CZ of all companies bought Colt. That’s big news and likely to be a welcome change. CZ is a modern company with modern ideas, and Colt is stuck in 1980. Hopefully, that breathes some new life into the classic American company. This isn’t the first time CZ and COlt have had dealings, and if this was a comedic revenge film, I could see why CZ would eventually buy Colt. CZ and Colt came together in the mid-1990s to produce a pistol known as the Colt Z40.
The Forgotten Colt Z40
In the mid to late 1990s, Colt bungled two modern handgun designs. The Colt Double Eagle was a failure of an attempt to produce a DA/SA 1911. Colt purchased a design from Reed Knight and Eugene Stoner, named it the Colt 2000, and then ruined a good design. Colt was in dire financial straits, which is a pattern Colt has repeated for centuries now.
(Coutresy Bryant Ridge)
They wanted to bring a new pistol to market but didn’t have the money to develop it. Colt ended up looking at a little company called CZ. CZ in the mid-1990s wasn’t the CZ of today. They had a reputation for producing good firearms but weren’t known and weren’t household names like Colt.
Colt wanted a new handgun and felt that CZ could build one. They would import it, and CZ would design and build it. Colt had only a few requirements. First, make it a 40 S&W. Second, make it look externally like a 1911, and third, make it double-action only.
CZ said okay and went to work.
Inside the Colt Z40
CZ turned out the Z40, which is an interesting amalgamation of features. In was the 90s, so 40 S&W was the hot round. 45 ACP was going out the door, the 10mm was apparently too hot, and 9mm was still seen as lacking, and I’m using this term ironically, ‘stopping power.’
This was a full-sized duty pistol with a 4.37-inch barrel that weighed 31.9 ounces. It’s 80% 1911 and 20% CZ 75. The overall length was 8.07 inches, and the width was 1.40 inches. The slide was steel, and the frame was aluminum alloy. Voltech Anderle designed the shape of the gun, and interior mechanism work was done by Radek Hauerland.
Capacity topped out at ten rounds because the AWB was in full effect, although 12 round magazines existed down.
The frame most certainly looks like a 1911. It has that government look all over it. The slide came from a CZ 75-type pistol, and the combination makes an interesting-looking pistol. There is no safety, and the DAO action was the relied upon safety mechanism.
Reportedly the pistol was fairly nice. The DAO trigger was about 13 pounds or so, but people were likely a little more used to that due to the time period. The ergonomics of the 1911 frame combined with the CZ operating system meant the ergonomics and reliability both scored high.
So why did Colt only ever import 100 of them?
Colt Ruined It
Smart gun technology is the answer. Colt, and well, most of the big firms were experimenting with smart guns and mixing electronics into guns. COlt modified a number of their revolvers and Z40 pistols into ‘smart’ guns, and the gun-buying public hated the idea. We still do now, and for good reason.
Everyone then began associating the Colt Z40 with smart guns, and they languished. Colt walked away from the deal with CZ, and CZ was likely not very stoked. This is where their revenge story starts, and it ends with them buying Colt. Admittedly I made that up, but I’d like to think one Czech executive fist pumped when it happened.
The DWX also mixes 1911s and CZ 75s
Later on, CZ would make the gun as the CZ 40B, but it was DA/SA, with a safety or decocker depending on what you wanted. I should also mention the DWX.
CZ also purchased Dan Wesson, and Dan Wesson produces the DWX, which is another CZ/1911 hybrid. This gun features a CZ 75 frame with a 1911 slide, so it’s a bit of a reverse of the Z40. It’s neat how things come, go, and come around again.
Now that Colt is owned by CZ maybe we’ll see the Z40 make a retro run. Probably not, but maybe a 9mm version? Odder things have happened.
Author shooting an EOTech VUDU 1-6x at Thunder Ranch Urban Precision Rifle
I wrote a piece awhile back covering some of my favorite RDS optics, and the reasons why I use them in various roles. I like trying everyone’s way to build the mouse trap to see if someone has unlocked a feature that really is worth adding.
In red dots, that’s rare, building a red dot is formulaic at this point.
But in magnified optics, considering the two focal planes, multitude of lenses, and variety of reticles you can combine to make them, the formula is far from set.
With that in mind, we will look at a few and where they go in the optical hierarchy. I’m going to cover a range of price options, capabilities, and where I believe fit most comfortably in finding a rifle to partner with.
If I don’t mention an optic you happen to like from a quality name, Kahles for example (I haven’t shot with them, ever), I won’t comment beyond that I know certain people like the sights and they’re people whose opinion I would trust in this space.
1. The Vortex Razor HD Gen III 1-10x
These are nice.
We’ll start with the optic I believe sets the current standard for what an LPVO can do, the Razor III 1-10x.
Vortex, seeing their competition filling the 1-8x field with strong offerings, leaped that whole space entirely and set about making a 1-10x that would be able to drop into the place of their Razor II-E 1-6x and provide a dramatically improved feature set. When I say drop in place I do mean literally, the intention was to be able to pick an identical optic mount in 34mm, instead of 30mm, and put the Razor III where the Razor II was.
The length of the optic didn’t change. The weight of the optic didn’t change. The eye relief changed by a small margin. The optic housing layout changed by a small margin with the control surfaces moving forward along the main tube. The maximum field of view remained the same (listed as improving by .8′) while the minimum at maximum magnification is only 9′ smaller for the 4x extra magnification power.
In practical terms, Vortex succeeded. Placing the Razor III with its ocular lens where the Razor II’s was prior would likely place it appropriately. The mount may end up one or two slots off, with another one to adjust for the difference in eye relief. The scope will occupy the same real estate as its predecessor, unlikely to disrupt any other ancillary gear you have placed on the rifle. Lights, sling mounts, lasers, etc. are probably just fine where they were.
Vortex saved some sharp end folk and their armorers a lot of headache with this.
With this swap (or purchase) the user gains,
Four Extra Magnification
The rifle optic now sees as far as an early GWOT sniper scope or standard binoculars
Front Focal Plane Translucent Reticle
Reticle is now always scaled to the target image
Reticle has several additional measurable data points for ranging and a BDC relevant for 5.56 NATO, 7.62 NATO, and likely 6.5 and 6.8 rounds
Reticle center is translucent and allows a target image to be seen through it, improving sight picture
Daylight/RDS Bright Illumination
The translucent reticle illuminates brightly, something other FFP LPVOs have not been able to achieve
The brightness matches excellent SFP offerings, like their own Razor II-E, and allows the Razor III to offer that full functionality
MRAD or MOA Options
In addition to the drop in place functionality for their own Razor II’s, the Vortex design team considered it as an upgrade for several legacy systems
The MOA variant can be used as a simple upgrade for systems previously running an ACOG TA31, TA11, or Elcan SpecterDR 1-4x or 1.5-6x
The MRAD variant can be used as a simple upgrade for more precision systems running Leupold Mk4 2.5-8x MR/T or 3.5-10x LR/T optics
The major limitation on the Razor III remains its price tag, Amazon has both variants at $2499. But for that price you get the LPVO with the greatest magnification range and one of the best reticle systems, with the best FFP illumination system, available on the market. It is the LPVO standard setting for the commercial market that successfully spans both the FFP and SFP roles. This optical flexibility allows the rifle and its user to be more flexible in their roles as well.
