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The BR18 – Singapore’s New Assault Rifle

By
Travis Pike
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Modern military firearms are becoming somewhat homogenous. We primarily see variations of the AR, AK, or some form of AR-18-inspired weapon. Rarely do we encounter something genuinely new and domestically produced that stands out. When we do, it’s worth noting. Singapore, for instance, is replacing its domestically produced SAR 21 with the equally homegrown BR18.

The BR18 Assault Rifle

ST Kinetics, a Singaporean company, has been manufacturing firearms for the Singaporean military for decades. The SAR 21 is reportedly a fine rifle, designed to be affordable and easy to produce, yet by all accounts, it proved to be a reliable and accurate enough military rifle. The BR18 aims to replace it with a more modernized bullpup design.

The BR18 and the SAR 21: A Comparison

The SAR 21 uses a long-stroke gas piston system with a two-lug Stoner-style bolt. The BR18 retains this long-stroke gas piston system. While long-stroke gas piston systems aren’t as popular with modern rifle designs these days, they offer several benefits, including enhanced reliability and simplicity.

For a small Asian nation, reliability and affordability are key considerations. The long-stroke gas piston system features an adjustable gas block, making it easy to use with various ammunition types or to function effectively with a suppressor.

Modernized Layout and Features

The BR18 system boasts a more modernized layout. It ditches the integrated optic used with the SAR 21, instead offering a long optics rail across the top. The handguard also features rails for accessories, making it quite contemporary in that regard.

The rifle has a variety of barrel length options, from 14.5 to 18 and even 20 inches. I would personally prefer the longer barrel, as that little extra length translates to a slight increase in velocity for the 5.56 round the gun fires. If you’re opting for a bullpup, you might as well maximize the barrel length for added velocity. The rifle’s overall length is only 30.9 inches with the 18-inch barrel, and it weighs a total of 8.81 pounds.

The selective fire system has a rate of fire between 650 and 850 rounds per minute. The receiver design incorporates two separate controls for the safety and fire selector. A distinct safety allows you to toggle between safe and various selective fire options. The rifle also features a suite of ambidextrous controls, and spent casings eject forward, making it acceptable for left-handed shooters.

Inside the New Rifle: Design and Functionality

The BR18 has a top cover that opens, providing direct access to the chamber. This allows the user to resolve complicated malfunctions with greater ease. When field stripped, the bolt carrier, piston, and bolt are all removed as one integrated part, which is a rather neat idea. Like the AR, the rifle field-strips by removing a single pin that separates the receivers.

The Firearm Blog

The rifle appears to be fairly simple in its construction. A significant reason why the SAR 21 has endured for so long is its simplicity. It works, and ST Kinetics seems to be following a similar philosophy with the BR18. The rifle will utilize standard STANAG magazines, and they’ve designed their own polymer, quasi-translucent magazines.

The BR18: More Than a Rifle

The BR18 began as a rifle system designed to equip the average grunt but has evolved into a family of firearms. There is a marksman’s version with a 20-inch barrel and a total weight of 7.04 pounds.

There’s also an automatic rifle version of the firearm, which ST Kinetics refers to as the “Machine Gun Rifle.” It features an 18-inch barrel but weighs 8.8 pounds. The extra weight comes from a heavy-contour barrel, which provides an extended lifespan for sustained fire use.

It’s currently unclear if these BR18 variants will ever be widely adopted. The Singaporean Armed Forces use the Ultimax and reportedly recently adopted the Colt IAR6940 to replace the Ultimax light machine gun.

The BR18 rollout has been slow for the city-state of Singapore. I imagine they are still content with the SAR-21, and the BR18 might not be their highest priority. It appears to be a very slick rifle, and I genuinely want one. ST Kinetics, please introduce a 922R-compliant model! Americans would buy them!

Crisis Priorities – The Three Cs in Emergencies

By
Jim Cobb
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Three Cs - prioritize efforts in an emergency

When a disaster or crisis occurs, it can be difficult to know what to do first. Often, our tendency is to freeze up, at least for a moment or two, as our minds process what’s just happened. The Three Cs is sort of a mnemonic device to help you focus and get moving. It’s simply a way to prioritize your efforts when you’re faced with an emergency situation.

What Are the Three Cs?

Check

Check for injuries and hazards. Inspect yourself from top to bottom and look for injuries. When adrenaline is stampeding through your body, it isn’t uncommon to be hurt and not realize it. Run your hands up and down each limb and your torso to check for pain, blood, or other anomalies.

Once you’ve catalogued any injuries and determined if you’re still mobile, check the surrounding area. Look for any hazards that could be a risk to you or others. For example, are there any downed power lines you need to navigate around? Do you smell gas? Is the area flooding?

This should be an ongoing process, not a one-and-done sort of thing. Keep your eyes, ears, and nose open for any new threats that may crop up.

Call

The second of the Three Cs is to call for help. Never assume that someone else has called or will call 9-1-1. Better that they receive multiple calls than none at all. Further to the point, if this is a mass casualty event, you’ll want to get on the list for responding agencies.

Three Cs - call for help
Don’t assume others have called 9-1-1. Make the call yourself or direct a specific person to do so.

Tell the dispatcher where you are and what your situation is. Be as specific as you can when relaying information. “I need help. There is a small group of us trapped in the library’s basement. Water is streaming into the room, and we can’t get the door open. Two of the people here are unconscious.”

Answer the dispatcher’s questions to the best of your ability. The more information you’re able to provide, the better they’ll be able to help you. That said, the responding teams may not be able to get to you right away. There are several reasons why, including the severity of other injuries as well as the nature of the disaster itself. Do what you can to remain calm and help others do the same until help arrives.

Care

Three Cs - render first aid to others.
It’s a good idea to keep a first aid kit as well as a fire extinguisher in your vehicle.

The last of the Three Cs is to care for the injured. As best as you can, render aid to anyone injured. This is one reason why it is so important to seek out first aid training. It helps you be an asset rather than a liability in an emergency. Contact local hospitals to see if they offer first aid classes. Some fire departments offer occasional training sessions as well. Be sure to get training in CPR and the use of AED gear as well.

Three Cs - care for others until help arrives.
Responding agencies will be doing their own prioritizing, so they may not get to you right away.

As you go out to help, it’s important to protect yourself first. Put on gloves if they’re available. You do keep personal protective equipment (PPE) in your vehicle or in an EDC bag, right? As we noted earlier, continually check for danger as the situation develops.

Depending on the nature of the crisis and the number of people injured, you may have to triage them and prioritize who gets help first. First aid training will help you make those decisions, as you’ll have a better idea of what to do for various types of injuries.

Commit the Three Cs to memory and use them to help you focus when an emergency occurs. It’s applicable for everything from a mass shooting to a car accident.

Pro-Gun Groups Frustrated With Supreme Court’s AWB Snub

By
Mark Chesnut
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Commonly Owned AR-15
Photo Credit: CRPA.org

The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision not to consider a case challenging Maryland’s ban on so-called “assault weapons” is drawing fire from a number of gun-rights groups that believe SCOTUS should settle the contentious issue once and for all.

Assault Weapons Ban Case Rejected by SCOTUS

On June 2, the high court voted to reject the opportunity to hear the case Snope v. Brown, along with another important case, Ocean State Tactical v. Rhode Island, which challenges that state’s ban on so-called “high-capacity” ammunition magazines. The court needed four “yea” votes to take up the cases, but didn’t manage to garner the needed votes, despite having what many consider to be a “pro-gun” majority.

