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 the first laser to be integrated into an AR hand stop.
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.
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.
The MCK TAC is an expansion to CAA USA’s MCK/Micro Conversion Kit lineup. Compatible with 120 or more models of handgun and available in a wide variety of colors and camouflage patterns, the MCK TAC is one of the smallest “PDW conversion kits” available yet — or the more common ones, anyway.
An MCK TAC retrofit conversion kit is also available (and not just for Glock models, either).
The MCK TAC is designed for close-in type defensive work (hence the PDW angle), including “close protection” (i.e. VIP/PSD uses), providing what is essentially an add-on shooting platform expansion. There is no stock on the MCK TAC as it is not intended to be shouldered.
Instead, it is stabilized (insomuch as any weapon using sling tension can be stabilized) as described by the manufacturer below.
The MCK TAC ships with a special Bungee sling, sling swivel, and rail-mounted thumb rest for added stability when accuracy and control truly count.
The combination of the shooter’s arm at full extension and the resistance from the bungee-style sling creates a steady platform for added accuracy and control when shooting the MCK TAC.
Installation is fast, simple, and largely intuitive (as Travis Pike reported in his review of a similar “Glock brace“).
LTC. (Ret.) Mikey Hartman, CEO of CAA USA advises,
“Born out of demand by private and military security firms, we put our engineering team to work on creating the most compact and discrete MCK (Micro Conversion Kit) to date. Presenting the MCK TAC. The TAC is suitable for all real-time scenarios in which concealment and speed are paramount. Taking cues from the shooting dynamics of firearms like the HK MP5K, the MCK TAC, with included bungee sling and swivel is the ultimate compact shooting solution. Not only are we releasing the MCK TAC, but we’ve also created a TAC upgrade KIT to retrofit any existing MCK to the new TAC configuration. The TAC rear compartment keeps you in the fight by adding storage for an additional CR123 battery for your weapon light or optic, up to four 9mm rounds or even hearing protection.”
Sling Tension Shooting
“Sling tension shooting“, also referred to as the “SAS method” was first popularized (if that’s the right word) by images of the British Special Air Service, though other units have used it. Sling tension shooting is, as described above, a push/pull method. Here’s an explanation (though it uses a different weapon system).
MCK TAC
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.
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.
Breaking Down the AR 410 Upper
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.
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 popular 407 red dot sight series 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
Read more about this Holosun green dot optic at Holosun.
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.
Ruger’s newest micro-compact pistol is a bigger brother to the LCP II, the LCP MAX. It’s chambered in .380, with a moderate capacity of 10+1 rounds, and an extended 12+1 magazine option is also available. There is only a minor difference ins size, as the grip is just .04″ wider than its predecessor, so that means it will still fit in holsters that work with the LCP II.
This new model has several design improvements including more substantial sights (compared to the integral sights of the LCP II), a Secure Action trigger, improved ergonomic grip, and a reversible magazine release.
It’s the latest upgrade to the LCP line of pocket pistols.
So what are the advantages of this new LCP model?
sootch00 sums it up concisely, “One of the big advantages of the LCP MAX is it is a very small pistol. The recoil is fairly mild. It’s great to be able to carry for light carry, or for those who really are recoil sensitive—and yet you have ten or twelve rounds, plus one.”
If you want to see it in action and hear a more thorough review, watch this review by sootch00:
Here’s how Ruger describes it:
Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE: RGR) is thrilled to introduce the latest upgrade to America’s favorite ultra-compact pistol: the LCP MAX. Chambered in .380 Auto, the Ruger LCP MAX fits 10+1 rounds into the same footprint as the LCP II. A 12-round accessory magazine slightly extends the grip length while doubling the capacity of the legacy LCP. Measuring less than 1” wide and weighing under 11 ounces, the LCP MAX is smaller than every micro-compact 9mm pistol available today, expanding the options for comfortable and convenient concealed carry.