The Razor III is my current standard for what a ‘perfect’ general purpose rifle optic should offer.
2. The Sig Sauer Tango6T S-VPS 1-6x (also the Razor HD Gen II-E mentioned above)
When I stated above that there is no formula set for LPVOs, due to the available variations, that isn’t quite the case. Just as a myriad of red dot designs are basically Aimpoint T1/T2 clones, the formula for a stable LPVO goes thus: 1-6x, 30mm tube, 24mm objective lens, SFP, daylight bright illumination via fiber optic w/ wire reticle, simple usable reticle at 6x.
This is the Squad-Variable Power Scope, chosen by SOCOM to join the Razor II’s (with a nearly identical build), and I favor it more than the DVO or SDM optics that also made the military cut. Those Front Focal Plane optics have their place and roles but are more specialized in their spots atop general issue M4A1’s and M110A1’s respectively.
The S-VPS offers the user the following,
Formulaic Effective Range Magnification
The S-VPS offers the preferred 1-2x magnification for every 100 yards of effective range that most rifles have in any major caliber
Even for short barreled rifles or low velocity systems like .300BLK or 7.62×39 this will be highly usable effect
SFP Clarity and Illumination
Due to the fewer lenses required to make a Second Focal Plane Optic the sight picture is brighter and clearer in general
The wire reticle, as opposed to etch glass, is able to be constructed very robustly
Using fiber optic cable and an LED the center aiming point of the wire reticle can be illuminated far brighter and with more energy efficiency that front focal illumination off of an etched glass reticle
The BDC, while tuned to a specific round at 6x, is not the primary feature of the optic and doesn’t take up an unreasonable amount of internal space in the sight picture
A Red Dot +
The S-VPS can be treated like a red dot + variable magnifier in most senses of use focusing its effectiveness on precision within the flatter trajectory of the bullet flight
The M855A1 BDC reticle in the S-VPS, like the earlier JM-1, is accurate to trajectory at 6x magnification for longer shots out of the M4A1 or other 14.5″ barreled 5.56 NATO rifles and will give useable holds for most calibers in most popular barrel lengths
The clarity and simplicity of the system showcase that the LPVO can be run in close as well as at distance
The S-VPS showcases one of the finest examples of a simple well executed LPVO that retains the majority of the advantages present in a red dot. The price for one, or a similar Razor II-E, are in a far more agreeable $1100 to $1400 range.
That makes putting one on onto a rifle a great deal more manageable and giving you a great deal more spend efficiency. The excellent precision and ranging capabilities of FFP offerings are omitted, but in their place is a robust simplicity supporting the shots you will take far more often.
3. Primary Arms Compact PLx
The review on this 1-8x is recent enough that I will simply link it here.
To summarize however, the PLXc exhibits some of the best qualities available in a modern LPVO optic with excellent glass, field of view, and reticle design. This while both smaller in size and lighter in weight than most competing offerings. These specifications are wrapped into an otherwise very standard 30mm main housing and 24mm objective lens, keeping mount compatibility very high.
To summarize,
1-8x Front Focal Plane
The magnification range allows it to cover the effective ranges of all intermediate and battle rifle calibers
FFP keeps target ranging information and BDC consistent
Detailed etched glass reticle system
ACSS Reticle System
The ACSS Developed by Primary Arms incorporates a center Chevron with a Horseshoe surrounding, this combination allows the user to bracket and shoot at a target quickly through the full magnification range and with or without the contrasting illumination on under most circumstances
The Chevron gives a true fine aiming point, something a dot can struggle to and a crosshair can sometimes occlude
3 Reticle offerings with a generalized BDC in Yards, Meters, or a Mil-Grid reticle for precision work
Size and Weight in Common Profile
At 16.95oz. and 9.28in. long it is about 8% shorter and 21% lighter than the Razor II or III, with its magnification range in the middle
Lighter weight, especially while retaining or enhancing what previous optics have offered, make the Compact PLx formidable
30mm optic body and 24mm objective lens make the optic compatible with most two ring one piece mounts and accessories
About the only thing I caution on, as I noted in the review, is the limit to the Compact PLx’s illumination. If you require a red dot bright center reticle look at the previous two or the following suggestion. They sell for $1499 at present.
If you believed this was going to be all LPVO’s, not so fast.
The RDS remains one of the best solutions for any firearm, including a carbine, to put a durable and reliable optic on top. Red dots are often paired with magnified optics as a backup, an offset/second zero, or a system to be utilized with passive aiming and night vision devices.
But what to do if you need magnification and it is your primary optic?
Easy, add a magnifier.
While the magnifier solution does not offer all the added flexibility of the LPVO, and it honestly was one I didn’t like very much until I shot with it enough, I favored the ACOG, it does offer a significant portion of those advantages.
A flip-to-side (or up, or down, or wherever out of the way) magnifier turns your 1x reflexive system into a 1x/3x, or 5x or 6x if you get the newer magnifiers from EOTech or Aimpoint, giving on demand magnification. My personal preference for these remains the 3x options. That 1x also keeps the forgiving eye positioning of the red dot, something the LPVOs and prisms do not.
Sticking with a red dot suggests that you are prioritizing speed. The red dot is still the fastest option for an aligned sight picture. LPVOs and anything with a restricted eyebox, including these magnifiers, will remain have presentation speed and position limits.
The FTS+QD magnifier option remains a strong one for sighting a carbine.
Simple
The Red Dot is simple, reliable, and proven optical system, that simplicity is carried into the magnifier too
No complicated scaled reticles or focal planes to worry about (these are effectively front focal plane), simply choose whether you want a 1x or a greater than 1x target image
Certain reticles will offer basic holds if desired
Robust
The simplicity in the construction of both the dot and the magnifier allow them to be made very durably
If one or the other component breaks it is simpler to replace or repair, the likelier component to fail is the magnifier and if it does it can be removed without taking the rifle out of action at all
On Demand
The Flip-to-Side and Quick Detach features that are included with the magnifier, I would avoid magnifiers without these features, make using or not using, removing, and adding the magnifier onto the rifle all very simple
This simplicity allows the user flexibility on their rifle
You may use the magnifier all the time at the range but remove it at home for the home defense gun
You may be shooting using NODs and the magnifier is interfering, even flipped, so just QD it and stow it
Cost
The cost of a premium tier red dot and magnifier combination only touches the middle tier of the quality LPVOs
The two parts be acquired separately to space out costs
More budget friendly and reasonably durable options exist much cheaper in the dot + magnifier options than in LPVOs
The Dot +Magnifier remains a flexible option with many advantages for most rifles and rifle users, the only limitations are the rudimentary on magnification range and reticle design. Cost for the highest end combinations top out at around $1500.
