The IWI US Carmel Rifle is a modern short-stroke piston semi-auto tactical carbine chambered in 5.56mm NATO. Everything about this cutting-edge carbine is built around lightweight, easy handling, and easy shooting. This weapon has an external housing made from high-impact polymer. The housing is reinforced with aluminum to help keep that weight down.
Ambidextrous controls are also built into the design by default to account for both right- and left-handed shooters. More importantly, the ambidextrous nature of the IWI US Carmel allows the operator to easily shoot the weapon from either shoulder in tactical situations. Helping keep weight down is also the carbine’s thinner contour cold hammer forged pencil barrel. Even with its light weight, the gun still gives shooters a pleasant recoil impulse. This is due to its avant-garde short-stroke piston and rotating bolt.
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Carmel’s Advanced Features
Furthermore, the CSR16 comes equipped with an array of advanced features, including a full-length Picatinny rail system. This provides you with endless customization options to suit your individual preferences and mission requirements. Whether you prefer optics, lights, or other accessories, the CSR16 accommodates your needs without compromising on performance.
Designed with versatility in mind, the CSR16 features a rugged and ergonomic construction that enhances handling and control in any situation. Its intuitive design allows for quick and seamless target acquisition, enabling you to maintain the upper hand in dynamic tactical environments.
Visit IWI’s Website To Learn More About the US Carmel Rifle.
EOTech is probably best known for its laser holographic sights (and you could even say that some of its latest VUDU LPVO riflescopes are getting peoples’ attention, too). But this popular optics company also offers pistol-mounted red dot sights. One of them is the fairly new EOTech EFLX, which launched a little more than a year and a half ago, ahead of SHOT Show 2023. The EOTech EFLX is built with a good size window and is offered with both 3 MOA and 6 MOA red dots. Most importantly, the dot uses one of the most popular footprints on the market: the Leupold DeltaPoint Pro footprint!
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The EFLX is available in either 3- or 6-MOA aiming dot models. A 3-MOA dot improves precision on close-range targets, while the larger 6-MOA dot is quicker to find. Shooter preference, target size, and engagement distance are critical factors in selecting the best aiming dot size. The sight’s windage and elevation are adjustable in 1-MOA clicks for rapid zeroing.
The EFLX Mini Reflex Sight features eight daytime brightness settings, including an ultra-bright level and night vision setting. Using ergonomic push-button controls, users can easily switch between brightness levels. A single 2032 battery provides long run times, and when it’s time to change the battery, an easy-access top-load battery compartment makes the process quick and straightforward.
EOTECH’s EFLX Mini Reflex Sight Specifications
Magnification: 1X
Illumination Source: LED
Eye Relief: Unlimited
Dot Size: 3MOA or 6MOA models
Dot Color: Red
Weight: 1.4oz (35g)
Size: (L x W x H) 1.9” x 1” x 1.2” (47 x 25.4 x 30.5mm)
Battery Type: 1 × CR2032
Battery Life: Approx. 20,000 hrs.
Daytime Settings: 8 (7 daytime / 1 Ultra-Bright)
Night Vision Settings: 1
Mounting Interface: Delta Point Pro™
Housing Color: Black or Flat Dark Earth (FDE)
Housing Material: Aluminum
MSRP: $389
Please visit EOTech to learn more about the EFLX Red Dot Sight
This is the third installment of my write-up documenting my experiences attending the Green Ops Defensive Kalashnikov class. Part 3 is about my insights and takeaways from the class. I didn’t intend for it to be another separate post, but there are enough words here, so it’s warranted.
The Kalashnikov In 2024
Both students’ and instructors’ AK rifles lined up on the side of a 1997 Geo Prizm LSi with instructor McGuire slav-squatting, heels all the way to the deck. In all seriousness, this picture provides an excellent survey of the rifles in class. Other than the Aimpoint on my WASR-10, it’s the only bone-stock AK.
The AK, all of its variants, and its derivatives still count amongst the most common firearms in existence throughout the world. Even decades after the height of the Cold War. Though they play second fiddle in the category of intermediate caliber carbines here in the United States, AKs have been and continue to be massively popular, too. In fact, although AKs and their ammunition aren’t as cheap as they used to be, I still regularly come across freshly fired AK steel casings at most ranges I visit.
But this doesn’t take away from the fact that the “glory days” of AKs are past us. Any AK from a solid provenance is becoming extremely expensive. In many cases, some of these are also becoming outright collector’s pieces with the prices they command (Chinese Norinco Spikers come to mind).
Feeding the Machine
Nowadays, the price of the common steel-cased 7.62x39mm cartridge has doubled due to factors like inflation and the war in Ukraine. Ammunition from Russia, the single largest source for commercially available 7.62x39mm cartridges, is no longer being imported. More than two years after that war started, many US vendors are finally selling off the last of their ammunition inventories of Russian origin.
While American manufacturers sell AK ammo (like the Hornady American Gunner 123-grain Match HP in the title image), most of it is frankly too cost-prohibitive to use for regular training and practice*. With that said, all of these externalities do not cancel out the here-and-now, and this means that the land of “America’s Rifle” is still the land of the Kalashnikov, too. These weapons and their cartridges are still commonly sold and easily available, higher prices notwithstanding.
Managing Expectations With The Kalashnikov
In Part One of this class review, I mention that instructors McGuire and Dale spent a good amount of time during breaks away from the firing line dispensing verbal knowledge about AKs. I found this very useful, especially because of how they contextualized the rifle.
When I take any class, the context of the gun or topic is one of the most important things I literally desire to take away. And the context of the Defensive Kalashnikov is that overall, it’s a 200-yard gun that’s more accurate than its reputation. That’s just the reality when taking into account the trajectory and usefulness of the 7.62x39mm cartridge and every other aspect of these rifles in general.
Similarly, while the gun’s design leads to incredible reliability (at Dale’s discretion, we only covered malfunction topics verbally for less than two minutes), it’s also not invincible. Anything that gets in the action’s travel path has the potential to cause stoppages, hence the guns having both dust covers and safety levers that “seal” the receiver when not in use.
On the bright side, I learned that one of the beauties of the Kalashnikov is that its design lends itself rather well to dry-fire practice. All the repetitions and manipulations (magazine changes, immediate actions, safety manipulations, etc.) are 1:1, exactly the same as doing them with live ammo on the firing line. This means that students can get a lot of mileage from simply training manipulations in the comfort of their own homes without having to worry about firing any shots.
Green Ops Instructors McGuire and Dale in the middle of a discussion about the AK while students were hydrating, topping off magazines and catching a break from the sun. This was one of many of the insightful conversations that occurred throughout the day.
The Takeaway
As a left-handed shooter, I had some assumptions and notions about what “operating the AK properly” would entail, especially with regard to its safety and the location it sits on the receiver. I imagined it would be painfully slow and cumbersome. Dale showed me the best way to bring the gun into action as a left-handed shooter. After several reps, it’s really not as bad as I assumed, and it honestly makes me feel even better about the viability of the Kalashnikov as a practical and defensive firearm for me.
I’ll admit that as a writer who covers modern firearms and optics, I had been harboring some negative biases about the Kalashnikov and its role today. After all, the first iteration saw the light of day in 1947, and quite frankly, its entire design scheme is based mostly on early 20th-century inputs—”pre-war” technology, if you will.
I’d take an AR-15 over an AK any day, but as a shorter-distance defensive carbine, the AK can still be relevant no matter how clunky or uncouth it seems next to the latest precision AR-15. In short, it’s one thing to watch YouTube or other training videos and documentaries about this gun, but it’s another thing to be on the firing line in person with one’s own finger pulling the trigger and one’s own hand charging the action.
An Enjoyable Change
Attending the Green Ops Defensive Kalashnikov was immensely fun, and this was partially because slinging up and shooting AKs instead of the typical handgun or AR carbine was a nice shift in gears. I already lauded instructor Dale, given his background as a Special Forces Weapons Sergeant and the unique skills and perspective he brings to the table. But it would be unfair if I didn’t mention that Matt McGuire can also hold his own with a Kalashnikov, too. I learned equally from both of them, and it was enjoyable to see everyone in the class improving their AK handling skills in real time as the day progressed.
