Customizing your Sig Sauer P365 just got easier with the Spectre Comp Slide assembly that includes an integrated compensator. This exciting new development comes to what Sig says is the #1 selling micro-compact pistol in America.
Sig has upped the ability to customize any P365 with a 3.1” barrel and the P365XL recoil spring assembly with the Spectre Comp Slide assembly that boasts an integrated compensator. The integrated compensator is an added bonus for easier pistol disassembly and will still allow the pistol to fit in any standard P365 holster. The Spectre Comp slide assembly comes in black or coyote brown.
The Spectre Comp Slide acts as a factory replacement slide and is compatible with all P365 9mm models and configurations that have a 3.1” barrel and a P365XL recoil spring assembly. To make sure things are clear, the slide does not come with the barrel and recoil springs; those are sold separately.
According to Sig, the integrated compensator on the slide helps reduce muzzle flip and felt recoil by up to as much as 30%. Additionally, it has added benefits of it being integrated such as it will never come loose or cause function issues, which is a serious plus. Also, it allows for easier disassembly of the pistol, it fits in standard P365XL holsters and requires no extra parts for assembly.
The Spectre Comp Slide is said to reduce muzzle flip and felt recoil by as much as 30%. Having the compensator integrated into the slide ensures that it will never come loose and mess with the accuracy or function of the pistol.
Spectre Comp Slide Specs
Loaded Chamber Indicator: Yes
Optics Ready: Yes
Caliber: 9mm Luger
Sights: X-RAY3 Day/Night Suppressor Height Sights
Slide Finish: Nitron
Slide Material: Stainless Steel
The Spectre Comp Slide assembly comes out of the box optics ready with X-RAY3 Day/Night suppressor height sights. On top of that, the slide has an optic cut footprint that matches up with RomeoZero and RomeoZero Elite as well as a few other optics with no adjustments.
The Spectre Comp slide assembly comes with all parts for installation, like the internal slide parts along with front and rear XRAY3 Day/Night sights. The slide is optics ready out of the box and has an optic cut footprint that accommodates the ROMEOZERO/ROMEOZERO ELITE as well as RMSc and 507K optics.
Available in Coyote Brown and Black, with an MSRP for the Slide assembly is $499.00.
Also available in the Sig design studio for P365X and P365XL is the Katana Magazine funnel. Available in three colors, the mag funnel aids in reloading and grip positioning by adding an extra .5” to the length and .28” to the overall width of the grip.
Also available from the Sig design studio is the P365X Empire Katana Magazine funnels for the P365X and P365XL. The magazine funnels aid in reloading and grip position by adding an extra 0.5” to the overall length and .28” to the width of the grip. They are available in Tungsten Gray, Black and Copper and retail for $79.99.
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.
ZEV Technologies is partnering with British SAS legend Christian Craighead to launch the new Craighead OZ9 pistol. The gun is based on the ZEV OZ9 Compact 9mm pistol with direct input from Craighead himself.
ZEV Technologies partnered with legendary SAS operator Christian Craighead for the Craighead OZ9 pistol. (ZEV Technologies)
SAS Legend
Christian Craighead joined the British Army when he was sixteen, serving in the Parachute Regiment and the Pathfinder Platoon. He later served with the 22nd Special Air Service Regiment. Craighead deployed several times and was later a counter-terrorism instructor. He single-handedly stormed the DusitD2 hotel complex in Nairobi, Kenya when al-Shabaab terrorists hit the building in January of 2019. Craighead killed two of the four terrorists and led the hostages to safety.
ZEV designed the pistol with direct input from Craighead. (ZEV Technologies)
Craighead had been training Kenyan special forces soldiers in Nairobi. His action potentially saved hundreds of lives. Britain awarded him the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, second only to the Victoria Cross in the British military. President Donald Trump personally thanked Craighead at the White House.
Deliberately Versatile and Inherently Reliable
Craighead reached out to ZEV about a pistol after he retired. ZEV proposed a special collaboration to design a pistol to his specifications using the OZ9c. “Nothing on this weapon is accidental,” says Craighead. “Everything means something. A nod to things that happened in my life…everything is by design.”
The Craighead OZ9 is versatile right out of the box. (ZEV Technologies)
The gun features a removable mag well, ZEV X grip, and a ZEV Flat-faced Pro Trigger. The standard compensator is removable, and the gun is suppressor-ready. The top of the slide is cut for a red dot optic, which Craighead says he thinks is very important.
“I know the importance of having a reliable sidearm.” Craighead notes. “When I say, ‘reliable sidearm,’ it goes to the saying that it’s not your secondary if it’s in your hand. So, it’s extremely important to me that we have the right tools for the right job and for the right people out there.”
Personal Touches
The Craighead OZ9’s slide serrations are cut at 22 degrees with 22 one-thousandths of an inch depth, signifying his long service with the 22nd SAS.
