Gun Reviews

When Colion Noir says that there is a gun that everyone should own, that statement tends to pique my curiosity and catch my attention. As he says in the intro to the video, it is click bait. And rightfully so. He makes no apologies, and does not need to. If you join us in watching along, you’ll see why.

Colion is great at adding humor to his videos, and I always enjoy listening for his funny anecdotes and exaggerations, they’re often very witty. Additionally, he’s well spoken and draws my attention to what he’s saying. The camera work is also top notch. Aside from all of that, he’s very knowledgeable about weapons and is candid with his reviews in a way that makes the viewer feel as if he’s talking just to us.

Why does Colion think everyone should own a 22/45? Because it’s a .22 Long Rifle (.22LR). As he says, he could “End the video right there.” I concur that every shooter should own at least one .22LR firearm in his or her collection.

Another reason, is that it shoots like a “pussycat”, but is still very much lethal. He likes the fact that the .22 shoots as softly as a paintball or airsoft gun, but is still lethal. At this point in the video, he adds an image of a pussy cat to illustrate his point.

Also, 22LR is generally cheap and easy to find, except, “When the country is dealing with one of the worst ammo shortages in the history of man.”

Colion points out that, in an age where almost every pistol looks like a Glock, the Mark IV 22/45 Lite looks more like something we’d see on the set of The Mandalorian. He loves the color combo of the 22/45 that he was using for the video; black and gold! The perfect balance of it, according to Colion. He describes the pistol as “futuristically retro,” and that it is refreshing for those people who have “Glock Fatigue”, i.e., those who are tired of plain-looking, all-black pistols.

Note that Colion is reviewing the 22/45 Lite version of the Ruger in this video.

It has a fixed front sight with an adjustable rear iron sight. That said, Colion elected to mount a red dot sight (a Leupold Delta Point Pro) on the Picatinny Rail that the pistol comes equipped with. He states that shooting a red-dot-equipped handgun is fun!

The threaded barrel allows you to put a suppressor on the 22/45, which Colion has done. He mentions that it is the smallest suppressor that he could find, produced by Bowers. He points out that adding a suppressor adds “ten more points to its fun factor.” And from what we see in the video, I’d say he’s spot on. The damn thing just looks like fun! Colion elaborates that, when you suppress a .22, you “start encroaching on paintball and airsoft territory” as far as sound is concerned. Shooting subsonic ammunition certainly makes it quieter.

He points out that “knowing that the .22LR is a real bullet, yet shoots as soft as it does, it now being really quiet, puts it in a class of guns that are just fun to shoot.”

The .22LR is a dirty round that will make a firearm filthy very quickly. Colion captures this by explaining, “Add a suppressor to the mix, and the inside of your gun will start looking like the bottom of the feet of a group of girls drunk walking down downtown after the club lets out.” I’ll refrain from adding a photo of such festivities, but will allow the gentle reader to formulate his very own mental images. The suppressor causes additional pressure inside the mechanism, which accounts for the extra crud. Quite simply, gasses that otherwise would have flowed out of the end of the barrel as muzzle flash and noise are captured by said suppressor (or, “Silencer”).

Because of the filth, the pistol will need to be cleaned on a regular basis. Normally, that can be unpleasant, except for the fact that Ruger has added a magical addition to their Mark IV lineup: a takedown button! We no longer “Need a degree in mechanical engineering” to field strip these pistols.

The bolt operates similarly to that of an AR-15, in that it is cylindrical and fits into a circular receiver. Upon takedown, the bolt is merely withdrawn from the receiver as that magical button is pushed. That’s it, you just field-stripped the pistol! It literally takes longer to read this than to field strip it.

Because the bolt is cylindrical and contained within the receiver, the cocking mechanism is different than almost every other pistol on the market, in that it is cocked using a set of “ears” at the rear of the receiver. It’s different than most of us are used to, but it works.

Another aspect of the pistol is that there is no slide to move back and forth during firing, so there is less mass moving, which contributes to the soft shooting nature of this pistol.

Colion points out one of the advantages of the Ruger Mark IV 22/45 Lite. When he went to the range, he was stressed out and suffering from allergies, and generally not in a great mood. The more he shot, the more he forgot about the things that were bothering him. The little .22 just takes our mind off the nasties and allows us to have a bit of fun in a world that has shown us it’s dour side of late. I will interject here and agree wholeheartedly with him; I own a Mark IV 22/45, and shooting it truly does put me in a better mood! There is no denying it.

Colion’s opinion (shared by millions of others) is that the 1911 is one of the most ergonomic handguns on the planet, and in turn, the 22/45 is one of the most ergonomic handguns on the planet because the grip and the grip angle are very much like a 1911. He mentions that sometimes, “less is more, and here, less is a lot more.” Despite the lack of recoil from the .22, the ergonomics of the grip still stand out to Colion. Not only is the grip similar to a 1911, but so are the other controls, i.e., the safety and slide release.

His opinion of the trigger is that it’s not the “best in the world, but it’s really good because it is so predictable. Sometimes, light triggers can surprise you, and overly heavy, gritty triggers are just a pain. The trigger on a Mark IV has a smooth takeup and the pressure required to break the shot requires a deliberate press and it breaks clean. The reset is just like the takeup and break; predictable. Not too light, and not too strong. We’re talking Goldi-Locks type trigger.” I’d say that assessment is spot on. The Mark IV’s trigger is a cut above most others on the market, and Ruger really got this aspect of the pistol dialed in.

Colion declares, “There’s no way your mood doesn’t improve while you’re shooting the Mark IV, especially when it’s suppressed and has a red dot on it…it’s the way the Mark IV makes you happy. It sneaks up on you; one minute you’re plinking away and the next you’re grinning from ear to ear because the gun feels so great in your hands. The trigger pull is smooth and predictable, the suppressor mitigates all the concussion and noise so you can clearly hear the bullets career against the steel targets and it’s low recoil, coupled with the red dot, just make it feel like you’re playing a first-person shooter with ‘auto-aim’.”