Finally, this Green Ops course served to bridge the gap between my “book knowledge” about the weapon with actual hands-on experience driving the rifle. Most of my AK experience has honestly involved the casual nature of merely plinking with them or shooting them off a bench at a “standard” shooting range. So shooting one in that tactical bay and working around it, having it slung up against my body, and manipulating it all day long was certainly worth the effort.
** Palmetto State Armory is now loading and selling US-produced steel cased 7.62x39mm and 5.45x39mm. While I’m hopeful, I have yet to find any in stock.
Last year, Nighthawk Custom launched its full-size BDS9. The Boardroom Double Stack 9mm pistol is hand-built for serious performance shooting, and when paired with the Nighthawk Customs ILS Optics-System, lets competitors easily switch among the popular action pistol sport divisions in today’s matches.
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Building on a forged government-size frame, the frame and slide are hand-fit for exceptional fit and finish. Correspondingly, the frame and slide feature a silver DLC finish for durability and a pleasing aesthetic. Additionally, the full-length dust cover includes a single-slot Picatinny rail for the addition of a light.
The aluminum grip module features a black anodized finish to provide long-lasting strength. In addition, the grip includes Nighthawk’s new aggressive texture that sticks to your hands no matter the climate. A black finish on the grip, trigger guard, barrel, and controls provides a sleek contrast to the BDS9’s overall finish.
The slide features heavy angle cut forward and rear cocking serrations for easy manipulation, whether wet or dry. In addition, slide lightening ports allow the slide to cycle quicker for fast follow-up shots. Housed within the slide is the 5-inch hand-fit, match-grade bull barrel chambered in 9mm. The barrel features a black DLC coating and is crowned and cut flush with the slide.
Rounds are sent downrange via the lightweight aluminum Nighthawk Custom tri-cavity trigger. Correspondingly, the Everlast Recoil System assists with quicker follow-up shots. The BDS9 comes with two slide stops. One operates like a standard 1911 slide stop, locking back on an empty magazine. The second is a disengaged slide stop for competition shooters who don’t want the slide to lock back.
Once we finished the discussion of zeroes and offsets for the Kalashnikov, we moved on to AK-specific weapon manipulations, including engaging and disengaging the safety with both the right and left hands and reloads. Because all but one student had 7.62x39mm AKs, there was also some discussion about the mechanics of shooting a Kalashnikov robustly and a reminder that these rifles aren’t like ARs. If you don’t drive it, it will drive you and push you around.
Dale described them as “.308 lites” in a sense, in reference to 7.62x51mm NATO chambered semi-autos like the FN SCAR-17 or the M-110. The AK’s long-stroke piston and conjoined massive bolt carrier throw a lot of mass back and forth during shooting. As a result, they do require more deliberateness to handle compared to a typical 5.56mm AR.
During this portion of the class, students received ample opportunities to do safety and reloading manipulation reps. Both instructors showed us various ways to reload AKs without declaring one way to be better or worse than another. They encouraged students to experiment and see for themselves what best worked for them.
Close up of the Kalashnikov safety. It’s just a piece of shaped sheet metal that both prevents the action from fully reciprocating and the trigger group from firing by means of introducing a “tab” that physically blocks it. Compared to the controls on any modern AR-15, the safety isn’t as sleek, but it’s also not un-manageable–even for left handed shooters. During class, Dale pointed out that one can easily chamber check their AK while the weapon is on safe without any concern.
Practicing Safe Handling
During this part of the class, we students also doubled down on dry-fire reps for a few minutes on the firing line. Because of it, we were able to instantly shave off fractions of seconds on the first shot from the ready position.
We were taught that despite how un-ergonomic or awkward the Kalashnikov safety is, there’s no excuse for not regularly using it. It’s business as usual, just like any other defensive carbine. The stakes are too high to ignore the safety of a modern rifle, regardless of make and model. Manipulating an AK safety may be slower, but it’s not that slow, either.
With some practice, most of the students, including myself, could get a shot on target from the ready in about 0.80 seconds; I’m also left-handed. When switching magazines on an AR-15, it’s best practice to engage the safety first. The Kalashnikov doesn’t work that way, so it’s an exception because it’s physically impossible to charge the weapon with the safety engaged. Otherwise, the safety gets engaged or disengaged as usual.
Afternoon/End Of Class
After taking a nice shaded lunch and some respite from the hot, harsh sun, the class carried on with its newfound points on Kalashnikov manipulation and shot some exercises and drills—many with the use of a timer. Between the hot sun and the volume of rounds fired through this part of the class, the glove(s) on the support hand proved to be priceless.
The afternoon also afforded us chances to do some barricade work and shoot at C-zone-sized steel at a distance of 40 yards. In spite of the 7.62×39’s less-than-stellar ballistics, those slugs did smack around those steel plates with some authority. It was very noticeable as everyone took turns shooting around and through the V-Tac barricade.
If anything, it did provide an effective demonstration of what these firearms can do at closer distances—especially with a good bullet such as the Hornady 7.62x39mm 123-grain SST or the Barnes TSX.
Green Ops Carbine Standards
Instructor Matt McGuire demonstrating Green Ops Carbine Standards with his AK.
It’s customary for Green Ops classes to close with some type of culminating event or a chance for students to shoot Green Ops’ official relevant standards pertinent to the subject (e.g., handgun, shotgun, rifle, etc.).
In the case of the Defensive Kalashnikov class, there are no AK-specific standards, so students ran with the regular Green Ops Carbine standards. No one, including both instructors, was able to clear the standards (designed around the AR) with their AKs, save for a few of the individual challenges. Some of the runs were close, however.
Even with an aggressive effort, I didn’t fare too well either because I wasn’t controlling my AK as well as I needed to. Overall, it wouldn’t take a genius to determine that meeting some of those par times with a heavier recoiling rifle that physically takes longer to reload would just make the standards more difficult to attain. Honestly? Those are still good standards to strive for and, with dedicated practice, still attainable.
Maybe Green Ops can decide to add another 1.0 – 1.5 seconds (whatever is deemed reasonable) for the reloading exercise? Since AK actions do not lock back after the last shot, the instructors stipulated that for #3, students fire their three shots, then fire the fourth shot to hear a click, and then perform the reload.
Listening for the “click” instead of the “bang” is the best real-world reliable indicator that it’s time to reload an AK anyway. In the meantime, striving to meet the current standards still wouldn’t be a bad move.
Drill Results
1: 10 yds, A zone head shot, par time 0.99 seconds (0.86 seconds, missed)
2: 15 yds, 3 shots standing, 3 shots kneeling, par time 4.0 seconds (3.74 seconds, down half)
3: 25 yds, 3 shots, bolt-lock reload, 3 shots, par time 5.5 seconds (6.8 or 6.9 seconds, down half)
4: 25 yds, 6 shots, par time 3.0 seconds (2.35 seconds, down four)
Being situated in central Texas, it’s hard not to take advantage of training with Green Ops and the many classes they offer. Previously, I’ve covered both their LPVO and AAPM classes here on GAT Daily. But this past Saturday, I showed up to take the Green Ops Defensive Kalashnikov class—a one-day class that goes over the finer points of shooting and using a Kalashnikov rifle. This class was equally led by both Green Ops Texas director of Training Matt McGuire and Green Ops Instructor Dale.
Given Dale’s background as a Special Forces 18-Bravo, he is probably one of the most qualified people to teach such a class. For those who aren’t familiar, one of the core specialties of the US Army Special Forces is teaching and training others, be it their teammates or other partner forces. 18-Bravos, also known as Weapons Sergeants, are quite literally the weapons experts of their 12-man teams.
Who better to teach an AK class stateside?
Green Ops Defensive Kalashnikov Class Overview
The Green Ops Defensive Kalashnikov class is a one-day AK-centric carbine class that focuses on these ‘alternative’ yet still utilitarian firearms. Much of the curriculum overlaps with Green Ops’ normal (read: AR-15 centric) Defensive Carbine class. But obviously, Defensive Kalashnikov specifically touches on the nuances, subtleties, and unique properties of AK pattern firearms.
This rendition of the Green Ops Defensive Kalashnikov class was very intimate, with a total of five students and two instructors. The class took place at the RDI Shooting Complex in Pleasanton, Texas. I enjoy these smaller group settings as it often means that everyone gets more individualized attention along with less down time in between individual assessments.