5. Steiner P4Xi
Steiner P4Xi, the perfect entry LPVO
The Steiner’s spec list is not cutting edge anymore. In actuality, it is pretty much what S&B offered Delta when they made the short dot back in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. It’s two decades old.
But the great thing about that feature set is it’s really good for nearly any carbine. A red dot feature inside a 1-4x scope with a simple BDC. Most of what the SVP-S and Razor II-E offer, but a little smaller, a little lighter weight, and significantly lighter on the wallet for excellent glass.
The P4Xi is an ideal entry optic if you’re entering the LPVO market for the first time. Top quality construction and feature set under $900. You can put it into a mount and onto a rifle for right about $1000, making it line up nicely in the rule of 1:1 spending on the less expensive duty quality rifles when paring them with optics.
If I needed to put together a rifle package on-the-cheap, with as much flexibility as as I can offer the user, the P4Xi would be the optic. Even if a user ends up wanting more magnification, reticle type, focal plane, etc. in the future, the P4Xi will undoubtedly cover down on most of the end user’s immediate requirements.
Simple
SFP
30mm main tube
Bright Illumination
Simple BDC
Cost
Under four figure buy-in to an excellent quality LPVO
Less expensive options tend to further compromise on glass quality, internals quality, and aspects that can negatively influence durability
Honorable Mentions
TA31 ECOSTA44 and TA50EOTech VUDU
The ACOG
The GWOT OG of nigh-indestructible scopes, the ACOG remains a popular and affordable (compared to many LPVOs) way to get an absurdly resistant and capable optic with some magnification behind it.
The Gen2 options, like the TA44 and TA50, are as small as red dots and offer the non-battery illumination, solid reticle, magnification, and construction.
While I’ll say LPVOs offer a far more flexible sight, it is difficult to outmatch the ACOG for simple and durable.
The EOTech VUDU
Now the VUDU is a line, and I was underwhelmed by the 1-6x offering. It felt like more of a working and commercially available proof of concept than a serious optic.
The FFP optic with the classic reticle layout (circle and “dot” center) was cool to do, but the uncapped and unlocked turrets beside the limited illumination hampered it keeping up with other 1-6’s
The 1-8x offering fixed many of these concerns. They capped the turrets, went SFP, and produced a strong contender for the SFP optic space. The only reason it didn’t make it into a ranked slot is the illumination control. The three button system they use is functional, but not as quick or as intuitive as the locking illumination design on the S-VPS.
Their new 1-10x looks very promising as well, I have not shot with it yet but I liked the production model features, especially the capped windage turret and locking elevation decisions, for something that can easily support the DMR/Urban Precision role also. The reticle offerings reflect this.
The magnified optic field is substantive and deepening with quality options coming out from manufacturers rapidly. These are just good starting points on the search.
Big Tex Ordnance has Ike! He’s a good man and thorough. I like Ike. Everybody likes Ike. And you’ll like Ike too. Visit Big Tex Ordnance [today].
[Editor’s Note: I too like Ike. Chris is alright. Chris actually reads these. Hi, Chris!]
And so I did. Recently, I drove over to Conroe, Texas where Big Tex Ordnance has their new flagship retail store and indoor range facility. Big Tex Ordnance is perhaps best known as an online-focused firearms industry retailer that deals in a wide variety of high-end firearms, gear and accessories.
Their signature move is to include pocket sized US Constitutions and themed stickers with each order they mail out. Moreover, if BTO isn’t actually the fastest outfit when it comes to shipping out customer purchases, it is most certainly in the running for the top contender. And while Ike wouldn’t directly admit this to me, he’s probably a stakeholder in the Topo Chico mineral water operation based in northern Mexico across the border from Texas. In short, BTO is a small outfit ran by a handful of very hardworking guys and gals. It was their level of customer service that got them a strong online following and loyal customer base, but they also stock the sort of stuff that a connoisseur might appreciate.
BTO has a vending machine full of Magpul firearm accessories
Who is Ike? Ike is the entrepreneur who started his own business, and at a relatively young age. The first steps of his BTO journey began circa 2014 after selling off his old Ford F-150 pickup truck to buy some equipment to Cerakote guns on the side. After making some money from this initial entrepreneurial endeavor, he eventually sold his Cerakoting gear and used those proceeds to buy a small amount of retail merchandise, which he began selling online.
He ran his first retail operation out of the back of a shed and eventually, that shed turned into a tiny warehouse. From that warehouse, Ike and his team recently expanded into their first brick and mortar shop that also happens to have a full size indoor gun range. Ike and his brother had been frequenting this particular indoor range for years and when the old owner was ready to retire, he offered BTO the chance to buy the business and take over.
[Editor’s Note: I still think they missed a golden opportunity to name the range Big Tex Indoors and keep Big Tex Outdoors as the general business name.]
That’s exactly what BTO did; they had their grand opening a little more than a year ago. BTO’s new headquarters has a classroom area, two twenty yard indoor pistol range partitions, and an additional 100 yard indoor rifle range, in addition to its general retail area and gun-rental counter.
Inside the shooting areas, the counters opposite from shooting stalls have thoughtfully tethered magazine loading gadgets that anyone is welcome to use while they are there shooting. I mention this because this is the first time I have ever seen an indoor range do this. Equally thoughtful is the fact that customers can find lead removing soap to rinse their hands when they are finished shooting in the restrooms.
Shooting a Staccato XC 9mm 2011 in one of BTO’s indoor pistol bays
Ike told me that with this latest and most drastic expansion yet, one of BTO’s goals was to turn their new headquarters into a regional training destination. BTO has been making efforts to host classes with nationally recognizable trainers and firearms instructors at this new facility. Becoming a training destination in Conroe is yet another way that BTO is trying to bring more value to the firearms community. After all, firearms are serious implements that can have lasting if not deadly consequences and everyone wins when training opportunities are easier to come by—especially in underserved geographical areas.
As a California refugee of several years now, a wall full of semi autos and display cases with all kinds of suppressors still bring a tear to my eye.
The first time I walked into Big Tex Ordnance’s brick and mortar store, I could not help but to notice how well stocked the entire shop is. Counters, walls, and display cases bristle with firearms like fruit trees in an orchard right before the harvest.