Yep, he is spot on with that assessment. Compared to other pistols, they are inexpensive to shoot and the characteristics of the pistol make it a real joy to experience.

I recommend this video highly, even if you don’t think that you’re interested in this .22 LR pistol, because you most likely are interested in it…you just don’t realize it yet. Check the video out and prove me wrong.

The Colt Government Model of 1911 ranks with the Colt Peacemaker, Winchester 1873, and M-1 Garand as possibly the most iconic firearms in American history. The 1911 served as the standard US military sidearm for an astonishing 74 years. It saw combat in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and other smaller wars until its eventual retirement in 1985. America’s most famous World War I hero, Medal of Honor winner Alvin York, used his 1911 to help him and his squad capture 132 German soldiers in a single day. York killed 25 more Germans in the process, several with his trusty Colt.

But the 1911 took a longer path to immortality than the other guns on the list. In fact, the gun isn’t as universally loved as you might think. In the excellent video linked below, Chris Baker delves into the reasons for that and discusses the 1911’s decline and resurgence to the status it enjoys in today’s American gun culture.

A Browning Masterpiece but Mostly Ignored by Civilians

As most gun folks probably know, the 1911 was designed by John Moses Browning around the .45 ACP cartridge. It was a direct response to the poor performance of the Colt New Army revolver that was produced from 1892 to 1903. That revolver was chambered in the comparatively anemic .38 Long Colt, which proved less than effective in the Philippine Insurrection. The US Army wanted to return to the .45, and Browning’s answer was the 1911.

Chris notes that, while the 1911 was America’s military sidearm, the civilian gun world was dominated by revolvers. The police used revolvers, as did civilian competition shooters. When gun magazines wrote about handguns, they almost always wrote about revolvers. The real civilian shift away from revolvers only began in the 1980s and continued into the next decade. By then double stack 9mm guns were widely available, the so-called “Wonder Nines.” The 1911 was “sort of a dinosaur at that point.”

Cooper Plants the Seed

When the US military switched to the Beretta M9 in 1985, the 1911 was in danger of fading from the view of all but military surplus collectors and a few dedicated defensive shooters being trained by retired Marine Lt. Colonel Jeff Cooper. Cooper was a prolific gun writer in the 1970s and 1980s. Focusing on defensive handgun shooting, he was also a strong advocate for the 1911.

In 1976, Cooper established a scenario-based competition pistol league that eventually became the United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA). That same year Cooper founded Gunsite Academy in Arizona, where he began training defensive shooting skills to civilians. The 1911 featured heavily both at Gunsite and in USPSA competitions. But, at that point, there wasn’t much to choose from when it came to 1911s. Colt was the only manufacturer, with the Gold Cup National Match being the top of the line.

As competitive shooters began looking for ways to improve their guns, a new industry emerged offering custom upgrades, like an extended beavertail, beveled mag well, or an enhanced hammer spur for a competitive edge. Many of those companies began making their own 1911s with those upgrades as standard features. The popularity of those guns eventually spread to firearms enthusiasts in general.

But, by the early 1990s, the 1911 was in decline thanks to the popularity of the double stack 9mm guns. Companies like Beretta, Sig Sauer, and Glock were offering high quality products with higher capacity and better ergonomics. It didn’t help that the Beretta 92, in particular, was featured prominently in hit movie franchises like Die Hard and Lethal Weapon (we will not discuss the infamous “Glock 7”). It seemed the 1911 really might fade away this time…until The Man stepped in.

Clinton, Biden, and Feinstein Save the 1911

1994 saw the passage of the infamous Crime Bill pushed by then-President Bill Clinton, then-Senator Joe Biden, and gun grabber extraordinaire Senator Dianne Feinstein. Included in that onerous piece of legislation was the “Assault Weapons” Ban, which limited magazine capacity across the board to ten rounds. Suddenly, the 9mm guns didn’t carry that much more ammo and many gun owners decided that, if they were limited in capacity, they would carry bigger rounds. The .45 ACP 1911 was back, baby.

Popularity soared and continues to this day. Dozens of companies now make 1911s in all sizes from full to subcompact, single and double stack, and in multiple calibers. Chris—fairly, I think—points out that some of these guns are barely 1911s due to their size and features. He mentions the diminutive Sig Sauer P238, the Wilson Combat EDC-9, and some double stack 2011 guns. Not that those are bad guns or anything. But they have clearly veered off the main 1911 path. Even though the .45 ACP’s popularity has waned thanks to cost and the increased performance of the 9mm cartridge, the sheer variety of 1911s has kept John Browning’s design in the game.

So, Why Do Some People Dislike the 1911?

Great question, and Chris has some answers. Let’s hit those real quick:

• 1911s are big and heavy in relation to their limited capacity (standard 7 or 8 plus 1)
• Some people don’t like the grip and/or the thumb safeties
• Even a cheap 1911 costs about the same as a basic polymer striker fired gun
• They generally aren’t as reliable as those polymer guns
• The more affordable 1911s generally aren’t as reliable as expensive ones

Now, I’ll admit that the last one shouldn’t necessarily count. It’s normal for more expensive guns to work better than budget guns. At least, that’s how it’s supposed to work. But there are striker fired polymer guns available at competitive prices that will go bang every time with just a little maintenance. Chris points out that, if you plan to use a 1911 in a defensive capacity, you better spend at least $1000 to $1500. There are quality polymer guns available for half that. And that $1500 gun only gets you a mid-range 1911.

Not to mention that your money doesn’t always guarantee quality. Some manufacturers make pretty guns and sell them for a premium, but they aren’t that great on the inside. Even top shelf 1911s require more maintenance than a basic Glock or Sig. Chris notes that, the further you get from the original 1911 size and caliber, the truer that becomes. He advises sticking with a five-inch barreled 1911 chambered in .45 ACP or a Commander size, which is good in .45 or 9mm. When the barrel length drops below four inches, that’s where reliability really drops off and you have to start paying attention to things like recoil spring weight and ammo compatibility.