Pro-Gun Groups Respond

After the court denied the case, pro-rights groups, including the Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC), denounced the court’s decision

“We are disappointed that some members of the Supreme Court did not have the judicial courage to do their most important job and enforce the Constitution,” FPC said in a news release following the court decision. “Like millions of peaceable gun owners across the country, we are frustrated that the Court continues to allow lower courts to treat the Second Amendment as a second-class right. But more than anything else, we are more resolved than ever to fight forward and eliminate these immoral bans throughout the nation, whatever and however long it takes.” 

Gun Owners of America (GOA) also had some choice words for the court after it denied hearing the AWB case.

“It is reckless and dangerous for the Court to allow tyrannical AR-15 bans to stand for even another year or two,” GOA said in a news release. “Millions of law-abiding Americans are being stripped of their rights while courts below defy Bruen and invent new tests to uphold unconstitutional laws.” 

The organization added that it has another lawsuit working its way through the courts that should soon end up before the high court.

“Fortunately, GOA and GOF are not waiting idly,” the organization said. “Our legal team is now litigating FFLs of Illinois v. Pritzker, where we secured a permanent injunction against Illinois’ sweeping rifle and magazine bans. That case is currently on appeal in the Seventh Circuit and stands as one of the best-positioned challenges to be taken up by the Supreme Court.”

Justice Thomas Weighs In

One reliable pro-freedom justice, Clarence Thomas, wrote a dissent to the decision in which he expressed frustration that the court didn’t take up the gun ban case.

“I would not wait to decide whether the government can ban the most popular rifle in America,” Thomas wrote in the dissent. “That question is of critical importance to tens of millions of law-abiding AR–15 owners throughout the country.”

Thomas added that in his opinion, the Maryland ban doesn’t meet the criteria for determining Second Amendment cases as set forth in the 2022 Bruen ruling.

“It is difficult to see how Maryland’s categorical prohibition on AR–15s passes muster under this framework,” he wrote. “To start, AR–15s are clearly ‘Arms’ under the Second Amendment’s plain text.”

The vz. 70 – The Eastern European Walther

By
Travis Pike
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I bet Walther had no idea that the creation of their PP series would spawn generations of Walther-like clones across Eastern Europe. Walther introduced the compact and capable PP series, following it up with the PPK and PPK/S. Eastern Europe then essentially said, “Yep, that works,” and proceeded to produce dump trucks full of clones—guns like the vz. 70, the Makarov, the FEG PA-63, and many more.

The vz. 70

The basic design even made its way beyond Eastern Europe, which is why Astra, STAR, and Bersa have also produced numerous clones. Lord knows how many other Walther-like guns have been manufactured over the years. Today, we’re going to talk about the vz. 70, sometimes also called the CZ 70, a compact pistol produced in Czechoslovakia when it was still a unified country.

What Does “Walther-Like” Mean?

The Walther PP series isn’t particularly fancy. They are simple DA/SA (Double-Action/Single-Action) pistols that utilize a straight blowback principle and feed from a single-stack magazine. One of the main “Walther-like” design inclusions is the use of the barrel as a recoil guide rod. Guns that follow this style of design are considered Walther-like.

The vz. 70 is very Walther-like and adopts all of those cues. It mirrors the Walther PP in size, featuring a 3.8-inch barrel, similar to the Walther PP’s 3.9-inch barrel. The gun fires the .32 ACP cartridge and feeds from an eight-round magazine. However, it does differ a bit from the original Walther design.

Mainly, the safety. The safety is frame-mounted rather than slide-mounted. It has three positions: safe, fire, and decock, allowing the vz. 70 to be carried “locked and cocked” if desired. The grip is also surprisingly wide from the front strap to the rear strap, especially with its wide, Bakelite grips. It could be much, much smaller and more comfortable.

It’s very “2×4-like” and just an odd choice. Perhaps those Eastern European folks simply had large hands?

From the vz. 50 to the vz. 70

The vz. 70 evolved from the vz. 50. The vz. 50 originated in the 1940s and established the original standard and most of the design cues for the vz. 70. The vz. 50 series was used by police and military forces in Czechoslovakia and also sold commercially. The vz. 50 was upgraded to the vz. 70 in 1970, incorporating a number of improvements, including:

  • New grip shape with a larger tang
  • Smaller magazine release
  • New texture on the take-down lever
  • Wider slide serrations
  • Slide machined with waves to reduce glare
  • Trigger guard “melted” to remove sharp angles
  • New grip pattern
  • Larger hammer with a hole
  • Pinky rest on the magazine

The changes between the two guns are fairly minor, amounting more to a quality-of-life upgrade than a major facelift for the vz. 50.

Handling the vz. 70

The vz. 70 is full of surprises. If you cock the hammer, the slide is very easy to rack—easier than on guns like the Walther PP and Makarov. The safety is easy to manipulate, but decocking the gun requires a firm press to drop the hammer. This is a hefty gun, weighing 26 ounces. That Soviet steel is no joke.

The heavy weight and the use of .32 ACP mean the recoil is timid, even with the blowback action. It’s downright “chipper.” It’s not snappy and is very easy to control. The gun shoots quickly and softly, making it quite capable. You can blast through all eight rounds without the gun ever rising significantly off target.

While the sights are quite small, they aren’t impossible to use. If you take the time to get them nicely aligned, you’ll hit your target. A fixed barrel certainly has its benefits for accuracy. The gun is much easier to shoot in single-action than double-action. I’m not sure if the Soviet mindset considered a heavy trigger a safety device.

The double-action trigger is absolutely horrendous. It has to be one of the worst double-action triggers I’ve encountered. It’s not just heavy, but also gritty and long. If it were DAO (Double Action Only), your hand would get tired before the magazine was empty. Luckily, the single-action is much better. It’s surprisingly nice; I expected an okay trigger, but I’d put it in the “just plain good” category.

Banging Around

The straight blowback design isn’t fancy and has its downsides, but it is reliable. The vz. 70 shoots without a problem and chews through both standard FMJs and exposed lead rounds. It reliably cycles hollow points and hot European loads without a hitch. The little gun certainly “barks” when you pull the trigger.

The old vz. 70 is a cool little gun, and it used to be an extremely affordable option. Sadly, it seems like the price has risen sharply, with examples now selling for around $400 to $500. That makes them a little unrealistic for anyone other than dedicated .32 ACP fans like me. If you find one at a solid price, it’s a great entry into the world of .32 ACP.

May John Browning’s light shine upon you!

Sanitizing Your Vehicle – Don’t Give Away Personal Information

By
Jim Cobb
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Photo credit: Amazon.

What does your vehicle say about you? I don’t mean the type of vehicle it is, not really. Rather, what information can people glean by looking at, or in, your car or truck? Some vehicles are akin to electronic billboards, telling anyone and everyone all manner of personal information about the owner and their family.

Family Composition Information

Those little stick figures you see on the back of minivans tell people who lives in the home, sometimes including their names. A baby sticker means you’ll probably be distracted entering or exiting the vehicle. The same thing goes with Baby on Board sorts of signs.

Stickers like these can be fun, but also very revealing. Photo credit: Amazon.

Pet stickers let onlookers know about dogs, and again, often include names. If the breed mentioned is small, such as a terrier, people may interpret that to mean the dog isn’t much of an actual threat beyond their noise.

Family Activity Information

Bumper stickers indicating how well your child does in school could make them a target for kidnapping, as the criminal will know exactly where to find them. Coupled with the above-mentioned stickers, they’ll know the child’s name as well as yours.

As proud as you may be of your football or volleyball player, advertising their team means a burglar need only know when games are being played to be reasonably sure the house will be empty.

Stickers indicating military service could mean that at least one of the adults in the home is gone for long periods of time, making the home a more enticing target. Same for stickers advertising a job in an oil field or similar occupation.

