The Benchmade Narrows – A Luxury Knife

By

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September 29, 2023

I’ve been trying to find a way to best describe the Benchmade Narrows. What can I compare it to easily and adequately describe how I feel about it? I settled on cars. If your normal pocket knife is a truck, then the Benchmade Narrows is a luxury sedan that’s also four-wheel drive with great clearance. It packs a variety of features that not only make it rugged and useful but also comfortable and luxurious.

Also, like both a good truck and a luxury sedan, the Benchmade Narrows has quite the price point to it. At over 500 bucks, it’s certainly within everyone’s budget, but it’s also well worth the money.

What Makes the Narrows Stand Out?

That’s a pretty simple answer: the amount of premium materials used in its creation. The handles are made from solid titanium. Titanium packs a whole lot of strength in not much material. This allowed Benchmade to make a very lightweight and incredibly thin knife. The Narrows lives up to that name.

How narrow? It’s just a hair over a ¼ inch at 9/32 inches thick. That’s crazy thin for a full-sized pocket knife. Titanium is also lightweight, and the knife weighs a mere 2.4 ounces. The blade is 3.44 inches long, and the closed length is 4.6 inches. This takes lightweight EDC to a new level.

The blade uses an M390 Super Premium stainless steel. I wasn’t super familiar with this steel, but M390 tends to be well-loved by knife makers. The steel was developed for injection molding molds and just so happened to have great knife qualities. As you’d imagine, metal made for being used as a mold thousands of times is pretty tough.

M390 is a tough metal and can withstand tons of abuse. That’s great for a knife, especially when you are trying to make it as thin as possible. If you’re going thin, you need a strong metal. Outside of just being strong, the steel gets very sharp and holds an edge very well. The only downside is that it’s a little tougher to sharpen.

Lock Up

The Narrows uses the Axis lock system. This was somewhat necessary to make the system as thin as possible. The Axis lock uses a lock stud and torsion spring assembly. This system eliminates the need for steel liners and omega springs. Those types of liners and springs would make the system thicker.

The lock-up is quite solid, and you see the lock stud in the back is quite dense and rugged. You have two ways to open the knife. We have a set of ambidextrous studs on the blade. They are small and wisely do not exceed the width of the scales. You can also pull the locks downward and use gravity to release the knife with a swing of your hand.

Getting the blade in action and out of action takes a single hand, and it can be done very quickly. It’s a smooth action that’s fun to just fiddle with.

Slicing and Dicing With the Narrows

The Benchmade Narrows comes extremely sharp. The M390 is no joke. It cuts wonderfully. The clip-point blade is very versatile and super handy for your average person. The top of the blade comes with a swedge that makes it very easy to slice through thick material. I used it to cut through tomatoes, and it glid right through without ever getting stuck.

The handle features great scales and textures to ensure you have a great grip and a comfortable one as well. As a pocket knife, the thing design doesn’t matter too much. If you start using it as a survival knife, then your hand is likely to find itself tired. That’s the case with any pocket knife.

The Narrows comes with a short pocket clip that’s removable and reversible. It’s electric blue, as are a few other small controls. They are striking and do look good against the grey finish. The Narrows looks as good as it performs. It’s an excellent EDC knife and has since become at home in my pocket. It’s now a permanent resident of that front left pocket.

Benchmade has a real winner with the Narrows, and it provides a very premium experience if you are willing to part with the money.

“The rich are evil and greedy, so only they may afford guns in California!” – Gavin Newsom, apparently

By

Keith Finch

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September 29, 2023

California’s highest elected attention whore, alleging to be governor but increasingly feeling like a bad “Catch Me If You Can” reboot, has signed, what in his own words he describes as a “Sin Tax” against the ownership of firearms and ammunition. The new laws penalize firearms and ammunition at an additional 11% state tax. Another limits carry in public places New Mexico style, but at least the CA legislation is legislation and not a medical emergency executive order.

He even knows these laws will probably not survive court challenge, and I once again want to start see and passed legislation that holds elected officials criminally accountable if they willfully and knowingly push unconstitutional laws or policies in bad faith, just to waste time and screw with the courts, and give their voter base a reach around. It is a willful misuse of the office and government resources for petty politics.

Instead this man will likely be on the presidential ticket by 2028. A stockade having rotten food thrown at him and smelling rancid farts in downtown LA where he could do some good in that position would be preferable but California isn’t that sick of him yet as they slowly rot from the coastal political insanity.

If you can’t tell. I’m annoyed. Not feeling very “journalistic” on this one. Ranty, yes. Very ranty.

Here’s USA Today for journalism.

Two new laws regulating gun control in California were signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday. The laws prohibit people from carrying firearms in most public places and doubles the taxes on guns and ammunition sold in the state.

Only the rich may have and carry guns. That is literally all this is. If you can pay for it you can do it. Higher income brackets are less likely to be victimized by orders of magnitude, according to the NCVS, so basically screw you poor people. How dare you be poor. If you weren’t poor you could afford safety like us, and not need silly guns, but you could afford them if you want them. Sucks to suck.

Can we flush this turd already? No, because he has a rabid illogical fanbase who don’t actually care he’s flushing money straight to the crapper, tying up the courts, and still expects to lose because he is in violation of the US Constitution. Enough blue or bust types won’t abandon him because of their fear of what ‘red team’ or even a more centrist and effective blue team player who has been demonized enough might do.

Why should we respect these people and grant them any manner of authority? Why? Why should we respect the laws they pass or have any faith they are acting in our best interests anymore? They so flagrantly just work their pet electoral bases until they clap for them like trained seals and vote accordingly and I’m just tired of it.

See you in court Gavin, hope you choke on it. But you’re looking forward to wasting your constituents time and money, it’s not your money obviously.