Besides the sheer amount of inventory, BTO also covers their bases quite well across firearms categories: by brand, category, price or style. To say that they had something for everyone at the shop is an understatement, especially for the size of their shop. I wouldn’t hesitate to say that their “menu” is better curated than that of a typical big box store that does put some emphasis on its gun counter.
Considering we’re on this side of the 2020 Covid pandemic, where we saw supply chain interruptions on practically everything, it is worth mentioning that some gun shops still have empty spaces on their walls or display counters. While I am aware that the ammo supply is starting to recover from these events and supply can be seen on most store shelves again nearly to pre-pandemic levels, BTO is ahead of the curve as the storefront sits chock full with all types of ammunition. They even have cases of overflow ammunition stacked like bricks along side part of the store by the range area. Some could say that these extra cases make the shop look cluttered, but after going through this most recent shortage, extra inventory is a welcome sight to me.
Checking out an ANCIENT Smith & Wesson K frame at BTO’s used-gun counter
I ordered a Surefire X-300-U B thousand lumen weapon mounted light from Big Tex Ordnance some time back in late 2020 after I bought my Beretta 92X Performance. I had never met Ike, nor had I ever been to Conroe, and at the time I was living in the American West, so the fact that my light arrived from the eastern portion of Texas to the mountains as quickly as it did frankly surprised me. (Especially because this happened at the same time most everyone else was experiencing major shipping delays during the pandemic). Expecting to hear about some sophisticated algorithm or other serious technological tool, I asked Ike what the secret to their scary quick shipping is. He just told me as a matter of fact that shipping was just something his team highly prioritized as they are always striving to do better. If you happen to be visiting the southeastern part of Texas near Houston, be sure to drop by and say hello to the friendly folks at BTO, you’ll be glad you did.
The view you see upon walking in through the main entrance
One of the least understood of holster types is the cross draw. Now, don’t adopt a carry style because it looks cool or because it looks “handy.” For some lifestyles and body types cross draw has many advantages. Don’t adopt this carry style casually, and then be certain to practice often.
With the cross draw you draw the handgun across the body, hence the name. The holster is worn on the non dominant side of the body in front of the hip. The muzzle is angled outward slightly and the grip canted to allow a rapid draw.
Most shooters execute cross draw presentation the wrong way. The wrong way is pretty slow and will get you killed if used in a life or death situation.
If you stand squared to the target reach across the body and then bring the handgun to bear you are slow. The muzzle will sweep more across your body rather than onto the threat’s body. The proper cross draw presentation begins with the strong side foot to the rear and the weak side (carry side) hip pointed toward the target. The strong side hand moves at the elbow to grasp the gun butt. The handgun comes up out of the holster is raised to eye level and is pushed straight toward the target as the support hand meets the strong side hand. When properly executed and the handgun is brought up instead of across during the draw, the presentation from cross draw carry is fast and sharp.
If you are seated at work, in a restaurant, or while operating a motor vehicle cross draw is among the best type of belt holster. You may be seated and inconspicuously have hands near the pistol at all times. If you have rotator cuff injury and have difficulty reaching behind your back, use of the crossdraw will not stress your shoulder. Defending a gun grab is simple. Drop the elbow over the gun butt and strike with the strong side hand. A pistol in front of you is easy to protect, like appendix carry.
Be certain to choose a well designed cross draw. There are plenty of poorly designed examples. Among the better choices is the DeSantis Roscoe for small frame revolvers. Highly concealable and offering a sharp draw, the Roscoe answers a real need.
For large frame self loaders the DeSantis SkyCop is ideal. The SkyCop offers a sharp draw when seated. A tension screw and excellent molding are part of the design. For cowboy action, DeSantis offers the Doc Holliday cross draw. This is a well stitched holster with a good angle. Since I often carry a single action when hiking this holster gets a lot of use. Carefully consider a cross draw holster. It may be the ideal choice for many situations.
Brandon once again steps away from AKs to look at something different.
The Steyr AUG is probably the iconic bullpup. It had excellent pop culture representation, among its most notable being Die Hard, and it was one of the few service rifles that were adopted outside its home nation by other prominent NATO powers.
Australia and New Zealand picked up AUGs and continued their own development chain on modernizing the rifles. They were even slated to come to the states, but that evoparted due to gun control shenanigans.
Disappointed, the Lithgow AUG evolution, the F90, is rather brilliant. Especially in its NATO/STANAG configuration.
They offer a native 14.5″ barreled variant that would probably hit the 26″ OAL with a pinned silencer muzzle device of choice and that would be awesome.
But, not right now.
Right now Brandon talks about the Austrian evolution, the AUG A3. A Rifle that looks fantastic in arctic.
Safety is paramount, right? Well, when you own guns, a safe is just part of your life. Modern safes come in all shapes and sizes, and today we are looking at one of the mini handgun safes designed for handguns. The Pineworld K5 offers you a high-tech safety solution that allows you to both secure your firearm and also to have easy access to it. If you’re not carrying a firearm, it should be secured, correct?
At the same time, you may need rapid access to that gun for defensive purposes. The Pineworld K5 promises to grant you that without compromising security. I’ve been testing the K5 for about a month now, and their promise rings true.
The Pineworld K5 Security Mechanisms
First the foremost, this is a handgun safe. It’s small, but not micro-sized. At 16 pounds, it can be snatched and grabbed, but the safe is designed to be either bolted down or cabled secured to ensure a quick snatch and grab isn’t possible. You can squeeze two full-sized handguns into the K5 or a single handgun with magazines, holsters, RDS, light, etc.
There are three ways to open the K5. First is your basic keys. Put them in, give them a twist, and the gas springs push the lid upward with some force. Your keys are really a backup option for opening the safe.
The K5’s claim to fame is biometrics, a fancy way to say it scans your fingerprint. Fingerprint safes can be tricky. I remember trying an old Barska years ago and being thoroughly unimpressed. I’m guessing the technology has made some leaps. The K5 allows you to save up to 50 fingerprints and multiple users. I scanned my five fingers numerous times at different angles to ensure an accurate scan regardless of the angle my finger approached it.
I’ve opened it hundreds of times at different angles, and it takes a lot to get an inaccurate scan. It really takes effort to mess it up. If you don’t trust biometrics or aren’t fully confident, you also need to set a six-digit password. The buttons are huge and easy to hit and press with a solid tactile feeling. Hit the six digits, hit the checkmark, and the safe opens rapidly.
K5 Construction and Power
Pineworld uses ten gauge steel to construct the box, and for a tiny safe like this, the ten gauge is fairly robust and durable. It’s strong enough to take a hit from a 115 grain 9mm round and not break.
