Gun Reviews

Back in 1949, the Mark I .22 Long Rifle caliber pistol was introduced by Ruger, and it just so happens that this was their very first product! At the time, its general profile was somewhat similar to the German Luger of World Wars I & II fame. Fast forward to present day, Ruger is now on the Mark IV series.

The Mark I, II, and III series are all excellent pistols but they had one irking factor that shooters weren’t very fond of. More on that later, and why it led to the Mark IV series.

I confess that I’m a .22 Long Rifle whore. There, I said it. They tell me that the first step is admitting that it’s a problem. Except, it’s not a problem because I can stop any time I want, honestly! So a Ruger Mark IV 22/45 pistol followed me home.

Basic Features of the Ruger Mark IV 22/45

The pistol is chambered in .22 Long Rifle and features a 5.5-inch long bull barrel (complete with recessed target crown), which helps the pistol balance extremely well. It’s not a lightweight pistol, but the outstanding balance really evens things out. Immediately upon picking it up, It felt almost “heavy” in my hand. I say almost because it’s not a particularly heavy pistol, it’s just well put together. It’s 34.4 ounces, so it’s not a featherweight, but considering the heavy barrel, I don’t see the weight as being excessive. Perhaps “solid” is a better descriptive term.

The frame is Polymer and the grips (which are removable and can be replaced) are “synthetic.” Grips that are wood and comprised of other materials can also be had if the user desires. The grips resemble those of a 1911 and feel really comfortable in the hand.  I actually had to do a double take when I read that the frame is made from Polymer; I’d thought it was metal because it is so solid, and it actually feels like metal. The receiver is made from alloy steel. The front of the grip is serrated and the backstrap is checkered, which adds to the positive grip. Overall, the entire grip strongly resembles a 1911 in angle, girth, and feel.

On top of the receiver, there are holes drilled and tapped so that a Picatinny or Weaver rail can be easily added for mounting optics and such. Some other versions of the Mark IV actually come standard with the rail attached, and the option to add one easily is a welcomed option.

The overall length of the Ruger Mark IV 22/45 is 9.75 inches and the height is 5.5 inches. As far as pistols go, this one is on the larger side. But then, it’s not something you’re likely to try to slip into a pocket for concealed carry. There is a 22/45 Lite version that is smaller and…you guessed it…lighter, and such a pistol might be better suited in the event that someone would want to carry it concealed. That said, these pistols really aren’t intended for the concealed carry crowd.

Attracted to their accuracy and durability, I had wanted one of the Ruger Mark series pistols for a number of years, but I heard horror stories about field stripping and cleaning them. Those accounts always turned me off, as I’m not the most mechanically inclined person on the face of the earth. In fact, I’m a complete simpleton when it comes to such things. Ruger listened to peoples’ complaints, and in 2016, they introduced the Mark IV series.

What really turned me on to the Ruger Mark IV 22/45 was when I saw how easy it is to take down. Push one button, and the receiver pops up similarly to that of an AR-15, and the entire upper receiver detaches from the lower. The bolt pops right out! That’s it! So easy I can do it in about two seconds (literally). Remember that irking factor that I’d mentioned at the beginning of this article that shooters didn’t care for? Ruger is on top of their game and remedied that issue forever.

The construction of the bolt is cylindrical, as is the receiver, so the two fit together well.

The magazine release is conventionally located on the frame so that it can be activated with the thumb. It’s easily pressed and the magazine ejects positively (dare I say forcefully). Speaking of magazines, the Mark IV mags hold ten rounds and are constructed ruggedly. They’re very easy to load, as they have buttons on the mag that you can pull down, relaxing the spring, so the rounds can easily be loaded. Two magazines are shipped with each Mark IV pistol.

One thing that I don’t care for is the fact that there’s a magazine disconnect, so the pistol will not fire without a magazine inserted. I’d prefer to be able to fire it without a magazine. This isn’t a deal-breaker, but it is what it is.

Now we come to the safety, which is very well executed on this pistol. It operates very similarly to a standard 1911, and is easily swiped off without a lot of effort to fire the pistol. The placement is outstanding; it’s right there where you’d expect it to be. All in all, the safety gets the highest marks. An added bonus is that the safety is ambidextrous. Ruger had this one easy; they just emulated the 1911 style safety, and couldn’t have done a better job.

The slide release is just forward of the safety, and it is a good one. Normally, I don’t much concern myself with slide releases, instead preferring to release or withdraw the slide by grasping over the top of the slide and pulling back with my hand. However, with the MK IV, one cannot do that because the bolt is enclosed in the receiver (as we mentioned, like an AR-15). As such, there is no conventional slide, the bolt moves within the receiver; instead, one has to grasp the cocking tabs or “ears”, at the rear of the receiver to charge the pistol. To be fair, this is not difficult. However, for those who are used to simply going over the top of the slide with the palm of the hand, we will need to revamp our method for this pistol. It’s a mild inconvenience that I wouldn’t consider to be the end of the world, but just be aware of it.

