When it comes to high-quality defensive rounds, Speer Ammunition’s Gold Dot line is both popular and proven. The ammo maker’s Gold Dot line was first introduced in 1991, back when its design was truly cutting-edge technology, and it’s only continued to improve with the passage of time. It’s available in a variety of calibers including 380 ACP and 9mm, but if you’re more inclined to use a newer cartridge, it’s also being made in 30 Super Carry.
Looking for a respected defensive load for your 30 Super Carry? Speer Gold Dot Personal Protection is a solid option. (Photo credit: Speer Ammunition)
Speer Ammunition Gold Dot has long been a trusted load of countless members of law enforcement. The company has tested it extensively to check penetration according to FBI ballistic standards, including its ability to penetrate barriers, and the design has also been used a great deal in the field. As for the 30 Super Carry cartridge, Speer states the round gives self-defense-focused gun owners the terminal performance of 9mm, but with greater overall capacity. The company feels the cartridge gives shooters the best features and details through performance and overall size.
Speer Ammunition is well-liked among gun owners, and for good reason. Their ammunition is high-quality and manufactured according to strict guidelines. (Photo credit: Speer Ammunition)
30 Super Carry was invented and officially launched by Federal Premium in 2022. Federal’s Senior Director of Product Management, Jesse Whiteside, released a statement regarding the Speer Gold Dot 30 Super Carry load: “We are excited to add this new cartridge to the line of the No. 1 bullet choice of law enforcement. The new 30 Super Carry option packs all of the functional features that law enforcement and concealed carry users have trusted in a personal protection round. The Uni-Cor bonded Gold Dot Bullet is designed for better weight retention, deep penetration, and exceptional expansion. It’s clear to see why the line of Gold Dot ammunition continues to be so popular.”
Choosing defensive ammunition doesn’t have to be difficult. Do your own research and read the test results before selecting a load. (Photo credit: Speer Ammunition)
According to Speer, their Gold Dot line “remains a benchmark for both self-defense and duty use, and it’s earned the trust of law enforcement world-wide. It features a pressure-formed lead core that’s bonded to an extremely uniform jacket a single atom at a time. This virtually eliminates separation on impact for more retained weight and penetration to crucial depths. Its Gold Dot hollow-point design expands consistently through the full range of barriers. Ignition and cycling are guaranteed thanks to sealed primers and nickel-plated brass.”
A closer look at an expanded 30 Super Carry bullet. (Photo credit: Speer Ammunition)
When you’re choosing ammunition that absolutely must work at the most important moment of your life, care must be taken in its selection. You want defensive loads with a proven history that cycle consistently and perform reliably with stellar weight retention and penetration upon impact. Speer Gold Dot has always delivered on those things and these 30 Super Carry rounds promise to do the same.
The 30 Super Carry addition to the Speer Gold Dot line features a 115-grain Jacketed Hollow Point bullet, nickel-plated casing for greater visibility in low-light situations, and sealed primer. It’s being sold in boxes of 20 with an MSRP of $35.99.
As a relatively new cartridge that was launched in the first quarter of 2022, 30 Super Carry is definitely the new hotness when it comes to self-defense handguns. The cartridge was designed by Federal Premium and there are already a number of handguns chambered in it, so it’s a good thing more ammunition options are also coming out. CCI is among the ammo lineup with their CCI Blazer Brass 30 Super Carry 115 grain FMJ FN (Full Metal Jacket Flat Nose).
Looking for a training round for your 30 Super Carry? CCI’s Blazer Brass FMJ FN is now available. (Photo credit: CCI)
CCI’s Handgun Ammunition Product Director, Mike Holm, had the following to say about the round: “The 30 Super Carry is an all-new handgun chambering launched this year. The innovative cartridge fires a smaller-diameter bullet than 9mm Luger yet carries the same energy at the muzzle. Plus, it has significantly superior ballistics than the 380 Auto. This small and mighty cartridge truly changes the game for those looking for the most modern self-defense, conceal-carry option available.”
Regarding future possibilities and the round’s components, Holm went on to say, “The all-new cartridge could also someday be chambered in smaller, easier to conceal handguns. Blazer Brass 30 Super Carry uses reliable 115-grain full metal jacket bullets and reloadable brass, plus quality primers and propellants.”