1911s can be very reliable and they can be affordable, but they are rarely both. For people used to paying 500 bucks for a polymer gun that can go 5,000 rounds between cleanings, you can see where the 1911’s fussiness can be a downside.

Why Do Some People Like, or Even Love the 1911?

Compared to the 1970s, we have an almost unlimited options for quality handguns. Chris believes modern handguns can do everything better and less expensively than the 1911, with two exceptions. First, the 1911 is still the gold standard for a nice trigger on a handgun. 1911 triggers tend to be light with a very short length of travel. They also slide directly to the rear with no levering or pivot motion, so the trigger stays in contact with the same part of the finger throughout the entire trigger press.

To be fair, there are some cheap 1911s with terrible triggers, but they are a distinct minority. Most are at least pretty good. The trigger makes the 1911 easy to shoot quickly and effectively and it’s extremely forgiving of imperfect trigger control technique.

The trigger does, however, come with some liability. A light trigger is not always desirable, and Chris believes that only experienced shooters who practice a lot and know how to manage the trigger should choose a 1911 as a carry gun. They are very unforgiving of even small mistakes in safe gun handling.

The other advantage of the 1911 is pride of ownership. Chris says, “It’s really gratifying to own a well-made machine that also looks like a really well-made machine.” That’s especially true if it’s been in the hands of a highly skilled craftsman or gunsmith who has customized it to your exact specifications. “A gun like that just compels you to take it out to the range and shoot it, and carry it, and show it to your friends.”

There are very few new semi-automatic pistols you can buy today that evoke that kind of pride of ownership that you get from a well made 1911. The industry has responded to that lack by offering ways to individualize polymer pistols, but Chris thinks most of those mods are “pretty lame.” No matter what you do with it, a Glock still looks like a Glock. As Chris says, “It’s just not the same as a shiny chunk of polished steel and wood.”

Even an off-the-shelf 1911 can have that “wow factor” that you can’t get from a more modern pistol. Chris notes that if you think of your gun primarily as a tool, you might think such things are frivolous, and you’re likely correct to a certain extent. But most folks aren’t driven by pure logic.

It can be a good thing to get some enjoyment from your defensive firearms because it can help motivate you to practice with it more. It can, however, go the other way. We can like it so much that we can get delusional about its capabilities but it’s good to have some level of affection for your defensive gun for whatever reason. A nice 1911 lends itself to that admirably.

So, what do you think? Love the 1911? Hate it? Don’t care? Let us know why in the comments.

The 1911 is the most iconic handgun in the world. Other guns manufactured and used around the same time are now relics and sit in collectors’ cases, but the 1911 has held its own and is still in common use. There have been changes to the caliber, finish, length and other areas of the gun, but the basic concept and function of the 1911 has not changed. It remains the father of modern handguns and probably always will.

For those that appreciate the design, reliability, and history of the 1911, there is never an end to the upgrades and various modifications to give it just a little different look from that first classic version by John Moses Browning. I find it thrilling to see different companies’ versions of the 1911 and today we are going to look at the Israeli made 9mm Government 1911 by BUL Armory.

One of my favorite things about the 1911 is that its hard to get wrong. If built to spec, you will have a decent gun regardless of price. Most people who own a 1911 will tell you the biggest downfall is the magazine capacity, which is why the 2011 models, which have double stacked magazines, are gaining in popularity. But from the Rock Island to the Dan Wesson, you will have the same basic design since the creation of the 1911. When you pay more, you are paying for better quality material, finish and the parts are more precise. That’s why I was so impressed the first time I fired the 9mm BUL Government 1911—it looks and feels like a much higher-end gun than the price would suggest. I picked mine up for $675 and it has impressed me ever since.

Anytime I see an Israeli-made firearm, it catches my eye. They know how to make quality guns in Israel and most of the time they are priced surprisingly well. BUL Armory is based out of Tel Aviv and distributed for the US in Florida. BUL produces several popular clones like the CZ-75, AR-15 and the M1911. They now offer a very impressive lineup of competition-ready 1911’s and they have done a great job at not only the quality of their guns, but the aesthetics as well.

First Thoughts from the Range

The first range day for any gun, I like to get a feel for the sight alignment, trigger, and recoil. The BUL had one of the smoothest triggers I’ve seen on a 1911. The trigger came in at 2.6 lbs. and had a short reset. The slide felt like glass when cycled and the feed ramp didn’t have any issues feeding ball or hallow point ammo (which can be a problem with some 1911s). I like to fire at least 500 rounds out of a new gun for reliability testing. With a mix of controlled shots and speed shooting the BUL had zero malfunctions. I used some Wilson Combat, Mec-Gar, and Metalform magazines along with the non-marked magazine that came with the gun.

Once I had some rounds through the BUL, I backed up the targets and slowed down just a little to focus more on the sights. If there was going to be anything I can complain about with this gun, it would be the sights. The standard Government model uses serrated NOVAK stye blackout sights. Both front and back were dove-tailed with the rear sight having a single screw for added stability. While these sights were not designed for competition shooting, they work great in the daylight but are nearly useless in the dark. Some type of night sights would be nice to see, but for the price I am fine with adding that myself. For now, I will use the old hillbilly method and slap some fingernail polish on the front post. At 25 yards I was consistently shooting just a little to the left, which could very well be me and not the gun. I performed a one-second round fire test with one mag at 25 yards (10 rounds in 10 seconds from 25 yards) and the grouping was decent for an out of the box gun.

The balance was good and the 2.5 lb. wight was average for a full-size stainless steel 1911. I liked the split skeleton hammer as it gives it a little more of that custom look. The serrations on the front and back of the grip portion of the frame made it easy to hold on to, even with the smooth buffalo grips I used to replace the G-10 set that came with the gun. The serrations on the slide also made it easy to grip the slide when chambering a round while giving it just a little bit of a tactical look.

