a little slip-proof protection. They let you dig in nice and deep when gripping the magazine and allow you to spin it into action. My fat fingers have gripped a magazine minimally and sent it flying, and I gripped and ripped it. A little extra texture provides an awesome amount of grip to prevent people like me from being clumsy monkeys.
I still hate the Glock magazine base plate system. Why do they make removing a baseplate so difficult? Every other magazine in the world comes apart with ease, but Glock magazines like to be difficult.
Anyway, once I removed that snug little bastard, I installed the Tyrant Designs magazine extension. It snapped on relatively easily. It stays in place via a spring-loaded plunger. This design makes taking it apart much simpler than the stock Glock method.
Once installed you are ready to rock and roll.
The new +10% spring is a little tricky, but once you get a good grip on it, you can slide the magazine extension into place. Once locked in, the mag extension stays put and has zero wiggle to it. To remove it, press down on the plunger and press the magazine out.
Nothing too complicated, and you can easily revert back to an OEM stock magazine. OEM Glock magazines measure out to 4.25 inches, and the Tyrant Designs magazine extension measures out at about five and 3/16th inches.
We got our gun, our magazines, and our Tyrant Designs magazine extension in place. All that’s left is to hit the range and test my theory regarding this being a great spare mag option. I brought out my NeoMag spare mag holder and hit the reload work. Although, first, I needed to make sure the thing works.
Loaded down with some quality brass-cased Winchester White Box, I hit the ground running. I’ve been practicing some Jeff Cooper drills for an article I’m writing, and it seemed like a good time to see if the Tyrant Designs magazine extension worked. I needed to ensure it fed ammo reliably and didn’t degrade the boring nature of Glock reliability.
I ran through multiple incarnations of the Mozambique drill, the Dozier Drill, and the El Presidente without issue. The gun chugged along without issue and functioned just like it would normally. I was pleased by the mag extension’s performance and found it had zero effect on reliability.
Oh, and the Tyrant Designs magazine extension worked perfectly with the Tyrant Designs magwell. I mean, it better work, right? I was happy I didn’t need to remove the magwell to use the mag extension.
One for the gun, one as a spare.
Every time I hit the reload button, the magazine dropped like a rock. That extra weight helps that mag pop out. I’d imagine in a serious malfunction situation, that extra grip area would make ripping the magazine out possible.
The magazine with Tyrant Designs Magazine extension works! It works exceptionally well and fires and functions reliably. How does it work as a spare magazine? Well, it actually works well. With the NeoMag, I worked with both the stock OEM 10 round magazine, and my Tyrant Designs enhanced magazine.
Who doesn’t love an extra 4 rounds?
Without a doubt, the longer, magazine extension-equipped magazine works better for reloads. I can grab that thing like an animal and put it into action. The Tyrant Designs Magazine extension provides so much more gripping surface than the standard magazine. Better yet, the extra grip space makes it easy to retrieve and easy to slam home.
It’s almost an inch longer but conceals just as easily as the standard 10 round magazine. It disappears into my pocket without issue using the same NeoMag I use for my regular OEM magazine.
Gun, Knife, and Spare Mag make an EDC happy.
I think my theory has proven itself fruitful. The Tyrant Designs Glock 43 X magazine extension provides four more rounds and makes the magazine easier to retrieve and easier to reload. It’s a slight upgrade that gives you a little more go-juice when the fecal matter hits the fan. While we’re talking about Tyrant Designs, check out some of their other Glock 43X and Glock 48 gear, like the G48/G43X magwell, extended mag release, and universal 9mm T-comp compensator.
What do you guys think? Does a little extra ammo appeal to you? Let us know below.
Travis Pike is a former Marine Machine Gunner, a lifelong firearms enthusiast, and now a regular guy who likes to shoot, write, and find ways to combine the two. He holds an NRA certification as a Basic Pistol Instructor and is the world’s Okayest firearm’s instructor.
The term ‘budget optic’ often creates a reaction in me that is akin to what happens when I hear nails on a chalkboard. Budget optics usually suck, even though people will often defend them till they’re blue in the face. Optics from no-name companies on Amazon find themselves on rifles way too often. However, there are always exceptions to the rule, and the Bushnell TRS 25 seems to be one of those exceptions.
The TRS 25 is super cheap, but does it work?
The TRS 25 came out years ago and has since steadily proved itself to be the alpha when it comes to budget optics. I remember distinctly avoiding it purely due to its price tag. I assumed with such a low price, and it was just more junk. However, one way or another, my curiosity overwhelmed me. I kept seeing the TRS 25 pop up and hearing good things about it. So I finally purchased one.
It’s lived it’ss life mainly sitting on a 9mm PCC for several years now. I think I have a pretty good opinion on how the ole optic holds up.
