Gun Reviews

I’ve always looked at Hickock as a sort of grandfatherly figure, and the fact that he’s obsessed and very knowledgeable with firearms just makes it better. When you tune in to a HIckock45 video, you can be certain that there will be a gratuitous volume of shooting. This particular video does not disappoint in that department as Hickock takes an in-depth look at the Tisas 1911A1. No, he doesn’t focus on how much it weighs or the dry technical specifications. What he does is give it a good workout on the range.

So, what is a Tisas 1911A1?

The Tisas is made in Turkey and imported into the US. From outward appearances, it looks just like a US Army 1911A1. From the nicely parkerized finish to the authentic-looking plastic grips, to the lanyard loop, it is really very similar to the original. The slide is forged steel and the barrel is five inches long and hammer forged. On the side of the slide are the markings, “Model 1911A1 US Army.” From a little distance, the pistol actually does look a lot like a real Army .45 ACP pistol.

The pistol is built on the series 70 action, so there is no firing pin block. There is a short trigger, arched mainspring, and beavertail. Hickock is fond of the trigger pull.

He is not too fond of the sights, though, considering that they are very basic and very small. USGI style all the way. These days, we’re spoiled by the sights on carry pistols, as they are high visibility affairs. Back in the day, pistols were not blessed with such luxuries.

Shooting the Tisas

Hickock runs through quite a few magazines with the .45, and there really aren’t any surprises. It is 100% reliable and recoil isn’t burdensome. Honestly, it’s a plain vanilla 1911 style pistol.

During his shooting (did I mention there’s a lot of it in this video?), Hickock nails targets both near and far. How far? At the outer limits of his range, which appears to be well over 100 yards. Yeah, he’s a damn good shot, as he hits targets smaller than a man at over a hundred yards. The fact that he does it with a GI-style pistol that has mediocre sights makes it kind of impressive. The man can shoot!

Why would someone want to buy a Turkish copy of a USGI 1911?

Hickock mentions that it would be attractive to those who are on a tight budget. This pistol has an MSRP of $399, which means the street price will be lower than that. For the reliability that you get, the price is not bad. For those who do modifications on firearms, this would be an inexpensive way to get a project off the ground. It’s an inexpensive way to own a facsimile of a military pistol. And although the configuration isn’t ideal for defensive carry, it could serve in that capacity. Finally, reenactors might be attracted to this one as an inexpensive way to add to their uniform.

There are many who will turn up their nose at a Turkish, imported pistol. For them, this video will likely hold no allure. But for those with an open mind or who are on that budget we talked about, this pistol might be appealing.

Cold jacks up a lot of things, including your firearms. (Unless you’re Russian. Read on for clarification). With snow coming down, I think we should all make sure our gear can handle the worst of conditions. Even if you don’t live in an area that gets cold, it’s good to know the limitations of your gear, and Garand Thumb is here to help. GT shows us what could go wrong in the worst-case scenarios with his wide collection of rifles.

In this two-part test, GT will cover his rifles in water and let them freeze. The first part will be a light spray of water, and then in the second, he will douse them each thoroughly. Hopefully, the rifles can stay in fighting condition.

Frozen Rifle Test — Part One

Rifles Participating

• HK 416/MR556 5.56
• Steyr AUG 5.56
• URGI 5.56
• Meridian AKM 7.62×39
• AK-105 built out by Jim Fuller 5.45×39
• Military Block II that hasn’t been cleaned 5.56
• Sig MCX 5.56
• KAC SR-15 5.56
• FN FNC (FAL) 5.56
• Galil ACE 5.56
• M14 7.62×51
• SCAR H 7.62×51
• DSA OSW (FAL) 7.62×51
• LMT MWS 6.5 Creedmoor

Garand Thumb starts the first test with just a light spray of water over both sides of each firearm. After letting them sit and freeze, he tries to fire five shots out of each rifle.

Here are the results for each firearm.

HK 416

The AR-style rifle gets all five shots off but has a little trouble with the safety and ejection port cover. The safety is a bit stiff, but Garand Thumb is able to get it set to fire. The ejection port cover is partially frozen and won’t go down all the way, and thankfully it doesn’t hinder the cycling of the rifle.

Steyr AUG

Being made in Austria, GT wasn’t expecting any trouble. The AUG has a stiff safety, but that is overcome and it fires all five shots.

URGI

The URGI follows next with a surprising outcome. The AR-style rifle has very stiff safety and only fires one shot before a nasty malfunction. The ejection port fails to open, causing the spent casing to get lodged when the BCG tries to chamber a new round. Garand Thumb then discovers that the mag and mag release have frozen when trying to clear the malfunction. After getting the mag out and removing the malfunction, he attempts to put the mag back in, but the catch has not reset. He manually resets the catch and fires the remaining four shots.

Meridian AKM

Starting for the AK rifles is the AKM. The safety came off without any trouble, and it smoothly fires all five shots. I don’t think it’s a surprise at anyone that a Russian rifle does well in the cold.

AK-105

Next for the AKs is the 105. Like the AKM, it smokes its AR competition and fires all five shots without any hiccups.

Military Block II

Trying to redeem the other AR-style rifles, we have the dirty Block II. Surprisingly, the Block II’s safety has no problems. The uncleaned rifle even fires all five shots without the issues that the other AR platforms experienced.

Sig MCX

Now for the Sig MCX. Definitely a surprise to me, the MCX only fires one shot before the action locks back. In his attempt to get the MCX back on track, Garand Thumb runs into the same problem as with the other ARs: the mag and mag release are frozen. He remarks that while the rocking in of the AK mags can be a pain, it doesn’t freeze up like the AR platform. After hitting the mag release with an AK mag, GT finally gets the mag out. Failing to get the bolt to release, he declares that the MCX is down and moves on.