Hunting, fishing, and similar pursuits advertised on the back of your truck mean you likely have expensive gear sitting at home. Clever signs about shooting trespassers or thieves just mean there are probably firearms that can be stolen.

A decal like this means your home is probably short at least one adult during hunting season. Photo credit: Amazon.

Likewise, political signs could make your vehicle a target for vandalism.

License Plate Information

Many people like to use personalized license plates, often to have a little fun. But one drawback is that they are easy to remember. If you cause someone to get upset with you, intentional or otherwise, they might remember your plate and recognize it later. This is pretty much the opposite of being the gray man.

Vehicle Interior Information

It isn’t just the outside of the car or truck we need to worry about. Pay attention to what you leave sitting out on the seats. For example, if you have mail or packages in plain sight, someone could glean your home address with zero trouble. If I pick up mail at the post office, I always turn it over on the seat so the labels are facing down.

Put all packages and mail on the seat so the address labels aren’t visible.

Parking permits hanging from the rearview mirror may indicate where you live, work, or go to school. Stickers in the front window will do the same, but those are a necessary evil, so to speak. Hang tags should be stored in the glove box when not needed.

Take a moment to walk around your vehicle and look at it with an objective eye. What information are you giving away?

The Best .32 ACPs On The Market

By
Travis Pike
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I have a genuine fondness for the .32 ACP cartridge. When we delve into the realm of “mouse gun” calibers, our options are typically limited to various .22 rimfires, the .25 ACP, the .380 ACP, and the .32 ACP. To me, the .32 ACP is the Goldilocks of these cartridges. It offers sufficient penetration to reach vital areas, even from short barrels. Crucially, it also lacks the harsh recoil often associated with .380 ACP when fired from micro-sized pistols. The little .32 ACP is truly the bee’s knees in my opinion, so let’s explore my favorite .32 ACPs.

The Best .32 ACPs on the Market

Most of the .32 ACP firearms on this list are still in production and sold on the modern market. Some are not, but they are fairly common and easy to find if you’re willing to shop around. Sadly, .32 ACPs aren’t super popular today, but they seem to be gaining some traction. I personally own dozens of them. Some are obscure, some are old, but a few are exceptionally well-suited for concealed carry.

Beretta 30X

Beretta is one of the few major companies still producing .32 ACPs—in fact, they have two on this list. The Beretta 30X is the successor to the 3032, and it has successfully addressed most of the 3032’s issues. The 30X is 100% more durable than the 3032, so you don’t need to worry about cracked frames when firing higher-performance ammunition.

The 30X comes in various configurations, including models with threaded barrels. Attaching a suppressor to one of these is an absolute blast. The 30X performs like a charm, and its new, improved trigger is fantastic. It’s still pocket-sized, but Beretta did add some bulk to the gun that I find unwanted, and I hope they produce a thinner version in the future.

Seecamp LWS-32

The Seecamp LWS-32 was one of the first .32 ACPs to enter the modern micro, pocket-sized genre. The Seecamp LWS-32 is among the smallest handguns in terms of length and height. It’s a pure “belly gun” that notably lacks sights or any external controls. It’s incredibly smooth and easy to conceal. It holds a total of six rounds.

The LWS-32 utilizes a unique chamber-ring delayed blowback system that helps keep recoil controllable in such a small firearm. It’s a hammer-fired, double-action-only design, but the trigger is tough to beat for its category. The little Seecamp series is one of the longest-produced .32 ACPs on the market.

Walther PPK

The Walther PP series originally debuted in .32 ACP, but it gained immense popularity in the United States in its .380 ACP chambering. However, the .380 ACP often delivers intense and uncomfortable recoil in the straight blowback PPK series. Walther finally saw the light and brought back the PPK in its original, “one true caliber.” The modern production .32 ACP PPKs are an absolute delight.

With these, we get the smooth, stylish Walther that is compact and flat for concealed carry. It’s large enough to comfortably fit your hand, and it’s remarkably easy to shoot when chambered in .32 ACP. The PPK series in .32 ACP shoots straight, and you can fire it rapidly with minimal effort.

CZ 83

The CZ 83 is the first of our discontinued .32 ACPs and one of my personal favorites. I absolutely need to snag the next one I see. The CZ 83 is a subcompact semi-automatic pistol with a DA/SA (Double Action/Single Action) design that feeds from a fifteen-round magazine. It possesses that classic CZ quality of being gloriously underrated. The double-action trigger is admittedly poor, but the single-action is acceptable.

It’s the size profile and capacity that truly make the CZ 83 stand out. It’s a straight blowback design, but the recoil is minimal, and the gun is a “typewriter” when it comes to shooting—it barely moves, allowing a persistent shooter to place a lot of .32 ACP rounds precisely where they want them. Plus, among older .32 ACPs, this one actually has acceptable sights.

Beretta 80X Cheetah

The Cheetah series are some of my all-time favorite guns. As I type this, a Beretta 81 is poking my side. The Cheetah series embodies classic Beretta design with its exposed barrel, DA/SA mechanism, and a mix of double and single-stack magazine options. The 80X Cheetah initially hit the market as a .380 ACP, but Beretta has revived the .32 ACP option this year.

Of all the various .32 ACPs, the 80X Cheetah is the most modern. It features everything you could ever want from a contemporary firearm. It has a rail, it’s optics-ready, and it holds 12 rounds of .32 ACP. The 80X series are remarkably easy to shoot, providing a Glock 19-sized firearm in sub-calibers with hardly any recoil.

KelTec P32

The unassuming KelTec P32 is a gun I find myself returning to often. If you need a firearm that absolutely disappears into your pocket, this is it. At a mere 6.9 ounces, the P32 weighs nothing and is incredibly thin. It vanishes in your pocket and is perfectly suited for non-permissive carry environments. The Gen 2 model even has tiny sights, but at least they’re there.

Those sights make it surprisingly easy to shoot and accurate. The gun uses a Browning short recoil system, so even at 6.9 ounces, the P32 handles more like a rimfire. It has hardly any recoil, making it effortless to shoot. It barely bucks and is my all-time favorite pocket automatic, easily one of the best modern .32 ACPs available.

Southern Tactical VZ 61

Last but not least, let’s talk about the wonderfully impractical: the Southern Tactical VZ 61. Southern Tactical faithfully recreates the famed Skorpion, also known as the “Klob,” in a pistol format. The VZ 61 is easily converted into an SBR if you choose, or you can equip it with a brace. Plenty of aftermarket options exist online to make that happen. This massive handgun was always quite petite for a submachine gun.

The gun is a straight blowback design, but its weight and overall construction make it incredibly easy to handle. The sights are small, but adapters are available to mount a red dot if you wish. The Southern Tactical VZ 61 is a faithful recreation of the classic firearm and is an absolute ton of fun to shoot, even if it’s not the most “tactical” option. Of all the .32 ACPs on my list, this one might just be my favorite.

The .32 ACPs

There are many .32 ACPs available on the used market, but sadly, the new market offerings continue to dwindle. However, with Beretta introducing two new .32 ACPs and Walther bringing one back, perhaps the cartridge still has a little life left in it. I genuinely love the .32 ACP and hope to continue spreading the gospel of the “One True Caliber.”

Texas Measure Would Ban Worthless Gun ‘Buybacks’

By
Mark Chesnut
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A bill passed by Texas lawmakers and sent to Gov. Greg Abbott for his consideration would ban so-called gun “buybacks”—those political stunts that have been proven not to work but are still touted by cynical local politicians as “doing something.”

Texas Gun Buyback Ban Measure

House Bill 3053 would bar local governments from organizing, sponsoring, or participating in events to purchase firearms from civilians, with the intent of reducing the number of guns in circulation.