Even training rounds should be good quality, and CCI Brazer Brass delivers with its new 30 Super Carry load. (Photo credit: CCI)
It’s common to think training ammunition doesn’t matter, but it does. The quality of your rounds makes a difference in everything from the life of your gun to accuracy, and if the grain of the bullets is far different than your defensive ammunition the variations are even more extreme. That’s not to say you shouldn’t train with your defensive loads, because you should, but it’s a good idea to use training rounds of the same weight.
CCI’s Blazer Brass uses new brass, meaning it can be reloaded, and they load all their ammunition according to strict standards. That way shooters get a consistent performance, reliable cycling, and the option to collect spent brass to reload for even more trigger time. It’s good quality ammunition from a respected ammunition manufacturer, and using well-made ammo helps make your practice time count.
The 30 Super Carry rounds from CCI are FMJ FN—Full Metal Jacket Flat Nose—and are designed for training. (Photo credit: CCI)
According to the manufacturer, “Blazer Brass handgun ammunition features reloadable brass cases, quality primers and clean-burning propellants. It offers reliable, accurate performance for target shooting.”
This training ammunition features CCI’s FMJ FN bullets for consistency and accuracy and utilizes standard boxer primers for ease of reloading. The ballistics charts on CCI’s website are a good tool to give shooters an idea of the round’s capabilities and limitations, but there’s nothing that can replace doing your own testing.
Examining charts like this velocity chart of CCI Blazer Brass 30 Super Carry 115 grain FMJ FN is a good way to get an idea of a round’s capabilities. (Photo credit: CCI)
CCI Blazer Brass 30 Super Carry 115 grain FMJ FN is available at an MSRP of $30.99.
The 1911 platform has been around for a long time, which you can figure out by referencing its name. In the century-plus since its inception, the 1911 has undergone a lot of transformations including single-stack to double-stack models and the occasional polymer design. It’s also offered in more calibers than its original 45 ACP. With that in mind, Springfield Armory manufactures the popular Garrison 1911 in 9x19mm Parabellum.
The Springfield Armory Garrison line is available in 9mm. (Photo credit: Springfield Armory)
The respected gun maker released a statement regarding their handguns:
Anyone familiar with the classic 1911 pistol will be right at home with the Garrison. With its traditional barrel bushing system and wood grips, this is a pistol that captures the charm of a design with more than a century of service behind it. At the same time, enhancements such as the match grade stainless steel barrel, skeletonized hammer, extended beavertail grip safety with memory bump, and more ensure impressive performance.
Springfield Armory’s Vice President of Marketing, Steve Kramer made the following remark about the 9mm chambered 1911s: “The Garrison in 9mm is designed to appeal to those who respect tradition and appreciate the flat-shooting aspects of a full-size 9mm 1911. With a forged steel foundation for strength and heirloom-quality construction, this is a pistol that offers a modern take on a proven classic.”
Springfield Armory is known for their line of 1911s and with the Garrison model offered in 9mm, your options are even greater. (Photo credit: Springfield Armory)
The Springfield Armory Garrison has a variety of features to appeal to serious shooters, including:
Thinline checkered wood grips
Skeletonized trigger
Slide serrations at the rear of the slide
The floorplate of the magazine extends beyond the front of the grip for faster magazine changes
Available with stainless steel or blued finish
Dovetail, drift adjustable sights
Reliable performance
Designed for accuracy
The Springfield Garrison 1911 has checkered thinline wood grips with a double-diamond pattern with the Crossed Cannon logo so shooters can maintain a grip even with wet hands. (Photo credit: Springfield Armory)
In addition to the stainless steel Garrison, Springfield Armory offers this blued version of the 9mm chambered 1911. (Photo credit: Springfield Armory)
1911s don’t have to be chambered in 45 ACP and, in fact, thanks to ballistic advances, 45 ACP is no longer the ideal carry cartridge. 9mm is the reigning champion of self-defense cartridges, so it makes good sense to have at least one 1911 chambered in it. The Garrison is a beautiful, classic 1911 chambered in the popular 9mm cartridge and it was made with 1911 aficionados in mind.
The Springfield Garrison 1911 in 9mm is available now. MSRP starts at $849.00.
The AK has a long and interesting history and unfortunately, we’ve seen them in current action in Ukraine in its newest version, the AK12. But does it kind of suck compared to other modern weapons? In his recent video, Brandon Herrera takes a look at how the AK12 stacks up against its namesake and what the Russians could have done better.
Brandon Herrera takes a look at Russia’s newest combat rifle, the AK12. While there are some improvements, overall, Brandon said there are things they definitely could have done better.
