My Beretta 92X Performance (Part 3)

By

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August 31, 2024

Accuracy Evaluation

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.

Read Part 1 and Part 2 here.

Camp Rifles – Weird Gun Genres

By

Travis Pike

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August 31, 2024

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.

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.

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.

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.

SHACKLETON EDC SATCHEL

By

Jim Cobb

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August 30, 2024

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.

My Beretta 92X Performance (Part 2)

By

P.E. Fitch

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August 30, 2024

Beretta 92X Performance Safeties And X-Treme S Trigger

^{Continued From Part 1}

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.

To Be Continued In Part 3

Norma Announces the Rival Competition Line of Ammo

By

Tim Stetzer

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August 29, 2024

Norma Ammunition just announced the new Rival Competition line of ammunition. Currently, the company offers two 9mm options.

The Rival Competition Line

Norma’s new Rival Competition line of ammunition is designed for competitive shooters. The focus was on top-end, consistent performance that competitive shooters and shooting enthusiasts could rely on.

The Rival line currently consists of two 9mm loads: a round nose 147gr FMJ and a flat point 158gr TMJ. Although it’s geared towards competitive shooters, it offers features that anyone interested in reliable, accurate training loads will appreciate.

The Rival Competition loads are designed to give shooters faster follow-up shots, lower recoil, and consistent feeding. They’ve done this by optimizing the loads and ensuring uniform velocity between rounds. Norma says this will ensure accuracy and predictability from shot to shot and magazine to magazine.

The company uses standard components but has used computer simulations to refine the loads. This, along with meticulous quality control and attention to detail, makes for a better production cartridge that’s still offered at a reasonable price.

9mm Load Data

The 147gr load has a muzzle velocity of 935fps and a muzzle energy of 285 ft⋅lb. That’s enough to meet minor power factor levels for competition shooting. The 158gr load has a muzzle velocity of 838fps for 246 ft⋅lbs of energy. With differing bullet profiles, both loads have been optimized for reliable feeding.

Norma’s Rival Competition ammunition is brass cased, and comes in 50 round boxes. MSRP is $25.49 for the 147gr load and $23.29 for the 158gr load.

For more information, please visit NormaUSA.com.

The Benelli M4 Drone Guardian

By

Travis Pike

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August 29, 2024

Benelli’s contribution to combat shotguns shouldn’t be understated. The release of the M4 shotgun and its adoption by the United States military helped usher semi-auto shotguns into the mindset of tactical-oriented shooters. The Benelli M4 series was developed in 1999 and that’s basically where development stopped. Benelli released a few variants, but they haven’t changed much over the years. Twenty-five years later, the M4 has been updated in the Drone Guardian.

I’m not tooting my own horn, but I’ve been advocating for the shotgun as an infantry anti-drone weapon for a long time. Ever since ISIS terrorized the skies in Iraq and Syria. With the war in Ukraine being a commercial quadcopter playground, people are finally starting to take notice. The Ukrainian military adopted some Turkish bullpup semi-auto shotguns, and a clip on Instagram shows the old Winchester 1300 still putting in work for anti-drone work in Ukraine as well.

Multiple military forces, including France, have updated their shotgun inventories. They went with the Benelli SuperNova, which might be one of the best choices out there. The 3.5-inch chamber allows for a bigger payload, one capable of getting geese and other large birds. Shotguns are niche weapons that seemingly keep finding niches to climb their way into. The Benelli M4 Drone Guardian is the first dedicated anti-drone shotgun I’ve seen from a major manufacturer and the first major update to the Benelli M4 since 1999.

The Benelli M4 A.I. Drone Guardian

The full name is the Benelli M4 A.I. Drone Guardia. The A.I. doesn’t indicate some kind of high-tech aiming system; it stands for Advanced Impact. Folks love the A.I. acronym. The new Drone Guardian is designed to function with Number 4 buckshot. A standard 2.75-inch load holds 27 pellets, and a 3-inch load can hold up to 41 pellets.

Benelli states the gun has a choke optimized for the Number 4 buckshot load. They’ve also lengthened the forcing cone a bit like how Vang Comp improves patterns. This is to optimistically extend the range to 50 meters, but they claim a combat range of 100 meters. That extra range is very necessary because drones can be fairly far from their target and be an effective platform.