The beauty of this class is its simplicity. Other than the requisite rifle, its sling, and at least three magazines, there really isn’t much on the list of required gear. Students are free to bring their AKs set up to best suit them. Ammunition-wise, the class officially calls for 400 rounds. Just having completed the class, I don’t think I shot more than 300 rounds in total.
A Gamut of Styles and Set-Ups
Students’ weapons ran the gamut of styles, from my bone-stock Romanian-made Century Arms WASR-10 AK to a suppressed Kalashnikov with all of the bells and whistles from Zenitco. Two students even shot rifles with iron sights (and did fairly well, too).
Most everyone’s guns, including the ones belonging to the instructors’, had some degree of aftermarket accessories or modification. Incidentally, they both were shooting 7.62x39mm AKs with Ultimak “gas tube” Picatinny rails. Dale’s gun had the tried-and-true classic Ultimak + Aimpoint Micro combination, while McGuires’ had an Ultimak with a Trijicon RMR.
Another student and I were shooting rifles with the amazing RS Regulate side rail mounts. Everyone except me had guns with upgraded furniture or pistol grips. I was the only one with a rifle that had wooden furniture, and honestly, I couldn’t remember the last time I shot any rifle with wooden furniture.
From Cugir, Romania, To Atascosa County, Texas
Century Arms Romanian WASR-10 with Gideon Optics Advocate Prismatic Sight mounted. Picture taken on the firing line.
Because this was my first-ever Kalashnikov-specific class, I decided to bring and shoot that 7.62x39mm WASR-10 I reviewed earlier this spring. The WASR-10 is directly based on the famous Romanian-made PM md. 63, which is a clone of the original Soviet AKM dating back to 1959.
Fundamentally, the WASR-10 isn’t outfitted any differently than a Soviet or Romanian AKM from the early 1960s. Other than the aforementioned RS Regulate, sling, optic, and mount, I deliberately shot this rifle in this configuration in order to get a feel for what shooting an elementary .30-caliber Kalashnikov felt like.
Given the popularity of the standard AK, I considered it both an intellectual exercise and a practical means to establish a baseline reference to such AKs.
Running the WASR-10
At the time of this writing, the WASR-10 should have north of 500 rounds between this Green Ops class and my original review. It has not had any malfunctions to report since I first shot it, even with minimal lubrication. I’ve primarily fed it Russian-made steel-case ammunition I purchased a decade ago, but the rifle also shot brass-cased Hornady and S&B cartridges without issue.
I will not knock the WASR-10 for its archaic architecture, as it is directly based on the AKM. But the only flaw I noticed during class was that its side rail needed some fine filing. I noticed this after two separate RS Regulate mounts I own started becoming loose from side to side (but not from front to rear). The issue manifested itself after a few magazines in between shooting exercises.
I reached out to RS Regulate and they explained that sometimes Romanian AKs need additional filing on the rear bottom part of their side-rail’s dovetail in order for the RS mounts to be properly and completely attached to the rifle. (The same mount never gave me problems while mounted to my Russian-made Saiga AK I’ve had for years.) Such is life with a Kalashnikov.
The Morning
The morning of the class began with a discussion about the AK and its place in the defensive-minded civilian’s “ecosystem” of firearms. We talked about what these weapons are, what they aren’t, and how they are best contextualized as modern defensive and practical firearms. Similar discussions and sidebar conversations took place between both instructors and students throughout the day, especially in between shooting drills and catching some shade, topping off magazines, etc.
If running drills and exercises, along with the actual shooting, were the “nuts and bolts” of the class, these discussions were the “glue” of the class. The insights and discussions were invaluable, and once again, this is one of the things that always seems to take place when the class size is smaller.
Only four others besides myself braved the sun and heat to participate. I’ll put it this way, I learned some esoteric knowledge about the original Soviet-designed PBS-1 silencer for the AKM and how it works. I also learned the truth about the SVD Dragunov, and as they say, never meet your heroes.
Getting Hands-On
Student shooting NRA B-8 targets to see where his shots offset at five-yards.
The hands-on portion of the class began with zeroing and/or verifying zeroes on students’ rifles, along with a discussion on reasonable zeros for AK overall. We learned that fifty yards is an overall reasonable zero for a 7.62×39 Kalashnikov, though I had mine previously zeroed for 100 yards, as is my custom for nearly every rifle. And that was fine, too.
Although AKs aren’t AR-15s, something both rifles have in common is that their sights sit fairly high over their barrels which means that being cognizant of the weapons’ height-over-bore (HOB) is equally as important. For this reason, we spent some time shooting groups between 10, 15, and 25 yards after zeroing to learn where the different holds for height over bore for our rifles lay.
To cap off the zeroes-and-holds portion of the class, we shot a 30-round drill conceived by noted firearms instructor Chuck Pressburg. It involved an NRA B-8 target, with the goal of accounting for height over bore offset at various distances and landing all 30 rounds inside the B-8’s ten-ring.
Because of its overall size and length, the CZ Shadow 2 Compact’s numbers are very similar to that of the Glock 19, which I consider the poster child for a modern compact handgun. Well, a double-stack carry gun, at least. It’s also similar to the Glock 19 in that the CZ Shadow 2 Compact accepts standard capacity CZ-75 magazines the same way the Glock 19 accepts Glock 17 magazines. Naturally, the Shadow 2 Compact will also share magazines with other 15-round compact-framed CZ pistols, like the [also] aluminum-framed 9mm P01.
A Joy to Shoot
Honestly, one of the first things I did when I received this CZ at my local gun shop was to lay a Glock 19 immediately over it. Informally, I wanted to compare them externally. It’s one thing to read specifications on a website or brochure, but it’s another to visually and physically compare a gun.
From a form-factor perspective, the Shadow 2 Compact is definitely on the money, especially as a carry gun. It uses a 15-round magazine which is also par for the course for a modern compact 9mm double-stack gun. I give the gun “full points” on this aspect.
I’d also be remiss if I didn’t praise the gun’s pure “shootability” and accuracy. With the Leupold DeltaPoint Pro I’m reviewing, the Shadow 2 Compact is a joy to shoot, especially with its single-action trigger pull—even from the factory. Upon taking it home, one of the first things I did was to gauge both the single-action and double-action trigger pulls with a digital trigger pull weight scale.
In double action, the trigger breaks around 10.5 pounds, while the single-action break comes in at just shy of 4 pounds. It’s fantastic! The double-action trigger pull feels like a decent revolver trigger to me.
During shooting and from a recoil management perspective, don’t expect the Shadow 2 Compact to handle exactly like the one-pound-heavier original Shadow 2. It’s clearly more lively. But with that Leupold reflex sight and the single-action trigger pull, it really was extremely satisfying to shoot—and quite fun.
The Shadow 2 Compact’s Drawbacks As A Carry Gun
Casting aside the discussion about the gun being drop-safe, some detractors about the gun in the context of carrying are its ultra-low-profile safety levers and the fact that it does not have a decocker. The lack of the decocker isn’t the end of the world, as no one criticizes 1911s for the same. One just has to be very careful and deliberate when lowering the hammer on a chambered round.
The safety levers, in theory, are designed to stay out of the way, but they might do that a little too well and can be easy to miss, even with the meaty part of the thumb.
All Shadow 2 Compacts are optics-ready, but installing an optic means completely sacrificing the rear-sight plate. So, carrying with an optic means sacrificing the backup iron sight. This may be an issue for some carriers who prefer the extra assurance a backup sight system provides.
Because the gun is modeled after its sports-oriented bigger brother, the Shadow 2 Compact also includes an extended competition-style magazine catch. It’s not as large and doesn’t protrude as much as the unit on the original gun, but I thought that for a carry piece, that catch could also stand to have a slightly lower profile.
The CZ Shadow 2 Compact’s hammer in its ‘half-cock’ position. Like a standard 1911 hammer, the Shadow’s hammer also has a half-cock notch.
CZ Shadow 2 Compact Best Practices For Carry
It’s my opinion that the safest way to carry the Shadow 2 Compact would be by cocking the hammer slightly back so that it rests on the “safety” or “half-cock” notch and shooting the first shot with the full double-action trigger pull, like any other TDA pistol.