Brandon’s channel does a lot on the AK rifle platform and he’s no stranger to them. The AK has been around since 1947 in Russia. In the video, he points out that over the years the furniture and appearance may have changed, but that the heart of the gun had stayed the same. The thought is “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it.” Well, they wanted to fix it.
The next major version was the AK74 which changed things for the AK. With the AK74 they switched over to shooting 5.45 ammo, around the same time the Americans switched over to 5.56. The major changes were the 90-degree gas block update along with the front sight block with threads to attach the muzzle device. With the AK74 and the 100 series, they tried to standardize things but the changes didn’t stick.
The story of the AK12 goes back to the original AK rifles. There have been updates over the years, including the AK74 and 100 Series, that kept the heart of the rifle the same but with updates to the furniture.
The AK series of rifles needed to evolve and update in order to keep up with the West—enter the AK12 in 2018. Prior to the AK12, there was no way to attach lasers, flashlights, easily mounted optics, or IR to the AK platform. Brandon points out that the earliest visions of the AK12 can be seen in early Call of Duty or Battlefield video games and were pretty sexy. Sadly, real-life AK12s did not have the optic option. He said that you either get an optic or a rail to mount one, but not both.
The AK12 gives a few updates to previous variants. The first update was the folding stock, similar to the stock on the AK74, with a button release. Another update that was found on the AK12 is the dust cover with an integrated rail for optics. The new furniture, like adjustable stock, polymer handguard with rails, gas block combo with sight and muzzle brake helped bring it to a newer look. The one item Brandon says he really likes is the updated flat edge bottom magazine that makes it less awkward to shoot prone and helps keep it pretty level.
The AK12 does have some good things going for it, like the updated dustcover with integrated rails for easier mounting of accessories, the combo gas block and sight, and the thread on the muzzle brake.
So what makes the AK12 not so awesome?
Like most reviewers of the video state, the AK12 is outdated even with the updates. One said, “The AK-12 is a perfect example of the military adopting something that has problems which the civilian market has already solved before its adoption.”
One of the issues Brandon has with the AK12 is the fire control group. There is significant resistance present in the middle racking the weapon that requires a decent amount of force to break through it.
Brandon thinks the AK12 is definitely not a perfect rifle. His reasons:
The AK12 has what looks like an AR buffer tube for the stock, with adjustments, etc. But it isn’t. It is not even compatible with other AR accessories. He said it’s remarkably ok.
The fire control group isn’t great. If the hammer is forward, there is significant resistance in the middle part of the gun. If you rack through it, it’ll be fine. But you have to use significantly more force to get through the resistance point.
The selector override switch has major issues. You can override the setting and push it off the gun, meaning it’ll go past its stopping point on the receiver and go down towards the trigger area and can actually block it. This isn’t a hypothetical problem in that there are actual photos from the field with the selector over the trigger area.
The handguard is lackluster. Brandon said it was neat to have the Picatinny rail for mounting things on the rifle. However, it’s made of plastic and free-floating of the barrel with a lot of play. Definitely not ideal for things you want to keep zeroed and it doesn’t take much pressure to move it around.
The gas block combo is great, in theory. The gas plug was designed to be removed to clean the tube. But the tube assembly isn’t meant to be removed from the gun. Given the fact that the rifle is issued with corrosive ammo that requires the rifle to be cleaned, it’s a bit weird that you can’t really access it to clean it properly.
Brandon ultimately says that while the updates are good, it’s still not so great. Another issue that isn’t great is the selector switch can override the stopping point on the rifle, leading to the selector switch covering part of the trigger area in some instances.
Brandon goes on to discuss options that the Russians could have done to make the AK12 much better but didn’t. The first option was using Zenitco accessories. Even though Zenitico is a Russian company with loads of accessories like a long handguard so the shooter can hold the rifle further forward, the Russians didn’t adopt their stuff. If you tried to do that hold with the existing handguard, you’ll burn your hand.
The other option is SureShot accessories. Another Russian-based company, Brandon says they have a good dustcover/handrail system and other sturdy furniture for the AK12. Both options allow for optics or lasers holding zero on the rifle, something that doesn’t happen now with the handguard.
Overall, does it suck?
Brandon states that it does not entirely suck. It allows for things that the AK74 doesn’t do as well. But what does suck is that they had every opportunity to make the AK12 something good, and they didn’t. He said it was a good example of progression, but it could have been a lot better.