Mossberg Intl. Gold Reserve Over/Under

By

BullShooters

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September 28, 2023

Whatever Happened to the Dumpster Defenders

By

Travis Pike

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September 28, 2023

In 2018, the internet was awash by the Dumpster Defenders. The video portrayed three men arguing in an alley while the wife of one of the men shot a video on her phone. The Dumpster defenders were a father-and-son pair who chose to shirtless defend a dumpster in an alley. The video shot on the cell phone shows John Miller and Michael Miller involved in a heated confrontation with a neighbor named Aaron Howard. A friend of Aaron was also present.

The dumpster defenders are armed. The father is carrying a small handgun, and the son is carrying what appears to be a TAC-14 firearm. The impetus for the confrontation was the fact Howard had dumped a mattress in a dumpster in a shared alley. The dumpster was apparently shared, and there were some issues with dumping large goods. Enough that the men had apparently exchanged words before.

The video evolved into memedom. It’s easy to see why. The situation is absurd. Who fights over a dumpster and a mattress? Plus, the Millers were shirtless, obese, and both had a cocky attitude about them. Additionally, Aaron Howard was yelling and screaming at two armed men somewhat fearlessly. The indecent ended in the death of Aaron Howard and both Millers being charged with murder.

The Dumpster Defender Legal Case

Initially, the men were bailed out at 25,000 dollars each, but a judge reviewed the bond and retracted it. They were taken back into custody, and a new bond of 250,000 was issued. The men were then bonded and retained attornies. The entire incident occurred in 2018, but the trial only concluded in 2023.

The jury found Michael Miller, the son, not guilty. However, the same jury found Johnnie Miller guilty of murder and received 14 years in prison. Both men were offered plea deals for 25 years, and neither accepted. That seemed to be one of the few intelligent moves the two men made. The Dumpster Defender saga is seemingly over.

A Cacophony of Idiots

The entire dumpster defender saga is stupid, idiotic, and downright sad. As fun as the memes can be, the fact is that a man died over a dumpster dispute. A man with a wife and a child is now dead, over a mattress and a dumpster. I’m not a legal expert, but I have a forum and an opinion to spout my own special nonsense.

I think everyone involved was making mistakes and ultimately acted irresponsibly and idioticly. According to the Millers, this had been a long-standing dispute between neighbors. Over a period of several days, the two parties tossed an old mattress back and forth into a dumpster. According to the Millers, Howard had threatened the men over and over. This was their reasoning for bringing guns to the final confrontation.

The first mistake all parties made was allowing an argument over a dumpster to be so vitriolic. If a neighbor had threatened me, I would take steps to avoid that person. If whatever dispute they had over the mattress and dumpster was that serious, it seems like a greater authority could be involved.

The Millers were absolutely out of line, leaving their home with firearms to defend the sanctity of a dumpster. At the same time, the logical thing for Howard and his wife to do is call the police and retreat indoors. It wasn’t logical to respond to firearms with a baseball bat. The entire situation would be easily resolved in so many different ways.

It’s ultimately sad, but it’s also over.

The Smith And Wesson M&P 2.0

By

P.E. Fitch

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September 28, 2023

Smith And Wesson M&P 2.0 9mm First Impressions

Smith and Wesson’s M&P 2.0 handgun isn’t exactly new. But in the market of hyper competitive striker-fired polymer framed pistols, the modern M&P product line as we know it remains strong as part of the “old guard” of striker fired polymer guns. The product line has certainly had its shares of good and bad moments (the later models of the original generation come to mind). Rest assured, all of those issues were ironed out when Smith and Wesson rolled out the second generation with the M&P 2.0. Other than reviewing the all-metal version elsewhere, I am actually not too familiar with this family of handguns, but that 2.0 Metal left a good impression on me and I wanted to learn more about them by examining the standard polymer framed duty sized model. This 9mm pistol also has a 4¼ inch barrel and 17-round magazines like its all-Metal sibling.

There are two main reasons the gun has been on my radar. The first is because several people whom I consider serious pistols shooters switched to the M&P 2.0 after moving away from other proven designs. The second is the pistol’s 18 degree grip angle, texture and ergonomics–all which left a very positive impression on me. Frankly, I’ve never had an issue shooting any full size Glock with their (in)famous 22 degree angled pistol grip, but I’d like to broaden my horizons. The exact M&P 2.0 I am reviewing is a “new old stock” earlier M&P 2.0 that comes with the hinged curved trigger and does not have the prominent slide serrations. On the flip side, I took it home for a reasonable price considering this exact gun was the counter/demo model. This police supply store was also basically giving away left handed Safariland 6000 series RDS + WML duty holsters that fit this handgun for $10, so I helped myself to one.

MY COMMENTARY, LIKES AND DISLIKES

The M&P 2.0’s grip texturing out of the box feels about perfect. It’s coarse enough that it bites into the palm of the shooting hand, but it will not lacerate your skin either. As far as a duty grade gun’s out of the box texturing, I think this one is a homerun. I felt the same way when I reviewed the M&P 2.0 Metal too.

Notice the way the texture of the grip grabs ambient light compared to the smoother areas of the frame.

The M&P 2.0 “standard sized” form factor is interesting. This version includes 17-round magazines and has a full-size grip. Since its barrel length is only 4¼ inches, its overall shape is reminiscent of the classic Colt Combat Commander profile. It also immediately reminded me of my Glock 45, which is the gun I carry most frequently. This trim of M&P 2.0 isn’t specialized match gun, so I’m not worried about every extra millimeter of barrel length to let a round’s propellant charge develop enough to cycle the slide and make power factor. Like the Glock 45 or a Colt Combat Commader for that matter, the standard M&P gives you the shooting and handling of a full size gun without “taking up too much space.”

I’ve only fired a little over 100 rounds of 9mm through my gun so far (124-grain Fiocchi FMJ and South African PMP 124-grain FMJ). Besides that, I shot 10 rounds of American Eagle 147-grain FP bullets at 25 yards (along with the Fiocchi). While neither shot string was much to talk about, the 124-grain ammo printed considerably better. I shot my gun out of the box for this article, and honestly the front sight needs to be drifted. Regardless of distance, nearly everything was printing hard right. This isn’t the fault of the gun itself. On the flip side, Smith and Wesson designed the slide with front and rear dovetails, providing a higher level of iron sight adjustability than its “rival”, the Glock.