The Craighead OZ9’s slide serrations are cut at 22 degrees and Craighead’s version of the Blackbeard flag is on the left side, along with an hourglass. (ZEV Technologies)
The Christian Craighead “CC” logo is on the slide’s right side. The name “Craighead” is machined into the top. The slide’s left side features the Craighead version of the famous Blackbeard pirate flag. An hourglass appears beside it.
Christian Craighead wore a Blackbeard flag patch on his gear, inspiring the Blackbeard adaptation on the Craighead OZ9. (The Reptile House Blog)
Craighead wore a Blackbeard flag patch on his SAS gear. The skeleton’s stance is based on the famous photo of Craighead entering the Nairobi hotel building in 2019.
The hourglass represents time. “In a firefight,” says Craighead, “time is key. Not just about the time to take the shot, that’s the obvious, but it’s time to make a decision whether to shoot or not to shoot; whether to act and when not to act; and that was key in my life.”
The Blackbeard flag adaptation on the slide is based on this photo of Craighead entering the Nairobi hotel building in 2019. (armedfigures.com)
“I want to give everyone versatility with this gun. You may not be the best, the strongest, or the brightest. But you might just be the only one willing to put yourself out there. The time may come when you choose to do the difficult right or the easy wrong. When that day comes, do your best and be prepared to do it again, again, and again.”
Join Travis Haley, former Recon Marine, as he helps us improve our draw and fire times with handguns on the range. In this video, he discusses training with deliberate practice.
Join Travis Haley as he walks us through the deliberate Draw.
Practice with Travis Haley
Haley points out that when we go to the range, we usually practice things that we’re good at because it’s fun and motivational. We feel good about doing something we’re good at! However, when we look at a shooter going to the range and an expert shooter going to the range, there is a difference; Deliberate Practice. This means the expert realizes the skills he is not good at and concentrates on those skills. His practice will be based on the skills that he’s not good at and needs improvement. He can dissect and understand the items he needs to work on through self-diagnosis.
Many people look at experts and say, “I wish I could shoot like that guy.” Or, “I’ll never be as good as he is.” That is a mental flaw. People who think like that have already defeated themselves. Remember Roger Bannister? He is the first person credited with breaking the four-minute barrier of running the mile. Until he broke it, people “knew” that it was impossible to break that four-minute time, so they didn’t try to accomplish it. Interestingly, once Bannister broke it, several others followed suit. Why? Because now they realized, in their minds, that it could be done. Once their minds realized it could be done, they did it. The biggest battle is in mind.
If you think I don’t know if I’ll ever get there, wipe that slate clean. Replace that with, I’ll figure out how, and I will do this. Where you set, your mind is where it will go. This is Deliberate Practice. Understanding the fundamentals is paramount.
I’ve heard that advanced techniques are the basics that are done well, and I believe there’s a lot of truth to that. That’s how professionals become good; they practice the basics until they are reflexive.
Putting a magazine in a gun and firing as fast as possible is not deliberate practice; that’s getting ahead of our headlights; being self-aware means that we can diagnose our problems. Once we start self-diagnosing, we reach higher intelligence, and with that, we can then figure out what we need to do more or less and how to improve.
We all want to be fast and accurate with our draw, but we don’t want to miss any of the steps to achieve that speed and accuracy.
How Travis Haley Trains
Travis sets a shot timer for five seconds. For the first drill, he’s not allowed to fire a shot for the first five seconds. When the timer sounds at the five-second mark, the pistol should be going off. During the five seconds, you’re working on fundamentals, and doing so slowly forces you to focus on those fundamentals rather than rushing through. Focus on getting a good grip, including good leverage, friction, and flexibility, proper sight alignment and sight picture, and make sure you’re getting a good trigger press and stance. And follow through on all those things. If you don’t already have these fundamentals down, this will help you achieve that. These things need to be ingrained at a subconscious level before you begin going faster.
Travis explains how a shot timer can help with training to improve our draw speed.
Haley starts the first five-second drill off at ten yards and goes for a head shot to maximize accuracy. As soon as the timer goes off, he begins counting out loud backward from five to track how much time he has left mentally.
Travis went for headshots to maximize his accuracy potential. As a result, his training times gradually decreased.
Next, Haley reduces the time to four seconds, the same drill. Again, attention is given to all the basics. He notes that each timed drill should be fired five to ten times before reducing the time to get the most out of the training.
Finally, he arrives at the two-second time limit for his drill, and he points out that this is the average time that is accepted that someone should be able to draw and land an accurate shot. He elaborates that this is not good enough because, in real life, time is life. Haley mentions that drawing and firing will probably feel like slow motion for you at two seconds because you’ve been slowly reducing your times and adjusting to them as you go.
Eventually, Haley ends up at a one-second time limit. Again, he mentions that one second should not feel overly restrictive because you’ve gradually reduced the seconds.