There has been a sharp rise in the availability of shotguns that feed from box magazines. Some love them, some hate them, but either way, they are here to stay. With the sudden rise in popularity, I’ve been thinking about the different avenues, manual of arms, and training methodology to utilize box mag fed shotguns. One of the first ideas I had was to adopt the classic El Presidente drill to make a box mag fed El Pres.
The El Presidente Drill and Its Origins
The El Pres, or El Presidente Drill, comes from Colonel Jeff Cooper. Cooper pioneered firearms training with a focus on the defensive pistol. He helped popularize modern shooting styles, which evolved and changed over time. The El Presidente Drill first saw the light of day in a 1979 issue of American Handgunner magazine.
The drill calls for three targets set up a yard apart or so. The shooter starts with his back turned to the targets with a holstered handgun loaded with six rounds. On the go signal, the shooter turns, engages with two rounds to the A zone of each target. The shooter then reloads and fires two more rounds into each target. The par time is ten seconds.
Not a whole lot of drills for this kind of twelve gauge.
It’s an old classic, and it’s a fun little drill. It’s also very adaptable and easy to adjust to a variety of weapons. It seemed like a natural fit for the shotguns using box mags and shotguns in general.
It’s also one of my favorite shotgun drills. It’s simple but effective. Load your shotgun with six rounds. Fire two into each target. Now do three emergency port reloads, firing one final round into each target.
It’s a great drill but doesn’t address the box-fed shotgun. Justified Defensive Concepts did the shotgun El Pres well before me, but their El Pres drill is focused around the standard, tube-fed shotgun. With a little adaptation and modification, the drill is perfect for my task.
Adapting It To Box Fed Shotguns
First, reloading a box mag fed shotgun is much quicker and easier to do than reloading a standard shotgun. The Justified Defensive Concepts El pres really works your ability to reload. That’s less of a concern with a magazine-fed shotgun but still a big part of the drill.
Load ’em up and fire em off.
Second, hitting a man-sized torso target, even just the A-zone, is fairly easy with a shotgun. That’s why they are an outstanding choice for close-range fighting. I wanted the drill to be challenging inside of shotgun range, so I wanted a much smaller target.
Third, shotguns use a variety of ammo types. I see this shotgun El Presidente Drill being the most realistic with buckshot, but buckshot can be pricy. It needs to be adaptable to the much cheaper and more common sporting birdshot loads.
Finally, what is the time limit? Well, the time can be adaptable, but I stuck with Cooper’s 10 seconds as the baseline. Why mess with perfection?
My Box Mag El Pres
On the logistics front, this drill doesn’t require much. You’ll need your preferred mag fed shotgun. It can be a 590M, an 870DM, the VR 80, or in my case, the Sentry 12 from Ironhorse Firearms. You’ll need two magazines and a way to carry an extra magazine. Make sure you bring six rounds of ammo per run.
Blasting away with this drill is fun and a challenge
For targets, I decided on a common, dang near-universal shotgun target, the classic clay pigeon. Six of them will be necessary for each run of the drill. Clay pigeons are small and a bit more challenging than an A Zone. Plus, I can place the clay pigeons at unpredictable locations, and it changes the drill entirely.
You’ll need at least ten yards, preferably fifteen. Don’t forget your shot timer and your eyes and ears.
The logistics are pretty light.
Set up your clay pigeons on the berm any way you want. I kept it simple for my first run and simply made two rows of three with a yard or so between each. For the next few runs, I mixed thins up. I made two triangles, a rectangle and a big circle. The clay pigeons are cheap and make it easy to keep the drill dynamic and challenging.
Start with your back to the targets. At the timer, turn and fire three rounds, one per clay pigeon. When the gun runs empty, reload and fire the final three at the remaining clay pigeons. Do it all in under ten seconds.
Scattergun Skills
The drill can be tricky and even 10 seconds feels tight with the small targets. I went the pump gun route, and obviously, a semi-auto offers faster follow-up shots and likely less felt recoil. This drill has you transitioning between six different small targets, and if you are zeroed in or you don’t know how your gun patterns, you’ll miss.
This is a simple arrangement, and the clays can be arranged anyway you want.
It’s a drill that mixes speed and accuracy with tons of transitions and leans into what shotguns work best at. Shotguns with buckshot offer you fight-stopping power that excels for quick and easy transitions between multiple targets. Plus, you have to reload, and reloading with box mag shotguns is still a vital skill to have.