When the last round is fired, the bolt is locked to the rear. At the range, though, I found that I naturally placed my thumb on the slide release, so the slide often did not hold open after the last round was fired. That’s a software problem (the shooter) and not a hardware problem (the firearm).

Next we come to the sights. There are things that I like, such as the rear sight being adjustable. One thing that I dislike is the fact that the front sight (a ramp type) is all black. For me, it really needs to have either a dot or some color on it. For that matter, the rear sight is also all black, though this is not as critical for me. I believe I’m going to use an old trick that a buddy taught me and put a dab of fluorescent nail polish on the top of the front sight ramp to help me to be able to see it better. Aside from that, the sights seem to be just fine with the pistol. I also understand that one can purchase a different front sight post, which is held on by a screw and should change out very easily. I will look into acquiring one of those.

Why did I buy the Ruger Mark IV 22/45?

It’s doubtful that I’m going to carry it concealed for protection. However, I will be using it to give my family some trigger time and run them through some shooting drills to get them more accustomed to such things.

It will also be used a bit just for fun. I seldom shoot for “fun” anymore. Each time I go to the range, I follow the advice of my friend and fellow instructor (Bob): always have an agenda, a schedule to improve one or more skills for each range session. Well, I’m still going to do that, but considering this pistol is a .22, I will also enjoy shooting it. I will still run drills incessantly, but there will be some fun had along with it all.

Beyond that, it’s just a good idea to have a .22 pistol that you can throw in a day pack and take with you on an outing, along with several hundred rounds. Between the pistol and ammo, the extra weight won’t add much to the pack, and you’ll likely not even realize you’re carrying it. Unless you happen to need it.

That brings me to my next point: the .22 Long Rifle. That’s really the reason that I bought this pistol, I wanted a .22 pistol.

Why the .22 LR? Those who know me might be rolling their eyes right now because they realize I’m going to beat a dead horse again about the virtues of the .22LR. If you haven’t heard this spiel yet, you may find it interesting. If you have…read it again anyway because it’s true.

.22 Long Rifle Virtues

It’s inexpensive. 

Which means you can stock up on a LOT of rounds for a rainy day (and currently, it appears that we may have a rainy day coming). What’s more, you can actually afford to practice and train a whole lot more with the .22LR than with, say, .45 ACP.  At the time of this writing, my local gunshop has .22LR for about $11.95 per 100 rounds of CCI, which is generally agreed to be the Gold Standard by which .22 ammo is judged. Bulk packs cost about $50 for 500 rounds, depending on the brand and quality. Some is more, some is a little less. Quality does vary, but generally, most of it is pretty decent stuff.

It’s light and compact.

The .22LR is smaller than almost any other round on the planet. Especially when compared to other pistol bullets. It weighs less and takes up far less space. A brick of 500 will fit into a backpack easily and weighs a couple pounds.

It’s than quieter than other calibers.

This helps the shooter if he’s trying to be more discreet, although this is more-so true in rifles than pistols. Still, it’s not as noisy as many other rounds. That makes it easier on the ears, and the sound does not carry as far, so shooting the .22 is more discreet.

Far less recoil than other calibers.

This is great for new shooters because they won’t become recoil sensitive as with some other calibers. For experienced shooters, this allows a high rate of fire without recoil throwing them off target. A win/win for all involved.

There is a wide variety of .22 ammo configurations available,

Options range from subsonic rounds to match rounds. Hunting rounds, target rounds, and all sorts in between. There’s even birdshot and snakeshot. Note that not all of them will cycle semi-autos reliably, so a bit of research and some testing on your part will be time well spent.

Its popularity ensures that it will be available wherever bullets are sold.

Those are many of the advantages, but there are a few disadvantages as well. The powder used in .22 ammo often burns dirtier than other rounds, and can gum up the action of your firearm(s). And the round itself is not as powerful as most others. Yes, there are tradeoffs, but I believe, for many purposes, the advantages outweigh the costs. Is the .22LR the ultimate round for every purpose? Not by a long shot. However, as a long-term survival round, it is very hard to beat!

I typically buy a few boxes of ammo each week, and over time, that adds up. I look at this caliber as a long-term investment, and long after I’ve expended my other calibers in a disaster scenario, I’ll still have .22LR in supply. My advice is to buy it when it’s available to you, as there is no guarantee how long it (or any other item these days) will be on the shelves. We’ve seen how panic buying can wipe out store shelves.