In the half-cock notch, the hammer is prevented from being fully down, and the gun can be carried off-safe, relying on the weight and length of the first double-action trigger pull to break the first shot. If I had no choice but to carry this gun tomorrow, this is precisely what I’d do.
The Takeaway
Different shooters carry different handguns for different reasons. Personally, I lean towards carrying fifth-generation unmodified Glocks for purely practical reasons. They’re not too expensive, especially used, and I sweat a lot. I avoid metal guns because the grip screws or other things inevitably rust from my sweat.
The CZ Shadow 2 Compact wouldn’t be my first choice for this reason, not to mention the fact that they cost double what a 9mm Glock costs. Cost notwithstanding, I don’t think I’d recommend the Shadow 2 Compact as a carry gun for any casual or newer shooters, and objectively, I’d consider them to be an advanced shooter’s gun in this context. This has nothing to do with their lack of a firing pin block either, which I’ve already touched on in Part 1 of this article. Any TDA pistol is already less friendly to a beginner, let alone one that doesn’t have a decocker.
Part 1 of this article is a discussion about whether this pistol makes for a safe carry gun given that it lacks a firing pin block. Originally, I’d tell you but I think the issue isn’t as black-and-white as I initially thought it to be.
Does the CZ Shadow 2 Compact make a good carry gun? It’s something I’ve been wondering about and I wanted to explore the gun’s viability as a carry-piece. Since its original launch nearly a year ago, the CZ Shadow 2 Compact has been many things: well-received, sold-out, much talked about and even a little controversial for some in the shooting community.
The CZ Shadow 2 Compact takes after its mythical bigger brother, the original CZ Shadow 2, but with different dimensions. The former is about one inch shorter lengthwise and approximately ¼ inch less height-wise than the latter. Its frame is made from aluminum instead of steel which reduces the Shadow 2 Compact’s weight to one less pound than the original.
The Drop-Safe Issue
My hunch had always been to “pass” on the Shadow Compact 2 as a carry gun since it famously shares the same action as the original full-size Shadow 2. The original isn’t considered drop-safe due to the omission of a firing pin block. I also called Cajun Gun Works in Louisiana, one of the most important entities with anything aftermarket or performance in the world of CZ pistols, and wanted to get their expert opinion.
During the call, I asked their gunsmithing and technical services department if perhaps the Shadow 2 Compact had a lighter firing pin with a heavier firing pin spring. The tech told me that pins and springs are identical between the smaller compact and larger standard pistol. For what it’s worth, he also added that Cajun Gun Works officially does not consider the Shadow 2 Series to be drop-safe.
However…
I’ve seen a few different forum discussions and YouTube videos of people anecdotally testing both their full-size and compact Shadow 2s on video to see if they failed informal drop tests or were struck with hammers, etc. I even thought about designing my own drop tests at home with primed, empty casings to see for myself. But I decided against it.
Not only do I want to avoid unnecessary damage to a gun that isn’t mine, but even ‘proving something’ at home is still anecdotal and not statistically significant. N = 1, after all. Things would be different if I had access to a laboratory and sophisticated equipment. Not to mention several CZ Shadow 2 Compact pistols for a better sample size along with a professionally-designed experiment. But I don’t, so it’s a moot point.
While they shouldn’t be taken as official advice, the anecdotal videos I referenced above did leave me with some doubts. Perhaps an unmodified stock pistol in the original factory configuration *could* be drop-safe.
The Shadow 2 Compact is Not Alone
I don’t have a definitive answer myself, perhaps that “maybe” at best. Even so, this is where the waters get murky for me. I don’t want to immediately dismiss the CZ Shadow 2 Compact on the basis that it may not be drop-safe. Plenty of gun owners have been carrying “Series 70” 1911 pistols for generations. Sure, many come with lighter titanium firing pins and those heavier firing-pin springs to overcome inertia from setting off a primer in a chamber pistol inadvertently. But it doesn’t change the fact that the well-loved 1911 isn’t 100% drop-safe due it its inherent design.
I doubt that most serious Staccato 2011 shooters got rid of their guns immediately after Ben Stoeger publicized his recent video clip on Instagram showing how the Staccato XC 2011, one of the Texas gunmaker’s premium models, wasn’t drop-safe. I certainly won’t call any of my friends who carry 2011s to stop carrying them because Stoeger dropped his own gun, either. Therefore, I’d be a hypocrite if I said the same thing about a dedicated shooter who wishes to carry the Shadow 2 Compact.
If someone doesn’t already do it already, perhaps it wouldn’t be a bad idea for an enterprising parts and accessories company to sell lighter titanium firing pins and heavier replacement springs for the Shadow 2 Compacts, as extra “insurance”, they way some 1911s include them.
CZ Shadow 2 Compact pictured with a mounted Leupold DeltaPoint Pro reflex sight and a surefire tactical light.
The Shadow 2 USPSA Tragedy
I can guess that the likely reason for the Shadow 2, in general, always being brought up when discussing drop safety is most likely due to a tragic incident that occurred in upstate New York in 2018. During a match at an indoor range, someone dropped a loaded Shadow 2, which caused the gun to fire.
The bullet struck and killed another spectator at this USPSA match. Match-specific guns can be heavily modified and not in the same league as normal factory guns. It wouldn’t be fair to judge a factory-new, unmodified gun against a raced-out competition blaster.
My Thoughts
Costs aside, the impetus for writing this piece comes from the “drop-safe” discussion. Prior to doing any research or calling Cajun Gun Works, I had a spirited text message exchange with a friend who loves these guns and is also an experienced shooter in his own right. He carries a Shadow 2 Compact, and I wouldn’t consider him to be a jackass with guns.
His point was, where’s the real threshold on a gun’s ability to be drop-safe? What if they’re drop safe 9 out of 10 ways, but not in the one outlying instance? This discussion made me ponder the whole aspect of guns being drop-safe and what that label means. Guns are inherently dangerous weapons by their very nature. Where is the threshold being overly concerned between their “safety” and the fact that they can accidentally maim or injure when handled improperly?
Glocks, for example, are designed to be drop-safe, but many people still accidentally injure themselves with one. Maybe not from dropping them, but this begs the question: Is “drop-safe” the only yardstick that defensive-minded concealed carriers should care about? What about the many pre-tensioned striker guns that people are literally carrying right now? Are those striker triggers “okay” as long as the gun is “drop-safe?”
What about the venerable 1911? What about a gun like the Staccato 2011 C2 model, which is more or less categorically identical to the CZ Shadow 2 Compact? The 2011 C2 or any other Staccato, like most 1911s don’t have firing pin blocks, but they’re still sold as carry or duty guns (and I am fine with this.)
Not an Easy Conclusion
At the end of the day, I’m not saying that the CZ Shadow 2 is perfectly drop-safe. I don’t know. Even though an authority on CZs like Cajun Gun Works officially told me they do not consider it as such, the cursory research I did, along with the discussion of other guns like 1911s/2011s and their level of inherent safety, made me ponder the case of the Shadow 2 Compact a little more deeply.
Maybe in its stock factory configuration the gun might really be drop-safe, or perhaps it isn’t. After spending more time than I ought to thinking about this, I’ve just come to realize the topic isn’t so binary.
Part 2 of this article explores the benefits and drawbacks of the gun itself, independent from the firing pin block and drop-safe discussion.
If you are an individual who takes product acquisition seriously, then you without a doubt do research before you buy anything of significant dollar value. Personally, if I’m going to spend more than $50 on something whether it be related to electronics, or camera, and yes gun related products and anything in between, I like to know or at least feel like I’m going to get what I deem is my moneys’ worth. Now that can be subjective but I think you understand.
Garmin Xero C1 Pro Game Changer
There’s little doubt that during your research efforts on a particular new product, you’ve read some writers words, heard some podcasters statement, or watched someone on Youtube, and the words “game changer” have come up. I have been guilty of throwing it around maybe too nonchalantly at times, if nothing else out of excitement and perceived superiority over like-products in the same category. But this time it’s for-absolutely-real, the Garmin Xero C1 Chronograph changes the game and in my own personal experience, changes my life. Strong words I know, but hear me out.