The Benelli M4 Drone Guardian also features an M-LOK handguard, a first for Benelli. The M-LOK handguard also features a slot for a Steiner MPS, which uses an ACRO footprint, so theoretically, it should also work for the ACRO. Mounting an optic to a handguard is always a little finicky, and a smarter move would have been to remove the optic’s rail and use a low mount.

Additional Upgrades

The optic slot on the handguard allows the iron sight to co-witness through the optic. Those iron sights have also changed. They are now green, high-visibility fiber optic sights instead of metal three-dot sights.

Another first for the Benelli M4 is the configurations available. We have the standard 8.5-inch model and a 26-inch model. A 26-inch barrel allows you to swing the gun a bit more like a bird gun and can help increase the velocity of a 3-inch load.

The Benelli M4 Drone Guardian also features a few slight changes to the ergonomics. Many of these changes address my complaints with the Benelli M4. The charge handle is large, and so is the bolt release. The stock has been redesigned, and the cheek rest increased in size with attached sling points. It also appears to be a two-position stock, but it’s not incredibly clear.

I understand that the Benelli M4 A.I. Drone Guardian is designed for a specific purpose, but I would love for Benelli to make these changes to the standard M4. Better ergonomics, better accessory options, and a better optics mount is needed to update the M4 to 2024.

Would It Work?

Admittedly, shooting drones is tough, even with a shotgun. Smaller drones can be exceptionally fast and difficult to hit. Luckily, the drones that carry grenades and explosives tend to be larger and slower. They can still be an annoying fly that’s tough to swat. A shotgun is easier to use than other weapons but still a challenge.

If you share my unhealthy obsession with combat footage, you’ve seen both Ukrainian and Russian soldiers using shotguns to shoot down drones. It works. It might not be perfect, but it’s a reliable, low-tech option. The Marine Corps is introducing its own drone guy to the infantry squad, so he could also be the anti-drone guy—give him a shotgun. As a guy who carried an M16A4 and an M240, I don’t feel too bad for a guy carrying an M27 and a Drone Guardian.

Purpose built shotguns seem to be a great step forward. I think we need dedicated ammo as well as dedicated shotguns. Hopefully Benelli will relase the Drone Guardian configuration to the mass market. If not I guess I’ll be spending my son’s college fund on GunBroker to buy it by the piece.

SMITH & SONS AXIOM – SMALL BUT MIGHTY

By

Jim Cobb

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August 28, 2024

I’ll say right up front that I have an affinity for small fixed-blade knives. Given an equal and open choice, I’ll almost always choose a fixed blade over a folder for EDC purposes. I like them small enough to carry in a pocket, as that keeps them handy without undue attention. The Smith & Sons Axiom fits the bill quite well.

The Axiom – Specs

Let’s break it down. The Axiom has an overall length of 6.75 inches, and the MagnaCut blade takes up 3.0 inches of that. It tips the scales at a mere 2.5 ounces. It comes with the buyer’s choice of a leather or Kydex sheath. The Axiom is available in three different handle materials: OD Green Canvas Micarta, Black/Brown Burlap Micarta, and Marsh Grass Richlite.

It comes with a short lanyard attached to the end of the handle. Personally, I’m not usually a fan of lanyards on my knives, but I do like this one as it’s short and unobtrusive. It also sort of extends the feel of the handle a bit. I wear size XL gloves, and there’s just enough real estate to get a full four fingers on the handle. But that lanyard adds just a little extra, which is nice.

Axiom Ergos

The ergos of the Axiom are out of this world. The handle scales are contoured for comfort and they feel great in hand. There’s a bit of jimping on the spine, exactly where your thumb naturally rests. The Axiom is well-balanced, and while it’s lightweight, it has a solid feel and doesn’t feel insubstantial.

Let’s face it. If a knife is awkward or unwieldy, you’ll find yourself leaving it at home. With the Axiom, you’ll look for reasons to use it.

Okay, But Does It Cut?

The Axiom is atom-splitting sharp right out of the box. There was no need to touch up the blade’s edge before putting it to work. At the time of this writing, MagnaCut is still somewhat new in the knife world. Many makers are branching into it, with pretty positive results. MagnaCut seems to hit that sweet spot, balancing edge retention and ease of sharpening—with bonus corrosion resistance.