At The Range

As expected, reliability with the Ruger Mark IV 22/45 was superb. There was one misfire, which turned out to be a generic .22 round that I rechambered and it still would not fire. It turned out to be faulty ammo, rather than the pistol’s fault. In the end, the pistol’s reliability was perfect.

I ran several brands of ammunition through it, including CCI (the gold standard of .22 ammo), Aguila, Federal, and some other bulk pack ammo. Suffice to say that the 22/45 will likely run with anything that you can stuff into the magazines.

Regarding the magazines, as mentioned, the button on the side makes it nice to load them. When you pull down on the button, the spring tension is released so that feeding the rounds into the magazine is much easier. They are also fairly sturdy affairs and are likely to last a long time. I’m going to pick up a few more at GunMag Warehouse, as it’s always nice to have a few spares on hand.

Accuracy was, in my opinion, extremely good. The best group of the day that I shot was 2 ½ inches at 15 yards from the offhand position. Given the fact that I had a 25-mile-per-hour wind hitting me in the face when it was 40 degrees, I consider that to be pretty decent. Undoubtedly, the pistol is capable of better accuracy than I am, and under better conditions, I’ve no doubt that groups will improve. As it stands, that size of a group is pretty good for a pistol.

At one point, my daughter wanted to try the Mark IV out, so I let her shoot a few magazines through it. She exclaimed, “It’s pretty quiet and there’s almost no recoil!”

I replied, “Well, that’s kind of the point.” The .22LR just seems to endear itself to shooters with no effort on its part whatsoever. Incidentally, she shot the Ruger quite well, turning in respectable groups.

Despite the inhospitable weather, I felt my mood brightening the more I shot the Mark IV. It’s just a very fun gun to shoot! The recoil is so light that it almost feels as though the pistol isn’t cycling properly, but rest assured, it is.

The trigger is quite good; upon going through the takeup, there is a wall, followed by a very clean break. It’s not necessarily a “light” pull but is very crisp and predictable and should please all but the most discriminating shooters. Let’s face it, there will be complainers, but in my opinion, if you can’t make the Ruger trigger work for you, you probably have no business picking up a pistol anyway. As with most other pistol triggers, this one is likely to smooth up with use over time. And I can promise you, this pistol is going to see a lot more use in the future, as many range trips will be had.

Not only will I get more trigger time with the MK IV, but my family will as well, as some fun training time will be had by all.

If you’re in the market for a reasonably priced, accurate, comfortable pistol that you won’t go broke feeding, that has Ruger’s awesome reputation behind it, then you need to pick up a Ruger Mark IV 22/45. It will bring you years of enjoyment, as well as put a smile on your face.

Springfield Armory has just introduced a 9mm version of their popular Garrison 1911 and it looks like a winner. Coming on the heels of the popular .45 ACP version, the Garrison is a quality, versatile 1911 platform with a relatively inexpensive price tag. TheFireArmGuy [YouTube channel] gives us the rundown, complete with range footage and field strip, in the video linked below.

Let’s take a look at the specs before moving on:

• Caliber: 9mm
• Capacity: 9+1
• Recoil System: GI
• Barrel: 5-inch forged Stainless Steel, Match Grade, Fully Supported Ramp, 1:16
• Overall Length: 8.6 inches
• Height: 5.5 inches
• Weight: 38 ounces
• Sights: Low Profile Combat 3 Dot
• Colors: Stainless Steel or Hot Salt Blued
• MSRP: $899 Stainless Steel or $849 Blued

Our host has the stainless-steel model, so we’ll move forward with that. The frame and slide are forged steel with diamond checkered thin line wood grips featuring an attractive Springfield Armory crossed cannons logo. The gun has a textured backstrap and the front of the grip is smooth.

The contoured grip safety features an extended beavertail, and both the hammer and trigger are skeletonized. The extended thumb safety is not ambidextrous, being only on the left side of the frame.

The rear sight is a Novak style low profile ramped set up with the post front sight. Both are adjustable. The stainless-steel finish is glossy on the flats and matte on the rounds, including on top of the slide to mitigate glare. The same glossy and matte pattern comes on the blued version. The Garrison has standard 1911 dimensions and disassembly.

The gun ships with one 9-round single stack stainless-steel magazine and a padded soft carrying case. You’d think they would include an extra mag but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

Right out of the gate, he says the “overall shooting impressions are excellent. When I took this to the range…it was very, very nice. No recoil and it kept you on target.” The trigger breaks at about 4.5 pounds and is “So smooth, so light, and the reset is, like, nothing.”