Field Striping the BUL 1911

When it comes to field stripping the BUL, the 9mm model does not use the traditional rotating bushing and plug at the end of the barrel like the .45 calibers do. Instead, you just remove the slide stop like most newer handguns and the slide will pull right off. Once the slide is off, you will need a paper clip to remove the guide rod from the slide. The process is fairly easy and takes no time at all to strip and clean. While I purchased the 9mm for this new addition to my 1911 family, the “Government” model was sized to spec with the .45 models. I was able to use the same holsters and magazine carriers as I do with my .45. I did have to do just a little modifying on my buffalo horn grips when replacing the G-10 grips, but the issue wasn’t the BUL but rather the hole spacing on my grips. Any standard 1911 grips should fit on the BUL without issue.

Final thoughts

This is a well built and attractive looking gun. For the price, it is one of the better deals you will find. It is an elegant gun that is fun to shoot, looks custom made, but leaves room for adding your own touch. After several more trips to the range and 1,500 rounds later with no malfunctions, I think it is safe to call this an extremely reliable gun. It would be great for self-defense, running drills on the range, or entry level competition (with some changes to the sights) it makes a great all-around fun gun to shoot, and adding an Israeli made 1911 to my collection makes it feel more complete.

When you’re looking for a carry gun, odds are good you’re hoping for one that’s fairly compact, easy to conceal, and has above-average magazine capacity. That means you’ll probably hear about the Sig Sauer P365XL somewhere along the way, and we’re here to help with your P365XL-related questions. In this video review, Ivan of Kit Badger reviews the P365XL after carrying the gun for about a year and using it in classes at various places, including Thunder Ranch. Read on to find out what features the gun has and what Kit Badger thinks of its performance.

What are Some Sig P365XL Features?

This pistol is the slightly-bigger-brother version of the original P365. At 20.7 ounces, empty, it’s still pretty lightweight, and it delivers solid capacity at 10 +1 or 12 +1 depending on the magazine (you can also get 15 and 20-round aftermarket magazines). The model Ivan of Kit Badger reviewed was the version that ships with a Sig Romeo Zero red dot sight (RDS) which is a nice option from the manufacturer. RDS have become increasingly popular and having your carry gun shipped with a reliable model already mounted to the gun makes the entire process simpler.

The P365XL has an overall height of 4.8-inches without an optic, an overall length of 6.6 inches, and a width of 1.1 inches. Its barrel is made from carbon steel and is 3.7-inches long. This is a micro-compact pistol chambered in 9x19mm designed specifically for concealed carry.

Check out the Kit Badger video for more from Ivan about the Sig P365XL.

How Does the P365XL Perform?

Ivan shares some thoughts on the overall performance of the P365XL, saying, “Honestly, this pistol can outshoot me.”

He goes on to say that the magazines are one of the cooler features. “You have to have this…hybrid double-single-stack to where you can get a flush fit 12-round magazine or the extended 15, and at the same time you have a pistol that is incredibly narrow. …from a concealability standpoint, you have something really small.” Je also notes that similar to the P320s, you can basically configure the P365XL how you want. “Tons of options with this pistol.”

Why do people like the Sig P365XL so much?

This gun is popular for good reason. A few of those reasons include:

• Micro-compact size
• Good defensive caliber
• Reliability
• Accuracy

The SIG P365XL is chambered in 9x19mm which is currently the most popular defensive caliber on the market. Is 9mm your personal favorite or do you prefer a carry gun in a different caliber? Let us know in the comments below.

P365 XL Specifications

• Caliber: 9x19mm
• Capacity: 12 +1 (also available in 10 +1)
• Size: Micro-Compact
• Overall Length: 6.6 inches
• Overall Width: 1.1 inches
• Height: 4.8 inches (without optic)
• Barrel Length: 3.7 inches
• Barrel Material: Carbon Steel
• Weight: 20.7 ounces (empty)
• Sight Radius: 5.6 inches
• Trigger Action: Striker-Fired
• Trigger: X-Series Straight Blade
• Grip: Polymer
• Frame: Stainless Steel
• Frame Finish: Stainless Steel
• Sights: Optic Ready with XRAY3 Day/Night Sights
• MSRP: $685

FN dropped a new .22lr pistol last year, called the FN 502. Have you wondered how the new FN 502 pistol stacks against other .22lr pistols on the market? Allen with Olde English Outfitters got ahold of one of the pistols and did a video review.

The new FN 502 pistol is a semi-automatic .22 caliber pistol. Allen says that the FN 502 is a very interesting pistol that has all the bells and whistles of a modern pistol, or the emerging trends present on the pistols.

When he received the pistol, he installed a Holosun sight on it for testing. He says the rear sight is integral in the mounting plate with the optic mounts. In the box, there were several mounting plates with the integral rear sight to choose from, so you pick the plate that matches your optic and go from there.

He goes on to say that the sights are not illuminated at all, but they are set up so that they co-witness through the optic — which Allen says is very nice. He points out that the pistol has two modern features that he really enjoys:

• It’s suppressor-ready out of the box.
• The Co-witness height of iron sights while being optic ready.

The FN 502 is a single-action pistol, with a cocked hammer after racking the slide. The pistol is made in Germany, by Umarex but marketed by FN. Don’t get hung up on the fact that it was produced by Umarex because if you look closely at the FN 502, it is an FN pistol through and through. It has an ambidextrous magazine release, slide release, and thumb safety. Allen says that regardless of whether you are right- or left-handed, it will work pretty good for you.

On the slide, there are front and rear cocking serrations for ease of use. The rail under the dust cover is great for undermounting lights, laser, or whatever accessory you want down there. The grip has good checkering for hand feel and it comes with two magazines. The standard 10-round magazine fits flush and has a pull-down lever for easier loading of the magazine. The second magazine is a 15-round magazine, which higher capacity mags aren’t the standard for most manufacturers. Allen says the 15-round magazine sticks out a bit, but it isn’t cumbersome.