Long Day at the Range
After mastering the one-second time limit, he suggests reducing the time to one-tenth-second intervals. So after one second, you’d adjust to .90 seconds, and so on. Haley got down to .70 seconds but had a miss, which he self-diagnosed (the reason was that he did not get his arms to full extension before firing). He announced that he’d stay at .70 seconds for the afternoon because of the miss, and he wanted to master that time frame.
Professionals self-diagnose their problems and work on improving their shortcomings.
I’ll jump in here and note that his training was from an open carry configuration. Now that is useful if you carry in such a manner, possibly as a civilian or even uniformed personnel who carry openly in their job duties. However, if you’re a civilian who typically carries concealed, your training should be drawing from concealment to make things as realistic as possible. Practicing from an open draw and then carrying concealed leads to a conflict.
Haley states that starting at five seconds gives you a warmup, progressing downward in time so that the training would be gradual. He likens it to going to the gym; you wouldn’t throw on the heaviest weight right away; you’d gradually work up to it. After that, the basics become more deliberate and ingrained, and you’re eventually operating on a subconscious level.
Deliberate, slow, measured practice leads to speed later and unconscious technique.
Don’t say, “I hope,” say, “I will.” Hoping is begging, and begging is for losers. So don’t be a loser.
All in all, a great video. The training doctrine of reducing the times is sound. Just remember to train as you will fight regarding carrying openly or concealed.
While traditional rifle folks will claim that shooting submachine guns at distance is folly, the same is true of pistol caliber carbines (PCCs). Travis Haley from Haley Strategic Partners disagrees. He and his crew prove you can place effective shots out to 200 yards if you understand holdover.
Subs at a Distance: Know Your Holdover
His example is a 9mm H&K MP5 zeroed to 25 yards. As expected, at 50 yards, the rounds landed slightly above the 25-yard shots thanks to ballistic physics. Knowing this happens, a shooter can put the reticle slightly below for precise shots. However, the holdover was insignificant enough that even unadjusted shooting lands center mass shots from distance.
Shooting at 200 yards.
So how does Travis do at 100, 200, and even 300 yards? Watch the video to find out.
Sling Control
While many people will attach a stock or brace to a PCC or submachine gun, Travis recommends first trying a sling to get better control. Tighten the sling to the point where the gun is a comfortable distance away without being too loose and away or too close where the arms are too slack. Next is the grip.
Your dominant hand should grip like a motorcycle throttle for maximum torque while your support hand adjusts to the sights: thumb down with irons, thumb on top with an optic.
The sling tension method isn’t an ideal one, but there are times when it must be used.
See it in action here:
Stance
We’ve all been taught the box or athletic stance, the one that looks like a shortstop fielding a ground ball. But what if that isn’t the most effective or efficient stance after all? What if we should take our cues more from martial arts than from sports? Travis demonstrates what he argues is a better stance for a stronger presence and recoil management:
When you’re done, check out our selection of PCC mags and accessories.
With all the chaos of the last couple years, more people than ever are taking control of their personal security. Carrying a gun competently is part of that, but do you know how to evaluate threats and non-threats? Paul Howe of Combat Shooting and Tactics (CSAT) discusses a basic system of target discrimination that he teaches in the video linked below.
Paul Howe of Combat Shooting and Tactics has a simple system of scanning for potential threats.
Keep in mind that this is an introduction. Reading articles and watching videos will help your mindset and get you thinking. But That’s not a substitute for actual training.
Paul’s System of Target Discrimination
A system of discrimination is basically a way to tell the good guys from the bad guys. Its purpose is twofold. First, it can keep you from engaging a non-threat with deadly force. Second, it can help you articulate later, in court, why you deemed someone to be threatening enough to use deadly force.
Paul calls it “cleaning” or scanning people with whom you come in contact. He says, “It will work for everybody out there: law enforcement, government security, civilians, teachers, guardians, or church security.” It’s a simple system but it requires practice. Fortunately, it’s based on situational awareness, which you can practice while going about your everyday business. Make the effort and it will soon become a habit.
Target Discrimination Focus Areas
Paul trains his students to scan the following areas IN THIS ORDER. It’s a general to specific progression.
Whole Person – Make sure the person is not a cop or security guard. That means you have to look for a badge or some other indicator. Those indicators could be multiple places. Some cops, for instance, may wear their badge on their belt or around their neck. Scan the entire body.
Hand/Hand – Notice Paul doesn’t say “hands.” Develop the habit of looking at each hand individually and determining whether there is a weapon or threat there. The hands are the fastest and most likely way to produce a weapon. Paul never buys practice targets with the hands at the same level, forcing his students to look at both. He knows that your eyes progress high to low, so he may put a gun in the higher hand and a badge in the lower. Look at each hand. Watch the video to see what I’m talking about here.
Waistline – The belt or pockets are the most likely place from which to produce a weapon. Progress from the hands to the waistline. You aren’t just looking for weapons. Again, a clue to the person’s identity may be there.