Past Chronographs
My living is made dealing with gun stuff. For my 15 years in print media we’ve always been held to a standard when testing firearms. One of those standards is gathering velocity data from different brands/types of ammunition that we put through the firearm. My first chrono was the Shooting Crony Beta Master. You probably know what they look like, just a piece of pot metal bent into a rectangle with a little processor and screen and a couple of sensors to detect the projectile passing through.
You can find it and several others like it on your Bass Pro website. It worked, and worked well for many years. I finally shot it after several years of use. Then I shot it again before replacing it. At any rate, they are a pain to set up and while they aren’t hard to use, they are far from user friendly. In the end they require a lot of time and effort to use.
Newer Chronos
Now we have units like the Lab Radar, which uses Doppler to measure velocity. I bought one early on believing this would change the game for me. It did. Sort of. It made me do things differently but not much more efficiently. The Lab Radar has its quirks. If you know about them in advance then you won’t be bothered by any of the solutions to overcoming them.
Magneto speed is another option, and one I started using as well. It too has it’s quirks and is reserved for gathering rifle velocity only. You can’t do pistols, or arrows. It needs to be attached to your barrel or via some adapter to attach it to your rifle. They can be costly and take some time to set up. The unit is easy to use, but time and efficiency are not its strong points. These are but a couple of options, there are others. The point is there is some kind of sacrifice to gathering velocity data—until now.
Enter The Xero C1 Pro
Garmin has been stealthy about its foray into the shooting arena and for good reason. It’s Garmin—a huge tech/GPS company with a massive mainstream market. These days, dabbling in the “evil” shooting space can be a huge risk. They did it by first partnering up with Applied Ballistics and launching wrist worn GPS units like the 701 and 901 that had AB ballistics solvers inside.
They also dropped a couple of their Tactix Watches (and their new Instinct 2X Solar Tactical) with the same software. These weren’t just gimmicks. These wrist-worn solvers were freestanding and allow the user to solely rely on them without the need for anything else to make an accurate shot at distance. I have all the units and have used them with much success. They even bluetooth to rangefinders so you can range straight to the unit, and have it instantly provide your dope. The Garmin products are serious and they work.
Now we have another “supportive” product that you can add to your shooting sports tool box. The Xero C1 Pro is a chronograph. Don’t let the word “pro” make you think it’s for a high level, 1,000-round-per-month competitive shooter. It’s for anyone and everyone who needs to get projectile velocities of any sort. This is the most effective, user friendly, straight forward product that I have used in this class, taking what used to be minutes to set up and use, down to mere seconds and making it fun and interesting on top of that. I can now show up at the range, free of stress, whip out the Xero C1 Pro, and in 25 seconds be gathering precise velocity data.
How It Works
The Xero C1 Pro gathers data via 24 GHz Wave radar. It uses the doppler effect to measure the projectile’s velocity. This isn’t new, but having it in such a small and convenient package is simply crazy. The microwave signal bounces off the projectile and sends the info back to the unit where software does the rest and spits out a velocity number. It does this nearly instantaneously (it takes almost a second to process) and without the need for the unit to be perfectly aimed. While this is an oversimplified explanation, it gets the point across. The unit is constantly sending out a signal, unless you move it while armed (it will automatically shut the signal off) and sees the projectile once it leaves the muzzle. It measures the velocity roughly 20 yards off the muzzle.
The Xero can measure velocities from 100 fps to 5000 fps and while setting it up the user can select, rifle, pistol, bow, and air rifle modes. Set up is simple. If you’re using a rifle or pistol, simply turn on the unit via the buttons on top, select new session, select the projectile mode, then select the velocity range (600-1700 fps or 1700-5000), after this you’re prompted to enter projectile weight or you can skip this, hit OK then you’re done. Start shooting. There is a prompt after the projectile weight that shows you where to place your unit in relationship to whatever you’re shooting. Thankfully, Garmin allows you to turn this off in the settings, although it takes less than a quarter of a second to move past this screen.
Xero C1 Pro Details
The display on the Xero is large and easy to read and provides all pertinent information such as projectile average, minimum, maximum, extreme spread, and standard deviation. When you initially set up the Xero you can pair it with your smartphone and each session is automatically added to the Garmin Shotview app. On the app you can make changes to the data such as editing shots, changing projectile info, exporting the data as CSV, and you can add notes about the session as well. It’s well laid out and easy to use. I can’t tell you how much time it has saved this frequent-chronographer (is that even a word?). The unit has plenty of memory allowing for 50 sessions with 100 shots per session. At that point you’ll need to sync it up with the app.
The Xero C1 Pro is compact and well built. It’s technically smaller than a deck of cards but a little thicker at the bottom of the unit. It features a 1/4” thread adapter to attach to tripods or other stands. It’s water resistant with an IPX7 rating, and it has an internal battery that charges via USB-C with a 2,000 shot life or up to 6 hours. A USB Type A to Type C cable is included.
Wrap Up
I never thought I’d be so stoked over a chronograph, and I never saw this coming but make no mistake, this unit from Garmin should not be overlooked because of what it provides the shooter in the way of usability. Leave it to a non-gun company to make the task of velocity data gathering beyond easy.
The Garmin Xero C1 Pro is $599.99 and the pre-order line is deeper than a gun forum rabbit-hole. But I think a company like Garmin will get them out rather quickly. It will be worth the money and worth the wait. Thank you, Garmin for changing the game and my life. Check it out for yourself at garmin.com.
If you’re a fan of 1911s, you’ve undoubtedly already heard about Tisas’ pistols being imported from Turkey by SDS Imports. If you haven’t, now is the time to do some research and save some money. And if you have been looking for an affordable double-stack 1911, the Tisas Night Stalker FS 9 DS is worth the look.
The Tisas Night Stalker FS 9 DS
I first came across the company’s guns at the SHOT Show four years ago. I remember telling a colleague that if the guns they imported were as nice as the samples on display, SDS Imports would be hugely successful with the line. And they were.
I’ve probably reviewed seven or eight guns in the time since I first saw them. I continue to be impressed with their overall quality in terms of materials and fitting. Each has been extremely accurate, and I have yet to have a misfeed or stoppage with the thousands of rounds I have fired through them!
Over time, SDS Imports has developed and refined its product lineup, giving consumers exactly what they ask for. Now Tisas is manufacturing a double-stack 1911 chambered in 9mm that is much like the 2011 STI/Staccato guns.
Loaded with features that include an extended and threaded barrel, ambidextrous safeties, a detachable magazine well funnel, and an optics plate, Tisas’ newest gun would be the perfect candidate for someone on a tight budget who wants to compete in USPSA’s new Limited Optics division.
The Night Stalker FS 9 DS pistol retails for just $960.
Cutting No Corners
When I see prices dramatically lower than what I think they should be, I become suspicious. So, I start looking for places where corners are cut. In the case of 1911s, I look for cast parts or pieces made with the metal injection-molded process.
Happily, in the case of Tisas’ pistols, this is not the case. All parts are machined from bar stock, including the frame and slide, and I have been told by two very well-known gunsmiths that the Tisas steel parts are every bit as hard or harder than anything produced domestically.
Tisas also manufactures its pistols to true 1911 dimensions, meaning aftermarket upgrade parts will work with their guns. It turns out, though, that the lowball pricing of the Tisas guns has nothing to do with their quality. It is, in fact, SDS Imports’ marketing strategy.
The company is simply buying market share. Prices will gradually rise. So, if you’re a cheapskate like me, now is the time to buy and save.
Night Stalker Details
The Tisas Night Stalker FS 9 DS boasts a 17+1 capacity and uses stainless steel magazines. STI/Staccato 9mm mags can be used with this gun, but SDS Imports ships it with two Check-Mate magazines.
Like the 2011 guns, this pistol features a two-part, hybrid frame. The slide rides on the machined carbon steel frame, which is attached to a polymer grip frame. The steel frame features a 1913 Picatinny rail for attaching lights and lasers, while the grip’s frame has molded 25 LPI checkering on the frontstrap and texturing on the sides.
For competition use, Tisas outfits the gun with ambidextrous, extended thumb safeties that engage on and off crisply. The gun also uses an extended magazine release, which is especially important because the grip is thicker than a standard 1911. With an extended magazine release, it is easier for the user to engage it for speed reloads without shifting the grip.