Allen rounds out the review by saying the FN 502 is a neat little gun that shoots fine and they haven’t had any problems with it thus far at the range. The zeroing of the sight was no problem and using the front sight they were able to hit smaller targets without much difficulty. He says that while it is a relatively new product with a light trigger and easy cycling, it should be a pretty popular pistol and easily compete with other options on the market.

FN 502 Specs:

• Caliber: .22 LR
• Operation: Single Action Only (SAO)
• Mag Capacity: 10 or 15 Rd.
• Weight: 23.7 oz.
• Barrel Length: 4.6″
• Overall Length: 7.6″
• Twist Rate: 1:16″ RH
• Height: 5.8”
• Width: 1.4”
• Trigger Pull: ≈ 5 lbs
• Sight Radius: 5.5”

It’s no news that the AK is a hugely popular platform. It’s mechanically simple, easy to maintain, and easy to use. There’s a reason it’s one of the most widely used platforms across the world. They just work. And, of course, you want mags for your Kalash blaster with the same kind of performance. That’s why Jeremy took ten popular AK mags out to the range for some testing. How well do the mags hold out to the testing? Watch this to find out.

The Test

It’s a Kalash kind of day, and we’re taking a look at the durability of ten popular 30-round AK-47 magazines. These mags are each suject to a drop test, being dropped from about shoulder-height onto hard-packed range dirt, fully loaded. After that, they’re subjected to a full-auto magazine dump.

Jeremy says, “There’s really only two things I need from an AK mag”

1. I feel like I should be able to drop it, from around the area where I would be releasing it, full, hit the ground, and no damage.
2. I want it to be able to feed as fast as the firearm can cycle it. Now, most people don’t have a fully-automatic AK, even though you should. Still, even if you don’t, you might some day, it might be available. If so, that magazine better feed as this can cycle.

 We’ll let the results speak for themselves.

1. Promag AK-47 Steel-Lined Polymer Magazine

The first magazine Jeremy tests is a ProMag steel lined model. The polymer case has stippled texture on both sides and ribs on the back, with steel reinforcement at the feed lips and a steel locking lug.

Jeremy looks closely at the lug and notes that it’s basically steel wrapped, so not a full-steel lug.

Drop test: pass
Mag dump: pass

2. Bulgarian AK-47 Reinforced Steel Lug Polymer Magazine

This slick, smooth Bulgarian AK mag is steel reinforced, not steel lined, with reinforced feed lips and locking lug at the back. 

Drop test: pass
Mag dump: pass

These mag dumps make Jeremy smile and chuckle, “Man, AKs are fun! Tell you what, gettin’ better too!”

3. Bulgarian AK-47 Steel-Lined polymer magazine

This one is similar to the reinforced one just tested, but instead of having the steel only at the top, the whole thing is steel lined with a polymer wrap. It also has a steel baseplate down at the bottom. and this one comes in brown. Drop test, passed, no problem. Does it handle the full-auto Kalash blast? Beautiful. But after this third mag dump, there’s steam coming off the end of the barrel.

Drop test: pass
Mag dump: pass

At this point in the test, Jeremy starts speaking Latin and expounding on the finer points of recoil control. He’s been taking some online Karate classes, which has been really paying off. Bear that in mind if you’re looking to improve your recoil control.*

4. Bulgarian AK47 Steel Magazine

This one is steel all the way around, inside and out. Jeremy says these are shipped with a ton of lubricant to make sure that nothing rusts or goes bad on the boat on the way over.

Drop test: pass
Mag dump: pass

Is it any wonder that the steel mag handles the drop test like a boss? Steel mags even look better when they’re a little dirty anyway. Oh, and it handles mag dump like a boss, too.

5. US Palm AK30 AK-47 Magazine

This is the Banana Mag, and it comes with a patch. Will the Sponge-Bob-looking mag perform as well as all the other US Palm mags?

Drop test: pass
Mag dump: pass

At this point in the video, Jeremy notes that being left-handed has its perks sometimes, especially in the Kalash world. Well, only in the Kalash world. “It’s definitely getting warm up there in the hand region. But the US Palm mag handled full auto like nobody’s business.”

The AK is getting mighty hot, so Jeremy wafts air over the AK to give it a good cool-down.

Plus he likes the smell. It’s like Kalashnicense. 

6. SGM Tactical AK-47 Steel Black magazine

This one looks an awful lot like the Bulgarian, but they’re different. You can see the texture on it is a little bit smoother. When Jeremy loads the mag, he notices that the barrel is still smoking.

Drop test: pass
Mag dump: pass

7. Magpul PMAG AK/AKM Gen M3 Polymer Magazine

This is the Gen 3 PMAG with the waffle texture. It’s polymer all around, so it’s one of the lighter magazines and also most likely to break and bend when dropped. It does have a steel locking lug, and there’s some steel reinforcement, but Magpul is known world-wide for consistency in their polymer construction. Jeremy assumes he’ll see the same thing in their AK mags since their AR mags are Magpul’s bread and butter. 

Drop test: pass
Mag dump: pass

Jeremy notes that he’s experiencing some positive reinforcement for wearing the gloves because it’s gettin’ hot.

8. KCI AK-47 Steel Magazine

The KCI steel magazine has the design as the previous two steel mags in this trial.

Drop test: pass
Mag dump: pass

After the mag dump Jeremy says he needs to take a break, the gun’s getting too hot but the KCI mag ran—a little chewed up and smoking just a bit at the top.

At this point in the test, the AK needs a cool down. They even pour some water over the barrel, so you see the steam, and hear the hiss. After she’s cooled down and lubed up, Jeremy says he’s probably going to have some spray come up. But he’ll just shower in it and deal with it the way it is because the trial is almost done with two more mags to go.

9. ProMag AK-47 Polymer Magazine

This ProMag magazine is polymer all the way around, lock and lug, all that good stuff. The only thing that’s not polymer on this is the spring.