Especially since they are only rifle-like to a point, there isn’t a universal manual of arms for these guns. Some mags drop free, and some don’t. Some magazines rock into place. Others slap right in. Mag releases are different for most guns, and it’s a learning experience.
Let the bodies hit the floor.
With this version of the El Pres, you’ll be forced to learn under time constraints with a little extra stress. You’ll receive a little stress inoculation along the way and find yourself getting faster and more competent with your box mag fed shotgun.
Running Hot
There we are, better trained and ready to employ your likely unique scattergun. I can’t say if box mag shotguns will ever go further than they have now. They certainly have weaknesses, but they also present a number of advantages, especially those moving from the rifle to the shotgun. Like any firearm, they require plenty of training to be proficient, but unlike most firearms, there isn’t a lot of dedicated training or drill for them. Hopefully, we’ve given you at least one.
If you want more, or have ideas, post them below, and we’ll see about making this a regular series.
The Bel Air is one of the best-looking guns (in my opinion) in the Kimber Micro 9 Special Edition collection. This series has been out for a while, but with summer drawing near this is a good time to take a fresh look at these hard-to-find guns. I wouldn’t say I’m normally a fan of guns with different colored frames, but when Kimber made the Bel Air Blue frame with ivory handle grips and a stainless slide with a mirror finish—they hit the jackpot. This one just catches your eye, and it’s not because it has that traditional Kimber look to it. In fact, almost all the guns in the special edition series have a little different look than your typical Kimber does.
One of the special edition pieces from Kimber’s summer collection, I would call this one an elegant or up-scale gun.
There are five color configurations in their special edition series of the “summer” collection of Micro guns. And to be honest, I don’t really care for some of the other colors they put out there. This, of course, is a matter of opinion. Some will love one while others will not. Some will like the purple Micro 9 better than this one. Either way, you can’t say this gun is even close to normal.
Kimber Micro 9 Special Edition Summer Collection
Kimber has five micros in their summer collection that are listed as “special edition.” If you don’t like the Bel Air Blue (the one we’re looking at today), they have a few other finishes that you may like. They did do a good job at covering a wide variety of colors with just five guns in this lineup. These include:
1. Triari
According to Kimber, the Triari is laser engraved, front and rear cocking pattern on the slide and a Striplex front strap pattern. The frame is aluminum with a kimpro II black finish. (Photo: Kimber)
Suggested Retail: $876.00
2. Amethyst
On this one, Kimber does a Purple PVD slide with laser engraved border. The safety, mag release, hammer and grips also match the slide. (Photo: Kimber)
Suggested Retail: $1,201
3. Rose Gold
The rose gold is of course, rose gold on the slide and hardware. The grips have a cool black swirl to them that ties the slide and black frame together. (Photo: Kimber)
Suggested Retail: $1,201
4. Sapphire
The Sapphire has a bright blue PVD finish on the slide and hardware with a dark blue set of blue/black G10 grips. (Photo: Kimber)
Suggested Retail: $1,201
5. Bel Air
The Bel Air has Bel Air Blue frame with a stainless polished slide and a set of Ivory Micarta G10 grips. (Photo: Kimber)
Suggested Retail: $980
Any of these models, which is based on the 1911 style, would make a great concealed carry weapon or great for adding to your gun collection. They can be hard to find and vary in price depending on where you can find them. The Bel Air is listed at $980, but the one reviewed here was sold recently for $850.
On the range
On the range we started off with some 115-grain ball ammo. While I am a fan of cleaning and lubricating a new gun before you fire it, I like to run some rounds through it right out of the box when writing a review. Some guns do fine, and others have cycling issues until you get that packing grease out of them and the right amount of lubrication on the slide. The Bel Air did great without this process, however. I fired 300 rounds through it and never had an issue. The trigger pull was good, and the sights made target acquisition easy. The only issue I found when firing it was the extractor randomly threw shells towards my face.
I fired both FMJ and JHP 115 grain ammo through the Bel Air right out of the box with no malfunctions
Next, I performed some speed drills and firing drills from the holstered position. The 1911 thumb safety was natural feeling even though it is much smaller than most 1911’s. Rapid firing is an important test for any gun you plan to carry or sue for self-defense. The Bel Air did well in this drill and cycled through ammo as fast as I could pull the trigger. I also repeated this drill with some 115 grain Sig hollow point ammo. 1911 style guns tend to have a steep feed ramp which can cause problems at times when firing hollow point ammo, but the Bel Air fired them without issue.