Wingspan – What’s in reach for you to use as a weapon or resource should you need it? He only mentions this in passing.
Demeanor – Again, this is only mentioned but we can assume he means the demeanor of the person you’re observing as well as your own. I recommend looking at Paul’s other training aids for a better explanation.
Observe each hand independently. Paul’s targets deliberately place the hands at different levels to teach that skill.
Practice and Targeting
You can practice the first three focus areas just walking around in your daily routine. Notice people before they get into your “sphere of influence.” If they get too close and they have a weapon, you’re already behind the curve. Engage and “clean” people at a distance with your eyes. That means you’ll have to get your nose out of your phone. “The further we can see, we can start to orient off that.”
Go slow. Done properly, your eyes have time to engage the whole person, each hand, and the waistline. You can then assess demeanor. Remember, you can’t take back a bullet so take advantage of time if you have it.
Look for any potential weapon or indicator of the person’s job or identity as you “clean” them.
If you decide to act against a perceived threat, Paul recommends targeting the thoracic cavity. That means you must know your holds for your firearms. You’ll most likely be at point of aim/point of impact with a handgun. I will add that recent events force us to consider the possibility of a bad guy wearing body armor. I offer no specific advice on that other than to be aware of the possibility beforehand and train accordingly.
What it all comes down to, Paul says, is that he wants you to exercise mental discipline before taking a human life. Again, once that trigger is pulled, you can never, ever take it back. We must make that effort. Because we’re the good guys. Remember that.
AR-15 pistols are fantastic for portability, maneuverability, and use in tighter spaces like trucks. Of course, if your AR-15 pistol is chambered in a handgun caliber, it’s not going to be quite as effective as rifle caliber models. The CMMG Dissent gives gun owners the best of both worlds, and then some, with its super-compact, bufferless profile, rifle caliber chambering options, and overall quality.
The CMMG Dissent is a bufferless AR-15 pistol that’s available in 300 BLK, 5.56 NATO, or 5.7x28mm. (Photo credit: CMMG)
CMMG provides the following details about their Dissent AR-15 pistol:
Outfitted with CMMG ZEROED parts and accessories and donning AR15 modularity, the CMMG DISSENT boasts superior firepower in a small familiar package and will initially be offered in three different calibers with .300BLK and 5.56x45mm utilizing a Direct Impingement operating system, while the 5.7x28mm version utilizes CMMG’s patented Radial Delayed Blowback operating system. Both .300BLK and 5.56x45mm will accept and ship with their respective 30-round Magpul PMAGS and the 5.7x28mm will accept and ship with the 32-round CMMG 5.7x28mm Gen II Conversion Magazine.
The CMMG Dissent doesn’t have a buffer tube, so it’s more compact and easier to maneuver. (Photo credit: CMMG)
The CMMG Dissent features the manufacturer’s patent-pending Compact Action, which is how it’s possible to run the gun without the receiver extension and buffer assembly installed. This technology utilizes dual guide rods and springs that are contained in the upper receiver to cycle the gun’s action. It’s compatible with Direct Impingement and CMMG’s patented Radial Delayed Blowback operating systems. This is a fascinating design and promises to broaden the company’s lines overall.
Although CMMG describes the Dissent as an AR-15 pistol, they also refer to it as a PDW. (Photo credit: CMMG)
CMMG Dissent Features
With a 4 lb. pull weight, the AR-D trigger showcases a light, repeatable break. Triggertech AR-D 2 Stage Trigger, developed in collaboration with CMMG and fully optimized for use with DISSENT firearms and upper receiver groups.
AR-15 Modularity — pair CMMG’s DISSENT Upper with any Mil-Spec compatible AR15 lower when using the provided pic rail adapter.
Available in three calibers: 300 BlackOut, 5.56 NATO, and 5.7x28mm.
Picatinny rail end plate for greater customization.
Forward non-reciprocating side charging handle, with a left-hand model available.
Ships with 2 magazines: 300 BlackOut and 5.56 NATO ship with their respective 30-round Magpul PMAGs and the 5.7x28mm ships with 32-round CMMG Gen II Conversion Magazines.
The CMMG Dissent is available in half a dozen different colors. (Photo credit: CMMG)
Guns like the CMMG Dissent have a fair amount of versatility to back them, and because this one’s made by a respected gun maker, its quality and reliability are assured. Aside from the trio of calibers the Dissent is offered in, it also comes in six different colors: Cerakote Armor Black, Cerakote Charcoal Green, Cerakote Coyote Tan, Cerakote Midnight Bronze, Cerakote Sniper Grey, and Cerakote Titanium. Whether you’re in the market for a new truck gun or searching for a good home defense gun, the Dissent is well worth a closer look. Not to mention it looks like a lot of fun.
