The Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 Metal Carry Comp

By

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October 17, 2024

Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 Metal Carry Comp 9mm Pistol

The 9mm Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 Metal Performance Carry Comp is one of three midsummer pistol launches we saw from Smith & Wesson this year. I got the chance to wring one out, specifically the aluminum frame full-size 17-round version with the standard 4.25-inch top-end.

The other two Performance Center SKUs include a polymer frame M&P 2.0 Compact and a polymer frame M&P Shield. Both are also chambered for 9mm Luger.

With regards to Smith & Wesson’s M&P 2.0 family, handling and shooting the aluminum-framed Carry Comp isn’t my first rodeo. Across my publications, I’ve reviewed four other M&P 2.0 models: the original 2022 M&P 9 2.0 Metal, the standard polymer M&P 9 2.0, the M&P 10mm 2.0 CORE, and the 2023 M&P 9 2.0 Performance Center SPEC series.

Given that this new M&P Carry Comp is the fifth member of this handgun family I’m writing about, there is no point in repeating myself. The common thread applicable to all M&P 2.0 pistols is that despite their quirks, these handguns are fundamentally sound. Smith & Wesson has built the M&P 2.0 series on good bones.

M&P 2.0s are considered reliable, have modern ergonomic grips, and have a “natural” 18-degree grip angle. This is fantastic for smooth target presentations from the draw. In essence, they have everything a shooter needs to be able to shoot at a high level. More so because the series has been on the market for years, so aftermarket support is robust.

M&P Metal Carry Comp Overview

Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 9 Metal Carry Comp with Steiner MPS red-dot sight mounted on an Apex Tactical ACRO/MPS CORE plate (secured with the Apex Steiner MPS Super Clamp too). The standard height Night Fission sights can also be seen.

Externally, the full-size 9mm Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 Metal Performance Center Carry Comp has the same proportions, dimensions, and layout as any other standard full-size 9mm M&P 2.0. However, it features the added pièce de résistance: its sleek, integrated ported barrels and slides.

Unlike externally attached pistol compensators, which screw onto a threaded muzzle and add extra encumbering length to the slide, the Carry Comp’s system exists within the “normal” dimensions.

M&P 2.0 Metal Performance Center Carry Comp models have a distinctive look. Correspondingly, they are finished with an attractive combination of charcoal gray slides and black Cerakoted frames. Besides their black Cerakote finish, the frame is an otherwise standard aluminum M&P frame.

It includes an accessory rail, extended ambidextrous slide stops, and the “newer” flat trigger seen on factory M&P 2.0 models in the last handful of years. These newer factory triggers have all but replaced the older “crescent-shaped” units first seen on the earliest iterations of the M&P 2.0 series—and for the better.

When I initially got this pistol in for review, I measured its trigger pull weight and ten trigger pulls with my digital trigger scale averaged out to 4 lbs, 3.7 ounces. Now that the pistol has seen nearly 1,000 rounds of 9mm, the trigger has smoothed itself out some more.

M&P Carry Comp Slide

A detail-shot of the Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 Metal Carry Comp’s slide with its unique gray Cerakote finish, slide lightening cuts and alternative slide serration pattern.

Compared to other aluminum-framed M&P 2.0s, the Performance Center Carry Comp series differs with a space-age aesthetic. Its slide is milled with a pattern of slide serrations that look completely different from standard M&P Metal models. They are more angled and curvier than the normal vertically slanted serrations.

The dorsal area features a lightening cut along with a milled blowhole for the ported barrel. In order to accommodate the porting, the front sight’s dovetail is set slightly behind its typical location on the M&P 2.0 slide. Although it technically decreases sight radius, this delta is statistically insignificant. After all, this pistol is outfitted with carry sights, not patridge bullseye sights.

Night Fission Sights

Instead of relying on the typical set of basic three-dot iron sights found on both standard polymer or aluminum frame S&W 2.0 models, Carry Comps are supplied with a pair of Night Fission standard height night sights ideal for carry. The front sight has a contemporary bold and bright green front eye-grabbing dot with a tritium vial set in the middle for low-light shooting. The rear sight has a plain serrated face and a deep U-notch.

This Night Fission sight set is perfectly suitable for defensive training and concealed carry. However, I’m somewhat confused as to why the Carry Comp, whose slide is factory-cut for the S&W CORE optics mounting scheme, has standard height sights instead of a taller pair.

A close-up of the Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 9 Metal Carry Comp’s muzzle. From this angle, the freebore section of barrel can be clearly seen along with the dorsal port hole.

M&P 2.0 Carry Comp Barrel

Pistol barrels with direct porting are nothing new, but Smith & Wesson took a different approach with this model. Externally, the barrel measures the same 4.25 inches, like any other full-size standard M&P 2.0. Outer dimensions also correspond to the defaults, too.

However, the Carry Comp barrel differs internally. Unlike a standard 9mm M&P 2.0 barrel with rifling ending at the edge of the muzzle, the rifling of the Carry Comp barrel ends at the 3.9-inch mark, with approximately 0.58 inches of freebore to the muzzle. The barrel’s single oval-shaped port sits directly over this free-bore area and measures approximately .318 by .196 inches.

Because exterior dimensions are identical, I found that dropping in conventional barrels isn’t hard. (For example, switching to a non-ported barrel to make the pistol compliant with USPSA Carry Optics).

Continued In Part 2

Reiff F3 EDC Fixed Blade Knife

By

Reuben Bolieu

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October 17, 2024

GAT_Reiff 1 — F3 EDC Fixed Blade Knife with a 2.9-inch MagnaCut blade, overall length of 6.7 inches.

Meet the new kid, the F3 EDC Fixed Blade Knife—a slick everyday carry companion ready to easily tackle any task. The driving force behind Reiff Knives is brothers Ben and Stu Shank. American manufacturing startups are an area of expertise for them. The wolf emblem represents the ruggedness and robustness of their knives. Stu chose the wolf as it symbolizes the North American outdoors and reflects the family values, loyalty, and survival that they wanted to embody in their company.