21 rounds at 25-yards was plenty accurate for anything you would need the Bel Air to do.
After that, I went to the 25-yard line and fired 21 rounds with some controlled shots. The grouping was great for such a small gun. There is just enough gun to get a decent grip on it and the recoil felt better than I thought it would. I was afraid the glare would be an issue with such a shiny slide on a sunny day, but I didn’t notice any issues with that either. Several others fired the Bel Air and all were impressed with the feel of the Micro 9.
Final thoughts
The Kimber Bel Air is not just a good-looking gun, it is also a champ on the range. The only complaint I have is the shell extractor throwing the ejected shells towards my head. The accuracy, speed and safety manipulation were all what you would expect from Kimber. If you want a gun that will stand out, look nice on your side, in your purse or on display in your office, the Kimber Micro 9 Bel Air can accomplish that.
The B&T USA SPC9-series of rifles now includes its 16-inch barreled model. Born from a European tender requesting a 9mm carbine with the same handling characteristics and ergonomics as the AR platform, the updated SPC9 incorporates many of the features found on the B&T APC9, MP5, and AR platforms combined into one versatile platform. Per B&T, it is lightweight and reliable, well balanced, accurate, safe, and modular — the SPC9 checks all the boxes and is one of the lightest recoiling 9mm carbines available, thanks in part to B&T’s innovative and effective hydraulic buffer system.
B&T USA updated the SPC9 offerings to include a 16” barreled rifle. The 16” option joins the rapidly growing line-up of SPC9 variants on the market.
“The new 16-inch barreled SPC9 is a PCC competitors’ dream — the carbine is incredibly flat shooting, handles like a race car, and has minimal recoil thanks to B&T’s effective hydraulic buffer system,” said Jon Scott, Vice President of Sales, B&T USA. “We expect the SPC9 16-inch to dominate both at home and on the competitive field, thanks to an ideal formula of features. Those in search of a premium home defense solution would be well served by this very lightweight, well balanced, and incredibly easy to shoot well platform — flatteringly so. Most importantly the SPC9 has a proven record of reliability, produced by a company who has built its reputation on being dependable in the most austere conditions imaginable.”
This is the same weapon that was awarded the US Army contract for the next generation Sub Compact Weapon (SCW) and accepts the well-known and very reliable B&T polymer magazines. The lower can be switched out to accept either Glock or Sig 320 magazines.
Some of the features found on the SPC9 are time-proven while others are state-of-the-art and modern. One of the unique features of the SPC9-series is that it is equipped with two different charging handle systems. One of these is the handle found on AR platforms, while the other is a non-reciprocating, foldable charging handle located above the barrel. This gives the user the choice to use whatever manual of arms is preferred; both systems are ambidextrous.
The telescopic stock and handgrip of the weapon have been inspired by the classic AR platform. The stock has six positions but is also replaceable to any other AR-type stock on the markets if the operator should so desire. The same goes for the pistol-grip. The weapon is delivered with a B&T-produced pistol grip but is replaceable by the operator to any other type of after-market product found. This includes Magpul, BCM, or any other OEM producers on the market.
The updated SPC9s incorporate many of the features found on the B&T APC9, MP5, and AR platforms combined into one, very versatile platform, now with the longer barrel option. (Variant pictured)
The lower is another unique feature that has its genesis in the B&T APC9. This is the same weapon that was awarded the US Army contract for the next generation Sub Compact Weapon (SCW). It accepts the well-known and very reliable B&T polymer magazines. The lower can also be ordered or switched out to another configuration that will accept either Glock or Sig 320 (or US M17/M19) magazines. The Glock design is so that it will accept the smallest Glock double-stack magazine, as found with the Glock 26.
Some of the features found on the SPC9 are time-proven while others are state-of-the-art and modern. One feature is that it is equipped with two different ambidextrous charging handle systems.
The weapon has both a NAR and M-LOK system for the positioning of lights, lasers, optics, brass catchers, and handgrips. The NARs are located at the 12 and 6 o’clock positions while the M-LOK systems are at the lateral position. The SPC9 comes with a single M-LOK rail but others can be ordered.
All rifles are not created equally, especially when it comes to precision shooting. With that in mind, the team at Fierce Firearms designed the Reaper Chassis rifle. Not only is this rifle ideal for precision shooters, but it’s also fantastic for hunters in need of a gun capable of precision at greater distances.