KAC SR-15

After the failure of the MCX, we have the KAC SR-15. Like the MCX, the SR-15’s bolt locks to the rear after only one shot. Attempting to get the SR-15 working again, Garand Thumb fights the mag release again. Unfortunately, the SR-15 follows in the steps of the MCX, and Thumb is forced to declare it is done.

FN FNC (FAL)

Now we get to the rifle GT has been looking forward to, the FN FNC. Garand Thumb is happy to see that the FNC shoots all five shots with no problems.

Galil ACE

Moving on to the Galil ACE. The safety clicks off easy, and Garand Thumb puts all five rounds down range with no trouble. He says it fires easier than the FNC.

M14

Now we have the first battle rifle, the M14. The safety comes off with no trouble, but unfortunately, the hammer doesn’t drop after pulling the trigger and is deemed unsafe. After pouring water over the rifle, Garand Thumb clears the firearm but declares it done.

SCAR H

The SCAR is up next for the battle rifles. The safety clicks off, but GT runs into a dead trigger after the first shot. The SCAR fails to extract the first round, but the malfunction is cleared after mortaring. The next round has to be manually ejected, but it fires eight more shots after that.

DSA OSW (FAL)

The last 7.62 battle rifle is the DSA OSW. The safety goes off with relative ease, and the DSA is able to fire all five shots. GT says that is the most surprising test result.

LMT MWS

Last we have the LMT MWS. The LMT’s safety comes off, but it was a little stiff. The LMT fires all five shots with no problems.

To sum up these test results:

The Frozen Rifle Test winners are the AKs, the FALs, and the Galil. The failures: the SCAR, M14, KAC SR-15, and the MCX. 

Frozen Rifle Test — Part Two

With the first test over, Garand Thumb prepares for the more brutal test.

Before starting the second part of the test, he explains why he thinks a few of the guns failed. He thinks the SR-15 might have failed because the ambidextrous bolt release froze. He also feels that he might have done the SCAR dirty by having a battery assist device, so he takes it off in the second test to give a fair shake. The M14 is taken out of the test entirely because it failed utterly in the first test. Another AK-105 is added to the test, but it is chambered in 5.56 instead of 5.45×39.

Garand Thumb goes for almost total immersion in the second part of the test. After letting them get nice and frozen, we see which rifle wins round two.

Rifles Participating

• HK 416/MR556 5.56
• Steyr AUG 5.56
• URGI 5.56
• Meridian AKM 7.62×39
• AK-105 built out by Jim Fuller 5.45×39
• AK-105 5.56
• Military Block II that hasn’t been cleaned 5.56
• Sig MCX 5.56
• KAC SR-15 5.56
• FN FNC (FAL) 5.56
• Galil ACE 5.56
• SCAR H 7.62×51
• DSA OSW (FAL) 7.62×51
• LMT MWS 6.5 Creedmoor

Unfortunately, almost all the rifles fail the second test, and the ones that don’t outright fail have their problems. The guns that technically pass the test were the AUG and the AKs. Garand Thumb even has to cut the video down because it takes so long to make sure the failed weapons are rendered safe before moving on.

The Steyr AUG fires one shot but doesn’t cycle all the way due to its frozen mag. The AKM doesn’t work at first, but it works fine after clearing the bolt’s ice. The 7.62 AK-105 has a frozen mag spring, but that is its only problem. The 5.56 AK-105 locks back after the first shot, but it continues to fire after Garand Thumb works the bolt manually.

Out of the AR platforms, only the 416 and URGI fired. However, there was only one shot before they were locked up from the ice. The FNC also fired only one shot. No other rifles sent rounds downrange.

Which rifles pass the second test?

Concluding the test, Garand Thumb grants victory to the AUG and AKs. The AUG did have a frozen mag, but GT admits that if you just gave it a new mag, it would keep running.

These tests have put the rifles through an extreme with worst-case freezing. Garand Thumb says that you probably won’t experience these conditions, but he did this because he wanted to see what would happen. Even though the AR platform rifles failed, he says you shouldn’t just get rid of your AR because your location is what’s important. What works in some places might not work in others and vice versa.

This kind of test makes me want to get out and test my gear. Not really in the same manner as this, but maybe a more practical challenge for my area. Having proper training on your gear will help if you find yourself in bad conditions, so like Garand Thumb says, get trained and know your equipment. “So get out there train become better. Because remember you are the weapon.” – Garand Thumb.

Why is finding a suppressor-ready .45 ACP so complicated? While there are a select-few single actions on store shelves, finding a range-ready polymer-framed .45 is much less common. The Springfield XD-M is a top contender. It’s built for use with a suppressor and it comes in this configuration from the factory.

Why .45 ACP?

1911 fans don’t need any convincing. Adding a threaded barrel to a 1911, though, can pose problems. You’ll likely need the assistance of a gunsmith as the 1911 platform, though modular, can still require that parts are hand-fitted to each gun.

The .45 ACP may not be the fastest round, but it hits hard. The terminal ballistics of the fat ball rounds have proven themselves in combat, tactical applications, and self-defense for more than a century. And the popularity means there are countless varieties of loads and bullet designs to choose from.

But for the XD-M built with a threaded barrel, the .45 ACP has another big benefit. Almost all these loads are subsonic. The threshold for a good loud crack is right around 900 feet per second, and most of the heavier rounds stay below that mark.

The 5.28” barrel on the XD-M is going to provide enough length for the powder to burn up, which increases muzzle velocity, but most of the .45 ACP ball ammo is going to hold right in below the 900 fps mark. And you still have the benefit of running +P ammo, or lighter (and faster) defensive loads, too.

With these speeds, an XD-M .45 with a silencer should be hearing safe.