Why A Reiff

Their great-grandmother, Anna Reiff, inspired the name Reiff. Stu explained, “We were drawn to the name and connected to our grandparents’ story, as Anna was willing to leave behind her comfortable life for a noble cause.” The Reiff brothers have taken a significant leap of faith in launching Reiff Knives, driven by their passion for knives and their commitment to contributing to the resurgence of American manufacturing.

The F3 Fixed Blade

Crafted from ⅛-inch thick CPM MagnaCut steel, this compact yet powerful blade boasts a nearly 3-inch long drop point blade (2.9 inches), making it the perfect tool size for various applications in the urban jungle or woods.

With its sleek matte stonewash finish on a saber grind and a 90-degree spine for striking a ferro rod, this knife is as dapper as it is functional. The handle, measuring just under 4 inches, provides a comfortable and secure grip for most hands, ensuring precise control in any situation.

The Reiff F3 sitting atop a mound of tinder shavings on a twig stove.

Choose between the ambidextrous kydex sheath or the rugged crazy horse leather belt sheath for added convenience and style. Elevate your everyday carry with the F3 EDC Fixed Blade Knife and experience unmatched versatility and reliability wherever you go.

It Will Cut

The first test I give every cutting tool is the arm hair-shaving test. Every Reiff Knife has always passed. Cutting cordage and packages followed, but it was time to do some woods cooking.

The weather was perfect for some camp cooking on a small twig stove in early autumn. It wasn’t cold enough for a full-on campfire yet. A small fire requires small fuel. This is where the F3 came in handy; if it was too large to baton split for a twig stove, it was too big for fuel. I split oak, maple, and poplar chunks and used them as fuel for this quick woods lunch. The handle was comfy, and the edge geometry was spot-on and never faltered.

Splitting broomstick-thick poplar branches for a fire, the F3 EDC Fixed Blade tackled the task like a boss!

I used damp sticks to produce the best possible feather sticks for tinder and thin kindling, followed by super thin twigs from hung-up dead-standing branches. After processing poplar and river birch bark, I used the F3 and an Uberleben Hexa 3 Ferro Rod to shower sparks on the tinder with a few strokes. The spine was sufficient to ignite the less-than-ideal tinder.

I’m a fan of small, lightweight cutters—I always have been. Hand me a knife of this size and a heavier chopper, and watch what I can accomplish!

The Reiff F3 sitting pretty after splitting oak fuel and shaving feathers for a cook fire.

Summary

Reiff Knives epitomizes quality and functionality, with each design element serving a specific purpose. Crafted in the USA by skilled artisans, these knives boast modern manufacturing and premium materials. The F3 EDC Fixed Blade Knife is versatile, offering superior durability, corrosion resistance, and edge retention for outdoor and everyday use.

Quick Specs:

Reiff F3
Overall Length: 6.7”
Blade Length: 2.9″
Thickness: 1/8″ or .125″
Material: CPM MagnaCut®
Hardness: 61-63 HRC
Finish: Matte Stonewash
Handle Material: Black G10
Weight: 5 oz.

For more information, please check out Reiff Knives.

COUNTER-ROBBERY COURSE REVIEW

By

The Suited Shootist

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October 16, 2024

Back in October, I got the chance to spend the day with Darryl Bolke of Hardwired Tactical Shooting and Caleb Causey of Lone Star Medics for their joint Counter-Robbery & TacMed EDC Class.

This was my second time taking a class with Caleb and my first range time with DB.

This was a PHENOMENAL class, and BLUF is that you should take it at the earliest opportunity.

Caleb does a phenomenal job making the medical curriculum easy to understand and apply.

Darryl brings his practical and matter-of-fact approach to defensive firearm skills, and really has it dialed down to the bare essentials.

DB manages to strike a great balance between uncomplicated yet mentally taxing.

There are a lot of preconceptions that are challenged in this class.

Just so it doesn’t get mistaken: Darryl trained extensively with the instructors from LAPD Metro. When he had SEE on his gloves it was with his own team and his own agency units. He did not work at LAPD, but stole a ton of material with permission from them.

For more information, please visit LoneStarMedics.com/tac-med-edcpage.

SIG’s SMGs – A Complicated History

By

Travis Pike

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October 16, 2024

SIG Sauer, and sometimes just SIG, isn’t known for submachine guns. A search in 2024 brings up the MPX and not much else. You and I know SIG as a company dating back to the mid-1800s, and they’ve been in continuous service since then. There is simply no way they missed the big submachine gun boom of the 1920s up into the 1980s. With that in mind, let’s explore some of SIG’s SMGs that aren’t so well known.

SIG MP1920

In a post World War I world, the Germans weren’t allowed to create weapons of war. This included submachine guns. The Germans had previously produced the MP 18, a design from Bergmann. Since they couldn’t produce the weapon, they could make some money by simply licensing the design.

SIG licensed the design and produced the MP 18 as the MP1920. This was the first of SIG’s SMGs. The gun ditched the raked rearward magazine design for a straight-side feed gun. It used 50 round box magazines. Other small changes were made to the gun, but it remained a simple blowback submachine gun.

They marketed and sold the gun in various calibers, including 9mm, 7.65×21, and 7.63×25. They sold guns to Finland and Japan. The Japanese models featured a bayonet fitting. A later MP1930 was marketed with small changes but was never successful.

SIG MKMO

I pronounce this one the Mick-Moe, and it might be one of the finest SMGs of the era. The MKMO was a 1930 SIG Sauer designed with some help from famed Hungarian firearms engineer Pál Király. It used a somewhat complicated but ultimately well-thought-out hesitation-delayed blowback system, which was very similar to the Remington Model 51 pistol.

The hesitation delay system allowed pressure to drop to safe levels before the breech opened without needing an overly heavy bolt or strong springs. The MKMO was produced for export in various 9mm calibers and the usual 7.65, 7.62, and 7.63 calibers. SIG went with a traditional wood stock layout and a rather long 19.7-inch barrel.

The MKMO was the first of SIG’s SMGs to use a folding magwell. It folded upward into the handguard area to provide a more compact package for stowing the gun. The trigger was also a fire selector. A short pull resulted in a semi-auto shot, and a long pull activated full auto.