He notes that shooting 9mm ammo from a full-size 1911 like the Garrison will really build your confidence as a shooter. “When you shoot 9mm out of a full-size handgun like this, it is so smooth.” The 9mm barrel is fully ramped and being a 70 series gun, it doesn’t have a firing pin block. “Makes it nice and smooth. Easy to handle.”

Smooth seems to be the operative word in this review. Not a bad thing to say about any firearm. He notes that lots of people love 1911s but want to shoot 9mm because of the increased magazine capacity, softer recoil, and cheaper ammo. Coupled with the 1911 trigger, “You just can’t beat it. It’s a good-looking and shooting handgun. So, if you’re one of those people, you’ll love the Garrison.”

Does the Springfield Armory Garrison 1911 look like a winner to you, especially at that price point? Let us know what you think in the comments below. Happy shooting y’all.

I love lever action rifles. I just do. I’ve carried the same Marlin lever gun every deer season since 1978. It’s never given me a reason to switch to anything else. So, when I saw that Chris and Jake from 1911 Syndicate had a video called “Lever Actions — Why You Need One,” well, I couldn’t resist. The video linked below is partly an ode to the coolness and reliability of lever guns and partly a review of the Marlin Model 1894 CSBL chambered in .357 Magnum.

They start with a rundown of the Marlin’s specs, so I’ll do the same:

Marlin 1894 CSBL

• Caliber: .357 Magnum (also shoots .38 Special)
• Capacity: The website says 6+1 but Chris says it holds 8+1 in .357 and 9+1 in .38
• Barrel Length: 16.5 inches
• Overall Length: 38.5 inches
• Weight: 6.5 lbs. 7.1 lbs. with the Leupold VX Freedom 1.5-4x scope
• Barrel Twist Rate: 1/16
• Price: Around $1000.00, which Chris and Jake say is “More than reasonable.”

Note: The Leupold scope doesn’t look like that out of the box. It was Cerakoted to look like the one Chris Pratt had on his lever gun in one of the Jurassic Park movies. I don’t know which one. They all run together for me.

Speaking of Chris Pratt in Jurassic Park, it was that movie, and another called Wind River, that sparked Chris and Jake’s interest in lever guns. I totally get it. Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon is the primary reason I own a Beretta 92. You want what you want. And after hearing about Wind River, I want to see it now.

Anyway, Chris gives us a quick look at the origins of lever guns, starting with the 1860 Henry Rifle chambered in a .44 caliber rimfire, and transitioning to Marlins. He says of Marlin and Henry, “Those are the two big names. They’ve been around the longest.” I’m thinking he should have included Winchester there, but hey, it’s his video.

Marlin was founded in 1870 by John Marlin, who previously worked at Colt during the Civil War. He started out making .22, .32, and .38 caliber derringers. He made his first rifle in 1875, based on the 1861 design of Charles Ballard. Appropriately, he called it the “Ballard Rifle.” It was apparently a good firearm and quite popular with shooters of the day.

The first Marlin lever action rifle appeared in 1881, chambered in .45-70 Gov’t. It was very successful and established Marlin in the lever action market. The Model 1894 was introduced, strangely enough, in 1894 and was available in .25-30 Winchester, 32-20 Winchester, .38-40, and .44-40. Chris says it was chambered in .357 Magnum and .38 Special, but he is mistaken since those cartridges were not introduced until 1935 and 1898, respectively.

Pop culture references aside, Chris and Jake also wanted to get into lever guns because of their reliability in cold weather. Lever guns have historically been popular in cold environments and have held up well. Chris says he found out that guns with side ejection ports, like the Marlins, are a little better in the cold than guns with a top ejection port. The latter are apparently more susceptible to freezing. I never thought about that, but perhaps that’s because the top ports tend to be more exposed to rain and ice? Maybe.

Chris and Jake chose the 1894 CSBL because they wanted a gun that shared a cartridge with Jake’s newly purchased Korth .357 Magnum revolver on backcountry outings. They also considered a .45-70, never a bad choice, but the fact that a friend was willing to lend them this particular Marlin sealed the deal. I totally get that, too. One place they went just a bit wrong was they wanted that shared cartridge to be able to “put down a big animal if need be.” Chris says he feels like if he drills nine rounds of .357 Magnum into an animal, “if he gets me, he earned it.”

Well, maybe so, except they then talked to a Yellowstone Park Ranger who advised Jake to use the .357 on himself if encountered an angry grizzly. I was kind of thinking the same thing since my choice to protect myself from a grizzly would be .44 Magnum or .454 in the revolver and a hot .45-70 load in the lever gun. But that’s me. You do you.

But they understand that situation and the .357 will do fine against most anything else that wants to be unfriendly. Against aggressive mountain lions or black bears, they say, it’s “Probably gonna be awesome. Against a megalodon in the sea, which is like a [grizzly] bear on the ground, not gonna go so hot.”