Speaking of sights, I appreciate that the stock iron sights on the gun are made out of metal. I also like that the height these sights seem to be regulated for 124-grain ammo hitting dead on with a center hold at 25 yards. However, I really don’t like the fact that they are of the classic 3-dot arrangement (2 white dots on the rear sight, 1 white dot on the front). I think that set-up is outdated and counterproductive because it makes shooting with target focus at speed a little more confusing with regards to one’s visual processing. With all three dots being the same size and color, tracking the sights becomes slightly more challenging. This isn’t to say that the standard sights aren’t serviceable. They are. But with target focus especially, a color other than white like bright orange or green can really pop out and help the target-focused sight picture. Think of it as a pseudo mounted red dot that one looks through and covers the target with. In the grand scheme of things, all it takes is some paint or a pair of aftermarket sights (God knows the M&P has an ample selection). And milling the slide out for a mounted red dot is always an option. Of course, Smith and Wesson sells the same gun with their CORE optics-ready system as an option too.

One quirk that seems to be germane to this family of pistols is that their ambidextrous slide stop levers can be somewhat stiff. After asking around, it isn’t just a specific issue with my individual specimen and this is something that the M&P 2.0 appears to be known for.

THE M&P AND THE AFTERMARKET

Because the M&P pistol family is part of the old guard of polymer-framed striker-fired pistols, it has excellent aftermarket support in terms of all manner of internal and external parts and ancillary gear like holsters. Apex Tactical Specialties might as well be synonymous with “tricked out M&Ps” as this company is well known for the upgraded parts they offer for the M&P 2.0. The best thing that they’re probably known for is M&P aftermarket triggers, for example.

In short, the world of polymer-framed striker-guns is extremely competitive these days and the fact of the matter is that there are tons of great handguns choices available. Those who are more particular about the grip angles of their guns and who are interested in a mature and well-supported platform might take a look at the M&P 2.0 if they haven’t already. As for my own gun, I’m thinking about possibly milling it out for a dot and upgrading the trigger to an Apex to start with.

Introducing the Taurus GX4 Carry: Your New Everyday Defense Solution

By

Keith Finch

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September 27, 2023

Bainbridge, GA — September 28, 2023 — Taurus USA proudly announces the launch of the highly anticipated Taurus GX4 Carry, the latest addition to the award-winning GX4 series. Setting itself apart from its micro-compact sibling, the Taurus GX4 Carry boasts a larger, but compact frame, delivering the perfect balance of capacity and concealability for armed citizens.

Key Features of the Taurus GX4 Carry:

Industry Standard Iron Sights: The steel iron sights are easily replaced with readily available aftermarket sights, allowing the user to customize to their preference.
15+1 Capacity: The slim, compact frame holds 15 rounds of 9mm ammo.
Visual Loaded Chamber Indicator: Enhanced safety awareness with the visual loaded chamber indicator.
DLC-Coated Barrel: Durability and performance even in challenging environments.
Picatinny Rail MIL-STD-1913: Versatility for accessory customization.
Flat Face, Serrated Trigger: Improved comfort and control for every shot.
Easy Take Down Pin for Disassembly: Simplified maintenance with easy disassembly.
Teflon-Coated Operational Control Parts: Enhanced durability for rigorous use.
Reversible Magazine Release: Ambidextrous operation for user preference.
Magazine and Grip Cuts: Quick and reliable reloads with designed cuts.
Three Backstrap Options: Customizable grip for maximum comfort and security.

The Taurus GX4 Carry will be available for purchase starting September 28, 2023, at authorized Taurus dealers and online retailers. For more information about the Taurus GX4 Carry and other Taurus products, please visit www.taurususa.com.

About Taurus:
Taurus Holdings, Inc. (“Taurus”) and its subsidiaries continues to evolve and produce revolutionary new products. In addition, new standards for quality and efficiency help deliver reliable and affordable guns to the market. Taurus is based in Bainbridge, Georgia. Taurus is owned by Taurus Armas, S.A. which is a publicly traded company based in Brazil. Taurus Armas S.A. manufactures a wide variety of consumer and industrial products that are distributed worldwide.

For additional information, visit www.taurususa.com

War Dogs, Heinrich Thomet, and the Truth

By

Travis Pike

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September 27, 2023

In 2016, a little film called War Dogs dropped. War Dogs chronicled the life of Efraim Diveroli and David Packouz, two twenty-somethings who jumped into the world of international arms dealing. Specifically, they fulfilled contracts for the DOD relating to the Global War on Terror. It’s a black comedy, and like many inspired by ‘a true story films,’ it’s greatly dramatized. One interesting character that is just barely in the film is played by Bradley Cooper. His character, Henry Girard, is an illicit arms dealer on a watch list. What many may not know is that Henry Girard is based on Heinrich ‘Henri’ Thomet.

Who is Henry Thomet?

In War Dogs, the big conflict is getting 100 million rounds of AK ammo for the Afghan Government. Girard acts as a middleman since he can’t do business with the United States directly.

In real life, it appears Thomet was also a middleman. Thomet’s official stance, according to the New York Times, was that he simply introduced Diveroli to the Albanian, who was willing to sell him Chinese ammo. According to several other people, a Swiss Individual was involved in the deal and manned a company called Evdin.

It’s admittedly a murky world where a company called Evdin that was seemingly created in Cyprus only to conduct this one deal. The ‘director’ is a man who lives above a nightclub and will create shell companies for a fee. Evdin is suspected of being a company to route money to corrupt officials in Albania.