I’ve been carrying the Smith & Sons Axiom for several weeks now. It’s been used to cut lengths of paracord for various projects. It’s been pushed into service in the kitchen, slicing sausage and cheese for lunch. I’ve done a little whittling and carving, as well as feather sticking.

In each instance, the Axiom has performed very well. There have been no hot spots, and the edge remains very sharp even after extended use. I went with the leather sheath for mine, and it holds the knife very securely. It’ll thread onto a belt up to about 1.5 inches wide, but I just drop it into a cargo pocket.

The Smith & Sons Axiom has quickly earned a permanent spot in my EDC rotation. It’s comfortable, easy to carry, and holds a great edge.

On top of that, Smith & Sons are some of the best people in the knife community today. They’re a family business, producing high-quality knives right here in the United States. They have some incredibly well-thought-out designs, and the Axiom is an excellent example.

Find it at the Smith & Sons website or at DLT Trading.

Mischief Machine Offers Aluminum Grip Modules for the Taurus GX4 Commander

By

Tim Stetzer

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August 28, 2024

If you’re rocking a Taurus GX4 but want something a little different than the factory polymer grip, you may want to look at Mischief Machine. The company recently started showing an aluminum grip module called the Commander on social media. It offers a number of updates in both materials and features for your Taurus pistol.

Taurus GX4 Commander Gripframe

Mischief Machine already offers aluminum grip frames for the SIG Sauer P365 and the IWI Masada Slim. They’re teasing a Springfield Armory release as well. Most likely this will be for the Echelon pistols. In the meantime, the Taurus GX4 Commander grip module has just landed.

Mischief’s Commander is an improved grip module made from a solid block of 7075-T6 Aluminum. It has a 1911 grip angle and an enlarged mag well. There’s also an interface provided for a future Magwell attachment. The Commander additionally has an enlarged, ambidextrous magazine release.

Being an aluminum frame, it uses G10 grip panels and backstraps. This lets you customize both the look and feel of your pistol. The included rail is Picatinny 1913 compatible and they suggest using a Streamlight TLR7SUB weapons light.

To swap to a Mischief Machine Commander, you just need to drop in your GX4 assembly into their grip assembly. Then add a GX4 barreled slide with a 3.7″ or longer barrel or an XL slide. The Commander grip assembly uses Taurus 15-round magazines.

The Mischief machine Commander comes in a black hard anodized finish, but Cerakote is available as well. Colors offered are McMillan Tan, Cobalt, Titanium, Midnight Bronze, Multicam Dark Green, as well as custom options. Cerakote finishes add two weeks to the lead time on orders.

The Mischief Commander grip module retails for $349.00. A basic Cerakote color adds $35 to that price, and a custom color is $60 additional.

For more information, please visit MischiefMachine.co.

Langdon Tactical Beretta 92XI Squalo

By

Athlon Series

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August 27, 2024

LTT Beretta 92 XI Squalo Competition Pistol

The Beretta 92XI Squalo made its original debut at Shot Show 2024. Squalo means “shark” in Italian, as those sea creatures are sleek and fast swimmers that easily move through the water. Similarly, the Beretta 92XI Squalo is a sleek, performance-oriented gun with a grey finish, like a shark. As the Beretta 92XI Squalo is configured from the factory, it’s ideal for action pistol competitive categories such as USPSA Minor or USPSA Limited Optics (with the added red-dot sight). Langdon Tactical Technologies is now offering its semi-customized Beretta 92XI Squalo versions.

These guns are worked over by LTT with a trigger job and include the unique Langdon Tactical Technologies “RDO” lower sitting optics mounting surface. This system sits lower than the factory Beretta mounting system, and a lower-sitting red dot sight makes it easier to line up with the target after drawing to shoot.

The 92XI Squalo is a single-action only Beretta 92 variant custom-made for action pistol competition and tuned to perfection by Langdon Tactical.