Here, you can see how the Ruger LCP MAX has a slightly thicker grip compared to the LCP II, but Ruger says the new pistol will still fit LCP II holsters. (Image source, sootch00)
Offering more than just capacity, the LCP MAX pistol’s double stack magazine feed lips are optimized to reliably feed the wide variety of modern .380 Auto ammunition available. As compact as ever, the flush-fit, 10-round magazine feels identical to the LCP II magazine (with its extended floorplate installed) while accommodating an additional 4 rounds of ammunition. The included finger grip extension floorplate and accessory 12-round magazine allow most shooters to obtain a full firing grip.
Addressing a main complaint with most pocket pistols, the LCP MAX is fitted with a tritium front sight with white outline that is quick to acquire and aligns easily with the generous u-notch rear sight. A square face on the rear sight aids in one-handed cocking and the steel, drift-adjustable sights make accurate fire easier than ever.
“The LCP MAX design incorporates over a decade of learning and experience,” said Ruger President and CEO, Chris Killoy. “What you loved about your LCP and LCP II, we know you will love even more with the NEW LCP MAX.”
The medium-textured grip frame provides easy reach to the Secure Action™ trigger that is well known for its short, crisp trigger pull and inner trigger safety. Pronounced cocking ears and deep functional slide serrations ensure easy manipulation of the pistol. Every corner and edge on the LCP MAX slide and frame have been softened for comfortable carry and the magazine release is reversible to fit all shooters. The Ruger LCP MAX ships with one, 10-round magazine; a finger grip extension floorplate; pocket holster; and magazine loader.
Ruger LCP MAX right profile.
Features
•Compact and lightweight, the LCP® MAX continues to be the definitive pocket-sized personal protection pistol.
•Standard 10+1 capacity magazine ships with flush floorplate installed. 12-round magazines available at ShopRuger.com.
•Textured grip frame provides a secure and comfortable grip. Utilizing the 12-round magazine, or included finger grip extension floorplate with the 10-round magazine, allows most shooters a full-firing grip.
•Slide features raised cocking ears and functional serrations for easy manipulation.
•Slide and frame surfaces and edges are soft and smooth for comfortable carry and handling.
•Tritium front sight with white outline makes for fast acquisition in all light conditions.
•Rear sight features a generous u-notch for easy alignment and a square front face for one-handed cocking. Sight dovetails are sized to accept all aftermarket BodyGuard-pattern sights.
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.
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.
2018 was the year of the SIG P365. It premiered, had a few faults, was promptly fixed, and went on to be one of the best selling carry guns of 2018. Its popularity continued well into 2019. After the advent of the P365, the concept of the micro-compact carry gun was drastically changed. For some time the P365, with its remarkably small size and ten-round capacity initially had no real challengers. That changed in September 209, and the challenge came from Springfield Armory in the Hellcat pistol. Comparisons were an obvious immediate demand and both continue to occupy a special place in the concealed carry world. This naturally made us want to stack the two against each other. So who comes up in a P365 vs Hellcat contest?
Comparing the Hellcat and SIG P365. Which micro compact is better?
P365 vs Hellcat Specs
The P365 and Hellcat both offer doublestack capacity in a package the size of a single stack. You are getting ten rounds at a minimum in a gun that looks like it should hold six. This impressive feat is a combination of managing gun and magazine size. The guns display many other comparisons and contrasts as well.
Both guns are quite small. The SIG P365 is just a hair lighter at 17.8 ounces when compared to Springfield’s 17.9 with the flush-fitting magazine. The P365 is also a shorter gun but has a longer barrel. The SIG is 58 inches long with a 3.1-inch long barrel. The Hellcat is 6 inches overall with a 3-inch barrel.
The SIG P365 is a little taller at 4.3 inches compared to Hellcat’s 4-inch height. The SIG is 1 inch thick, and the Hellcat’s grip is 1 inch wide at the grip.
The Hellcat is slightly more efficient when it comes to ammunition capacity. The flush-fit magazine for the Hellcat holds 11 rounds while the SIG P365 flush magazine holds ten rounds. One more round doesn’t seem like much, but hey, it’s 10% more ammo.
SIG also has 12 and 15-round magazines, but neither is a flush fit. The Hellcat also comes with slightly extended 13-round magazines, whereas the SIG comes with two 10-round magazines. I personally appreciate that Springfield includes the 13 round magazine with the Hellcat.
P365 vs Hellcat: Sights
Both guns come with Night/Day sights that are absolutely outstanding. SIG uses its own XRAY3 sights, and the Hellcat is equipped with tritium U Dot sights. I’ve been using the SIG sights for almost two years now, but I’m still faster with the U Dot Sights.
The Hellcat tritium U Dot sight on is on the left, vs the P365 XRAY3 sight on the right.
The U Dot sights are honestly my favorite part of the Hellcat. I’m leaning towards equipping a few other guns with these awesome sights. I find it quick and easy to get the dot dropped in the middle of the white U on the rear sight and get on target. If we were just doing a P365 vs Hellcat sights article, the Hellcat would win.
The XRAY3 sights are traditional three-dot night sights with a high viz front sight as well. I can get on target and shoot rapidly with these sights too. Both guns feature excellent sights, but I prefer the U Dot sights.
How they Handle – Ergonomics Differences
Grip Texture and Shape
The grip texture of both guns is similar. Both are light enough not to chafe when carried but deep enough to give a good solid grip. The Hellcat’s texture goes a bit higher than the P365’s, which is nice. The extended baseplates of both guns are also textured to engage the pinky in the grip.
I can’t reasonably say one is better than the other.
When it comes to grip shape and how it feels in hand the P365 feels more comfortable to me. I appreciate it’s round design. The Hellcat is plenty comfortable but has a boxier design overall. The boxier design does lead to a slightly wider magwell, which allows for more intuitive reloads.
Serrations
Both guns have forward and rear serrations. They have a few differences. The P365’s serrations are deeper and have very squared ledges. The Hellcat’s serrations go over the top of the slide, and I like that as well. Again, no major differences that constitute a win or fail in this portion of the comparison.
The Hellcat has slide serrations that go over the top.
Controls
The guns are similar in the fact that they lack any manual safety. The Hellcat has a finger safety on the trigger, which will please those who prefer that feature. The SIG’s trigger is round, and the Hellcat has a flat-faced trigger.
Both guns have reversible magazine releases. The Hellcat is more button-like and is a little bigger. It’s easier to reach, and it’s slightly extended. It also feels more responsive and easier to drop magazines from.
P365 vs Hellcat – Note the differences in magazine releases.
I noticed the difference when I was running any drill that required a reload. I was surprised when running the El Presidente drill at how quick and easy reloads with the Hellcat are.
The SIG P365’s triangular’s magazine release is easy to reach and accessible. It just feels spongier and requires more force to press and eject the magazine.
Both guns have a slide lock that’s basically useless with my hands. My thumbs sit on it and prevent it from engaging the slide after the last round is fired. The controls are similar enough, but the Hellcat’s magazine release is better overall.
Slight Differences
One thing I did notice is that the SIG P365 is easier to rack than the Hellcat. The Hellcat has a much stiffer recoil spring. Another interesting factor is the fact that inserting a fully loaded magazine into the Hellcat is easier than inserting a fully loaded magazine into the SIG when the slide is forward. The SIG takes a little smack, and the Hellcat does not.
SIG’s mag cutouts make it easier to grip the magazine.
The SIG’s grip has two scalloped cut-outs that also allow you to grip the magazine easily. These cut out are well suited for when the magazine doesn’t drop free, and it needs some five finger convincing.
Shooting Impressions
This is where we make our money, how does each gun handle? As far as small guns, both are comfortable to shoot. The recoil isn’t slappy, and neither has any slide bite. The guns are comfortable and fun to fire.
Shooting the Hellcat.
Recoil wise, the SIG P365 seems to have less recoil and muzzle flip. The Hellcat seems to be a bit snappier and slower to get back on target. In fairness, this could very well be due to familiarity, as I have years worth of P365 experience. I’ve shot the P365 a lot more than the Hellcat, but to be fair, I’ve been shooting the Hellcat exclusively for almost two weeks and put a ton of lead out.
Shooting the P365.
The SIG P365’s trigger is also smoother and more refined. Its pull is noticeably lighter than the Hellcat’s trigger. The Hellcat has a nice short pull but it slightly stiffer.
Both are excellent triggers, but the P365 is better, in my opinion. When I started shooting the P365 today, I was used to the Hellcat’s trigger. I was a little startled when I cracked off the first round. I was not expecting such a quick and smooth break.
What About Accuracy?
I kind of hate accuracy testing because it’s so dependent on the shooter. However, in my testing and experience, the P365 is more accurate at longer ranges. In my P365 Vs Hellcat testing, I backed off to 25 yards and fired three round strings. I fired several, and these are my best groups from both.
My best grouping with the P365 at 25 yards.
Every time I fired a group, the P365 was tighter and closer to my point of aim. I seem to fall into the habit of throwing shots to the left a bit with the Hellcat. This seems to happen when I first start shooting for the day. It straightens out eventually, but it is always more pronounced at longer ranges.
My best grouping with the Hellcat at 25 yards.
The SIG P365’s sights are certainly better suited for long-range firing. The U Dot sights are better suited for close-range shooting and speed. In practice, I found the Hellcat’s sights to be better-suited for shooting from the draw. It was easier to line them up and drop the dot into the white U and pull the trigger.
Rarely could I beat my Hellcat’s draw-and-fire time with the SIG at ranges 10 yards and closer. That said, even when I was close and shooting, the SIG’s groups were often smaller. In fact, I landed two shots in one hole from a draw-and-fire drill at 10 yards. I couldn’t repeat that performance with the Hellcat. However, I could still land effective shots with the Hellcat much quicker. Up to .10 seconds faster. Here are 3 shots from the draw with the Hellcat.
Reliability wise, both guns are top-notch performers. I would trust both of them with my life.
Differences Worth Noting
Before we finish up, I want to bring up three differences that are worth noting. The first two are rather important and interesting, the third is kind of important, and the last is just neat.
The P365 has a chassis system, just like the P320. This allows you to swap grip modules with ease. This is why I could drop the chassis into a metal frame from Icarus Precision and rock and roll. I can’t do that with the Hellcat.
The Hellcat comes in two flavors, standard, and OSP. The OSP is optics-ready. SIG does not offer the P365 standard in an optics-ready design and reserves the optics-ready version for the P365 XL.
The Hellcat also comes with a standard Picatinny rail. This allows you to attach lights and lasers without having to buy proprietary designs. The SIG has a proprietary rail, but as you can see, there are some lights and lasers available for it.
Lastly, the Hellcat has a built-in standoff device under the barrel. If you drive this weapon into someone’s gut, the slide will not come out of battery, and you can keep shooting. It’s a neat feature we rarely see in guns. I may never use it, but I like the idea of having it.
Notice the Stand-Off device on the Hellcat.
Which One?
The differences are minute, and if you said I could only have one, I’d stick with the P365. There are a few reasons. I do like the trigger more, and the grip is more comfortable, but I also have almost two years of P365 shooting and ownership. I have tons of magazines, accessories, and holsters to go with it.
If I didn’t have this time and money invested in the gun, the choice would be quite a bit harder. The Hellcat OSP model, in particular, is really attractive to me. I could see myself being attracted to an ultra-small, relatively high capacity carry gun that’s equipped with a red dot.
Luckily, this is America, and I can happily own both.
Which would you choose from our P365 Vs Hellcat competition? Have you tried both yet?
On the Clock: Sig P365 XL versus Springfield Hellcat
Whether you’re interested in competition shooting or just want to see a potential carry gun put through its paces in a different setting, a shoot-off running through match stages is a good way to do it. In this video review, Karl at InRange TV runs the Sig P365 XL and the Springfield Hellcat through six stages of a somewhat enlarged backup gun (BUG) match. To try to keep things balanced, Karl alternates guns in each stage, rotating them so he begins each stage with the gun he used to end the prior stage.
How do the guns fare? Is there a clear winner? Let’s find out.
Karl from InRange TV tested the Sig P365 XL and Springfield Hellcat by running them through half a dozen stages from a backup gun match. (Photo Credit: InRange TV)
The Side-by-Side Rundown
It is true the two pistols have a lot in common, something Karl touches on before getting into the shooting.
He says, “These guns are very similar in terms of overall size… With the Hellcat, with the smaller magazine, the flush magazine, you have 11 plus 1 [and] with the extended magazine you have 13 plus 1. And with the Sig [P365] XL you have 12 plus 1 and 15 plus 1. So you get a couple extra rounds with the P365 XL. With both of them if you put in the larger magazine you get a more comfortable grip…it kind of makes the gun seem more like a full-sized pistol in your hand [and] gives you a little extra there so your pinkie…isn’t dropping off. But really, when you put the flush magazine in, these guns are very similar in size.”
Trigger time, and lots of it, is the only way to find out how well a gun works for you. (Photo Credit: InRange TV)
Karl then moves on to compare their size directly: “If we put the Hellcat on top of the P365XL you can see the XL is bigger — a smidgen in the front — but overall minimally so, even with the dot. …these are, in my opinion, size comparable guns.”
Portions of the video show the shoot-off as a split-screen so you can compare the live-fire in real-time. (Photo Credit: InRange TV)
You can find out how the two guns performed in the six BUG stages in the video below.
Shooting Matches and Self-Defense
There is some debate in the gun world regarding whether competition shooting like these match stages is a good or bad idea from a self-defense perspective. Like anything in life, there are pros and cons to consider. But when you get right down to it, shooting stages like these timed BUG stages teach you to handle adrenaline and encourage accuracy and speed while moving. Of course, hit factor matters; you’re never going to win a match if you don’t get hits on target and in the correct zone.
Consider doing some competition shooting to supplement your self-defense training. Being a well-rounded shooter is a good thing and running your carry gun in various scenarios is an excellent idea as well.
The Winner
Tests like this are always going to be subjective and depend on the skills and hand size of the shooter involved. There are a few things to look for when you’re searching for a carry gun like these:
•Capacity
•Concealability
•Durability
•Reliability
•Ergonomics
It’s important to note that Karl does mention he has spent extensive time shooting both the Hellcat and P365 XL far beyond the stages you see in the video, meaning he’s put more time and energy into this than just a few stages. In the end, he feels that both guns performed well and each would serve gun owners nicely as an everyday carry (EDC) choice. To find out which one works best for you, hit your local range and try them out.
Two of the more popular compact pistols to be released in recent years are the Sig P365 and Springfield Hellcat, which were launched in 2017 and 2019, respectively. There’s a lot of curiosity among gun owners regarding which model is better than the other and although those answers tend to be subjective, we all do our best to answer them. In the video below, James Reeves of TFBTV takes a closer look, contrasting and comparing the Sig P365 vs Hellcat to see which he prefers.
James Reeves of TFBTV considers which gun he likes more, the SIG P365 or the Springfield Hellcat. (Photo Credit: TFBTV)
As Reeves notes in the video there have been some bumps along the way for Sig Sauer and Springfield Armory both. Even so, the companies have done well and each leads a loyal—and extensive—fan base. In the video Reeves discusses the similarities between the two pistols, his own experience with them, and why he feels one of them wins the pistol face-off (you’ll have to watch the video to find out which pistol he likes best).
Sig P365
Reeves mentions the proven reliability of the P365 as a huge pro of the gun. (Photo Credit: TFBTV)
The Sig P365 was launched in 2017 and immediately won concealed carriers over for its compact size and good capacity. Since its launch, Sig has also launched the P365 XL, a slightly larger gun that’s a better fit for some shooters. The P365 remains the original and retains its popularity. After all, what’s not to love about a concealable pistol with greater capacity than similar-sized guns?
Reeves enjoys his P365’s reliability — it sounds like he had one failure during the first 2,000 rounds which he attributes to lack of cleaning — and feels it’s a versatile pistol with excellent durability.
Springfield Hellcat
Reeves said the Hellcat is an ergonomically excellent pistol and mentions it can hold one more round than the P365. (Photo Credit: TFBTV)
The Springfield Hellcat came out in 2019 and was met with a lot of interest and love. It’s slightly larger than the P365 but has other similar features like the aggressive grip texturing, 9mm chambering, and better capacity than many compact pistols. It’s designed for fantastic ergonomics and durability and Reeves feels it is the best gun Springfield has ever made.
As Reeves admits in the video, deciding between two guns depends on the shooter and their needs. It gets even more challenging when you’re dealing with two pistols with nearly identical dimensions. How do you decide? Consider reliability, durability, fit, and function.
So, which gun is best? You’ll have to watch the TFBTV video to find out (or go to your local range and get your hands on the guns yourself).
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.
When you conjure up images of World War II firearms, nothing is quite as judi slot onlinerecognizable as the M1 Carbine. Chris Baker of Lucky Gunner Ammo took a deep dive into the M1 Carbine in a four-part YouTube series and knew he had to have one for himself.
Like many other historical firearms, not very many have survived their time in service and the subsequent decades in retirement all too well. While there is a multitude of post-war set-ups and aftermarket accessory options, the main problem might be finding the right setup for you.
Admittedly, Baker is a shooter and not a collector so he wasn’t as concerned about matching serial numbers or having all original parts. Thankfully for him, there are companies out there that sell M1 Carbine full sets (not to be confused with the Garand) and components to build your own.
There is no real doubt why the M1 Carbine is one of the most loved WWII firearms.
The one Chris was able to acquire was, as he put it, a rescue project. It was built off the Fulton Armory receiver but had some major issues like an incorrectly installed and worn-out barrel and a bad rear-sight. He was able to pick up replacement parts and deliver it to a trusted gunsmith for a fix-up, including refinishing the stock. In a completely blasphemous turn, he installed an optic rail and Swampfox Justice red dot sight, but we’ll try not to hold that against him.
Then came the fun of taking the newly refurbished rifle to the range and test it out. Sadly, he ran into the common problems of reliability issues, which was a quick fix to tighten the gas piston nut, and the last round would fail to feed in each magazine.
Chris took his M1 Carbine to the range and tested out the different combinations of magazines and followers. He found no real difference in speed between the KCI followers and the GI-issued ones.
He was using his 30 round KCI Magazines, so he figured the problem was the follower. He thought he would install the original GI mag follower in his KCI mags but would lose the hold-open feature with the follower. (There were 30 round GI issued mags that showed up in the last year of the war that had a modified follower shelf that would hold open the bolt, but Chris’s 15 round GI mags didn’t have that feature.) He did a speed test with the different magazine and follower combinations and found no real advantage one way or another in regards to the hold-open feature.
He put GI followers in his KCI magazines. At $5 a pop, it was a more affordable option.
He wrapped up his review by announcing his pick for the worst accessory you can have for your M1 Carbine. Drumroll…..jungle clips that hold two 30 round magazines together. While used in the field by a lot of soldiers, they aren’t really feasible for modern non-soldier shooters. His reasoning is that the vibrations from the recoil jostled the lower magazine free if the shooter didn’t use tape or other items to keep them together.
M1 Carbine Review: Key Takeaways
•Finding a pristine M1 Carbine from WWII is tough, but there are good post-war options like the model from Fulton Armory.
•Main issues you’re encounter: reliably function and the piston nut coming loose.
•Only the 30-round GI-issued magazine has a hold-open follower in the magazines. But you can swap out GI followers to cheaper post-war magazines.
All in all, this M1 carbine review is a concise, quick watch.
Patti Miller
Patti Miller is one of the most awesome females in the tactical/firearm (or any) industry. Imagine a tall, hawt, dangerous Laura Ingalls Wilder type with cool hair and a suppressed blaster and you’ll be getting the idea. What’s interesting is that in addition to being a willing brawler and intrepid adventuress, she’s also an Ent/Ogier level gardener and a truly badass baker.
The post The M1 Carbine, Revisited appeared first on The Mag Life.
DeSantis Holsters has been turning out excellent holsters for close to 50 years, and they show no signs of slowing down. So I was excited to try one of the offerings that they recently sent me.
The holster I received is called the Pegasus “Hidden Truth,”, and it is one of their Kydex offerings. This particular holster is especially suited for Appendix Inside the Waist Band carry of pistols, which has become very popular with shooters in recent years.
The holster keeps the pistol and magazine tucked in close to the body and secure.