The XD-M .45

Specs

• Caliber .45 ACP
• Color Black
• Barrel 5.28″ Hammer Forged Steel, Threaded (.578 x 28), Melonite® Finish, 1:16
• Slide Forged Steel, Melonite® Finish
• Frame Black Polymer
• Sights Dovetail, Suppressor Height
• Recoil System One Piece w/ Full Length Guide Rod
• Grip Width 1.2″
• Magazines (3) 13-Round
• Weight 31 oz
• Length 8.6″
• Height 6″
• MSRP $673

The XD-M has always been a gun that produces solid accuracy. I’ve run them in numerous calibers over almost a decade and I’ve come to expect good things.

Grip texture on this XD-M hasn’t caught up to some of the other Springfields—like the Hellcat or the XD-S Mod 2—both of which have the more sandpaper-like feel to the grips. But the aggressive tire-tread on the XD-M is still tactile enough that my hand doesn’t shift.

The suppressor height sights are an added bonus. Why anyone would thread a barrel on a factory gun and not include them seems ridiculous, yet it still happens. These on the XD-M are tall enough to be seen over the side of the Banish 45.

The XD-M in .45 ACP comes with three 13-round magazines. This is a respectable capacity for a .45. The 9mm versions hold more, yes—but finding subsonic 9mm isn’t always easy—and when you strip the 9mm of its velocity, the lighter bullets don’t perform as well.

And that, for me, is the appeal here. In terms of foot-pounds of force, a subsonic .45 ACP crushes it. Take two of Remington’s subsonic loads. A 147 grain 9mm round, with a muzzle velocity of 945 FPS (which is right at that threshold for a sonic crack), produces 291 foot-pounds of energy. A 230 grain .45 ACP round leaves the barrel at 830 FPS and has 351 foot-pounds of energy.

There’s nothing wrong with a suppressed 9mm. But everything about the .45 ACP seems like it was meant to be suppressed.

Shooting the XD-M

The XD-M has a highly manageable recoil impulse. I find there to be less rise than I experience with a 1911—something I attribute to the ergonomics of the grip. The XD-M in .45 ACP fits in my hand better than a 1911, and the shape of the grip is more rounded and less wide and flat—and that’s before any fine-tuning that can be done with the interchangeable backstraps.

I’ve been carrying an XD-M Elite in 9mm for months, and I’m faster with that gun than I am with the XD-M in .45 ACP. The 9mm Elite shoots flat and fast. My split times on the .45 are marginally slower, but they’re still proficient. Speed isn’t always everything.

Shooting the Springfield XD-M suppressed

The recoil impulse on the XD-M suppressed with a Banish 45 is hard to describe. Because there’s more mass out on the end of the barrel, there’s not so much muzzle flip. But the muzzle-flip that is there is somewhat whip-like. The muzzle-end of the can goes up more slowly, but motion carries through in like a wave.

The feeling is far easier to control than that description would imply. For me, recoil management on an unsuppressed pistol requires that I keep the muzzle from climbing too high and control the movement back to the target for a follow-up shot.

I find that a suppressed .45 ACP tends to rise less and dip more so that I’m moving through shots in a more fluid motion. I’m not as fast on movement drills, but I can get by.

And hearing the .45 ACP slap a steel target without the bark of an unmuffled gun is something that never gets old.

The Banish .45 can be set up in two lengths. The short version is 6.7”. The longer version is 8.6”. The weight comes in just over nine ounces, or right at 11. Titanium doesn’t weigh much. Neither, though, does the XD-M, which has a polymer frame. With the suppressor, the gun comes in under three pounds (but that’s before you add a full mag).

Subsonic ammo is still painfully loud without hearing protection. The Banish .45 in its long configuration pulls 36 DB from the report, making it hearing safe. It isn’t Hollywood quiet. It isn’t as whisper-quiet as some suppressed bolt guns, but it is hearing safe.

Blowback with the Banish 45 is minimal. As you would with any firearms, you should still wear eye protection. The addition of hearing protection is up to you.

Why would you want to shoot suppressed?

I’ve always been opposed to these kinds of questions. It’s fun. That’s enough?

But there are other benefits. We all like to hear things. Shooting with a can helps preserve that sense—and even opens up other sounds that you’d never hear when wearing hearing protection.

And shooting suppressed allows you to talk to others more easily. As a teaching tool, a good silencer makes range time much safer.

Silencers are really ideal for hunting. The XD-M isn’t as effective on hogs in the .45 ACP version as it is in the 10mm version, but the .45 ACP is still hell on a pig. This is a harder argument to make, as carrying an unholstered handgun isn’t ideal but it can be done safely and effectively.

Home defense is another story altogether. Think about the scenarios we all should train for. The first is the incredibly nuanced skill set needed to clear a house. In an enclosed space, in the dark, you’ll want a light. The Springfield XD-M can do that, too. But if you do fire a shot, or multiple shots, without hearing protection on…. What will that do to your equilibrium? To your ability to communicate? How blinding will the muzzle flash be?

Let’s go back to the real answer. Why shoot suppressed? Why not shoot suppressed?

My gut tells me that the biggest reason why people don’t is the cost. The threaded barrel and suppressor sights will add a bit to the price tag on the XD-M, but with an MSRP of $673, that cost is hardly prohibitive. And the availability of reliable ammo that is organically subsonic means you won’t have to pay extra for the privilege.

The biggest expense will likely be the suppressor and the fun-fee you’ll have to pay to your Uncle Samuel for the stamp.

It’s always exciting to see what’s new in the gun world, but there’s definitely an added layer of excitement when the gun in question comes from a popular gun maker like Smith and Wesson. Among their 2022 offerings is the Smith and Wesson CSX, a 9mm handgun that’s generating a lot of buzz. If you’re interested in finding out what the CSX can do, check out this video from the team over at Shooter’s Resource Channel.

What is the Smith and Wesson CSX?