LTT Features Include

LTT Patented LOW RDO red dot mounting system is more shootable and durable than the factory mounting system, and mounts a Trijicon SRO .85” lower than the factory mount.
LTT Trigger Job including a match hammer, optimized performance trigger bar, and 11# chrome silicon hammer spring that provides a world-class single action trigger pull over tens of thousands of rounds. We will also include a 12# hammer spring in the box for you.
Stainless Elite Barrel provides match accuracy.
Steel guide Rod adds non-reciprocating mass to reduce muzzle rise.
3x Mec-Gar Magazines with Toni Systems Extensions and Magazine Well
Black Cerakote Slide

The semi-straight trigger on the LTT 92XI Squalo has vastly shortened pre-travel and overtravel with our gunsmith-installed Match hammer and Optimized Performance Trigger Bar. The Toni Systems mag well works in conjunction with the three included Mec-Gar mags and Toni Systems extensions to allow a 22+1 capacity while staying within USPSA legal dimensions.

Trigger pull weight with LTT’s trigger job and 12# hammer will be between 2.5-3.5# (hammer and variance taken into account). Out of the box, the LTT Beretta 92XI Squalo can handle competition-tailored loads that still produce enough power factor to be competition-legal.

To learn more, please visit Langdon Tactical Technologies.

The SEALs and the T223

By

Travis Pike

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August 27, 2024

You remember that scene in The Big Lebowski where we hear the classic line, “This isn’t Nam, this is bowling, there are rules.” When it comes to SEALs in Vietnam, there didn’t seem to be many, if any, rules—at least when it came to their firearms. They were new and were willing to try a lot of guns in Vietnam. The Stoner 63, the Remington 7188, and even a 5.56 caliber G3. Officially, it was known as the T223.

G3 in 5.56 sounds a lot like the HK33, but the T223 came to be in 1965. From all the sources I can find, the HK33 didn’t hit the world til 1968. Official documents refer to the T223 as a modified G3 rifle. Maybe H&R got a proto release of the HK33 or data package to produce the T223.

The T223 found its way to Vietnam, at least for some time. How many deployed, where they went, and how they performed seems a bit lost to time. We do know that SEAL Team 2, Platoon Ten, carried at least one. Photos of SEAL Rudy Boesch show him carrying the weapon.

It’s possible only SEAL Team 2 carried the weapon. It does seem that very limited numbers were produced. It’s known that Harrington and Richardson produced the guns under a license from HK.

Why They Wanted The T223

It’s not clear why exactly the SEALs wanted the T223. The most likely official answer would be that they were just experimenting with what worked. The M16 series was around at this time, but you have to remember it was the first time the US Military adopted an intermediate-caliber assault rifle. Trying out other options wasn’t a bad idea.

It’s also worth mentioning that the rollout of the M16 wasn’t great, so looking for alternatives seemed smart. SEALs were already using the M16 and seemingly enjoyed the rifle. However, they were willing to experiment with the weapon. SEALs weren’t the only ones.

They were the only guys to take the gun to Vietnam—from what I can find—but the Army also gave the T223 a shot. It was part of the SAWS program, which started in 1965. The SAWS pamphlet lists some basic information about the gun, but I’m not sure how accurate that information is. However, the 14.5-inch barrel length would have been very attractive as a carbine in a world of 20-inch barrel M16s.

The T223 wasn’t just a caliber convert G3. H&R modified the weapon to make it more ergonomic. They installed a last-round bolt hold open and a bipod at the very rear of the handguard. Although, the photo in the SAWS pamphlet shows a standard bipod.

Hitting Vietnam with the T223

According to Hunters and Shooters: An Oral History of U.S. Navy SEALs in Vietnam, SEAL Rudy Boesch liked the weapon because of its 40-round magazines. At the time, the standard M16 topped out at 20 rounds, so double the ammo was double the fun. Rudy carried four magazines of 40 rounds for his T223.

He states that the individual SEAL was allowed to choose their weapon. Rudy took a liking to the T223 and decided to take it to Vietnam. He expressed a fondness for how easy it was to take care of the gun. It was easy to clean and worked well. The 40-round magazines wouldn’t fit in G.I. mag pouch, so he initially carried them in his pockets, but eventually modified a Chicom chest rig made for AK to carry the mags.

According to the book, he used the weapon in combat. He tells tales of ambush and ops. It’s certainly worth a read. The T223 didn’t receive any complaints in the book, so it seems to have worked quite well. The roller-delayed design had a good history of reliability, and downsizing to 5.56 isn’t that difficult.

The End of the T223

The M16 became the standard, and the T223 wasn’t destined to remain in the armory for long. Reed Knight owns one, and another remains in the Ft. Sheridan Museum, which contains one of the guns used in the SAWS testing. The T223 was an interesting experiment at an interesting time. SEALs and most special ops would eventually adopt another roller-delayed HK design in the form of the MP5.

B5 Systems Expands its Retro AR Options

By

Tim Stetzer

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August 26, 2024

I’ve done a lot of retro AR builds over the past year or so. Where possible, I use surplus GI furniture, but that isn’t always practical. That’s why I was excited to see B5 Systems announce some additions to their Retro AR furniture recently. They’ve had a CAR stock in the lineup for a while, but now they’ve added six-hole skinny CAR15 handguards and the LS2—a Lonestar-style A2 grip.

CAR15 Handguards

The CAR15 handguards are a good match up to the CAR15 stocks that B5 Systems has had available. They’re the early style skinny, six-hole design. Later CAR handguards had 7 holes, which is fine unless you’re building a retro military clone. B5’s handguards have aluminum heat shields and are made of a durable polymer. They’re also US-made, unlike a lot of the other retro furniture currently on the market. MSRP on a set of CAR handguards is just $25.00, and they’re available in black or OD green.

The LS2 Pistol Grip

More exciting is the LS2 grip, which is the B5 version of the old Lonestar grip. The Lonestar grips were A2 style, but with an arched backstrap and fatter profile. They were more ergonomic and hand-filling than a GI grip, or commercial A2 grip. They also had a storage compartment in the grip with a hinged cover. Lonestar grips have gathered a cult following with retro AR builders. Originals grips are hard to come by, and generally sell for $100 or more when they do pop up.

While there have been some other clone versions offered they were either expensive, made for airsoft or paintball guns, or 3D printed. The B5 Systems LS2 grip is injection-molded just like the original grips. They’re also made right here in the USA. The best part is that they’re only $20.00. Which is probably close to what Lonestars originally sold for back in the 1990’s. Like the CAR15 stock and handguards, the LS2 is available in black and OD green.

Hands-On with the B5 Systems Retro Furniture

I picked up a set of OD stocks and tried them on a CAR-15-style build and on my H&R clone of the Colt 635 9mm subgun. I’m impressed. The CAR15 handguards are solidly made with excellent fit and finish. I’ve had to fight with some imported clone furniture to get it to fit and line up correctly. The B5 Systems handguards dropped in and fit perfectly on multiple rifles that I tried.

The LS2 grip is excellent. It looks good and is comfortable in the hand. It does have the A2 finger nub, which not everyone likes, but the point of this is that it’s a clone of the original grip. Lonestar did make an A1 grip with a similar profile without the nub, so maybe we’ll see a B5 version of that down the road?

If you’ve been hunting for one of these for your retro build, $20 is a heck of a lot better than $100 plus. It’s a good grip for any AR build, too, if you like the basic A2 style but want a little better ergonomics.

For more information, please visit B5Systems.com.

Steel Challenge Chill

By

P.E. Fitch

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August 26, 2024

My local gun club has a short Steel Challenge match on Thursday nights during the summer. No doubt, it takes advantage of the extended summer daylight hours while also serving as a pleasant mid-week evening activity. Recently, I finally made it to one of these casual club matches, and I’m glad I did.

Although I’m still a newcomer to Steel Challenge, I’m really enjoying how laid-back these contests are. It’s also cool that competitors have the opportunity to bring and shoot almost any handgun, as the power factor isn’t a “factor” the way it is in USPSA or IDPA. Steel Challenge is also one of the few action shooting sports that offers competitive rimfire divisions, including semi-auto rimfire long guns.

At the time I write this, I’ve had so much fun that I’ve gone twice in the last two weeks shooting nothing but .22LR guns in a carefree manner.

Steel Challenge: A Simple But Intense Contest

A Steel Challenge stage called “Five To Go” (SC-101) in one of the bays at my gun club. To stop time, the target with the red beam must be shot last. The transition between the far 18-yard target and the closer stop plate can get tricky. The start-sign in the foreground is for where competitors keep their muzzles pointed when shooting guns that don’t use holsters, like PCCs and rimfire pistols/rifles.

Steel Challenge is a contest all about shooting steel plates as quickly as possible. Unlike other action pistol sports like USPSA or IDPA, Steel Challenge stages are extremely simple and consist of different arrays of round or rectangular steel targets painted in high-contrast white.

There are no stages to walk through or to plan, and everything comes down to sheer pistol-shooting speed and fundamentals: the draw, sight picture, grip, trigger control, and visual transitions. It’s easy but also incredibly difficult to execute at the highest levels. Championship-level Steel Challenge matches often result in world records.

In Steel Challenge, a shooter stands in a 3×3-ft box to shoot at five different targets in each stage. The Steel Challenge Outer Limits is the only stage that requires movement under the clock. But even then, it merely consists of shuffling laterally from one box to the next.

The “Stop Plate”

In Steel Challenge, none of the steel targets are hidden, mechanically activated, or complex in any way, shape, or form. And no matter the stage, there are only five different targets, including the “stop plate.”

Stop Plates are always the fifth and last target, which shooters must engage last in order to stop the clock for their string of fire. They are usually marked with red pedestals to differentiate them from the rest of the array on a stage. Stop plates are often the central target, and this subtly increases the difficulty for the shooter, as they must swing past the stop plate and shoot steel on the opposite end before swinging the muzzle back to the middle.

Scoring

A competitor shooting Showdown (SC-102) with a Glock 34 and a red-dot–a standard “carry optics” gun. He must start from the holster, just like at a USPSA match.

There are eight official Steel Challenge stages, and at a Steel Challenge match, each shooter gets five different chances to shoot each stage. The slowest or lowest scoring run from each stage is deleted, and the rest of the four run times are computed to determine the shooter with the fastest overall time.

Unlike IDPA or USPSA, which award shooters higher or lower points for shooting different areas of a target, the only thing that matters in Steel Challenge is that a competitor hits each target once, and the stop plate last.

Steel Challenge is like golf, where the winners with the highest scores have the lowest numbers. Missing targets that aren’t the stop plate can be fatal, as each missed target per stage incurs a time penalty of +3.00 seconds.

And as far as missing the stop plate, well, the timer keeps ticking. For perspective, world-class competitors can clear the eight different official stages in less than three seconds, so a single miss means bombing the whole stage.

Steel Challenge Target Types

Steel targets vary from small round targets that measure ten inches, large round targets that measure twenty inches, and large rectangular vertically-oriented targets that measure 18 by 24 inches.

In formal matches, targets are spray-painted over before each competitor starts their five attempts. In a more casual club setting, targets tend to be painted over only after the whole squad finishes the stage to save time.

Guns For Steel Challenge

Gun divisions in Steel Challenge mirror those from USPSA, with the exception of the rimfire pistol and rifle divisions. In short, Steel Challenge can be shot with the same equipment used in USPSA.

All shooters start with a holstered and loaded handgun with their hands above their shoulders in the “surrender position,” except for PCC and both types of rimfire shooters. The latter groups start in a low-ready position with their muzzles pointed at a sign that’s placed about 10 feet away from the shooting box.

Standard velocity centerfire pistol calibers with a minimum caliber of 9mm are allowed, while centerfire magnum pistol cartridges or any centerfire rifle cartridges are forbidden. On the rimfire side, only .22 LR is permitted.

Rimfire Rifle Open and Rimfire Pistol Open

Shooting the S&W M&P 15-22 .22LR rimfire carbine under the rimfire rifle open division. While LPVOs like this Primary Arms PLxC 1-8 FFP ACSS Griffin Mil M8 aren’t typically seen but I wanted to get some “productive” fast-and-close distance reps on 1x. Hard to see, but the carbine also has a Kratos Design Group handstop.

For my recent matches, I signed up under Rimfire Rifle Open and Rimfire Pistol Open both times. That’s another thing about chill Steel Challenge matches—shooters can usually sign up to shoot more than one division. Especially if there aren’t too many people at one match.

I brought a Wojtek Race Pistol to this match along with the Smith & Wesson M&P 15-22 I reviewed this spring. This handy rimfire carbine lends itself well to Steel Challenge, and it’s still affordable to shoot. I’m concurrently working on a review of the Primary Arms PLxC 1-8 FFP LPVO. So, mounting it on the M&P 15-22 and bringing it to a Steel Challenge match would be a great way to “use” it more, especially on low power.

Wojtek Weaponry Race Pistol

The Wojtek Race Pistol is a unique .22 LR pistol based on the Ruger 22/45 pattern. Wojtek Weaponry builds these pistols with combinations of Tandemkross frames and Volquartsen uppers in such a way that they’re legal in California despite their “handgun roster.”

The Wojtek Race Pistol will get its own article in the future as the gun itself is fascinating and capable of extremely high-performance shooting.

Wojtek tricked out this model with a Volquartsen six-inch Mamba-X LLV compensated upper on which I mounted a Leupold Delta Point Pro 6 MOA reflex sight. The lower is manufactured by Tandemkross and has a match trigger and oversize “race” parts like a gas pedal and extended safety.

Being left-handed, I can’t comment much on them, as they’re configured for a right-handed shooter. The way this gun is set-up makes it tailor-made for Steel Challenge’s Rimfire Pistol Open, and it’s a lot of fun to shoot.

The Takeaway

Although I’ve only technically been to three Steel Challenge matches, I had a change of heart about this action pistol event. In the past, I wrote it off because I found it to be less “serious” than USPSA or even IDPA. But I’ve realized that’s precisely why it can be so “chill” and fun.

The acronym WYSIWYG (whiz-wig, or what-you-see-is-what-you-get) is an apt description for these events. Although having fun (with or without exotic rimfire race pistols) is important, it’s true that shooting five steel targets as fast as possible has a practical undercurrent that the defensive-minded shooter can also benefit from. Pure shooting mechanics don’t change because of the contest or venue.

Novice or veteran, the stress and pressure from the shot timer still counts, and it’s easier to miss than one would expect.

PREPPING PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS

By

Jim Cobb

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August 25, 2024

Storing water and preserving food are definitely at the top of the list when it comes to preparedness. But there’s one area that often confounds the beginning prepper—prescription medications. It’s an unfortunate reality that many people are reliant upon pharmaceuticals to make it through the day. While modern chemistry has made it easier to deal with a litany of ailments, if we’re suddenly cut off from those meds, the results can be decidedly less than pleasant.

Maybe there’s a bad winter storm, one that shuts down the roads in the area for a day or so. Perhaps a glitch in the computer systems causes the pharmacy to be unable to dispense medications. It could be there are shipping delays that prevent the pharmacy from even having the medication in stock. There are any number of reasons why grabbing a refill at the very last minute might not be feasible. That’s why it’s important to plan ahead.

Fortunately, there are a couple of approaches to consider.

Talk About It

Reach out to your physician and explain your concerns to him or her. Tell them you want an emergency stash of your prescription medications in case of an emergency. If you’re not asking for a narcotic, they may be willing to write you an extra script for your meds. The downside here is that your insurance company may not foot the bill. You might end up having to pay the full rate, which can be extremely pricey.

Of course, going without the medication might cost you more.

Do the Math

This method takes a little time but won’t cost you anything extra. For the sake of simplicity, let’s say you have a prescription where you take one pill a day, and you get a refill once a month. With most recurring prescriptions, there’s an overlap, right? You can refill it on, say, day 27 of the 30-day cycle. Get your refill on day 27 and set three of those pills aside for your emergency stash. Take your medication as prescribed, don’t skip doses.

Here’s where it sounds a lot more complicated than it is. Get your refill on day 27 again. Use the three pills from your emergency stash and replace them with six pills from the new supply. The goal here is to always use the oldest medications first.

It’s slow going, but over time you’ll be able to build up a good emergency supply, and do it without incurring any extra costs.

Surf the Web

There are some online venues, such as JASE Medical, that offer a range of medications for purchase. These companies typically have licensed physicians on staff who will handle the prescribing, and you order the meds. In addition to most routine prescription medications, such as those taken for diabetes or heart health, they also usually offer antibiotics that can be stored at home for use during grid-down emergencies.

Storage

Always keep medications in a properly labeled container, so there is no confusion as to what’s inside. Plus, if you end up traveling with your meds, it could be important to be able to show that you’ve been legally prescribed the medicine.

Unless the medication requires something special, keep it in a cool, dark location away from moisture and sunlight. Be sure family members know where to find it if you are not able to retrieve it yourself for some reason.