On the tail of the SIG P320-XTEN announcement, Remington hits us with three new loads for the 10mm. In fact, they have three new Golden Saber loads. The press release is still hot enough off the presses that the loads are not on the Remington Ammo website. However, if they’re anything like the classic Golden Saber loads they will be true 10mm defensive loads. None of these 40 Short and Weak.
Remington Ammunition Introduces Golden Saber Rounds
Lonoke, Arkansas – May 26, 2022 – As part of the 2022 new product lineup, Remington Ammunition is thrilled to announce the introduction of 10MM AUTO throughout its trustworthy personal defense lines of Golden Saber Bonded, Golden Saber Defense and Golden Saber Defense Compact.
Formerly a law enforcement only product, Golden Saber is now available to the public. The ultimate in defensive and tactical handgun ammunition, the 10MM AUTO Golden Saber Bonded rounds offer the same features as other products within the Golden Saber Bonded family:
Lead core hot-bonded brass jacket
Exceptional weight retention
Reduced bullet noise diameter for precise bore alignment
Match-grade accuracy
The Golden Saber Defense and Golden Saber Defense Compact 10MM AUTO rounds are non-bonded, budget friendly options that carry many of the same features that make Golden Saber an icon in the personal defense handgun market. Golden Saber Defense Compact is optimized for peak performance in compact or micro-compact pistols and handguns.
“Adding 10MM to our Golden Saber line is exciting and it allows us to bring another great personal defense product to self-defenders and concealed carriers nationwide,” said Joel Hodgdon, Remington’s Director of Marketing. “We have a defensive load for everyone, and the three offerings in this caliber give 10MM fans a leading option.”
Stop by the Remington booth, 2739 at the NRA’s Annual Meetings in Houston for more details on Remington’s new 10MM offerings.
SIG and the 10mm don’t have much of a relationship. Sure, years ago, they tossed us a bone with the P220 in 10mm a few years back, but it’s been a caliber that’s largely ignored by this Total Systems provider. So it was quite a surprise to see the P320-XTEN. Of course, the XTEN isn’t a P320 with a 10-inch barrel but a 10mm P320 model.
The P320-XTEN goes big with the X-Series grip module and wisely makes the gun optics ready. With the flat nature of the 10mm, the gun will certainly benefit from the extra range and flat shooting nature of the 10mm. A skilled shooter won’t have any issues hitting targets out to 50 yards with such a handgun, add in the X-Series trigger and a 5-inch bull barrel, and you have an accurate, hard-hitting pistol.
Here it is directly from the mouth of SIG Sauer.
Introducing the SIG P320-XTEN
“The P320-XTEN is the most powerful P320 SIG has ever built combining the features of our XSERIES models with the punch of the 10mm round. The superiority of this pistol begins with the all new XSERIES grip module, designed specifically for 10mm and 45 AUTO calibers, featuring the XSERIES deep trigger undercut, extended beavertail, and aggressive stippling for a high grip making recoil easier to manage,” began Tom Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President Commercial Sales, SIG SAUER, Inc. “Another premium feature of the P320 XTEN is the 5” bull barrel. The additional mass and weight of the barrel absorbs the power of the round lowering recoil and providing exceptional accuracy shot after shot for the premium performance you expect from a P320 and an XESRIES model to become the P320-XTEN.”
The SIG SAUER P320-XTEN is a 10mm, striker-fired pistol featuring a polymer XSERIES 10mm / 45 AUTO grip module, a 5” Bull Barrel, flat XSERIES trigger with a 90-degree break, Nitron finished stainless steel optics ready slide compatible with a ROMEO2 and RMR optic with front and rear serrations, and XRAY3 Day/Night sights. The P320-XTEN ships with (2) 15round steel magazines and is optimized for use with the SIG SAUER Electro-Optics ROMEO2 open reflex red dot sight.
The SIG SAUER P320-XTEN is now shipping and available at retailers. To learn more about the SIG SAUER P320-XTEN or to watch the product video with visit sigsauer.com.
This year Modern Day Marine was held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington DC. on May 10-12th. It had a full list of exhibitors from Sig Sauer showing off their NGSW, FN and their Evolys Machine Gun, Magpul, L3Harris, Atlantic Signal, even F45 Training which is a local fitness company. They set up a couple workout drills for the Marines on the showfloor.
Blue Force Gear showed up with a couple of newer items like the GMT Sling and the Initiator coupler. They also showed off some upgrades to their current items such as the CHLK Belt.
We all know Blue Force Gears slings to be strong and easy to manipulate. The GMT Sling comes as a worthy addition to the line up after a large entity specifically asked for this type of sling to be made. Imagine the BFG Vickers Sling. Now, imagine that sling with a longer tail. The same easy adjustment remains, just with further away access, more adjustment, and a different type of pull. This isn’t like other tailed slings that the tail ends up being way too long, getting stuck in ejection port covers, looped, or anything like that. During testing the tail of the GMT sling did not get caught into one piece of equipment or gear and shown that whether running the GMT over kit, on a gun attached to a tripod, or prone, it proved to be quick and easy to adjust with no hindrance to the operator.
“The BFG proprietary solution dyed CORDURA® nylon webbing used for the GMT sling has more “loft” (thickness and softness) than traditional sling materials. This makes it especially suited for a sling application since it works well with the adjuster under tension and is also comfortable against the skin under load. Importantly, the same loft that makes the material a great choice also makes it less likely to be a snag hazard.”
When the GMT is attached to a gun on a tripod the operator does not need to get off the stock of the gun to adjust the tension of the sling.A different pull tab to allow more purchase.
“The Dual Initiator Coupler Kit streamlines breaching and explosive use with worry free initiator pairing and alignment. The Coupler Kit holds two dual purpose M81 igniters for use with shock tube or M700 timed fuses aligned so that both firing pins can be pulled at once if needed. “
The Dual Initiator Coupler Kit solves the problem of having to line up, remove, and reapply tape to your pair of initiators. Oftentimes operators will simply take some tape and wrap it around two M81 ignitors to enable them to pull both firing pins at once. This takes time and some reapplication if not properly aligned the first time. This kit fixes those issues by using “two injection molded halves secured by a section of ONE-WRAP that can be reused over and over again. “ As with all Blue Force Gear, the Dual Initiator Coupler Kit is made in the USA.“
The Blue Force Gear CHLK Belt, being seen as one of the lightest and most comfortable battle belts currently on the market. While this belt was made for helicopter assaulters due to its “fewer snag liabilities and load rated to be able to ‘clip in’ and provide life saving tethering to the aircraft.”, it is well loved by the other gunfighters within the community. BFG will be making belts without the two tether points however mag pouches will easily mount right over the clip in loops so it doesn’t make you lose any mounting space. Another update is the construction of the belt. A highly praised point of the CHLK Belt was the curve that was designed in. This helps ensure that the belt doesn’t dig into your hips. BFG has since updated that curve after another year of testing making it more natural to the body shape. The inner belt will also feature an easier way of tightening whether it is worn with hook and loop out to wear with the outer belt, or in to be worn as its own belt.