Thomet might sound familiar—high-end firearm aficionados are likely familiar with B&T, or Brügger & Thomet. Same Thomet, but admittedly, Thomet left the company quite early and sold his shares to Brügger. Thomet is a bit of a man of mystery, and he’s certainly been in the gray area of international arms deals. He is not on a terrorist watch list, but he is on a watch list. Specifically the Defense Trade Controls watch list.

Beyond War Dogs

Beyond that one shady deal with the two young gun runners, Thomet has been accused by Amnesty International of supplying arms illegally to conflict zones. This includes places like the Congo with strict arms embargoes and regulations. He supposedly operates through a number of shell companies. These companies were constantly shifting around and changing names. This makes it difficult to track who is doing what and who is being paid.

Not only was he bringing weapons into war zones, but he was also accused of exporting weapons from Zimbabwe by Amnesty International. The US was also investigating him for shipping weapons from Serbia to Iraq.

This certainly rings true with the Afghan deal. It seems like it’s a fairly common way to hide illicit business dealings. Henri Thomet denies all accusations and alludes to it being a lie told by his competitors. It’s unlikely that we’ll ever know about his dealings, and he likely doesn’t ever necessarily break the law.

Thomet Today

Thomet purchased an arms factory in Montenegro in 2011 or so. It was an old state-run facility, and it’s the largest arms manufacturer in Montenegro. According to its website, it produces AR-type rifles and submachine guns as well as pistols. Some of those pistols made it to the United States in small numbers and are apparently crap. There are no photos of the man outside of a screenshot from a clip during a news report regarding the factory opening.

The US has even done business with Thomet. In 2017, he worked with the UK firm Chemring to provide munitions for the Syrian conflict. He seems to be doing a steady degree of business with major government forces. He’s certainly an interesting man who cloaks himself well to avoid scrutiny. Is he a criminal? Likely not, but he certainly skates and skirts international law.

HOP Munitions: Where Polymer Meets Precision

By

David Reeder

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September 27, 2023

Innovation, precision, and dedication to excellence have become paramount in today’s ever-evolving landscape of firearms and ammunition.

One company participating in this evolution is HOP Munitions. Founded by specialists with a keen interest in advancing the realm of shooting, they have embarked on endeavors to bring fresh perspectives to ammunition design and production.

HOP Munitions presents itself not just as a manufacturer but as a forward-thinking entity. Their approach centers on integrating advanced materials, innovative design principles, and comprehensive testing processes.

The company has taken notable steps towards social responsibility by offering stable employment opportunities to combat veterans. Such initiatives and their push for innovation have resonated with diverse sectors, including civilian enthusiasts and law enforcement entities.

Among the notable developments from HOP Munitions is the introduction of poly ammo. This transition from traditional metal casings to a newer material underscores their commitment to enhancing performance while also considering environmental concerns and potentially altering how shooting is experienced.

A Closer Look at HOP Munitions

Situated in Hayesville, Ohio, House of Payne Munitions, also known as HOP Munitions, has positioned itself in the ammunition market, focusing on producing quality bullets.

The company’s workforce includes several combat veterans, bringing a unique perspective and attention to detail to the manufacturing process. The production process at HOP Munitions is methodical: bullets are tumble polished for a smooth finish, followed by hand-gauging to verify dimensions and ensure functionality. Each round is then packaged with care, reflecting the company’s commitment to precision.

In response to the diverse demands of the shooting world, House of Payne Munitions has developed an assortment of calibers. Their range aims to cater to various shooting needs, from competitive environments and self-defense to hunting and other firearm activities.

HOP Munitions Mission

House of Payne Munitions, established in 2020, was conceived with dual intentions: to craft quality ammunition and offer stable employment opportunities to combat veterans within the community.

In its early days, HOP Munitions’ ethos was rooted in a desire to support and give back to both first responders and military veterans. Currently, veterans make up approximately 75% of their workforce. While there’s a clear emphasis on hiring veterans, the contribution of the non-veteran staff is also noteworthy. They provide complementary skills that enrich the work environment and indirectly aid the veteran staff.

For instance, one of the team members doubles as an auto mechanic. This in-house capability offers convenience and cost-saving opportunities for veterans who might need vehicle maintenance.

Shawn Payne, the proprietor of HOP Munitions, observes that offering combat veterans around two years of consistent employment equips them with a stable platform. It can serve as a launchpad should they decide to explore different career avenues in the future.

Beyond their conventional ammunition offerings, HOP Munitions has responded to emerging trends in the shooting industry with the introduction of a training round termed Poly Bullets.

These cost-effective rounds have seen a rise in interest, particularly among competition shooters and those involved in firearms training.

A Closer Look at HOP Munitions’ Poly Ammo

The Poly Ammo rounds introduced by HOP Munitions have garnered attention among competition shooters and firearms trainers, largely due to their cost-effectiveness.

Constructed with a lead core, these bullets are encased in a high-temperature polymer. Such a design offers potential benefits:

A potential reduction in barrel wear.
The possibility of less barrel fouling.
A claim of improved accuracy.
An emphasis on affordability.

While the rounds are marketed as optimized for competition shooting and training, they’re highlighted for their cost-effectiveness, especially for practice purposes. Additionally, their design is suggested to be safe for shooting at steel targets from a distance of more than 10ft, presenting a distinction from standard FMJ ammunition.

Discussing the Attributes of HOP Munitions’ Poly Bullets

HOP Munitions’ Poly Bullets are presented with a variety of attributes that potentially distinguish them from other ammunition types.

Environmental Considerations: Unlike traditional lead rounds, these bullets are suggested not to emit harmful gases, making them a potentially more environmentally-conscious choice. This attribute might particularly appeal to indoor shooters concerned about air quality.

Feeding Efficiency: The polymer coating on these bullets is said to ensure a smoother transition from the magazine to the chamber. This might reduce instances of feeding failures, especially when juxtaposed against standard FMJ or jacketed hollow points.

Barrel Health: A comparison between the residue left by lead round-nose bullets and polymer-coated rounds indicates a potential advantage for the latter. The reduced residue might not only maintain accuracy but could also have implications for the barrel’s lifespan.