Drop test: Lost one round
Mag dump: pass

So this mag lost the top round with the drop test. Is it an absolute catastrophic failure? Not really. It didn’t have any problem with the mag dump, but took a little extra ‘umph to release the mag.

10. Magpul PMAG AK-47 AKM MOE Magazine

This is the final mag in the test, a PMAG AKM/MOE (Magpul says they’re made with ‘crush proof’ polymer).

Drop test: Lost one round
Mag dump: pass

After just three mag dumps after cooling down the AK, it’s smoking again. It’s really not a surprise because it gets hot in full auto. 

Conclusion?

Jeremy finishes up by saying he didn’t choose these mags for the test because he had a preference or because he believed that they would do anything. “I know what you say about certain manufacturers, that they are not good or whatever, but everybody here performed well, minus one ProMag that lost one single round. It’s up to you to decide.”

*Not really. Duh. 

Hickok45 loves guns, which is pretty obvious to those of us who enjoy his videos. That said, he seems to get really excited over Glocks (he and I share that)! In this video, he takes a look at the Glock 19X and sends a load of rounds downrange through the one he’s using.

Hickok explains that the Glock 19X was one of the submissions for the new military modular pistol trials, which Sig ultimately won. Since Glock did not win the contract, they offered the 19X to the civilian market. Initially, there was much upheaval among aficionados because they wanted a short grip and a long slide because they thought that’s what we “had” to have for concealed carry. Apparently, many forgot about the Combat Commander configuration, which had a standard length grip and a short slide. Lo and behold, sales of the 19X went through the roof among shooters, many of whom are loving it!

As an aside, Glock firearms are used by units of the US Military, including Army Special Forces, Navy SEALs, and Marine Recon, among others. To the best of my knowledge, they mostly use the Glock 19.

The 19X is configured to meet the military specifications, so it has a longer grip—all the better to hold lots of rounds with. In fact, the 19X is fed from either 17 or 19 round magazines (it comes from the factory with one 17-round flush fit magazine and two 19-round extended magazines, which I applaud). Of course, the 19X comes in a Coyote Brown color, including the slide. I’ll admit that, initially, it was the color that made me take a look at the 19X.

Simply put, the Glock 19X is a Glock 17 frame with a Glock 19 slide.

Hickok notes that the 19X does not have the “hump” in the backstrap of the grip like the Glock 17 does, which he believes makes the 19X grip more comfortable. I tend to agree, as the 19X’s grip is stellar, and it does not have the finger grooves on the front of the grip as some earlier Glock generations do. We both share the opinion that this is a positive thing. It does have the RTF (Rough Texture Finish) of the Gen 5 Glocks, which is amazingly effective at giving the shooter a great, non-slip grip.

Another positive is that the pistol comes standard with metal night sights, and they are quite good, in my opinion. As a matter of fact, I wish every pistol would come standard with sights comparable to these; we’d all be better off for it.

To boot, the 19X has a Glock Marksman Barrel (GMB) with enhanced rifling and a recessed crown, which makes it a very accurate pistol (I can verify this with my own 19X). As well, the front of the slide is beveled to make reholstering easier. The magazine release is reversible and the slide release is ambidextrous.

For daily carry, though, Hickok prefers the Glock 19, as it is a bit smaller than the 19X. He just likes a smaller carry gun. Personally, I do carry my 19X from time to time, especially in the colder months (we have many colder months here in PA) when it’s easier to conceal. I find that the extra weight is more of a factor for me, though, than the size.

That said, I need to point out that this pistol was not created with concealed carry in mind; it was to be a military fighting sidearm carried openly, for the most part. As such, it excels in that role and does exactly what it was created for. It has a rail on the lower dust cover, which facilitates the mounting of lasers and lights, should the shooter wish to utilize such technology.

One area where Hickok and I differ in opinion is where the trigger is concerned. He doesn’t care for the 19X’s trigger too much, saying that the break is not very crisp, that’s it’s more of a “rolling” type of break. My 19X has a very good trigger, in my opinion, and it is on the crispier side, with a nice break. To be fair, Glock triggers can vary somewhat in how they break. I suspect that Hickok just got one that’s a little on the “mushy” side because quite a few people whom I know who have 19Xs are very pleased with the triggers on theirs.

Despite his complaints, Hickok clarifies that they are the “trimmings” and that he’d be more than satisfied to carry a 19X if he had to go into harm’s way because they are so reliable. I wholeheartedly agree! If I were going into harm’s way (I have been there in the past), the 19X is the pistol I’d choose (as the backup to a long gun if I had a choice).

The shorter, 19-length slide is, in my opinion, better than the Glock 17 slide because the slightly shorter length indexes more quickly when you are engaging multiple targets and when maneuvering or clearing rooms. That fraction of a second that the shorter slide gives us might be the difference in surviving an engagement or not. That shorter slide also means we can draw it more quickly from a holster as opposed to some of the longer-slided pistols. Granted, we’re talking fractions of a second again, but a fraction of a second here, a fraction of a second there…well, it adds up. I’ll be glad to take tiny bits of time in my favor when it’s on the two-way range and targets are shooting back.

Cons

• A bit large for concealed carry
• Mushy trigger

Pros

• It works! All the time!
• Comes with steel night sights
• Comes with three magazines
• Very accurate
• Durable finish & attractive color.
• Comfortable grip. The fact that it’s a longer grip means that it deals with recoil efficiently.

Hickok reports that the recoil is similar to the Glock 19 and 17 models, which is to be expected since it’s a combination of those two. There is not much muzzle rise when firing the 19X.

Throughout the video, Hickok rattles rounds off as though there was no bullet shortage, often in very rapid fire. The 19X handled it with aplomb and asked for more. At one point, he even inserted a 33-round extended magazine and ripped through all of those rounds. By the way, if you have a 9mm Glock and don’t own a 33-rounder, I highly recommend that you fix that; they are tons of fun on the range. And for home defense…well, 33 rounds! What else can I say?