SIG also produced the MKPO, a variant for police use with an 11.81-inch barrel. In 1937, SIG released a simplified straight blowback variant of the gun, the MKMS, and a police version, the MKPS. These were easier to produce and ultimately cheaper.

SIG MP41

Switzerland remained neutral during World War II, but they weren’t idiots. They saw the possibility of a German invasion as a threat. When they began to evaluate the weaponry they had at their disposal, they realized they had less than 500 submachine guns. The Swiss Army needed SMGs, and SIG and W+F Bern were contracted for prototypes.

SIG adapted the MKMO into the MP41. The gun ditched the traditional wood stock for a more modern pistol grip variant. The barrel was shortened to a little over 12 inches. The gun retained the folding magazine design, but there was also a model produced without the feature. The Swiss government decided to go with the W+F Bern gun.

SIG produced 200 MP41 SMGs and tried to market them overseas. However, Swiss neutrality laws prevented this. They ditched the design, and it’s become one of the more obscure SIG’s SMGs.

SIG MP44/MP46/MP48

SIG produced the MP44 to try and gather external contracts. The SIG MP44 borrowed a number of features from the MKMS/MKPS guns. They used traditional straight stocks made from wood, and direct blowback operation. The trigger system acted as the selector. SIG’s SMGs retained the folding magazine well designed. The MP44 and MP46 were nearly identical. The MP44 featured a metal handguard, and the MP46 improved the metal handguard.

After disappointing sales of the MP44 and MP46, SIG tried to modernize the gun. They ditched the straight wood stock for a metal wire stock that collapsed. The gun still used a fair amount of wood in it’s design. The forend was removed, and there was no handguard. The MP48 was identical to the MP44 internally. After some minor sales to Chile, SIG abandoned the platform.

SIG MP310

The SIG MP310 replaced the SIG MP48. In many ways, the guns are identical. SIG dropped wood and used primarily metal castings for the gun. This created an expensive weapon. The gun still had a collapsing wire type stock and folding magazine well. The trigger acted as the fire selector and the gun lacked a safety. The justification for the lack of a safety was that the weapon couldn’t fire with the magazine well folded forward.

Reportedly, the gun was sold to some South American countries and Swiss police agencies, but sales weren’t enough to keep the gun in production long.

SIG MP320

This isn’t the same P320 you’re picturing. That just happens to be a funny coincidence. The MP320 was the last of SIG’s submachine guns, or at least the last to come out of SIG Neuhasen. The MP320 finally got rid of the folding magazine design and trigger selector. However, they kept a straight blowback system.

The gun had a side folding stock and a top-mounted charging handle that resembled a slide more than anything else. This was an ambidextrous design. The gun never entered full-scale production and remained in the prototype stage.

The SIG MPX

The latest, arguably greatest of SIG’s SMGs is the MPX series. The MPX offers a closed bolt system that uses a gas piston design. Compared to a straight blowback weapon, the SIG MPX offers you less recoil and a lighter, slimmer design. The MPX series are available in multiple sizes and are modern modular platforms.

The MPX series did promise multiple caliber conversions, but that promise waned with the fact no one shoots .40 S&W or .357 SIG anymore. The series has been quite successful for SIG, with international sales around the world. The semi-auto variants are also popular in the United States and Europe, especially in PCC competition.

SIG’s SMGs – A Failed History

Over the years, SIG produced a number of interesting SMGs, but outside of the MPX, none were all that successful. They seemed to be a day late and a dollar too expensive in most cases. It’s somewhat sad as the MKMO seems like a really neat gun, but alas, I’ll never get the chance to handle one.

EDC Nice to Haves

By

Jim Cobb

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October 15, 2024

When we talk about EDC, there are a few items that routinely get discussed, such as knives, flashlights, and defense weapons. There are a few other things, though, that would fall into the EDC “nice to have” category. They might not be used every single day, but they can sure make life easier in some situations.

Tweezers

I’m aware that many models of Swiss Army Knife and similar tools have tweezers onboard. I’m also aware that while they might be useful in a pinch, pun absolutely intended, the reality is that they are subpar in many cases. A pair of good-quality tweezers adds no appreciable weight to the EDC load.

They are excellent for dealing with splinters and thorns. You’ll also find them handy if you’re dealing with exceptionally small items, such as replacing tiny screws on the back of a toy for your grandchild. I prefer tweezers that have a sharp point, as those have proven to be the most useful to me.

Zip Lock Bag

Inside most of my packs and haversacks, you’ll find an empty gallon-sized zip-lock plastic bag. It weighs even less than a pair of tweezers and rolls up fairly small. I use it when foraging for natural tinder or food in the field. You could even use it to collect water if a better option isn’t available. I recommend going with a name-brand product for this, as generics don’t always hold up to some abuse.

Magnifying Glass

I’m old enough that a magnifying glass can truly be a godsend when dealing with splinters and the like. Even reading the fine print on a package can be dicey sometimes. Sure, I could take a photo with my phone and enlarge it, but the magnifying glass doesn’t use any battery power. It also adds one more fire-starting tool to the mix. You don’t need a handle on the magnifying glass, so feel free to remove it.

Duct Tape

There are all sorts of uses for duct tape, right? Patch a hole, prevent a blister, seal a package, the list goes on and on. It’s an important tool in any EDC kit. Because rolls of duct tape are large and heavy, what I do is wrap it around an old gift card. You could also wrap it around a pen or a disposable lighter. Fair warning, while duct tape does work fairly well as tinder, you need to be very cautious when doing so. If you think it’s sticky when you take it off the roll, wait until it gets melty. That’s a burn you’ll not forget for quite some time.

Carrying the Nice to Haves

I don’t keep all of these in my pockets every day. I know that, for some people, that goes against the very definition of EDC. But as I’ve mentioned elsewhere, I take a layered approach to my EDC. I keep these nice-to-have items in my EDC pack or bag. That’s what I’ve found works best for me. I’ve used each of these items often enough to warrant carrying them with me on a daily basis.