At SHOT, I was tasked with covering Mossberg’s new turkey shotgun. I’m a shotgun guy heck, I’m even a hunter, but I’m not a turkey hunter. I took the gig because it was adjacent to my interests, and I’m always willing to learn. When I stumbled across the Mossberg 940 Pro Turkey and observed its features, layout, and design, I realized it was more than a turkey gun. The Mossberg 940 Pro Turkey had all the makings of a tactical shotgun.
I was told that Mossberg had a tactical model on the way, but it wasn’t quite ready for SHOT. The tactical model, of course, came out, and when it did, it looked great, but I couldn’t get the Turkey model off my mind. I felt it might be a better gun than the Pro Tactical for tactical applications. Plus, the old-school camo finish captured my heart.
Into the Mossberg 940 Pro
Mossberg builds the king of pump-action shotguns, but semi-autos have been their main focus. The Mossberg 930 was a solid gun, and heck, I still enjoy shooting mine. It is a maintenance queen, though, and seemed to gum up fairly badly after a few hundred rounds. The Mossberg 940 Pro and JM Pro were designed to address some of the shortcomings of the 930.
The Mossberg 940 recoiled mildly and was pleasant to shoot.
Mossberg claims the guns can go 1,500 rounds between cleanings, which is quite nice. Additionally, they enlarged and knurled the charging handle and enlarged the bolt release. Mossberg trimmed out the loading port and relieved it for faster reloads. Three-gunners can rejoice at quad loading, and everyone else will enjoy the fact their thumbs won’t lose a chunk of flesh when speed reloading.
The loading port is wide, and you won’t lose a chunk of thumb to it.
Both the Pro Turkey and Tactical models feature an implemented cut for mini red dot sights using the Shield RMSc footprint. The very best optic for this gun is the Holosun 507K. It packs the three reticle system that includes the eye-catching 32 MOA circle. Smart shotgunners will pattern their buckshot inside the 32 MOA circle to maximize pellet accountability.
The optic cut is made directly into the receiver of the shotgun.
The Mossberg 940 Pro series implement an ingenious idea in the form of the stock’s adjustable length of pull. You aren’t stuck with that 14.5-inch LOP because you can easily adjust the length of pull via a series of spacers. Shooters can also adjust the cast, and lefties will rejoice, especially with the vent rib of the Turkey model.
The stock allows you to mix in multiple inserts to increase the LOP or decrease it.
But it’s for turkeys!
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. Black is tactical. The Tactical does do some things better. Like, come with a +3 round magazine extension and an M-LOK clamp for accessories. However, I can get an M-LOK clamp and purchase any +3 mag extension for the Turkey model. That’s easy.
The 940 Pro series is replacing the P30 series.
What I really like more about the Turkey model comes down to the barrel and sighting system. Mossberg likes to mount their bead sights directly to the barrel. This places them too low and makes it look like you are hitting high. The 940 Tactical features a high viz front sight mounted directly to the barrel. The Mossberg 940 JM Pro-Turkey features a vent rib and a massive high visibility front sight. Due to the vent rib, it’s mounted higher and has the correct POA/POI. Plus, the size makes it easier to co-witness with the red dot I’ve mounted.
The High Viz front sight is massive and easy to see.
There isn’t a huge difference between the two. However, the benefits of the Tactical model are easily replicated in the Turkey model, but not vice versa. I also think the low-profile nature of the Turkey gun can be beneficial. Darryl Bolke has talked about a Model 12 being a low-profile tactical shotgun that no anti-gun fanatic would feel threatened by. The Mossberg 940 Turkey Pro has that same appeal and low-profile nature.
The Camo finish is to die for.
It’s literally called a turkey gun, and it wears the same camo as grandpa! How can it be scary?
At the Range With the Mossberg 940 Pro
The Mossberg 940 Pro Turkey might be the best defensive shotgun Mossberg’s ever made.
A big thing with semi-auto shotguns is reliability. The ole Mossberg 930 was reliable…until it got plenty dirty and then wasn’t. However, the Mossberg 940 Pro says it can last longer and run dirtier with its revamped gas system. I went to the range with a mix of birdshot and buckshot. Let it be noted that the Pro Turkey model comes with an XX-Full Turkey Tube choke, and they usually don’t play well with slugs.
It’s easy to replace with a cylinder bore choke, but I didn’t have one, so it’s just buck and bird today, which is fine because I don’t use slugs often. Anyway, with a wide mix of loads, I just went ham with the gun. I let lead fly, and the Mossberg 940 Pro Turkey never let me down. Hell, it even cycled 2.5-inch buckshot loads. Birdshot came from Federal by way of Walmart, and buckshot was a mix of Federal Vital Shok, S&B, and some cheap Lambro Guard buckshot. None of the ammo proved problematic.
S&B is dirty ammo, but the Mossberg 940 seemingly cycles everything.