Rep. Wes Virdell, sponsor of the measure, told those in attendance at a House Committee on Homeland Security, Public Safety and Veterans Affairs meeting that the ineffectiveness of such programs has already been proven.

“While these programs are often promoted as a tool to reduce firearm violence by offering cash, gift cards or other incentives in exchange for firearms, the evidence tells a different story,” Rep. Virdell said. “The bottom line is this. Local governments are using public funds to buy back firearms that have little to no impact on public safety. It’s a misuse of taxpayer money and does not deliver the results that citizens expect or deserve.”

The Truth About Buybacks

In fact, what Rep. Virdell said about such “compensated confiscation” programs is absolutely correct. A 2021 study on the effectiveness of so-called gun “buybacks” reveals some important information that anti-gun politicians and bureaucrats probably aren’t going to want to hear.

A paper titled “Have U.S. Gun Buybacks Misfired,” authored by Toshio Ferrazares, Joseph J. Sabia, and D. Mark Anderson, and published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, concluded that such “buybacks” have no measurable impact on reducing violent crime.

Before looking at that, however, let’s first dispense with the whole notion of “buybacks.” Since the government never owned the firearms they are attempting to take possession of in the first place, “compensated confiscation” is a much better term for these proposals. Of course, that doesn’t sound quite as good on a big-city mayor’s resumé as a gun “buyback.”

“Gun buyback programs (GBPs), which use public funds to purchase civilians’ privately-owned firearms, aim to reduce gun violence,” reads the paper’s abstract. “However, little is known about their effects on firearm-related crime or deaths. Using data from the National Incident Based Reporting System, we find no evidence that GBPs reduce gun crime.”

The study further concluded: “Given our estimated null findings, with 95 percent confidence, we can rule out decreases in firearm-related crime of greater than 1.3 percent during the year following a buyback. Using data from the National Vital Statistics System, we also find no evidence that GBPs reduce suicides or homicides where a firearm was involved.”

Hopefully, the Texas bill and the effort to share the truth about gun “buybacks” will draw attention from pro-gun lawmakers in other states. If Gov. Abbott signs the measure, the new law will take effect on September 21.

The Savage Model 42 – A Value Combo

By
Travis Pike
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As a kid, my family had this gun we passed around. It was an ancient Stevens .22-.410, and even to this day, I didn’t realize how common that story was among people my age. The Stevens .22-.410 seems to have been a popular option for many young millennials in the South. I’m a little miffed my youngest sister ended up with the Stevens .22-.410. As a total necessity to ease the anger I have at my sister for taking it, I went out and purchased a Savage Model 42.

That’s not entirely true. In fact, I just saw a Savage Model 42 for a good price and impulse-purchased it. Admittedly, my enjoyment of the Stevens .22-.410 guided me in this direction. Who doesn’t love a good combination gun? The Savage Model 42 lacks the classic wood and blued finish of the old Stevens but provides a lighter, just as handy firearm.

What Is the Savage Model 42?

The Savage Model 42 is an over/under firearm that functions as both a rifle and a shotgun. This leads me to ask: if I want to cut the barrels, is it an SBR (short-barreled rifle) or an SBS (short-barreled shotgun)? Regardless, the Model 42 captures the essence of the Stevens .22-.410 in a much more modern design. It ditches the wood and replaces it with polymer furniture. The blued finish is gone, and we get a simple black finish.

Unlike the .22-.410, the Model 42 can be equipped with an optic. A base can be mounted that replaces the adjustable rifle sights. My Model 42 fires both .22LR and .410, but there are also .22 Magnum variants. I think the .22LR is the better choice for me because I have enough .22LR in bricks to build a small home.

It bears mentioning that the Model 42 is directly related to the old Stevens .22-.410. The .22-.410 eventually became the Model 24, and Savage later bought Stevens and their designs. The Model 24 then became the Model 42 when the gun entered the modern era. The Model 42 comes in both takedown varieties and solid models.

Mine is a solid model, which likely explains why I got it for such a low price point. The rigid frame, for lack of a better term, tends to be the less desirable model. The takedown version would make a great survival or pack gun due to its compact nature. The standard Model 42 is still lightweight at a little over six pounds. At 34.75 inches, the gun is small and compact and sling-ready, so it retains a bit of that handiness.

As a Working Gun

As a working gun, the Model 42 performs quite well. Its strengths are versatility and light weight. With .22LR, you can hit small game at any range that you can effectively use iron sights. With the .410 shotgun barrel, you can take medium game, and I’d be comfortable shooting hog or deer with the right buckshot load.

A .410 barrel also opens up various chambered barrel inserts. Rifled inserts allow you to shoot various calibers. You can fire 9mm, .38 Special, .32 S&W Long, and various other calibers from rifled adapters. Companies like Chaszel make a wide variety of rifled caliber adapters that make this a great gun for the enterprising scavenger. If we lean into that survival fantasy, we have a handy little gun that’s well-suited for scavenging the “bubba gun shops” along the countryside.

This gun offers many options and can excel at numerous tasks. For me, the Model 42 has been used for hunting rabbits and squirrels and a little light pest control. It’s a cheap, lightweight gun that’s easy to shoot and excels in a few specific tasks.

To the Range with the Model 42

The Model 42 has to be divided into its two separate barrels for a review, but both perform quite well. Let’s start with the .22LR barrel. The sights are very simple, open sights, but they are adjustable, and I chose to zero them for the rifle rather than the shotgun. I did that, and the accuracy isn’t bad within fifty yards.

Shooting small game like rabbits and squirrels might be tough at that range with iron sights, but I can hit a six-inch gong fairly regularly with the .22LR barrel. Since this is a hammer-fired, single-action gun, the trigger isn’t bad. The hammer doesn’t have any tactile feel or audible click when it locks in place. Since it’s a single shot, you can shoot a variety of .22 rimfire rounds, including shorts, longs, long rifle, and even specialty rounds like rat shot.

An optic might clean up the accuracy, but the stock Model 42 is accurate enough for rimfire purposes.

The .410 barrel has a cylinder bore choke and works well with buckshot and birdshot, delivering predictable patterns. For medium game hunting, I’d opt for a 3-inch .410 load that packs five 000 buckshot pellets. That’s suitable for deer hunting, and even in the lightweight shotgun, the recoil isn’t bad; it’s relatively soft shooting.

The birdshot load offers a short-range spread that makes hitting running squirrels easy and would be handy for hunting birds in a survival scenario. It also turns cottonmouths into good cottonmouths, i.e., dead ones. The .410 barrel doesn’t pattern exceptionally well, but like the .22LR barrel, it’s good enough.

Staying Ahead

The Model 42 has become my go-to for teaching kids to hunt and shoot. It’s a light and handy little gun that offers the safety of a single shot. I do lament that the length of pull is 13.87 inches, which is an adult length. It makes it a little challenging for smaller shooters, and a 12.5-inch length of pull would be perfect!

Overall, it’s not a bad gun, and it satisfies my longing for that old Stevens .22-.410. I would love to see Savage increase the size and give us a Model 410 with a .223 barrel and a 20-gauge or, preferably, a 12-gauge barrel. Until then, the Savage Model 42 will satisfy my rifle/shotgun needs.

The TOPS Knives Ucon Hawk Hatchet – This Hawk Soars Above

By
Michael D'Angona
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There’s no doubt that a hatchet is an all-around excellent tool for deep woods or campsite use. It can split small logs, fell young saplings, and be your go-to tool for any unexpected needs. Now, enter the Ucon Hawk. This Ucon Hawk Hatchet from Tops Knives emulates all a hatchet has to offer. Then, elevates it to a new level. With its keen edge, non-slip, hybrid handle, and overall toughness, this Hawk makes a bold statement when firmly in hand. But how good is it really? Read on for its vast amenities that strongly back up what it boasts.