Bushnell TRS 25 Specs
The TRS 25 falls into the realm of being a compact red dot. The objective lens is 25mms wide, and the whole package is only 2.5 inches long. Weight-wise you won’t feel anchored by the 3.6 ounces you’re strapping to your gun.
Bushnell includes a low mount integrated into the optic but adding a high mount is easy and gives you that AR-height co-witness that we all know and love. The Hi-Rise model makes this a one-and-done thing, but you can use any Picatinny rail riser if you so choose.
A cheap optic combined with a cheap magnifier gives a budget option for cheapo carbines.
The TRS 25 packs 11 brightness levels in its simplistic and old-school rotating brightness wheel. In the middle setting, it will last for 5,000 hours. Not too bad for an optic that utilizes a CR2032 battery.
To keep things versatile, you get a 3 MOA red dot that would make it a natural on centerfire and rimfire rifles as well as shotguns and even sport-style pistols like the Ruger MK series. The little 3 MOA dot works rather well for most firearms.
The TRS 25 looks like a million other bottom-barrel grade red dots. They all tend to have a similar design, but somehow the TRS 25 rises above that. Perhaps Bushnell was more demanding with their Chinese contractors, or they just put out the right specs to the right people.
The TRS 25 provides an efficient low cost option for shooters on a budget.
Budget red dots is a spectrum of red dots. Depending on who’s saying it can mean anything from the junk tier optics that cost anywhere from 30 to 60 dollars I mentioned previously to options from Holosun that cost a couple of hundred bucks. The TRS 25 sits anywhere from 80 to 120 bucks depending on the mount included.
The Dot
That 3 MOA red dot does do something different than most budget red dots. Most hit the 2 MOA mark, making them solely for rifles. That little extra size makes this dot a little more versatile. It’s not the crispest, clearest circular dot. It certainly has some rough edges to it when you compare it to a more expensive dot.
It’s tough to see the green hue, but it’s there in real life.
The 11 brightness settings are important to consider. Can a budget optic get bright enough to see during the day? I can tell you the TRS 25 certainly can. I live in the sunshine state, so my optics gotta get nice and bright. The TRS 25 works perfectly at high noon at settings 8, 9, and sometimes 10.
At the higher brightness levels, you’ll see some halo effect in the optic. Also, the wheel that controls the brightness level is a major hassle. It’s stiff and doesn’t move easily. To be fair, I’d prefer it to be stiff than loose. (There is a joke in there somewhere.)
To the Church of Steel and Lead
Mounted on my el-cheapo PCC, I’ve used the optic to put hundreds of rounds down range and for numerous range trips. It’s a fun gun beyond anything else and came from my early days of AR Tom Foolery when the purse strings were tight, and 9mm cost eight bucks a box. The TRS 25 is a very fitting red dot for this blue-collar build.
What you first notice when looking through the lens on the TRS 25 is a noticeable greenish hue to it. That is the reflective coating that allows you to see your red dot. The coating allows all light except red to pass through it, which captures the light emitted from the emitter and gives you a usable aiming point.
Going pew pew with the TRS 25.
The reason you see so much hue, especially compared to other dots, is that the coating is cheaper and likely applied a bit thicker. These coatings allow you to have a bright dot that uses less power.
The second thing you’ll notice is a big square sitting in the lower right quadrant. That is your emitter, and it’s glued in place. That’s kind of the norm with cheap optics. It may bother some—my TRS 25 even came with a warning letting you know what it is and that your dot isn’t broken and this glob was normal.
Zeroing requires a flat head tool or brass casing. It’s simple, and the dot moves 1 MOA per click. It’s not precise, but it’s also a red dot and a red dot range that’s precise enough. Once you got the dot on target, the fun can begin.
Through the Paces
I’ve put thousands of 9mm rounds downrange with the TRS 25, and admittedly, 9mm ain’t much of a challenge to the topic. However, its zero has never budged, and the optic has yet to fail me. If I turn it on and it doesn’t work, then I just gotta swap batteries, and I know it comes right back to life.
For you kind folks, I tossed it on a more potently powerful boomstick in the form of a 12 gauge pump-action shotgun. I wanted to see if that emitter would flutter, the dot fail, and if the zero would falter. We couldn’t do it with just birdshot, so I loaded up some standard Federal Buckshot into a Sentry 12 shotgun and let it loose.
Can it stand up to the 12 gauge recoil?
I made sure to focus on the dot to see if it would flicker off between shots. That’s often a clear sight of poor battery connection. In 20 rounds of buckshot, it remained on. My shoulder might’ve been feeling it, but the TRS 25 soldiered through.
I popped it back on the PCC and let it fly. The zero held without issue. Not too bad, but next, I strapped it to my ASP Red Gun and dropped it. I dropped it from shoulder height and I dropped it on both sides and the top a few times.