But they love how the dude in Wind River apparently shoots a 500-grain 45-70 load that sounds pretty awesome. Chris says he confirmed that from some old-timers on the forums. Plus, he adds that “if Chris Pratt decides a .45-70 is what he’s gonna use to put down a T-Rex, well dammit, I want one also.” Personally, I’m in full agreement on that.

Chris does admit that he wouldn’t shoot a 45-70 much, but he says that the Marlin 1894 loaded with .38 Special “shoots like a 10/22,” and, “.357, through this gun, shoots like a 5.56.” That does sound nice. “It is super, super controllable,” he says. Jake adds, “I gotta be honest here, I want a .45-70.”

Chris makes a good point about why lever guns are so fun. When you played cowboys and Indians as a kid, what gun did both sides likely have? A lever gun of some kind. What was your first BB gun? For most of us, it was a Daisy lever action, probably a Red Ryder. We’ve had them all our lives and they are just fun guns all the way around. In fact, this whole thing reminds me of my colleague David Reeder’s article on Tactical Lever Guns. You should check it out.

Finally, we get to reliability. Chris and Jake say they’ve heard some things about the technology being old and complicated, and that can be true. But some time on the forums has convinced them that if gunsmiths in the 1890s can make them reliably, modern materials and techniques can do the same. You can learn a lot on the right forum.

I think part of the reputation for unreliability comes from the unfortunate period when Marlin was owned by Remington. Those guns were just garbage for the last few years of that arrangement. But I have high hopes for the Marlin brand now that Ruger is running the show. I think Marlin will be back to its old self.

Chris concludes by saying he thinks the lever gun is “a great option for cold weather, jungle, you know, on the island running from velociraptors and everything.” At which point Jake works the action, producing that lovely sound. If you don’t know that sound, man, you need to go get yourself a lever action. ‘Nuff said.

Last month we learned about the new Sig Sauer 22 pistol — the Sig P322 — that was modeled on the P320. As always, we appreciate reviews on new firearms, and Mr. Gunsngear himself breaks the P322 down for us in a recent video. 

He describes it as “relatively full-size,” following the contours of the P320 with a lot of the same features. It ships with two mags equipped with loading assist tabs which Mr. GnG says really come in handy when you get to the 19th and 20th rounds. As you may have guessed, the gun’s capacity is 20+1 rounds of .22 Long Rifle.

Sig P322 Features

The ergonomics are very nice with a generously flared mag well, which our fearless reviewer says he wishes was a feature on more centerfire guns. The grip angle is 1911-like with good texturing which gets more aggressive on the front and back straps. Not that you really need it on a .22, but Mr. GnG says, “It definitely stays locked very, very firmly in your hands.”

The controls are what you’d expect with a reversible mag release and ambidextrous slide release and thumb safety. The gun comes with a flat trigger shoe, but there’s an optional curved model in the box. All you have to do is switch them out if you want. The trigger guard is large, especially for a .22 and you shouldn’t have any issues reaching the trigger, even with gloves. There is a generous undercut at the rear of the trigger guard, allowing a nice, high grip.

The gun has a standard front Picatinny rail for accessories and nice shrouded fiber optic sights front and back. That last part is nice because those fiber optic sights can get knocked around or break. They’re easy to pick up, which is helped by the front dot being a bit larger than those on the rear, making it easier to tell what you’re looking at in the dark. The rear sights are removable for the addition of an optic. The gun has a Sig or Shield RMS/RMSc footprint.

Another nice feature is the threaded barrel adapter, with ½ x 28 threads. You can put a can on this thing from day one, with the added advantage of helping keep the rounds subsonic.

The P322 has an internal hammer, and the trigger is nice with some sponginess before a crisp break. When demonstrating the trigger break, our host had some trouble finding the wall, pulling through it before he knew it was there. He laughingly said, “That’s a good thing.” The reset is described as long but “super positive.”

What about Performance?

The gun is very accurate, and Mr. GnG says that “Everyone I’ve handed this pistol to so far has been able to shoot it extremely well.” He attributes that to several things:

• It’s a good pistol overall.
• The barrel and sights are accurate.
• Very little recoil so no flinching.
• It’s just an easy gun to shoot well with irons or an optic.

The gun fired very well with a couple of different standard 40-grain loads with a 1200 to 1250 fps rating. It didn’t like the high-velocity 30-grain cartridge he tried, but most .22s are a bit picky on ammo.

The Sig Sauer P322 is currently going in the low-to-mid 400-dollar range. So, if you’re in the market for a nice .22 semi-auto pistol, what are you waiting for? Let us know how you like it and, as always, happy shooting y’all.