The TOPS Knives Ucon Hawk Hatchet

Out-of-the-box impressions

More often than not, the image of a product online doesn’t match what is received through the mail. It’s no different for bladed items. I have personally received knives, axes, tomahawks, and hatchets that looked amazing on a screen but were highly disappointing in person.

The Ucon Hawk, however, was the exact opposite. The photos online didn’t do this hatchet justice. Yes, they relayed the color and general design. However, it failed to capture this hawk’s aesthetic beauty, its craftsmanship, and the solidness of the materials. As soon as the Ucon Hawk Hatchet was unboxed (and quality leather sheath duo), I knew something special had come my way.  

The Hawk in-hand

With the packaging aside, I was able to get my hands on this visually striking tool. The stickiness (in a good way) of the handle was apparent instantly. This handle was meant to stay in place within a person’s grip, and in my hand, it did just that.

The full tang construction was a welcome sight. Inferior hatchets don’t always feature this necessity, and it doesn’t take very long for them to fail under repeated use. The blade was sharp out of the box with a ridged hammer poll on its opposite side. This would be useful for pounding stakes or breaking apart material.

A nifty sheath, too

The hatchet comes with a two-piece black leather sheath, one part to cover the blade for safety and the second part for attaching the tool to your belt. I liked the addition of the belt loop portion. Too many times, a hatchet, ax, or tomahawk has a blade cover but lacks a convenient way to carry it.

The Ucon has no such issue. The placement is perfect, as the hatchet lies vertically along the outside of your thigh. During my carry through some very dense vegetation, it stayed in place and snag-free from branches or low-lying bushes.

Don’t forget about precision cuts

Aside from hacking through big jobs, as it is designated for, I wanted to see if this beast of a blade could perform more precision cuts. These included shaving tinder or chopping vegetables for dinner preparation. I choked up on the slightly curved handle and experienced exactly what was detailed about this hawk.

In its description, it offered knife-like cutting accuracy. It was as if the last four or five inches of the handle were nonexistent, and I had a true knife in my hand. The tinder shaved perfectly, and my peppers and onions were broken down into easy-to-cook pieces. You get the best of both worlds with the Ucon Hawk Hatchet. It’s the perfect amalgamation of both a hatchet and a heavy-duty cooking knife.

Scoring high marks

The Ucon Hawk would be a superb addition to a bugout bag or a useful tool in your own backyard. This tool has, without a doubt, elevated itself from just another hatchet to a top-tier chopper in all its categorized fields.

Its handle is unique with its dual material construction and incredible gripping power. The chopping head offers a large cutting surface for both powerful strikes and precision slicing. The entire unit is well-balanced and constructed to stand up to the rigors of heavy outdoor use.

One minor drawback

If there is one drawback that may prevent this hatchet from being ordered without a second thought, it is its price tag, which is suggested at $425.00. Yes, it’s a quality, Made in the USA product, but it definitely falls in between being within budget for some and not achievable for others.

However, if you do move forward on purchasing this item, you’ll get the Hawk in all its glory as it soars up and above most other hatchets.

Ucon Hawk Hatchet Specs

Overall Length15.00 inches
Overall Weight31.10 ounces
Handle MaterialOrange/Black G10
Cutting Edge Length4.87 inches
Blade Steel1095 RC 56-58
Blade FinishTumble finish
Sheath MaterialBlack leather
Sheath ClipBelt loop
MSRP$425.00

The Beave From Great Lakes Custom

By
Travis Pike
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Glocks are undeniably great firearms. As much as it pains me to admit that the world’s most boring semi-auto handgun is good, I must. Glocks might be plain, but I don’t believe a more proven or successful series of firearms exists. I don’t “like” Glocks in an aesthetic sense, but I readily admit they are a fantastic choice for duty, concealed carry, and competition. I’ve always had a problem with Gen 4 Glocks, and that problem might finally be solved by something called The Beave.

The Great Lakes Custom Beave

The Beave comes from Great Lakes Custom, a small firearms accessory company. It’s a beavertail that attaches to Glock Gen 4 and Gen 5 guns. You might instantly jump to the nonexistent comment section and tell me that Gen 4 Glocks already come with interchangeable backstraps, including a beavertail one!

Yes, they do, and frankly, they’re subpar. They are huge, bulky, and annoying to use. I’ve tried them, and I instantly ditched them. Glocks aren’t svelte firearms with thin grips to begin with. The Glock-brand beavertail merely adds more bulk to an already substantial grip.

You might be asking why I need a beavertail on my Glock. It’s because I have large hands—hands that consistently get a hefty slide bite from my Gen 4 Glocks. It’s annoying and becomes painful during training sessions. A beavertail allows me to maintain a high grip on the gun without bleeding after a few hundred rounds.

Enter The Beave

The Beave aims to provide a beavertail without the excessive bulk that Glock adds to its own beavertail adapter. Its super-small design is very thin and adds minimal bulk to the grip. Installation requires little effort. All I had to do was remove a pin from the Glock’s grip using a punch.

Simply slide The Beave into place and then slide in the OEM extended pin to secure it to your Glock. There’s not much more to it than that. The Beave is quite small, which initially made me curious about its durability. Prior to installation, I twisted, bent, and even dropped The Beave to see if it would crack or break.

The Beave is made from a very flexible material. This flexibility means that a bit of give prevents it from cracking and breaking. It’s a smart design choice. The more rigid something is, the thicker and bulkier it typically needs to be. If the goal is thin and bulk-free, flexibility makes a lot of sense. It helps keep The Beave problem-free without adding unnecessary mass.

Shooting With The Beave

Please excuse the lack of optics on my Glock 17 MOS. I’m currently in the midst of “handgun Barbie” and swapping accessories around. My iron sights were more than sufficient to test The Beave, so don’t fret. With The Beave installed, I did some basic shooting, and guess what? No more slide bite! I could grip high and tight—a grip principle that significantly helps increase control.

Basic shooting isn’t enough, so I holstered the Glock 17 equipped with The Beave and practiced drawing and shooting. The Beave stays completely out of the way and doesn’t impede my draw in any manner. I can instinctively grab the gun as high as I want, draw, and shoot without a second thought.

The Glock 17’s lack of slide bite and my ability to achieve that desirable high grip make it easier to shoot and control. Slide bite becomes a much bigger issue when it comes time to train at higher round counts, but that’s no longer an issue for me thanks to The Beave.

Getting One

You can check out The Beave at Great Lakes Custom’s website. This small beavertail does an excellent job of providing a thin, bulk-free beavertail option. The Beave is currently made for medium-frame Glocks—you know, the double-stack 9mms, .40 S&Ws, .357 SIGs, etc. Specifically, it fits Gen 4 and Gen 5 models.

Great Lakes Custom plans to release a model for the Glock 43X and Glock 48, and I’m really hoping they do a run of large-frame Glock Beaves. I love my Glock 20, and a Beave would be a fantastic addition to that gun.

The Beave is a simple solution, and it’s genuinely surprising that Glock couldn’t come up with something this straightforward. Luckily, the free market often provides.

Gen II Solo 300 .350 Legend Uppers

By
Tim Stetzer
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If you ever wanted a manually operated AR, then you need to check out Solo 300. Their uppers are great for states that don’t allow semi-autos for hunting. They make great suppressor platforms, too. As the name implies, they started out with .300 Blackout uppers. They now have a variety of .350 Legend models as well.