Anything that uses electronics uses power, and a set of AA batteries makes this thing tick. Although there is a USB-C slot to provide power in case the batteries die or if you just prefer to plug it in.
The safe makes lots of noises. When it’s open, it makes an alert. When you hit the buttons, they beep, and that might be a security concern for some. The element of surprise can also be advantageous. Luckily I dug around in the manual, and you can mute it, and the only noise is the pistons opening the door.
Speaking of noise, you also have a pry-proof alarm. I tried to slip a flat head screwdriver under the lid and pop it up, and sure enough, the thing started popping off. If you plan to test this, great, but make sure you know how to turn the alarm off. I didn’t go that far; all it takes is a successful fingerprint scan.
There is also an app via Tuya that will allow you to manage users, view the log history, and log the alarm. You’ll also get notified when someone tries to open the safe. However, it seems the alarm only works when you connect to the same WIFI the safe is connected to, so be aware of that. While neat, I don’t have much use for the app.
Yay or Nay
For the price, it’s a fairly robust and well-made safe. I’ve opened it hundreds of times, and my youngest kiddo still gets a kick out of the idea that my fingerprint opens it. He’s bummed his fingerprints don’t work, but that’s the way it’s gotta be.
The safe currently pulls duty at my wife’s work from home desk, and we programmed her fingerprints along with mine. This way, she has quick access to her Walther in case something goes bump in the day. She can bump back quickly but can also keep her gun secured. You can check it out here if the little K5 speaks to you.
Annette Evans of Own Her Own is back this week to talk about red flags in the instructor community, and how to tell if your instructor might not be the best.
Cash n’ Go instruction is unfortunately still a problem in the industry as trainers with very shallow backgrounds, limited knowledge, and often dangerous misconceptions about the right way as they’re convinced of their own weapons handling supremacy make flashy SEO strong sales pitches. They do well on the ads so they get the business but they’re selling snake oil at the end of the day and promising safety for the trade.
It’s hard to verify instructors, relatively speaking, in the pay per review era. Reliance on non-qualified reviewer experiences is also of highly limited value. But it is doable and something you should do, just as you should for any lifesaving field like first aid, before investing a not insubstantial sum of money and time into their hands.
The M16A2 is the rifle I grew up on, as it were. I learned drill, maintenance, and marksmanship upon it in the halls of MCRD San Diego and Camp Pendleton. It was a well worn, more purple than black, absolutely abused and put away wet rifle.
And it worked.
Well.
The M16A2 was several brilliant and simple concepts pulled together into a solid rifle.
It had flaws, certainly. The stock was too long for most users, especially in armor. The burst fire trigger was a hot garbage invention that made bean counters happy and riflemen sad, trigger break weight was gritty and unpredictable. But rifle worked. It shot and it hit what you shot it at if you did it right, consistently, out to 500 yards.
With. Iron. Sights.
It was the step away from the dependable rudimentary A1 that took new ammunition and a new take on sights to expand the effective range envelope of the light 5.56 rifles.
The Army was grumpy about the change too, and I find that amusing. The stock A2 is obsolescent today but could be pressed into service rather effectively (better than the poor schmucks getting mosins in Ukraine).
An area of increasing concern for all of us is the occupied home invasion, which can be defined as an incident where the family occupies the house, and they are confronted with an imminent lethal threat by one or more intruders.
Recently, the number of reported violent encounters inside the home has increased. These violent encounters aren’t even limited to your home anymore. You could be thrust into a violent encounter when shopping at a mall or even walking to your car afterward.
This growing concern has prompted a surge of new gun owners who intend to keep that newly purchased firearm for the primary purpose of home defense. Additionally, many states have adopted constitutional carry where gun owners now don’t need to attend any training to carry concealed.
There is a void in the training industry regarding preparing for violent encounters, at least in the context of home defense. Core Vision Training has stepped into that void in a big way.
Why Spend The Money and Time on Training
Self-defense, home defense, and other preparedness training are necessary to effectively defend yourself, your family, and your home when targeted by crime or violence. There will always be criminals who want to take what isn’t theirs and predators who want to hurt the innocent. When you train to become more proficient in these skills, you gain the tools to stand your ground and live to see another day.
As with any training courses you attend, you want to ensure it fits your context of use and goals. However, many “tactical” training courses claim to train students in the art of fighting with a pistol and rifle, room clearing within your home, and a host of other “tacticool” courses.
Many courses people attend for the experience rather than for learning life-saving skills. Nevertheless, teaching these concepts takes days to execute correctly with the proper instructor cadre.
Core Vision Training employs instructors with proven operational experience, some of which are still operational, which gives you the most up-to-date relevant training available.
Why Choose Core Vision Training
Core Vision Training is the top self-defense training company and facility in the Pacific Northwest. Their instructors bring decades of relevant operational experience to provide their clients with the highest quality training possible.
In addition to their premier courses, they also offer a monthly membership program. By signing up for the recurring monthly membership, individuals who have taken any form of our Structure Assessment courses now have the opportunity for additional reps and recurring training to maintain and master the skills they acquired in our classes.
Recurring training covers medical, structure assessment, teamwork, land navigation, live fire, vehicle work, and several more.
Let’s take a quick look at a few of their premier courses.
Core Vision: Structure Assessment Active Defense Course
If you are unlucky enough to find yourself in a fight with an armed assailant, learning to load and clear a malfunction is far easier if you are familiar with that weapon or type of weapon ahead of time. This is something you won’t want to figure out on the fly.
Imagine fighting your attacker in a dark parking lot or inside your home, and gaining control of his loaded weapon, only to die because you didn’t know how to operate the safety.
When you become skilled with your primary defensive tool, learn to use other weapons. Clint Smith said it best “There’s nothing that says you are going to fight with just your gun.”
The Core Vision Training Structure Assessment courses prepare you for just that. The Active Defense course, which is a combination of the home defense course and trauma training, is tailored to the everyday citizen looking to sharpen their skills and better protect their family.
Let’s look at a different type of EDC; your Every Day Car. This is your daily driver, whether a Honda Civic or a Rolls Royce.
When you leave the safety of your home and get into your vehicle to take kids to school, pick up passengers, or go to the store, it becomes your mobile command center.
When you get behind the wheel of your vehicle, think of yourself as the Transporter. It’s not only an excellent movie but highlights some key points. Such as how he maintains driving the car and moves within and around the confines of his vehicle. Everything is done professionally and with a purpose.
The Core Vision Training Vehicle Escape Concepts course teaches you to be ready for a fight in and around your vehicle. Everything they teach you is done professionally and with a practical purpose.