Note: I have actually cut the tether points off myself and it didn’t hurt the belt construction in any way. So that is an option if you don’t want to wait for the other belt to be released.
Notice the mag pouches mounted over the tether point on his left.A natural curve built in..optactical.com
Modern Day Marine Next Year
MDM will take place during the same time next year, May 10-12 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. It is said to be on a different level which is much bigger. The 2023 floor plan and exhibitor list is already finalized and can be found here. Follow Modern Day Marine on social media to stay up to date.
2022 is the year of the .22 LR. It’s made quite the comeback, likely fueled by the fact that ammo costs are constantly rising and .22LR remains somewhat available, surprisingly enough. FN released the 502, Beretta has relaunched the Bobcat as a tactical variant, and now SIG graced us with the P322. SIG’s released plenty of .22LR handguns before. We had the controversial Mosquito, the P250 .22LR, and the .22LR variant of the P220.
The SIG P322 is a bit different. From the nomenclature alone, you’d assume this was a .22LR version of the P320. You’d be mistaken. It’s also not the .22LR version of the P365. (Although, I’d love to get a P365 in .22LR for training purposes.) The P322 is neither. SIG designed the pistol to be a completely different firearm that’s unique.
SIG designed the P322 to be its own thing but very similar to dang near every modern firearm out there. You can use the P322 as a training replacement to the P320, the Glock, S&W, Walther, or whatever else has a doublestack magazine, a polymer frame, and striker-fired action.
The P322 – Inside and Out
What are we getting with the P322? Well, it’s fairly simple. Like most rimfire handguns built to be more modern and tactical, the P322 uses an internal hammer. It’s quite common, and Walther S&W and Glock as use internal hammers for their modern tactical .22LRs. The new FN 502 uses an external hammer, as did the older SIG Mosquito. It’s an SAO hammer that does its best to mimic a striker-fired gun.
SIG made the pistol lefty friendly with ambidextrous safety and slide lock and a reversible magazine release. Since it’s 2022, SIG decided to make the P322 optic compatible. (Take a hint, Glock.) The rear sights are connected to a plate that’s removable, so you can toss on a Shield RSMc compatible red dot like the Holosun 507K.
The biggest surprise, at least to me, was the magazine capacity. The gun uses flush-fitting magazines that pack 20 rounds of .22LR. That’s impressive in a genre of pistols dominated by ten-round magazines. You get two of them, and SIG is also producing a 25-round variant that’s slightly extended. To save your thumbs, SIG tossed a magazine loader in the box.
Also included with the P322 is a threaded barrel with an adapter. The barrel sits flush with the slide, and the removal of a nut and the addition of an adapter make it easy to toss on the muzzle device of your choice with a ½x28 thread pitch. Shooters can also swap the flat-faced trigger shoe with a standard round trigger shoe.
The P322 comes with more than I need, and my only complaint about the package is the box is too damn small to hold it all.
Plinking For Days
Plinking brings me great joy. It’s a no-stress, no-timer hobby that lets me just focus on putting little holes in whatever I choose to make targets. That’s where I started with the P322. Just some good old plinking. I let my oldest son shoot it and my wife. We all had a fairly good time turning money into noise. In that realm, the little P322 rules.
It’s reliable, accurate, and easy to shoot. If you just want a gun for plinking purposes, the P322 won’t let you down. With a price of around 400 bucks, the gun is not out of the bounds for plinking pleasure, but you might get more out of it if it acts as a training pistol.
Train, Train, Train
The SIG P322 works well as a training firearm. I ran through the FBI Qual with the P322 and had a blast. Let’s address the downsides first when training with a .22LR. When it comes to recoil, you won’t get the same control challenges with a .22LR. Recoil and muzzle rise will be minimized.
It’s a step above dry firing that will give you real bangs, accuracy, drawing skills, and reloads. With the P322, you can exercise all those necessary skills with ease. It matches the size of compact to full-sized pistols and gives you a decent, if somewhat generic, recreation of most modern handguns.
The P322’s ability to use red dots allows you to train that presentation and target focus sight picture for pennies on the dollar. The high visibility sights aren’t night sights but are easy to see like most modern combative pistol sights.
The controls are full-sized and not minimized for a .22LR. Working reloads, the slide, and more allow you to replicate those necessary skills. You can always work your general accuracy with a .22LR. The big grip replicates the design of a 9mm doublestack well and allows you to draw and engage as if it’s a truly defensive firearm.
SIG delivers a reliable firearm design in the P322. It allows shooters to plink their way through just about any bulk ammo out there. I used Winchester, Federal, and Remington with no real issues. I had more duds with Remington than the other two, but that’s what happens when you buy literal buckets of ammo.
The Downsides
There are two downsides to the P322. One involves the design, and one involves using a unique design. That unique design means there are hardly any holsters for the gun. SIG produced an IWB/OWB convertible, but it’s been perpetually out of stock as of this writing. For training purposes, the Phalanx Defense Stealth Operator worked okay.
The other downside is the somewhat stiff and spongy trigger pull. It won’t win awards by any means. It’s useable but feels stiffer than the FN 502 and TX-22. It feels like it could be improved and made a little cleaner.
The P322 In Action
While the trigger holds the gun back, I think it’s likely the best modern .22LR tactical style pistol out there. SIG made some wise decisions with the design and delivered a modern, easy shooting handgun well worth the rather affordable investment. At 400 bucks, it’s tough to buy the FN 502 for just a slightly better trigger.
I’m planning to take my P322 to my next steel challenge match, so wish me luck.
For today’s post I thought I would talk a bit about the vagaries of the English language. Wait don’t go to sleep yet, I promise I’ll try to keep it interesting and fun.
For instance, if I say the word “slug” what comes first to your mind? This page being what it is I’ll bet you think of a large rounded piece of lead commonly fired out of a shotgun, right? Well, that’s one definition out of many that come from Merriam-Webster, which actually says, ”a lump, disk, or cylinder of material (such as plastic or metal): such as a(1): a musket ball (2): BULLET’
That type of slug isn’t actually my favorite though. In fact I’ll wager that almost anyone who has taken a defensive shotgun course with a pump gun will agree – 12 gauge slugs are not a lot of fun to shoot in rapid succession. Unless you get the giggles making ridiculous size holes in your targets, which is admittedly legit. I just prefer not to be in a sling the day after a shoot.