The Solo 300

If you aren’t familiar with the Solo 300, it’s an upper receiver that fits on any standard AR lower. What sets it apart from other AR uppers is that it’s a straight pull, manually operated design. There’s a slot cut on the left side of the receiver and a protruding bolt handle. The bolt handle screws into an abbreviated bolt carrier group (BCG). The BCG is cut down since you don’t need the mass like you do with a semi-auto AR.

This also means that it achieves its full length of travel within the upper receiver. No buffer system necessary. You can throw a Picatinny adapter on your build. This allows you to add a folding brace or stock depending on your barrel length. As a result, you can put together a very lightweight and compact build with a Solo 300 upper. I have a .300 Blackout build with a 6-inch barrel used as a suppressor platform with my Griffin Sportsman Ultra Light .36.

The system is pretty simple. When you cycle the bolt handle, the standard AR bolt rotates and unlocks just like it would when cycling in a semi-auto. If you had a round or empty case in the chamber, it extracts and ejects it. When you push the bolt forward, it strips a new round out of the magazine and rotates the bolt, locking it in place.

Early Solo 300 uppers like mine were modified standard AR uppers. They had the slot for the bolt handle milled out in the side. There was also a plug that filled in the charging handle slot in the upper, since you don’t use a charging handle with this design. Newer uppers, including the new .350’s, use a Gen II design that’s a dedicated upper for the Solo 300 system. My original style works fine, but I will say the new uppers look pretty clean.

The Solo 350?

Okay, they’re still actually Solo 300’s, but the most recent addition to the line is chambered in the Winchester .350 Legend. I’m a fan of the round and have a few rifles chambered in it. It’s a straight-walled case that uses .357 caliber bullet weights ranging from 124 grains up to 280 grains. Recoil is 20% less than a .243, and considerably less than a .450 Bushmaster or 12-gauge slug. The .350 has 20% better penetration as compared to a .243 as well.

The effective range is about 250 yards. At 200 yards, it still has about 900 ft lbs of energy, depending on the load, versus around 600 ft lbs for a .223, 780 for a .30-30, or 790 for a .300 Blackout at the same ranges. The heavy loads work great with a suppressor, too.

The Solo 300 .350 Legend uppers come with either 10 or 18-inch barrels. The 10-inch models have been around for a little while, but the 18-inch rifle length is new. All of the Solo 300 barrels are threaded and come with a thread protector. You can get them with just a barrel nut for an ultra-light presentation, or with various lengths of MLOK rails.

Options include a bright stainless barrel and bolt handle or a black barrel and bolt handle. There’s also an option for an FDE upper with a black barrel and bolt handle. Prices range from $449.99 to $559.99, depending on barrel length, handguard choice, and finish options.

Extended Bolt Handles

Another newer item from Solo 300 is the option for extended bolt handles. The one minor gripe I had with my Solo was that I’d sometimes rap my fingers on the lower’s bolt release when cycling the action. I felt like a longer bolt handle, or one kicked up at an angle, would help alleviate that.

Well, Solo 300 is on it and now offers that in a couple of options. You can get it in stainless or black Cerakote. You can also buy the standard length in both colors, as well, if you want to swap out. It comes with an attachment screw and rubber o-rings that you can add for an improved gip. Prices are a very reasonable $21.99 for the extended handle.

Is a Straight Pull AR for You?

So, do you really need a straight pull AR? It depends. If you like to hunt with an AR platform but can’t use a semi in your state, then it’s a great option. You can make a very handy and lightweight hunting build with a Solo 300 upper. It lets you use your existing AR lower, too, so you don’t need a whole new gun either.

.300 Blackout does a good job on a lot of game, and the new .350 Legend options give you more punch. Between them, they’ll handle anything from predators, hogs, and deer, up through black bears.

I mentioned earlier, too, that the straight pull action works great with a suppressor. Since it’s designed as a manual action to begin with, you don’t have to worry about subsonic loads cycling the action. You also eliminate any action noise while firing.

I’ve used my Griffin suppressor with the .300 Blackout, and it works great, even with the short barrel. I’ve also used the Griffin on 16-inch .350 Legend rifles and have been very impressed with how it performs. It’s soft shooting and very quiet.

I can see a .350 Legend Solo 300 in my future, as well as the extended bolt handle for my current upper. When I get one, I’ll be sure to post an update here on GAT Daily!

Gen II Solo 300 .350 Legend Uppers

  • 350 Legend 
  • 416 Stainless barrel 
  • 5/8-24 threaded muzzle
  • 5R Rifling 
  • Fluted stainless thread protector
  • 7075-T6 Aluminum 
  • Mil-spec Ejection Port Cover 
  • Compatible with buffer tubes, buffer hole plugs, and picatinny stock/brace adaptors (all available separately.)
  • Optional Black Cerakote on barrel & bolt handle 
  • Optional free-float Mlok handguard      

Magnum PCCs – Let’s Up The Power

By
Travis Pike
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The pistol caliber carbine (PCC) market has experienced consistent growth and significant momentum over the past decade. With no signs of slowing down, the market still feels somewhat stagnant. It’s largely dominated by 9mm AR variants, with a few notable offshoots like the Scorpion and MPX. We rarely see much caliber deviation. So, driven by my fondness for the unusual and interesting, I delved into the world of magnum PCCs.

The World of Magnum PCCs

Magnum PCCs occupy a peculiar niche; most are uncommon and rare, and one of the coolest was never produced in large numbers. Their prevalence varies depending on the specific configuration you’re seeking. Compared to most other PCCs, magnum PCCs often make a lot more sense.

They allow you to take fast, hard-hitting, and often flat-shooting cartridges, and make them faster, easier to aim, and more accurate overall. These firearms are still subject to NFA restrictions, meaning we often contend with barrels longer than ideal. Honestly, most of these would perform best with a 10-inch barrel, but that’s not a common offering.

Let’s explore some of these magnum PCCs, categorizing them from most to least common.

Henry Big Boy X

Many people overlook the fact that numerous lever-action rifles are, in essence, PCCs. Lever-action chambered in handgun rounds represent some of the earliest PCC designs. Henry, a leading lever-action company today, offers the Big Boy X series, which includes some of the most common magnum PCCs. The Henry Big Boy X is available in .44 Magnum and .357 Magnum.

The Big Boy X series ventures into the realm of “tactical” lever actions, more or less. While not overtly tactical, they incorporate black polymer furniture, high-visibility sights, a few M-LOK slots, and a Picatinny rail. The designs remain fairly simple and classic, eschewing the traditional blued finish and beautiful wood.

For residents of states with strict firearm regulations, it’s hard to beat the Big Boy X series for home defense. If owning a semi-automatic rifle is challenging, the Big Boy X provides substantial close-range power. Additionally, the .44 Magnum variant can serve as an excellent brush-hunting rifle. Its short barrel and high-visibility sights make it quick to maneuver. Furthermore, it’s fully red-dot sight-ready, which further enhances the rifle’s speed.

The Ruger Deerfield and Deerstalker Carbines

Over the years, Ruger produced two magnum PCCs in .44 Magnum. They differ in design and were built to be light, handy, close-range hunting rifles. Both are now out of production but are typically easy enough to find on the used market, provided you’re willing to pay a premium. The Deerstalker, also known as the Ruger Model 44, was the first.

The Model 44 was fed from a four-round tubular magazine and featured an 18.25-inch barrel. It weighed just under six pounds and utilized a gas-operated rotating bolt design, not dissimilar to the Mini-14. The Deerstalker rifles were generally well-regarded but had issues cycling lead ammunition.