PCCs and Defensive Ammo

By

Travis Pike

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October 15, 2024

Speer Gold Dot G2 Carbine 9mm Luger Ammo 135 Grain Hollow Point

Pistol caliber carbines aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Plenty of folks seem to despise the little guns for existing, but after 2015, they’ve established a firm foothold in the gun industry. The cat’s not going back in the bag. They are here to stay, and I find the little fellas charming. Sure, they might be rifle size without rifle power, but they have their advantages. This includes lower concussion and lower recoil with the right gun, and it is super easy to suppress and cheap to train with. However, for defensive use, you have to choose the proper defensive ammo.

It’s not as easy as shoving your favorite 124-grain +P into the magazine and pressing the gas. PCCs have long, 16-inch barrels. That barrel imparts a little extra velocity to the cartridge. Admittedly, it’s beyond the point of diminishing returns, but it’s still faster than any handgun. More velocity tends to be better, right? Yes, to a degree.

The problem we run into with PCCs and defensive ammo is that they are made for handguns. Jacketed hollow points are designed to expand at certain velocity thresholds. Through a PCC, many of these projectiles move faster than they are designed to, which creates issues.

Issues With Standard Defensive Ammo

In most cases a stock standard JHP will do okay through a PCC. However, it’s not always optimized for that role. We tend to see a few different results. Lighter rounds of the 124 and 115 grain variety are moving too fast. This can cause them to expand early, which can limit their penetration. Believe it or not, some standard velocity JHP loads won’t meet the 12-inch ballistic gel threshold.

25 ACP doesn’t make it too deep into Ballistic Gel

Other rounds make it deep enough, but we see issues with their expansion. The expansion is no longer controlled. It’s unpredictable, and at times, portions are broken off, and weight isn’t retained through travel. This begins to chip away at the optimization of these cartridges for self-defense purposes. They simple aren’t designed to be moving at these speeds.

If we are willing to spend a buck a round for defensive ammo why wouldn’t we optimize our defensive ammo selection? What can we do? Well, we need to get slower bullets.

Proper Defensive Ammo For PCCs

One of the easiest solutions is simply using 147-grain rounds. These slower-moving projectiles work a lot better in PCCs than lighter rounds. They are still moving faster than normal but are hitting within an acceptable realm of velocity. We see consistent penetration, expansion, and weight retention from 147-grain rounds.

There are plenty of defensive-oriented 147-grain projectiles that do an excellent job. Their subsonic design also makes them perfect for shooters who want to suppress their rifles. A big advantage to PCCs is how easy they are to suppress.

That’s not the only option. The rise of pistol caliber carbines has introduced a rise in PCC-oriented ammo. Speer produces a 135-grain PCC load that’s optimized for PCCs. This includes providing excellent expansion and consistent penetration. The round has a velocity of 1170 feet per second from a carbine to guarantee good expansion and consistent performance.

A small company called Seismic produces 185 grain 9mm QuakerMaker rounds that are JHPs. These heavy 9mm rounds would seemingly do quite well through a 9mm PCC. The hefty weight of the projectile would allow it to hit pretty hard and dig in deep.

Other PCC-specific loads exist, like Federal’s Syntech stuff, but they are FMJs and not suitable defensive ammo.

Stay Heavy

Keep in mind, when I say PCC, I mean 16-inch barreled guns. Your normal subgun or large-format pistols aren’t going to need heavier ammo. You should consider heavier ammo when you get around 10 inches or so. For something like an MP5, you’ll still be successful with supersonic 9mm.

If you’re rocking and rolling with a full-length PCC, then go heavy with your defensive ammo. The Speer Gold Dot PCC round seems promising, and its purpose-built design is an exceptional idea. Go heavy, and preferably, go suppressed and take advantage of the PCC benefits.

NON-PERMISSIVE ENVIRONMENTS: Considerations for Carrying Guns In Places You Shouldn’t

By

The Suited Shootist

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October 14, 2024

You hear the term “non-permissive environment” used frequently within the concealed carry community.

Unfortunately, the discussions tend to be somewhat superficial. And, from what I’ve seen, they don’t take into account a lot of the consequences and negative outcomes.

In this video I take a look at the different types of is types of non-permissive environments, how they differ from each other, and how I approach them.

Lawfare – The Anti-Gunners New Weapon

By

Travis Pike

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October 14, 2024

The anti-civil rights groups aren’t winning at the ballot box, and they aren’t winning legislatively. That doesn’t mean they aren’t winning. The Anti-civil rights groups, like Everytown For Gun Safety, The Brady Groups, and other anti-gun organizations, have discovered a new way to wage war on your rights, and it’s called lawfare.

Lawfare is a tactic used by repressive regimes to label and discourage civil society or individuals from claiming their legal rights via national or international legal systems.

In most cases, a little thing called the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act protects gun companies, ammo companies, and firearms dealers from lawsuits when their products are used illegally. That hasn’t stopped these organizations from attacking. In reality, they don’t have to win. They can cause a firearms company to hemorrhage money simply by suing them.

Sure, the lawsuit might be thrown out, but only after a hefty amount of legal fees are paid to do so. Polymer80, the biggest 80% lower and Glock frame manufacturer out there, recently shut down. They outright stated they couldn’t afford to keep fighting the various lawsuits they had been subject to.

Lawfare has been used against Remington and Bushmaster successfully. The company was already bankrupt, but the main gain by these anti-gun groups is the ability to target the advertising firearms companies, too. Everytown For Gun Safety is currently using that angle to target Daniel Defense. Companies like Lucky Gunner have been sued several times to varying degrees of success, although they’ve seemed to be successful at fighting these organizations.

The Organization Behind the Suits

The main organization behind the lawfare against the gun industry is Everytown for Gun Safety and its varied offshoots. The gun control industry is unsurprisingly funded by billionaires, namely Michael Bloomberg, who helped found the organization and remains a large funder. Now you know if you’re wondering where an organization would get the money to file these lawsuits.

Philanthropy.com has called Bloomberg “the most dominant figure in the gun-violence prevention movement.” New York Mayor Eric Adams has called Bloomberg “the modern-day Paul Revere” of the gun control movement. The New York Times reported in a 2020 article that Bloomberg had spent 270 million dollars to strip gun rights from American citizens. According to Philahthropy.com, Everytown for Gun Safety spent 48 million dollars in 2020.

This is a well-funded attack on American rights.