I’ve got a silly variety of 12 gauge slugs which I’ve tried over the years for 3-gun and defense, trying to find something that is accurate-ish and doesn’t beat me up too much. Despite those efforts and acknowledging that there is a niche for them, I STILL don’t love them. But there are other slugs with which I am familiar as well.
Take your pick.
Another definition of slug you may have thought of is a verb – as in to slug someone with a fist. I have not personally had the dubious pleasure of giving or receiving such since childhood. But having been raised with brothers and neighbor boys it was definitely a thing. In fact I remember my father saying he heard his sweet little five-year-old daughter yelling “I’m gonna SLUG you!”, and he knew she wasn’t so sweet anymore. I have been admittedly fortunate in my life that this hasn’t happened since childhood. I would imagine that the memories of many of you aren’t quite so charming, however.
Yet another definition that may go well on this page is “A quantity of liquor drunk in one swallow”. The previous definition above is sometimes known to happen after several episodes of THIS definition. Some of you may be familiar with that as well. That’s probably enough said, right there.
A shot or a slug?
There’s also the definition of slug which comes from it actually being a shortened form of “sluggard” – a lazy worthless person. I’m sure we all know a few examples of that as well.
Then there is the definition which caused me to think of writing this article. Given all my endless gardening posts I need to mention,
“: any of numerous chiefly terrestrial pulmonate gastropods (order Stylommatophora) that are found in most parts of the world where there is a reasonable supply of moisture and are closely related to the land snails but are long and wormlike and have only a rudimentary shell often buried in the mantle or entirely absent.”
I probably should not use a slug on this slug.
Yes, garden slugs have arrived on the scene in my cultivated paradise. The slimy little b@stards were eating my snap peas and cabbage, and I had to break out the soapy bucket of death in which to drown them. I’ve had my share of garden pests over the last few growing seasons but slugs are a first. Ewww.
It’s been a pretty rainy spring, and I think that the raised beds and containers have been in place and amended often enough and long enough now to no longer be just store bought potting soil – they are now part of the ecosystem – to include “terrestrial pulmonate gastropods”. I’ve been told beer can help, but I found out afterwards that I was supposed to set it out for the slugs, not drink it myself. Oh well, better luck next weekend.
He missed his slug of beer.
But after all of those, by far my favorite definition of slug from the dictionary is:
“: the gravitational unit of mass in the foot-pound-second system to which a pound force can impart an acceleration of one foot per second per second and which is equal to the mass of an object weighing 32 pounds.”
I know I was lying awake nights wondering about that, so if you were too – you’re welcome.
Come to think of it, you might use that definition of slug to win a bar contest, after which a customer who has had too many slugs may choose to slug you, forcing the bartender to bring out his slugs to calm things down and throw both of you sluggards out of the bar.
It’s enough to make a non-native speaker’s head spin.
Given all of those slugs from which to choose, which one is YOUR favorite?
In life, sometimes the unexpected can happen. Whether it’s an opportunity for fun and recreation or maybe even a life-threatening situation, it’s your duty to be READY. So, when it’s time to hit the outdoors and you need a reliable firearm at your side, the Walther Magnum Pistol (WMP), 22 magnum semi-automatic is the only choice. This isn’t just another target practice plinker, this pistol is a high quality, lightweight, easy-to-shoot and affordable option for shooters who want to stay READY while maintaining an active lifestyle.
Walther’s unmatched quality sets this slide-mounted red dot rimfire pistol apart from the competition with a wide range of features. Featuring an optics ready slide, best-in-class ergonomics, and even a first-time patented ambidextrous reloading mechanism including both the paddle andbutton release. With 4 total activation points, the Quad release mechanism is the most versatile ambidextrous mag release ever created. Together, all these features help to give shooters a truly premium experience. With two 15-round magazines and 2 optics adaptor plates included plus easy field strip capabilities, unparalleled accuracy and ultra-low recoil, this pistol is READY right out of the box to tackle any adventure you set out on.
Walther Vice President of Marketing and Product Development, Jens Krogh had this to say about it, “The WMP puts Walther in a whole new Category, this pistol is a completely new Platform and is a game changer for us and our customers. We have worked tirelessly to create the most reliable and ergonomically correct .22 Magnum pistol ever made and it turned out perfect.”
“It’s your DUTY to be READY” is a message to clearly and concisely show that Walther is doing everything in its power to support shooters everywhere with not just the absolute best in firearm innovation and performance but also access to the best training and informative firearms community as well. History has shown Walther’s dedication to this message, beginning in 1886 and continuing today with the innovative spirit that builds off the invention of the concealed carry pistol by creating duty grade weapons such as the PDP and world-class rimfire products such as the P22. Walther will continue its long tradition of technical expertise and innovation in the design and production of firearms to meet the demands of any customer. Excellent service and superior quality will continue to be benchmarks of Walther’s success. www.waltherarms.com
As is usual in the aftermath of horrific violence, speculation has run the spectrum and fingers have already been pointed. CNN is saying this is the 30th shooting “at K-12 schools” this year, which I am sure they pulled from somewhere like Giffords and will include anything that happened on or near school properties, at any time, to include a stray round landing on the property.
NPR in particular has wasted no time in tying this directly to the NRA and the NRAAM being held in Texas this weekend. They posted the video that has been seen of the NRA leadership debating canceling the NRAAM meeting after Columbine in 1999, and deciding that if they did the NRA would look to have been cowed completely by the anti-gun lobby. NPR rather clearly see this as bloody profiteering instead of defending a civil right from a coordinated attack.
They are brazenly framing the circumstances today in that exact light. And in that they are mostly, technically correct. The circumstances are very similar minus one crucial legislative detail that nobody is going to bring up. Columbine happened 5 years into the Assault Weapon Ban. The very ban that is being touted as one of the cures for this type of extreme violence event.
It didn’t stop it then and it won’t stop the next one, but that isn’t slowing down NPR’s correlation or anyone else who wasted no time in hopping upon a grandstand to shout their asinine snake oil sales pitch…
Chain of Events
As far as we can put together at this point, the 18 year old shooter shot his grandmother and then fled in a vehicle. The grandmother survived.
He then crashed the vehicle at Robb Elementary and law enforcement was either in pursuit of him already or was on scene for another reason.