WHAT’S COVERED
Avoidance
Preparation
Movement within and out of a vehicle
What is and is not cover on a vehicle
Gear & Equipment Preparation
Vehicle Considerations
Vehicle Escape Concepts
Core Vision: Land Navigation
When many of us first enlisted, there was no handheld GPS to tell us where we were and how to reach our destination. Instead, we had to learn how to use a compass and protractor with our maps. Land Navigation courses were taught with the old school military issue Lensatic compasses and a map whether it was daytime or night-time.
The use of a compass is a perishable skill, much like shooting. It requires practice. Nowadays, we have wrist-mounted GPS units, handheld units, and smartphones that provide us with navigational aids. But what if the batteries run out or your GPS gets submerged and shorts out? Now what? How do you get back home? Do you have a backup method of navigation?
The Core Vision Training land navigation course teaches you how to read and orient a map and navigate using a compass so that you make it back home safely. The two available courses are Intro To Land Navigation and Basic Map Reading.
WHAT’S COVERED
How to read and orient a map
How to familiarize yourself with a map using a compass
Individual Pace Count
Dead Reckoning & Terrain Association
How to identify significant terrain features
How to identify minor terrain features
How to read contour lines
How to plot locations on a map
Land Navigation
In the end, the time you invest in training for an event that may never occur is your responsibility. The flip side of that is if that event ever does happen, do you want to be the one who lets your spouse and children down?
We encourage you to reflect on the cost of your personal decisions and how you choose to spend your time and money. Remember, when seconds count, law enforcement is minutes away, and a lot can happen in that time. You can lose your whole world in those few minutes.
If you are ready to accept that risk, that’s on you. But, if you believe your life and the lives of your loved ones are worth every ounce of your effort, train like it. Train like they matter. Train with Core Vision Training.
Featured Image: A pair of No.4 Mk.1 Lee-Enfields. Notice the butt socket directly underneath the bolt knobs.
The Lee-Enfield rifle, Britain’s last true gun of Empire, was designed in the late 19th century by James Paris Lee. Like many of the emerging bolt-action battle rifles of the period, early variants made their debut during the conflicts of the early part of the 20th century.
By the First World War, the current iteration of the rifle was known as the No.1 SMLE (Short Magazine Lee Enfield), and this particular model made Lee-Enfields a known entity. Lee-Enfield rifles were primarily chambered for the .30-caliber .303 British rifle cartridge dating back to the late 1880s. The .303 British cartridge is old enough to have been loaded with black powder for use with the forerunner of the Lee-Enfield rifle, the Lee-Metford rifle.
Like many cartridges of that time period, it is rimmed and its casing had generous tapering. The SMLE and its Second World War younger brother, the No.4 rifle, were both the UK and Commonwealth primary infantry rifles until the 7.62mm NATO L1A1 FALs eventually replaced them along with the .303 British cartridge.
Lee-Enfields always had certain quirks about them: mechanically, visually, and otherwise. For example, the SMLE is arguably one of the most recognizable infantry battle rifles, as it has this reinforced front sight protector and muzzle cap which makes it look like a hog snout. The silhouette of a British “Tommy” with his Brodie and SMLE in hand is probably one of the most iconic aspects of the 20th century British Military.
For starters, this was probably the first bolt action rifle to use a two position thumb safety (made popular by the Remington 700 design), albeit the safety on Lee-Enfields is on the “wrong side.”
Whereas other bolt-action rifles of the period typically had a five cartridge capacity, the Lee-Enfield held ten. Whereas most of those rifles also had internal box magazines, Lee-Enfields had detachable box magazines instead. (It should be noted that contemporary military doctrine expected soldiers to charge their rifles with stripper clips and not swap magazines. However it can be argued that a bolt-action rifle with a detachable magazine was quite forward thinking for its time). Whereas those other rifles had actions that cocked-on-opening, the Lee-Enfield had a cock-on-close action that could be cycled more quickly.
Since 1909 British soldiers took part in a shooting drill known as the “Mad Minute” where a minimum of fifteen rounds had to hit a 300 yard target. Due to the angle and placement of the action, expert marksmen were able to shoot nearly twice the amount of rounds by using the palm of their hand and along with the smoothness of its cock-on-closing action. Unlike virtually any other period bolt-action rifle, Lee-Enfields had a threaded bolt head that screwed right into the bolt body. Screw-on bolt heads were possible in part because the rifle was designed to lock into the receiver with the main part of the bolt body. This freed up the bolt head from bearing any extra pressure. It also helps that the .303 British cartridge was not known to be a high pressure rifle round either.
Different and interchangeable sized bolt heads meant that armorers could conveniently mix and match suitable parts with regard to proper headspacing: a century old approach to modularity in bolts.
The bolt body, 10-round magazine, and screw-on bolt head of a No.4 Mk.1 rifle
Not surprisingly, Lee-Enfield receivers themselves are different than the receivers of their contemporaries. Besides the main part of the receiver that cradles the action, Lee-Enfield receivers have a circular disk shaped protrusion at the lower rear extremity of the receiver and right above the trigger and trigger guard. This “disk” separates the rear buttstock from the forestock in front of the action; model and serial number information is typically stamped on this part of the rifle.
Not surprisingly, this protrusion is called a butt-socket as Lee-Enfield buttstocks screw directly into them. The manner in which a Lee-Enfield stock attaches to the butt-socket is not dissimilar to the way most shotgun stocks screw into the back of their receivers. While this isn’t remarkable today, a century ago an armorer could fit four different standard stocks that were all sized differently to any Lee-Enfield rifle in order to adjust the length of pull for a given soldier’s rifle. This avoided the issue of the entire British fighting force having to make do with a one-size-fits all rifle stock.
Changing an individual stock is a far cry from the adjustability afforded by an AR-15 receiver extension with a SOPMOD stock. However, it still demonstrates a level of progressive and modular firearms design that was definitely not yet the norm the way it is nowadays. To keep things in context, the Lee-Enfield family of rifles as a whole is an example of modular innovation from a time when the internal combustion engine and aircraft were in their infancy, along with things such as indoor electricity and lighting.
It’s rare that a modern gun is too small for a red dot optic. You really have to go below the pocket pistol-sized gun to really exclude the use of red dots. The red dot revolution ripped across the land and spread to guns both big and small. A British company called Shield was the first to create a commercially successful micro red dot designed for the single stack 9mm and micro-compact market, and it was actually a rifle sight ala RMR piggybacking ACOG prior to that. The Shield RMSc set the standard footprint all the little guns use today. Shield innovated once, and they’ve recently done so once more with the Shield RMSx.
Little guns have little optics with little windows. It’s not a huge problem, and little optics with little windows keep the gun nice and small.
With that said a bigger window can be very nice. Companies like Leupold and SIG certainly try their hardest to produce optics with giant windows. A big window might not matter to top-tier shooters, but for us mere mortals, a nice big window allows you to mess up.