A Ripple On The Industry

Outside of shutting down small American businesses and killing American jobs at companies like Polymer80, the effect of lawfare has been felt. Personally, I’ve signed tons of waivers and disclaimers in the last few years. Almost all of them stated that the XYZ gun wasn’t built or intended to be used by children. I’ve been writing about guns for ten years now, and until 2022, I never saw anything even remotely close to these disclaimers, warnings, and agreements.

A friend who works for a major firearms manufacturer told me that the term “youth” is gone from the gun industry. Things like Youth stocks don’t exist anymore. Now, they are mini stocks and bantam models. Or they simply list the LOP measurement. Firearms designed to teach children to shoot safely don’t exist anymore. No one is willing to risk advertising them as such.

I fear we’ll get to a point where clubs and ranges won’t be interested in letting accompanied children shoot. States will make it impossible for them to hunt. The change will come slowly, and eventually, the goal is to wipe out safe and responsible gun ownership within a generation.

The ultimate goal of these acts of lawfare is to end gun rights. They treat firearms like cigarettes, which is an absurd notion.

What Can We Do?

We have tons of organizations out there fighting for gun rights. They are winning in the courts and at the ballot box. The current lawfare trend is a small group of people, namely billionaires with armed security, attacking American rights. As we’ve seen with elections and laws passed, the United States doesn’t want their nonsensical gun control. They’ve taken the fight elsewhere.

I’m no lawyer. I think we could form a group that’s funded by donations to help these gun companies. They can resist and fight back against these lawsuits. The groups focusing on laws and fighting for the Constitution certainly have their hands full. Still, this is a front we can’t surrender. All the rights in the world won’t mean anything if the gun companies are shut down or will only sell to LEO and Mil customers.

We have to resist lawfare, fight back, and help the future of gun rights remain bright.

The Smith & Wesson Safety Hammerless Part 3

By

P.E. Fitch

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October 13, 2024

Continued from Part 2…

Sending Rounds Downrange

Shooting the Smith & Wesson Safety Hammerless from rest is one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done in reviewing any firearm. The combination of its extremely heavy double-action trigger pull, the annoying wall before the trigger breaks, the dinky sights, and the overall size of the gun made it difficult to shoot for groups.

Properly managing the trigger on this revolver requires a good bit of leverage from the distal joint of the trigger finger. However, if one’s hands are bigger, it can be difficult due to the grip shape and the revolver’s sinus. I did the best I could to wrest some accuracy off the bench. Quite frankly, never having fired the archaic .38 S&W or any vintage Smith & Wesson top-break revolver, I was impressed with some of the potential accuracy that shined through.

Removing the human element and the physical limitations of said human trying to shoot well, it appears both the revolver and this mild-mannered cartridge are fairly accurate. I’d love to see what I could accomplish with this cartridge from a larger K-frame Smith & Wesson, like the lend-lease Victory models that were sent to Britain chambered for .38/200 during the Second World War.

Shooting Protocol

For simplicity’s sake, I did all of my shooting at 7 yards, both supported off a bag and freestyle. I also took the opportunity to use my recently purchased Garmin Xero C1 chronograph to log the muzzle velocities of the three different .38 S&W loads that LuckyGunner sent me for the review.

The three loads included the Fiocchi 145 grain coated lead round nose Cowboy Action Load, the Fiocchi 145 grain FMJ RN Heritage load and the Magtech 146 grain lead round nose cartridge. I shot 20 rounds each at two different 10-round groups and over the chronograph.

The lack of swift movement results in the probability of empty cases being stuck.

Group sizes and chronograph data are depicted below. Overall, all three loads from Magtech and Fiocchi spit out similar performance. From a user experience perspective, the Magtech lead bullet loads provided the most “authentic” shooting experience. It delivered both the distinct smell of lead bullet gunsmoke and the extra smoke that fills the air around the shooting bay.

Like most archaic revolver cartridges, the .38 S&W has been loaded with lead round-nose bullets for most of its life. Having never fired either a Safety Hammerless or the .38 S&W round, I’m not sure how to describe the felt recoil. It was closer in feeling to the push a .38 Special vintage steel J-frame than I expected, and the report was the same.

It definitely didn’t feel harsh or explosive like shooting a full-house .357 Magnum revolver, either.

Removing Spent Casings

Across all three loads, the muzzle velocity mean is 619 feet per second (FPS) from the Safety Hammerless’ 3 ¼ inch barrel. During shooting, I also noticed that the Safety Hammerless’ auto-eject system removes spent casings more thoroughly with swift movements and orienting the rear of the cylinder to face the deck.

Taking advantage of gravity is also helpful, but overall, the spent brass from these factory-loaded rounds was easy to eject. I got 1-2 empty cases stuck under the revolver’s star by not being quick enough with the auto-eject mechanism.

Because the distance to the target was only 7 yards, 99% of shot dispersion is assumed to be my “error.” Regardless, I still included shot-group data below.

Fiocchi Cowboy Action 145 Grain Coated RN

Fiocchi Heritage 145 Grain FMJ

Magtech 146 Grain LRN

Shooting The Safety Hammerless Freestyle

After the ordeal of shooting the Smith & Wesson Safety Hammerless for groups off a bag, I also decided to shoot ten additional rounds freestyle from each box of cartridges. I shot at 4-inch circles traced over the piece of cardboard I used as a target, and these freestyle groups don’t seem much different from the rested groups above.

Ultimately, shooting the Safety Hammerless freestyle contextualized the revolver candidly. It’s a purely defensive gun and meant to be fired at defensive-sized targets; its sights are too vague for any true precision.

The Takeaway

Ironically, many of this ancient revolver’s elements still live on due to their usefulness in personal carry. Anno 1887, the year Smith & Wesson took a new departure by launching the Safety Hammerless, was a long time ago. It has been 137 years, to be precise. Yet many cues from the Safety Hammerless are still relevant to the present-day guns sold by Smith & Wesson and other gunmakers.

Consider the Smith & Wesson J-frame Model 40 Centennial family and all of its modern snub-nosed descendants like the 640, 642, 442, 340, 940, and the like. These classics were built around a hammerless J-frame with a five-shot capacity, a double-action-only trigger, and a very similar grip shape.