Law enforcement officers saw the assailant exit his crashed vehicle wearing a tactical vest, at this point stated as non-ballistic (so it was not ‘body armor’ as has been reported), and he reportedly had a rifle and handgun, unknown details beyond that.
The shooter fled into the school from law enforcement.
He barricaded himself inside a classroom and killed the nineteen children and two teachers who were inside.
Law enforcement was able breach the classroom and killed the shooter in the subsequent gunfight. There were numerous related injuries. Two law enforcement officers were also reported shot by the assailant.
Unconfirmed items, things we do not know
We do not have confirmation on whether law enforcement was actively pursuing the shooter when he crashed at the school or they happened to be there when he crashed.
We do not have confirmation on whether or not law enforcement fired on or was fired upon by the shooter outside the school before he fled inside, although indications that might have been the case are present in certain reports.
We do not know how the shooter was able to get inside the school. Schools these days are kept restricted access for child safety purposes, although the efficacy and adherence to policy varies wildly. In general though, exterior doors are locked during school hours with usually one controlled public entrance.
We do not know if the school was the target of choice or one of convenience while the shooter was being pursued. We do not have an alleged motive, unlike we do with Buffalo, NY. The Elementary school could have been deliberate or could have been the panic reactive target of opportunity while he was being pursued. The vest, ammunition, and two firearms indicate some level or prior planning but for what specifically and to what end are unknown.
Things we do know
Beneath the shrill cries of opportunists using this to further their pet gun control projects, those that won’t move the needle of violence a single solitary degree, there will be a case study on school external security. I pray that someone actually pays attention this time because indications are that the lessons from Marjory Stoneman Douglas, Florida 2017, got ignored as politically inconvenient. Nobody wanted to harden schools because it would send “the wrong message” essentially. Everyone wants security. Nobody likes what it looks like and is. Certainly nobody wants to hear that it never works perfectly either, it’s just throwing enough things in the way of possible assailants to try and make it not worth their time.
That is it. That is security.
So instead, once again, we will either do nothing at all, or worse do nothing worth doing and pass a bunch of useless hot take solutions that punish the wrong people. The latter is the solution that the President and friends would prefer to do.
The Best Defense Foundation has launched a charity auction for TWO commemorative Pearl Harbor guns. These one-of-a-kind 1911 pistols were custom designed by SIG SAUER and feature the USS Arizona and the USS Oklahoma. In addition, the guns and cases are signed by USS Arizona survivor, Lou Conter and USS Oklahoma Survivor, David Russell. Own these important pieces of history while supporting the mission!
Hear from Lou Conter, 3rd Class Quartermaster assigned to the USS Arizona and David Russell who was aboard the USS Oklahoma in Pearl Harbor along Battleship Row as the two are presented these pistols by the Best Defense Foundation.
About the Best Defense Foundation Founded in 2018 by former NFL Linebacker, Donnie Edwards, the Best Defense Foundation honors and celebrates our veterans from past conflicts, including WWII, Korea, Vietnam and those who have recently retired. To date, the Foundation has taken over 100 WWII veterans on battlefield return programs to remember their fallen comrades and gain closure of a time in their life that had an impact on the world. In addition to the Battlefield Return Program, the Foundation created a Transition Program to help retired Special Forces operators return to civilian life and connect with the community around them. The Best Defense Foundation strives to create personal relationships with veterans to ensure they know they will always be cared for and remembered. BDF volunteer team members hail from all parts of the U.S. and Europe, but are united by one simple goal: Taking Care of the Ones Who Took Care of Us. Learn more about the Best Defense Foundation
I did an entire article on experimenting with magnified optics on pistol-caliber carbines. I experimented with 1-4X LPVOs, Prism sights, red dot, and magnifier combos and found that minimal magnification can be useful with a PCC, including taking a 9mm round out to 100 yards with greater hit probability. Apparently, Primary Arms read my mind and produced the GLx 2X prism sight with the ACSS Gemini 9mm reticle.
The GLx 2X prism is built and designed with your average PCC in mind. It’s built to maintain the close-range nature of the PCC while adding in a little extra magnification and ACSS reticle for those longer range shots. Primary Arms was polite enough to end me a GLx, and I’ve been running and gunning with it on my Aero Precision EPC.
Breaking down the GLx
The GLx comes with a box full of goodies beyond just the optic. In fact, it’s not an optic you are stuck with using AR-type rifles with in-line stocks. Primary Arms include three different spacers to raise the optic’s height to 1.64 or 1.535, or 1.41. Or heck, run it without the spacers to position it low on your gun.
PCCs like the Scorpion work best with low-mounted optics. Customizing the GLx’s height for your specific weapon allows it to function with a multitude of PCC options. Primary Arms also uses the mini ACOG tyle mounting interface, which opens up the mount marketplace for your optic.
Most prism optics have the worst eye relief, but GLx comes equipped with an eye relief of 3.5 inches. That’s fairly far and a wise idea. If you are working a PCC, it’s likely within 25 yards. Inside of 25 yards, the longer eye relief makes it easier to get the gun to your shoulder and on target. You don’t have to fight scope shadow as much.
Inside the ACSS Gemini reticle is backed by 11 illumination settings. The first two are night vision modes, and beyond that, you get daylight bright capability. That reticles positivity glows and is easy to see in the brightest of sunlight.
The GLx goes beyond daylight bright. That illumination will automatically shut off if the optic remains stationary for three minutes but spring right back to life when it detects movement.
The Reticle
ACSS reticles rock, right? Primary Arms makes a lot of great optics, but the best thing they’ve ever done is create the ACSS reticle. Also, their ability to ship orders at lightning speed is nice. Anywho, the ACSS Gemini reticle gives a big three-quarter donut of death. That big donut captures the eye and makes close-range shots on target quick and easy. It also acts as an 8.6 MPH lead for hitting moving targets.
Inside that big donut sits a chevron for your precise aiming. If you need to hit a small target with precision, put that chevron’s tip on it and pull the trigger. Below that sits a couple of dots that act as your ballistic drop points.
Primary Arms provides scales for both 7.5-inch barreled PCCs and the standard 16-inch PCCs. Zero the tip at 50 yards, and the drop zones will go to an optimistic 200 yards. The bottom of the chevron can take you out to 100 yards with ease. A ranging scale sits beneath that to give you a down and dirty way to measure range out to 200 yards.