A detachable polymer magazine well funnel is held in place on the gun with the mainspring housing pin and is rock-solid and wobble-free. The funnel nearly doubles the size of the magwell and makes it almost impossible to miss a speed reload, especially with the tapered magazine.
The slide, frame, and grip of the Night Stalker are coated with a Platinum Grey Cerakote. Other parts like the beavertail, slide stop, magazine release, and barrel are Cerakoted black for a pleasing contrast. Frame-to-slide fit is exactly what I have come to expect from Tisas. In fact, all parts were fit to perfection.
Bang Switch and Sights
The trigger tracks back and forth smoothly without any vertical or horizontal play. Additionally, the barrel and bushing were also fit with the same attention to detail. The Night Stalker uses a fully supported barrel with an integral feed ramp. It is 5.5 inches long and extends past the slide’s end. Tisas threads the barrel 1/2 x 28 for possible suppressor use.
Tisas supplies the gun with some excellent iron sights. Both the front and rear sights are suppressor height, so they can be co-witnessed through an optic’s window. The front sight is manufactured by HiViz and features a tritium lamp with a fluorescent orange ring around it. So, it is very easy to pick up on presentation in virtually any light. Tisas cuts the rear sight dovetail to Glock dimensions and uses a stout, one-piece sight that is drift adjustable for windage correction.
An optics plate is incorporated into the Night Stalker’s slide. The gun comes with a cover plate in the event you don’t want to add an optic. For those that do, Tisas machines the slide to accommodate an RMSc or Holosun 507K red-dot optics footprint.
I used a Riton X3 Tactix MPRD (Micro Pistol Red Dot) for my evaluation. It took just a minute to install on the Night Stalker and mounted directly to the gun without the need for an adapter plate.
The X3 features a 3.5-MOA dot with ten different brightness levels. It is powered by a common CR2032 battery, and Riton claims one of these cheap and readily available batteries can provide up to 50,000 hours of life. The red dot weighs just six-tenths of an ounce, uses premium Japanese glass, and also boasts a lifetime warranty.
Test Results
I did all of my accuracy testing with the Riton red dot in place. To sight the gun in, I placed my target at 15 yards. My second group was well-centered and measured just 0.61 inches. But my third group, fired with Doubletap’s 124-grain FMJ Match ammunition, was a one-hole group that measured 0.43 inches center to center. It was then I realized this particular Tisas pistol was really something special.
From there, I moved my target stand back to 25 yards and fired all of my groups from a seated rest. I used a DOA Tactical portable shooting bench and rested the Night Stalker’s dust cover on a Millett BenchMaster for support.
I fired at least three groups with each ammunition, and the very best groups are listed in the accuracy chart (below). It was a windless day and it was easy to center the red dot in the black Shoot-N-C 2-inch diameter while adding the 3.6 pounds of pressure necessary to drop the hammer.
Feeding the Night Stalker
Only two of the ammunitions tried were range ammo. The Doubletap load and the Federal 150-grain TSJ Action Pistol rounds proved accurate and fed and functioned fine through the gun. But even the hotter defense loads were extremely accurate and cycled flawlessly.
USPSA’s provisional Limited Optics division requires rounds to have at least a 125-power factor. Power factor is factored by multiplying the bullet weight (in grains) by the velocity (in feet per second) and dividing by 1000.
Every load fired easily meets this standard. Bullet weights ranged from 115 grains to 150 grains, and all cycled without fail through the Night Stalker. The average for the five loads I tested was under 1 inch. If you’re interested in using the Night Stalker for competition, this is exactly the kind of accuracy you need.
I also fired some of my handloads through the gun in field exercises. Using a Hornady 124-grain XTP bullet and enough WW231 powder to achieve a velocity of 1,050 feet per second this load accrues a power factor of 130 and also cycled without a stutter. It is an extremely light load, and I was able to fire some very fast double-taps at my steel targets.
The Night Stalker’s trigger is a little heavier than I would prefer for competition use. It breaks at 3.6 pounds with a little take-up and just a hint of overtravel. But, if you’re a competitor, chances are you’re going to have someone work on the trigger anyway.
Ready To Rumble?
Overall, I am extremely impressed with the Tisas Night Stalker FS 9 DS. It offers shooters the reliability and accuracy needed for competition use and at a price that leaves them with some extra cash to buy practice ammunition. It possesses all of the match-ready features needed and is ready to run right out of the box.
At the suggested retail price, it makes a world of sense to buy a Night Stalker as a backup gun to your STI/Staccato match gun.
Few names embody the American sporting lifestyle like “Leupold.” From mega sporting goods retailers to small-town American bait and sport shops, the Leupold logo is a mainstay on the gun rack. A perusal of the “deer camp” gun racks across the nation will most likely yield at least one Leupold mounted proudly in the mix.
While known for consistent quality and timeless performance, Leupold has applied their time-tested optics to the next generation of shooters, pursuits and platforms. Not just for bolt guns, Leupold has brought excellence and innovation to their more tactically geared product lineup.
To illustrate, we are going to take a walk through the Leupold Mark 5HD 2-10×30 with its AR-style mount. First impressions of the unit were in keeping with classic Leupold construction. Clean lines, smooth surfaces and crisply defined controls. The unit has a distinctly military look, but somehow manages to retain that classic Leupold feel.
Mark 5HD Fit & Function
When I learned I would be reviewing this particular scope, I immediately knew where I wanted to put it. I had recently built an AR-15 in .204 Ruger, and she needed a scope. Due to the purpose and execution of the build, the focal range was ideal. This was a heavy, accuracy-driven, longer-range rifle built to shoot heavy-for-caliber bullets. The 2-10 range would give me the flexibility to engage targets/critters at a wide variety of distances.
The package arrived and the mounting process went seamlessly. The Leupold Integral Mounting System (IMS) was simple and easy to install on my existing Picatinny rail. The Torquing Sequence diagram was included in the frustration-free package was easy to follow and yielded a quick and solid mounting process. From opening the package to bore-sighting was less than 20 minutes.
The Specifics
Something can look great on the bench, but how is it on the range? My brain works better in MOA, but this scope is in mils. That point aside, the TMR reticle was clean and easy to navigate. This is a first focal plane scope, so as you adjust your magnification, what you see in your reticle changes.
When I’m behind a scope for the first time, I like to take a few minutes and explore the optic both physically and visually. Here are some things I noticed.
The throw lever is slightly oversized and easy to grip. It is removable for those who don’t like that particular style. Some throw levers are counterintuitive and slippery. This one is comfortably ambidextrous and textured for grip. It allows movement to different magnifications easily with one hand but provides enough resistance to prevent unintended adjustments.
The parallax adjustment knob is located on the left side of the scope. It is again a comfortable and smooth, single-handed interface. It is labeled from 75 yards to 800 yards in high-contrast white numbers.
On the top, we have the elevation turret. It is a 1 click = 0.1 MRAD system. The turret is equipped with a zero-stop locking mechanism. One thing I look for when shooting an elevation turret is how crisp and clean the adjustments are. Like driving a manual, you don’t want to be trying to find the right gear at the wrong time… On the same note, when you have that animal standing broadside, you don’t want to be guessing where your detents are in your turret. This optic has clear, crisp adjustments that minimize the chance of dialing errors.
The right side of the scope has a lateral adjustment knob protected by a screw-on cap. It is also clearly labeled with the 1 click = 0.1 mils to make left and right impact adjustments.
What’s Inside Mark 5HD?
I feel like I have explored the outside and the controls. What’s inside? I’m sure you’ve heard the axiom, “If you can’t see it, you can’t shoot it.” Leupold created the 2-10×30 Mark 5HD with their traditional quality, clarity and light transmission capability. With the combination of their AR IMS (Integrated Mounting System), they also leveled up the eye relief game. With the stream-lined mounting system and the lean 30 mm objective, the scope is ideally suited for quick target acquisition in either tactical or hunting scenarios.
Leupold also did something else that showcases their focus on accuracy, excellence and innovation. In lieu of the traditional “mil-dot” appearance, they brought the precision of hash marks for both elevation and windage into an MRAD reticle. Being more of an MOA shooter, this was immensely helpful in transitioning back and forth between the two methods.
Send It!