The Deerfield carbine was the second option, produced from 2000 to 2006, and was slightly more modern. It fed from a four-round rotary magazine, much like the Ruger 10/22. The Deerfield had an 18.5-inch barrel and weighed 6.25 pounds. It’s a sweet little gun, and aftermarket companies have even developed extended magazines with up to ten-round capacities.

Uberti Cattleman Revolving Carbine

Revolving rifles are undeniably quirky, unusual, and rare. A fun historical note: they were the first repeating rifles fielded by the United States military, originally designed by Colt. Revolving rifles were always a somewhat eccentric category but offered repeating firepower in an era before lever-action rifles became prevalent. Uberti, an Italian company renowned for its Old West replicas, produces one of the few modern options.

The Uberti Cattleman Revolving Carbine features an 18-inch barrel and is chambered in .357 Magnum. They also produce versions in .44-40 and .45 Colt. The gun holds six rounds, uses a single-action trigger, and has open sights. It resembles a classic revolving carbine with a cartridge conversion but incorporates a more modern design that enhances safety and durability.

These guns can be tricky to shoot. You cannot place your support hand forward of the action, but the rifle is fairly light, so keeping both hands rearward isn’t overly difficult. This compact firearm has open sights but appears to lack any method for attaching an optic. It’s certainly a fun gun, though not the most practical.

Wren Metal Works Integrally Suppressed Bolt Action .44 Magnum

This firearm was simply too cool to omit from the list. It starts as a Ruger M77/44, a bolt-action .44 Magnum rifle. Ruger, it seems, has a penchant for producing .44 Magnum PCCs. The specialists at Wren Metal Works then take the M77/44 and integrate a suppressor that surrounds the barrel.

The end result is a “one-stamp rifle” (meaning it only requires one NFA tax stamp for the suppressor) that can quietly propel large, fast-moving, heavy chunks of lead. It’s easy to mount an optic, and a low-powered option would make this an excellent hunting rifle in my area, which consists largely of dense woods and brush. Wren Metal Works offers two models: the standard and the Custom.

The Custom features the Wren Metal Works Chassis, providing a more tactical option. It’s a precision bolt-action design with an M-LOK handguard, a folding stock, a built-in Picatinny optics rail, and an AR-style grip. Both rifles are expensive, low-production items, but holy hell, I want one!

The Ingram Durango Carbine

Here lies our rarest magnum PCC. In fact, there appears to be only one, produced as a prototype and later sold by Rock Island Armory. Gordon Ingram designed the gun, and several Durango carbines were created, including 9mm and .45 ACP variants, but only a single .44 Magnum Durango carbine.

Not only is it a .44 Magnum carbine, but it’s also a bullpup. This particular firearm uses the old R-Line Bullpup conversion stocks, which accommodate a standard action and barrel. It feeds from .44 Magnum Desert Eagle magazines. The type of action the gun uses isn’t clearly specified.

The other Durango Carbines were blowback-operated, but they were also chambered in 9mm and .45 ACP. A blowback-operated .44 Magnum seems like a very daunting and potentially unsafe design. Perhaps that’s why this gun remained a one-off prototype. However, most of the Durango designs seem to have been one-off prototypes.

We Need More Magnum PCCs

I’d love to see more magnum PCCs, especially semi-automatic models. I understand that designing for rimmed cartridges can be challenging, but I’m perfectly content with a tubular magazine for my magnum PCCs. However, it seems they were never big sellers, or Ruger would likely still be producing them today. That said, I’ll keep my eyes open and my hopes high.

Firing Around Corners – High Tech Solutions to An Old Problem

By
Travis Pike
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Navigating corners has been a fundamental problem for infantry since the dawn of organized warfare. A corner represents a blind spot, an unknown where anything could be waiting. In modern urban combat, this challenge is amplified; you might encounter a tank, a machine gun, or a direct confrontation with the enemy.

Solving the Corner Problem

What’s the optimal approach to a blind spot? If you answered “pie the corner,” you’re correct. If you suggested any of the five ideas below, you’re at least creative! We’re exploring five high-tech methods for clearing corners that don’t involve bending barrels or “slicing the pie.” Do they work? It’s a mixed bag, but at the very least, they are intriguing firearm curiosities worth examining.

The CornerShot

Thanks to “Future Weapons,” every millennial gun enthusiast is familiar with the CornerShot. This Israeli invention isn’t a firearm itself, but rather a device to which a firearm—be it a handgun, submachine gun, or grenade launcher—can be mounted. Your chosen weapon attaches to a pivoting head connected to a stock system.

The head can pivot at various angles, up to 90 degrees. The CornerShot system utilizes a camera mounted on the weapon’s head, which transmits its view to a display lens for the operator to look through and aim. The CornerShot garnered enough attention that Pakistan produced a copy, the POF Eye, and China developed their own, the HD66. It’s unclear if they also copied the stuffed animal designed to sit atop the original CornerShot, making it resemble a cat!

Change-Line-Free Shooting Tactical System

We don’t often criticize China enough for some of its peculiar firearm innovations. The HD66 is their CornerShot clone, but they also developed the Change-Line-Free Shooting Tactical System—a mouthful. So, we’ll call it the CLF from now on. The CLF takes a low-tech approach, eschewing a camera and LCD screen in favor of a periscope that the user looks through.

To the user, it appears like a standard rifle scope, but it incorporates a sharp angle, with the view originating directly above the pistol. The periscope portion of the optic pivots with the pistol, allowing the user to adapt. This is a more basic take on the concept, and it might even be viable. I’d certainly consider purchasing one and configuring a handgun for it as a short-barreled rifle (SBR).

Russian Makarov “Thing”

This Russian Makarov “Thing” lacks an official name, as I haven’t been able to find one. Chris Eger of Guns.com reportedly discovered this device on a police social media page. It’s an experimental, one-off prototype Makarov PM equipped with a camera mounted on top of the gun, connected by a wire to a lens strapped to the user’s arm.

This system allows the user to point the gun around corners by simply bending their wrist. I appreciate the simplicity of the design. I have no idea how effective it was, but given that the Russians—who seem to adopt almost everything—didn’t implement it widely, I doubt it performed well.

Round Corner Module

The Singaporean military employs a rather futuristic-looking bullpup rifle called the SAR 21. Since the SAR 21 already resembles a firearm from a cyberpunk dystopia, why not attach a camera to its optic and call it a day? The Round Corner Module is essentially just that. You attach it to your existing optic and then push the optic around corners.

The camera display shows your reticle, enabling accurate aiming and firing of the rifle. While the view through the Round Corner Module appears small and cumbersome, the intention is sound. It seems utterly impractical, and it doesn’t appear to have transitioned to their newer rifle, the BR18.

Aimpoint Concealed Engagement Unit

The Aimpoint Concealed Engagement Unit might be the lowest-tech yet most ingenious solution for shooting around corners. It mounts behind your red dot sight, similar to a magnifier. It’s a periscope that allows you to push a rifle around corners and take accurate shots.

The CEU rotates, enabling the user to see around angles and over cover. The Aimpoint Concealed Engagement Unit attaches and detaches easily, making it the most well-thought-out solution to this problem. However, it remains a fairly niche tool that hasn’t seen widespread adoption.

Shooting Around Corners

Clearing corners is an inherently dangerous task. Blind spots are problematic, and while we have an abundance of technology to peek around them, it seems that employing sound tactics remains the best solution. “Pieing the corner” is still the most effective option, even in the face of cameras, periscopes, and even stuffed cats.

Matches & Lighters vs. Ferro Rod

By
Reuben Bolieu
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Three essential fire-starting tools: matches, lighters, vs. ferro rods. Which would you choose?