Putting In Work
I installed the medium mount on the GLx, and it sits at the perfect height for me to shoulder and snap-on target. The eye box is huge, fairly generous, and allows you to peep in on targets quickly. For close-range snapshots, you shoulder the rifle and unleash hell. Getting on target quickly and at typical PCC ranges isn’t much of a challenge.
The GLx might not be as fast as a red dot at super close ranges, but it’s so close we’d measure the difference in fractions of a second. Two power magnification isn’t much, and at ranges as close as 5 to 15-yard ranges, you can use occluded shooting.
Beyond 15 yards and the 2X gets you a little closer, but it’s not so much power that you can’t see the target and make those shots. At 25 yards, you’re up close with small targets and can instantly deal some damage. It’s not quite as good as a red dot, but GLx is pretty dang close.
Stepping Back
Up close, it works just fine. It’s not perfect for CQB, but it’s versatile. Move back to 35 yards, 50 yards, 75 yards, and out to 100 yards the optic makes a lot of sense. That little 2X magnification the GLx offers does give a little bit of a boost without adding the size of a red dot and magnifier combo or an LPVO.
At 50 yards, I’m not just hitting the bad guy target. I’m punching it in the A-zone repeatedly because I can see the A-zone. Aim small, miss small, and all that jazz. At 100 yards, it’s surprisingly easy to ring gongs over and over. Put the bottom of the chevron where I want the rounds to land, and they magically do.
I have a series of gongs ranging from 4 to 10 inches in size, and I ‘ran the gongs’ with the GLx and EPC and was able to ring all four in under 8 seconds at 100 yards. That being said, it might have taken more than one shot for the 4-inch gong.
Primary Arms installed some seriously clear glass in the GLx. It’s brilliant, and I can see the colors of the various gongs and the shape and size well. The finely tuned chevron is glass etched and leaves plenty of room to see the targets.
The Ultimate PCC Optic
If your PCC serves as more than just an inside-the-house gun, this little 2x Prism is an awesome addition. The GLx 2X prism with the 9mm Gemini reticle is an outstanding way to pull out every little bit of your PCC’s potential and range. I’d love to see Primary Arms take out calibers like 5.7 or 10mm, which are both better rounds for longer ranges. Even so, if you’re a 9mm PCC fan, the Primary Arms GLx is a great way to go.
I am 100% sharing this because of the screen capture that either Josh or Henry shared cursing the internet for not leaving them in a nice place view wise.
The review itself is the typical entertaining and informative format that the pair have fallen into and covers this somewhat odd bolt action sniper of French origin.
The rifle is a curious mix of forward and backward features and has an unusual mid frame bipod that centers off the chamber area. It has a pistol grip, but its is made of wood and appears to just be bolted beneath what was once a more traditional rifle stock that was modified to fit it. Why this wasn’t done of polymer, I have no clue.
It is a curious looking weapon, second only perhaps to Walther’s WA2000.
Europeans and firearm designs can go to some interesting places aesthetically. See also the AUG, the G36 and XM8, and the FN F2000. All of them aren’t just rifles to fill a role, they have an aesthetic about them. The lates 70’s into the 2000’s had a knack for producing smooth and futuristic looking firearms while we had… these.
via Military Arms Channel
These worked. Well. But from the aesthetics standpoint they certainly kept the utilitarian looks of the 50’s and 60’s, even entering the full quad-rail era.
Law enforcement personnel stand outside Robb Elementary School following a shooting, Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) via CNN
In an attack all to reminiscent of the Sandy Hook attack in 2012, it appears that an 18 year old student of the district attacked the elementary school with a handgun, and possible a rifle, leaving a teacher and eighteen students dead.
Robb Elementary was turned into a killing ground… by a high schooler.
There is an unknown number of injured at this time but two were reported critical evacuated from the school.
Officers at the school shot and killed the 18 year old assailant, Salvador Ramos, after being reportedly fired upon. Two officers were reported struck by gunfire.
The attacker is reported to have shot his grandmother, who was airlifted to the hospital, before continuing on to attack the school.
No motive is known at this time and there are no other suspects.
The calls for “action” have already begun…
It’s also so… predictable… I am tired of writing about dead kids because some older kid couldn’t figure life out and decided mass homicide was the solution. I’m equally tired of the shrill nonsense being peddled as the solution by people who couldn’t understand less about violence yet are in the seats to win political favors by running their fucking mouths.
Biden, Harris, Clinton… they’ve all started. They will all use Robb Elementary and Tops to call for more useless garbage legislation that cannot move the morality of this nation by one iota while failing to acknowledge any of this nations leadership culpability in fomenting an environment of vileness, deceit, and pettiness that breeds despair.
I don’t know a thing about this kid’s motive, or internet profiles, online presence, or any of the rest. But I know high schoolers shouldn’t be spending their ‘invincible’ years entering adulthood believing for a single second that their absolution is found in a bloodbath. Why? This doesn’t just happen because modern handguns were invented over a century ago and have been sold everywhere since. What combination of attention, negative influence, and just the dark temptation of absolute evil do we have to cut off to make this act horrific to all again. Not most, not everyone who is grieving and horrified, all. Everyone. What instills a rekindling in the value of life over the selfishness of a gory death in a perverted parody of “glory” through infamy?
I don’t know.
Just as bad as the idiots calling for absurdly useless gun control solutions are the conspiratards. The folks accusing this directly on some deep cover CIA bullshit spun up by the barely coherent President and his equally laughable staff of buffoons. All because they wanted to “pass gun control” or “win the midterms” or some other facet that makes you forget that these folks all play for team Washington in the end, they just wear red or blue and pander to their pet base.
It all supposes one idiotic presumption. That no one has the free agency to just do this. They do. Everyone, everywhere, every single day has an astonishing amount of free agency to do as they please. They choose not to. That is the terrifying part of free will and one thing that cannot be legislated away. You can’t make evil go away by making it illegal.
Making something illegal doesn’t stop it.
It never has.
It never will.
So why cling to gun control?
Because it is easier than admitting that we’ve fucked up, collectively, all of us, every single man and woman who has been in a position of influence has been letting this slide into higher stress, depression, despair, and divisiveness and we’ve been doing it to win and virtue signal our pet projects at the expense of our kids. Look at the world this kid went through high school in, lockdowns, riots, pandemic, and teetering on the edge of a world war round 3. The adults, especially those 50+ (so nearly every politician in a high seat), fucked that up.
Tim and is MAC crew are discussing one of the topics that has been most misunderstood in the NGSW program. The caliber change.
Is 5.56 dead?
Short answer: not even close.
What we have done, and I have mentioned it here before, is we maxed out 5.56’s performance. We’ve squeezed it for what it can give us. It has served us well, and will continue to do so for many years to come, but if we wanted to change our performance envelope we needed to change calibers.