The CSX is an aluminum-alloy pistol with polymer pistol grip inserts. Smith and Wesson designed the backstraps to be interchangeable so shooters can customize the gun’s grip to better fit their hands. It’s chambered in 9mm, has a 12 +1 capacity, and has a micro-sized frame for improved concealability. A 10 +1 capacity magazine is included to further minimize the gun’s profile for concealment. With ambidextrous slide releases and manual safeties, it’s a versatile gun that works well regardless of which hand is your strong side.

What Did Shooter’s Resource Channel Think of the CSX?

Some of Shooter’s Resource Channel’s initial impressions of the Smith and Wesson CSX include the fact that it’s a somewhat heavy gun with a rather stout trigger pull. They are a fan of the steel white dot fights that come standard from the factory and feel the ambidextrous controls are a fantastic feature (we agree).

To find out what else they had to say about the handgun, watch the video:

Overall, the Smith and Wesson CSX seems to be a solid pistol from a respected manufacturer. It should fulfill a niche for concealed carriers looking for a daily carry 9mm with a bit more heft to it, and the way it has interchangeable grips and ambidextrous controls is a huge plus.

More From the Comments Section

YouTubers viewing the video on Shooter’s Resource Channel made some good points about the gun:

RollinOnBBS said, “The trigger should break-in and get smoother, after about 30 days of dry firing with snap caps.” In response to that, Shooter’s Resource Channel said they hoped live-fire would make it an even faster process.

Also, according to RollinOnBBS, “Factory Ruger LCP II HOLSTER is perfect fit. The soft body holster works like a sticky holster for IWB or Pocket carry especially, if you are bigger dude whom wears loose fitting pants with large front pockets.”

MojoMan69 wrote, “A good companion gun if you carry a 2011 like the staccato. But I would wait to see if they will come out with the PC version with maybe a light rail, better trigger and optics ready.”

Are you interested in the Smith and Wesson CSX? Tell us in the comments below.

The Sig P365 soared to popularity basically the second it was launched, offering greater capacity in a smaller package — and that fulfilled a niche a lot of gun owners were interested in. After all, an easily concealed firearm chambered in a capable self-defense caliber is a win, right? Well, the original P365 was a little too small for some gun owners with bigger hands, so Sig responded with the P365XL. In this video review, 1911 Syndicate checks out the Sig P365XL and runs live-fire tests to give an idea of what the gun can do in their hands.

What are the Sig P365XL Features?

The easiest way to summarize the P365XL is to say it’s a slightly larger version of the original P365, meaning it depends on your hand size when it comes to whether you prefer one over the other. Of course, there’s more to it than that.

Sig designed the P365XL with a stainless steel frame which adds a little weight over polymer designs but also lends durability and good balance to the gun. Even with the steel frame and slide the gun only weighs 20.7 ounces, empty; with a fully loaded magazine this pistol is still small enough to comfortably conceal and carry all day, every day. Aside from the P365XL’s 12 +1 capacity — which does a lot to recommend it — the gun’s trigger is a solid selling point. Right out of the box the trigger is good with a clean break and short reset. And thanks to the solidly-built frame, the already-negligible recoil and muzzle rise of its 9mm chambering is offset so reacquiring targets is no problem at all. Yes, this gun runs well rapid-fire.

Check out the video to find out what the 1911 Syndicate guys think of the Sig P365XL.

Is the SIG P365XL a Good Carry Gun?

Short answer: yes. The slightly longer answer is that many features and performance points have proven the Sig P365XL is a great option for concealed carry:

• Compact
• Reasonably lightweight
• Greater magazine capacity
• Good factory trigger
• Myriad holster options
• Accurate
• Easy to conceal
• Durable
• Reliable

Is a Bigger Gun Better?

It really does depend on your own hand size and needs when it comes to deciding if a slightly larger gun is better. Even though it may look like the P365XL is barely any bigger than the P365 — and it’s true, it isn’t a lot larger — that tiny difference matters. For shooters with bigger hands, the under-an-inch size gap affects comfort and accuracy more than you might think. It gives you a little more of that steel real estate to grip. We suggest you go ahead and try out both models when choosing which one fits your needs.

Do you own a Sig P365 or P365XL? Which model do you prefer? Drop a comment below.

P365 XL Specifications

• Manufacturer: Sig Sauer
• Model: P365XL
• Caliber: 9x19mm
• Capacity: 12 +1 (also available in 10 +1 and 15 + 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

If you don’t take advantage of the ability to quickly and easily swap grips with your P320, then what is the point? Seriously, why even P320 if you aren’t willing to tinker. SIG themselves sells a number of replaceable grip modules that allow the shooter to quickly and easily swap between different grip modules for different purposes. Well, Sig isn’t the only company that has gotten in on the action, and a little company Mirzon has produced what might be the best P320 grip module out there.

The Mirzon Enhanced Grip Module doesn’t replicate Sig by any means. Instead, they took their own route and crafted their grip module to provide the most control possible. The Mirzon grip module’s design implements a ton of different changes to enhance control, increase accuracy, and reduce recoil. At least Mirzon claims the grip does this. We aim to figure out if those claims hold water.

Into the Mirzon Enhanced Grip Module

From the start, you can choose between three different polymer colors, including black, coyote tan, and storm gray. Beyond those three colors, you can choose 14 different Cerakote colors to give you whatever color setup you could ever want. Colors include standard like gunmetal, but also silly stuff like zombie green and just plain cool finishes like Northern lights.

Buyers get the choice between a standard model or a grip cut for a safety. We get a four-slot rail which is much friendlier to my TLR-1 than the compact grip, so I’ll take it.

These modules function with all slides except for the subcompact slide and X-Compact slide. It’s a full-sized grip designed to function with full-sized 40 S&W and 9mm magazines. That being said, a proprietary base plate sold by Mirzon allows you to use 15 round mags in the Mirzon enhanced grip module.