The big iron sight is triangular, green, and mean! It’s fairly large and very easy to see and get on target. I barely used it because I tossed a Holosun 507K on the setup and went running with that. Zeroing took no time at all, and I was dead on. I dropped round after round of tightly patterned birdshot and buckshot without issue.
Riding the Beast
The gas-operated design of the Mossberg 940 Pro series ensures the gun is super comfy to handle, easy to control, and doesn’t beat the hell out of you. It’s fairly soft in the recoil department, and with a good push/pull technique, the gun barely moves. I dropped three-shot strings before the first shell hit the ground.
The 940 Pro features massive controls that are easy to access and engage.
Oh, and that brings us to cycling speed. The Beretta 1301 might be the fastest cycling shotgun on the planet, but the 940 series is at its tail. The gun cycles super fast, especially with the low recoil. Dropping two rounds of buckshot in less than 1.5 seconds and having both be on target is a nice touch for a 12 gauge shotgun.
What’s fairly impressive is the trigger. It’s light, crisp, a little creepy, but also light. Shotgun triggers have gotten better and better, and it shows with the Mossberg 940 Pro. The same could be said for ergonomics. The lightweight design delivers an easy-handling gun. Huge controls make manipulating the shotgun easy, and not losing some blood and flesh to my tube reload is a nice touch.
A Better Mousetrap
The Mossberg 940 Pro series are proving to be fantastic shotguns. It’s sad that America has fallen a little far behind in the semi-auto shotgun world, but maybe Mossberg is bringing semi-autos back to the United States. The Pro Turkey is certainly a worthy contender and a shotgun worth peeking at. What say you? Would you go Pro Turkey or Pro Tactical?
If there’s one cartridge that’s been getting increasingly popular, it’s 5.7x28mm. Of course, not all guns are made equal, which is why you should take the time to choose the right gun for you before adding another pistol to your collection. That said, if the 5.7x28mm chambering is what you’re after, it’s worth a closer look at the FN Five-seveN MRD. Not only do you get a handgun backed by FN’s stellar reputation but you get one that’s optics ready, right out of the box.
According to FN, their Five-seveN MRD is “what other pistols want to be when they grow up.” The gun maker went on to explain the details of the gun’s optics-ready platform:
…the Five-seveN MRD’s optic mount consists of a series of plates that mate the optic to the slide. Just like FN’s 509 optics-ready pistols, users are able to mount a miniature red dot sight within minutes using the corresponding plates and screws provided with the pistol. The system is compatible with most common miniature red dot sights including the Leupold DeltaPoint Pro, Trijicon RMR, Vortex Optics, Burris FastFire series, Docter Optics and more. The three-dot photo luminescent sights glow in low light conditions, are adjustable for elevation and windage and co-witness with certain optics..
Red dots are here to stay. Do you have one on your carry gun? Do you want one? (Photo credit: FN)
Chris Cole, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for FN America, LLC. , had the following to say about the optics-ready Five-seveN:
The FN Five-seveN pistol has been immensely popular since its introduction. Its original design capturing the performance of the FN-designed 5.7x28mm cartridge made it an instant success, and it’s positioned to do it yet again with the dramatic redesign of the FN Five-seveN MRD. With the addition of an integral optics mounting system on the slide, an already accurate pistol now redefines what handgun accuracy means. We’re truly excited to bring this new pistol to market with features our customers want in their favorite FN caliber.
A red dot sight and weapon-mounted light make the FN Five-seveN even more awesome. (Photo credit: FN)
Crisp trigger with 6-pound, 2-ounce trigger pull weight
Target crowned, match grade 4.8 inch barrel
Aggressive slide serrations
Slide cut to mount most optics
Minimal recoil from the FN 5.7x28mm cartridge
Add most MRDs in minutes, without a gunsmith
Machined steel slide with polymer cover
Enhanced slide cover improves cocking control
Photo-luminescent front sight with adjustable rear
The FN Five-seveN MRD is available in black and has an optics-ready slide, so you can mount your red dot sight to the pistol within minutes. (Photo credit: FN)
Specifications:
Caliber: 5.7x28mm
Operating system: Delayed blowback, Single-action only
Magazine capacity: 10 or 20 rounds
Overall weight: 25.2 ounces, empty, without magazine
If you’re into shotguns at all, you likely know that Italy produces some of the finest examples of that venerable firearm in the entire world. If you didn’t know that, well, you do now. Beretta continues the tradition with their line of 1301 shotguns, but does the 1301 Tactical meet that high standard? In the video linked below, John from Pew Pew Tactical spends a day on the range with a Beretta 1301 Tactical and tells us what he thinks.
The Beretta 1301 Tactical continues the tradition of quality Italian shotguns. (tenor.com)
John admits from the start that he doesn’t have an extensive shotgunning background. He owns a full-size Remington 870 that he shoots a few times a year and that’s it. So, this is more of an everyman review of the 1301 Tactical, which I will refer to from here on out as simply “the 1301.” Along those lines, John notes that the 1301, despite being Beretta’s flagship semi-automatic shotgun, is very forgiving to less experienced shooters.