The trigger in the Fierce Firearms Reaper Chassis rifle is adjustable between 1 and 3 pounds. (Photo credit: Fierce Firearms)
The Fierce Firearms Reaper Chassis rifle gives shooters the ability to customize. From its pull weight-adjustable trigger to its adjustable cheekpiece, this gun is made to be custom-fit to the shooter. A Picatinny rail makes it easy to mount optics and M-Lok compatibility on the handguard facilitates the addition of aftermarket accessories.
The Fierce Firearms Reaper Chassis rifle is designed with long-range goals in mind. (Photo credit: Fierce Firearms)
From Fierce Firearms regarding the Reaper:
“Our rear stock is made entirely with carbon fiber parts from our high-end Fierce Tech carbon shop. The forearm and pistol grip are also made of carbon fiber material. With this combination of high tech carbon components installed on our lightweight alloy frame, you get one of the lightest chassis systems on the market. The Reaper Chassis is then combined with our Rival action and C3 carbon barrel to give you precision from top to bottom. The Reaper comes with our ½ MOA accuracy guarantee.”
The Reaper Chassis rifle has a folding stock, but it’s also offered with a fixed stock. (Photo credit: Fierce Firearms)
Fierce Firearms Reaper Chassis Rifle Features
Alloy chassis frame for lighter overall weight
Picatinny rail for optics
M-Lok compatible carbon fiber handguard for aftermarket accessories
Adjustable cheekpiece made with carbon fiber to further reduce weight
Folding stock design for superior portability
Adjustable length of pull
Bix’n Andy Dakota Trigger, adjustable between 1 and 3 pounds pull weight
Rival action with 70 degree bolt throw for reliable, smooth cycling
C3 Carbon fiber barrel with match grade, hand-lapped, cryo treated, stainless barrel liner
5/8” 24 TPI, so it’s suppressor-ready
Dual Plunger with mini claw extractor for reliable ejection
Accurate Mag detachable box magazine
The Fierce Firearms Reaper Chassis rifle has a detachable box magazine and is offered in a number of calibers. (Photo credit: Fierce Firearms)
Shooters aren’t restricted to a single chambering with the Reaper Chassis rifle, either. This gun is made in a variety of calibers including:
6mm Creedmoor (22-inch and 24-inch barrels)
6.5 Creedmoor (20-inch and 24-inch barrels)
6.5 PRC (22-inch and 24-inch barrels)
7mm Remington (24-inch and 26-inch barrels)
.28 Nosler (26-inch barrel)
308 Winchester (20-inch and 24-inch barrels)
300 Winchester Magnum (22-inch and 24-inch barrels)
300 PRC (22-inch and 24-inch barrels)
300 RUM (26-inch barrel)
The twist rate depends on the chambering chosen and varies between 1 in 8 and 1 in 9. Guns are manufactured in one of three colors: Black Cerakote, Bronze Cerakote, or Tungsten.
MSRP starts at $2895.00. One factor in price is the Certified ½ MOA target option which costs $225 and comes with a target demonstrating ½ MOA accuracy and giving information regarding what Factory ammo or Fierce Dirt nap ammo was used. Other factors include the stock style selected.
Choosing defensive loads for your carry gun can be daunting. There are endless options on the ammunition market even when you’re only after one specific caliber. Of the popular choices, there’s a newcomer in 2022: 30 Super Carry. This cartridge was designed by Federal Premium as a niche defensive option to compete with 9mm and other well-known rounds. Quite a few firearms manufacturers are making guns chambered in the new cartridge, including Nighthawk Custom and Smith and Wesson, and if you intend to use yours for self-defense purposes, Federal has ammo for that: Federal Premium HST in 30 Super Carry.
Federal Premium HST Super Carry. (Photo credit: Federal Premium)
The Federal Premium 30 Super Carry 100 grain HST is made for impressive results despite its smaller size. It far outdoes 380 ACP for penetration, even through barriers, and even delivers ballistically on par with 9mm in some ways. For example, 99 grain 380 ACP HST produces 223 foot-pounds of muzzle energy, and 100 grain 30 Super Carry HST has a muzzle energy of 347 foot-pounds. 124 grain 9mm HST’s muzzle energy is 364 foot-pounds. Testing and research carried out by the manufacturer show the cartridge is a legitimate contender for its own place in the defensive world.