Leaving Behind
We needed to leave the physics package of light weight rounds in brass cases behind. Even with the high(er) BC’s of 77’s, rounds we only had so much distance of high efficacy terminal effects in a 5.56 diameter 77gr. More mass gives us more options and we know that recoil on a 124gr or a 147gr projectile are more than ‘shootable’ by most.
One of the biggest draws of the 5.56 NATO rifles are very low recoil impulses. However modern battle rifles don’t have absurd recoil, just more. We are be leaving behind that light pleasant recoil for something more stout.
The focus of that stouter recoiling system though are going to be in the hands of MOS groups who are shooting focused, ones who are more familiar with the mechanics of shooting and less recoil adverse. The XM5 still doesn’t recoil like a 12 gauge or a grenade launcher.
Ammunition capacity and the logistics we’ve been used to are also changing. We’re gaining a great deal of effective range and improved terminal effects but we are losing the 210rd standard loadout we’ve been used to supplying for decades.
We’ve been heavily into the theory of “more bullets equals more effective” but recent changes have pushed that into a happy medium. Specifically the Marine Corps. choice of the M27 and some doctrinal shifts are emphasizing accuracy of fire above extreme volume of fire. The XM5 and the XM250 can fit neatly into that school of use.
Gains
Effective range.
Terminal effects.
Armor defeat.
None of those are small things but none in a vacuum are game changers either. We are, at the end of the day, talking about the second smallest weapon system in the US general arsenal for combat power, the individually issued weapon. Only the sidearm being smaller and less influential. The overall combat power of any given force is going to be in the efficacy of its combined arms employment. When in doubt, use high explosives.
But the small arms evolution that 6.8 and 6.5 increasingly represent are the next step on the optimization ladder and one that probably marks the last stage in cartridge and propellant small arms. That stage being hyper optimization of case, propellant, and projectile efficacy.
Who knows what development is going to break next in small arms. It could be energy propelled hyper velocity solids (most likely in my opinion) or laser guns, phasers, and plasma rifles in the 40W range. I don’t know. I do know that our current optimization wouldn’t have made sense without the new case technology SIG is playing with that is allowing higher pressure loads.
I do want to see what the case tech can do for legacy loads like 5.56 NATO. Can we get 11.5 and 12.5 guns pushing 77gr rounds at 3,000fps? That would be cool. Could we see 300BLK guns pushing 125gr at 2700 FPS? That would also be cool. If this is cost effective to load, in that we don’t shift rounds more than 25% in cost and preferably far under that, we could see very wide adoption and later legacy calibers all receiving boost in efficacy. The make or break on this making mainstream is going to be cost of adoption.
Just like polymer cases (when they work) if this makes each shot 400+% more expensive it goes nowhere, I don’t care if we get an extra 350fps.
Since the introduction of the Murata, the first indigenously produced Japanese service rifle adopted in 1880 as the “Meiji Type 13 Murata,” the Japanese military has utilized a unique variety of domestically-made weapons. Unfortunately, the naming conventions have also led to confusion in many cases. In the case of the Type 13 Murata, it referred to the adoption date – the year 13 in the Meiji period according to the Japanese calendar. In the 20th century, the Japanese developed several small arms that were undoubtedly distinctive. Yet, due to questionable designs and later during World War II, to the use of subpar materials, Japanese small arms were primarily seen as inferior to their Western counterparts. It was only after the defeat of the Empire of Japan that its military finally adopted what could be seen as a rifle that rivaled contemporary designs of the era. That weapon was the Howa Type 64.
Howa Type 64 AR
The Origin of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
Following the Second World War, the Japanese, as a defeated nation, were not allowed to maintain a large military presence. However, in 1954, with rising tensions in Europe and Asia during the Cold War, Japanese leaders began to consider the nation’s self-defense. The United States had served as occupiers after the war and as the island nation’s de facto protectors.
As more U.S. occupation troops were moved during the Korean War (1950-53), which left Japan virtually defenseless and vulnerable, the government in Tokyo sought to address Article 9 of the 1947 constitution. It had called upon the Japanese to forever renounce war as an instrument for settling international disputes. Still, it also declared that Japan would never again maintain “land, sea, or air forces or another war potential.” Key to this was the wording – as politicians and lawmakers will also find loopholes.
JGSDF soldiers in olive drab BDUs prepare to fire M31 HEAT rifle grenades from the Howa Type 64 during training. (Public domain)
In July 1954, Japan’s National Security Board was reorganized as the “Defense Agency”. The National Security Force was transformed into the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF). It was a de facto post-war Japanese Army in everything but name. The Coastal Safety Force was also reorganized as the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), while the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) was established as a new branch of the JSDF. For the record, the Japanese military is now equipped with everything from F-35 fighters to heavy tanks. Fortunately for the United States, the island nation that was once among its greatest enemies is now among its closest allies in the Far East.
Cold War Innovation towards the Howa Type 64
As Japan was nearly “demilitarized” following the Second World War, the small National Security Board and, later, the JGSDF had relied mainly on surplus American-made small arms. Infantry squads were larger equipped with the World War II-era American M1 Garand semi-automatic rifle. In a twist of irony, the weapon played no small role in bringing the defeat of the Empire of Japan.
However, by 1960, the weapon was showing its age. The United States military had recently adopted the M14 – the last battle rifle to be developed and produced at the Springfield Armory in Springfield, Mass. Yet, even by that time, Japan had been a nation of innovators, and it hadn’t shown any desire to adopt what was essentially an evolved M1 Garand.
An undated photo of JGSDF soldiers training with the Howa Type 64. While largely removed from service, the weapon was still used in training exercises in the late 1990s. (Japan Ministry of Defense Photo)
Development
Instead, Japan’s Defense Agency opted to produce a new domestically designed and manufactured primary battle rifle. Fortunately, the designers didn’t look at pre-war designs. Instead, under the direction of General Kenzo Iwashita, Howa Heavy Industries began the development of a gas-operated, selective-fire rifle chambered for the 7.62x51mm NATO round.
Howa, which was based in Kiyosu, Aichi, Japan, was a machinery manufacturer that was founded in 1907. It had produced everything from construction equipment to power tools to civilian and military firearms.
The rifle was accepted into service with the JSDF in 1964 as the Howa Type 64. The naming convention changed after the war, because the Emperor of Japan lost “god-like” status in Japan. Also, the modern Japanese essentially adopted the western calendar. Yet, instead of the Western-style “Model,” the Japanese stuck with “Type” for designating military hardware.