The original Model 40 Centennial itself even included the same grip safety as the one on the Safety Hammerless. Doing some research for these articles, I even caught a gentleman in a YouTube video proclaiming that J-frame 5-shot HKS speedloaders will work with the Safety Hammerless, too.

137 years later, traces of the S&W Safety Hammerless’ DNA are still present today in the latest Ultimate Carry J-frames. The new Ultimate Carry series, which originally debuted at SHOT Show 2024, also descends from the Model 40 lineage and represents a fresh take on a modern J-frame carry revolver. Much the same way, it could be argued that the Smith & Wesson Safety Hammerless set out to be the Ultimate Carry of its day back in 1887.

Special thanks to Lucky Gunner for providing some .38 S&W ammunition for this project.

Read Part 1 and Part 2 of this series.

DON’T BE THE TACTICAL JERK

By

The Suited Shootist

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October 12, 2024

Spend enough time on IG, and you’ll see EDC pocket dumps and nightstand dumps of everyday carry gear. People doing layouts of their carry pistols, defensive knives, tactical flashlights, medical gear, spare magazines, etc.

The risk is that we can get so caught up that it’s easy to let fantasy supersede reality.

As Claude Werner says, your concealed carry loadout is METT-TC dependent.

In this week’s video, I talk about maintaining a balance between the preparation for violence and maintaining realistic and reasonable expectations.

Jesse James and His Many Fraudulent Guns

By

Travis Pike

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October 12, 2024

I firmly believe that the reason Jesse James stood out from the rest of his gang was the alliteration in his name. Everyone knows Jesse James, but names like Frank James and Cole Younger are only known to cowboy historians and Western fans. He might be tied with Billy the Kid for outlaw fame.

Mr. James was a Bushwacker early in his life. Bushwackers were guerillas in the Civil War who fought for the Confederates. After the war, he became a bank robber and outlaw. He is often romanticized as a Robin Hood-like outlaw. In reality, he took advantage of the frontier lawlessness and used violence to get his way.

Almost 150 years ago, he was assassinated by Bob Ford, and since then, dozens of different guns have been credited as Jesse James’ guns. It’s entirely possible that he was quite the gun collector, and these were authentic outlaw guns, but that’s simply not the case.

Jesse James and His Mom

Jesse James married a woman named Zerelda, and his mom was also named Zerelda. Yeah, it’s an odd one. Zerelda means armored battle maiden in Teutonic, so it’s a pretty sick name. Zerelda James, Jesse’s mom, was married three times and had eight children, but according to what I can find, only two became outlaws.

She wasn’t spared from Jesses’ actions. A raid led by Alan Pinkerton of the famed Pinkerton detective agency firebombed her home. She became famous in her own right as the mother of the famed outlaw. After the death of Jesse and during the trial of Frank James, the American consumption of Jesse James was at an all-time high.

Dime novels were popular, although unapproved by the James family. With interest at a high, it wasn’t long before people began stumbling onto the farm owned by Zerelda James. Zerelda James saw an opportunity and took advantage of her son’s fame and his death. She began offering tours of the farm where he had grown up.

Zerelda was an industrious lady. The tour ended at the grave of Jesse James. It sat outside her window. Famously, they buried him deeper than most to help keep grave robbers away. Tourists could take pebbles from the top of Jesse’s grave for just a few more coins. When the pebbles ran dry, Zerelda would go to the creek and gather more. This is just one example of her industrious nature.

With that in mind, she realized there was an extra income stream she hadn’t tapped into. Jesse’s guns.

The Fraudulent Guns of Jesse James

If you were a mega fan of Jesse James and you stuck around long enough and pried hard enough, Zerelda might show you some of Jesse’s guns. If you pried a bit more, she might even sell you one. It only made sense that people wanted to own a gun belonging to Jesse James. He was an outlaw. He made his living by wielding guns, robbing banks, and fighting it out with lawmen.

Jesse James was a man made by his guns. Who wouldn’t want a gun owned by the famed outlaw? If you wanted one, Zerelda would sell it to you. Plenty of happy customers left with empty pockets and a gun from the famed outlaw. Or did they?

Rock Island Auction got their hands on a genuine Jesse James revolver, one of the few

They certainly had empty pockets. Jesse James never owned the guns these tourists purchased. Zerelda, as the enterprising woman she was, would sell guns, often rusted, inoperable weapons on the second-hand market, as Jesse’s guns. This lead to a number of folks who proclaimed they owned a Jesse James gun, but in reality, they were scammed.

There is something poetic about that. Even after his death, his name was used to steal money from others.

The Real Guns of Jesse James

Due to the prolific sales of fraudulent guns credited to the outlaw, the market for his guns is interesting. Anyone proclaiming that they are selling a Jesse James gun has to provide a vast amount of provenance. For example, a listing at Heritage Auctions proclaims that a Colt 1873 Peacemaker is the “Most Thoroughly Documented Jesse James Gun to Ever Appear at Auction.”

The auction lists an impressive historical provenance, including speeches, letters, and similar examples of ‘proof’ that the gun belonged to Jesse James. It’s been well known that Jesse carried a Colt Peacemaker.

Heritage Auctions had one of the most documented of Jesse James Revolvers

The NRA Museum housed an S&W Scholfield that belonged to Jesse. Say what you want about the NRA, but their museum is amazing.

The Library of Congress has a photo of a 44 Hopkins and Allen 1873 pistol that is said to belong to James. It’s complete with the skull-bashing grip.

Worth a Hoot

Those are three of his confirmed handguns. There is also a variety of rifles credited to his name. While many of the supposed Jesse James guns have been debunked, a fake would still be valuable. The legend of Zerelda and her fraudulent guns is its own interesting story, and if you could prove it was a fake sold by Zerelda, it would still likely be highly collectible. Personally, I’d love one.

F.A.B. Defense Releases the Ultimag G2 30 round M16/AR15 Mag

By

Tim Stetzer

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October 11, 2024

F.A.B. Defense is a supplier to military and police units in Israel, and as such they’ve been busy since the October 7th invasion. Since then all of their production had been dedicated to supporting the IDF and IPD. They’ve finally caught up though, and are now able to offer the new Ultimag G2 windowless 30 round M16/AR15 magazine.