Check out the chart below to get a better idea of the various caliber’s penetration:
A caliber comparison chart from Federal Premium demonstrates penetration. (Photo credit: Federal Premium)
Federal’s Senior Director of Product Management, Jesse Whiteside, had the following to say about the load: “We are excited to add this new HST Personal Defense handgun load to our overall lineup. A big advantage of the 30 Super Carry is that users get more performance from this offering without having to step up to a larger firearm. The 30 Super Carry can hold 12 to 13 rounds in a magazine similar to the size of a 10-round 9mm Luger. Combine these performance features with Federals’ proven HST bullet, and this creates an excellent self-defense option.”
One reason to use the new cartridge for self-defense is the fact that its slightly smaller dimensions allow for greater capacity in your carry gun without making it a lot heavier. (Photo credit: Federal Premium)
This ammunition is designed to deliver superior penetration and consistent performance which are vital factors in defensive ammunition. 30 Super Carry also gives gun owners greater magazine capacity without significantly more weight in the gun being carried. In the past, gun owners have been forced to choose between smaller pistols with less than ideal defensive performance or bigger guns that deliver better results but weigh a lot more. According to Federal Premium, the 30 Super Carry has terminal performance greater than that of a 380 ACP and muzzle energy equal to 9mm, all coming from a .312-inch projectile. The ammo maker states gun owners can expect results similar to 9mm, only with a bit less felt recoil and better magazine capacity.
Interested in the latest in defensive ammunition? Check out Federal Premium’s 30 Super Carry. (Photo credit: Federal Premium)
Features include Federal’s proven HST jacketed hollow point bullet and nickel-plated cases for visibility in low light and resistance to corrosion.
Whether you are a service member training in the field, forward-deployed, a law enforcement officer, or just somewhere on your own, tourniquet (TQ) pouches are essential items to carry. Carrying a tourniquet can be the difference between life and death. High Speed Gear has multiple TQ pouch options so you can access your life-saving equipment rapidly.
High Speed Gear Tourniquet TACO pouches, or TQ TACO, allow for rapid deployment of tourniquets when time matters most.
As tactical gear companies, both High Speed Gear and Comp-Tac Holsters take their mission seriously — providing those who serve our country with gear that they can rely on every day. Carrying a TQ is a preventive step that can change the outcome of emergencies.
In 2019, the Tourniquet TACO was designed at High Speed Gear headquarters to have the adjustability of the TACO, in a tourniquet pouch form. The design was intended so users can deploy various windlass-style tourniquets quickly for intense-pressure scenarios. However, it can be used with or without the pull tab for an open-top pouch, much like the Kydex Tourniquet TACO.
Made from heavy-duty Cordura nylon, the TQ TACO is designed to hold most windlass tourniquets on the market. The nylon pouch allows for the expansion or contraction for a snug fit.
Shortly after the Tourniquet TACO was released, Comp-Tac Holsters (a division of High Speed Gear) released two different Kydex Tourniquet TACOs, for those that enjoy the “hard shell” TACO pouches. These function much like the original Tourniquet TACO, allowing the use of SAM XT, C-A-T, SOF TT, and SOF TT Wide tourniquets in just one pouch.
The Tourniquet TACO, or TQ TACO, was designed to retain most of the windless tourniquets on the market. The TQ pouch expands and contracts like a TACO and is built from 1000D and 500D Cordura nylon. It has a streamlined interior to prevent snagging and has a removable flap that allows for either covered or open-top use. The TQ TACO also features four rows of laser-cut MOLLE that provide flexibility to mount up or down at 1” intervals. It is available in black, coyote brown, MultiCam, Multicam Black, OD green, and wolf gray.
The Kydex TQ TACO is made from aircraft-grade Kydex that has a smooth finish for easy insertion or deployment of the carried tourniquet. The Kydex option does not absorb moisture and is easy to decontaminate if needed.
The Kydex Tourniquet TACO, or the Kydex TQ TACO, is made from 100% aircraft-grade Kydex for a smooth finish that allows for easy insertion or drawing of the tourniquet. It has a unique shock cord design that allows for use of most windlass-style tourniquets. The Kydex does not hold water meaning it won’t add weight from rain, sweat, or humidity, and is easy to decontaminate. The TACO hole pattern allows for the stacking of two pouches in the space of one. The Kydex TQ TACO is available in black and OD green, with other colors coming soon.
Both options for TQ TACO carry come in different colors, with more colors coming available soon for the nylon pouch. Both also come with High Speed Gear’s Lifetime Warranty and are made in the USA.
Both products are covered by High Speed Gear’s Lifetime Warranty and are made in the USA. The pouches start at $42.00.