A Battle Rifle
Whereas the assault rifles of the era used intermediate cartridges, the Howa Type 64 was chambered for high-caliber rifle cartridges. Yet, when compared to the M14 rifle, the Type 64 was superior in practical accuracy.
The Howa Type 64 also shared some design similarities with the Belgian-made FN FAL, including a straight-line box magazine. At the same time, the trigger assembly was attached to an angled, ergonomic pistol grip. At 9.7 pounds and 39 inches in length, the Japanese primary battle rifle was neither heavy or light. Rate-of-fire on full auto was around 500 rounds per minute, and it had an effective range of approximately 400 meters.
Japanese Air Self-Defense Force ground personnel training in Iraq with the Howa Type 64 sometime prior to 2008. It was likely one of the few times the domestically-made battle rifles were used outside of Japan. (Japan Ministry of Defense Photo)
One significant issue with the weapon’s design was that it was meant to be used with rounds that held less powder to account for the generally smaller stature of the typical Japanese soldier. As a result, the Howa Type 64 could fire the base 7.62x52mm NATO cartridge but not the “standard-load” 7.62mmm round without risk to the internal mechanical components.
One unique aspect of the Type 64 was its selector switch and how it is labeled: first ア (アンゼンソウチ/安全装置/Safety device (Safe)), then タ (タンシャ/単射/Semi), and finally レ (レンシャ/連射/Auto). Together, they spell アタレ (Atare); atare in Japanese means “Hit the target.”
Production/Use
Around 230,000 Type 64 Battle Rifles were produced, and manufacturing finally ended in 1988 when the JGSDF began to adopt the more advanced Howa Type 89. What is notable about the weapon is that it was never employed in any significant combat role, and due to Japan’s strict anti-hardware export laws, the Howa Type 64 has never been exported.
Its sole operators have been the JGSDF and Japan Coast Guard, while Special Assault Teams of the National Police Agency have also Its sole operators have been the JGSDF and Japan Coast Guard, while Special Assault Teams of the National Police Agency have also employed the rifle.
In January 2007, it was reported that the JGSDF’s Ōita Prefecture garrison had encountered supply problems when they could not account for thirty Howa Type 64s that had been lost. Despite a massive search that involved 95,000 soldiers, the rifles were never recovered.
The Howa Type 64 in the Pop Culture
As the weapon can’t be exported, the Howa Type 64 has largely only appeared in Japanese-made movies and T.V. shows. It was first seen in the 1968 film Destroy All Monsters, the ninth entry in the Toho-produced Godzilla film series. The Type 64 was subsequently seen in several Godzilla films.
The first appearance of the Howa Type 64 was in the 1968 film Destroy all Monsters. It was overshadowed for sure by the monsters, which included Godzilla.
Though the Type 64 has been largely removed from service, it has continued to show up in more recent Godzilla films, including 2002’s Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla.
The rifle also appeared in the 1979 film G.I. Samurai, a story of a group of modern-day JGSDF and JMSDF personnel who are accidentally transported back in time. The personnel are sent to the Warring States period of the 15th to 17th centuries in Japan. Based on a novel by Ryo Hammura, the film starred Sonny Chiba, one of the era’s top male Japanese actors.
The only problem with taking the Type 64 back in time is that you’d likely run out of ammunition. But as noted, some of the soldiers still had a bayonet as a backup in G.I. Samurai.
Western Films with the Howa Type 64
The only time the Type 64 was in a “Western” production was in The Man in the High Castle. As the series’ first season is in 1962, it would have been a earlier, but perhaps it was developed sooner. The Howa Type 64 was seen carried by Imperial Japanese Army soldiers and Special Naval Landing Force infantry units of the Imperial Japanese Navy as a replacement for the Arisaka bolt-action rifles.
The Type 64 was seen carried in the Amazon alternative history drama The Man in the High Castle. It was rarely fired however, likely because they were Airsoft replicas.
As noted by the Internet Movie Firearms Database (IMFDB), it could be designated the Type 37. The 37th year of Emperor Hirohito’s reign was 1962. It was also suggested it might be chambered for 6.5x50mm Arisaka as the 7.62x51mm NATO would have never existed!
Since the Howa Type 64 was never exported, the rifles carried by the various Japanese soldiers are probably Airsoft replicas. These replicas are made by S&T Armament, a Hong Kong-based Airsoft manufacturer.
Howa Type 64 Compilation in Movies, TV & Animation on YouTube:
About the Author:
Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based freelance writer who regularly covers firearms related topics and military history. As a reporter, his work has appeared in dozens of magazines, newspapers, and websites. Among those are Homeland Security Today, Armchair General, Military Heritage, Mag Life, Newsweek, The Federalist, AmmoLand, Breach-Bang-Clear, Newsweek, RECOILweb, Wired, and many others. He has collected military small arms and military helmets most of his life, and just recently navigated his first NFA transfer to buy his first machine gun. He is co-author of the book A Gallery of Military Headdress, which was published in February 2019. It is his third book on the topic of military hats and helmets.
Every time Magpul releases a product, the gun industry must take notice, and parts of it sigh. They’d wish Magpul would stop. Magpul went from a company that made devices to make grip and rip your magazine easier to an industry giant. They make magazines, stocks, and handguards and, in general, have mastered the art of polymer in the world of guns. Polymer seems to be their main thing, but that doesn’t mean that soft goods can’t be in the bag. Magpul dived into the sling world with the same versatility and ingenuity they’ve approached everything else and delivered the Magpul MS1 sling.
The Magpul MS1 is another option in a fleet of modern tactical two-point slings that are begging for space on your rifle. The modern tactical two-point is the go-to these days, and slings from Arbor Arms, Blue Force Gear, VTAC, and obviously Magpul. It can be tough to find a niche in such a crowded market, but Magpul seemingly found a way.
The MS1 and Modularity
How modular can a sling be? It’s some fabric and a little polymer. I’m certainly not creative enough to understand how easily a sling can be modified and adapted to various platforms. I have to give it up to Magpul. They went above and beyond by producing a versatile and effective sling system.
The MS1 forms the basis of Magpul’s sling system. It’s the base unit that can be adapted, evolved, and transformed into the sling you need it to be. The MS1 can be converted into the MS3 or MS4 by swapping a few parts and pieces to make the sling whatever you need it to become. While the MS1 occupies that tactical two-point space, the MS3, and MS4 allow you to convert the sling from a two-point to a one-point with minimal issue.