The 1301 Tactical is part of Beretta’s larger 1301 line of shotguns.
Beretta 1301 Tactical Features and Specifications
Let’s start with some specs and features from the Beretta website:
12 Gauge
Barrel length: 18.5 inches
Overall Length: 37.8 inches
Chamber: 3 inches
Available Finishes: Black, OD Green, Flat Dark Earth, and a Marine edition with a high-visibility, corrosion-resistant finish, and Beretta’s “Aqua-Tech” coating.
Synthetic stock and handguard
Sights: Adjustable ghost ring rear and an interchangeable front blade with protective ears.
Capacity: Variable. According to Beretta’s website, the 1301’s capacity ranges from 4+1 to 7+1 depending on the length of the magazine tube and whether you’re using 2 ¾-inch or 3-inch shells.
The Beretta 1301 Tactical performed well on the range.
John talks about a few of these features, saying the sights “work quite well.” The adjustable ghost ring rear sight is nice for slugs. There is also a pic rail on top of the receiver if you want to mount an optic. John suggests that an RMR or Holosun 507c might work well, though he did not use an optic in his tests.
The 1301 Tactical comes with an interchangeable front blade and a fully adjustable rear ghost ring. The receiver has a pic rail for optics.
The elongated handguard features aggressive texturing for positive retention. It also has some nice grooves “that allow a shot shell to neatly fit in the swell while you’ve got the gun gripped in your support hand to facilitate the most tactical of reloads.” John says the 13-inch stock feels short compared to his 870 but thinks it fits well with the 1301’s overall compact feel after he got used to it. Beretta includes spacers if you want a longer length of pull. John says there is a model available with a Mesa Tactical stock and pistol grip.
The 13-inch stock felt short to John at first. The gun does come with spacers to extend the length of pull.
One of the first things you notice about the 1301 is the “chunky ass charging handle.” John says it looks more like a cabinet doorknob than a firearm component but in a good kind of way. He thinks the 1301’s oversized fire controls are “one of the coolest parts of the shotgun.” Running a shotgun effectively isn’t always easy and requires practice. The larger controls make it easier to pick up, which is why John says the gun is forgiving to those who may be just learning to handle a shotgun.
John says the oversized charging handle, bolt release, and cross-bolt safety are among “the coolest parts of the gun.”
The other controls are an easy-to-reach, textured cross-bolt safety just aft of the loading gate and a large, textured bolt release. The latter is “intelligently placed just below the ejection port to facilitate a hyper-fast bolt drop during a tactical reload from a locked bolt.”
The 1301 has a nuanced operating system.
But John says “tactical reload” might not be the correct terminology because of how the 1301’s operating system works. “You’re likely going to be breechloading the gun quite a bit.” What he means by that is the 1301 won’t chamber a round when you manually work the bolt unless the hammer is down. That means you either have to pull the trigger on an empty chamber to drop the hammer or hit the small button on the rear of the lifter. That pulls a round from the mag tube onto the lifter to be chambered when you work the charging handle.
Because of the 1301’s operating system, you’ll likely be breech-loading a lot, which is actually a good thing.
It took me a minute to picture that, but John links to another video that takes you through the process. Once I got it, I saw the value, as John did, of being able to quickly change from one shell type to another. Say you’re loaded with birdshot but need a slug. You can make that switch without emptying the entire mag tube. All you do is rack the charging handle manually, insert the round you want, and you’re in business. Continuing to fire normally will take you through the magazine, or you can repeat the process as many times as you want. It will definitely take practice, but it looks like a nice feature once you get used to it.
The button on the back of the lifter allows you to manually load the chamber with the charging handle.
The trigger is “quite nice and crisp” at about four pounds, which goes well with Beretta’s “Blink” gas recoil system. The company advertises the Blink system as being 36 percent faster than any other semi-automatic shotgun on the market. John notes that he lacks the experience to offer an informed opinion on that claim but says the 1301 “does indeed feel fast.”
One Small Bizarre Issue with the 1301
He ran a variety of bird and 00 buckshot during his day on the range with good results. He did, however, experience a “small, kind of bizarre issue.” It seems that hitting the bolt release in a specific way with a round already chambered induces a double feed when the gun tries to load a round from the lifter and one from the mag tube simultaneously. That results in “a quite obnoxious traffic jam inside the breech.”
The 1301 was susceptible to double feeding if the bolt release was hit in a certain way. Beretta says the problem has been fixed in the Gen 2 1301s.
Beretta says this problem has been addressed with the Gen 2 1301s so just make sure to grab the latest version of the gun. John says the problem did go away after removing the already installed mag tube capacity blocker, which is apparently aimed at hunting regulations that limit capacity. John notes the strangeness of that feature on a gun labeled as “Tactical,” but it is, as they say, what it is. So, limiting the mag capacity to two rounds, plus having rounds that aren’t exactly 2 ¾ inches may contribute to the problem.