The Ultimag G2

F.A.B. Defense designed the Ultimag G2 to be an improved windowless variation of the original Ultimag magazine. It uses all-new internal geometry, reinforced feed lips, and a new follower design. The solid design of the Ultimag G2 makes it a little more affordable than the windowed Ultimag as well.

Brand, FAB Defense, Magazine, Windowless Studio shots of windowless polymer mags 2nd Generation, 5.56×45, 30 Rounds, Windowless Polymer Magazine (AR Platforms) – FDE

The Ultimag G2 was designed for military and law enforcement users. It features an identification area for marking your mags and a multi-textured surface for enhanced grip when handling and reloading. Internally, it has an extended-life spring that allows for full magazine storage. For take-down and cleaning, it uses a simple, tool-free design. The G2 comes with a bright blue follower for last-round identification.

Stacked from 15 images. Method=B (R=8,S=4)

Ultimag G2 Features

New reinforced & robust design
Low-friction follower for even greater reliability
Multi-textured surfaces for enhanced grip
Identification area for easily marking the magazine
Extended life spring design
Available in Black, Olive Drab, and FDE
MSRP: $13.99

For more information, please visit: www.FAB-Defense.com.

UCO Fire Starting Kit

By

Reuben Bolieu

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October 11, 2024

GAT_UCOKIT (2) — The UCO Fire Starting Kit offers 3 ways to ignite a fire, giving you the flexibility to choose.

The UCO Fire Starting Kit is a must-have for any outdoor adventure. It includes three separate fire-starting tools cleverly packed in a sturdy, waterproof, fireproof, and reusable metal tin. This kit offers three unique ways to ignite a fire, giving you the flexibility to choose the method that best suits your circumstances.

What’s In the Box

UCO StormProof SweetFire Tinder (8)
UCO Stormproof matches (25)
UCO Survival Fire Striker Ferro Rod (color may vary)
UCO Metal Tin

The UCO Fire Starting Kit contains three distinct fire-starting tools cleverly packed in a reusable metal tin, with plenty of space to add extra contents.

Ferro Rod

The kit includes a UCO Survival Fire Striker Ferro Rod, which worked as expected, especially on cotton balls and dryer lint. It has a mini-multitool striker that can be a prybar, hex wrench, and pop the top of a cold one!

The red handle is bright and easy to find when left on a rock or log where a fire may be built. The Ferro Rod is the equivalent of a Light My Fire brand Scout model. It makes strong, hot sparks and remains compact. It could even be added to another kit or live on a keychain.

UCO Survival Fire Striker Ferro Rod could be incorporated into another kit or attached to a keychain.

Storm Trooper

Well, close enough. UCO StormProof matches are designed to be a reliable fire-starting tool in the most adverse conditions. They are windproof and waterproof, ensuring they light quickly and consistently even during heavy winds, rain, or snow.

With a burn time of up to 25 seconds, these matches give you ample time to ignite other materials. Their extended length also provides added safety, preventing your fingertips from burns. UCO StormProof matches are valuable to any survival kit and are ideal for lighting campfires, stoves, and gas barbecues.

I’ve used these successfully when I had a well-arranged fire lay beforehand. It never took 25 seconds of burn time. It’s more like 2 seconds, which is my goal when processing natural tinder or making feather sticks. Bravo UCO!

SweetFire

UCO SweetFire matches are a unique and eco-friendly fire-starting solution. They are made from a sugarcane by-product called bagasse, a renewable biofuel infused with vegetable wax for a longer burn time.

Unlike regular matches, SweetFire includes tinder built-in, allowing it to burn for up to 7 minutes, making fire-starting more efficient and reliable, even in adverse conditions. These matches are also storm proof, capable of relighting after being submerged in water, offering a significant advantage in outdoor and survival situations.

UCO SweetFire matches are eco-friendly, made from sugarcane by-product, and can burn for up to 7 minutes.

I traveled to Palawan, Philippines, for a jungle camp trip and used the SweetFire matches to help secure a much-needed jungle fire when there was a break in the rain. If you know, you know. When every source of tinder and kindling is beyond damp and soggy, you grasp every resource and skill you can muster up. Cooking and heating water was done when nature allowed it.

The UCO SweetFire to the rescue. Everything you thought you knew about making fire is negated in humid conditions. Forget friction fire or ferro rods in less-than-ideal situations and subpar tinder. When “Fire Now” was needed, the UCO SweetFire delivered despite my lackluster kindling.

The author utilized UCO SweetFire matches to ignite a fire using damp kindling in the jungle.

Stateside, the SweetFire was the perfect ignition and tinder source when used in a twig stove. Once it was loaded with proper kindling and fuel, the SweetFire was added to the bottom and left to do its thing!

The SweetFire is the perfect ignition and tinder source for a twig stove when loaded with kindling and fuel.

TIPS

Always use a firm surface, such as the one on the matchbox, when lighting matches. Keep the box closed for best results. If the striker or the box becomes wet, allow it to dry out before using it again. In the meantime, use a spare striker. If the matches get wet, ensure they are wiped dry before use. Simple and effective!

SAFETY TIPS

Remember to strike the match away from your body or downwards, and watch out for any bystanders, including our furry friends. When you’re lighting it, be cautious because sparks can fly off. Once you’re done, run the match under water or bury it in the soil for several seconds to ensure it won’t start any unintentional fires.

The UCO Fire Starting Kit is loaded with options to help you start your fire. It can be used as a kit and boiling container or separated and added to existing kits.

For more information, check out UcoGear.com.

Do Preppers Need a Drone?

By

Jim Cobb

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October 10, 2024

Is there a home for drones in your prepping plan? I’ve been giving this a lot of thought lately. There are several uses a prepper might have for a drone.

Storm Aftermath

If you have a bad storm come through, whether we’re talking about a tornado, derecho, or just a run-of-the-mill hurricane, there’s a fair chance you’ll end up with some damage to your home or property. Rather than climbing a ladder to the roof, you can use a drone to check things out.