Holsters aren’t an issue, and the Mirzon fits standard Sig P320 rigs without complaint. On top of that, the Mirzon grip module works with mag wells and the big X5 grip weight to increase controllability and reduce recoil. They even include the magazine release—what sweethearts.

Getting a Grip

What caught your eye first? The shiny magwell? Or the black textured grip? Well, we’ll talk about both. The black textured grip should catch your eye because it’s going to catch your hand! That texture is somewhat soft and sticky and absolutely provides an outstanding grip. You grip it, and it grips you back.

The Mirzon grip texture extends to the rear of your grip and provides an outstanding level of control. You ever let your grip slip just a bit and have to do a slight readjustment? Sometimes you get a little tired, and it happens. I don’t blame you. Well, it doesn’t happen with the Mirzon. That grip texture works brilliantly, and the gun stays put regardless of how many rounds you toss downrange.

The extended beavertail is interesting. It curves downwards and around your hand. It’s super comfy and allows you to really shift your hand up higher on the gun. Go to the front of your grip, and you get a nice trigger guard undercut that compliments the beavertail and allows for a high grip. A high grip results in more control, and more control results in better accuracy and faster follow-up shots.

I’d normally hate the finger grooves, but I find them a lot less offensive than a lot of built-in finger grooves. CoughGlockcough.

Can it Really Reduce Recoil?

That’s a helluva claim, right? This grip reduces recoil, and Mirzon touts measurements via accelerometers. I’m always a little cautious of claims, but that’s why I’m reviewing the enhanced grip module. Upon dropping my FCU into the frame and slapping the slide on, I just hit the range.

I’ve shot my little P320C a lot, so I know what it feels like. With my first shot, I thought I felt smoother recoil and more control with the Mirzon grip. I struggled with thinking, is it just the placebo effect? It’s possible I imagined the claim to be real. After a little brainstorming, I remembered that the Mantis X10 has a Reocilometer, and I have a Mantis X10.

I fired up the app, tossed the Mantis on the rail of the OEM grip module, and went at it. I fired five rounds, then swapped the FCU and slide to the Mirzon enhanced grip module and fired five more rounds. You can feel a difference, but numbers don’t have feelings.

According to the Mantis X10, the muzzle rise with the OEM was worse than the muzzle rise with the Mirzon. In fact, the best I accomplished with the OEM grip was a muzzle rise of 12.95 degrees, and the best with the Mirzon was 6.62 degrees. That’s a significant difference, and even the worst in strings of fire were still separated by a fair bit.

Now I’m thinking, what if I mixed in a compensator with the Mirzon grip. I might be able to cheat this game up a little bit.

Going Fast

Okay, we knocked that out. Now let’s go fast! I ran a wide variety of drills, including the iHack, a Failure to Stop Drill, the Sage Dynamics Eleanor drill, and even the classic El Presidente! I blazed through each chill like a champ! Well, not really, but more like an enthusiastic amateur. The Eleanor still kicks my butt, but I did well and easily passed the others.

What I found along the way was a grip module that offered fantastic control and excellent ergonomics. I did very well in drills like the Baer Solutions Standards, the Guerilla Approach Consistency drill, and the classic 10-10-10 drills. In fact, I ran a personal best with the 10-10-10 drill at 5.8 seconds with everything in the black. Keep in mind that’s with an optic and optics certainly help.

I’ve seen better times with a higher degree of accuracy with the Mirzon enhanced grip module. I’m truly impressed by how much of a difference such a simple change makes. My model rocks the magwell for quicker reloads, but that’s completely optional and removing it makes for an easy carrying gun.

Hollaback Grip Module

The Mirzon Enhanced Grip Module seemingly lives up to its claims. Slight differences have been made to produce an easier handling and easier shooting firearm. It’s not the cheapest grip module, but it’s well worth the points to performance. Check it out here, and let me know what you think below. I’d love to hear about some other experiences with the Mirzon.

Also, should I comp the gun too? I feel like it’d make an impressively easy to control gun even easier to control. 

Another day, another AR-15 drop-in trigger. Gosh, everyone and their mom makes a super light trigger for the AR-15. A little company called RMT has released a trigger called the Nomad. The RMT Nomad promises to be something a little different than most AR-15 drop-in triggers. I mean, it is a self-contained drop-in trigger with a light pull, but it’s still different. You see, the Nomad doesn’t sit still.

The RMT Nomad allows for six degrees of pivot and not only moves backward and forwards but left to right. The trigger promises to allow you to maintain a natural shooting profile and lets your trigger finger find a place to sit naturally. It’s weird and admittedly threw me off the first time I used my firearm in post-installation.

Besides the pivoting design of the Nomad, the RMT is a very nice trigger. The metal trigger is flat and textured, promising a light, short pull with a positive reset. The RMT Nomad isn’t just a pivoting trigger but promises to be a nice trigger that just happens to pivot. Is it? Does the pivoting design matter? Well, let’s find out.

Installing the RMT Nomad

I was eager to install the Nomad, and upon receipt, I raced to do so. My platform of choice was my Colt/BCM rifle. I will say the hardest part was taking out the old trigger. BCM’s famed tight tolerances are very present in my lower. Once I wrestled out the stock trigger and safety, I dropped in the RMT Nomad.

The trigger pins are an anti-walk design that comes with a small Allen key to secure these anti-walk pins. Install takes really no time at all and can be done in just a few minutes. Once installed, the trigger looks and feels great.

Dry Fire Training

I received it late in the evening, so I couldn’t race out to try the trigger out at the range. However, I have been working with the Mantis Blackbeard, and that allows me to work some very interactive dry fire. The RMT Nomad interacted without issue with the Blackbeard.