Despite being the flagship of Beretta’s semiautomatic shotgun line, the 1301 is very forgiving to less experienced shotgunners.
Final Thoughts on the 1301 Tactical
“Outside of that,” John says, “the Beretta 1301 is pretty damn fun to run, although…throwing a couple hundred rounds of 12 gauge downrange in a day is a great way to just kinda rattle the hell out of your skeleton.” The things one does for science and gun reviews.
Beretta doesn’t list a weight value for the 1301 on its website, but John comments on how light it is. He estimates it to be about two pounds lighter than the Benelli M4, which is probably its closest point of comparison. That lightness, John says, makes the 1301 feel like it “jumps around a little bit more than a normal shotgun.” He doesn’t see that as a knock, however, because it’s part of the trade-off that comes with a lighter, more compact gun.
The 1301 “jumps around” a little more than a normal shotgun, but that’s the trade-off for the lighter weight and compact size.
“The 1301 feels sleek and points naturally,” John says. And the fact that he felt halfway competent with the gun after just a few hours and a couple hundred rounds “should tell you something.” He laments that he didn’t have more time with the gun to improve his skills and try some of the nice aftermarket upgrades that are out there. He would especially like to add an extended mag tube, forward rail, and a forward sling point. But Pew Pew Tactical liked the gun so much they bought it from the store that lent it to them for the test. So, that has to be a good sign and maybe we’ll see more of it in the future.
John “had a blast” with the 1301 Tactical.
John closes by saying “I had an absolute blast with it. If you’re in the market for a tactical shotgun that’s sleek, runs well, comes with a host of rad features right off the bat, and isn’t going to break the bank, I’d absolutely recommend getting your hands on a 1301 and seeing how you like it.”
So, what do you think? Does the 1301 Tactical look like a winner? Let us know in the comments. Happy shooting, y’all.
Hard Head Veterans is showcasing their Micro Lattice Pads – which look to be an excellent and affordable upgrade for tactical or ballistic helmets. Developed in association with Carbon, using their Digital Light Synthesis manufacturing process, the Micro Lattice assembly is a purpose-built energy-absorbing structure intended to mitigate Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and other head injuries.
The new Micro Lattice Pad assembly with great energy-absorbing capabilities.
This substantially improves the protective capabilities of the typical ballistic helmet (few of which provide as much impact to blast as they do shrapnel and projectiles).
The new Micro Lattice assembly is both easy to install and increases the level of protection (not NIJ rating; blast and concussion).
The Micro Lattice Pads average single-digit deformation numbers when tested to 1400 fps with 9mm projectiles on our ATE ballistic helmet. Regardless of whether they are at -60 degrees or 160 degrees they still perform the same.
Here’s a close-up of the new Micro Lattice Pad showing the new assembly of the padding.
This cannot be said for standard foam pads.
HHV Micro Lattice Helmet Pads
Up to a 66% decrease in ballistic transient deformation over standard foam pads
Up to a 21.70% decrease in blunt impact accelerations over standard foam pads
Lattice construction allows unrestricted airflow keeping helmets an average of 14 degrees cooler
Pads do not absorb sweat or water making them quick drying, positively buoyant, and easily washable.
Comfort lattice conforms evenly to the user’s head
Available in 1” and ¾” sizes
Shock Absorption
The Carbon DLS process enables lattice structures that absorb and dissipate energy through the precise tuning of strut thickness and cell size.
The new Micro Lattice Pads with their new struts help make installation a breeze.
This lattice structure facilitates the absorption and dissipation of energy by aligning internal damping struts against the directions of impact. With over 28,000 individual struts, the lattice is built so each strut is specially tuned at every point on the helmet. Increases or decreases in the stiffness of the lattice structure are enabled through precise adjustments to the thickness of each strut, allowing the lattice to absorb and disperse energy from various impacts.
Here are the Micro Lattice Pads installed in a helmet; you can see the breadth of coverage.
The Micro Lattice Helmet Pads are compatible with the following helmets, among others: ACH, MICH, LWH, ECH, Crye Precision, Ops-Core, MTEK, Revision/Galvion, Gentex, Team Wendy, United Shield, and most others that utilize Velcro attachment.
The new Micro Lattice Pads assembly wraps around your lid perfectly for an amazing, comfortable fit and the best energy-absorbing formation.
You can find documentation of the ballistic testing online here: cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1099/2326/files/TR-PR146641-DFT1_9mm_V0_167474_1.pdf?v=1645982835.
The new Micro Lattice Pads are a perfect fit for anyone and give an amazing amount of protection for your lid.
You can find the Micro Lattice Helmet Pad system on the Hard Head Veterans website:
