Whether you’re just starting out on your prepping journey or you’ve been at it a while, a preparedness journal is a great way to keep track of all manner of information and keep it right at your fingertips.
For something like this, I like to go old school and use spiral notebooks. The multi-subject kind is great because they’re already divided into sections. Even when it isn’t back-to-school season, they don’t cost a lot. You could also go with a binder and loose-leaf paper—if that works better for you.
Here are a few sections I’ve used in my own preparedness journal.
Packing Lists
No matter how often you go out on a trip, the odds are pretty good that you’ll forget something. That’s why we invented checklists. In your preparedness journal, you can devote a section to packing lists to help you remember everything you need. Have one list for day trips, another for overnights, that sort of thing. Add to the lists things you discover you need and eliminate the items you never use.
Goals/Plans
As you move along the preparedness path, you’ll no doubt have ideas you want to pursue later. Have a section in your journal where you can write notes on what you want to look up, learn about, or design at some point.
Maybe you see a new-to-you concept for raised bed gardening, and you want to research it. Or you want to remind yourself to restock the vehicle emergency kit before your road trip. Having a one-stop shop for notes like this means you’ll be able to find them again later.
Weather Tracking
One of the best ways to learn how to forecast the weather is by paying attention to what’s happened in the past. This doesn’t need to be any sort of meteorology doctoral thesis. You don’t need to run out and buy any special equipment, either. However, if you want to shell out for a high-end weather station, there are certainly worse ways to spend your money.
The idea here is simply to jot down notes with your observations about the weather. Over time, even if you’ve had zero training or education in the subject, you’ll start to connect some dots.
Purchases
You don’t need to use this preparedness journal to keep track of everything you buy. But many of us have hobbies that intersect with prepping, such as collecting knives or firearms. There’s a joke that’s been floating around forever about praying that upon your passing, your spouse doesn’t sell your collection for what you told them it cost. This can be a serious problem, though.
An avid knife collector I knew passed away, and his daughter was tasked with handling his extensive collection. She was fortunate that he had put a little note into each knife box with the date of purchase, price paid, where or from whom he bought it, and other information. After she’d selected the ones she wanted to keep, those notes went a long way toward setting accurate prices for the rest.
You could do the same in this section of your journal, even if you’re not a collector. Anything that’s a big-ticket item could be noted, such as a freeze-dryer or generator.
Journaling
This is a journal, right? This is where you can celebrate your successes and learn from your failures. What has been working, what hasn’t, and why. I think one of the coolest things about maintaining a preparedness journal is paging through to see the progress you make over time.
ACSS Griffin Mil M8 reticle at 1x. Image source: Primary Arms
The Primary Arms Optics ACSS Griffin Mil reticle is probably best described as a jack-of-all-trades multi-purpose reticle. And Because the PLxC is a first focal plane scope, the reticle will shrink or grow depending on the level of zoom adjustment. This means that shooters will naturally perceive and see the reticle differently at 1x magnification than they would at the full 8x magnification.
On its lowest setting, the ACSS Griffin reticle looks nearly like a traditional duplex crosshair, with very thick outer stadia lines that taper and then disappear leaving only a floating horseshoe-ring with a centrally placed aiming chevron.
At 8x Zoom
On the flip side, when adjusted to higher levels of magnification, the thick duplex crosshair lines disappear, and both the horseshoe ring and aiming chevron are greatly expanded. In fact, this chevron is the nucleus of the ACSS Griffin reticle. It measures 2-mils wide and floats over a milliradian-based grid while being enveloped by that outer “CQB” horseshoe ring.
Labeled view of ACSS Griffin Mil M8 Reticle at full 8x zoom. Image credit: Primary Arms
At 1-mil beneath the aiming tip of the chevron, the ACSS Griffin has a vertical stadia line that bisects a grid of points spaced out 1-mil apart. This vertical stadia line itself has its own markings spaced at ½ mil and 1-mil intervals that extend all the way down to 15 mils.
Distance Ranging with the ACSS Griffin Reticle
The ACSS Griffin reticle features some quick-and-dirty distance-ranging tricks. For example, at 300 meters, the 19-inch width of an IPSC/USPSA paper target will fit flush with the central aiming chevron. At 400 meters, the same common 19-inch wide target fits flush against the slightly wider horizontal line found 2 mils below, on the vertical stadia line.
Furthermore, the design team at Primary Arms Optics also incorporated a pair of symmetrical “ranging wings” to the left or right of the principal horseshoe. These lines are also vertical and can be used to range 170 cm tall targets from 300 to 600 meters. In essence, with its thick horseshoe ring, a regulated central vertical stadia line, the grid of 1×1-mil spaced dots, and these “ranging wings,” it’s evident that the ACSS Griffin Mil M8 reticle was created to fully take advantage of the versatility of a riflescope with this level of variable magnification.
Primary Arms even ships a separate booklet focusing on only this reticle with useful information and excellent diagrams. I briefly touched on this in Part 1, but PA even ships an exposed elevation turret knob for those who would like to shoot and dial as if they were using a traditional riflescope. I don’t think it’s necessary on any LPVO but I appreciate the thought and detail once again.
Shooting Experiences With the Primary Arms PLxC 1-8 LPVO
At the time of this writing, I’ve fired a few hundred rounds of 5.56 NATO ammunition along with scores of .22 LR cartridges with the aid of this LPVO. I can’t comment on what it’s like to jump out of a helicopter with the PLxC mounted on a SOPMOD Block II carbine, but its quality construction suggests that it would hold up just fine….with “regular-guy” use at the range, classes or matches anyway. This is all I can personally speak for anyway.
The product page on the Primary Arms website for the PLxC mentions the scope’s generous field of view when cranked down to 1x. I think it checks out. With an eye box that measures approximately 3.5 inches, looking through the PLxC at its lowest magnification setting feels similar to looking through the Vortex Razor LPVO series. At this magnification, one perceives the edge of the scope to be extremely thin and the eye mostly sees a generous field of view. I included a picture of the Vortex on the right to show what I’m talking about.
I’ve noticed that regardless of scope mount height, when using both eyes open, the shooter’s eyes have to sit squarely with the PLxC’s eyebox for a crisp and clear picture. Otherwise, one might find some slight scope shadow. I’ve found that the best way to prevent this is by staying focused on the target and simply bringing up the carbine to one’s face.
Running the Primary Arms PLxC
In addition to dry-fire around the house or the backyard, I’ve been taking this LPVO mounted to a Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 (pictured in Part 1) to a Steel Challenge match and participated with it under the “rimfire rifle open” division.
Steel Challenge is all about shooting bigger, close-distance targets as quickly as possible. It was a good exercise to put this optic through. These are summer matches held in the evening, with the sun shifting over the horizon at twilight. With the uneven lighting I find that “duplex-esque” outer stadia lines do help to ensure that my reticle is properly aligned with the steel plates from the match.
In bright daylight, the ACSS Griffin’s horseshoe abets the shooter by granting them a good-sized “quick” targeting ring. This is why many shooters opt for these—especially on low-zoom magnified optics like LPVOs or prismatic sights—when shooting targets like IPSC/USPSA paper targets or A/C-zone steel plates.
I can definitely understand why the appeal is there, and in the case of Steel Challenge—well, a red dot is always going to be faster. However, I was able to hold my own using this LPVO, too.
Shooting at distant targets downrange with the Primary Arms PLxC LPVO during the Cornerstone LPVO class.
Zoomed In At 8x
In the world of shooting, everything is about trade-offs and compromises, and shooting LPVOs adjusted to their higher magnifications is no exception. In short, LPVOs don’t mirror the exact functionality that standard riflescopes have. Instead, LPVOs are stuck with fixed parallax settings and tighter-than-normal eyeboxes at full magnification, among other things.
LPVOs aren’t precision riflescopes, but they certainly work better than red dots and magnifiers, especially on general-purpose carbines. This is why many others, including myself, consider LPVOs worth the hassle.
Proving Grounds
I’m extremely glad that in the previously mentioned Cornerstone Performance LPVO course, we students had ample chances to shoot at different size targets from barricades at distances of 275 yards plus. These are very healthy distances for general-purpose 5.56mm carbines shooting A/C-zone-sized targets. This afforded me the opportunity to spend some time shooting with the PLxC’s reticle at full magnification, mostly off bag and barricade.
One of the first things I had to do was readjust the diopter’s prescription and twist the focus ring to a different setting than how I had adjusted it for the best 1x view. While I haven’t reviewed every currently available LPVO ever made, this is the first scope that I’ve used extensively that needed its focus ring set differently at low and high magnifications for the clearest picture.
My educated guess is that it may have something to do with the manner in which the lenses are stacked inside the optic with respect to both the size and length of the optic. After adjusting the focus ring for the right prescription, I didn’t have too much trouble shooting at 8x magnification with a proper index off the carbine stock.
The Magpul STR (shown on the rifle below) is a heavy but comfortable stock. Its sloped surface allowed me to get comfortable while fully zoomed in. From a physical standpoint, I have no real complaints about this LPVO. However, I do have some critiques of the reticle, which I’ll cover in Part 3.
Virtually all of my hands-on experience shooting 5.56mm ammunition in conjunction with the Primary Arms PLxC LPVO has been through this ARIC equipped Lone Star Armory TX-4 carbine.
Foxtrot Mike just released two new fully ambidextrous versions of its Mike-9 9mm pistol and carbine. These are based upon the company’s proven Mike-9 platform but with updated controls for Southpaws.
The Ambi Mike’s
Foxtrot Mike (FM) has been making 9mm-based Mike-9 AR pistols and rifles for over six years now. The company has become popular with competition and sports shooters alike. I got to shoot one a few times over the summer after a buddy of mine picked up a carbine. It’s nicely made and well laid out—unlike his parts gun that we put together for him, which needed a lot of tweaking.
FM just announced the latest version of the Mike-9 series, which includes a 7-inch braced pistol and a 16-inch carbine. The new guns are fully ambidextrous and feature an ambi safety, bolt catch, and magazine catch. My buddy runs his carbine fine, but being a lefty, I’m betting he wishes he would have waited for one of these.
FM Products Mike-9 AMBI 7” Pistol with MFT Brace
First up is the Mike-9 Ambi 7″ 9mm Pistol. It’s a Glock magazine-compatible Pistol Caliber Carbine (PCC) built around a dedicated pistol mag lower receiver. It uses a monolithic style upper that FM makes possible with a proprietary interlock between the upper and handguard. It features a 7-inch barrel fitted with a Micro Blast Diffuser. The pistol has a direct blowback action with a buffer tube and comes with an MFT brace.
The Mike-9 has a patented bolt hold-open mechanism. It’s not made of sheet metal like most PCCs. FM says it’s reliable and durable—two things that aren’t necessarily true of other PCCs. I know I had to do a lot of tweaking on my first one to get it to work correctly. The Mike-9 Ambi is currently on sale for $594.15, which is 15% off of the regular price.
Mike-9 Pistol Specs:
Platform: Mike-9b Caliber: 9mm Operating System: Straight Blowback Barrel Length: 7″ Barrel Twist: 1:10 Barrel Material: 41v50 Premium Match Grade 41v50 Barrel, Vacuum Stress Relieved, Melonite Coated With A Honed Chamber Muzzle Device: Micro Blast Diffuser Muzzle Thread: 1/2 X 36 Upper Receiver: Billet Aircraft Aluminum Type III Hard Black Anodizing Lower Receiver: Billet Aircraft Aluminum Type III Hard Black Anodizing Handguard: 5.75″ M-Lok Free Float Type III Hard Black Anodizing Charging Handle: Rear Charging Handle Mil-Spec Pistol Grip: Thril Buffer: 6.5 Oz Heavy Buffer Buffer Tube: Mil-Spec Brace: MFT Brace Trigger: Flat Face Mil-Spec Safety Selector: FM – Products Ambidextrous Length (Inches): 22″ Weight (Lbs): 5.1 MSRP: $594.15
FM Products Mike-9 Ambi 16” Rifle with Thril Furniture
The Mike-9 Ambi 16″ PCC 9mm rifle is again built around a dedicated Glock magazine lower. It uses a 16-inch barrel equipped with a four-port compensator. The upper and handguard are the same monolithic style as the pistol. It carries over the ambidextrous features and last-round bolt hold open, just like the pistol.
The FM rifle is basically the same build as the pistol, just with a longer barrel and handguard. It’s fitted with a Thril pistol grip and Thril collapsible buttstock instead of a brace. It currently sells for $713.15, which is again a 15% discount off the regular price.
Mike-9 PCC Rifle Specs:
Platform: Mike-9b Caliber: 9mm Operating System: Straight Blowback Barrel Length: 16″ Barrel Twist: 1:10 Barrel Material: 41v50 Premium Match Grade 41v50 Barrel, Vacuum Stress Relieved, Melonite Coated With A Honed Chamber Muzzle Device: 4-Port Compensator Muzzle Thread: 1/2 X 36 Upper Receiver: Billet Aircraft Aluminum Type III Hard Black Anodizing Lower Receiver: Billet Aircraft Aluminum Type III Hard Black Anodizing Handguard: 15″ M-Lok Free Float Type III Hard Black Anodizing Charging Handle: Rear Charging Handle Mil-Spec Pistol Grip: Thril Buffer: 6.5 Oz Heavy Buffer Buffer Tube: Mil-Spec Stock: Thril Trigger: Flat Face Mil-Spec Safety Selector: FM – Products Ambidextrous Length (Inches): 31″ Weight (Lbs): 5.7 MSRP: $713.15
The Combatives Association, a relatively new group in the firearms and self-defense training space, is a voluntary collection of passionate defensive-minded instructors. These instructors have a focus on the full spectrum of self-defense strategies beyond standard firearms training. This includes empty-handed techniques, social skills or other soft skills like the ability to read cues. This isn’t to say they don’t care about firearms because defensive gun handling and gun safety, as those facets of self-defense dovetail into that spectrum of self-defense as well.
Training with Combatives Association
Firearms have always been the great equalizer when it comes to potential self-defense scenarios. However, there’s more to knowing how to draw and fire a handgun in order to successfully navigate through a self-defense encounter and prevail–not only physically but legally and ethically, too.
More so, because the nuances of self-defense are often drastically different when the would-be assailants are quite literally “in one’s face” as opposed to some distance away.
All manner of fantastic defensive shooting courses are already available for law-abiding gun owners and self-defense defense practitioners to enroll in. However, the industry is arguably underserved in coursework and curriculum with a focus on extreme-close quarters defensive tactics (or other pertinent skills and knowledge that aren’t directly shooting-related but do tangentially apply).
The Combatives Association strives to bring a platform to its affiliated instructors to close these gaps in the industry. Likewise, they also help shine on lesser-known teachers who possess a legitimate body of work and experience throughout their careers.
What is the Combatives Association
The ranks of Combatives Association instructors are joined by industry luminaries such as Kelly McCann, Matt Larsen, and Craig Douglas, among others. John Valentine is a career US Military conventional-forces instructor in small-team tactics and units, as well as an accomplished martial artist and competitive shooter.
I first met Mr. Valentine in person some years ago during an ECQC course held outside of Austin, Texas. He is the self-described “Winston” to the Combatives Association’s “Continental [hotel]” to follow the metaphor from the John Wick Films. Winston was the point person who served as the connector and facilitator between the film’s characters.
The curriculum that Combatives Association instructors teach does include plenty of hand-to-hand and actual combatives material. However, the association’s purview also doesn’t limit itself to these “bare-handed” tactics either.
Working with items such as defensive blades or saps and jacks play a role, as do intellectual concepts like “verbal agility” and appropriate social communication or body language. If you’re familiar with Shivworks and Craig Douglas, his excellent ECQC course is a good sampling of what the Combatives Association is about. But to a deeper level of detail, nuance, and understanding.
The Combatives Summit
The Combatives Summit is the Combatives Association’s yearly convention-exhibition-seminar event. Like any other convention, this event is carried out with the intention of exposing students to a wide variety of relevant instructors under one roof during a weekend. There’s a mix of presenting instructors, like the ones mentioned above, along with special guests.
Honored guests and instructors will not only have the chance to offer training blocks, but the Combative Summits also include keynote speeches, presentations, and panel discussions. For example, well-known shooting instructor Matt Pranka of X-Ray Alpha LLC will be a guest of honor at this year’s Combatives Summit, where he will teach an instructional block on dry-firing.
One of the Combative Summit’s other goals is to provide a platform for lesser-known trainers with legitimate resumes and bodies of work and give them a chance to showcase their material.
The 2024 edition of the Combatives Summit is around the corner. It will be held at the American Top Team Jiu Jitsu Gym and Training facility in D’Iberville, Mississippi, on the weekend of September 20th. It lasts through the 22nd from 8 AM to 6 PM for all three days.
Combatives Summit 2023 Gallery
The Takeaway
John Valentine with another Combatives Summit participant in 2023.
Self-defense skills don’t exist in a vacuum. It can be easy to remain focused on equipment like firearms and ammunition while overlooking other aspects like social skills, verbal agility, unarmed combatives, etc. Truthfully, guns are merely one part of this comprehensive topic.
It helps to think of “self-defense” as a big tool bag that provides several types of tools in order to solve the problem. And even though firearms truly are the great equalizer, as I described them above, their use also comes with heavy legal consequences and ramifications.
Furthermore, not all potential self-defense situations require their use, either. This ties into the goals of the Combatives Association, which is to create a community and instructor network for the underserved aspects of defensive topics.
Even so, firearms aren’t discounted at this event, as indicated by Matt Pranka’s scheduled appearance at this year’s upcoming Combatives Summit.
In a conversation I had with Valentine, he expanded on this.
“At the aggregate level, the topics and curriculum enshrined by the Combatives Association discuss all the topics and circumstances before the ‘start signal’ that occurs in orthodox firearms training. There is a relationship between combatives and force-on-force training with firearms training not unlike the similar relationship that dry-firing has to live-fire shooting.”
Likewise, he adds, “It is also worth considering the after-actions that must be developed to mitigate damage and legal consequences [of a defensive use-of-force event].”
Final Thoughts
Though I haven’t had a chance to attend one of the Combative Association’s Summits yet, it does make a lot of sense for them to exist. After all, the shooting community already benefits from other “convention” type events like Rangemaster’s Tac-Con or the Shooter’s Symposium. So, a different event that focuses on non-firearms stuff with more depth sounds wonderful.
Combatives, after all, are everything that happens between harsh words and hollow-points.
EDC, or everyday carry for those not familiar with the lingo, refers to what you keep close at hand as you go about your day. For some, it has a very strict connotation in that it is limited to the gear you have literally on your body at all times. They take the “carry” part of EDC quite literally. And that’s okay, to each their own.
However, I look at it more broadly. I like EDC layers, at least three of them. Here’s how I break it down.
On Body EDC
This EDC layer consists of what you keep on your belt, in your pockets, or wear in some other fashion. For a lot of us, this includes things like a knife, pocket flashlight, defense weapon, wallet, and cell phone.
Some might add a few more items, such as a tourniquet, pocket pry bar, and/or a multi-tool, depending on their individual needs. And that right there is the crux of EDC layers—base your carry on what you truly need, or might need, throughout the day.
Some people like to add lucky coins, dice, or other fidgety items.
Off Body EDC
Many of us routinely use some sort of bag, satchel, or pack to carry work-related gear. This might include a laptop or tablet, files, and such. To me, it just makes sense to also keep additional EDC items in such a bag.
Some things that I typically keep in my EDC bag include:
Fully charged power bank
Small tool kit
Spare flashlight
Pill organizer with OTC meds (ibuprofen, pink bismuth tablets, antacids)
First aid kit
Lighter
Notepad and writing utensils
Tooth flossers
The author likes to use small pouches to keep gear organized in his EDC packs, such as this one for first aid from Tuff Possum Gear.
I may also toss in some small snacks, like crackers or hard candy. Just a little something for a quick pick-me-up during a long afternoon. The nice thing about this EDC layer is that it is infinitely customizable. Adjust it on a daily basis depending on what you have planned.
Vehicle EDC
While not everyone has a vehicle, those who do would do well to add this EDC layer to the overall gear loadout. As with the previous two layers, the gear should reflect your likely needs. That said, there are a few things that are common sense.
When I worked outside the home, I kept a small backpack in the trunk that contained a spare set of clothes. If I spilled something on my shirt, got dirty changing a tire, or whatever, I had something I could change into if needed.
I grew up in the upper Midwest. When you got your first car, which back then was likely just a beater with a heater, two things immediately went into the trunk. Your dad would give you a set of old jumper cables, and your mom would give you an old blanket or comforter. A few decades later, I still keep those items handy.
Here are a few other nice-to-haves in the vehicle EDC layer. Granted, this gets more into what we’d call a vehicle emergency kit, but there’s considerable overlap between EDC gear and emergency gear.
A set of spare clothes
Extra knit hat and winter gloves
Basic tool kit
Jump starter
Jug of potable water
Folding shovel
At the end of the day, don’t look at EDC as a checklist, where you absolutely must have certain items. Instead, look for items that will serve to make your life easier throughout the day. After all, that’s really what EDC is all about. Use the EDC layers concept to distribute your gear, so that it’s easier to carry everything you need.
I’m a bit of a .32 ACP nut. If I see the words 7.65 Browning printed on anything, I’m going to check it out. My recent obsession has been spending more on ammo than ever before! I often lament the lack of new .32 ACP pistols in the United States, and I hope the cartridge makes a comeback. We have gotten two .32 ACP pistols this year from Beretta and Walther, but I won’t hold my breath. If you’re researching .32 ACP pistols, you’ll eventually find yourself on an Indian firearms forum eyeballing India’s .32 ACP pistols.
India is all about the .32 ACP for civilian use. Numerous gun laws restrict certain calibers. There are two classifications: PB, or Prohibited Bores, and NPB, Non-Prohibited Bores. From my rough understanding of Google Translated forums, calibers like .32 ACP, .380 ACP, and .22LR are non-prohibited bores.
It seems like .380 ACP is tough to get, as are 9mm and 7.62 TOK. However, .32 ACP and .32 S&W Long are widely available and have become the de facto calibers for Indian self-defense firearms. This has created a market for .32 ACP pistols, and I figured we could examine India’s .32 ACP pistols.
India’s .32 ACP Pistols – New, Old, and In Between
One thing you’ll notice right away is that most of these guns are clones of other guns. There isn’t a ton of new designs. There doesn’t need to be. The .32 ACP works well in blowback-operated and short recoil guns and has a proven track record. Even so, there are some very creative options on this list that I’m quite jealous of.
Webley Fox
The Webley Fox is pretty close to an original design, but it isn’t much different than any other blowback-operated pistol. What makes it different is the size; it’s not super small or compact. It has a 3.8-inch barrel and a height of 4.91 inches. This makes it just a hair smaller than a Glock 19. It houses a 13-round magazine in a metal frame.
The gun sticks to a hammer-fired design with what appears to be an ambidextrous manual safety. The Fox seems to be fairly close in function and design to a CZ 83 series. However, the maker brags it’s designed and built entirely in India. It’s certainly a unique-looking gun and an interesting .32 ACP. I also can’t find direct information on the price, but it seems to be one of the most expensive of India’s .32 ACP pistols. The closest estimate I can find is about $ 3,000.
Webley Ranger
Another Webley, Webley of India, of course. This time, they didn’t make an original design but rather used a 1911 layout. It’s not a true 1911, but a blowback-operated .32 ACP design. It doesn’t cling to the overall 1911 layout if you shrink it considerably. The gun has a 3.75-inch barrel and is quite small and thin. Like the classic M1911, we get an eight-round single-stack magazine.
It’s got the same manual safety and grip safety as a 1911, and a single-action only design. One odd choice was to equip the gun with a vent rib for some reason. It looks like a Hungarian Hi-Power or maybe a Llama 1911. It’s an odd choice, but it appears to be a neat little gun.
Astr Atal 32X
Most of India’s 32 ACP pistols aren’t original, but the Astr Atal 32X breaks that mold. This might be the most modern gun on this list. This is what happens when someone designs a SIG P365 in .32 ACP. The Astr Atal 32X features a machined allow frame, a short recoil system, and a striker-fired design. When Astr says the gun was first made and designed in India, it seems to be true.
They did take some inspiration from the P365. They even use the same marketing hook with 365 days mentioned. The Atal 32X also features a chassis system and the ability to swap grip modules, although it doesn’t seem like any other grip modules are available. The gun can hold 13 rounds in the magazine and appears very small and concealable. In American dollars, the price point is roughly $2,300.
Ashani Pistol
When people say it’s what’s on the inside that counts, they’re talking about the Ashani pistol because it’s the ugliest of India’s .32 ACP pistols. This gun copies the FN M1910/22 series of firearms but uglifies it with a massive, unsightly grip. They also added a hammer to the design, which is interesting enough.
It’s a bare-bones pistol that seems fairly cheap for India—about a grand in American dollars. There are several variants organized as Mk 1, Mk 2, and Mk 3. There are differences in the slide design and grip, but they are all simple blowback guns with single-stack magazines that hold between 8 and 10 rounds of .32 ACP.
Stallion S-32
The Stallion S-32 directly copies the Beretta 81 Cheetah series. This compact-sized .32 ACP features a double-stack magazine capable of holding 12 rounds of .32 ACP. It maintains the Beretta DA/SA design with a frame-mounted safety and exposed barrel. It’s all Beretta to its core. Like most of India’s .32 ACP pistols, it’s not an original design by any means, and that’s okay.
These are direct blowback guns, and their large size and wide grips make recoil a nothing burger. I can easily see why someone would copy this design. It works, is incredibly ergonomic, is very easy to shoot, and you get 12 rounds of ammo with the flush-fitting magazine. According to Stallion’s website, they also have a 15-round magazine that’s slightly extended. Stallion produces various finish and grip options for the gun, but I can’t seem to locate a price.
The Little .32 ACP
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want a few of these guns. My number 1 choice would be the Stallion S-32, but the Webley Ranger and Astr Atal 32X would be welcome in my gun safe. India’s .32 ACP pistols are diverse and make for some fascinating designs. Sadly, we won’t see them in the States.
I’ve been a knife user and collector for over forty years and I’m still baffled as to how the Kershaw Knives Livewire was my first OTF (out the front) automatic knife. I mean, you’d think I’d have a fistful of OTF knives by now. Thinking back, I did pick up a cheap OTF a few years ago, but it was just a glorified gas station knife. The Livewire is the real deal.
The Kershaw brand isn’t new to me. I have a bunch of their knives, including several from their Launch series of autos. There’s not a dud in the bunch. When the Livewire debuted at the 2023 SHOT Show, I knew I had to get one. It was not only Kershaw’s first OTF, but it’s one that’s made entirely in the USA.
About five months ago, my wife and I were traveling through northeastern Wisconsin and stopped at DLT Trading. They had recently added a blue Livewire to their offerings, so I asked to see it. Well, it was love at first sight.
The cool thing about OTF models, including the Livewire, is that the blade can be opened and closed with one hand. No fumbling around trying to feel for a liner lock with your thumb and then pushing the blade closed with your thigh. Just SNICK open and SNICK closed. Simple, easy, and weirdly satisfying.
Kershaw Knives Livewire Features
Right off the bat, one thing I like about the Livewire is how safe it is. The sliding switch to release the blade takes a little effort, and it’s a long slide. There is virtually no risk of accidentally firing the blade. Not only that, if the working end of the handle is pressed against something, such as a box or a leg, and the switch is activated, the blade isn’t going to fully fire. It’ll move just the tiniest bit, and that’s it. You’ll have to pull the blade out manually at that point, then move the switch again to retract it.
The spear point blade is MagnaCut, and on this particular model, it has a Blackwash finish. This really meshes well with the blue aluminum handle. The handle has some eye-catching contouring, too. I have observed that the blue finish is already starting to wear away along the edges of the handle, though. It’s not a huge concern, but it’s definitely noticeable.
Closed, the Livewire measures 4.8 inches. The blade adds another 3.3 inches, giving you a total of 8.1 inches when opened. There’s a pocket clip that can be reversed for right- or left-hand carry.
The pocket clip can be swapped to either side of the handle to allow for right- or left-handed carry.
How Does It Perform?
I think a high-quality OTF like the Livewire might be a grown-up version of a fidget spinner. If it’s sitting within arm’s reach on my desk, I inevitably find myself firing it open and closed a few times. Given how many times on an average day I’ve done this, in addition to when I’ve actually used the knife, I’d ballpark it at about 1,000 cycles to date, and it’s still going strong.
That said, there is a little maintenance with the Kershaw Knives Livewire. From time to time, pocket lint might work its way inside and foul up the mechanism a bit. Fortunately, Kershaw put together a handy video on how to fix this. The whole process only takes a few minutes.
I’ve used the Livewire to open mail and packages, break down boxes, cut up veggies and fruit, and even snip loose threads from clothing. The point of the blade is needle-sharp, and the MagnaCut blade holds an edge quite well.
Being a knife reviewer has a lot of perks, but there is one major downfall. You don’t get the chance to carry your favorites as often as you’d like because you’re frequently evaluating other models. That’s the only thing that has prevented me from carrying the Livewire every single day since I bought it.
As it is, this is the sort of knife that you look for reasons to use because it’s just plain fun. And with a sub-$300 price point, it’s an amazing value.
The relatively new Primary Arms PLxC 1-8 LPVO riflescope got my attention after the US Department of Energy (DOE) began fielding it, and they entered into a contract with Primary Arms. It’s not just that certain armed DOE agents carry out interesting missions, but this is one of the first major contracts between Primary Arms Optics itself and the US Government. Beyond that, this is one of the most premium scopes sold by Primary Arms Optics to date.
The PLxC’s spec sheet is quite impressive, especially in terms of size, length, and weight. Although it was originally released in 2023, I was fortunate to get my hands on one of these compact LPVOs starting back in May to evaluate. Since then, this LPVO became my principal sidekick while shooting AR-pattern rifles.
I even took it to Cornerstone Performance’s Two-Day LPVO carbine course to stretch its legs out to 300 yards. It has also been my trusty side-kick at local Steel Challenge matches, atop a .22 LR Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 carbine for the Rimfire Rifle Open Division.
Primary Arms Optics PLxC 1-8 LPVO Overview
The Primary Arms Optics PLxC 1-8x LPVO is a compact, low-power variable optic that is currently offered with three different reticle choices: the ACSS Griffin or ACSS Raptor (first focal plane), or the ACSS Nova Fiber Wire (second focal plane). This optic is built around a standard 30mm main tube diameter to keep it smaller and lighter. I find this intriguing as most LPVOs built around higher magnification levels and first focal plane reticles tend to use thicker 34mm bodies.
Because the PLxC is part of Primary Arms Optics’ premium tier, these units are manufactured specifically in Japan, under more stringent specifications. However, customers do pay for this accordingly as these optics retail for $1499. Aside from reticle or focal plane options, these LPVOs are available in both anodized black and anodized flat dark earth.
I have hands-on experience with the first focal plane unit that uses the ACSS Griffin Mil M8 reticle (the same SKU that’s furnished to the Dept. Of Energy under their contract).
A Solid Construction
Looking over my PLxC, it was easy to see how well-made the scope is. The magnification adjustment has finely machined knurling throughout its circumference. An L-shaped throw lever sits firmly secured via two Torx screws to the adjustment ring. The lever isn’t too tall and rotates 180 degrees, from 1x to 8x. At low-end or high-end, this means that the lever sits at either 9 or 3 o’clock. The resistance when twisting on the magnification adjustment ring feels about right, with a reasonable amount of snug resistance.
The rest of the PLxC’s peripherals, such as the turrets, turret caps, or diopter (focus) adjustment ring, are well fitted and also properly snug without any undo looseness. The clicks when turning the turrets are tactile, and I also appreciate the small detail of placing an o-ring around each turret’s circumference. This both seals off the elements and keeps the turret caps snugly closed.
From a physical standpoint, the fit, finish, and manner in which the controls correspond with the optic definitely have an “upmarket” feel to them.
Adjusting the Brightness
The “third” turret, what would typically be the traditional side-focus adjustment knob on a larger riflescope, serves as both the cradle for the CR 2032 coin battery and the control switch to turn the illumination on and off. This optic has ten different levels of illumination brightness, and it’s set up in the typical way, where every other click turns the array off.
Turning the illumination on or off takes deliberate effort, but it’s not impossible either. I say this is a good thing because LPVOs tend to be battery drains (just the facts of life), and no one wants their battery to be inadvertently drained because the dial loosely moved into the “on” position.
In the box, Primary Arms also includes a 30mm sunshade, and for those who may find it useful, an exposed elevation turret knob. By default, the optic is set up with capped turrets, but swapping from capped to exposed only involves loosening three tiny 1.3mm Allen screws and a simple switch.
Whether capped or exposed, those same three screws also allow the shooter to index the elevation knob on the 0-marking. This scope does not have a zero-locking feature, but I never found that to matter with its use case.
PLxC Exterior, Size, And Dimensions
Shooting the PLxC at 1x during a Steel Challenge challenge stage.
The most notable thing about the Primary Arms Optics 1-8x PLxC LPVO is how “efficient” it is in size. Amongst modern first focal plane LPVOs, it’s one of the lightest, shortest, and most compact 30mm LPVOs currently available. For perspective, its closest rival is the 30mm Nightforce NX8 1-8 first focal plane LPVO, which also shares similar overall dimensions.
Off the top of my head, the only thing that’s possibly shorter than the PA PLxC would be the Vortex UK SOF 1-10 AMG LPVO, but those are purely made of unobtanium.
The PLxC weighs around 17 ounces and measures only 9.28 inches, which isn’t all that common for an LPVO with 8x magnification. At 17 ounces, it even bests several prominent 1-6 LPVO models. Paired with a QD 1.93” height ADM mount, this scope and mount weigh a combined total of 25 and ½ ounces, according to my coffee scale.
PLxC Japanese ED Glass
Primary Arms Optics builds PLxC LPVOs with Japanese-made ED (extreme dispersion) glass. Besides the size and weight, I’d argue that this ED glass is also one of the PLxC’s best features.
Looking through the glass during varying scenarios, I find it to be bright, crisp, and clear, with the “feel” of a more expensive scope. While I could pick up on some chromatic aberration with the magnification fully cranked at 8x when pointing a rifle at further targets, the purple fringing from this phenomenon wasn’t unreasonable and not dissimilar to chromatic aberration I’ve seen on more expensive glass.
Revolvers are still popular carry guns, especially in the woods. However, carrying spare ammo for a revolver isn’t as easy as carrying a spare mag for an auto pistol. GunfightersINC has a solution, though, with its new Kenai Speed Loader Pouch.
The Kenai Speed Loader Pouch
GunfightersINC makes its popular Kenai Chest Holster for outdoorsmen and other folks who have been asking for a way to carry spare ammo. Gunfighters listened and designed a pouch that will work with a wide variety of speed loaders. The Kenai Speed Loader Pouch is designed to work with the Kenai Chest Holster. It can hold speed loaders ranging from 5-shot .38 Special up to .500 S&W Magnum models. It even fits speed loaders designed for the 3-inch Taurus Judge revolvers.
The Kenai pouch uses an elastic band and Velcro strap to accommodate a variety of speed loaders. It’s made to slip onto the horizontal straps on the Kenai Chest Holster, but I suspect it’ll work with other belts or straps as well.
GunfightersINC makes the Kenai Speed Loader Pouch here in the USA, with all US sourced materials. They’re available in Black, Wolf Grey, and Coyote Tan. MSRP is is a very reasonable $19.99.
I understand the preference for partially cocked striker-fired guns. I get how one fairly light trigger pull that’s consistently good reigns supreme. Still, I like the DA/SA design. I like having a little extra weight for that first trigger pull just in case something gets in the trigger guard that’s not my finger. I like DA/SA guns; as you’d expect, I’m a CZ fan. CZ recently unveiled the new CZ PO9 Nocturne, and it’s everything I’ve ever wanted in a modern-duty pistol.
What I Love About the P09 is the combination of new and old. I’ve owned a PO9 for what has to be close to a decade now. These combine the benefits of a polymer frame with a hammer-fired DA/SA action. My PO9 hasn’t gotten a lot of love lately as I’ve transitioned to optically enhanced handguns. However, the Nocturne solves that problem.
The CZ PO9 Nocturne
Yep! Dots have made their way to the PO9 series. Honestly, I thought CZ had forgotten about the PO9 and its little brother, the PO7. The intro of the striker-fired P10 had put the polymer frame hammer-fired guns on the back burner in my mind. I’m genuinely surprised they revisited the PO9 and PO7 series.
CZ has eliminated the PO7 model number. Instead, they call both compact and full-sized guns the CZ PO9. The PO9C replaces the PO7, and the full-sized model is called the PO9F. It’s odd that they eliminated the model number, but oh well. We got a red dot!
Specifically, the guns have a Shield RMSc/Holosun K cut. There is no plate system. I honestly dislike plate systems and hate tolerance stacking. I’d also imagine that due to the CZ slide design, there isn’t a ton of room to cut for optics. The slides are very small compared to modern guns. A firing pin block has to be in there somewhere, so they can’t mill super deep. Smaller optics make sense.
Enhancing the Nocturne Ergonomics
The Nocturne series isn’t just optically enhanced guns. They’ve updated the grip texture to make it way more aggressive. It’s quite a bit different from the older P09 series. They also redesigned the slide lock, but it’s still a class leader compared to the micro slide stops on other guns.
The user can still choose between a safety and decocker design—not just choose, but swap on demand. One of the neat features of the old P series was the ability to swap from safety to decocker. The safety and decoder have been slightly modified to be more user-friendly. It’s still ambidextrous, but a slight shelf has been added to enhance these controls.
Finally, the slide has been adorned with deeper cuts. These deeper cuts allow for a better grip, which is needed on the ultra-small slides of the PO9 series guns. This makes it much easier to use and rack.
Keeping the Spirit of the PO9
The new CZ P09 Nocturne keeps everything I like about the PO9/PO7 series of guns. These guns mix modularity, DA/SA actions, and polymer frames to be a very modern DA/SA pistol. The 9mm chambering, 15 to 19-round magazines, and excellent ergonomics make it a very solid and modern handgun.
The Nocturne series has upgraded everything that made the PO9 a good gun. They leaned into its beneficial features without neutering the gun for mass appeal. I’m super excited about these guns, and as a PO9 fan, it’s been a long time coming.
The Nocturne series is coming soon, and the MSRP is only $549. According to CZ, you can also drop the slides on older models and have a fair bit of interchangeability between the old guns and the Nocturne models. I’m not sure if these guns will be huge sellers for CZ, but they’ve already sold me one.
In an article called Fudds of America, Unite Myke Cole describes himself as a fudd. He wears the title proudly and later even confidently spouts a bit of fudd-lore when he talks about owning a Winchester SXP pump action shotgun because, and I quote, “I’d far rather scare someone off by loudly racking the slide than actually having to pull the trigger.” By offering the worst gun store advice he possibly could, he made himself a bonafide fudd.
This might be the first time Myke Cole has been honest about his resume. The man who once claimed to be a spy openly—and often—called his work as a private contractor for the government as “tours” to Iraq. On Twitter, he claimed to have ‘fought’ in Iraq, but contractors didn’t do a whole lot of fighting.
Even the Blackwater types weren’t used for offensive operations. His interviews about his service are cringeworthy, and he uses terms like mercenary and spy to describe himself, but he never digs into exactly what he did. It’s purposefully vague. (Pro tip: no one who is a spy calls themselves a spy.) I imagine if he was a skilled user of firearms and experienced in combat, he’d know the old “I’ll just rack the gun” advice is total bull.
It’s somewhat fitting that he defends Tim Walz, who once said, “We can make sure those weapons of war that I carried in war are only carried in war.” Tim Walz had never deployed to a warzone and left his unit, purposefully shorting his contract, before they deployed to Iraq.
It’s worth mentioning that Myke Cole did honorably serve with the Coast Guard reserve and was activated to aid in the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Hurricane Irene.
The World Of Fudds
Myke Cole’s article is all about how Civil Rights organizations like the NRA and FPC use the term fudd to deride gun owners who only own a few firearms. He calls people who use the term as residing on the 2A community’s fringe. He quickly mentions his service as if it gives him a greater right to intrude on the rights of American citizens.
He’s almost right. Admittedly, the term fudd was used to describe gun owners who only owned firearms oriented at hunting. He fails to mention it’s also a term used to describe guns themselves in a somewhat loving way. My Winchester Model 70 is my favorite fudd gun. It’s also never been used to describe people who only own one or two guns. You can own a million cheaply made Turkish shotguns and still be a fudd.
He ignores that the word has evolved or simply isn’t engrossed enough in the culture to realize fudd doesn’t just describe orange-clad hunters. The term evolved to make fun of people who pass on terrible and often unsafe advice. Advice like depending on the noise of a shotgun racking for home defense.
It’s also a term used to describe gun owners who say things like:
“I believe in the Second Amendment, but…” and go on to advocate for pre-crime, registration, and cosmetic feature-based restrictions.
His article is about Fudd’s uniting behind Harris and Walz. The main problem here is those people already are united behind Harris and Walz. They don’t believe in the 2nd Amendment.
Fudds and Walz
The fudd conversation started around Walz due to his rapid flip-flop on gun rights to align with the Democratic party. Walz once carried an A Grade with the NRA, but that quickly changed when the Democratic monolith went extreme on restricting American rights. Tim Walz has been touted as a gun guy with photos of him hunting and shooting with his blue receiver Beretta A400 Xcel shotgun.
Walz can advocate for stricter gun laws because, at the end of the day, background checks, permits, registration, and all the things he advocates for cost money. Walz has money. He hunts with a shotgun that costs over two grand. The man can afford to comply. Gun control is a form of classism.
Rich and connected people, like Tim Walz, will have their guns regardless. The first gun control law in pre-United States America was to restrict gun sales to Native Americans. From then til now, the main push behind gun control has been racism. Racism has also evolved into classism. You can’t have poor people armed, so you institute fees and paperwork to make it impossible for them to exercise their rights.
The fudds are fine with that. They have theirs. The gun community doesn’t need fudds, and we don’t want fudds.
Typically, most gun reviews include some accuracy evaluations where the gun is fired from a rest or at some distance. In my original review, I shared some NRA B-8 scores from targets I shot freestyle at 25 yards. The editor graciously allowed that due to some challenges with the venue where I shot. Suffice it to say, this was another reason I wanted to write a revised review: for the chance to actually bench and “chrono” the Beretta 92X Performance pistol—something I had never technically done before.
I grouped three different factory-loaded 9mm cartridges: the HOP Munitions 147-grain RN Poly match round, the Nosler 115-grain ASP JHP cartridge, and the Staccato Range 124-grain FMJ loads. For this re-evaluation, I fired 20 rounds of each factory load over my chronograph, dividing the 20 rounds into two groups of 10 rounds each.
Here’s the part where I confess to having the sights zeroed for 124-grain Speer Lawman at 5-yards. Due to their Italian service pistol heritage, Beretta 92s tend to do best with 124-grain ammunition, but this doesn’t preclude them from firing and cycling other weight bullets either.
In the case of the Beretta 92X Performance, the rear sight is fully adjustable for both windage and elevation, which makes it even easier to marry a load to the gun.
HOP Munitions 147-Grain RN Poly
There are some flyers in both groups that I’m not proud of, and that were my fault, but the mean radius still has something to say. Keep in mind that as a rule of thumb, slower-moving and heavier 9mm 147-grain bullets tend to print slightly wider groups. I’ve observed this in my own hand loads with varying powder charges, too. All 20 rounds fired and cycled cleanly without any stoppages.
Nosler 115-Grain ASP JHP
No complaints with the Nosler ASP 115-grain JHP rounds!
Staccato Range 124-Grain FMJ
And no complaints with the Staccato Range 124. It’s one of the most consistent general-purpose 9mm cartridges I’ve tested through almost every gun I’ve reviewed in 2024.
Shooting the Beretta 92X Performance
In addition to benching the pistol and shooting those rounds over the chronograph, I was glad to dust off the old girl and shoot a few drills just to remind myself what it feels like to shoot it. So, I did some Bill Drills and shot Gabe White’s Standards. I’ll be honest that I didn’t print the Bill Drills or GWS nearly anywhere I wanted to be, but I can hardly blame the gun for that. After all, while shooting, it wasn’t hard to clock .17 and .18 splits.
Recoil and recovery from each shot wasn’t hard, but my support-hand tension suffered, so many of my shots walked to the C-Zone. Compared to the past, I did walk away from that 80-round range session, wishing that the standard sights were roomier, with more space to allow light to pass between the rear sight notch.
Other than my lack of practice drawing and shooting the Beretta 92X Performance, I did again notice that I wasn’t crazy about the way the thumb safeties were profiled. They were useable but not ideal as the widest part should be set back.
Shooting the Beretta 92X Performance at a USPSA Match back when it was my “daily driver.”
Smooth Operator: The Beretta Locking Block
I briefly touched on the gun’s locking block in Part 1, but between its heavier steel-frame weight and the way this component works, it allows shooters to enjoy a very pleasant recoil impulse regardless of which load is being shot through the pistol. For perspective, this gun weighs 58 ounces with a loaded 18-round magazine and the LOK grips currently installed. All that mass “soaks” up the recoil wonderfully.
The HOP Munitions 147-grain Poly round is loaded to a gentler 900 FPS (factory specs) as it’s meant to be a soft-shooting action pistol competition load. It’s engineered that way in order to make minor power factor.
Because of its softer recoil impulse, most guns need a lighter recoil spring to efficiently cycle these. It was certainly true of two of my Walther PDPs and the Glock 17L. However, when I shot these rounds through the 92X Performance, they cycled just fine with the stock recoil spring! I suspect it’s because of the Beretta 92’s locking-block recoil system, which doesn’t need as much force to unlock. I’m positive that with my gun also being well worn-in is also helpful.
This observation with the gentler HOP Munition load is consistent with my experiences with the rest of my Beretta 92s, not just the 92X Performance. I recall shooting a match with my Wilson Combat Beretta Brigadier Tactical a few years ago at another match. That gun cycled my uber-soft 147-grain handloads with 3.3 grains of HP-38.
The 92’s Locking-Block
There’s something to be said about 92’s locking-block system and its reliability with a wide range of 9mm loads. I don’t want to go off-topic too much, but this is also why Beretta 92s lend themselves well as suppressor hosts. Lastly, it’s not hard for shooters to tune their Berettas; the recoil spring assemblies on Beretta 92s aren’t captured and it’s quite easy to find all manner of different weight springs from various brands.
The Takeaway
As a Beretta 92 fan, I was extremely enthusiastic in 2019 when these formerly rare-steel guns would now be easier to find and competitively priced. Before COVID and inflation assaulted people’s wallets, these guns could be had for a street price of $1200-$1300, new.
I’ve never been shy about expressing my displeasure that the 92X Performance was designed around the Vertec frame. It’s not that the Vertec is terrible per se, but as it’s designed, it causes standard-sized hands to feel very cramped as they grip the frame. To keep the profile, Beretta could have added more length to the bottom of the grip, as that would have increased space and prevented fingers from feeling cramped.
Instead of redesigning the frame that way, I think Beretta would have been best served by taking the original 92 Billennium frame and modernizing it to fit action pistol sports as they’re conducted today. Aside from that, they should have left the beavertail alone. On my personal gun, I’ve rectified the cramp-feeling Vertec grip by installing the LOK Grips Veloce wraparound grip set. This is the best way to restore the grip profile to the curvier original (and a great way of augmenting grip texture in general).
The Beretta 92’s Proven Track Record
The QC and reliability issues this pistol suffered through in the recent past are extremely lamentable. To this day, these guns aren’t as popular in action pistol sports as they could have been. I have no doubt a good portion of this is a downstream effect of that reputation. I’m sure it drove those competitors who were looking for an all-steel hammer-fired pistol to the CZ Shadow 2. However, in fairness, it is still the more affordable of the two and has a robust aftermarket, thanks in part to the CZ-75 family’s sporting pistol dynasty.
Aside from that, any QC issue isn’t an indictment of the Beretta 92 system and proven track record. Though I am biased, I can still perceive the Beretta magic shining through the 92X Performance. It’s no different than picking up a stock Beretta M9 or USGI 1911 and appreciating its inherent qualities that lead to higher-level performance.
In today’s genre of weird gun genres, we’ll be talking about camp rifles. Camp rifles, camp carbines, and camp guns, in general, are both smaller and larger than most weird gun genres. Guns designed from the ground up to be camp rifles are few and far between, but rifles that make good camp guns are everywhere.
What Are Camp Rifles?
Camp rifles are guns you take camping, hiking, and beyond. It is a gun that’s easy to pack and pack out. It should be lightweight and fairly compact. You want to be able to pack it away and forget all about it until you need it. With that in mind, it should be tough and set up to be tough. Any accessories should match the tough profile of the gun while still keeping the weapon lightweight.
(USFS)
Camp guns don’t have a specific caliber. It depends on where you live and what you’ll use the camp rifle for. If it’s for defensive purposes and you live in bear country, you’ll have different requirements than someone who lives in South Florida and has to deal with Pythons at most. You need to make sure it’s capable of dealing with your threats, but you also probably want something cheap enough to plink with.
Shooting is fun and can be a big part of the camping experience. It might be huge for some if they don’t have a local range and live in a more urban area. They have the great outdoors and public land to go out and enjoy an afternoon of plinking. That means they should be cheap to shoot and enjoyable.
The Ruger 10/22 is a great camp gun
I’d avoid antiques and rarities due to the rough life camp rifles often live. They are prone to getting rusty, dirty, dropped, broken, etc. Don’t ruin something you can’t replace or warranty.
Notable Camp Rifles
Remember when I mentioned that this is both a broad and narrow category? I only know of one rifle ever advertised or proposed for camp use and it was known as the Marlin Camp Carbine. These predated the pistol caliber carbine explosion of the 2010s. The guns were produced from 1985 to 1999 in both 9mm and .45 ACP.
(Proxibid)
The guns were simple, blowback-operated magazine-fed guns with wood stocks. The 9mm variant used S&W 59 series magazines, and the .45 ACP variant used 1911 magazines. Their simple design allowed them to avoid the ‘Assault Weapons Ban’ of 1994. While simple, these guns are most definitely neat.
They were semi-auto rifles that weighed less than seven pounds and were 35.5 inches long. They meet the camp rifle definition well, especially in 1985. This thing was short and sweet for that era of rifles, although it’s fairly standard these days.
Modern Camp Rifles
Modern camp guns don’t even have to be rifles. The world of braced pistols makes for excellent camp rifles. An AR in 5.56 or 9mm makes a great camp rifle or camp gun in either a braced format or a standard rifle. You could build a fairly lightweight 5.56 rifle and have a great all-around camp rifle.
Guns like the Judge Home Defender could be a great camp gun even though its a handgun. You can use .45 Colt for most anything in a defensive encounter, and stuff like birdshot and buckshot can dispatch squirrels, snakes, rabbits, and beyond.
Guns as neat as the KelTec SUB 2000 make great camp carbines that follow the Camp Carbine’s route using pistol calibers. The SUB 2000 tends to be quite lightweight and folds nicely for easy storage. Oh, it’s cheap too!
Working The Camp
The Camp Gun can be whatever you really want it to be, but lightweight, reliable, easy-shooting guns tend to be best. Maybe a takedown Ruger 10/22 is the best design for you. The camp carbine is mostly a fun gun that should pull double duty for self-defense when you’re out in the wilderness, far from aid and far from society.
The Shackleton EDC Satchel from Tuff Possum Gear is a great option for urban adventures as well as trips afield. It’s low-key, easy to carry, and holds a surprising amount of gear.
Tuff Possum Gear
TPG is owned and run by Jayberry Miller. Like so many great makers in so many industries, he got his start by making what he wanted after he couldn’t find it anywhere. Jayberry learned how to sew his own packs and pouches. After a few years of refining his skills, he started sharing photos of some of his projects online. It didn’t take long before people began asking to purchase his bags and pouches.
In 2017, Jayberry turned a busy hobby into a business and formed Tuff Possum Gear. Since then, he’s earned a well-deserved reputation for exceptional gear.
Shackleton EDC Satchel
My wife and I go hiking every week. Most of these jaunts are fairly short. We tend to travel at a speed of about three miles—and roughly 87 photos—per hour. The Shackleton EDC Satchel is perfect for these hikes. I can carry just a few odds and ends and not feel like I’m lugging around a boat anchor. These items typically include a portable phone charger, small fire kit, notebook and pencils, and a water filter. If I have some knives to review, I might toss those in as well for some beauty shots.
This satchel has also been my work bag for the last year or so. It goes along when I’m traveling as it makes a great EDC bag when I’m visiting expos, knife shows, and the like. I can carry some essentials without constantly bumping into people with a backpack. Plus, I can access the contents easily without having to take the bag off.
Satchel Specs
The bag measures 12 inches wide and 9 inches tall, with a depth of about 4 inches. Empty, it weighs just one pound and three ounces. The two-inch webbing strap adjusts from 30 inches to 60 inches. I tend to carry it crossbody and have it hang about hip height. It has an adjustable ITW Cobra buckle that secures the main flap.
There are slip pockets on both ends. These are too narrow for a standard water bottle, but flashlights and fixed-blade knives fit pretty well. The back panel has 1/8-inch-thick padding.
Loop material lines one side of the interior of the Shackleton EDC Satchel.
Opening the bag, you’ll find some cool features. On the inside front, there are a couple of pockets that work well for items you want to be able to find quickly. The back of the satchel’s interior is lined with loop material. This means you can easily add pouches or organizers. That panel is even PALS pattern cut, so you can add MOLLE accessories. There are two secondary weather flaps, one on each side, that buckle together and help keep the contents dry in bad weather.
The Shackleton EDC Satchel is 100% made right here in the USA. Mine is Coyote Brown, but it’s also available in Black, Ranger Green, and Wolf Gray. It retails for $165.00, and you can find it here on the Tuff Possum Gear website.
Although the 92 X Performance is a traditional double-action (TDA) handgun, it doesn’t come with the slide-mounted decocker-and-safety (or decocker only) that’s standard for the majority of Beretta 92 models. Instead, the 92X Performance includes a pair of ambidextrous frame-mounted thumb safeties. These are well-fitted and quite crisp when they snap in or out of safe.
The only “downside” is that the 92XP’s hammer must be carefully and manually lowered, just like on a CZ Shadow 2. The upside for the 92XP is that it can be safely carried cocked-and-locked like a 1911. Unlike Series 70 1911 or Shadow 2, the Beretta 92X Performance still retains the default 92 series firing pin block.
Beretta 92X Performance
These pistols use the Beretta X-treme S trigger (whose face is clearly seen in the title photo). The Beretta X-treme S trigger is certainly nicer feeling than a stock 92 trigger and a definite upgrade. By this point in time, the trigger on my own pistol is fully worn in. According to my digital trigger pull weight scale, the double-action pull is approximately 8 lbs, while the single-action pull is 2.9 lbs.
The single-action trigger pull, arguably the most important of the two on this match pistol, has about ⅜ inch of pre-travel until it reaches its wall. The trigger breaks after moving an additional ⅛ inch to the rear. Its single-action reset distance also falls somewhere between ⅛ and ¼ inch.
All in all, the X-treme S trigger provides an extremely agreeable single-action experience, and I consider the trigger to be one of the gun’s greatest assets. In a sport gun like this, double-action would only matter when shooting something like USPSA Production division. Could the standard double-action pull be lighter? Sure, but double-action shots with this pistol are so low-percentage in a match setting, I don’t think there’s a reason to change out the mainspring. If memory serves correctly, it has a 16-pound 92D spring.
Like other steel-frame Beretta pistols, the frame of the 92X Performance is provisioned with two threaded channels for the set screws to adjust trigger pre and overtravel. But I’ve honestly never attempted to tweak them. In a defensive context, both the single-action and double-action trigger pulls are beyond adequate.
A close-up of the Beretta 92X Performance front sight sitting in its dovetail.
Slide, Sights And Barrel
In my original review, I mentioned being very happy with the sights and the sight picture provided by the 92XP’s front fiber-optic sight and its LPA-made adjustable rear sight. This is still the case for the most part. However, from my perspective today, I wish the front sight was thinner because I wouldn’t mind a tad more light between the sight picture.
The Beretta 92X Performance slide itself has a thicker and more robust “Brigadier” profile, which is somewhat distinct in the world of Berettas. The inclusion of a Brigadier slide itself is consistent with nearly every other steel-framed Beretta that preceded the 92X Performance, and I like this nod to tradition.
Brigadier slides are easy to identify, especially from the side with that “mountain” profile I highlighted in Part 1 of this review. Additionally, Brigadier slides include dovetails for front sights, unlike standard Beretta 92 models.
From a pure shooting perspective, I’ve never been able to “feel” the difference between these thicker slides and standard ones. However, they’re supposed to bolster the metal around the locking block for added strength. I also appreciate that the Beretta 92X Performance possesses front and rear serrations that are neat and perfectly vertical and differ from standard Berettas, too.
When I first bought my 92XP, I was surprised that it shipped with a standard phosphate and chrome-lined Beretta 92 barrel instead of stainless steel units with a recessed crown. The latter are typically included with guns like the Beretta 92G-SD or Wilson Combat/Beretta Brigadier 92 Brig-Tac—even the standard Beretta 92 Inox.
From a practical standpoint, the “standard” 4.9-inch barrel belonging to the 92XP hasn’t been a hindrance at all, and I’ve since stopped worrying about it.
The Small Details
Details matter, and this pistol is full of small details. Beretta 92 enthusiasts will notice that many of the smaller parts or accent pieces are modeled after those that first saw the light of day on rare, unique, or collectible Beretta 92 variants of the past.
The most notable of these details is the inclusion of the iconic Beretta 92 Elite 2 skeletonized hammer. The other is the extended magazine catch with roots in the enigmatic Beretta 92 Billennium—one of the aforementioned rare and unique steel-frame single-action only Beretta models from the turn of the century (which was also outfitted with the distinctive skeletonized Elite 2 hammer).
Additionally, the X-treme S trigger’s face has vertical ribbing, which I previously compared to the texture of the triggers found in vintage Smith & Wesson double-action revolvers. The texture is nice and feels fancy.
Finally, the traditionalist in me is also glad that all Beretta 92X Performance models use slotted grip screws compared to the 2mm Allen screws found on most modern and contemporary models. Slotted screws just look right on a Beretta 92.
Oversized Match Parts
As the 92XP was built around match shooting, its ambidextrous thumb safeties are somewhat oversized to provide a perch for the shooter’s thumbs. At the time I write this, I’m well aware that Beretta offers different size safety levers. However, my gun, which was produced in 2020 came with the original oversize parts. In some shooting sports, these prevent the gun from properly fitting in their dimensions box width-wise—IDPA, if memory serves correctly.
I’ve also noticed that the width of the ledge on the safety itself will block the thumb (or index finger in my left-handed case) from optimally reaching the slide-release lever. The ledges on these thumb safeties should have been reprofiled so that their widest portion isn’t forward-biased and maybe with less outward protrusion. The forward bias makes it more difficult for people whose hands have short or normal-length thumbs.
After thousands of repetitions in both dry-fire and live-fire over the years, the fitment and feel to the safeties as they click on or off safe is still solid. They’re neither too stiff nor too mushy and all clicks feel positively tactile and are audible.
Running the Beretta 92X Performance
Between the excellent stock trigger, the 92’s built-in firing pin block, and these safety levers, there’s no reason this handgun can be run and managed like a single-action-only pistol full-time. Frankly, this is how I shoot it these days.
The takedown lever has an extension that serves as a ledge or mini gas pedal for right-handed shooters, so I have no experience with it. I still think they should have included a regular takedown lever that protrudes less, as the extended unit tends to clash with holsters.
The curvature of the trigger guard, along with the Nistan finish, creates a somewhat slippery surface in the knuckle area of the middle finger, where the skin makes contact with the bottom of the trigger guard. It’s subtle, but it’s something to be aware of.
A closeup of the bottom portion of the slide. It’s dirty and sooty because this gun hasn’t historically been a safe-queen. The metal guide rod along with the bottom portion of the gun’s locking block can be seen. Also note the rear slide serrations.