Friction Reduction: The overarching intent behind the polymer coating is performance enhancement. By curbing friction, the bullets aim to offer a shooting experience that’s both smoother and potentially safer.

Their official website provides comprehensive details for a deeper exploration of HOP Munitions and the products they craft.

Weird World of Walther P99 Clones

By

Travis Pike

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September 26, 2023

Walther’s P99 is a cult classic that never did well in the United States. It saw a good bit of success across numerous European police departments, but it never caught on with shooters in the United States. James Bond enthusiasts and Walther fans adored the gun, as did DA/SA nuts like myself. Still, the gun-buying public and American police forces weren’t buying these things by the case, so it’s odd that there are so many P99 clones on the market.

A striker-fired, DA/SA design isn’t exactly common, and it blended the old school world of the DA/SA hammer-fired pistol with the modern polymer frame, striker-fired design. If we take a step back to 1997, we can see why it didn’t appeal to traditional DA/SA fans, and I can see why the gun didn’t appeal to the fans of Glock pistols. The P99 was odd, and it’s even weirder how many people tried to make the design work with P99 clones.

Since Walther has recently announced they are discontinuing the P99 and releasing one final P99 Final Edition line, I figured let’s take a peek at all the clones of the Walther P99.

Attack of the P99 Clones

How many people tried to clone the P99? Well, Walther did; they teamed up with two major companies to release several models of the gun under the banner of different companies. Additionally, we have specific models produced under license and one rogue do it themselves firm from Germany. Let’s dig and examine the World of P99 Clones.

The Fabryka Broni Radom P99 RAD

I’m not trying to spell that over and over, so we’ll call it the P99 RAD. The P99 RAD was a licensed design from Poland. Radom wanted to enter Polish military trials, so they licensed the original 1997 design with some small changes. Noticeably, the slide is fairly different, and the rail is a picatinny design. We also see a much different grip texture. This P99 clone featured an ambidextrous slide lock and the ambidextrous magazine release.

The interesting thing is that Walther would later take some of these design differences and produce the PPQ. If you look at a P99 RAD and a PPQ, they clearly show some lineage to each other. It would seem Walther got more out of the contract than just a licensed copy.

The Smith and Wesson SW99

Let’s say you’re Smith and Wesson, and you just produced your first polymer frame pistol known as the Sigma. What came next? A slap from Glock with a lawsuit means they are capturing some of that polymer frame money from you. It’s clear the world is moving to the polymer frame, striker-fired pistol. What are you to do to keep up?

Well, you have a good relationship with Walther since you import some of their pistols. The P99 wasn’t a great seller in the States under the Walther banner, but maybe under the S&W banner, it could do better. Thus, the SW99 was born.

Smith and Wesson made the slide, and Walther made the frames. The design was a P99 with a slightly different appearance and slightly different frame design. The gun came in 9mm, 40 S&W, and 45 ACP. I’m pretty sure this is the only 45 ACP with the P99 treatment. The barrel is also a quarter inch longer on the full-sized model than the standard 9mm model of the P99.

While the P99C is fairly expensive and tough to find, the SW99C tends to be common, and I picked one up for 300 bucks, so it’s an easy route to get a compact P99ish weapon.

Magnum Research MR9 and MR40

Magnum Research, producers of the Desert Eagle, also teamed up with Walther to produce The MR9 and MR40 Eagle pistols. Like before, Walther produced the frame, and Magnum Research made the slide. The frame is fairly standard for the P99, but it does have a Picatinny rail instead of the proprietary rails we are used to seeing with P99s.

The Magnum Research MR9 and MR40 were fairly standard. What stood out to most people was the stainless slides, which do look nice. These pistols kept the P99 styling and design. The only thing notable was that the MR9 also came with a 4.5-inch barreled model with a slant frontend that gives it a desert eagle-like look.

Canik TP9 and TP9DA

Turkish manufacturer Canik is pretty famous these days for their polymer frame striker-fired pistols. I doubt a lot of people know they started life as a manufacturer of P99 clones. The TP9 and TP9DA were basically the Turkish take on the P99. This includes the original TP9 and the TP9DA. These guns feature the same DA/SA design as the original Walther, and the earliest models had the trigger guard magazine release.

Later models, including current models, feature a standard button release. A few different versions seemingly had both the button and trigger guard magazine release. There were plenty of models produced, but they didn’t do anything revolutionary with the P99 clone variants. They have since moved away from the DA/SA designs and embraced SAO models only.

Weird World of P99 Clones

As the P99 wraps up 26 years of service, it’s interesting to look back and see why so many were produced. The P99 has served a couple of dozen police forces, James Bond, and plenty of gun nerds like myself. Heck, I own a P99, an SW99C, and an MR9 because the design truly fascinates me. It seems to fascinate plenty of others as well.

FN’s .22 Caliber Pistol

By

V. Caldwell

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September 26, 2023

Some handguns are versatile and perform many chores. Some are more specialized. A 9mm or .45 gets a lot done a .44 Magnum or a .22 is useful in a more narrow range of duty. A must have firearm for all of us is a .22 caliber pistol. For training in marksmanship the .22 works well and it is useful even in some forms of tactical training. You may test any number of concepts on the cheap with a good .22 caliber pistol. A .22 for plinking may be a minimal even cheap pistol. A firearm for target shooting must be capable of greater accuracy. A .22 for tactical training should ideally mimic a defensive center fire closely as possible. The FN 502 is a well made pistol and tactical trainer. It is clearly accurate enough for target work. I have taken small game with firearms much less accurate.

The pistol is similar to FN’s 9mm handguns in appearance. The pistol features a suppressor ready barrel and optics cut in the same manner as FN’s center fire handguns. Unlike many modern pistols the FN is hammer fired. It takes considerable force to reliably ignite rimfire priming compound. The hammer fired pistol seems a good idea. The 502 features a rowel hammer and ambidextrous safety levers. The grip is compact. Two magazines are supplied, a flush fit 10 round magazine and extended 14 round magazine.