I practiced manipulating the trigger left and right along with its pivot. It moves without resistance but doesn’t just flip around. It glides from side to side ever so slightly.

When pushed to the max pivot, the trigger could still break, and the weapon could fire. I pushed it quite hard and couldn’t induce a failure based on pressing the trigger to the left or right.

Once the trigger reaches its max pivot, I believe I’d need to bend the trigger to cause an issue. The RMT Nomad provided me with an interesting trigger experience, and I got excited to go live with the gun.

Hitting the Range

Finally, the sun has risen, I had a day off work, the RMT Nomad, and a few mags worth of ammunition. I was ready to hit the range. First and foremost, the RMT Nomad offers an outstanding trigger experience. The trigger pull is incredibly smooth and very short.

There seems to be the slightest bit of takeup, and I’m talking a barely perceptible amount before you reach the wall. The trigger pull is very smooth, and the wall breaks at three pounds total. That’s a very light trigger.

At the wall, the trigger breaks and—bang! The reset clicks and pops back into place. The reset provides that nice audible and tactile feedback you can’t help but love. The reset is less like a giraffe and more like a turtle with its short reset.

As a flat-faced trigger, the reach from the pistol grip to the trigger is quite short and accommodating to those with small hands. Also, as a flat trigger, it’s just overall more comfortable. The trigger pull length is uniform regardless of where my finger lands. Also, there is more room in the trigger guard, so gloved shooters or sausage fingers are taken care of.

The RMT Nomad most certainly helps you be a more accurate shooter. A better trigger results in less human error on the trigger pull. It’s most certainly an exceptionally well-made trigger that falls into that premium category.

Going Fast

A short trigger with a light pull and a short reset is great at long range, but it’s also awesome up close, where speed matters a little more. You can jam the pedal to the metal and make accurate and fast shots with the RMT Nomad. It’s easy to dish out double and triple taps without a serious reduction in accuracy.

My double taps, in particular, have gotten closer using the Nomad. The rounds aren’t quite on top of each other but are dang close. Plus, making precise shots, like headshots on target behind cover, is easier with a good trigger. The RMT Nomad provides a very capable trigger for close-range defensive use.

Does The Pivoting Matter?

I didn’t think I pushed a trigger so far to the far when I shot. Yet as soon as I came off the trigger, it was constantly pivoted all the way to the left. At first, I found it interesting, but then I found it helpful. It’s not necessary to make accurate shots, but it’s much more comfortable for my big hands.

As mentioned, a good trigger helps eliminate human error, and the pivoting does the same thing. It allows for a comfortable trigger pull that’s straight back, even with some sideways pressure applied. For accurate shots, it’s great, and for fast shots, it’s also nice. Running against a timer is a great way to induce error, and the RMT Nomad helps reduce that error in both its rearward and forward movement as well as its left to right movement.

Is it necessary? No, but it is helpful and comfortable, and it makes reaching the trigger easier for shooters of all sizes.

Moving On

The RMT Nomad might not be the solution for everyone, but I would encourage you to check it out if you have rather large hands or exceptionally small hands. The AR-15 is the closest we get to a one-size-fits-all rifle, and with the RMT Nomad trigger, it becomes even more accommodating. 

With SHOT Show 2022 approaching fast, new product releases are all the rage. Smith & Wesson is near the front of the pack with their new CSX subcompact pistol. Aimed squarely at the concealed carry crowd, the Smith & Wesson CSX looks to challenge the Sig Sauer P365XL and the Glock 48X for market share. That’s some stiff competition, so Smith & Wesson, not content to just toss out a clone of those guns, or a revamped M&P Shield, has gone back to a tried-and-true design that should appeal to the gun community.

In the video above, Allen from Olde English Outfitters gives us a quick rundown of the CSX’s features and his first impressions of the gun. The first thing Allen points out is that the CSX is a 1911-style single action only hammer fired gun. Chambered in 9mm Luger, the CSX, as noted above, is the latest in the trend of small guns with higher capacity. Because of its styling, Allen places the gun as the successor to the Colt Government .380, the Sig Sauer 238 Series, the Springfield Armory 911 Series, and the Kimber Micro 9 Series.

Here’s a quick look at the CSX’s specifications:

• Caliber: 9mm Luger 9mm 
• Hammer fired single action only
• Overall length: 6.1 inches
• Barrel length: 3.1 inches
• Thickness: 1.12 inches
• Height: 4.6 inches
• Weight: 19.5 ounces
• Capacity 10+1 or 12+1
• Barrel and slide material: Armornite finished stainless steel
• Frame material: Aluminum alloy
• MSRP: $609.00 per S&W website

Allen estimates the price at around $550.00 and, with the listed MSRP of $609.00, he’s probably pretty close on that. The barrel and slide feature Smith & Wesson’s Armornite finish so, as Allen says, they should be very durable and rust-resistant. The CSX is, unusually for a small carry gun, all-metal, making it a bit heavier than other guns of its size. But Allen says, and I agree, that extra weight is okay, as it probably helps a bit with recoil and, at 19.5 ounces, still isn’t heavy by any means.

The CSX has lots of nice features as well. As Allen says, “This is a lot of gun.” Here’s a list of those features:

• Adjustable metal front and rear sights with the rear sight being squared off
• Glare reducing texture on the top of the slide
• Front and rear cocking serrations
• Small cocking ears on the rear of the slide, similar to the M&P Shield EZ
• Ambidextrous 1911-style frame-mounted thumb safety
• Low profile slide release
• Reversible mag release button
• Interchangeable backstrap
• A nice long beavertail

The metal sights are nice, especially with the square profile rear sight. They should be very durable. I really like the inclusion of the cocking ears. As I get older, I wish more guns had those. The reversible mag release is actually a different part that comes with the gun. You just switch them out if you want. The gun ships with one extra backstrap that requires a tool to depress the plunger holding it on the grip. The tool is provided. It looks pretty stiff but, realistically, how often are you going to the change the backstrap? The beavertail is plenty long to guard against hammer and slide bite.