Built-In Mag Pouch
Realizing that most concealed carriers also carry a spare magazine (or two) for their handguns, DeSantis has built-in a magazine pouch right into this holster. As such, it is not a small unit, but rather one of the larger holsters that I’ve ever used. Because the spare magazine pouch is located to the left of the holster, it is positioned nearly in the center of the shooter’s body, making it accessible by either hand. This central location also makes drawing that magazine faster during speed reloads, which is a major consideration during an unfriendly social encounter in which bullets might be flying.
Wearing the Holster
Two Polymer clips secure the holster to the user’s belt, slipping right over it. They each have a tab on the bottom so the user can more easily remove the clips over the belt when taking the holster off. Those little tabs really do help a lot, and are a thoughtful addition! Also, the angle of the clips can be adjusted to any desired cant, suiting any user’s preference. Adjustments can be made simply by loosening a screw on each clip and moving it to the desired angle.
The clips can be adjusted to any angle that the user desires by loosening and tightening the screws.
A closeup of the tabs on the bottom of the clips.
Tension on the magazine can also be adjusted via a screw on the side of the holster to suit the user’s needs.
When the firearm is inserted into the holster, there is an audible click as it locks in, which is satisfying. Of course, each holster is molded specifically to the type of firearm that it is intended for, so the fit is perfect, and the pistol is held very securely. This particular model has a “sweat guard” that extends up a few inches, which creates a barrier between the pistol and your skin.
The portion of the rig that goes next to the body. Note the sweat guard, which shields the gun from the skin.
Incidentally, the pistol that I carried with this holster is the most excellent Glock 43X, which is currently my favorite carry pistol. It offers the best balance of compactness, slimness, capacity, and shootability, in my opinion, of any pistols available at this time. It gets the job done without fanfare or nonsense and does it reliably.
For the past 30 or so years, I’ve used DeSantis holsters and been abundantly happy with their performance. Happily, I can announce that this is still the case.
Personally, I prefer my holster and magazine carrier to be separate entities. The reason is that when they are combined, both entities become…well, one big entity! This holster/mag combo takes up a bit of real estate on the beltline.
Normally, (brace yourself for impending heresy) I carry two spare magazines, which I place into my back pocket. No, this method of carry does not allow as fast a draw for spare mags as a belt carrier. Why do I carry in such a crude, un-tactical manner? For years, I carried everything but the kitchen sink on a duty belt on the job, and frankly, am not a fan of doing that in civilian clothing.
I can grab a mag out of that pocket fairly quickly, and they carry flat, so I don’t worry about them flipping around so that they come out the same way consistently each time. For me, it just works, and there’s less crap on my belt line to get in the way.
The holster keeps the pistol and magazine tucked in close to the body and secure.
So how did this holster/mag combo work for me?
It was surprisingly comfortable! Actually, far more comfortable than I had anticipated when I initially saw it. At first sight, my thought was, what a monstrosity! But my concerns were unfounded, as the holster worked just fine, was comfortable, and allowed me to access my pistol and a magazine quickly while keeping the whole setup secure. What more can you ask for in a holster?
Well…there is one more thing. It does all of the above for a retail of $59.99, (at the time of this writing). Which means you can pick it up for even less than that at dealers. That’s a good deal in my book and makes it easier to outfit yourself with a high-quality holster. And the holsters from DeSantis are at least as good as any others I’ve used from other makers, and usually better than the others.
Jim Davis served in the PA Dept. of Corrections for 16 ½ years as a corrections officer in the State Correctional Institute at Graterford and later at SCI Phoenix. He served on the Corrections Emergency Response Team (CERT), several of those years as a sniper, and also the Fire Emergency Response Team (FERT). For 25 years, he was a professional instructor, teaching topics including Defensive Tactics, Riot Control and Tactical Operations, Immediate Responder, and cognitive programs as an adjunct instructor at the DOC Training Academy. He was then promoted to the title of corrections counselor, where he ran a caseload and facilitated cognitive therapy classes to inmates. His total service time was close to 29 years. He was involved in many violent encounters on duty, including incidents of fatalities.