Disassembly is simple enough. Unload the pistol and remove the magazine. Lock the slide to the rear and check the chamber. The takedown lever, located in front of the slide lock, is rotated to release the slide. While the pistol is a simple blowback action the barrel is not fixed and may be removed from the slide along with the recoil rod and spring. The pistol seems well made of good material. The utility of a .22 caliber handgun for practice is a valid modern concept. The pistol allows firing drills that would be more expensive with centerfire ammunition. While this is true it is also true that a good quality .22 opens the door to a world of shooting opportunity. Plinking and small game hunting are among these. The FN 502 is accurate enough for any of these pursuits. I originally purchased the FN 502 based on experience with other FN products. The pistol is a little pricey for a rimfire handgun but performance simply cannot be faulted. Reliability and accuracy are well above average. The forged steel barrel is 4.6 inch long. Lightweight material is used in the pistol’s construction. Heavy steel isn’t needed for a .22 pistol. The handle is similar to the FN 509 9mm compact. The grip treatment makes for an excellent gripping surface. The pistol features a threaded barrel with thread protector.

The author is impressed with the FN 502’s performance.

I have fired the FN 502 extensively without a single failure to feed chamber fire or eject. This is a record for a rimfire of any type as the rimfire’s priming and heel based bullets are not models of reliability. Due to the pistol’s tall suppressor ready sights the pistol fires high. There is no easy fix save changing out sights. I would recommend XS sights for fixed sight use. Magazines are easily loaded featuring a button that depresses the follower. Load the magazines one cartridge carefully making certain they are loaded properly. Don’t hold the follower down and dump ammunition into the magazine.

Since the pistol was reliable and quite accurate I felt it was worth mounting a red dot sight. I mounted the Meopta MeoSight IV red dot. Using one of the pistol’s supplied plates I mounted the Docter foot print MeoSight. After a minimal effort in sighting in I had much superior speed and accuracy compared to the fixed sights. Using the dimmest dot setting at 25 yards I was able to fire several groups of 1.5 inch for five shots. This is an excellent level of accuracy for the finest handgun and unexpected in a .22 rimfire. But then a fixed barrel good sights and trigger and a heavy pistol make for good accuracy. The pistol has proven accurate with a range of good quality ammunition. I have fired the least expensive bulk ammunition with good results and good quality loads such as the CCI Mini Mag with excellent results. This is a good handgun well worth its price.

MeoSight IV

Magnification – 1x
Objective Diameter (mm) – 24×17
Dot Size – 3 MOA
Battery – Cr1632 3V
Battery Lifetime (hours) – 30,000
Transmission – ≥ 80%
Impact per Click (in/100 yds) – 1.04
Impact per Click (MOA) – 1
Elevation Range (in/100 yds) – 126
Elevation Range (MOA) – 120
Windage Range (in/100 yds) – 126
Windage Range (MOA) – 120
Length (inches) – 1.89
Depth (inches) – 1.41
Width (inches) – 1.22
Weight (ounces) – 1.2
Anti-Reflective Coating – Yes
Anti-Scratch Coating – Yes
Hydrophobic Coating – Yes

FN 502 Specifications

CALIBER: .22 LR
OPERATION: Single Action Only
MAG CAPACITY: 10 or 15 Rd.
SIGHTS: suppressor/optics-height iron sights with optics-ready slide
WEIGHT: 23.7 oz.
BARREL: 4.6″ threaded 1/2×28″
OVERALL LENGTH: 7.6″
HEIGHT: 5.8”
WIDTH: 1.4”
FINISH: all-black or all-FDE
TRIGGER PULL: 4.0 lbs

The “Ceremonial” Gun Violence Prevention Office

By

Keith Finch

-

September 25, 2023

230922162918-01-joe-biden-gun-safety-092223 — President Joe Biden speaks as Rep. Maxwell Frost and Vice President Kamala Harris listen during a Rose Garden event on gun safety at the White House on September 22, 2023 in Washington, DC. Image via CNN

I gave my two cents on the new White House Office Gun Violence Prevention last week. But I don’t think in a lifetime of of writing that I could be more scathing or dismissive of the White House’s latest pandering nothing burger of gun control than what Reuters said.

Biden, with few options on guns, sets up ceremonial office

That has to sting. Getting called out in the headline of a very neutral and well regarded national report like Reuters on your oh so serious efforts, on this super duper serious topic, that you are totally taking seriously…

…seriously, ouch for Biden and Harris. Maybe the VP can tell us about the countries in Europe and their relative sizes or her attire’s color and her orientation at the table some.

Ceremonial – (of a position or role) involving only nominal authority or power.

CNN, typically an ally of Democrat White Houses and their policies, has full on abandoned Biden and is calling him out on his nonsense claims about mass shootings.

Fact check: Biden falsely claims he has ‘been to every mass shooting’

President Joe Biden falsely claimed Friday that he has been to the site of “every mass shooting,” the latest in a series of false claims about his travel record.

That is rough, Mr. President.

Facts First: Biden has not been to even close to “every” mass shooting site – even if he was referring only to mass shootings during his presidency. Minutes later in the Friday speech, he said “our country has experienced more than 500 mass shootings” so far in 2023 alone; Biden has made one trip this year in connection to a specific mass shooting. He made three such trips in 2021 and 2022 combined.

But Biden did not go to the sites of numerous other mass shootings during his presidency, including many that received significant national attention. For example, he did not travel to the sites of shootings this year and last at a mall in Allen, Texas; farms in Half Moon Bay, California; a Christian school in Nashville; a bank in Louisville, Kentucky; a Walmart in Chesapeake, Virginia; or a parade in Highland Park, Illinois.

Reading CNN take the President to task while Reuters, a news source I consider strongly reputable, just completely dismisses the effort as meaningless has warmed my Monday immensly.