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’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 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.

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.”

Brandon thinks the AK12 is definitely not a perfect rifle. His reasons:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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 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.

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.

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

Suggested Retail: $876.00

2. Amethyst

Suggested Retail: $1,201

3. Rose Gold

Suggested Retail: $1,201

4. Sapphire

Suggested Retail: $1,201

5. Bel Air

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.

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.

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.

There are numerous options in the market for pistol-caliber carbines. Options upon options to choose from. But a big question remains on whether the PCC is practical or practically useless. John and Paul at Warrior Poet Society [YouTube channel] did some shooting of pistol caliber carbines and worked up a pro and cons list to help folks make up their minds.

John and Paul took four different PCCs out to the range and shot them and gave their review. Paul is the first to admit that he does not actually own any PCCs and doesn’t see the need for them.

The 4 PCCs they shot were:

• CMMG Banshee
• PC Charger with a suppressor
• PSA (Palmetto State Armory)
• Stribog

John notes that although they called those rifles PCCs, they are technically PCFs, or pistol caliber firearms because the barrel lengths are shorter than the 16” barrel length of PCCs. Both guys agree that shooting them is a good time and fun to do.

The guys state that when it comes down to the pros and cons of the PCC, there are more pros than cons. However, the cons they have are pretty big ones. With the weight of the cons taken into account, they outweighed the pros.

Points for the PCC 

John points out that the PCC shot faster and more accurately than the handgun, but you can’t compare a rifle to a pistol because it’s not an apple-to-apple comparison. The rifle is better performing than his handgun though.

The next pro they discuss is that they like the compatibility between calibers as far as ammunition is concerned. Specifically, the Banshee and the PC Charger run on Glock mags so they can use those magazines in both their handguns as well as in the PCC. The other two PCCs have proprietary magazines, unfortunately so that is a small drawback.

John states that generally, 9mm ammunition is less expensive and cheaper to find than rifle ammunition. As time goes on, that could change but as of the time of this video, 9mm is easier to obtain.

The next pro they discuss is that because there was less report with the PCC, you could use the firearm to train new shooters, and it is easier to suppress. The kick of a 9mm PCC allows for a new shooter to get used to shooting easier and when compared to a 5.56 rifle, the 9mm is extremely easy to suppress. The rifle wouldn’t need any adjustments to timing or the like to make it run with a suppressor. John does say that he would prefer a 300BLK with subsonic ammunition over a PCC, especially for the size.

The last pro for the guys is that it is safer to shoot steel and you can be closer to the target. This is especially handy at indoor ranges that don’t allow for rifle calibers, one could use a PCC for drills if necessary. The offset for shooting steel is a lot less than with a typical rifle caliber so the overall space required is less.

Negative Points about PCCs

The guys go on to talk about the cons of a PCC. The main overarching reason Paul doesn’t like the PCC is that it’s a rifle that eats pistol ammo. For him, if you’re going to shoot a rifle, why not get the perks of using the rifle caliber ammunition, such as stopping power and distance. He feels strongly that pistol calibers are far less “”killy” than a rifle caliber.  For both guys, the PCC is a solution seeking a problem. John likens the PCC to taking a jet engine and putting it in a Fiat frame.

Furthermore, the guys note that PCCs have a much smaller range than a typical rifle caliber. The PCC cannot shoot things at distance and are not as accurate at distances as a typical rifle is. Paul states that while they are fun to play with, they do not have a serious application in that regard.

Another drawback is that PCC rounds do not defeat body armor. Or even soft armor for that matter, thanks to the low terminal ballistic of the round at distance. They do mention that 5.7 from a P90 is not included in the PCC conversation.

The final strike against pistol caliber carbines is that they are not as reliable, in their experience, when compared to a typical rifle. They both experienced issues on the range, nothing major, but enough issues to make Paul nervous about the platform itself.

While reviewers of the video stated that they like PCC for home defense, both Paul and John agree that for them, it isn’t a serious contender for typical use. They say it is fun to run and is a neat toy, but Paul says he wouldn’t fill the last spot in his gun safe with one. They reiterat that the PCC has no stopping power and cannot fire at distance. John finishes out the conversation by saying that if you had all the guns you wanted, and were looking for something for a new shooter, a PCC would be a good fun option.

What do you think? Is a PCC something you’d rely on for personal defense? Sound off in the comments.

Back in the day the only AR-15 worth buying was a name-brand, big company-built weapon. If no one had ever heard of it, it was assumed to be lower quality. Today however, three are countless companies out there producing quality rifles that fit anyone’s fancy. Technology has made it easier for small companies to produce more precise parts and access to the global market allows them to obtain the materials they need for manufacturing. One of these smaller US made companies I have come to admire is HM Defense Technology from Mt. Orab Ohio. I have been impressed with their quality and ingenuity. 