Bye-bye little fella.
That emitter must be tough because it held zero once I tossed it back on my PCC. It’s a sturdy little optic.
Downsides of the TRS 25
The TRS 25 is a robust, durable red dot option that provides a truly budget-friendly experience. As such, it often functions well above its price point. Most optics priced this low wouldn’t stand drops, falls, or even rough recoil. Mine has been in use for years without an issue and for several thousand rounds. (Admittedly, most were 9mm from a rifle.)
A post drop TRS 25
The optic does have a couple of downsides related to the dot. If you move it up and down and left to right rapidly, you’ll see the dot ‘stretch’ a bit, kind of like a cheap laser pointer. It’s not a huge deal, but a little distracting when transitioning from target to target.
It also does have that halo effect on bright settings that’s just a little annoying. If you can get past those flaws, you’ll find a great little optic. I wouldn’t use it for duty use, but for home defense and range use, it’s a great little dot.
Travis Pike is a former Marine Machine Gunner, a lifelong firearms enthusiast, and now a regular guy who likes to shoot, write, and find ways to combine the two. He holds an NRA certification as a Basic Pistol Instructor and is the world’s Okayest firearm’s instructor.
The Glock 48 is the pistol many gun owners have been waiting on for some time. It’s a Slimline 9mm — not technically a single-stack, but close to it — sized to more comfortably fit a wider range of shooter’s hands and maintain the expectations of Glock durability. The gun officially launched in 2019 alongside the Glock 43X, which is slightly shorter, and has ended up with a lot of fans. In this video, the guys at Practically Tactical take their first shots with a two-tone Glock 48 and offer their first impressions.
Nick and Jeff of Practically Tactical talk about the Glock 48. (Photo Credit: Practically Tactical)
Glock 48 Basics
Nick and Jeff get started discussing the general details and basic points of the Glock 48. They point out that its dimensions are similar to those of the Glock 19, just in Slimline width, and that Glock has a solid reputation backing it up.
This gun’s overall weight is 20.74 ounces empty and 25.12 ounces with the standard 10 +1 magazine loaded. While it was launched at the same time as the 43X, the 48 model has a slightly longer barrel (the 43X’s barrel length is 3.41 inches and the 48’s barrel is 4.17 inches long). That little bit of extra length is exactly what some shooters prefer, whether for balance or accuracy reasons.
Love at first shot? You’ll have to watch the Practically Tactical video to find out. (Photo Credit: Practically Tactical)
First Shots
The Glock 48 delivers some things as expected, like the Glock factory trigger, but the ergonomics of the gun seem to fit many shooter’s hands better than the double-stack models do. The match-grade Marksman Barrel performs as promised by nailing tighter, more precise groups than many older generation Glocks. And if you’re at all disappointed in its 10 +1 capacity with the standard factory magazines there are other options out there including a truly extended 19 +1 capacity magazine from ETS. Tyrant Designs +4 magazine extensions are also an option for greater capacity without making the gun impossible to conceal.
Live Fire
One of the great things about the video is that you get to see not one but three shooters try out the Glock 48 for the first time. That means different hand sizes, varying stances, and a trio of opinions. Check out the video below:
Glock 48 for Concealed Carry?
There are quite a few upsides to using the Glock 48 as your EDC (EveryDay Carry), including:
•Capacity
•Concealability
•Durability (Glocks are proven to be extremely tough guns.)
•Caliber (9mm is pretty much the current gold standard for self-defense calibers.)
•Precision (This gun isn’t only accurate, it’s beautifully precise.)
•Longevity (You’ll get serious life out of the barrel.)
•Ergonomics
Get Hands-On!
It’s always a good idea to get your own hands-on time with a gun. If at all possible, check out the Glock 48 as a rental at a range near you (or find a friend who has one you can run at the range). And if you don’t normally enjoy Glocks due to how thick they are, this one might surprise you. Try it out before you form an opinion, just like the guys at Practically Tactical did.
The Glock 48 has a lot of things to recommend it. (Photo Credit: Practically Tactical)
Kat Ainsworth Stevens is a long-time outdoor writer, official OGC (Original Gun Cognoscenti), and author of Handgun Hunting: a Comprehensive Guide to Choosing and Using the Right Firearms for Big and Small Game. Der Teufel Katze has written for a number of industry publications (print and online) and edited some of the others, so chances are you’ve seen or read her work before, somewhere. A woman of eclectic background and habits, Kat has been carrying concealed for over two decades, used to be a farrier, and worked for a long time in emergency veterinary medicine. She prefers big bores, enjoys K9 Search & Rescue, and has a Master’s Degree in Pitiless Snarkastic Delivery.