The ability to swap pieces of furniture to change the sling from one thing to another is handy, but how does the MS1 perform as just a two-point sling?
What’s In a Name?
The MS1 gains its name from the MS1 slider. The MS1 slider comes standard on the base level sling and allows you to almost instantly change the size of the sling. You can tighten it or loosen it with ease. Just push or pull the slider to make the change you need or want. This isn’t the first rapid adjust sling, but it’s seemingly the first to do away with the pull tab soldier in place of a polymer flush fit device that stands no choice of snagging.
Outside of the quick-adjust pull tab, the MS1 allows you to manipulate the size of the sling overall from 48 to 60 inches total. You can size the sling for your body type, or deal with or without armor. It’s fairly handy and also very simple and easy to set up. I took five minutes total to manipulate the sling to fit my unarmored self and my rifle of choice.
Running and Gunning with the MS1
The Magpul MS1 and its MS1 slider make rapid adjustments quick and easy. You can easily manipulate the slider and grow or shrink the sling at will. When properly adjusted, the sling can do several things. When the slider is tightened down to the max, the user can go hands-free if necessary and also manipulate the weapon in a tightened, better-supported position. Like a good 2-point should.
When you tighten the sling down, it adds tension, and that tension translates into a better-supported position for taking shots. That little extra tension makes it easy to stabilize the weapon and build a supported position for accurate shots.
The sling needs to be adjusted for your size and shape to do this properly. Without doing so, you’ll find the tension too little or too much. Manipulating the MS1 in size doesn’t take much effort, and sizing it just right takes hardly any extra time.
If you run the MS1 loose, you gain maximum maneuverability with the ability to switch shoulders, change positions, and more without the sling impeding you. Going loosey-goosey makes it much easier to move your gun as you see fit without losing retention. You can still drop the gun without actually dropping the gun.
Grabbing the slider and shoving it back and forward takes very little effort. You can do so with gloves and without looking. The MS1 slider is massive and provides a nice, easy means to grip and rip the sling as you see fit. Magpul designed the MS1 slider to add or subtract ten inches total from its action.
Size and Support
The 1.25-inch webbing provides more than enough comfort for the average shooter armed with the average rifle. If you feel it’s not comfy enough, the addition of a pad is possible. While fairly wide the sling weighs only 6 ounces. It’s a fairly lightweight setup and simple to use. There are no hanging straps or tails looking to get tangled up in your gear or the world around you.
One of the things that Magpul has consistently proven is the strength of its designs. A lot of that design influence comes from actual users, shooters, and veterans with decades of experience, and it shows. The MS1 sling provides you with all the adjustability, durability, and versatility you need without breaking the bank. For less than 50 bucks, you can add a helluva sling to your rifle or shotgun setup.
Heritage Manufacturing offers single action revolvers similar in style to Ruger’s Single Six, the Colt Scout, and many other single action rimfire revolvers. The Heritage revolvers are very affordable and never seem to give trouble. There isn’t a lot of stress on a rimfire handgun and non ferrous metals work perfectly well in this revolver. While GAT offers the best in tactical reviews sometimes you just gotta have fun.
The Heritage Barkeep is a short barrel birdshead grip pistol that is nothing but a lot of fun. This revolver is simply a bobbed barrel version of the famous Rough Rider .22. The Rough Rider Barkeep is similar to cut down single action revolvers popular in the Old West. Most were custom jobs until Colt finally offered the Sheriff’s Model. I would imagine based on research there were ten or twelve cut down revolvers for every factory short barrel Colt. Heritage revolvers give quite a few shooters a start in collecting. Collecting different variants of a handgun for the pure fun of it is a good thing. Don’t expect modern guns to appreciate much, if at all, but expect to enjoy the pursuit.
The Heritage Boot is also a short barrel birdshead grip handgun. This one takes the act to an extreme. The barrel is only one inch long and doesn’t have a front sight. Boot guns were often worn in the boot in a special holster or a simple rawhide thong type attachment. They were usually derringers but sometimes short barrel small bore revolvers. The Heritage Boot will probably never see service in this role but it is true to the theme. Like all Heritage Rough Rider handguns the Boot features a single action lockwork, must be loaded one at a time through a loading gate, and the spent cartridges are ejected in the same manner, one at a time. The hammer is cocked for each shot and the trigger does only one thing it releases the hammer. It does not cock and drop the hammer, hence the term single action. Unlike practically every other single action revolver the Heritage revolvers feature a manual safety. Due to the short barrel there is no ejector rod. A wooden handled tool is supplied to butt out spent cases.
The boot will be offered with engraved wood, gray pearl, and black wood grips. Other options are available from Heritage as custom grip options. These options are affordable and this is an easy gun to upgrade. The grip feels good in the hand. The firing grip is easily cupped in the hand. There is nothing quite like a single action revolver’s hand fit. The single action .22 will make for many pleasant hours of handling and shooting. Recoil isn’t a consideration. There is a simple groove in the top strap for sighting. Accuracy potential isn’t very high. I got about what I expected.
I began firing the Boot with Winchester Wildcat ammunition. I stood facing a man sized 7 yard target. With past experience with rimfire single action revolvers I knew the drill would not be to take my time and press the trigger slowly but to bring the gun up and snap shoot. I did so and found six shots in less than three inches in a group on paper. Next I fired a few groups slowing down to aim down the sight groove. It isn’t difficult to put six shots into two and one half inches. This isn’t very practical. The Boot is at its best in fast shooting, simply pointing the pistol and breaking a shot. It is just a stunt really. Just fun shooting. The best value of the Boot seems to be with shot shell loads. I tested the piece with both CCI and Winchester birdshot. Winchester patterned a bit better. Either load would shred an average reptile at ten feet or so. The Boot, then, has a specialized role that is useful. The Boot is simply a fun gun. I suppose it would do for defense against reptiles or as a fishing gun. Its real value is in fun shooting and playing cowboy.
Velocity—
I had a question concerning velocity with the 1 inch barrel. I was quite surprised to find that Winchester Super X 37 grain hollow points clocked 914 fps. That isn’t much different from a 4 5/8 inch barrel revolver. However CCI Stingers were at 780 fps. The Stinger is a great rifle load among the best for popping pests. The slower burning powder of the Stinger which is needed to ensure high velocity from the rifle didn’t do well in the Boot revolver. That’s ok as the piece is just for fun. Although it may see duty as a back pocket gun when I am whacking weeds with a machete or walking in snake country. I know if you see them they aren’t dangerous, it is the one you don’t see that get you. Just the same- the boot is a comfort and while highly specialized it is very inexpensive as well.