I am asked quite often what the best AR-15 is to purchase. My answer is, there isn’t a “best” one. Every gun lover will have a model they prefer and there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. When purchasing a gun made by a smaller company, its okay to be skeptical, but don’t write them off just because you haven’t heard of them. I have had high quality guns malfunction and low-end budget friendly guns shoot flawlessly. There are, however, plenty of low-quality guns that I would stay away from so you still want to do a little research before making a purchase.

Here are the quick specs of the Raider MC5 AR-15 pistol:

• Multi-caliber (.223/5.56)
• 12.5” barrel
• 8.5” free floating 1913 picatinny rail that is CNC machines from 6061-T6 aircraft grade aluminum
• Mil-spec forged upper and lower with type III class II hard coat black anodized finish
• Mil-spec components including the trigger and fire control group
• Shockwave 2.0 blade adjustable pistol stabilizer and enhanced grip

What’s different about the Raider MC5?

According to the company, the HMB battle ready bolt “eliminates the passthrough cam pin hole and replaces it with a cam pin socket and tapered cam pin design.” This eliminates the natural weak point of mil-spec bolts by significantly increasing the amount of metal at the cam pin location. The 12.5” Monobloc barrel contains a gas block that is integrally machined as part of the barrel. This eliminates the need for alignment of the gas block. The barrel is match grade, triple honed and button rifled.

Out of the box the Raider MC5 had a good feel and balance. I did change out the pistol stabilizer brace for the SB Tactical and the standard charging handle for the Strike Industries extended latch charging handle. 

On the range

My first day on the range was a delight and the Raider was an impressive weapon to shoot. I ran several drills during one of our Special Response Teams tactical training days and was able to complete the drills with ease. The trigger pull was smooth and didn’t have the springy feel like some do. With such a short barrel the rise can often cause more time in between follow-up shots. I had no issues however with the speed of follow-up shots as I made my way through the course. With the material the Raider is made of, it felt light to carry and was just the right length to be
comfortable with a two-point sling. For a pistol, the M LOK rail gave plenty of room to add your favorite accessories and was a comfortable size to get a good grip on.

The first day on the range, I started out with some speed drills and a variety of .223 ammo in a few different 30 round magazines. The Raider didn’t have any issues with spitting out shells even during the break-in period. I then backed out to 100 yards too see how it did on paper. For the first target group, I used a gun mount and was able to put 20 rounds into a hole about the size of a golf ball. When free standing using the Vortex Strike fire red dot, the grouping opened up to about a softball size group.

After a while, I forgot I was shooting an AR pistol because the MC5 handles about as well as any rifle I have. When chambering the first round, the Raider has a good smooth feel, and the bolt doesn’t have much friction as it slides through the upper. After the first 500 rounds, I pulled out the bolt and sprayed it down with some CLP. While it was shooting great for the first 500 rounds, it shot even smoother once the thicker oil it was packed in wore off. I have always had good luck with CLP and the Raider felt like it cycled even smoother once the bolt was sprayed down.

Customer Service

When you buy a product, it needs to be good quality, but that is not all that is important to me. Even the best made gun in the world could have some type of issue that needs correction because it is a machine after all. The customer service is just as important to me as the item I am purchasing. I have started to do a little more research into company’s customer service before I purchase new firearms and the responses can be very surprising.

HM Defense’s customer service is one of the best I have seen

I first started with looking up the number. Companies that make it hard to find their number, often have more frustrating customer service through and through. I found the number to HM Defense very quickly however and the most surprising part was the phone call. No answering machine with 20 choices, no music with 30 minutes of hold time. It rang two times and a voice answered saying, “HM Defense how may I help you?”

I spoke with the person on the other end and learned that any issues with their firearms result in immediate shipping labels being sent out to the customer so the gun can be sent back to them and returned as soon as possible back to the customer with an explanation of what needed corrected or what was done to resolve any issues. I have not heard of many issues with HM Defense but if there were, I feel very confident they would take care of it right away.

There are a lot of good gun companies out there, often making the selection process intimidating. I have several other brands and have no issues with those either, but if you want something from a smaller company that is still working to invent, improve, and create great looking reliable guns with excellent customer service, I don’t think you will be disappointed in the HM Defense Raider MC5 AR Pistol.

Allen from Olde English Outfitters is back with what looks to be a nice gun with an even nicer price tag. The Zigana PX9 is the latest from the Turkish gunmaker Tisas and it continues their combination of solid guns at entry level prices. They are usually based on proven designs, which doesn’t hurt.