The Shield RMSx provides a massive window. Way bigger than any other micro red dot on the market. If your pistol has a Shield footprint, specifically the RMSc, then the RMSx provides a massive window about 80% larger than a standard Shield RMSc.
Into the Shield RMSx
The Shield RMSx is built for competition, according to the website, and it does lack some features your modern tactical shooter might want. For example, it’s auto adjust only, and there is no on and off. When put away in the dark, the dot dims to nothing and effectively turns it off. The battery is mounted through the bottom of the unit, and the whole thing has to be removed to swap the battery.
Additionally, the lens is made of polymer. That’s mostly okay, glass is preferred, and the Shield RSMc now has a glass option.
The main problem with polymer is that it tends to scratch easier, but for a deep concealed gun, this isn’t likely to be a big problem. In Shield’s defense, they do advertise the RMSx as a competition optic.
This little fella weighs .617 of an ounce and does have an aluminum body. The dot brightness is night vision compatible, and the highest setting claims it works in the brightest of light. The battery will last 2 to 3 years, depending on the average use. The reticle is either 4 or 8 MOA.
Also, the optic is designed and built in the United Kingdom.
The Big Little RMSx
My go-to for my carry gun has been the Holosun 507K on my P365XL. I popped the 507K off to give the RMSx a little run. Immediately the big window and the brilliantly clear lens were a major positive. I greatly enjoyed the big view window. I mentioned prior that a top-tier shooter doesn’t likely need a bigger window, their presentation covers it. However, a bigger window gives you a little leeway on your presentation and makes tracking the dot faster.
Being able to find the dot means you can get the dot on target faster and make target transitions faster. It’s easy to get your gun going and put more lead on your target with less time required. This specific window is massive and makes it easy to get behind and find the dot.
It surprised me, and while I didn’t notice a huge difference in the time, I did find the optic to be more intuitive to use and loved looking through the massive clear window. The border of the RMSx is plenty thin and allows you a nice, almost uninterrupted view of your sight picture.
Tossing Lead
The 4 MOA dot on my RMSx is crisp, easy to see, and a nice perfect little dot. It’s the perfect size to be eye-catching and easy to see. The auto adjustment of the RMSx is spot on. It gets super bright in the brightest conditions the Florida sun throws at us. My main problem with an auto-adjusting dot is how it adjusts when mixed with a handheld or weapon light. Oftentimes it gets washed out once the light pops on.
I used a 1,000-lumen ASP light in a dark room to test the auto adjustment, and was impressed. I started with the light off, capable of seeing the dot. Then I hit the light, and the dot adjusted faster than I could comprehend. It spun right up without complaint.
The optic comes with an Allen key and a little dial to allow you to measure your adjustments and guide you in the right direction. The adjustments are tactile, and you can feel and hear them.
At the range, the little optic held zero, and over a few hundred rounds proved its willingness to serve. The big window really showed its strength when it came time to shoot with one hand, both dominant and non-dominant shooting. That’s where I’m really sloppy, and the big window made such a big difference in finding the dot between shots and scoring solid hits when needed.
Is Bigger Better?
If I was a better shooter, maybe bigger wouldn’t be better, but I’m not, so it is. The little extra leeway it gives is very nice, especially with a small gun. The downside is that your gun is a little bit bigger. I would prefer a glass lens on top of manual adjustments, but this might be the biggest optic possible for small guns, and there is something to be said for that ratio.
It’s not for everyone, but it’s for me, and I think the RMSx is a solid choice in the micro compact market.
The claims about AR-15 lethality and efficacy are farcical in most instances. Anyone familiar enough with the topic to speak on it can’t make the fantastic headline and meme generating claims that are tossed back and forth by rule makers.
Why would we want rulemakers over little life and death topics like prison sentences to have a basic understanding of what they’re commenting on, afterall.
Anywho, one the more mockworthy comments to emerge recently was a claim on the devastating nature of exit wounds and crushing energy that the AR-15’s and 5.56 rifles deliver. Basically describing it like the AR is launching sledge hammers through people.
So Mike tests that theory and well… it’s not like that at all.
More like a rifle that is chambered in an intermediate caliber. Still dangerous to get shot with certainly, but not footwide exit wounds. It isn’t removing giant chunks of your flesh and leaving them on the floor. That’s a shotgun at close range with buckshot.
The British SOE helped develop a number of weapons for the British War effort during World War 2. This includes numerous submachine guns. One such gun is the Norm gun. The Norm gun was an interesting design all around, but it never made it past the prototype stage. Part of the Norm gun’s interesting design was the placement of a horizontal grip near the muzzle, and today I wanted to see if this odd setup has any merit.
What’s the Norm Gun
The Norm Gun was a 9mm, open bolt, blowback operated SMG. The gun fed from a magazine and used an interesting bolt setup. Instead of a bolt with a dust cover like every other SMG at the time, the gun used what is best described as a big pistol slide. The user retracted the slide to ready the gun. This created an ambidextrous design but also exposed the internals to the grit and grime of the world.
The gun was designed by a BSA engineer named Eric Norman, for who it is named after. The gun featured a forward grip on the right-hand side of the gun. The idea was the user placed their hand under the barrel and over to the right side to grip the gun. There isn’t a ton of info on why this was done. I’ve run into passing comments from historical sources saying it was effective but not elaborating on why.
I think because most guns will recoil upward and right for a right-handed shooter. Placing a grip on this side could keep the gun from recoiling upward and to the right.
Today I’ve decided to figure it out.
My Stand-In Norm Gun
Sadly, I don’t have a Norm gun, but I have an Aero EPC in 9mm. It’s a PCC and not an SMG, but it does shoot 9mm and uses a direct blowback design. It’s a full-length AR15 upper build kit, and while I have braced pistols that are more or less the same size as the Norm gun, I’m not sure how the ATF feels about side-mounted grips.
I know they dislike vertical grips, so I figure it’s not worth the risk. For the experiment, I set up an Ergo grip on the side as close to the muzzle as I could. I mounted it to a rail and then to the gun, but Ergo have an M-LOK direct model. It’s one of the better accessories out there. I also placed a Mantis X10 device to measure recoil and muzzle rise and measure the difference with the Norm gun style grip.
To The Range
I used standard 115-grain FMJs and shot both traditionally and with the Norm Grip gun using the Mantis to measure muzzle rise. I started with a standard grip to get a baseline and fire five rounds slowly. Between shots, I examined the Mantis and took note. Next, I fired five rounds rapidly using a standard grip.
Next, I assumed the Norm Gun grip and fired five rounds slowly, followed by five rounds fired rapidly to see if I could feel a difference. I can’t say I felt much of a difference. The biggest difference in using this style of grip was the awkward nature of it.