Oh, regular magazines are also likely to be back on the menu in California soon and that is cool too. Cry about it, Newsom. How’s that 28th Amendment going?

The Tackle Box Gun

By

Travis Pike

-

September 25, 2023

Tackle box guns are just one of those genres the firearms community kind of made up. As far as I know, no company has ever advertised their guns as tackle box guns, but amongst fishers, especially freshwater fishermen, they have long been a handy tool. Tackle box guns were much bigger in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, especially in the southeastern United States. While they were popular in the day, my father-in-law still carries a tackle box gun, and so do a good many of the old-school fishers in our area.

Back in the day, the tackle box gun was typically a cheap revolver. In the post-war age, there was a big boom of gunmakers making cheap revolvers. These were guns from Iver Johnson and H&R famously. They were cheap and typically fired small caliber rounds. This includes the .22LR and the various .32 centerfire cartridges. They could be single or double-action. These revolvers occasionally had fixed cylinders, but swing-out and removable cylinders weren’t uncommon.

They were guns you could toss into your tackle box and not feel too bad about rusting or forgetting about. Hell, they were cheap enough that if they accidentally sunk to the bottom of a river, no one would care.

Why Did Tackle Box Guns Exist?

The most obvious answer is to deal with vicious fish. You never know when a fish will pull a knife and mug you on your bass. Stay strapped or get finned. We also have the Vermont fish hunting season I wrote about recently, which seems like a good reason to pack a piece of heat.

In reality, the guys I know who carry tackle box guns see them more as utilitarian tools. They are used to kill moccasins, which are aggressive, venomous snakes, and it’s often seen as community service to kill one when seen.

There is also the typical self-defense role. You never know who you might come across on the deep, dark rivers and swamps of Florida. It’s not like help is anywhere close in this situation. Having a weapon to defend yourself is a good idea. Be it from people, feral dogs, coyotes, rabid animals, or whatever else you may encounter.

These little guns often sat untouched in the bottom of tackle boxes for years at a time. It’s rarely used but always handy to have. The best defensive pistol is one that is rarely used.

The Modern Tackle Box Gun

So, what does the modern tackle box gun look like? H&R and Iver Johnson aren’t producing these guns anymore, so what do we have on the docket? I did a little thinking and a little research, and I’ve come up with three modern examples that fit the bill.

Heritage Barkeep

The Barkeep meets all the classic requirements. It’s a revolver, it has fixed sights, chambers the .22LR, and it’s cheap! Plus, the Barkeep is rather small with its 2-inch barrel. The gun isn’t fancy, but it has all the modern safety features a six-gun should have. It’s plenty light, and a .22 WMR cylinder can be dropped in for an oomph in power and velocity.

Altor Single Shot Pistol

The Altor Single Shot Pistol is an odd choice, but it also works well in this role. The gun comes in either 9mm or .380 ACP. It’s absurdly simple and works as what is basically a modern Liberator. This single-shot pistol only has a few parts and is made primarily from polymer and stainless steel. It’s affordable and rust-resistant. The 9mm loading allows you to shoot solid projectiles and big, hefty doses of rat shot. I carry this on my kayak.

KelTec P17

Tackle box guns used to be revolvers, but these days, automatics are cheaper than revolvers. The KelTec P17 is remarkably affordable and very simple. It won’t blow you away, but the 17 rounds of 22LR certainly pack a punch. The gun is remarkably small for its magazine capacity, and it’s also super light and fairly small all around. The P17 costs less than 250 bucks, making it a great option for a tackle box gun.

Let’s Go Fishing

Stay strapped or get finned, boys. In the modern era of concealed carry, the tackle box has pretty much faded away to the gun I’m already carrying every day anyway. That’s the real truth of the situation. However, it’s a fun piece of firearm history and an early example of concealed carry in the modern era.

Gunday Brunch 119: Dumb Gun Control Takes (and more)

By

Keith Finch

-

September 24, 2023

In this episode, the boys do eventually talk about dumb gun control takes, but to get there we go through a valley of fighter jets and submachine guns first.

Also Wyatt Earp was a gun grabber

Taurus 856 + XS Big Dot Sight (Part 1)

By

P.E. Fitch

-

September 23, 2023

I’ve covered snub nosed revolvers and how they can still be useful in spite of their lower capacity and their basis on older handgun
technology. Taurus’ 856 line of compact framed revolvers has been getting a lot of attention lately. Not only was Taurus the first company to sell optics-ready carry revolvers this year, but the 856 revolver family is proving itself as a solid value proposition. The industry has been responding in kind, whether its holster companies supporting 856 models with holster fits, spring upgrade kits, or aftermarket sights. Not too long ago, Fort Worth, Texas based XS Sights began offering a “big dot”, tritium-powered front sight aftermarket upgrade that fits both the Taurus 856 and 605 models. XS Sights has been known for their Big Dot sights for some time now, and people seem to either really like them or really hate them. In the context and use case of the snub nosed revolver, a bright and bold “big dot” front sight is ideal.

THE CASE FOR THE XS SIGHT

Even though this pieces is focused Taurus 856 revolver and the XS aftermarket front sight upgrade available for it, the reasoning below can easily apply to almost any snub nosed revolver, as these compact revolvers mostly come with smaller and low profile fixed sights. Typically, complaints against “big dot” style sights is that they are very “wide” or “coarse” and cost the handgun shooter a good deal of precision. And this can actually be true in certain instances…

However,

Snub nosed revolvers are primarily carried for close range personal protection. Their mission is to “break contact” or get an assailant off you.
Because these guns are smaller, they are harder to shoot. They have short barrels and even shorter sight radiuses.
Unless your gun is an expensive custom or semi custom model, chances are the rear sight will be cut into the top strap of the gun’s frame. This rudimentary “rear sight” will have a fairly narrow channel and isn’t the easiest to see.
Even with a 6th round (compared to other snub designs which only hold 5), a Taurus 856 is still a low capacity handgun.
Reloading this or any other small framed revolver is relatively slow. In other words, these guns are not built to keep providing carefully aimed sustained fire.