It’s user-friendly, functional, ergonomic, bright and tack sharp. But what’s it like to shoot? With multiple groups from 100 yards to 500 yards under highly varied lighting and wind conditions, I am very impressed with the performance of the scope. It is crisp and clear, even at the highest magnification. Low-light capability is especially solid. The hash mark-style reticle provided highly defined reference points for windage and elevation holds. For not having a tremendously large objective or tube, the 2-10×30 maximizes available light giving the one behind the gun every advantage to acquire the target.
Leupold has been an American icon for decades. They are now successfully setting the standard in new markets within the shooting and hunting worlds. Their mastery of the classical has now extended to the tactical. I won’t hesitate to go to Leupold for my next tactically-focused optics need. For more information, visit leupold.com.
Being of Lithuanian heritage, I am not a huge fan of anything related to the Soviet Union. Stalin and Khrushchev are responsible for nearly destroying my family tree. I have relatives that I will never know who are probably buried in some mass grave or, quite possibly, they are entombed in some building’s foundation in Siberia. For that reason, I have never really taken a liking to the AK-47. But being a gun nut, I wanted one in my collection, plus it was just a tool. There’s nothing scary or spooky about the AK-47. In fact, the AK is the most popular and widely used rifle in the world because of its reliability, low production cost, and ease of use. So, I needed one, at least to have one for reference.
Darkside Council for The Pestilence
It has been years since I worked on the AK-47 & Soviet Weapons magazine, so my AK insider knowledge is a bit rusty. What was shocking to me was the prices of AK-47s. Gone are the days of finding one for $300. Most AKs are priced at a grand and go up from there. I needed help. I reached out to six people telling them I was looking for my first AK, and all of them basically said, “Welcome to the dark side brother.”
The council advised me that the Century VSKA was a good rifle, and the problems from the past don’t seem to plague these rifles from Century. They also suggested some rifles from Arsenal, which are a bit more expensive but definitely seemed like a step above the rest of the AK market. But four of the six advised that I needed to get a rifle from Meridian Defense. In fact, two of the council members told me they are selling off their other AKs and are just collecting Meridian Defense’s rifles. That’s an endorsement if I ever heard one.
Enter The Apocalypse
With that knowledge in hand, I reached out to Anthony “Tony” Arria, owner of Meridian Defense. We had a good conversation and found out how it all started. Tony, who unfortunately lives in California, wanted to buy an AK for himself but the company he wanted to buy from wouldn’t sell to him because of where he lived. So, he did the most American thing he could. He built himself one…and then started a business building them. Free-market capitalism works, and I hope Stalin is spinning in his grave.
Tony suggested I go for the 7.62x39mm Pestilence rifle that is part of their Apocalypse Series. The Apocalypse Series is a limited run of four rifles based on the four horsemen of the apocalypse. These rifles “have an end of the world apocalypse feel and looks, but without sacrificing Meridian’s build quality and precision parts…”
The Death is available now, while the other three are sold out. “Death” is based on an AK-74 with Bulgarian military parts kit, “Famine” is an AK-47 pistol with Romanian military parts kit, and “War” is built with original Yugo M72 RPK military parts kit.
While talking with Tony about the Pestilence rifle, he asked what number I would like painted on the side of the stock. I told him “76” for my birth year. Tony responded that if he had the parts, he would use original Romanian military parts from that year. If not, they would paint another number that corresponds with the original parts kit’s year. All and all, everything went along smoothly, except for the worst part—waiting. By the way, due to current demands and backorders, there is an estimated wait time of 50 weeks for a Pestilence rifle.
Pestilence Arrival
I have shot more than my fair share of AKs in my lifetime, and I was not expecting how much I would actually love it. Yes, I know, that’s a strong four-letter word, but it’s the truth. Before we get into the particulars, I need to say something. First, handling the rifle and pulling back on the bolt…oh man, it was butter! So smooth. And do yourself a favor and get the upgraded ALG trigger, which Meridian tunes and polishes. I never knew AKs could even have this fantastic of a trigger pull.
Meridian refinishes the entire rifle and then they hand work a Battleworn finish. There are no sharp edges anywhere on this rifle. The wood is stripped and refinished in their “Apocalypse” style stain. Overall, the Pestilence does have that “end of the world” look and feel to it, and the finish looks good on it.
Pestilence Receiver Details
The receiver is built by Meridian and does include a receiver-mounted optics rail. This is paired with an Ultimak M1913 Picatinny gas tube upfront. They use Romanian military parts kits in their builds but use American-made 4150 CMV black nitride barrels. The barrel is 14.5 inches long with a pinned muzzle brake to achieve an overall length of 16 inches. You have eight choices of muzzle brakes, or you can even request one if it’s not listed. I asked Tony to recommend a muzzle for me and he went with Meridian’s BD2-51T. You also have an option to request a KNS adjustable gas system. This Pestilence will rarely be suppressed, so I didn’t see a need for one.
For the grip, they used the Tango Down AK grip, and the rifle comes with one Battleworn-finished AK magazine. Meridian also laser engraved on the rear sight block “Special Project Division,” along with their octopus logo. The fit, finish, and attention to detail on this AK are just insane.
Raining Lead
Due to time constraints, I didn’t have a chance to shoot the Pestilence for accuracy. But from what I can tell from doing a little shooting with it, it will shoot sub-MOA. AKs are never really known for their accuracy, but Meridian is changing that. The ALG trigger definitely helps in that department, and it will be a must-have for all future AKs for me.
I don’t know what sort of Capitalist magic Meridian does to their AKs, but the Pestilence shoots flat. Recoil felt no worse than a 5.56mm AR. Magazine changes took a little practice; I kept knocking the magazine into the wooden foregrip. I know I am not the only one since there is an indent in the wood from countless times it has been dinged by a magazine.
I fed the Pestilence a diet of Century’s Red Army 122-grain FMJ and HSM 123-grain Hornady SST. It ate everything with aplomb and cycled flawlessly every time. It was really a joy to shoot it. In fact, I haven’t had this much fun on the range in a long time.
Parting Shots
All this goodness that the Pestilence brings comes at a starting price of $2,149, and it is worth every penny. I would like to thank the Darkside Council for recommending Meridian and starting my love affair with the Kalashnikov. It looks awesome, shoots awesome, and just feels awesome.
So, what’s next for Tony and the Meridian bunch? Well, they just started a new, unique series titled “Seven Sins.” “Lust” is already sold out but there will be six more limited edition runs of different rifles, and trust me, you’ll want to keep your eyes open for those. Check out what the dark side can offer at MeridianDefenseCorp.com.
Have you ever heard of supercars? You know, those uber-expensive cars with names like McLaren, Pagani, and Ferrari? They are expensive, made in limited numbers, and often difficult to obtain. But boy, oh boy, are they fast. Their performance is unmatched, and man, they must be fun to drive. What’s the equivalent of supercars in the gun world? I got to thinking, which led to Googling, which led to drooling. What are the superguns on the market? The list isn’t long, but it’s too long for one article, so I kept today’s list of superguns limited to handguns.
The World of Superguns
A supergun can be a lot of things. First, it must be an extremely well-made and high-performance machine. These aren’t just good-looking guns but performance-oriented handguns. They can be high-tech and capable of doing things no other gun can manage. Superguns can be top-of-the-line race guns that are oriented toward dominating the competition. They are likely custom-made with limited production and a very high price point. These are not just guns; they are technological marvels.
The Laugo Arms Alien
The Laugo Arms Alien checks the high-tech and expensive boxes. This innovative pistol uses what has to be the world’s lowest bore axis for a semi-auto design. The intention is to counteract recoil and provide a flat shooting firearm capable of the quickest splits known to man. The Laugo Alien did more than lower the bore axis.
Laugo Arms
The gun is optics-ready, but the optic remains stationary as the slide cycles. A stationary optic is an optic that’s easier to track and faster to get back on target. The barrel remains stationary and this leads to enhanced accuracy. The reciprocating mass is super low, meaning even less recoil.
The Alien Laugo is a high-performance firearm designed to give shooters a competitive edge. The Alien certainly falls into the supergun realm. It’s innovative, high-tech, expensive, and made in fairly limited numbers. With this in your hands, you’re not just a shooter; you’re a force to be reckoned with.