The Mantis doesn’t lie, and there was no major difference between using a standard grip and the Norm Gun technique. Maybe this technique worked well with full auto fire from the hip. The assault position was a thing, and that encouraged firing from the hip.
Standard grip
I didn’t have any kind of hope I would rediscover some crazy forgotten technique for recoil control. However, it was still a fun experiment. I’d love to try this with a real SMG, but I think since the Norm Gun is the only gun to ever feature, this style of grip might be telling enough.
Norm Grip
Sadly, this odd placement of grip didn’t do much beyond making the gun extremely awkward. Stay tuned because this has me looking for more weird weapon setups and experiments from the past to take to the range.
We all love the M16 and have a mostly general disdain for the M14, but what about the middle child? Did the military ever field and adopt an M15? The answer is yes, an M15 exists. As a fellow middle child, I can most certainly relate to the feeling of being ignored and pushed to the side. While everyone shouts about the M14 and the M16 from the rooftops, the poor M15 sits long forgotten.
The M15 was a 1950s project that was developed around the same time as the M14. Predictably the M14 came first. The intent of the M14 was to create one rifle to fill the role of the BAR, the M1 Garand, and the Thompson. That’s a lot of different guns to replace, and the Army quickly figured out you really couldn’t do that.
They began to develop the M15 as a replacement for the BAR. The BAR provided fire team support and suppressive fire to allow the units the move. WW2 showed the value of fire and maneuver tactics and that the average squad needed automatic firepower. Thus, they needed a squad automatic. We were a few decades away from the M249 SAW. With the M14 already developed they turned to their latest creation to replace the BAR.
The M15 – A Squad Automatic Rifle
The USMC adopted an Infantry Automatic Rifle rather recently, but the concept of a rifle in the fire support role obviously isn’t new. The Army and Marine Corps developed the M15 as a heavy version of the BAR. The M14 was selective fire, and so was the M15.
Development of the M15 essentially saw the military converting the M14 into a BAR. Although the M15 would be significantly lighter. The M15 would weigh 13.5 pounds, and the M1918A2 weighed 19 pounds. Six pounds was a nice reduction in weight.
Development saw the addition of a heavy barrel to help with increased heat and to maintain sustained fire. The stock was strengthened significantly to eat up the recoil of the 7.62 NATO in full auto. A bipod was added to help with stability, and a hinged butt plate was added to help keep the rifle locked in the shoulder. They experimented with a rate reducer, but they found that the rate reducer did not affect accuracy, so it was eliminated.
The work was completed in 1954, and the firearm was known as the T44E5 model. By 1957 the weapon was adopted, but by 1959 the weapon had been discontinued. The M15 was less successful than the M14, and that’s impressive.
Enter The M14E2 /M14A1
The M15 worked, but after some experimenting, both the Army and Marine Corps found that the M14 with a bipod was just as good as the M15. This caused the military to abandon the M15 and its heavy barrel. In its place, they developed the M14E2.
The M14E2 became the M14A1 and was a radical departure from the M14. The gun wore a wood stock, but the weapon used a rear vertical pistol grip and a folding forward grip for greater stability. Like the M15, the gun got a bipod and a hinged stock. Across the top, a polymer handguard helped keep things cool during full auto fire.
The M14A1 still had some serious problems as a squad support weapon. It was difficult to control, and while improved compared to the M14, the M14A1 was still a rough ride. The BAR had six more pounds on the gun, and that helped eat up recoil. Additionally, the BAR had a slower firing rate and was more controllable. The M14A1 spit 750 rounds per minute and was a bucking bronco.
This killed the idea of the M14 and M15 in use as an automatic rifle. The M60 was the general-purpose machine gun of the era. In the midst of Vietnam, the full auto M16 became an ad-hoc squad support weapon. Later, while waiting for the M249 the USMC even produced bipod-equipped M16s to play a familiar role.
So there was an M15, but it never got its chance to shine.
The Biden Administration and the Democrat controlled congress have made a great amount of noise about their progress to stop illicit firearms, especially GHOST GUNS!!!
These babayaga of the anti-gun culture war are merely firearms without number on the side, and their number one producer, in the handgun space especially, was Polymer80.
Polymer80 is of course crushed and their “evil” ways of arming the unwashed masses are no more, right?
Right?
Polymer80 Product Changes in Accordance with ATF Final Rule
Last week ATF final rule 2021R-05F, Definition of “Frame or Receiver” and Identification of Firearms, went into effect. Polymer80, Inc., the company that designs and develops innovative firearms and after-market accessories that provide ways for customers to participate in the build process while expressing their right to bear arms, is a direct target of this new rule. Polymer80 wholeheartedly disagrees with the ATF final rule, however, in an effort to maintain a legal business, will comply with the unconstitutional regulations.
In accordance with the new ATF final rule, Polymer80 will no longer offer their popular 80% kits in the same configuration in which customers have grown accustom. Instead, Polymer80 has released three new options for consumers interested in building their own legal firearm:
OPTION 1: is an unserialized 80% frame with rear rail, locking block rail system and pins. No jig or tools are included with this product. OPTION 2: is a serialized frame that does include a jig, tooling, rear rail and locking block rail system. This option is the same as the prior 80% kit offered by Polyer80, but with a serialized frame. OPTION 3: is the “Build Back Better” kit, which includes everything listed in option 2 plus a slide assembly. This kit contains everything you need to build a complete, serialized firearm.
Well, it seems like they aren’t taking the frame rule on the chin and doing nothing. They are rolling with it and playing the ‘technically correct is the best kind of correct’ card.
Option 1, the unserialized 80% blank, is currently available for purchase at www.polymer80.com. Please note that shipment is not available to all states.
For those interested in assembling without drilling, Polymer80 will continue to offer their AFT “Assemble for Thyself” kit, which includes all the necessary components to build a complete firearm, no drilling required.
Polymer80 will also continue to offer their line of complete pistols, including the popular PFC9 compact pistol and PFS9 full-size pistol, as well as parts and accessories.
I don’t know if Polymer80’s selling serialized firearm kits that have to be NICS’d while also selling unserialized frames that could ostensibly be put into the tools and directions included with the serialized kit is going to fly. But I believe it is, at present, technically correct to the ATF’s rules regarding suppliers of firearm parts.
What the ATF wants is to limit available methods, tools, and directions from easy access and supply. You, an end user, are allowed to build an unserialized firearm but a supplier cannot sell you all the parts, mostly assembled, ready to throw together, with the tools and directions to complete the last little steps required. That combination of factors now constitutes them selling a firearm and it needs to be serialized and transferred via FFL. It’s among the vaguest of vague lines and relies entirely on wink and nod technicalities to function, but that is the rule.