All that said, what the Taurus 856 or any other snub are optimized for is quick and immediate action. No one carries a small revolver expecting to get into an extended gunfight or to take only precise shots. And this is why a “big”, bright and bold front sight on a gun meant to the lengthwise distance of a parking space isn’t unreasonable. After all, if a concealed carrier needed to use his or her snub nosed revolver defensively, their eyes are ideally going to be focused on the threat and not those dinky little sights. So why not lean on the benefit eye-grabbing bright green or bright orange front sight? Also, while the Taurus 856 is a great value for the price, the factory sights do leave something to be desired. It’s easy to loose them in challenging light/ambient conditions. Moreover, sometimes light bounces off the rear sight in strange ways which also makes it difficult to get a good sight picture. This is why a bright glow-y, eye-grabbing dot for quick target focused shots makes a lot of sense.

XS 856 FRONT SIGHT OVERVIEW

The XS Sights Standard Dot Revolver Front Sight (as it is called on their catalog) comes with two standard color options—bright orange or bright green. These green or orange hues are photo-luminescent and are able to absorb ambient light to appear brighter in less than ideal conditions. Finally, for use in very low light or outright dark environments, the tritium vial found in the middle of the sight will give off a familiar green glow. A clear convex cap that seals off both the photo-luminescent material and the tritium vial also helps catch light by virtue of its shape. While not necessary when installing this specific sight to a Taurus 856, XS Sights also includes a small amount of Vibratite VC3 compound which is very nice of them. It should be conveniently set aside because it’s very useful for securing optics screws, red dot mounting plates and the like on firearms. XS Sights machines the metal for their sights on CNC mills in Texas and the fit and finish is very good. In fact I couldn’t help to notice that once the front sight was installed, the black finish was a perfect match to the black finish on my 856.

INSTALLATION

Removing the factory front sight and installing this XS upgrade turned out to be easier than I expected. Ill admit that I don’t have a gunsmithing bench or specialized tools at home. However, that didn’t stop me. I put the revolver behind a piece of 2×4 to support it, and then proceeded to use a finishing nail and a small hammer to drift out the roll pin, remove the factory front sight, replace it with the upgrade and drift the roll pin back into place. This actually a positive on the 856’s behalf, as all compatible sights for the 856 family are installed or removed this way.

Part 2 Of This Review Will Cover The Live Fire and Practical Aspects Of This XS Front
Sight.

Of All The Do Somethings that Do Nothing, This Does Nothing The Most

By

Keith Finch

-

September 22, 2023

Old Man Yells At Cloud, But Smaller — U.S. President Joe Biden holds up a ghost gun part while announcing new measures by his administration to fight ghost gun crime at the White House in Washington U.S., April 11, 2022. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

The White House making noises about an ‘Office of Gun Violence Prevention’ is perhaps the funniest thing I have read all week. The Biden White house making a special seat to take on ‘gun violence’ which is a vague term, instead of gun crime like his son is accused of, is a wonderful way to do nothing productive about a vague problem but get the credit anyway.

“But Keith, at least they’re trying…”

No! They aren’t trying, they are pandering. They are spending time jangling keys for irate public to clap about. There are three Federal seats at the head of Federal Agencies already in direct charge of ‘gun violence’ prevention and response. The heads of the ATF, FBI, and the Attorney General. This team of wonder bureaucrats, in actual positions of defined authority, that are already delineated and connected to law enforcement nationally, are apparently not enough. We need a fourth nebulous wonder bureaucrat who doesn’t work for a Federal Bureau at all who needs to… to what precisely? To harumph at appropriate moments when the other three say things like, “Gun violence is a problem we need to keep trying to solve.”

No shit, Sherlock. Violent crimes of the organized type. Violent crimes of passion. Violent crimes of the transactional variety and so forth are a problem.

The NCVS for 2022 was released at it was pretty bad. Not awful, still better than the 90’s by orders of magnitude, but bad. However in that survey that concluded about 1.24% of Americans over the age of 12 was victimized by a violent crime only 10% involved a firearm. Only 42% were reported to the police. What does that stat say? Does the 0.124% of Americans who experienced a violent gun involved crime (and completely ignoring the percentage who were involved in one themselves prior to being a victim) really rate their own seat of ill defined authority to vaguely do something more than some things have been done in the past? Again, do what? Specifics.

“Tackling this epidemic will take a whole-of-government approach, and this new office would ensure the executive branch is focused and coordinated on proven solutions that will save lives.”

…okay. Biden and ‘Focused’ don’t exactly gel well in our minds these days.

Gun control, like gun violence, and even just plain old violence, disproportionately affects the lower income and minority communities. Fun fact, households who make under $25k a year are about three times as likely to be victimized as those in the $50K+ range. Is this office going to look at addressing things like skills and employment opportunities that make violence less profitable? Or are they just going to be a pocket “expert” for the White House they can point at that says things like “Assault Weapon Ban!” on command. Even as 77% of guns associated with crimes remain handguns. But let’s once again not talk about those pesky things.

Greg Jackson, the executive director of the Community Justice Action Fund, and Everytown for Gun Safety’s Rob Wilcox are expected to hold roles in the newly created office. And none of this feels like just giving your buddies jobs, right? Biden is claiming this office will save “thousands of lives” and repeating the spurious claim that gun violence is the number one killer of ‘children’ in the United States.

That’s an utterly false claim by the way, the number one mortality cause is still accidents in all three child age categories. But if we count young males in the 15-19 age range as ‘children’, despite being easily and often able to be charged as adults criminally, we can certainly pad that stat to look scarier and not like the start of the well documented two decade span of peak violence in males. A much smaller but still age relevant portion for females is there also.

But rest easy, dear readers. Finally we will have a gun violence czar to czar czarily with the three people whose job it actually is to investigate and prosecute crimes involving firearms and otherwise.

Go, Joe!