Let’s compare three essential fire-starting tools: matches & lighters, vs. ferro rods. We’ll explore how each works and highlight its pros and cons. Let’s dive in! Each fire-starting technique has its unique flair and distinct pros and cons that can shape your experience based on the situation.

Matches & Lighters vs. Ferro Rod: Which Method Wins?

The Evolution of Fire

Several years ago, I read many wilderness skills, camping, and survival guides, mostly mentioning matches. Flint and steel were also the go-to method for firemaking. However, Carl Auer von Welsbach invented the ferrocerium (ferro) rod in 1903, but it didn’t replace matches for many old-timers.

The lighter dates back to 1823, yet it wasn’t as handy as the ones from 1932 made by Zippo. Currently, several companies are producing various lighters. However, the ferro rod has gained popularity and is a preferred firemaking item for survival kits and campers.

A matchstick can ignite tinder and kindling like this damp poplar bark that isn’t processed.

Matches  

There is something very woodsy and nostalgic about lighting a campfire or lantern with a wooden match. Matches are reliable but weather-sensitive, and match cases are a simple remedy for the fickle matchstick. A match is an instant flame and can ignite tinder and kindling, unlike a ferro rod. Often, thin twigs, which are kindling, can be ignited easily with a single match. Each matchstick is a fire, and you can fit a lot of matches in a match case!

Pros:  

  • Super easy to use—just strike and ignite.  
  • Lightweight and portable, ideal for emergency kits.  
  • Inexpensive and widely available.  

Cons:  

  • Can be affected by moisture; once wet, they’re useless unless waterproof.  
  • Limited supply—once you run out, you’re done.  
  • Wind can easily extinguish them.  

Lighters  

A lighter offers a flame now, which makes it’s convenient for firemaking, but it also carries risks. There’s no telling when the lighter will run out of fuel, and it has many moving parts. A lighter is ideal for lighting candles, lanterns, or stoves indoors.

Let’s not forget plasma lighters, which are entirely different. However, like lighters need fuel, plasma alternatives need a power source. Like matches, a lighter can ignite kindling. But you will want to back up a lighter with another ignition source for safety. 

Small twigs (kindling) can ignite with a flame from a lighter.

Pros:  

  • Reliable and reusable—hundreds or even thousands of lights per lighter.  
  • Wind-resistant, especially butane torches.  
  • Works in various conditions (except extreme cold for butane lighters).  

Cons:  

  • Requires fuel—when it’s out, it’s dead weight.  
  • Can malfunction (flint issues, broken casing, etc.).  
  • Not ideal for long-term survival situations without a fuel source.  

Ferro Rod  

A ferro rod needs thin tinder like fatwood, seen here, to ignite and produce a flame.

Ferro (ferrocerium) rods are durable and practical but require skill. In the matches/lighters vs. ferro rods scenario, two are instant flame. A ferro rod requires tinder as the first step in firemaking. To produce a flame, you must ignite thin, fluffy, dry materials such as cottonwood, poplar, cedar bark, or manufactured tinder. Then, you can ignite kindling and work up to small fuel.

While this method may not be as convenient, it wins in durability and the number of fires you can create. 

Pros:  

  • Extremely durable—thousands of strikes available.  
  • Works in wet conditions; even underwater, it can still spark.  
  • Excellent for survival and bushcraft since it doesn’t rely on fuel.  

Cons:  

  • Requires skill—need to know how to use it properly.  
  • Produces sparks but not an instant flame, so you must prepare tinder well.  
  • Not as fast or convenient as matches or lighters for casual use.  

Matches, Lighters vs. Ferro Rod Conclusion

Matches are great for quick, everyday use, but have a short lifespan. Lighters offer convenience, but can run out of fuel. Ferro rods are the ultimate survival tool, but require preparation and technique.  

If you’re heading out on an adventure, carrying a combination is smart. Which do you tend to rely on most?

Falco Holsters Hamilton – Retro Concealed Carry

By
Travis Pike
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I understand the challenge of finding holsters for firearms like the Beretta 81. Who, after all, is buying an old Cheetah and intending to carry it in 2025? As it turns out, I am. I struggled to find a suitable holster until I discovered Falco Holsters and their Hamilton A635 model. Falco offers a vast selection of holsters for both new and old firearms, combining a classic look and feel with modern features.

The Falco Holsters Hamilton A635

Why the Beretta 81 in 2025?

You might wonder why I’d choose to carry a Beretta 81 in 2025, especially with so many excellent modern firearms available. Contemporary options like the P365, Hellcat, and CC9, along with other optics-ready micro 9mms, are incredibly popular. The Beretta 81, by contrast, is a truly vintage firearm. It’s an all-metal, iron-sight-only, DA/SA, hammer-fired gun chambered in .32 ACP—a caliber most wouldn’t consider for self-defense today.

Despite its age, the Beretta 81 is one of my all-time favorite guns. It’s a double-stack, DA/SA, .32 ACP pistol in the classic Beretta design. It looks great, shoots well, and is genuinely fun to use. While it might not make a lot of sense to some, it’s a free country, and I have no doubt I can defend myself with the 81; I just needed a reliable carry rig.

The Falco Hamilton

I typically prefer polymer holsters, ideally Kydex or another cutting-edge polymer material. Since that wasn’t an option for the Beretta 81, I decided to try Falco Holsters. I was unfamiliar with Falco, but they seemed to specialize in holsters for older firearms. While they do offer nylon, their leather rigs appear to be their primary focus.

I ultimately chose the Falco Hamilton for concealed carry. It’s a traditional Inside-the-Waistband (IWB) rig designed for strongside carry. While appendix carry is popular, I still appreciate the reliability of traditional IWB. The Falco Hamilton is an all-leather rig featuring a pair of polymer belt clips that tuck securely under the belt for enhanced retention.

This holster utilizes a pancake-style design, which works best when worn in the 4 o’clock position. While it may not offer the quickest draw, this design has proven effective for a long time. The classic gun, paired with an old-school carry position and an old-school holster, creates a harmonious combination.

The Falco Hamilton is crafted from ⅛-inch thick full-grain Italian leather. It’s a substantial holster, weighing roughly seven ounces. The leather is treated for durability—hand-dyed, oiled, and lacquered to protect it. This results in a beautiful, rigid, and stiff design, which comes with both advantages and disadvantages worth noting.

Wearing the Falco Hamilton

As I write this, I’m wearing the Hamilton with my Beretta 81 holstered, locked, and cocked. The holster features a heavily reinforced mouth that prevents it from collapsing when you draw the gun. This allows for safe reholstering, and the stiff design ensures a smooth draw without any holster drag—simply grip, rip, and shoot.

The clips enable the Hamilton to be worn with a tucked-in shirt, offering excellent concealment. While neither the gun nor the holster is small, their positioning makes them disappear easily under a T-shirt. I’ve also been able to wear it with my work attire since it’s tuckable.

The rigid leather design means you’ll need to break in this holster before it becomes truly comfortable and conceals optimally. Initially, its stiffness prevents it from conforming much to the body. This can make your hip and pants look a bit stiff and uncomfortable. It requires many hours of wear and movement for it to mold to your body and become comfortable.

It’s never painful, but stiff leather is, well, stiff leather. Once the Hamilton breaks in, it transforms into a very efficient concealed carry holster. It becomes quite comfortable and securely houses my Beretta 81. The inherent stiffness also helps prevent the holster from wearing out prematurely, which could otherwise create an unsafe situation.

Ride or Die

The Hamilton makes it easy for me to strap up with a deliciously old-school gun and enjoy my day. The holster provides a comfortable, concealed, and safe option for a gun that’s not quite the norm. Check out Falco holsters if you need to outfit an old school gun.

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