There are a few things on the downside, but they’re minor. First, there’s no front rail. Personally, I don’t generally hang stuff from the front of guns this small, so it’s no big deal to me. But some might, so it would be nice to have the option. Second, the 12-round mag extends further from the grip, so it has a sleeve to fit in the space between the bottom of the grip and the mag floorplate. The sleeve isn’t anchored, and it slides up and down the mag, which Allen didn’t like. But he took it off with no ill effects and suggests that S&W anchor it in the future. There’s no loaded chamber indicator, though there is an inspection hole on top for press checks. No big deal to me, but it might be for some. Finally, the CSX is not optics-ready. Maybe that’s a thing for you, maybe not.

The trigger is described as being “pretty flat” with an integral safety blade for the internal firing pin lock. Allen said the trigger was a little gritty at first but got better as he fired it more. The trigger pull is light, as you’d expect from a single action gun.

Overall, Allen was very impressed by the CSX. He says, “It sits in the hand really well. Doesn’t bounce around much.” The recoil was mild for a gun this size and it shot very well. He didn’t put it on paper but expects it to group well. “They’ve done a good job on this,” he says. “If you like the single action gun…hammer fired pistol, this is a good thing to look at. It packs a lot into a pretty small package. We’re going to tip our hats to Smith & Wesson on this.”

It’s pretty standard for companies to jump into trends to sell some guns while things are hot, like the small, higher capacity carry guns are right now. But it looks like S&W has not only jumped in but offered something that adds to what’s out there instead of just copying it. It’s probably a good move and, as we all know, it’s nice to have options.

FN has always made some very nice pistols. The FNS and FNX were great guns. They often get overlooked in a crowded field of polymer-frame pistols. However, FN is finally getting the recognition they deserve with the FN 509. In fact, it’s become popular enough that FN has developed a number of variants, including various sizes, a tactical model, and finally, the subject of today’s discussion, the FN 509 LS Edge.

It’s a long name befitting of a big gun. Development of the FN 509 came to be when the Army began the Modular Handgun System contest. The MHS eventually saw a win by Sig, but the FN 509 persevered. FN wisely released the gun to the American market. The gun proved popular, and FN continued to back it.

One of the first widespread adoptions was done by the private security market in the form of Brinks guards getting the FN 509. Heck, recently, the LAPD adopted the FN 509 for duty. The LS Edge took the FN 509 and stretched it a bit. They made it bigger, better and turned it into one helluva gun.

LS Edge Specs and Features

The LS in LS Edge stands for long slide, and the barrel extends to five inches total. That expands the sight radius to 6.7 inches, making it perfect for longer than average engagements. In general, the LS Edge doesn’t shy away from being large and in charge. The LS Edge is 5.9 inches tall, 1.35 inches wide, and has an overall length of 8.2 inches. It’s decently light at only 31 ounces, so it’s lighter than something like a 1911.

The LS Edge comes with three 17 round magazines or ten-round magazines for less free states and also comes with a nice little soft case. Inside that soft case also sits an optics mounting kit that provides you with a wide variety of plates, inserts, and screws to attach a wide variety of optics. You can attach nearly every major optic. In fact, when looking at the list, I don’t see any major manufacturer left off. Even the ACRO is covered.

FN did something I wish way more companies would do and installed suppressor height sights as part of the gun itself. Why optics-ready guns don’t come with these sights standard is silly to me. The slide also features a series of lightening cuts along the slide. These reduce weight and do two (maybe three) things.

First, they better balance the gun. With such a long barrel and slide, these cuts help keep the gun from feeling front-heavy. Second, they reduce the weight moving rearward when the gun fires, which reduces recoil. Third, they do look cool.

To the Range

With three magazines loaded to the gills, I went to the range, ready to get some training in. I began with some basic warm-up and dry fire drills, as well as ensuring I understood how the weapon worked. It’s a simple, striker-fired polymer pistol without anything crazy. It has an ambidextrous slide lock that’s worth noting. I attached a Streamlight TLR-1 to the gun’s rail and brought my Phlster Floodlight.

I started doing some basic draws and engagements and challenged myself by using a two-inch dot as my target at five yards. It’s close but still challenging and requires precision. I went dotless for this engagement, and I grew to appreciate the very precise front sight and all the air between the rear sight and the front sight. The front sight of the LS Edge is a high visibility design with a small green insert that’s quick and easy to acquire.

This small dot made seeing and then hitting that small two-inch dot fairly easy. In fact, I dumped five rounds into one single hole with my first five shots. The trigger breaks at exactly 90 degrees and is a flat-faced design. It’s not an uber light trigger that goes bang when you sneeze, but I think it could be described as a refined duty trigger. The wall is definitely there, but once it breaks, the gun goes boom.

On the Draw

The LS Edge grip is massive, easy to find, and easy to get a good grip on. I’ve been slacking in my handgun practice in favor of shotguns, so I got a few sloppy grips but could quickly adjust before the gun left the holster. It’s heavily textured and hand-filling. Once it’s in the hand, it stays there.

Getting the sights on target is easy as long as your presentation doesn’t suck. All that air between the front and rear sights does make it quite fast and easy to find the front sight even if you flub everything just a little. Those sights are also very easy to track and see. This makes well-aimed double and triple taps possible and relatively easy. Long slides also tend to make tracking sights easier. At least to me, they do.

Getting Handsy

I used the same two-inch dots to practice my single-hand shooting. With my dominant hand, I felt quite confident with my skills and scored quite well on that little dot. With my non-dominant hand…well, let’s just say I’m glad I was at the range alone. What I took from the LS Edge is that those slide lightening cuts do a good job of keeping the gun balanced.