A drone can fly out to check fence lines as well as determine if other trees in the area look to be damaged. You can do the same for your neighbors, of course. You might even be able to use a drone to figure out exactly where your trampoline ended up.

Extending a little further out, you can use drones to see if any power lines are down in the immediate area, causing possible hazards if you need to leave. If your power is out, you might be able to see the extent of the outage.

Evacuation

Let’s say you need to evacuate your home and you run into a traffic jam. You could use a drone to fly ahead a bit and see what’s causing the problem. This intel can be used to make an informed decision as to whether you want to stay there or try a different route.

Drones can be similarly used to check all of the roads in the immediate area. If you decide to abandon the main route, you can fly up and see where traffic is lightest. The viewpoint could also reveal hazards you’d otherwise not see until it’s too late. One example would be roadblocks, whether planned and manned or just fallen trees and the like.

If time is of the essence, drones can help you find the path of least resistance and allow you to get out ahead of the crowd.

Defense

No, we’re not talking about arming drones, though obviously, that is a thing that exists. Instead, we’re focused on using a drone as an information-gathering tool. If the local area has devolved to where the rule of law is sketchy at best, you can use drones to keep an eye on your perimeter. With just a little practice, you can fly them quite high and get a true bird’s-eye view of the area.

Some models are equipped with night vision, which expands their use a fair bit. If you’re not afraid to spend a few bucks, you could even purchase a drone with thermal imaging capability.

While there is an argument to be made that deploying drones can alert people to your presence and perhaps even your location, the value of the information drones can provide to you may outweigh those risks.

Grid Down Considerations

One of the first arguments I hear against purchasing one is that it could be rendered useless in the event of an EMP (electromagnetic pulse). Even if drones are still working, GPS (global positioning system) functions may be down.

While all of that’s true, drones could prove quite useful in any disaster that doesn’t involve EMP. Personally, I’m okay with those odds. Also, drones only need GPS for a few of their higher-end functions. Most, if not all, drones can be flown manually.

Of course, drones run on electricity, so you’ll need to have a way to recharge the batteries. Many preppers these days have accounted for some sort of energy production, such as gas or solar-powered generators.

Do I Need a Drone?

As with any tool, you need to weigh the cost versus benefit. Everyone’s situation is different. Good quality drones aren’t cheap. There’s also an investment of time in learning how to use one effectively. For many people, this isn’t something you’ll be able to master in just an hour or two.

That said, there’s a lot of value in having an extra set of eyes, particularly if those eyes can see much further than you can.

Feds Shutdown 350 Chinese Websites for NFA Violations

By

Travis Pike

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October 10, 2024

Earlier this month, the Department of Justice seized over 350 Chinese websites linked to selling Glock switches, suppressor kits, and more. That’s a pretty big bust, at least it seems to be. The websites are linked to China, which has been a fairly famous exporter of NFA-violating options. I believe I should be able to order a Glock switch or suppressor off the internet and have it arrive with Prime Two-Day shipping, but the Federal Government seems to have a different opinion.

Does Shutting Down the Chinese Websites Matter?

According to the Justice Department, the websites were targeted for selling Glock switches and screw-together suppressors. The Feds apparently purchased a variety of Glock switches and suppressors. They confirmed they were shipped from China and marked as necklaces and toys to avoid Customs scrutiny.

According to the Feds, these Chinese websites “… represent a large-scale, organized effort to import illegal switches and silencers that turn ordinary firearms into deadly automatic weapons. HSI has worked diligently with our partners to systematically dismantle this network of websites to uphold our nation’s import laws and to preserve public safety,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol for Homeland Security Investigations in New England.

“HSI cyber investigations work to keep illegal switches and silencers out of the hands of criminals who use them to commit violence and facilitate crime in our communities,” he concluded.

Glock switches have become a surprisingly common sight amongst American street gangs. We’ve seen several high-profile incidents in states, most with strict gun control, carried out by criminals with converted Glocks.

The Feds claimed they ‘seized’ 700 Glock switches, 87 suppressors, as well as 59 handguns and 36 long guns. Nowhere does it state that the Chinese websites were selling guns. This is pure speculation, but I think the long guns and handguns came from seizures from U.S. Citizens.

When they seized the websites, they seized records of sale and were able to track down purchasers of said illegal items. I’m also betting the Fed purchased a ton of switches and fake suppressors and filtered a lot of taxpayer money to China in this scheme.

Will It Work?

While the feds are likely giving themselves a big pat on the back for seizing these 355 Chinese websites, what they aren’t saying is that it doesn’t really matter. The folks in China selling these items remain unaffected. American federal agents can’t go to China and arrest these people. This likely just represents a minor inconvenience to the Chinese side of the operation.

They’ll just set up new websites. It’s not exactly hard to do. The feds will likely continue to play a game of Whack-a-mole with the various Chinese sources selling Glock switches and suppressors.

Why It Matters to You

While I believe that you have a right to own suppressors and machine guns, I will straight up tell you not to order them from China and shady websites in general. I don’t think you’re doing anything morally wrong, just stupid. The Chinese only care about their profit margins, and the feds care about arrest statistics.

In the middle sits us who appreciate the 2nd Amendment. If you give the Chinese your cash, the feds will take your years. These Chinese websites don’t care about your privacy or security. They don’t even have to give it to the Feds. It’s likely there for the taking. The domains are seized. Any companies that have hosted the websites will gladly give the Feds a key to the kingdom.

That means your address, your name, credit card information, and everything they need to put you away for your best years.

Wish and Alibaba Are Still Running

Websites like Wish and Alibaba have become memes over the years for the crazy counterfeit goods they sell. Wish sells tons of firearm goods, and famously, it sells Glock Switches, suppressors, and more. You might wonder why those websites haven’t been seized. Neither does Amazon, which has sold Glock switches for years as airsoft parts.

These websites are large, funded by billionaires, and will immediately comply with federal requests for your records. There is no safe way to buy these items outside of NFA compliance. Just don’t do it. You will get caught, and then you’re a felon who can’t even vote to preserve gun rights. Unfortunately, we will have to fight and rally against the NFA to make it easy and legal to buy what we want when we want it.