Overall, Hickok says the 19X is a great gun, but not something he wishes to purchase. Conversely, I went out and bought one and am quite pleased with it for the reasons I’ve already mentioned. The viewer may wish to check one out for himself, I think they are worth a look.

Interested in becoming a better shooter without burning through thousands of rounds of ammo? Sure, you can do that with plain dry fire practice, but you can get even better results by adding a training tool like the Mantis X10 Elite. Mantis makes a full line of pistol-mounted systems that track your performance for the purpose of helping you improve your shooting skills; if you’ve never checked them out, you probably should. Curious? In this video review, Four Guys Guns runs the Mantis X10 Elite and shows you what it can do to make you a better shooter with every session.

What is the Mantis X10 Elite?

Here’s how Four Guys Guns explains the Mantis X10 Elite:

“Contained in this neat little package is your Mantis X10. Now, the Mantis does come in, I believe, four flavors. It starts with the original X, the X1, the X7, and this is the X10 Elite. All that really differs between these models is kind of the software package that comes with it. Now, by software package, I mean it works on your iPhone, or even poor-Droid as well —fight me in the comments.

“It has a full suite of everything from basic cadence drills to reload drills to detecting muzzle rise. All this stuff really kind of intrigued me, so I definitely…wanted to give it a try.”

So, can it only be used with live fire?

It does both:

“Generally, I only practice with… a SIRT Pistol from Next Level. This is a heavy-weighted gun, feels like a real gun, real mag, decent trigger, and it shoots a laser beam. …what does that do for you when you go to live-fire? We’ve seen it before and it does actually — with a lot of repetition — help you. However, guns still go ‘boom, boom, bang, bang’ and make loud noises and that tends to make you go high-speed, low-left faster than you can realize.”

He goes on to say that the Mantis works on not just that SIRT Pistol but it also works on a full-sized pistol with a rail.  “I want you guys to know, check your…mags before you go around your house rootin, tootin, and shootin, because next thing you know when you’re doing your reload practice, you’re putting a hole through the counter, and nobody wants that.”

Check out the video to see the Mantis X10 Elite in action along with screenshots of what the feedback from the software program looks like.

Should I use it live fire or dry fire?

Use your Mantis X10 Elite — or whichever Mantis system you have — both for dry fire and live fire practice. The great thing about dry fire is it doesn’t burn ammo and it really does work. The nice thing about live fire is you get the full effect of recoil, among other things. Each form of practice complements the other.

As Four Guys Guns mentioned above, always follow safety rules when doing dry fire.

• Double-check that your gun is empty both visually and by touch.
• Store live ammo in a separate location.
• Use an area with a safe backstop.
• Your pets are not targets
• Follow the four safety rules, even for dry fire:
  • All guns are always loaded
  • Keep your finger off the trigger until you are on target
  • Do not aim the gun at anything you are not willing to destroy
  • Know your target and what is beyond it

Do you use dry fire practice to improve your shooting skills? If so, do you use a Mantis X10 Elite? Tell us about it in the comments below.

What’s worse than needing a specific tool and not having it? When you have the tool but it is… elsewhere. As in, not physically available to you where you need it when you need it.

Sometimes you need your gun tools when you’re out in the field or at the range. Heck, maybe you just want to make them part of your EDC because your work (or preference) demands it. That’s where Real Avid comes in with its Gun Tool AMP line. Instead of trying to come up with a solution using whatever materials may be close at hand, the Gun Tool AMP has your tools packed into a portable multi-tool configuration.

Cool, eh? The available models cover three popular platforms: the AR 15, 1911, and pistol.

We recently obtained the model for pistols, so we’ll take a closer look at it. Before we get into the review, though, check out the video demonstration so you can see how the system works.

The two-part system maximizes storage, function, and portability.

You wouldn’t think a multitool and holster combo with this much capability would be small enough to fit comfortably in your hand, but it does. And though it’ll add a little bulk to your belt if you decide to wear it, it isn’t enough to be cumbersome.

The Multi-Tool

The multitool portion has stainless steel tools including:

• 2.6″ Wharncliffe knife blade
• Laser/sight trigger adjustment Hex keys (.028″, .035″, .050″, and 1/6″)
• 2.5mm (3/32″) pin punch
• Tap hammer
• Flat carbon scraper for deeper cleaning
• Metal file
• Bottle opener
• Angled pick to help access those hard-to-reach places in the pistol slide and frame
• Nut wrenches (4mm, 5mm, 1/4″, and 5/16″)

The tools either have a black oxide finish or are made of titanium.

The Holster

Real Avid incorporated so much into this holster, I find it to be quite impressive. The belt clip is big enough to be used on wider belts and it’s also MOLLE compatible. And then, there’s the magnetic bit storage, multiple bit options, and the lever system to keep it all secure until you’re ready to use it.

The bit set includes common bits and screwdriver heads:

• 5/64″ Hex
• 3/32″ Hex
• 7/64″ Hex
• T15
• #1 Phillips
• 1/8″ Flat
• 3/16″ Flat
• 1/4″ Flat
• 9mm Flat

Function

As I mentioned earlier, I used the Real Avid Gun Tool AMP to install a Tyrant Designs Magazine Extension and Extended Slide Release on my Glock 43. It was easy to install both of them, though I did learn a new trick when installing the slide release.

At first, it seemed like I need to pound the slide release pin with the punch to get it out, but I really didn’t want to use too much force for fear I might damage the gun, the pin, or even my fingers. I asked a buddy about it and he sent me this video showing how to remove it without using too much force.

Basically, if you press down on the spring that is pushing up on the slide release while pushing on the spring, you can use a punch and push it out.  No hammer (or roll of tape as a platform) is required!

So after I made these modifications to my Glock, I took it to the range to try it out. Of course, I was glad to have the mag extension in place, because…more rounds is more better, right? But I was especially eager to see how the extended slide release would be, since I’ve only used the Glock with the one from the factory.