With the LS Edge sitting in a single, outstretched hand, the gun never felt barrel heavy or wanted to slightly tip forward as I fired. Balance becomes quite important in this situation and allows the gun to settle back on target a bit easier, especially when you suck with your non-dominant hand like I do.

Do these slide cuts reduce recoil? Well, I’m not sure. I’d have to handle a similar gun without the cuts to notice it.

This big gun also makes reloading easy. My first reload from concealment was so smooth and fast, I felt like I was well trained and practiced. FN added a slightly beveled magwell to the LS Edge. It’s not crazy like an open gun, but it’s decent and it does make these reloads nice and smooth.

Why Such a Big Gun?

The LS Edge is a big gun, but it’s not super difficult for me to conceal carry. I’m using a Phlster Floodlight, and I’m also 6’5’’, so that might help as well. While the LS Edge isn’t made for concealed carry, it’s not off the table. I think most people will prefer to use the gun for competition use or home defense. In both realms, it will excel. As a home defense gun, all you need to do is toss on a light and maybe a red dot. Heck, I’d even rock and roll with the 24 round FN Tactical magazine for home defense. If you’re going big, go all the way.

What do you think of the LS Edge? Is it a worthy long slide hand cannon? If so, let me know below.

With SHOT Show 2022 approaching fast, new product releases are all the rage. Smith & Wesson is near the front of the pack with their new CSX subcompact pistol. Aimed squarely at the concealed carry crowd, the Smith & Wesson CSX looks to challenge the Sig Sauer P365XL and the Glock 48X for market share. That’s some stiff competition, so Smith & Wesson, not content to just toss out a clone of those guns, or a revamped M&P Shield, has gone back to a tried-and-true design that should appeal to the gun community.

In the video above, Allen from Olde English Outfitters gives us a quick rundown of the CSX’s features and his first impressions of the gun. The first thing Allen points out is that the CSX is a 1911-style single action only hammer fired gun. Chambered in 9mm Luger, the CSX, as noted above, is the latest in the trend of small guns with higher capacity. Because of its styling, Allen places the gun as the successor to the Colt Government .380, the Sig Sauer 238 Series, the Springfield Armory 911 Series, and the Kimber Micro 9 Series.

Here’s a quick look at the CSX’s specifications:

• Caliber: 9mm Luger 9mm 
• Hammer fired single action only
• Overall length: 6.1 inches
• Barrel length: 3.1 inches
• Thickness: 1.12 inches
• Height: 4.6 inches
• Weight: 19.5 ounces
• Capacity 10+1 or 12+1
• Barrel and slide material: Armornite finished stainless steel
• Frame material: Aluminum alloy
• MSRP: $609.00 per S&W website

Allen estimates the price at around $550.00 and, with the listed MSRP of $609.00, he’s probably pretty close on that. The barrel and slide feature Smith & Wesson’s Armornite finish so, as Allen says, they should be very durable and rust-resistant. The CSX is, unusually for a small carry gun, all-metal, making it a bit heavier than other guns of its size. But Allen says, and I agree, that extra weight is okay, as it probably helps a bit with recoil and, at 19.5 ounces, still isn’t heavy by any means.

The CSX has lots of nice features as well. As Allen says, “This is a lot of gun.” Here’s a list of those features:

• Adjustable metal front and rear sights with the rear sight being squared off
• Glare reducing texture on the top of the slide
• Front and rear cocking serrations
• Small cocking ears on the rear of the slide, similar to the M&P Shield EZ
• Ambidextrous 1911-style frame-mounted thumb safety
• Low profile slide release
• Reversible mag release button
• Interchangeable backstrap
• A nice long beavertail

The metal sights are nice, especially with the square profile rear sight. They should be very durable. I really like the inclusion of the cocking ears. As I get older, I wish more guns had those. The reversible mag release is actually a different part that comes with the gun. You just switch them out if you want. The gun ships with one extra backstrap that requires a tool to depress the plunger holding it on the grip. The tool is provided. It looks pretty stiff but, realistically, how often are you going to the change the backstrap? The beavertail is plenty long to guard against hammer and slide bite.

There are a few things on the downside, but they’re minor. First, there’s no front rail. Personally, I don’t generally hang stuff from the front of guns this small, so it’s no big deal to me. But some might, so it would be nice to have the option. Second, the 12-round mag extends further from the grip, so it has a sleeve to fit in the space between the bottom of the grip and the mag floorplate. The sleeve isn’t anchored, and it slides up and down the mag, which Allen didn’t like. But he took it off with no ill effects and suggests that S&W anchor it in the future. There’s no loaded chamber indicator, though there is an inspection hole on top for press checks. No big deal to me, but it might be for some. Finally, the CSX is not optics-ready. Maybe that’s a thing for you, maybe not.

The trigger is described as being “pretty flat” with an integral safety blade for the internal firing pin lock. Allen said the trigger was a little gritty at first but got better as he fired it more. The trigger pull is light, as you’d expect from a single action gun.

Overall, Allen was very impressed by the CSX. He says, “It sits in the hand really well. Doesn’t bounce around much.” The recoil was mild for a gun this size and it shot very well. He didn’t put it on paper but expects it to group well. “They’ve done a good job on this,” he says. “If you like the single action gun…hammer fired pistol, this is a good thing to look at. It packs a lot into a pretty small package. We’re going to tip our hats to Smith & Wesson on this.”

It’s pretty standard for companies to jump into trends to sell some guns while things are hot, like the small, higher capacity carry guns are right now. But it looks like S&W has not only jumped in but offered something that adds to what’s out there instead of just copying it. It’s probably a good move and, as we all know, it’s nice to have options.