Atlas Gunworks Athena v2
The world of 2011s and double-stacked 1911s isn’t small and is only growing. Plenty of well-known companies produce some fantastic firearms, and even among gun people, the name Atlas Gunworks isn’t all that well known. If you know Atlas Gunworks, you know superguns. I could probably put any of their guns here, but the Athena v2 is my favorite.
Atlas Gunworks
This particular model is appropriate for duty, self-defense, or competition, so it gets the top spot. Everything about the Athena v2 delivers an extreme degree of performance. Every inch of the gun delivers the kind of American craftsmanship we should champion. Everything is smooth and constructed to deliver an extreme degree of reliability, accuracy, and control.
The Athena v2 adds an optics-ready option to the Athena lineup. The gun has a 4.6-inch barrel, numerous magazines, and just about every custom feature you could want from a supergun.
CZ AO1-LD OR
I can’t give them credit for a good name because it reads like a Windows Error code. The CZ AO1-LD OR comes from both CZ and CZ Custom. CZ Custom takes the CZ 75 design, builds it from scratch, and integrates an extreme degree of customization. The AO1-LD OR is designed for competition purposes, and that’s where it makes its money.
CZ Custom
CZ Custom integrates a custom frame with a massively heavy dust cover. This integrated weight keeps recoil and muzzle low and drags it down to make it one of the softest shooting 9mm guns ever made. The unloaded gun weighs 47 ounces in total.
From there, we get a custom trigger that’s as smooth as butter, an optics-ready slide, oversized controls, and a grip designed to let your hand go all the way up. The AO1-LD OR is second to none for competition use and is a certified supergun.
FK BRNO
This is the third Czech gun on the list, and that says something about the world of Czech firearms. They are ahead of the game. The FK BRNO labels itself a field pistol. The gun fires a new proprietary cartridge known as the 7.5 FK. The cartridge and the gun aimed to have an extremely powerful and accurate pistol that could easily make shots at 100 yards. Later variants allowed you to convert the BRNO to a 10mm round for a more common ammo source.
FK BRNO
This beefy-sized pistol was designed as a niche military pistol. The Czech versions even come with stocks and forward pistol grips for greater accuracy and control at longer ranges. Even when firing the beefy 7.5 FK and the 10mm, a unique recoil attenuation system makes it feel like a snappy .40 S&W.
They must have known the gun would be pricey and went ahead and took it to the next level. The FK BRNO features a brilliant trigger and innovative long-range iron sights. It isn’t cheap but does something most other guns only dream of.
Korth NXS
Let’s end this with a revolver and what’s likely the most well-known name in superguns—Korth. Korth is a German company that’s become legendary for its custom-made, highly tuned, and often beautiful firearms. The Korth NXS combines precision engineering with innovative features and has a striking appearance.
This 8-shot .357 Magnum revolver comes in four- and six-inch barreled varieties. It features a rail for optics, adjustable sights, and a precision-tuned action that makes it tough to ever go back to an S&W. I’m talking a brilliantly smooth trigger that just puts everything else to shame.
The Korth NXS even allows you to swap to a 9mm cylinder if that’s more your style. To facilitate quicker reloads, both cylinders are cut for moon clips. Does this revolver compete? Defend? Hunt? Yes, but it also looks good doing it.
Who Needs a Supergun
Most people don’t need a supergun. It’s not about needs, though. We live in a country that allows you to buy a supergun if you want one. If you want one, then get one and enjoy the hell out of it. Unlike supercars, superguns tend to keep their value, if not grow in value, due to their limited numbers. If you don’t want one, that’s cool, but you owe it to yourself to at least try one.
I had almost entirely forgotten about the .40 S&W cartridge until S&W announced the M&P40 M2.0 Metal model. The little .40 S&W has seen a significant downfall in popularity over the last few years. You can blame it on the FBI and a ton of other Federal Police forces swapping to 9mm, the military staying with 9mm, or just shooters, in general, choosing 9mm. The 9mm renaissance is supposedly due to the improvement of 9mm cartridges, specifically hollow points and expansion.
In reality, we know more about how handguns stop bad guys. Hollow point expansion is nice, but it isn’t the be-all and end-all. What matters is proper penetration and depth. On that front, 9mm defensive cartridges have also improved steadily. Modern JHPs expand and, more importantly, penetrate deeply. On top of that, 9mm has less recoil than .40 S&W and offers you a higher capacity.
The .40 S&W faded away, and 9mm has steadily taken over. Companies like Glock only brought their .40 S&W series to the 5th generation due to contracts in South America. Most companies aren’t producing a .40 S&W variant of their latest handgun. It’s all about 9mm…and .45 ACP. The .45 ACP has stuck around even in the face of 9mm supremacy. The question is, why has the .40 S&W faded away, but the .45 ACP remained viable?
.40 S&W versus .45 ACP
The M&P 40 2.0 Metal model was surprising in the firearms industry because new .40 S&W pistols are rare these days. Adopting a 9mm to a .40 S&W isn’t all that hard and would be simple for most companies, but it’s doubtful many will take the lead. Yet, the .45 ACP is still seeing new production guns.
Yes, most new 45 ACP pistols are 1911s, but not all. FN produced the 545, which is an overgrown 509 in .45 ACP. Soeger expanded the STR series with the STR-45. Ruger unleashed a .45 ACP carbine. The point is that .45 ACP guns are still being produced, and the folks buying guns still like them. Admittedly, it’s not seeing the same success with the police world, but there’s enough demand to keep the old war horse afloat.
The Ruger LW 1911 is a good looking pistol.
The .40 S&W has been ridiculed since its inception. It was hailed as the .40 Short and Weak because S&W took the FBI loadings of the 10mm and shortened the case. Early teething issues included companies that converted their 9mm guns to .40 S&W and then ran into catastrophic failures due to the higher-pressure .40 S&W cartridge. Smaller .40 S&Ws were known to be snappy and difficult to shoot well.
There wasn’t a lot of love for the cartridge from the beginning, and outside of a few rappers, I’ve never met a die-hard fan of the .40 S&W.
Why the .45 ACP Keeps Kicking
The .45 ACP has been embroiled in cartridge wars since its very beginning. It faced competition from the .38 Special and .357 Magnum from wheel guns. The 9mm challenged it and largely won across Europe. Yet, the .45 ACP continues to truck along and keep kicking. This brings us back to our core question: Why does the .45 ACP remain popular while the .40 S&W fails?
There are two reasons why. The first is practical, and the second is cultural. Let’s focus on the practical first. The practical applications have nothing to do with the renowned stopping power myth often associated with the .45 ACP.
The Practical Reasons
The .45 ACP is one of those cartridges that’s somehow inherently very accurate. Winchester’s old LE Catalog documented the accuracy potential of their duty ammo, and the .45 ACP often came on top. (At least at closer range, 9mm took the top spot at 50 yards)
There are small variances, but they are worth noting. The .45 ACP’s lower pressure seems to be the most agreed-upon reason. Lower operating pressure means the case is thin and softer, which allows for a better gas seal than the high-pressure .40 S&W.
Good to Go Ammo
The .45 ACP has over a century’s worth of reloading data and many fans, which has made it available with all manner of projectile types and loads. It’s very versatile in that regard.
The .45 ACP and its 230-grain FMJs are naturally subsonic and make for excellent suppressor food. The vast majority of .45 ACP guns are made to shoot these subsonic rounds, so there are no reliability issues.
Most .45 ACP pistols are very modern and high-end guns, which is a real benefit. The varied 1911s, HK 45s, and similar products are great guns, which leads to a desire for .45 ACP and .45 ACP guns.
The Not-So-Practical Reasons
There is a little something called cultural cache, and the .45 ACP has it, while the .40 S&W does not. I’d argue that in the United States, the .45 ACP has more cultural cache than the 9mm. This isn’t practical, but it’s a love of something.
(Wikimedia)
The .45 ACP armed the men who stormed Normandy in Thompsons and M1911s—and later, grease Guns. Decades of soldiers carried the cartridge in the beloved M1911. It has an attached mythos. It’s part of the American gun culture that was started by men like Jeff Cooper, and it will likely remain a part of gun culture.
People like the .45 ACP because it’s .45 ACP. I’m not sure there are .40 S&W fans who just like the cartridge, its mythos, and its history. For that reason, I doubt we’ll see an end to the .45 ACP anytime soon, but the .40 S&W is slowly fading into obscurity.