I was very pleasantly surprised. With the factory slide release, it was a little difficult (for me) to press it in when I wanted to field strip the gun. The extended slide release stands out and adds just enough surface area and texture to give my thumb a little more leverage, thus making the process easier to do since my thumb is way less likely to slip during the process. And that’s the whole point, right?

I’ve only touched the surface of what the Real Avid Gun Tool AMP can do, I realize. But as the needs arise, we’re glad we have this tool handy. 

Today were are talking Lithium, and I don’t mean the prescription drug or great Nirvana song. Nope I mean the Lithium PCC 9mm compensator from a company called Ultradyne. The company famously makes the C4 iron sights with their unique sight picture and design. They’ve also dived headfirst into the world of muzzle devices.

The Lithium PCC aims to tame the recoil of 9mm PCCs, most of which use a simple and reliable direct blowback design. It’s a solid, well-proven way to make a 9mm PCC or subgun, but the downside is recoil. A 9mm PCC recoils like a 5.56 caliber rifle. There is no reason we should accept rifle recoil in a rifle platform from a pistol cartridge. Heck, reducing recoil and muzzle rise is always a noble cause, and as such, the Lithium PCC compensator aims to make any 9mm PCC or subgun a bit more controllable.

Ultradyne Lithium Construction and Installation

Ultradyne constructs the Lithium PCC Compensator from 416 stainless steel and wears an ultra-rugged salt bath nitride finish to give it a dark black color. This salt bath nitride finish resists muzzle blast and maintains the finish regardless of heat and the exploding gasses it’s exposed to over and over again.

Mounting is super simple, and a crush washer isn’t required. What we get is a three-piece system made up of a timing nut, a collar, and the muzzle device itself. All a shooter has to do is hand-tighten the timing nut on the barrel, then install the collar on the muzzle device and hand tighten the device against the timing nut.

Here is where you’ll need two 13/16th wrenches. Index the muzzle device until it’s lined up appropriately, then hold it in place with a wrench. Take your second wrench and work the timing nut counterclockwise against the muzzle device. If you have a torque wrench, it should be 25-foot pounds.

Boom, you’re done. I did this at my kitchen island in about five minutes, with two minutes of getting it just right. I tossed mine on my super short and very handy CMMG Banshee Mk17 AR pistol. It’s a 9mm AR-type pistol with a radial delayed system that already delivers light recoil.

By The Numbers

How do you judge how well a compensator works? I mean, I can certainly tell you how it feels, and I will, but how do you judge raw performance? Well, the closest thing I can figure out is to use the Mantis X10 device. It has a “RecoilMeter” that tracks gun movements throughout a shot. I tested the recoil of the Mk17 with a bare barrel and with the weapon equipped with the Lithium PCC.

Without the Lithium, the Mk17 had a muzzle rise of .62 degrees. Not bad by any means. The CMMG’s radial delayed system does a great job of reducing recoil and muzzle rise in general. After properly assembling the Lithium onto the Mk17, the muzzle rise went down to .24.

I used the same ammo, the same magazine, the same everything. The Mantis did not move between shots. Man, the Lithium did a fantastic job of cutting down recoil, and the numbers don’t lie.

The Ultradyne Lithium in Action

I set up a number of my favorite drills and ran them hard with the Lithium-equipped Mk17. I warmed up with box drills and moved into the VTAC 1-5 drills, reload drills, and even shot the old OPOTA SMG qual with the gun. Hot damn, did I see a noticeable difference to the point where I was a little slower than I needed to be. It took a warm-up for me to get used to the effects of the Lithium.

The big device makes a big difference. It’s notably a stiller weapon. Judging by the movement of my red dot, the recoil is cut significantly. Watching that dot move even less on a gun where the dot already barely moves. Strings of rapid-fire are much easier to control. The Lithium uses two side ports to reduce recoil and four top ports to reduce muzzle rise.

I had zero issues with reliability. Easy with lower-powered ammunition. The Mk17 ate everything as always without complaint or issue. The Lithium won’t impair your gun’s ability to run ragged.

The ports certainly do their job and reduce both muzzle rise and recoil. The effect on muzzle rise is most noticeable. While lots of people may use something like this for speed, the device does a great job of improving practical accuracy.

The Accuracy Difference

When I say practical accuracy, I don’t mean the device will tighten your groups up necessarily. A reduction in muzzle rise allows you to stay on target between shots. At 50 yards hitting a four-inch isn’t hard, but doing so quickly can be. A moving gong and a red dot moving between shots create the challenge. When we eliminate or at least minimize the dot’s movement, we can just account for the gong swinging, and that makes laying accurate round down much easier.

The Lithium compensator does just that. I can focus less on recovering from recoil and more on hitting the slightly moving target. Small targets and PCCs are really more of a competitive game, but hey, you never know when it will translate over to the real world.

Downsides

In the spirit of no free lunch, everything you do with a gun is a trade-off. With the Ultradyne Lithium, the trade off’s aren’t huge. First, your gun will be a fair bit louder. That’s the nature of brakes on firearms. Not too big of a deal, but worth noting.

Second, you do add about 1.5 inches of length to your gun. That can be considered a bad thing when you’re using a gun as small as the Mk17 Banshee. However, it might be worthwhile on a dedicated 14.5-inch barrel. You can pin and weld it to keep it at 16 inches with a muzzle device.

Going Wide

The Lithium isn’t a small device, but big effects come from big devices. It’s certainly beastly in size, but a little thickness never hurt anyone. The overall effects are by the numbers provable, and the reduction in muzzle rise and recoil can be easily felt. I think Ultradyne has done a bang-up job with the Lithium.

If you are looking to get into PCC competition, then the Ultradyne Lithium should be on your shortlist of awesome products. If you want to add an edge to your home defense PCC or subgun, then ditto. It’s a rock-solid piece of gear that installs easily and performs admirably.