When I first saw it, I was thinking Springfield XD, and Allen quickly notes that it looks like an XD but it’s not. Despite the XD-like frame, there’s no grip safety and the trigger safety blade is gone in favor of a smooth trigger face. The controls are similar, with a left side slide lock and reversible magazine release button. The PX9 does have an ambidextrous frame-mounted thumb safety, which Allen says is easily manipulated. The safety will not engage unless the gun is cocked, and it also locks the slide. Takedown is the same easy method as the XD.

Like the XD, the PX9 also has shallow front and rear cocking serrations and there is light checkering on the front of the trigger guard and the front of the grip. There is some texturing on the grip. Allen says he wouldn’t call it “slippery,” but it’s not very aggressive. The gun ships with two replacement backstraps and a tool to change them with. Allen likes the grip configuration as it allows a good trigger reach.

There is no loaded chamber indicator, but the back of the striker is painted red and protrudes from the back of the slide when the gun is cocked. There is a picatinny rail section forward of the trigger guard for accessories.

Tisas Zigana PX9 Specifications

• Caliber: 9x19mm
• Single Action Striker Fired
• Capacity: 15 + 1
• Barrel Length: 4 inches
• Weight: 27 ounces
• MSRP: $299

This particular PX9 is from a shipment of overruns made for the Philippine National Police, complete with “PNP Property” stamp, unit crest, and night sights. He has a limited shipment of those. But the regular PX9 is available with night sights.

The gun shot well on the range with 100 percent reliability, and it was accurate. No word on how many rounds were fired or what loads.

The PX9 ships with some nice extras too. You get two metal 15-round magazines and a magazine loader. And the PX9 takes Sig P226 mags, so getting more won’t be an issue. The gun also comes with an adjustable cant polymer retention holster. The holster is equipped with a release tab manipulated by the middle finger as the gun is drawn. Looks like it might take a little practice to get used to, but it’s a nice inclusion.

Allen says he likes the PX9. He says it’s “very comfortable to shoot” and that he “wouldn’t have any qualms at all about taking it and using it for serious business.”

What do you think of Tisas guns? I had one (though not a PX9) and I liked it. Let us know in the comments.

The Springfield Armory line-up of micro-compact pistols has grown in recent years, starting with the Hellcat 9mm pistol. From there they introduced the RDP and most recently the Hellcat PRO micro-compact. Feeling a bit confused on the differences or if the Hellcat PRO is worth a look? Michael Chiarappa and the other find gents at Hunt Fish Shoot Youtube channel did a review, and quick comparison of the models, to help clear up the air.

Michael is a big fan of micro-compacts, and there are many to choose from on the market. He’s shot and carried Glock 48s and Sig 365XL, Sig X Compact, and so on. But the Springfield Armory Hellcat PRO has taken his heart.

The Springfield Armory Hellcat PRO is essentially a full-sized micro-compact if that makes any sense. Michael said that it feels like a full-sized grip for full-sized hands. The PRO comes standard with two 15-round magazines with a 3.8” barrel and longer slide that the original Hellcat. For him, SA really has a sweet piece when they came out with the PRO.

The SA Hellcat PRO comes from the factory with the optics cut on the slide for all the usual red dot options. Additionally, the sights co-witness with the rear notch that Michael loves and the tritium fiber optic front sight. He says it is essentially an elongated Hellcat with a full-sized grip, but still in that slim profile. The slim profile, while like other micro-compacts, is very comfortable.

Michael also does a quick comparison video on the Hellcat, RDP, and Hellcat PRO. The original Hellcat has a shorter barrel and an 11-round magazine, but you can purchase aftermarket options if you need the round count. The Hellcat, like all SA pistols, have been nothing but reliable for Michael and his crew. While it is one of his favorite pistols, he also likes the RDP which has the compensator affixed to the barrel and has a similar barrel length to the PRO. Where they differ is the grip in that the RDP has a rougher grip and will start to get uncomfortable for your knuckles and pinky after a bit of shooting.

The PRO, Michael points out, is very comfortable to shoot and is really nice with the full grip on it. The PRO has the Gen 3 Hellcat trigger group that has a nice defined wall and a crisp and clean break with no creep.

Michael says that it, along with all the Springfield Armory micro-compact options, is an awesome package with two steel magazines. The PRO also boasts a lower Picatinny rail for mounting options.

Michael’s big takeaway from the video, as far as I could tell, is that he really loves the SA Hellcat PRO. He likes the way it feels in his hand and how it shoots compared to his previous carries of the Glock 48, Sig X Compact, and Sig 365XL. He thinks the SA pistols are hard to beat at their price point and they get the seal of approval from him.